I think the vendor down there is doing flash tattoos. In all my lifetimes, I’ve never gotten a tattoo so I didn’t think to go check that booth out. I wish my eyesight was better so I can see what my anime main character is doing down there.
My eyes widen as the guy takes off his shirt and then lies down on the table the tattoo artist brought. Even from here, I can see that the guy is lean and toned andhot.
Welp, guess it’s my turn to have a nose bleed.
“Why is your face so red?”
I turn towards my friend, my eyes still wide. I feel like my brain is being scrambled but I do my best to act like nothing is the matter.
“Thinking about your dad this time.”
“Oh, fuck you,” Bren says, messing up my hair. I pinch him in the side as retaliation and then we have to stop before we start wrestling and bump the table full of fragile ceramics. I do my best to focus on the people milling around and checking everything out instead of wondering what sort of tattoo the redhead is getting.
I feel like I’m coming down with a cold or something because I feel weird all over. It feels like electricity is in the air and at any moment, I’m about to be hit by lightning. The air is filled with magical possibility.
Or maybe that’s just mehopingthat magic is in the air. Life is so gray that I could use a little magic, no matter how it comesabout. Sparks might hurt but at least they meansomethingexciting is happening.
Maybe the coffee was a bad idea because now I’m filled with jittery energy. I toss my empty cup into a nearby trash can before standing in front of Bren’s booth, talking to people and showing them how they could paint their own mugs.
I finish explaining how to use the paints to a couple of kids before standing up and turning back towards the booth. My heart stutters in my chest and my breath leaves me all at once.
There he is! He’s here! At the booth! Oh my gods!
Fuck, why am I freaking out? He’s just a guy!
My mouth is dry but even so, I do my best to speak. “Hi,” I say, the word catching in my throat. My cheeks feel so hot I might actually burn someone, but it’s fine because the guy catches my eye and grins.
“Hello,” he says. His eyes are the prettiest color I’ve ever seen. Not quite brown but not quite red. They kinda remind me of lava. I feel like I could lose myself in them.
Jesus Christ, what is goingon?Lose myself in them? What the hell does that evenmean?
I open my mouth to say something else but someone bumps against the guy’s back. Fuck, was that Raphael? He drops the ceramic in his hand. When it hits the ground, it shatters.
The guy stares down at his feet in horror, the color draining from his face. Then he looks back at me.
Without thinking, I reach out and grab his arm. Sparks dance across my skin and my body goes warm all over. His eyes widen even further, his cheeks bright red with embarrassment.
“Hey,” I say gently. “Are you okay?”
Chapter Three
Jin
After meeting Brenda andgetting myself some coffee, I wander through the mall. There’s so many booths that it’s almost overwhelming. Almost every store is doing some sort of sale or event as well.
I can’t stop smiling as I move from store to store, taking it all in. My wallet is unhappy with me but I don’t care. I like spending money. It’s not like I can take it with me once I die. Why hold onto it when I can bring myself joy by buying things for myself or for people I care about?
That’s why I’m getting a job! So I’ll have even more money to spend.
I find myself a new hoodie, a winter hat, the most adorable cat charm that I immediately add to my keys, and a new phone case that’s got the red logo of a volleyball team I like to watchsometimes. I also get so many coupons for the future. Today is fucking awesome!
At the end of one of the aisles, I find a woman with bright blue hair, snake bite lip piercings, and a charming smile. Her eyes light up when she sees me for some reason.
“Hello,” she says, gesturing me over. I look at her booth, seeing a table and a bunch of tattoo equipment.
“Hi,” I say with wide eyes. “You’re a tattoo artist?”
“I am! Today I’m doing a special.”
