Chapter Text
Victor would not admit how long it took him to pick out an outfit. He would also not admit how much time he spent worrying about it once he finally did.
He sighed, falling back on his own bed and rereading Nova's text. Again.
It was a little jarring to see her name pop up on his screen again, especially since he had never changed her profile picture. To see 12 year old Nova staring up at him, and opening a text string with her to see an old “Love you” was…
Ehem. difficult.
He had responded almost immediately, then panicked when he thought he responded too fast. He had thrown his phone down, then immediately buried his face into a pillow.
Why was he incapable of being cool, literally at all with her?
He sighed, putting his phone down again, and glancing at the clock. 6:30. Okay. he could wait till then and not panic. It was fine.
But as he sat down to sketch, or do homework, or literally anything, he couldnt help but overanalyze everything in his mind.
Why did she want to go to her house? Did she make sure her dad wouldnt be there? Was she still mad at him? Was there any possible chance that she was secretly in love with him?
Yeah, those last few may have been wishful thinking. Still, a boy can dream.
He sighed, setting his sketchbook down, and rubbing his eyes. It had been a lond day, and even though he didn’t need them too often, his eyes hurt. So, he pulled out the glasses from his desk drawer and set them on his nose.
He could feel a shiver run through himself, the sensation still reminding him of the time that Nova had slipped his glasses on his face after cleaning them with her shirt.
He sighed, looking out the window. Was he doomed to be reminded of her every other minute?
Before he could further rabbit hole himself into his own mind, his door slammed open, and two people came in and flopped onto his bed.
“I’m going to kill Mr. Laufner.” Vera mumbled into the comforter. Victor snorted, and pulled out his notebook.
“Come on, the assignment is not that hard. Besides, you have Vargas as your partner!” he said encouragingly. Vera groaned again, flopping back and whacking Vargas's head from where he leaned on the floor against the side of Victor's bed.
“Thats the problem. He just wants to blow something up.” she said solemnly. Vargas clutched his chest, offended.
“Hey, I had other good ideas!” he said defensively. Vera snorted.
“The project is for a natural based object of convenience.” she said like that explained it. Vargas nodded, as if this was obvious.
“Obviously. I think that sunglasses that perfectly replicate the night sky would be very convenient. For night owls. We would get so much more done!” he exclaimed. She snorted again.
“Yeah, for us. But we have a seabrook teacher. They don't want “Vampire” creations.” she said. Victor scoffed, like he was annoyed.
“Don’t say that like it's a bad thing. I think it's cool that we are called mystical creatures.” he said. Vera laughed.
“It’s meant as an insult Victor.” she said, exasperated. But Vargas shook his head and sat up.
“No, not anymore. Girls think it's hot now.” he said with a wink. Vera snorted, but he just nodded enthusiastically.
“It's true! Basically all the girls are obsessed with Victor now, and that guy for AP Lit was totally checking me out.” Vera scoffed, looking at the two of them.
“Obsessed with, and checking out, what?” she asked. Victor snorted, not looking up from his book.
“Ouch.” he said sarcastically. Vargas laughed, and Vera just rolled her eyes again.
Never a dull moment.
“Well.” Vera said, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes.
“I think we all know of at least one specific girl on Victor's mind.” she said with a grin. He froze imperceptibly, his pencil scratching on the paper.
“I don't know what you're talking about.” he said, but he was tense. Vargas laughed.
“Yes you do. You were all cozy with her today, and she couldn't stop looking at you at the game. AH, their love was written in the stars!” he said dramatically falling backwards onto the bed, while Vera laughed. Victor rolled his eyes, his cheeks red.
“Very funny.” he mumbled. Vera tilted her head, a curious look on her face.
“What IS going on with you two Victor?” she asked, her tone not accusatory, but… defensive?
“Nothing.” he said, looking away. They both raised an eyebrow at him.
“Nothing!” he repeated, his voice higher, as they both gave him a look.
“We are just partnered in a few classes. It's nothing serious, calm down.” he said. Vargas gave Vera a look, and she nodded.
