Fixation (excerpt) - moved to Galatea

Chapter 4

The bazaar is a godsend. It's delightfully busy, conveniently noisy, and packed with stands diverse enough to appeal to both of us. You couldn't have a proper conversation here even if you really wanted. Which I, of course, don't. We get sugared mini donuts and fresh lemonade to snack on while we peruse the square. Eventually, we stop at the shooting stall.

"Want a toy, little girl?" He teases, pointing at the large stuffed green dragon hanging behind the targets, with a 1st prize sticker on it.

"There is absolutely no chance you are that good of a shot," I say flatly, "Also, the rifles are probably tampered with."

He nonchalantly shrugs, like it doesn't bother him.

"Wanna bet?"

"Like hell."

"Fine. I will accept your unlimited admiration and a decent amount of groveling when I inevitably make you eat your words."

"And I will have tissues ready when you undoubtedly, miserably, fail."

He fake-shudders. "I love when you treat me like garbage."

I laugh, smacking him on the arm. He fakes being hurt, then approaches the stall and pays for the rounds. The guy working it informs him he has to hit five tens in five tries for the dragon.

"Watch and learn, baby," he winks at me, before adjusting the rifle on his shoulder. The baby part makes me almost choke on my mini doughnut. Before I've even swallowed it, he hits two tens. Then a third.

"Shit," I mutter, starting to doubt myself.

"Nervous?" he mocks, before scoring fourth. The guy at the booth frowns at me, obviously blaming my taunts for Vernon suddenly becoming the world's most reliable shot. When he is about to pull the trigger for the fifth time, the absurd thought he's actually about to win my heart along with the dragon scrambles my brain. Like hypnotized, I shuffle closer to him, letting my knuckles brush over his hip. It's barely a touch, yet his body reacts with a stiffness that makes him straighten up a bit. He hits a nine.

I'm relieved for the briefest moment, as he carefully puts the rifle down, and ominously slowly turns to me. I gulp, inexplicably scared and aroused at the same time.

"You little witch," he rasps in a dry voice that does all kinds of things to me. Those liquid black eyes burn with heat as he takes a step forward, and I'm so shaky with excitement I'm sure I'll faint if he touches me.

"Second prize, that's a turtle," the guy says, oblivious, and holds the toy out. Vernon cuts his darkened gaze to him, as if debating whether to smite him or accept the prize. I quickly grab it, beyond thankful for this interruption.

"Thank you," I say to the guy, and gesture at Vernon to follow me, the tension almost vibrating around him. He looks at me with unseeing eyes, before he vigorously rubs his face with his hands. We stroll in silence for a while, me holding the toy like a shield, him occasionally sighing in defeat.

"You shouldn't have interfered with the last shot. You'd have the dragon," he finally says, eyeing the turtle mournfully.

"It's too big to carry anyway. I prefer the turtle," I beam at him, petting it like it's a cat. "Thank you, Vernon."

"Any time," he says, mellowing down. "Anything else you want to get? Or see here?"

I'm so carefree by this point I don't think clearly. I completely fail to stay vigilant. So when I say 'no', and he suggests a stroll through the park, I don't realize that's the last thing I should do with him. Be alone in a dark place.