"Wake up Jules"
July felt a hand shaking her shoulder gently. She groaned as she slowly opened her eyes, letting out a smirk when she saw Fran already up.
"Our untamed beast is throwing a tantrum outside" He teased but a bark sounded from the door.
July stared at him for a few seconds, trying to process the words, but she gave up and turned her back against him.
"5 more minutes" she tried to get back to sleep as she covered herself up again.
"She wants 5 more minutes!" Fran shouted.
July was about to fall asleep again when small, quick footsteps began to sound closer to her.
"I warned you" Fran went to the door.
"Oh no" she said weakly before being crushed by the wolf.
The animal tried playfully to get July awake, jumping on her back gently and licking her face.
"Noou, stop" July said mockingly at the dismal attempts of getting her up.
The wolf grunted and started scratching strong enough to make July moan from pain.
"Ouch! Okay, okay." She said as she straightened up and rubbed her back.
She looked at the wolf and pouted "I hate you a little bit more every time you do that"
She put on some comfortable jeans and a sweater twice her size and joined Fran, who was outside waiting for them, appreciating the view and drinking from a hot mug of coffee.
"Took you long enough" he said before taking a big sip from his cup.
July rolled her eyes, tapping the bottom of the cup lightly and running like a kid after misbehaving.
Fran spat and began to cough.
"Hey!" he said between coughs and laugh.
The wolf did something close enough to snort as he walked towards July.
She gave him a mischievous look "We must go now, y'know Wolfie doesn't like to run with the sun"
Fran sighed, but he couldn't help a grin.
Moments later, the three of them were running in the surroundings. A habit they had made during the 12 days they already had in the town.
"We just have 2 more days before the big event" July said between gasps.
"Yeah, we've got almost everything. Right?" Fran's breathing was way more controlled.
July stopped, hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.
When her breathing slowed, she spoke again "We have the helmets, harnesses, ropes, and carabiners"
Fran kept jogging without advancing "I think we just have left the crampons and the boots"
The wolf sat beside July, tapping her lightly with its snout.
July ignored him "You always forget the walking sticks"
"True" Fran helped her up without quitting his jogging.
July stretched her back "I can get rid of the crampons; the vendor is kind of manipulable"
"Good. I think I can try to negotiate with Fortis and Satis about the boots" Fran said.
"That leaves us with walking sticks as the last unknown" July replied.
"Yeah... Moluv is a rough tinkerer" Fran stopped jogging, sitting on a rock nearby.
July followed him, sitting next to him "And a worst salesperson"
Fran smirked "Why do you say that? She is all love and flowers" his words dripping with irony.
"Ha ha ha" July rested her forearms on her lap.
The Wolf grunted, but he jumped up the rock and laid down between them. Fran started petting his head.
"No, really. The only way we get those things is if Fortis gives us the biggest raise of all time" July's voice was more serious, almost worried.
Fran remained steady "Relax, we'll find a way"
July nodded "Of course we will"
She stood up and did some stretching, offering a hand to Fran.
The wolf's tail wagged when he took it.
Both kept running, the sun rising on the horizon.
"Soo, have you thought about my proposal?" Fran brought up the subject casually.
July lost her cool for a moment, rubbing the back of her neck without slowing her speed "I-I'm still, like., thinking about it"
Fran raised a brow.
July immediately talked again "I mean, not like I don't want to compose a song with you, it'd be great..." her usual confidence disappearing completely.
"But?" Fran finished her sentence.
Both slowed their pace, Fran looked at her expectant, July felt his eyes pressing on her.
July started rubbing her arms "It's just... just like, I mean..."
Fran didn't push her; he just waited for her to find the right words.
After more stammering on July's part, she took a deep breath and spoke in a slightly trembling voice.
"I've never done anything like that with someone before, it kinda scares me" there was a vulnerability in her voice that made Fran feel a knot on his throat
July quickly added "And I don't know how to write" trying to restore confidence.
Fran didn't answer right away, he took a few seconds to think about what to say.
"You know" he started, soft and calm giving July the sense of safeness.
"My mother used to tell me," He kept talking "that what is meant for each of us..." he turned to see July's face "will only come if we stand up for it"
His words were touchy and made July feel a strong emotion, she felt tears burning behind her eyes.
She rubbed her eyes "You're the softest soft of all time" a faint smirk curling her lips.
