“And to wrap it all up, we have the Queen of Wands. You’re gonna find joy when you finally get this breakthrough. At first it’ll feel scary but you’ll find your courage to push through.”
I don’t think it’s possible for my face to get any hotter. I really wanna bury my face in my hands and groan but I really don’t want to mess up my mask. Instead, I nod at the fortune teller.
“Thank you,” I say, my voice breaking. I clear my throat. “Thank you. This is really reassuring.”
“Good. Nothing is guaranteed but you’re on the right path. Now it’s your turn to take life by the horns and make it happen.”
I’m still anxious as fuck and feel like I’ve done nothing but make a fool of myself in front of Viktor since meeting him, but at the same time, that’s okay. I’ve just gotta keep moving forward and find that bravery the fortune teller was talking about. I can do that. Tonight of all nights, I can make that happen.
“Shall we?” Viktor says, standing up and holding the tent open for me.
I smile as I stand. I like the way he takes the lead. I like the way he smiles at me, his eyes lighting up behind his mask. Somehow, already, I likehim.
“Are you hungry?”
“I could eat,” I tell him. He puts a hand on my back and leads me away from the fortune teller tent and towards one of the tables filled with food. His touch is somehow grounding but also leaves me feeling flayed open and exposed. I’m warm all over yet it’s not enough. I want to tuck him against my chest and bury my face against his hair.
“Why don’t we grab a plate and sit down together? I’d like to sit and talk with you, if that’s okay?”
“Yes,” I say right away, nodding a little too enthusiastically. “I’d really like that,” I add, a little softer.
We make our way through the line. I fill up my plate with some finger foods. There’s veggies and pigs in a blanket and even some fries. I also grab a brownie at the end of the line because I can’t resist having something sweet.
Viktor brings us to a table that’s away from the dance floor. There are a few people still wandering around but already, I can see a few people pairing off and sitting together at various tables.
We sit down next to each other. Viktor purposely moves closer until his knee is brushing against my thigh. I tingle all over in the most delightful way. My stomach is a mess, my heart keeps racing, the back of my neck itches like crazy but none of that matters because all of these feelings mean I’m here with Viktor.My body thinks Viktor is special and my brain is inclined to agree.
“I’d like to get to know you better,” Viktor says softly, taking a bite of a potato wedge.
“I’d umm, like that too.” Then, because he feels it necessary, he blurts out, "I'm sorry about before! I didn’t really wanna talk to that woman. I get overwhelmed really easily so I’m sorry if I don’t have the right words to say or if I go quiet.”
Viktor chews softly, his eyes wide. When he swallows, he nods. “That’s okay. That’s good to know, Duncan. Thank you for telling me. If things get to be too much, I can back off.”
“I don’t want you to back off.”
“Okay,” he says, smiling softly. “Then I’ll stay.”
“I’m just not used to this. I’m an artist. I do most everything inside away from other people. I’m not good at putting myself out there.”
“That’s okay. You’re doing a great job so far.”
The praise washes over me and I just barely keep myself from shivering. Oh. Viktor’s voice telling me I’m doing a good job makes me want to start running laps around the building. I’ve never felt anything like this before.
“Thank you,” I manage to say.
“It makes sense that you’re an artist. Your voice reminds me of music,” he says and then chuckles to himself. Does he have any idea what that does to my heart? His compliments make me feel like I could fly. “What sort of art do you do?”
“I prefer paints, especially acrylic, but I dabble in a variety of things. The main way I get paid though is through murals.”
“Really? That’s so interesting! Like big public ones or private ones?”
“Both. My most recent was a commission by an individual. He wanted me to paint a room in his house to match his base in a video game.”
Viktor’s eyes light up as I talk about this latest commission. Now that I’m talking, it feels hard to stop. He’s attentive and interested. I want to tell him everything. I want him to know me.
That’s such a scary feeling.
Viktor’s soft smile makes it a little bit easier.
