Slapped by Reality (Venti Fanfiction)

Chapter 6

I run across the long hallway, the doors of other rooms whizzing by. Thankfully, Charlie's apartment is on the first floor, so I don't need to go down any stairs.

I stand at the main door. A set of two big, oak doors. The doors to outside. Outside, where Venti is.

I push them open, cringing at the bright sunlight beaming down on me. I've been stuck in that grey room for far too long, I guess.

The doors close behind me, and just as I start looking around, I hear a familiar voice near my right shout, "Maude! Yoohoo!"

I turn and see Venti running up to me with a hand in the air. Then he proceeds to give me a hug. A very warm one.

"How're you doing?" He pulls away with a grin on his face.

"Good," I say, rubbing my eyes. I try to sound calm. Best act like I'm happy. His first impression of me wasn't great, so I need to make up for that.

'Selfish.'

'It's human nature.'

'Selfish.'

Venti tilts his head and squints his eyes at me, then opens them fully. "Doesn't seem like it to me."

I blink. He saw right through me. Then again, I guess I'm not the best at acting. If I was, I'd have at least twenty 'friends' crowding around me right now.

"Hmm, it's alright! I know how to cheer you up! I actually kinda planned it all when you left yesterday, ehe." He rubs the back of his head with his hand with a small smile.

He planned it after I left. He planned something for me. He was expecting to see me again.

"Thank you."

"No problem at all! Come along, we must not make haste!" He grabs my hand and runs while giggling, and I follow behind him, wondering what he's planning. I'm definitely touched. Probably more than he thinks.

But then I hear noises of people chattering ahead of us, and it gets louder and louder and obnoxiously louder. I'm filled with dread.

Venti's taking me to the busiest part of the city, the place with a small fountain and shops scattered everywhere. The place with bustling people. With lots of loud people. Lots of people and loud people. Two of the things I hate the worst.

Ah, yes. We've reached possibly the most deafening place in Teyvat. I cover one of my ears with my hand, but that does barely anything. So I grunt in frustration.

'Selfish.'

Venti looks over at me and tilts his head. "Too loud for you?"

I nod.

"Oh, ehehe, sorry about that. Guess it's really noisy here compared to Springvale, huh?"

I nod again.

"Well, don't worry! We won't be here for long. Just picking someone up, and then we're gonna pick someone else up, and then we can go to somewhere quieter-"

"Venti!" Somebody shouts. I look and see a girl my age near the fountain waving at him with a small smile. She has reddish-brown hair and bright blue eyes that could rival Jean's.

Venti smiles and waves back, then tugs me over to her. Is she somebody Venti's picking up?

"Hi, Anna! This is my newest friend, Maude! Maude, this is Anna!"

"Nice to - *cough* - meet you, Maude! I was really excited to see you," she greets with a slightly hoarse voice. Venti looks at her with alarm, but Anna only waves it off.