Fran grinned "What can I say? I'm good at it"
July's sass subdued for a moment against the emotion of the moment. But it got back when she nudged him playfully.
"Guess I must stand up for our crampons" She said as she got up, walking towards the town.
The wolf barked.
She raised her arms in answer "I'm not spoiling it this time"
Fran tsked and the wolf grunted with amusement.
He watched her go with a dumb smile on his face.
As his gaze kept locked in July, a voice interrupted the moment.
"So, you're stealing lines to flirt" the voice said
Fran kept petting the wolf's head, not sure if what he listened to was real.
"I'd never seen you looking at anyone like this" the voice said.
Fran's dumb smile widened into a grin the moment he recognized the voice.
"Like what?" he replied
His mother pounced in front of him, a teasing, vivid smile tugging at her lips "With that spark in your eyes"
Fran stared at his mother figure, she always looked the same when they talked; wrinkled cheeks, the lock of gray hair often covering her left eye.
She pointed at his face and added "and that smile that screams 'love' to the four winds"
Fran chuckled; lowering his head ashamed.
Her smile softened, she sat next to him and put what was supposed to be a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Do you like her?" Her voice was playful but not sharp, not trying to scold him.
Fran hesitated for a moment, he exhaled through his nose before adding "She is great, she doesn't fear to say what she thinks," his words filled with amusement.
His mother listened sincerely, hugging her knees as Fran kept talking.
"She plays the guitar too, you must listen to her voice, her voice is..." He let out a love sigh.
"She is beautiful" he couldn't help a smile when he thought about her green eyes.
Fran's mom snorted, then laughed softly.
"Does she sing better than me?" her tone bracing the warm.
Fran remained silent, finally lifting his head towards his mother's appearance. His heart was drumming.
"Nobody sings better than you" He said as if the question itself was an offense.
"I don't deserve anything anyways. Not after what I did to you" He tried to keep his gaze, but the pain and regret freed the first tear, and he looked away.
The wolf reacted, waking up and resting his snout on Fran's shoulder.
His mother's face softened.
"Hey, look at me" she cupped his cheeks, forcing him to look at her. Fran felt for a moment his mother's hands; small but firm, they caressed him in a way that gave him both death and life.
He met her eyes again; hers tethered them with the pain, steadiness and love just a mother could convey.
She scolded him, though there wasn't rudeness in her voice.
"The only thing you owe me as my son, is your happiness"
Her words crushed him emotionally, his breath ragged, he tried to stop the tears, but his walls couldn't contain the surge of everything he tried to hide.
The woman opened her arms with a smile so fragile it could be broken with the wrong words.
Fran ignored the wolf and pounced onto them, letting himself believe that this wasn't delirium, just for a moment he believed that his mother was holding him, that she forgave him, that she loved him after all and that she really meant her words.
He sniffled on her shoulders as she patted his back gently, humming a melody she used to hum when he couldn't sleep. He tightened his grip around her with each croon.
The wolf stared at him, concerned, it wasn't foreign Fran talking alone, or finding him crying.
But, both? It was certainly alarming seeing him like this. Still, he wanted to help, so he just stayed aside and waited.
After a few minutes, Fran calmed down, and with the emotions being jailed again, the absence of real skin clutching his heart.
He clung to his mother until he felt nothing again.
When he opened his eyes, the emptiness wasn't just where his eyes were fixed on, but in his chest.
He didn't plead; he never pleaded. It was a gift just to listen to her voice, and now, even if it was just in his mind, he hugged her, and that gave him enough to keep going and more.
Fran turned to the wolf, who never stopped watching him.
He gave him a tired smile, still sniffling "I'm okay now"
The wolf blinked twice.
Fran chuckled "Yeah, sorry for scaring you"
He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly "We should go and try to convince Fortis to borrow his boots"
The wolf barked in agreement, jumping off the stone and following the road to the town.
Fran grinned "Or ask him for a raise"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I'm just asking for a few coins less" July said urgently.
She was talking to Moluv, a tall woman with curly, purple short hair, her shoulders and back broad enough to carry an anvil on them, a scar crossed her nose making her even more intimidating. She looked rude and pissed.
"No" Moluv said as she kept organizing the inventory.
July rubbed her temple "Please, Moluv, we need those sticks"
Moluv raised a brow "And since when is that my problem"
July furrowed, there weren't many people who could irritate her, unfortunately Moluv was one of them.