“Do you want it to be?” she asked him. He looked up, confused.
“Want it to be what?” he asked. She gestured to his notebook.
“The so-called "things " happening with her. Do you want it to be more serious?” she asked. He ran a hand through his hair, sighing.
“Yes? No? I don't know, I-” he looked away, down at his writing.
“I don't know. I guess I do, but- should I want that? Still?” he asked. Vera shrugged, her hair falling into her face.
“I don't know. That's up to you.” she said. He groaned, putting his head back against the wall.
“I just don't think that's what she wants. I can never tell with her anymore.” he said. Vera snorted.
“I don't know how you ever could. She is an anomaly, and if it were me I would leave her alone. All she’ll do is leave again.” she said. Vargas gave her a sharp look.
“Vera.” he said in warning, but she just sat up.
“What? I'm not wrong. He's just going to get himself hurt again.”
Victor swallowed, looking down at the drawing of her he had been working on.
“You don't know that Vera. You don't know everything about it, it's… different.” he said, his thumb stroking the page. Vera scoffed.
“I know enough. All that girl will do, is make you sad again, and fucking up all the progress you made without her.” she said, her tone harsher. And Victor sat up, his annoyance rising.
“That's not fair Vera, and you don't know enough. My sadness wasn't all about her, and you know that. In fact, she helped me through a lot of it. And if you think that she was the problem in all of this, then you are desperately wrong.” he said. The room went silent for a minute. He sighed, and stoof up, grabbing his things.
“I have to go,” he mumbled. Vera opened her mouth, hesitated, then said.
“To her?”
He looked up, then sighed.
“Yeah. I always end up doing that don't I?" he said, laughing without humor. She looked at him, then sighed.
“Just dont… dont get your heart broken again.” she said finally. He smiled sadly and nodded.
“I’ll do my best.”
He was about to leave, when he stopped, and looked back, swallowing.
“Vera… I'm sorry.” he muttered. But she just shook her head and gave him a sarcastic smile. He smiled a little back. And yeah. They were good.
“Hey Vic?” Vargas called in amusement, just before he could leave.
“Yeah?” he asked, turning back. Vargas grinned.
“Go get the girl.”
—-----------------------------------------------------
Nova led Victor up the stairs to her room, her cheeks still burning hotter than the sun. Why did her mom have to do that? Just why? Did the universe hate her?
It did NOT help that Victor's presence behind her was warm, solid, and almost entirely too distracting. How was it possible that he was still slightly taller than her, two steps down? Oy vey.
She didn’t know what to think. Not after him confirming that he had in fact, switched his elective for her column, and he did in fact enjoy hanging out with her nowadays.
Well. maybe not switched the elective FOR her. Just… with her? It was too much. Too confusing, and she was not ready to face most of it.
But she would have to figure it out soon, because Victor was now standing with her at the door to her room, and she had to still her heart enough to make her hand not fumble with the door handle, as she opened it and stepped in.
She sighed shakily, and sat on her bed. But Victor didn't move, leaning against the doorframe as his eyes swept over the room, a slight smile on his face.
“What?” she asked. He shrugged, a grin pulling at his lips a little more.
“I don't know. It's just very… you.” he said with a smile, before walking in and sitting at her desk chair.
And yes. That was enough to make her stomach erupt with butterflies. Shut up.
She looked around, at the light colored room, the lamps with soft lighting and the flowers that adorned her walls, music records and posters everywhere. Pictures were hung every which way.
Yeah. She supposed it was very HER.
“So.” He said, tapping his fingers against the desk.
“Your mom seems cool.” He said with a smile. She nodded, looking back to the door.
“Yeah, she’s pretty awesome. Although, embarrassing me is her favorite pastime.” She said with a laugh.
He smiled, a wistful look in his eye.
“That’s really nice.” He said softly, his mind seemingly drifting.
She knew he was thinking about his own parents, and a short silence followed. Not uncomfortable, just… there.
He cleared his throat, pulling out his notebook.
“Right. So,” he said, pushing up his glasses, and pulling out his notebook.
“Natural devices.”
