I watched the fire erupt from the statue of the bird-like god Avaxl. The people around me clapped and cheered before moving on to the other stalls of the festival. I remembered that the statue had scared me the first time I’d seen it and Leslie had thought that was hilarious. I couldn’t help being disappointed by the fact that I wouldn’t get to see the display at the next festival.
A bag of plastic containing a cheese filled wrap was suddenly shoved under my nose. “Thanks,” I said as I took it from Leslie, giving them a sideways glance.
“You seem distracted,” they commented.
I looked back at the Avaxl statue, the edges of its beak charred black from the flames that came out of it. “Just thinking how much I’ll miss this.”
“Ywtoejdkfsnhudjtikefdsmjnhufj?” Leslie asked at the same instant a nearby drum started up followed by a trumpet.
“What?!” I yelled, the music only getting louder.
Leslie glanced over their shoulder at the procession down the next aisle, then grabbed my hand and led me away from the crowd. The music was still loud, but near the edge of all the festival stalls it would be easier for me to hear.
“I was saying that you really like this festival,” Leslie said.
“Well,” I replied, chomping on the snack they’d bought me, “I’m mostly in it for the food.”
Leslie looked at me with a sad little smile. “Idwehtkejfnk it’ll be the same without you here. I’m not sure I’ll come next year.”
We both stayed quiet, the music loud in the background while I ate. I would be going inside the System soon. I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I was before, but… well, at this point, it was impossible to imagine being without Leslie. I could tell they felt the same.
I finished eating, crumpling the juice filled plastic in my hands. “If things go badly,” I started.
“Dax.”
“If things go badly,” I repeated, looking up at Leslie who stared back with a frown. “I can leave,” I continued. “I can escape if things go wrong. Besides, maybe everything will go so smoothly, the whole thing will be over before the next festival.” It was a silly thing to hope, I knew that. But I wanted Leslie to know it was something I wanted: to come back as soon as possible no matter what. Even if that meant we had failed.
The music had finally ended. Laughter and a buzz of conversation came from all directions while Leslie wrapped me in a hug, planting a kiss by my ear.
“No matter what happens,” Leslie said, “I’m not coming back to this festival without you.”
To be continued…