Living in the Moment

"What I'd like more than anything is complete financial freedom" Maisie explains to you "I've never seen myself sitting in an office for eight hours every day doing something I'm not interested in for some random person who happens to be my boss. And you know what I'm like. I'm not stupid, but I'm also not Holly. I hate studying and my grades have always reflected that, so I wouldn't exactly be a high flyer"

"So what, like I tell you to guess the winning lottery numbers or something?"

"No, that wouldn't work" Maisie shakes her head emphatically "Holly always said the easiest way to think of it is that the curse might be magic but it can't make us magic. So I can't become clairvoyant or anything. But you can give me any skills a regular human could acquire"

"Right, so I could give you an extensive knowledge of the stock markets or the form of racing horses, make you a world class poker player, give you card counting abilities, that kind of thing?" you suggest.

"Yeah, in the short term those would certainly help us to get rich quick. We can split everything fifty fifty, maybe get a place together. Some super stylish penthouse apartment in the rich part of town. I have honestly never understood why Dad would never do stuff like that with Mom. We could have been living in a mansion with a pool! I think she might have gone for it too, but he was obsessed with the idea that doing anything with the curse was a dangerous path to go down. Personally, I think it should be fine as long as you trust the other person, and I trust you completely"

"You said short term. What about long term?" you ask.

"I don't find the idea of financial stuff or horses that exciting. I'm totally into doing it to get us off the ground, but you only get one life and I would prefer to do something I truly enjoy with mine. Like become a famous actress or singer. Maybe even both. Obviously, it's not guaranteed, but if I could act like Mikey Madison and sing like Adele I would at least have a realistic shot at it. And in the meantime, we can just hang out together and have fun while I play the markets, or whatever"

You realise that Maisie would have more than a realistic shot at fame. With her natural beauty and charm and the fact that, when she actually wants something, she can work just as hard as her sister to get it, her chances of making it would be high, if you gave her the talent she is currently lacking. And instinctively, you hate the idea.

"What's up? You don't think that's a good plan? I'm being too unrealistic?" Maisie asks, picking up on your lack of enthusiasm.

"I have no doubt in my mind you would become a superstar" you tell her "And then what would you need me for?"

"What? You're my best friend! I'll always need you!"

"But you know I want you to be more than that" you tell her, trying to control your emotions "I'm not saying today, but one day. There has been a mutual spark between us recently, you can't say you haven't felt it too. Like what happened last night. But how am I supposed to compete with the kind of guys who will be coming after you when you're a Hollywood A Lister? I feel like with this plan of yours I'm going to get more attached to you than ever, and then you are going to get too far ahead of me and I'll lose you. Did you ever think that might be the real reason your Dad wanted to keep your Mom grounded, that this was the exact path he didn't want to send her down?"

Maisie pulls an expression like a penny just dropped for her. She falls silent for a moment, and you allow her time to compose her thoughts before letting her respond.

"I feel like you are getting way ahead of yourself here. If you want me to give you some kind of guarantee that we are going to end up together, I can't do that. I would have thought the fact I just suggested we get a place together so I can spend more time with you might have given you a clue that I was at least interested in exploring where things might go between us" she sighs and pushes her hand through her hair "This is the whole problem with you. There was a moment last night where I felt like I was falling in love with my best friend, but then you brought me right back down to Earth with a bump, and you're doing it again now, just when I was starting to get excited about the kind of future we could have one day. All this clingy behaviour and putting me up on a pedestal is a huge turn off. But when we just hang out and have fun together, nothing makes me as happy as that. It's kind of infuriating that you can't seem to stop yourself from spoiling things. You're just like Holly. And yes, my Dad too. You can't just live in the moment, you always need to be fretting about something years away that might never even happen. If you can't get past that, we are never going to be right for each other"

That is some seriously useful information, and you didn't even need to command Maisie to give it to you. You feel now that she actually wants you to become the kind of guy she could be with, and is letting you know what you have to do. She couldn't be giving you any more of a chance here. It won't be easy to change the habits of a lifetime, but maybe Maisie can help you with that.

"Maisie. from now on you have all the skills of a brilliant life coach. I want you to take me on as your student, and teach me to be more like you - more spontaneous and less prone to worrying the worst is always going to happen, so I can enjoy every minute of my time with you for as long as it lasts."

"Wow, that was a pretty smart wish Mister, I like it!" Maisie brightens up again "Of course, my elite level life coaching services don't come for free. Don't think you get any special treatment just because we're friends"

"Oh.." you begin to reply awkwardly before she breaks into a grin and grabs you by the arm.

"I'm kidding, you idiot! Come with me, I'm a firm believer in doing rather than just talking. That's the Maisie Method!"

"Okay, but where are we going?" You ask.

"Questions like that are not living in the moment, my friend" Maisie cautions you "Just trust me. Oh wait, maybe I should get dressed first. I'm not going to be much use to you if I get arrested"

"Actually, you wouldn't have to worry about that. Everyone but me sees you as clothed" you tell her a little guiltily.

"Really? Geez, you are very committed to me being naked aren't you?" she pauses for a moment as she seems to consider whether or not this is acceptable "Fuck it, I like to feel naughty sometimes, and I wouldn't be a very good role model if I wasn't open to trying this. You'd just better have made it so people think I'm wearing something cute. Now, come on, let's go!"