Chapter 20 || The Questioning Hues

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It's been a while... I know... but here's an update <3

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Unedited asf

THE QUESTIONING HUES

It's Saturday.

Daniel told me he wants to take me to the fair today; so here I am, stood in front of my mirror, looking at my physique and wondering what to wear.

I decide to opt for a simple long sleeved shirt with a knee-length leather jacket, baggy jeans and sneakers.

Having worn my clothes and texted Daniel, I listen patiently for his impatient honking.

My phone buzzes, and I smile at his text, opening the door just in time to hear him honk.

I wave at him and he gives me a flash of his dimples before signaling me to come over. I bound over to the passengers seat and hop in, greeting him excitedly, "hi, Dan!"

Daniel raises his brows quizzically, "Dan?"

I look down and anxiously pull at the sleeves of my jacket, "ah, my bad..."

"Nah, it's cool that we're already on nickname basis. Didn't strike you as being one to warm up so easily."

"I don't... not usually. But you seem like a nice guy."

I see him smiling from the corner of my eyes, but he says nothing more as he drives us towards our destination.

God, why couldn't I be normal?

Such a nice boy yet such a waste for me, to be in love with my much older muse; one who I could taste at the tip of my tongue yet never quite reach far enough to be within his loving embrace.

And just like that, I find myself wondering what my favorite man is doing today.

Maybe he's taking care of his kids at home? Could he be on a date with his wife?

I unconsciously sigh and Daniel looks at me quizzically, but says naught. I flash him a tired smile and he seems to peer into my eyes with his little hazels, only to find nothing.

My wall transcends his concerned gaze, much too high for him to look over towards the pandemonium reigning within its depths.

Well, I might as well forget about my reason of living for today, and enjoy a bit. It would be a waste if Daniel finds me depressed the whole day anyway.

"We've arrived," he states, breaking me out of my thoughts, parking the car.

I step out and look around at the vivacious surroundings, the sound of tinkling laughter of kids, the smell of popcorn wafting right into my nostrils. The colors seem to saturate the whole surrounding, stimulating my vision so much that I have to blink, and a small smile makes its way onto my features.

"I guess thks little kid is happy to be here," Daniel's voice floats into my eyes and I giggle, giving him a friendly nudge.

At least he makes me smile, even if only for today.

"Shall we go?" He quizzes, extending his hand out to me.

I take it generously, and he leads me into the fair towards a stall selling popcorn.

"You want some?" He asks me, and I shake my head, knowing money is tight right now.

He seems to read my mind, because he shakes his head, "it's on the house." And then turns to buy one packet of popcorn.

"Hey, you don't have to!" I insist, pulling on his arm in embarrassment.

"My treat," he doesn't budge, and I admit defeat, taking the popcorn and munching on it.

"Where should we go first?"

I look around, at the ferris wheel, the horror house, the circus, the mirror hall, and I uneasily point towards the circus, since my mouth was full of popcorn.

Daniel smiles cheerily, "of course you'd choose that. That's your habitat."

I elicit a small gasp and playfully smack him, before we being making our way towards the circus. I stop, though, because something catches my eye.

"Is that a 90s photo booth?" I ask excitedly, pointing towards a slim stall.

Daniel nods, and I flash him a toothy smile, "let's go take some pictures first."

"Alright! Seems like someone is getting into high spirit."

"Can you blame me? I haven't been to one of these before."

"Ah, that says a lot," I think Daniel regrets saying that, because he bites his tongue and puts a hand over his mouth, looking at me wide-eyed.

I give him a sad smile; he's not wrong. My life has been pretty stagnant. At least, until a certain someone came into my life and drowned me in his ocean.

I wouldn't have it any other way, though.

"My bad for saying that, Namora," Daniel bites out dejectedly.

"Heyyy, it's okay. I don't mind. I know I'm a pretty somber person, I'm trying to come out of my shell though," I tell him, giving him a shy, sheepish thumbs up.

"Yeah I can see that, but that was really out of place of me," he sounds genuinely so apologetic, I can't help feeling bad.

"You can stop, it's okay. I don't mind, like I said," and then I don't know what comes over me, but I grab his arm and race towards the photo booth.

I want to forget, if only for today.

I want to have fun, if only for today.

Daniel follows limply behind me. The "Photobooth" sign glares at us as we reach it, looming over us, as if chastising me for my thoughts. Intimidating me for my desires.

Or maybe I'm just drowning too much in blue hues that I fail to realize the questioning hues of Daniel behind me, like molten lava slowly seeping into my skin.

I shoot him a quick look and hobble into the tight stall. He emerges shortly after me, and slides some wads of cash into the processing machine.

The screen flashes on, and I cozy up into the seat, Daniel next to me. The screen suggests poses and in moments of threes, gives us time to pose.

The first pose was goofy, having us give each other bunny ears.

I giggle as Daniel puts his hand behind me and forms two peace signs. He has a sheepish smile on his face, so boyish; so youthful; so unlike the man I have my eyes on.

The second pose had us make funny faces to each other, and I can't help laughing when I see him poking his tongue out to make me smile.

The third pose was a bit intimate. His arms were supposed to wrap around my waist.

I can see him hesitating, as do I.

But then again, I did intend to have fun.

Fúck it.

I grab his hands and wrap them around my waist myself. He stiffens, looking down at me questioningly, but he doesn't say anything.

I have to loosen up.

So I wrap my hands around his shoulders, giving him a shy smile, before looking at the camera.

He doesn't look at the camera; he keeps looking at me.

"Uh... Daniel?" I mutter as the shutters flash, slowly looking back up at him.

"I can't seem to solve you, Namora," he murmurs back, his scathing eyes; questioning hues scouring my face as if looking for some sort of missing puzzle.

Oh, Daniel, you won't find anything.

And then, something happens.

It feels like a zing; I don't know, some sort of heat. A wave of electricity.

Or, perhaps, it is my doom.

"—Hello, is this stall...?" A voice, all too familiar, stops us short.

Fluttering heart, mouth agape, my brown eyes clash against oceanic blues:— blues drowning the wrath of Hades; descending upon me like a sharpened sword.

I feel as if I want to be swallowed whole; as if the mountains should crumble to fall upon my head; as if I should fall to my knees and weep.

"...Namora?"