Page 26 of Viktor at Sea

For a moment, doubt clouded her vision, but she quickly blinked it away.

“I do, thank you,” she smiled warmly at me before her eyes dropped to the flowers once again. When her lips twitched slightly at the corners, clearly trying to suppress how muchshe really liked the flowers, I grinned widely. “Are they joke flowers?”

My lips parted in surprise, caught off guard by her strange question. “What?”

“I’ve never seen you smile that big before, especially not around me. Well, not unless you’re making fun of me, and I don’t think you’re making fun of me right now,” Astrid murmured, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “So, there must be something wrong with these flowers. Are they going to squirt water in my face if I get too close to them?”

“No, of course, not,” I laughed, feeling a lot more relaxed. “I promise you that they’re regular flowers. They’re also the finest flowers you’ll find in Jorvik this week. The florist gave me her word.”

“Well, thank you once again. I’ll take them inside before I have to leave for the school,” she said. “I’ll see you later then, pirate.”

When Astrid disappeared inside the hut to put the flowers in some water, I quickly made myself scarce. The last thing I needed was for her to step out again and spot me still waiting on the steps like a lovesick fool.

I wanted her to fall in love with me, not be creeped out by me.

The good receptionfrom the flowers this morning motivated me to seek Astrid out at lunchtime. I waited outside the school hut for her. Since the weather was good, the children would have their lunch outside.

“Viktor?” Astrid called out to me, her tone laced with surprise as she descended the school steps. “What are you doing here?”

“I brought you lunch.”

“What?”

“I brought you lunch,” I repeated.

“You brought me lunch?” She repeated, and her lips parted in surprise just as they had done this morning when I turned up with flowers.

“Yes,” I chuckled and nodded. “I cooked for you and Kis. Don’t worry, there are no carrots this time.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but why did you bring me lunch?” Her questioning eyes were set on me. In the daylight, they looked almost green–my second favourite colour. The first was her usual hazel in most lighting.

“I just felt like it.” I shrugged, trying to play it off cool.

“What are you doing here, Viktor?” She asked me, and I could tell she wasn’t just asking what I was doing at the school today. She was asking what I was doing here in general, talking to her and bringing her lunch when we were usually at each other’s throats.

“Like I said, I brought lunch for you and Kis,” I evaded her question and made a show of looking around for the cat. Wherever Astrid was, Kis was never far behind, and vice versa. “Chicken for you and some fish for Kis. Of course, you can swap meals if that’s what you’d prefer. Though I must admit, the fish turned out a little fishier than I intended.” I pushed the two containers into her hands before she could say no.

Looking at Astrid right now, I couldn’t help but think she was right. This was a little full-on. I should have spaced things out. Flowers today, and a home-cooked meal for lunch tomorrow.

“And you cooked all of this yourself?” Astrid lifted the lids of the containers slightly to peer inside.

“Yes,” I grinned and nodded. “I spent a lot of time with Gustav these past couple of months. I’m not a great cook. Far from it, actually. But he’s managed to teach me a few things, andI can confirm that both dishes are edible and tasted reasonably alright when I tried them earlier.”

“I’ll just have to take your word for it,” she murmured, an unsure look about her. “Thank you for the food, pirate.”

“No problem,” I grinned and left before I said or did anything to ruin the moment.

The next timeI saw Astrid was when I went to fill up my water jug at the water fountain.

“Okay, this is starting to get really creepy now,” Astrid frowned, abandoning her jug as she turned to face me. “What’s going on, Viktor? Why do you keep turning up everywhere I am? Are you stalking me?”

“I promise I’m not stalking you,” I chuckled. “This time is a total coincidence.”

Astrid quirked a perfectly arched eyebrow at me. “Does that mean all the other times today were on purpose?”

“No,” I tried to deny, but Astrid saw right through it. “Fine,” I sighed, giving in. “Maybe the flowers and the lunch weren’t a coincidence, but I promise you that this is. I promise I didn’t know you would be at the water fountain right now, Astrid.”

“I don’t know if I can trust your promises,” she pursed her lips. “But thank you for lunch. It was great. Kis loved both the chicken and the fish.”

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