"Bitch" July cursed.
Moluv shot her a look, July looked back with fire in her eyes.
"I'm not reducing my price" Moluv said arrogantly.
"And I won't leave without that shit" July replied defyingly.
Moluv paused on what she was doing and focused on July.
"Stubbornness won't be enough this time" Moluv air quoted "chosen one"
July clenched her fists, her breath ragged.
"Happy town they said" July said angrily.
Moluv smiled triumphantly "You're so easy to bother"
July yelled "I'm not! You're unbearable"
Moluv snapped "Don't yell at me again"
July's words came sharp "Why? Big idiot can't handle a couple words?"
"Careful" Moluv narrowed her eyes.
July crossed her arms and tilted her head mockingly. "Or what?"
"You might regret it" Moluv shrugged.
July waved her hands dramatically "Oh please no! Don't raise the price!"
Moluv shooed her with a look, but July gave her a wicked grin.
July made the hush uncomfortable, the silence buzzing inside Moluv ears.
Moluv furrowed "Enough!" She struck the table.
"Get out of my workshop" She raised her voice, clearly annoyed.
July's grin widened "Make me"
Moluv walked towards her with a wrench in her hand. July waited for her, grin smugly.
Moluv raised the wrench hintingly "Do I have to say it twice?"
July snorted, her voice defiant despite her inner fear "Are you showing to me your beaming dildo?"
Before Moluv could answer, the doorbell sounded. Fran had just entered the workshop.
"Hey, Moluv! I need some-" He cut the moment he felt Moluv's emotions.
It was pure rage, but it dissolved into amusement the moment she noticed his presence.
"Fran! How are you?" She threw the wrench and smiled, her voice softening at Fran's figure.
In that moment something shifted, she wasn't ragging anymore, her heartbeat accelerated less like a surge and more like a triumphant trumpet
He wasn't the only one who noticed the abrupt change.
July gasped, indignant. Just a few seconds ago Moluv was about to hit her with a wrench, and now she was polite and relaxed? Something was off.
While Moluv and Fran talked, July huffed, focusing on getting into Moluv's head, the woman was one of the best speaking English in the place, she didn't have to translate anything in her head, it was like she had 2 native languages.
The moment she unlocked her head, a wave of thoughts unleashed in her head, her nose bled again, but she tried to focus on Moluv's thoughts.
Her head was a mess, not from crazy, but something worse.
-Is he looking at me different this time?
-Am I being funny enough?
-I love when his hair does that
July's stomach twisted.
Was Moluv in love with Fran?
July felt a knot tightening in her chest, a chill ran down her spine, her blood was boiling. And she hated it.
Not just Fran laughing at Moluv's extremely poor jokes, but the nascent fear blaring in her head.
She pounced onto Fran's side, crossing her arm with his without thinking.
"I think we should leave now" She said cockily, pulling Fran with her as she left the workshop.
Moluv narrowed her eyes, her shoulders tensed the moment July tightened her grip around Fran's arm. Still, the woman smiled when Fran waved a hand at her.
Outside the place, July looked back with a wide grin on her face.
She remained triumphant for 3 more seconds, until Fran tapped her shoulder.
"What was that?" He said with a lost tone.
He pointed to her grip and spoke again "And what's this?"
July's face went red, instantly letting go of his arm.
"Sorry!" Her hands in her face as if she could disappear with them.
"I just didn't want to stay in that workshop anymore" She exhaled, trying to hide the embarrassment.
Fran teased "y'know, you just had to ask for my hand"
July groaned "It's not that!"
She glanced at him through a gap between her fingers, smiling despite herself when she saw his smirk.
She put her hair back and said quickly "I'm gonna go walk"
Fran's gaze softened "Oh, okay"
"See ya later in the cottage?" She added with a wink.
He blushed faintly, nodding and hurrying to the shack.
July watched him go; she pouted.
She groaned in frustration, pulling violently the edge of her shirt.
What she hated the most was the feeling. She had been saving her heart all her life, and now she was in love with some random guy she met in the woods.
At first, she tried to ignore the feeling, ignoring the flowers falling in her belly, her heart wanting to rip itself from her chest and kiss him.
But when she found herself staring at him just a second longer, trying to find excuses to feel his skin against her, or sighing every time he flexed his arms, she knew it was useless trying to fool herself.
