Smolder

Chapter 31

Vivi felt in the world again. That might not be such a good thing.

Russell was alive. That was good news.
Arlo was there. That was good news.
Nobody had any clothes on, that was interesting news.

But they have powers.

And she didn't.

And that made her the only person in the group to have no powers.

The rage!

On top of that, Orion turned out to be quite a show off, running off at inhuman speed and standing still to wait for them to catch up, clicking his tongue every time one of them tripped on a rock, which was abundant in the mountainous terrain.

Vivi still resented Isabella a little for leaving the dragon behind, something about the city being a holy place and no monster allowed in. Well, when they get there, Vivi was gonna her whoop holy ass.

Elli was walking at the front(front for humans, not Orion) with Isabella, nodding gravely as Isabella talked. Sometimes she'd throw questions, and nod gravely as Isabella answered.

Arron was walking in the back, looking beat. Vivi couldn't blame him. She overheard some of what they talked about last night.

Okay, fine. She overheard all of it. It happened right in front of her! Nothing she could do but hear.

For some reason, she felt the strangest urge to go forward and ruffle his hair. Admitted, his short-not-short blonde hair was very ruffle-worthy, but she figured it'd be an awkward scene if she ended up poking his eye instead.

Falling back a little, she called out to him, "Oi."

Arron jolted and tripped, falling on his hands.

Grabbing his arm, she pulled him up, "Sorry."

"It's okay," Arron said, shaking his head, "shoulda seen that coming."

"No you shouldn't have."

Arron looked up questioningly.

"If you saw the rock before you stepped on it, it means you're walking while looking at the ground," what was she even saying? "You shouldn't look down while walking. You should look forward."

Arron looked at her for a moment, expression dull.

Then, "What?"

"What?" Vivi doubting she was visibly showing how much she was regretting this.

Then he slowly grinned, which turned into a smile, which turned into a full blown laughter.

A laughter is a contagious thing, soon they were both laughing their lungs out. Vivi clasped her knee.

Arron was first one to stop, "Yeah, look forward. That simple."

Vivi could almost physically feel the wist in his voice.

"Look," her voice suddenly getting from jolly to forced, "you don't have to force yourself. It's a lot to process, I know that.
So... " She suddenly lost the next words. Arron was looking at her expectantly, as if her words will magically make everything so much better.

Vivi knew it wouldn't.

"... You can cry if you want too, you know." And she was contradicting her own words now, "You really don't have to go through these alone."

Arron looked at her for a moment, as if looking at the words she spoke rather than she herself.

"I know I can cry, Vivi," he finally spoke, "the question is if I should."