Chapter 278: Fencing tournament I

Chapter 278: Chapter 278: Fencing tournament I

Vivienne stepped out of the restroom and made her way toward the fencing hall.

The sounds of the competition reached her before she even entered—the sharp clash of blades, the squeak of shoes against the floor, and the announcer’s voice carrying across the gymnasium.

She quickened her steps.

She was just in time.

Vivienne entered the gymnasium and immediately looked toward the pistes.

There.

Christopher.

He was standing at one of the pistes with his fencing gear already on, his épée in one hand and his mask in the other.

He was just about to put it on.

Vivienne stopped for half a second.

"Oh."

She had seen him fence before.

And after that first time, she’d actually taken the time to learn more about the sport.

She had read about the basic rules, the scoring, the different types of weapons, and even watched a few matches so she wouldn’t spend the entire afternoon staring blankly at the piste.

She wasn’t an expert by any means.

But at least now she understood what she was watching.

Or, at least, she liked to think she did.

Her eyes followed Christopher as he adjusted his glove.

He lifted his mask.

For one brief moment, his eyes met hers.

Vivienne’s heart skipped.

She smiled instinctively.

Then he placed the mask over his head, hiding his face from view.

Vivienne stood there, suddenly conscious of the fact that she had hurried across the university, stopped to fix her hair, reapplied her lip gloss, and practically run into the gymnasium just to watch this.

Well.

She was already here.

Might as well enjoy it.

She moved toward the stands.

Claire and Amelia spotted her almost immediately.

"You made it," Claire whispered.

"Barely."

Amelia grinned.

"You’re just in time."

Vivienne looked back toward the piste.

The referee called the fencers into position.

Christopher raised his weapon.

The bout was about to begin.

Vivienne leaned forward.

She followed the opening movements carefully.

She understood the basic exchanges now—the advances, the retreats, the attempts to create an opening.

At least, she thought she did.

Then Christopher suddenly lunged.

The blades struck.

The referee called the point.

The scoreboard changed.

Vivienne smiled.

"That was his."

Claire glanced at her.

"You actually know what’s happening now?"

"I studied."

Amelia laughed.

"You studied fencing?"

"I wanted to understand it."

Claire gave her a knowing look.

"Of course you did."

Vivienne ignored her and kept watching.

Christopher was already moving again.

And this time, she understood enough to appreciate just how good he was.

The bout continued.

Christopher moved with an effortless precision that made even the difficult exchanges look almost easy.

He advanced.

Retreated.

Waited.

Then struck.

Another point.

The crowd reacted.

Vivienne leaned forward.

"Come on."

Claire glanced at her.

"You’re really invested."

"I want him to win."

"We know."

Another exchange.

Christopher’s stance shifted.

His movements were controlled, his balance perfect.

Vivienne’s eyes followed every movement.

The way he positioned his feet.

The way his shoulders shifted before an attack.

The way his entire body seemed to move as one with the weapon in his hand.

She had come here intending to watch him compete.

She hadn’t anticipated that watching him would be quite this distracting.

Claire noticed.

Then Amelia did too.

They exchanged a look.

Amelia’s lips twitched.

"Oh, she’s gone."

Claire glanced at Vivienne.

Vivienne hadn’t heard her.

Her eyes were still fixed on Christopher.

Another exchange.

Another point.

Vivienne clapped immediately.

"That was his."

Claire smiled.

"She isn’t even pretending to be subtle."

Amelia laughed quietly.

"She doesn’t have to."

Vivienne continued watching.

Christopher advanced again.

His opponent retreated.

Christopher waited.

Then suddenly—

He lunged.

The blades struck.

The referee called the point.

The crowd erupted.

Vivienne smiled brightly.

"Come on."

She was completely absorbed now.

The final exchange came quickly.

Christopher advanced.

His opponent tried to counter.

Christopher found the opening.

The blades crossed.

The referee called the final point.

The bout was over.

The crowd erupted into applause.

Vivienne clapped enthusiastically.

Christopher lowered his weapon.

For a moment, he remained still.

Then he reached up and removed his mask.

His platinum-blond hair, slightly damp from the exertion, fell loose as he pulled it away.

Vivienne went still.

Oh.

She had seen his face countless times in photographs, perhaps more times than she would ever admit (yes stalker much lol), and she had seen him in person on a handful of occasions.

Yet somehow, watching him emerge from behind his fencing mask after seeing him compete made the experience feel entirely different.

A few strands of platinum hair had fallen across his forehead.

His breathing was slightly heavier.

His lips curved into a smile as he turned toward his opponent.

Vivienne stared.

Claire noticed.

Then Amelia noticed.

Neither said anything for a moment.

Vivienne’s eyes moved over him almost involuntarily.

His face.

His mouth.

That smile.

Then back to his eyes.

Amelia leaned toward Claire.

"Girl."

Vivienne finally blinked.

"What?"

Claire quietly laughed.

"Your mouth."

Vivienne immediately closed it.

"I wasn’t—"

"You were."

"I was watching."

"Of course."

Vivienne turned her attention back toward the piste.

But the smile on her face gave her away.

Amelia shook her head.

"She is completely gone."

Claire smiled.

"I understand."

They both looked back toward Christopher.

Then at Vivienne again.

They understood perfectly.

Christopher exchanged the customary handshake with his opponent.

Then he stepped away from the piste.

His eyes moved across the spectators.

Straight toward her.

Vivienne froze.

So he had seen her.

Earlier.

Before the match.

When he’d been standing there with his mask in his hand.

Their eyes really had met.

She hadn’t imagined it.

Christopher’s expression softened when he found her. ℴℴ𝘮

Vivienne’s face brightened.

She lifted one hand and gave him a small wave.

Then, remembering his victory, she gave him a thumbs-up.

Christopher chuckled.

He shook his head slightly, amused, before lifting a hand in acknowledgment.

Vivienne smiled.

Beside her, Claire suddenly grabbed Amelia’s arm.

"Oh."

Amelia followed her gaze.

Christopher had already picked up his equipment bag.

He exchanged a few words with one of his teammates, placed his mask and weapon inside, and slung the bag over his shoulder.

Then he started walking.

Straight toward them.

Claire’s eyes widened.

"Wait."

Amelia leaned closer.

"Is he coming here?"

Vivienne’s heart skipped.

She looked at Christopher.

He was still coming.

Straight toward them.

"Oh my God," Claire whispered.

"He’s totally coming here."

Amelia looked at Vivienne.

Then back at Christopher.

She grinned.

"Okay."

"What?"

"We’re leaving."

Vivienne blinked.

"What?"

Claire was already standing.

"Come on."

"Wait—"

"Excuse us."

Amelia was already laughing as she followed Claire.

"We’ll see you later."

Vivienne stared at them in disbelief.

"You two—"

They were already walking away.

Vivienne turned back.

Christopher was almost there.

And suddenly, all the confidence she’d had while watching him from the stands disappeared.

She had spent the past several weeks texting him.

They had talked on the phone.

She had imagined seeing him again.

She had even spent several minutes in the restroom fixing her hair for this exact reason.

But none of that had prepared her for the moment when he actually walked toward her.

And now she was alone.

With him.