So, she simply accepted it, she just had to wait until the big event, when they got to climb the mountain called who knows what, with luck enough they wouldn't make it.
She walked, rubbing her arms at her footsteps pace. Her mind spiraled until a hand sank in her shoulder.
She turned to see Satis, the woman with gray hair and her unmistakable scar across her left eye, an amused smile tugged wildly at her lips.
"Walking alone again?" Satis said softly.
July gave her a small nod.
"Mind if I join you?"
July thought for a moment, shrugging when she saw the smile Satis was giving her.
For a while they walked together in the town's surroundings, not glancing at each other, July was submerged in her own thoughts, and Satis feared breaking the moment.
Until Satis broke the silence "What's in your head?"
July said coldly "Nothing"
Satis nudged her arm playfully "Common, you know you can tell me"
July hesitated for a moment, stopping abruptly and nodding towards a bench nearby.
When both sat down, July sighed, rubbing her arms harder.
"Have you ever fell in love?" Her voice trembling, barely stronger than the wind.
Satis smiled teasingly "Oooh, is about Fran, isn't it?"
July flushed, shamefully looking away "Kind of"
Satis laughed "I knew it! It was obvious, really, you two don't know how to dissimulate"
July remained silent, her eyes fixed on the floor, shame turning her ears pink.
"Does he know?" Satis asked.
July pinched the bridge of her nose "Of course he doesn't"
"And what are you waiting for?" Satis asked impatiently.
"I don't know if I'm going to tell him!" July replied.
Satis furrowed "Why?"
July's breath ragged, the truth heavy in her chest "I don't want him, I mean, I want him, but I don't want to want him"
She shook her head, her voice small "I didn't get lost in a forest to fall in love"
Her words scattered Satis body creepily, the truth as unsaid as screamed in and behind them.
July felt the world around her grow, she felt small, her chest rising and falling with violence, her vision blurred for an instant.
She was about to scream when a hand grounded her. Satis placed her hand on her shoulder and spoke with the gentlest tone in the world.
"Hey, it's okay. It's not your fault, you cannot choose how or when to fall in love" Satis said.
"Nor when to stop it" Satis finished with a trembling voice. Her words drew a single tear from July; it rolled down her cheek and fell on the bench.
"It's just so unfair y'know," Her voice trembling as much as her lips "he is the only one whose mind I cannot read, and his thoughts are the only ones that matter to me"
Satis nodded, reassuring her hand on July's shoulder.
After a few moments July slowed her breathing, the world not suffocating anymore.
"I just hope he doesn't feel the same" She whispered.
Satis raised a brow "Why?"
July didn't answer, she couldn't tell her the truth.
Not due to lack of confidence. The truth was big, bigger than her, it always got stuck in her throat, unable to come out.
She just hoped that her beloved didn't love her back, that he wasn't in love with someone like her.
She wished he didn't love someone who wanted to die.
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That night Fran and July found themselves at the 'Scorso baiser', Fortis bar.
The payment was enough for them to buy most of the things they would need, and Fortis gave them food, so they never starved.
Fran was behind the bar counter, he already had some experience as a bartender, younger he worked in many bars playing his guitar, and after the show he lingered in the establishment but serving drinks.
For July this was her first time working as a waitress, she was more used to be the one swallowing her sorrow through long and fiery shots of rum. She couldn't complain, people in town were respectful, unlike in the city.
The payment was enough for them to buy most of the things they would need, and Fortis gave them food, so they never starved.
Fran was preparing a drink when Fortis approached.
The big man patted Fran's back and spoke "You are an awesome bartender. We're almost going to miss you"
Fran grinned sheepishly.
"Don't forget about me" July said as she put empty glasses in the bar.
Fortis chuckled "We don't exactly keep you here due to your efficiency"
Fran joined the mockery "You're here just because you are friends with the owner's daughter"
Fortis shoved him with such strength Fran almost threw away the mixture he was preparing.
July gasped dramatically "And here I thought it was my charming personality"
The three of them laughed until Fran gave July the new glasses and she left to deliver them.
Fran looked at her as if his eyes were glued to her figure.
Fortis noticed and rested his hand on Fran's shoulder.
"I need you to help me with something inside" He said as he pointed the door with his head.
"But who is going to attend here?" Fran asked, but it was useless as Fortis placed his enormous arm around Fran's back, pushing him towards the door.
"Just follow me" Fortis said with a dangerously excited tone.
