Page 100 of Victorious: Part I

I look around, realizing he’s right. The light has shifted from golden to deep orange-red, the shadows now long and dark across the park. It would be easy to get hurt in here with limited visibility.

“Just one more set of shots,” I plead. “Over by that big slide. Honestly, we’re not going to get this chance again, and the content for this place truly is magical.”

Phoenix checks his phone. “Fine. Ten minutes, then wereallydo have to get out of here.”

I nod, then hurry over to the tallest slide—a massive, twisting structure that must have been the park’s centerpiece. The setting sun catches the faded red plastic, making it glow like it’s on fire.

As I’m shooting, I spot my friend, the cat, again, watching me from a safe distance. A small smile crosses my face, but this time, I just keep working, hoping it might get curious enough to come closer on its own.

The light fades rapidly as the sun dips below the horizon, and I finally pack up my equipment, satisfied with what I’ve captured. The abandoned water park has exceeded my expectations. The shots are moody, evocative, perfect for the campaign’s vibe.

“What did you think?” I ask Phoenix as we walk back toward the truck.

He surveys the darkening park, now looking more ominous than charming. “It’s sad, I guess. All this work, all these dreams that someone built, just left to rot.”

His words hit something deep inside me. “Yeah. Makes you think about how fragile everything is. How quickly things can fall apart.”

We share a look, and I know we’re both thinking about home—about the club, about what might be happening while we’re out here playing tourist.

The fight from earlier suddenly seems petty and small.

“I’m sorry,” I say quietly. “About earlier. You were right. I should be more careful about what I post.”

He shakes his head. “No, I went about it the wrong way. You’re just doing your job.” He runs a hand through his hair, looking tired. “I promised I wouldn’t make you feel like a burden, and then I went and did exactly that. I could have handled it so much fucking better.”

“You’re worried. I get it. We’re both just trying to figure out how to handle all of this.”

I rest my hand on his arm, just lightly, but he looks down at it like I lit a match on his skin.

When he lifts his gaze to mine, something shifts in his expression. It’s not the usual clipped control or distant frustration.

It’s heat.

Animalistic hunger.

Something unspoken and absolutely not allowed.

My heartbeat kicks in. The air between us stretches tight. It hums with something sharp, electric, completely and utterly dangerous.

I don’t move.

Neither does he.

My breathing quickens, and I notice his does too. The air around us feels like it’s getting thinner, almost like even though I’m frantic for breath, I can’t catch it. His hand finally moves slowly, deliberately, and gently slides up, caressing the side of my face. The instant he touches me, I bite down on my bottom lip, my chest heaving with the adrenaline flowing between us. I forget where we are, what we’re running from, and I get lost in those intense blues.

I see it in his eyes.

The second he decides, and my stomach explodes with butterflies.

“Fuck it!” he growls, his hand on my face pulling me toward him, our lips—

BANG!

A loud pop cuts through the silence like a gunshot. We both jolt, breaking apart just before our lips fully connect, a hiss rising behind us, followed by a thick stream of white smoke from the truck.

“What the?” Phoenix snaps, both our heads jerking to the side.“Oh fuck!”he groans, taking off at a run, and I chase after him without thinking.

My Converse slap the concrete, dust kicking up in little puffs. The smell hits before we even get there—sweet and chemical, biting at the back of my throat. Steam pours from under the hood of the truck like it’s bleeding.

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