Impractical (Complete)

Chapter 21: Arkin

Jaris was like a small version of Glacio which Aiyana found it slightly discombobulating. The atmosphere was one of vibrancy, celebration and joy. It seemed that the whole city was out on the cobbled roads. Unlike Glacio, however, the rickety buildings were tall, unbalanced and not neatly ordered. Many were constructed from a pale wood, looking as if they would tip at strong wind. Aiyana hoped the area wasn't prone to earthquakes.

Lively music was emitting from the centre of the town. Tying their horses on the outskirts, Aiyana and Fox weaved their way slowly through the throng towards it, avoiding children playing at their feet with wheels and sticks and many random stalls selling jams, marmalades and pastries. The balconies were decked in blue fabrics and bunting was strung from each house. With pleasure, Aiyana considered the probable friendships made from asking one another to tie flags from their balconies.

In the plaza in the centre, a large sky blue maypole had been sprung. People were dancing around it, sitting at large tables piled high with picnic food, and violinists played their hearts out on a makeshift scene.

Aiyana grinned. "I love this."

"My lady," Fox teased, pretending to bow, "may I offer you this dance."

A contagious lightheartedness had crept into her soul, and Aiyana accepted his hand and let him spin her around, laughing. He placed one hand around her waist and pulled her hand to his shoulder.

"You must know how to ballroom dance."

Aiyana mockingly gasped. "So many assumptions!"

And she saw him.

Blond hair. Bright blue eyes.

Glacians typically had a golden to copper coloured skin, which glowed in good health in the sunlight. Their hair was dark. But not Arkin. He had pale skin, pale hair, blue eyes. He was everything in the opposite and therefore, stuck out like a sore thumb in the crowd.

She gripped Fox's hand. Stopped dancing. The world around her kept moving but for once, Aiyana no longer wanted to be involved. "There he is!"

When he saw Arkin, Fox's heart seemed to split at the seams. He felt like his throat was swelling, and it was like Aiyana had punched him in the gut again. Only ten times worse. He didn't like Arkin already. The only thing that kept him together was Aiyana.

Like a beacon, her face lit up, her eyes dancing, her whole body floating like it was in the air. Her smile was immediate, stretching across her face, reaching her eyes. He would do anything to keep her smiling like that.

She grasped his hand more tightly and started to push through the people, keeping her eyes firmly on the blond mop of hair that she could only just about make out over the sea of heads. As he watched Arkin move further and further down the street, up a hill, however, Fox swore that he saw someone else with him. He couldn't dismiss the growing unease in his stomach.

Eventually, the crowd thinned and Aiyana sped up the hill, on the verge of sprinting in her excitement. As she whipped around the corner, she saw Arkin entering a building, closing the door gently behind him without locking it. It was almost as if he wanted Aiyana to follow him in.

When they reached the olive green door, Fox pulled his hand from her reluctantly. "Maybe I should wait here?"

"No, no, no," she shook her head vehemently. "I want him to meet you. Can you believe of all the chances!" She was close to bouncing on her feet, the smile still plastered to her face. She was jittery but in a bubbly, positive way. She bobbed up and down, balancing on the balls of her feet. She grasped her hands together tightly, eyes shining.

She contemplated the door. "Do you think I should knock or surprise him?" She started to rub her scar.

Fox was steadily losing all his happiness. The downhearted feeling in his heart was a constant weight in his heart, holding him down. He grunted, "Both will be a surprise."

"You're right! I'm going to walk right in!"

Aiyana placed a hand on the doorknob and glanced at Fox, as if wanting his approval. He shook away his emotions. Since he had met her, he had managed to hide them well. Now was not the time to tell her how he felt. Now was not the time to ruin her excitement and happiness. Now was not the time to be Fox.

He mustered a smile and hoped it was encouraging.

She grinned at him, raising her shoulders as if there was a fountain of elation bubbling away inside of her. With a deep, steadying breath, she pushed open the door, Fox tagging miserably behind her.

They were greeted by a tall staircase. Immediately, though still in silence, Aiyana climbed the stairs two at a time. Fox followed more slowly and gingerly, aware that his size would make more of a noise.

I won't ruin her happiness.

I won't ruin her surprise.

At the top landing, there were two matching olive doors. On the right, one had a neat placard next to it. It was fussy, written in elegant calligraphy with a feather and ink. It was so obviously Arkin's that Fox didn't even bother trying to decipher the name.

From behind the door, there was the sound of laughter. One was a woman's. Arkin wasn't alone.

Too late, Fox feared what was behind the door. What if Arkin wasn't as faithful as Aiyana had been?

But she had already pushed the door open.