When they went inside the storage area, a small and dark room with a lot of boxes.Fortis pointed to some boxes.
"Here, help me empty them" He said as he took a box and emptied it himself.
Fran took another box and followed in his steps, taking some bottles out.
Both laid down in the floor, until finally Fortis spoke "So, what's between July and you?"
Fran chuckled "So that's why you bring me here"
Fortis tossed him a beer, Fran hesitated but opened and sipped from it.
"The way you look and talk to each other, that's something special, kid" Fortis said, his tone softer.
Fran wiped beer from his mouth with the back of his hand "We're just friends"
Fortis teased "Really? You know that maybe you won't live 2 days further"
Fran didn't even flinch "That's the problem, how am I supposed to tell her?"
He took another sip and cleared his throat.
"This one's strong"
Fortis nodded with a knowing look.
"By experience I tell you kid, if you don't regret not telling her now, will only be because you'll be death" Fortis added, his voice serious now.
Fran raised a brow "By experience?"
Fortis nodded.
Fran put his beer on the floor, expectant.
"You just have to tell her" Fortis said and gulped another sip of beer.
Fran teased "C'mon, what could motivate me more than Storytime with Fortis"
Fortis snorted, he lowered his head, but a faint smirk betrayed him.
"Gods, where shall I start?" His face lit up as a life lived long before Fran crept back to the surface.
"She was... perfect"
Who was that?"
Fortis eyes were fixed on the floor.
"Cordis" His voice was heavy with guilt, and the grief of a love that had been lost.
"She was my everything" Fortis eyes lit up, still fixed on the floor, but with beautiful memories behind them.
"She is the reason why I woke up every morning, why I healed every scar" A sad smile curled his lips.
"She said she wasnt brave, of course she wasnt, you cannot be brave when you fear nothing" Fortis voice was barely a whisper.
"And though she was tough, she never hid her feelings, she was what she wanted to be" Nostalgia taking control of him entirely.
Hush invaded the room for a few seconds before Fran broke it again.
"How did you meet her?" He asked cautiously.
Fortis smiled.
"Cordis was a regular customer at the bar that my father ran at the time"
"Before we were something, I saw how every night, she rejected at least three poor guys" Fortis smile widened with irony.
"She usually was polite, but one time..." Fortis raised his voice, excited.
"Oooh, one guy was very persistent, he went every night with a flower"
Fortis' voice was filled with emotion and nostalgia with every word "Until one night, he got tired of being rejected. He tried to pull her by the waist, but Cordis broke a glass on his head without hesitation"
Fran's chuckled, he certainly expected anything but that.
"The boy tried to grab her by the neck, but Cordis slapped him, she kicked his knees making the poor guy kneel besides her" Fortis was almost clapping at this point.
"She placed the flower behind his ear and took his chin 'I hate flowers' she said before shaking the dust off her dress like nothing!"
Fortis laughed stronger this time, wiping away tears.
Fran watched him with awe, Fortis really loved her.
"What happened next?" Fran asked.
Fortis tried to catch his breath but failed "She came to me, she apologized for the glass and said she will pay it"
"I said that it was nothing, but she insisted" Fortis voice was more relaxed now.
"And we started talking, date after date she always told me that she was going to pay for that broken glass" Fortis tone turned into something softer.
"She ended up fixing my whole life" Fortis eyes fixed in the darkness of the room, as if he could see her hidden in the shadows.
Fran waited for a few seconds, expecting him to continue the story.
Fran hesitated before asking "What happened to her?"
Fortis face hardened, guilt plunging all over his face.
"That's another story" Fortis said with a sigh.
Fran nodded, and smiled "I think July is handling everything very well"
Fortis gave him the ghost of a smile; he breathed deeply and retook the conversation.
"This place has always been peaceful" Fortis started.
"We have always been a very close community" His shoulders tensed "And you know how us humans are when there is peace"
Fortis took a long sip of his beer, then continued "If the world doesn't give us problems, we made them"
"One bad day, I decided our tribu deserved progress" He rubbed his temple.
"So we went to where the prophecy said the gods hid"
Fran's eyes widened "The mountain"
Fortis nodded as he explained "I reunited a small group of people, the strongest in body" he pointed a finger to himself.
Then exhaled, his voice trembled faintly "And the strongest in spirit"
Fran rested his arms on his knees "Cordis"
Fortis nodded.
