Spark(19)

“Wouldn’t miss it.” He glanced at his girlfriend. “Pema, I’d like you to meet—”
“Spark Jaxley,” Pema said. “Decent costume, if a bit uninspired.”
As if the warrior princess showing lots of skin was an original idea.
“Hey.” Aran untangled his arm from Pema’s grasp. “This is actually the real—”
“Aran, man, you have got to come over here,” a tall, gangly guy in a too-small costume interrupted, grabbing Aran’s shoulder from behind. “Cyndee just met one of the VirtuMax techs!”
“Hold on, Bix,” Aran said as his friend started moving away. “I want you to meet—”
“Well, come soon. I gotta get back, before Cyndee decides he’s a better date.”
“He’s a cute VirtuMax tech?” Pema asked. “I’m with ya. Later, Aran.”
With a swish of her hips, Pema turned and followed the tall guy away, leaving Spark blinking at Aran.
“Wait,” she said. “Pema’s not your girlfriend?”
She felt as if someone put the room on pause as she waited for his answer.
“No. I just met her yesterday.”
The lights flashed, red and green and purple, and the music pulsed through the air, kick-starting Spark’s smile.
“You met a lot of people yesterday,” she said, trying not to grin too much.
“But only one that I’d like to know better,” he said. “Want to dance?”
“Sure.”
They found a corner of the floor, and she was glad to see that Aran was a good dancer. Nothing too flashy, nothing too geeky, although she had to laugh a little when they started copying one another’s robo-dance moves.
The DJ put on a slow song, and Spark hesitated. Then Aran opened his arms, and she went into them. She slipped her arms around his shoulders, and their bodies gently bumped as they swayed together. It was straight out of a too-sweet movie, but she didn’t care.
She was just a girl, dancing with a boy, and everything in the world was right.
The music stopped too soon. She leaned her head against his chest a moment longer, counting his breaths.
She pulled back a little and touched the dash of indigo in his black hair. “Is this new? I like it.”
“I just redid it. My rebel streak.”
“I think it goes deeper than your hair.”
She could picture him, riding midnight streets on a sleek grav-cycle, pushing the speed limit, flying over the horizon toward dawn and freedom.
“Maybe.” His expression was shuttered.
“Break time,” the DJ announced. “Grab some refreshments, and meet me back here in ten!”
Spark stepped out of Aran’s arms as the room lights came up.
“Want to get some punch?” she asked.
“Not really. That glow weirds me. Maybe just a glass of water.”
“Let’s go to the kitchen.” She tilted her head to the half-hidden door in the corner of the suite. “That’s where they keep the high-class beverages. You know, water, fruit juice.”
“Caffeinated drinks?”
“Definitely.”
Spark led him around the plastic ferns in the corner, and they slipped into the empty kitchen. The remains of frantic party-readying were evident in the empty food containers scattered over the counters and the glowing red puddle of punch in the sink.
“I think there’s a coffee maker in here somewhere,” Spark said.
“I’m good with soda.”
She opened the fridge, and Aran snagged a silver can of high-octane soda.
“You planning on staying up all night?” she asked.
“Maybe. If the company keeps being this good.”
“Does that line actually work for you?” She had to admit, though, it had. A little.
He laughed. “Hey, if it’s true, it’s not a line.”
She rolled her eyes. But no matter how much she liked him, she had some questions she needed to ask before he distracted her again.
“I want to hear more about your experience in Feyland,” she said, trying to keep her tone light. “We didn’t get enough of a chance to talk about what you thought of the game-play.”
“I told you—it was interesting.”
“That’s not very detailed.” A shiver of unease went through her. “What, exactly, did you do in there?”
He set his soda on the counter, then took her hands. “That’s not important. Have you ever seen the sun rise over the sea?”
“You’re avoiding my question.”
“Look. I’m trying to ask you out. We’ll have plenty of time to talk as I show you the city. That is, if your keepers will let you go.”
She couldn’t help the pleased glow that warmed her from within.
“If they don’t, I’ll fire them.”