Sincerely, Vintage

Part 17

Vince

[Song: War by Livingston]

It took all of Vince's concentration to focus on the tech in front of him. Tracey sat next to him, talking and laughing with Hrida and Derrick, oblivious to the turmoil she was causing. Her neon hair kept catching Vince's eye, but he kept his head down, acting like he was lost in his work like always.

It felt like it took an eternity for everyone to finish their coffee and go their separate ways. Vince took his time cleaning up the mess he'd made, so he was the last one out the door. A bit further down the street, he saw Tracey vanishing into the crowd. She turned to wave goodbye to Hrida, her mouth moving with words he couldn't hear.

Vince turned and walked the other way, head down, hands in his pockets. The twists and turns of the city blurred together until he looked up and found himself near the docks at the edge of the city. Barely anyone lived out here, so the streets were empty except for a breeze coming through from the ocean. The buildings dwindled until only an abandoned warehouse stood before him.

[Song: Can You Hear Me Now by The Score]

The sound of the door's rusty hinges echoed eerily in the empty space. Vince stepped into the warehouse, his eyes gradually adjusting to the dim light.

Dusty skylights let in some of the early morning sunshine. Graffiti decorated the walls in places, and a few windows were propped open to let in some fresh air. The building had been built out of concrete and steel, making it a perfect place to practice.

Vince kicked off his shoes, leaving them next to his sweatshirt in the corner. He stood in the middle of the empty warehouse for a moment, breathing deeply and listening to the wind whistling through the windows. He closed his eyes and brought his hands together. When he felt a small flame spring to life in both of his palms, he leapt into motion, racing across the room. He thrust one hand out, blasting fire from his clenched fist, then anchored his foot, swinging the other around to release a blistering wave of flame.

Time melted away until he only existed in a continuous state of motion, the fire dancing around him as he struck at invisible enemies. He felt wide awake for the first time in a while, aware of the energy racing through him and igniting at his fingertips. The fire reminded him every time, as if it had a voice.

This is how it feels to be alive, human and breakable, and only a step away from ruin.

Vince's eyes snapped open and the fire faded away, leaving him standing there, surrounded by silence and echoing space. He sank to the floor, pressing his palms against the cold concrete. Anything to keep himself stable. When he brought his hands up in front of him, they shook.

He kept up a calm front around his friends, but deep down, fear wreaked havoc on his mind, the kind that grabbed your heart and lungs in an iron fist and squeezed until you couldn't breathe. He didn't want to face Kol, but at the same time, he couldn't let one of his friends take his place.

It has to be me.

[Song: Superkid by Livingston]

He slipped out of the warehouse and headed back to the inhabited parts of the city. The cluttered chaos of the streets made a sharp contrast against the silence of the docks. When he opened the door to his apartment, he didn't even turn the lights on. He grabbed his headphones off the desk on his way to the balcony.

He sat down with his back against the brick wall outside, eyes closed to the sunshine, music bouncing in his ears. Before he knew it, his head drooped closer to his chest, and he drifted off.

—————

[Song: Heartbreak Anthem by Galantis, David Guetta, & Little Mix]

The glint of afternoon sunlight in Vince's eyes told him that he'd slept longer than he meant to. He picked himself up off the balcony floor and stretched his arms over his head. The light caught the clouds of smoke above the city, outlining them in neon.

If only my camera wasn't out of film.

He soaked in the view for a moment longer, then climbed down the fire escape and began making his way to Tracey's apartment. He hadn't been there since the night of the monster attack when he'd walked her home. That felt like forever ago.

A few minutes later, he emerged from the stairway that led to the roof, holding a hand up to block the light.

"Hey Vince!" Hrida stepped down from a ladder, moving back to admire the string of lights she'd just hung.

"Where's everyone else?"

"Downstairs. They're getting all the food together."

"Nice." Vince knew Tracey would never admit it, but she had always been a great cook. Every time the group of them got together, she always showed up with something good, even though there weren't many options for food these days. As if he'd been summoned, Derrick nudged the door open with his foot and came out onto the roof, balancing platters of steaming food in both hands.

"Let me help you with that." Hrida went over to take one of the trays from Derrick. Vince didn't miss the look that bounced between them. He took a seat near the edge of the roof and gazed out over the skyline.

The view up here was incredible. Below them, the city rolled on and on, like the train rug he used to have when he was a kid. He'd spend hours laying on the floor and watching the mechanical engine whir around the tracks, fascinated with how electricity could bring an inanimate object to life.

Derrick came to sit next to him, offering him a drink without saying anything. Vince took it and the two of them sat in comfortable silence, watching the world go by.

"Food's ready!"

Vince turned around and almost fell out of his chair. Even in a white crop top and jeans, Tracey looked radiant. The light of the setting sun seemed to soak into her skin, illuminating her from the inside out.

He stood up like nothing was wrong, trying desperately to clear his head, but when Tracey turned and smiled at him like that, he almost fell apart.

Pull yourself together.

The evening flew by, and the shadows lengthened until they had to turn on the lights strung back and forth across the roof. Derrick pulled out his speaker, and before anyone could stop her, Tracey had commandeered the playlist. Vince recognized the intro of one of her favorite songs playing.

She grabbed Hrida by the hand and pulled her to the middle of the dance floor, waving her hand for Derrick to turn it up. The beat of the bass vibrated in Vince's chest, and he felt himself smiling.

Now he really wished his camera had film. The glow of the lights played on Hrida and Tracey as they danced, their arms in the air, lit up Derrick's smile as he cut in and took Hrida's hand. Tracey shook her head and laughed, then kept dancing even though she was by herself now.

When the song changed, Vince took his chance.

"Dance with me?"

When she turned around, he almost lost his nerve. Suddenly, coming over here didn't feel like such a good idea.

But then she grabbed his hand and gave him a twirl, a playful smile on her face.

This can't be happening.

But it was definitely happening. Tracey closed her eyes and tilted her head back, still dancing. For a moment, he went back in time to the moment when they'd spent the day painting and danced together and he'd told her-

He stopped himself. So much had changed since then. For now, all they had was this moment, music blaring as the two of them danced on the edge of the roof, and for this moment, everything felt beautifully, perfectly okay.

[Note: Tracey's favorite song is Levitating by Dua Lipa feat. Da Baby. I feel like it suits her vibes perfectly.]