"Satis was just born when she said she was going to go with us" Fortis chuckled "She was the most stubborn woman from the whole world"
Fran smiled faintly.
"And though she was still weak from the birth, she never complained, she endured everything til we reached the top"
Fortis smile vanished, his voice suddenly lower "From there we could see the whole Forest, our town included"
Fortis clenched his fists unconsciously "We felt like we could with everything"
His voice laden with grief and guilt "That was our last kiss. On the mountain's top"
Fortis took a moment to breathe, when the words left his mouth a feeling burden long time ago escaped with them, something Fran felt the moment Fortis started talking.
"After that, we found the 'calcolo del sagesse' hiding between rocks"
Fran tilted his head "Calcolo del sagesse?"
Fortis explained "The stone you and July touched and supposedly gave you powers"
Fran nodded. Fortis looked at him with a suspicious expression "Though you dont seem to have any power, unlike July's mind reading power"
Fran gulped, he felt kind of guilty about it, no one knew about his power, that he could feel what everyone feels.
He was about to talk when Fortis talked again.
"Anyways, maybe it just forgave your poor existence" Fortis voice faking amusement.
Fran shrugged, and waited a moment before pushing gently "What happened with the Calcolo?"
Fortis sigh trembled; he ran a hand down his face before talking again.
"Cordis, she, when she-" His breath ragged, a lonely tear rolled down his cheek, burning with regret "She just vanished. The moment she touched that damn stone, a golden aura enveloped her completely"
Fran's jaw clenched, he could feel Fortis grief clutching his chest tightly, his heart squeezed by a guilt too big for a human to be carried.
Fran simply sighed "It feels unfair, doesn't it?"
Fortis gaze remained fixed on the floor "Yeah"
Fran hesitated for a moment, but he took a long and deep breath and relaxed his shoulders.
"My mother thought that no one deserves a second chance" Fran's words digging painfully in Fortis heart.
Fran's voice was trembling, but steady with a determination that didn't belong to him "You can't erase what you did, and you can't earn an apology..."
He felt tears burning behind his eyes, a knot in his throat that he untied out of pride "But, that's why it is called mercy, right?"
Fran ended, almost like a whisper "Maybe you have to be more compassionate toward yourself"
Fortis eyes were glassy; he forced a smile and patted Fran's shoulder "You're too young to know that"
Fran gulped another sip of beer, clearly trying to avoid the guilt gnawing inside his chest.
"More than anyone should" Fran whispered to himself.
Eternal seconds happened between them, Fortis assimilated Fran's words, keeping them for him.
Fortis looked at him with a new kind of tenderness for Fran "I shouldn't be telling you this, but tomorrow will be a tribute party for you and July"
Fran raised his brows, though his voice was small "A party?"
Fortis smiled "Nothing fancy, just drinks, music and stuff"
"You could take her out dance" Fortis said.
Fran laughed bitterly "I don't think she would like that"
"And would you like it?" Fortis replied.
The ghost of a smile illuminated Fran's face "Yeah"
"You said it yourself" Fortis patted Fran's back.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from inside the bar. The door got slammed open by a furious July.
"The hell are you doing here?!" July said with a hand holding a tray with at least 8 empty glasses.
Fran immediately stood up, with an ashamed smile "We were just talking"
Fortis laughed "I completely forgot I am running a damn bar"
"He is such a good distractor, isn't he?" July teased, though her voice was sharper than her smile.
Fran blushed slightly, Fortis gave him an 'I'm telling you' look and went directly to serve all the drinks.
Fran followed Fortis, but his mind wasn't where his hands were, maybe he could take her on a dance after all.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The day was going as usual. A morning walk with Fran and the wolf, and a guitar playing session with them too.
A friendly conversation with Satis by afternoon.
July never expected a whole party when she got back from her talk with Satis.
The square was vivid with colors; the air carried the faint sound of laughter and the strong smell of hearts melting.
Streamers of all colors, torches burning with a bright green flame, and in a small scenario was a group of people beating drums, blowing flutes and shaking rattles.
Fran was the first to meet her, he was already dressed like a parochial.
He was wearing a simple green shirt, a dark green sash around his waist and what looked like black pants. And for the cold a brown wool coat.
July bit her lip when he saw him "They made you wear it?"
Fran scratched his neck "I lost a bet"
July chuckled softly.
Fran looked at her in the eyes with a shame but playful smirk "And it included you"
July raised a brow "Wait- what?"