She groaned, flopping back on the bed, forgetting momentarily that she had to do work.
He laughed, looking over at her.
“Still hate science, I see.” He said, sounding amused.
“It’s the bane of my existence.” She said, her voice muffled through the pillow covering her face. He laughed, pulling her up, as he sat down on her bed.
“Come on, we have to get through at least the planning phase. Then, we can take a break.” He said, pulling out the posterboard.
She sighed, trying to sound annoyed but smiling despite herself. It made her too happy, despite everything, that he still remembered her working system,
“Fine.” She said, pulling the marker cap off with her teeth as he started one of his complex sketches.
“But you owe me a milkshake Barton.” She said, her smile wide. And he gave her a soft smile then, his glasses glinting in the light of the low sun out her window.
“Deal, Bright.”
They worked in tandem for a while then, exchanging notes, and laughing at some jokes, and falling into rhythm. It felt right, like they were back in that swingset, and the world was at peace.
She felt lighter, like his jokes, and his soft smile lifted a massive weight off her shoulders. Because it did. With him, working like this? She felt ready for anything.
Eventually, the work was set aside, and random conversation began.
“Wait wait.” She said, laughing for maybe the thousandth time that night.
“You fell asleep on a roof?”
He grinned and nodded, his smile bright and carefree.
“Yep scared the living daylights out of my aunt. She nearly sent out a neighborhood search party before they found me.” He said.
They were quiet for a minute, before bursting out into laughter again, tears practically streaming down her face as she fell into his side.
“Oh my gosh.” She said, her head falling to rest on his shoulder.
“I don’t think I’ve laughed this much in a while.” She said, her voice still breathy and giggly, her smile a permanent fixture on her face.
Victor laughed too, his hand resting on hers as they sat there.
“Me either Nov.” he said, the smile in his voice soft, and unbearably fond.
And they sat there for a moment. The closeness should have been awkward, but for some reason… it just wasn’t. It felt comfortable. It felt… right.
She sighed softly, her head still resting on his shoulder as his thumb brushed over her knuckles.
“Victor?” She said quietly.
“Yes Nova?” He asked back, his breath slightly shaky. She hesitated, then she spoke.
“I missed you.”
She could hear the hitch in his breath. The confession was quiet, almost… almost scared. But then, Victor pulled back slightly so he could look her in the eyes, not letting go of her hand.
“I missed you too.” He said softly. She could feel her breath hitch.
And suddenly, she realized where she was. She was sitting in front of him. And he was looking at her with those eyes, and his lips were… so, so close to hers.
She couldn’t stop herself from glancing down, and she looked back into his eyes, heat blooming in her cheeks when she saw him do the same.
“Nova.” He said quietly.
“Yes?” She responded, the word barely a breath, as she glanced down again. And the tension built like a stack of jenga, seconds from collapsing.
“Nova!” A loud voice called from down the stairs, sounding very close.
Both teens nearly jumped back, their cheeks turning crimson. They both stuttered words out, before a nova got up quickly, heading to the door.
“Yes mom?” She called, trying not to glance back.
“Victors aunt is outside for him.” She called back. Nova yells back saying she would tell him, then turned around to find him putting away his things, running a hand threw his hair.
She swallowed audibly as he stood, being unable to help looking into his eyes. He did the same, their matching blushes visible in the lamplight.
“I should, um, I should probably-“ he said, stepping out.
“Right yeah, um, of course.” She mumbled, stepping back and wrapping her arms around her middle as he walked to the door.
Just before he left, he stopped with on hand on the doorframe, seeming to hesitate, before turning to look at her.
She could feel her blush deepen, as he studied her, then his face broke out into a soft grin.
“It was good to see you, Nova.” He said quietly. Being unable to form coherent words, she nodded back, smiling.
He seemed to want to say more, before deciding against it, and smiling at her one last time before walking out of the doorway.
Then, he was gone.
She sat down on her bed, letting out a shaky breath, as her hands gripped the edge. She had no idea what to think, and the memory was still fresh in her mind, making her heart race, and her blood rush.
What just happened?