Who We Are in Real Life by Victoria Koops

Author:Victoria Koops [Koops, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Groundwood Books Ltd
Published: 2024-01-11T17:56:16+00:00

Art IRL

“Fee, fi, fo, fum,” Alex caws. He scrambles and stomps on the bridge. Fallen leaves scatter around his boots.

My foot taps against the weathered wood. I crane my neck at every car that drives by. The next one might be her. Or not? What if this was a stupid idea?

I check my phone again. The last message is the series of directions I sent her. She hasn’t texted me back.

Adventurers wanted:

Date Night, Fairytree

Bridge. 6:00.

Bring your sword or staff, costumes recommended.

I shove my phone back into my pocket and correct Alex. “That’s giant speak. Not troll.”

He stops. “You’re a ray of sunshine today.”

“Who invited you anyway?”

My best friend hunches over. He raises his arms and tickles the air with his fingers. “I’m just getting into character. You should be thanking me! I’ve got some serious talent.”

“Yeah.” I take in his outfit, red cap, denim vest and all. He’s committed, I’ll give him that. I mean, where did he even get that prosthetic nose from?

Alex pulls the pointy red cap off his head. “Hey, don’t judge. You’re the one who organized this whole live-action role-playing date. Don’t blame me if she doesn’t show up.”

“She’s coming.” I crane my neck to look down the road again.

“That’s what she said.”

I’m about three seconds away from launching him off the bridge, when the sound of tires on gravel makes me look behind us at the little parking lot.

And there she is.

Darcy slides out of a silver car. She’s wearing a pink wig. She clutches a smooth white mask to her chest. Behind her, Monica waves at me. Darcy whispers to her mother before closing the door.

She’s not just beautiful, she’s epic.

She ties the medico della peste mask onto the strap of her messenger bag, then pulls a staff out of the back of the car. She’s wearing a long dress with a poufy skirt that bubbles out around her ankles. A linen apron hugs her curves, pulled tight around her waist.

She looks good with pink hair, exactly like Poppy IRL.

I look down at my hoodie and jeans. Between Darcy and Alex, I’m underdressed.

Darcy waves and smiles.

Behind me, Alex whispers, “Damn.”

That shakes me out of my daze, and I remember how this is supposed to pan out. “Go away, idiot. You’re supposed to be under the bridge, remember?”

My date giggles. I shoot one last desperate look at Alex.

The words dry up inside me as I approach her, and I kick myself. Why is this so much harder than talking to her about Game?

Darcy tucks a piece of pink hair behind her ear. “Hi.”

“So, you look —”

“Stupid?” she asks.

“What? No!”

She plays with the hem of her dress. Her mouth is set in an embarrassed half-smile, half-scowl. “I made it for a convention. My entire group in the city went as our characters that year.”

I step closer. Then reach out and touch her elbow. I notice for the first time that she’s not wearing her glasses. I thought her eyes were large before, but without those thick black frames, she has anime eyes.

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