"He means" Satis voice sounded from behind her, she took July by the shoulders.
"You'll have to wear it too" Her voice was filled with mischief and victory.
July narrowed her eyes and pointed a finger at Fran "Traitor!"
Fran shrugged "It was the only way to convince Moluv!"
July groaned, a smile curling her lips despite herself.
Satis took her by the shoulders "I'll dress her just for you" she winked at Fran.
Fran watched them go, July grinned at him mockingly, with that cheeky grin of hers that made Fran's heartbeat accelerate, he hated how much he loved it.
He sat on a bench as he scanned the party, the laughter echoed through the place, the torches lighting the place. But it wasn't what was in front of him that attracted his attention.
He looked up to the moon.
It was bright, a full moon that illuminated the place with a soft, cool glow.
"It's beautiful tonight, huh?" His mother asked him.
Fran kept his eyes locked on the moon as if her beauty was magnetic.
"Yeah, it's one of those nights" His voice carried everything, the weight of his past and future pressing down every inch of him.
Fran saw his mother by the corner of his eyes, she was resting her head in his shoulder.
"Welp, tonight it is shining just for you" Her voice was soft but steady.
Fran's eyes turned glassy, but they never let go of the moon.
"You mean it?" His voice cracking at the edges.
"I promise"
Fran closed his eyes for a moment, this could be his last night here on earth, and he wanted to spend it with just one person.
Fran finally opened her eyes, looking at the onliest thing that could separate his eyes from the moon.
July, bright with moon's light and shining more than the moon itself.
She was wearing a simple brown blouse that highlighted her eyes and hair, a dark green skirt that fell to her knees, her feet covered with her own pair of sandals.
Fran couldn't help but grin sheepishly when she approached him.
July took her skirt and did a flip "So, how do I look?"
"Beautiful" Fran replied, his voice was almost a whisper, a soft truth that escaped his lips.
July nudged him playfully "You dont look bad either"
Fran chuckled, but it stopped slowly, his face showing a vulnerability unknown to July.
"This could be our last night alive" He said as if their deaths were already written by god's own hand.
July tried to read his face, a face full of scribbles drawn with a brush full of feeling and a trembling hand.
Then she took his hand and gave him a determined look "We can make it unforgettable"
The start of a smirk tugged at Fran's lips "How?"
July closed the distance "With Chaos..."
She pulled him lightly and led him through the party "...music..."
She stopped in front of the small platform from where the music came from.
She turned to see him with, the desire making her eyes look all of him.
"And a little bit of romance" She finally whispered.
Fran smiled, and without hesitation he got up to the scenario, helping July up before taking his guitar.
"Lets play then" Fran said.
July took her guitar too, smiling like a kid before sitting next to him.
The music stopped when the band saw them, all of them nodded and gave them the whole scenario.
Fran and July changed a glance and started playing.
It was everything, a soft and comfortable sound, it was a plead for something beyond each other eyes, it was a smile and a tear, a laugh and a sob, it was theirs.
They strummed the strings passionately, so that the melodies would express what words could not get past their throats.
July started scatting, her voice soft and charming, Fran felt his heart accelerate when he saw her.
She was focused, her brow furrowed and her closed eyes saying more than her voice could ever have.
Something unexplainable floated between them, it was deeper than lust or wish. It was a raw love, ready to be transformed into something precious.
In that moment, in the center of what could be their last memory, they stood. The past stopped haunting them, the future no longer screaming for help, because in that moment they had each other. And that was enough.
The people started dancing to the rhythm of the soft melody, everyone moving at the sound that Fran and July played.
When they gave the last chord, everyone clapped and whistled, flowers were thrown to the stage.
July was breathless, but her face was brighter than ever, this is why she lived until now. She turned to see Fran, both wanted to keep playing, but the musicians from before were already taking their places.
Once they were below the stage, they started laughing, adrenaline fading but something warm blooming in their chests.
"So, how good is 'our last night in earth', huh?" July asked.
Fran lifted his chin with his hand mockingly "Hmm, I dont know"
Then he offered her his hand "Maybe good enough to invite you to dance"
July's heart almost jumped off her chest, her cheeks burning red now.
She grinned cockily "But there is no-"
A deafening drumming sound suddenly, followed by flutes and rattles. It was an energetic song, rowdy in a good way.
She hesitated.
She knew what this meant, he wanted to dance with her, she hesitated.
She thought about telling him everything, that he was making a mistake, that she came her to die, and she still planned to.
But maybe neither of the two will live after tomorrow, they had a mountain to climb, and just one more night was assured.
July took his hand, with no room for her fears to whisper to her. and led him to the middle of the party, near the fountain.
Their eyes lost in each other's, they tap danced as not their feet, but their hearts synced.
Their moves were clumsy; Fran catching July before she stumbled on her own feet. Both decided to take off their sandals, feeling the cold stone before their feet.
The locals joined them, mostly couples, others showing their dance skills.
Fran spined July, drawing a laugh that echoed from her chest. He catch her in his arms at the same time the music stopped. Love easing and tensing every muscle in their bodies, their eyes meeting like magnets.
Their faces grew closer, their hearts synced even with a fast beat. Their stomachs filled with butterflies, and a strange warmth blossomed in their chests.
The distance between their faces closened as if gravity was in each other's lips.
When their lips met, an explosion erupted in them, it wasn't a wish anymore, and it was better than they could imagine.
The kiss was anything but perfect, neither knowing exactly what to do. It was raw, but soft in a way that kept their lips stick together, not really wanting to let go.
Until the voices revealed from the corner of July's face.
She could listen Fran's thoughts, she kept her lips stick to his.
He thought her lips were soft and wet, the best ones he had ever kissed. It made her feel good.
He thought about the whole night, how he was enjoying it.
He thought about tomorrow, trying to picture them climbing it after this night.
It was a brand new world, the perfect addition for a night in heaven. But there was a single thought that made July's heart sank.
'I hope we survive tomorrow'
The voices returned.
Was he planning a life with her? That's what he was expecting from her? Because that was the only thing she couldn't give.
She opened her eyes wide from fear, pushing Fran away with both hands.
Fran was still dazed from the kiss, a grin in his face, but his brows frowned from confusion.
July shook her head "No no, this wasn't supposed to happen"
Her breath accelerated violently, and the voices began to shout at her. Not just the usual voices, but from all the people in the party, talking a language that she couldnt understand.
Fran placed a hand on her shoulder, but July quickly removed it.
"Hey, breathe, relax Jules, I'm here." Fran said, steady as ever, though his voice carried a faint of worry.
His words didn't reach her, July's nose started bleeding. Fran acted quickly, he took her by the arm and led her carefully inside Fortis bar.
The place was empty, the laughter and music now little more than background noise.
"Here, better now?" Fran's voice was soft, genuinly concerned, and July hated it.
"No! I'm not okay, it just- it wasn't supposed to end like this!" July's head increased the volume, her breath ragged, and the world seemed to distance her.
Fran sat right beside her and sighed "I'm sorry, I thought we both felt it"
July peeked from between her fingers, the voices increased.
Of course she had felt it, it was pure and genuine love. She just wonders, why? Why now that she wants to die?
"You don't get it" She said, her voice trembling.
Fran took her hand between his "Then tell me"
July looked at him, Fran wasnt even mad, his eyes were something you could expect from a lover; tender and a worry that came from the deepest part of his heart.
Tears rolled down her cheeks, her mind was chaos and her heart wasn't much better, the desconection between her thoughts and feelings making her feel an emptiness she was missing these past weeks.
"Its not fair..." She whispered.
"Not for you, you just chose the bad girl to love..." July sobbed.
Fran tightened his grip on her hand, he smiled sadly before replying "I didn't choose you, my heart did it"
He wiped a tear away fom her cheek and added "Its okay if you don't feel the same way"
July sobbed harder, hiding her face behind her hands as if it would place all her pieces together again.
"It's not that..." July breathed a sigh and continued "Just leave, Fran, please"
Her voice wasn't demanding, it was a plead.
Fran's heart sank "But..."
July cut him off "Please! Just... leave"
She looked away, rubbing her arms until they turned red.
Fran trembled, his breathing ragged and his eyes turned glassy.
He smiled politely before leaving the bar.
He collapsed a few steps away from the door. He tried to scream, but his throat tightened, he tried to cry but the tears got stuck behind his eyes, he digged his nails in his hand, trying to feel everything but guilt.
The same guilt that made him see her, tired, kneeling in front of him. His mother looked disappointed, but what hurt the most was her current state; she was trembling, tired, fighting for each breath, and it was his fault.
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