The competition went as usual, except now Yuuri and Viktor were on better terms (MUCH better). When Yuuri arrived the next day, Stay Close to Me was practicing on the stage, preparing their set. Viktor stopped in the middle of a song to come down and say hi to Yuuri, smiling brightly.
JJ, Otabek, and Chris were all shocked.
"I thought you hated those guys!" yelled Otabek. Chris turned towards him and said, it's about time, but JJ just glared at them.
"WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF PRACTICE, VIKTOR! GET BACK HERE!" He hit the snare loudly, startling Viktor.
"Oh, JJ! Sorry. Just saying hi to Yuuri!" Viktor hugged Yuuri, squeezing his hand and winking.
"See you later!" Viktor climbed back on stage, smiling.
"Okay, I'm back! Sorry, I just wanted to say hi!" Chris was thoroughly unconvinced.
"You have hated Yuuri for an entire year, and then you get off stage in the MIDDLE of the song JUST TO SAY HI?" Chris crossed his arms over the guitar, making Viktor snicker. Chris glared at him.
"No, it's just… your face!" Viktor laughed hard, but it didn't last long. Chris grabbed the front of his shirt, staring him directly in the eyes.
"Viktor, what is up with you, honestly?!" Viktor choked. He tried to grab Chris' arm to make him let go, but Chris just dropped him on the stage.
"Chris, I realized that it wasn't them I hated. That I never truly hated Yuuri." Chris looked confused, saying,
"Dude, you acted like you wanted to kill them. What the hell was up with you? Is STILL up with you?"
"I was insensitive. Stupid. I didn't understand my feelings and instead misinterpreted them to mean something that they didn't." Viktor was getting impatient.
"Viktor, dude. Try to make more sense."
"Chris, why is it your business? Focus on something other than me for once." Viktor brushed himself off, standing up and turning to the mic. He held it and pointed to JJ.
"Count it in."
It was the best performance they'd had in years. Viktor's voice was filled with emotions he hadn't sang with since the year before. It was filled with happiness, understanding.
Love.
Chris was taken aback. He played his heart out, but it didn't even match to Viktor's singing. He'd gone up an entire level in one night. Viktor could see this by the way he'd turn and look at the band every few moments.
Viktor finished the song 'Everybody Loves Me', swinging his mic in tight concentric circles at one point. From the way Chris was smiling, Viktor could see that whatever this new Viktor was, he liked it. Viktor grinned.
"WAOOOOOOOOOO!" Viktor sang, closing his eyes tightly as he finished the last note. He was happy; he knew that his performance had improved greatly since last night. Viktor opened his eyes staring at the doorway, where he saw a young man smiling and happy. He was clapping, walking towards them. Yuuri looked impressed beyond belief. But then something went wrong.
"Viktor?" Yuuri started running towards him.
"VIKTOR!"
Then Viktor collapsed on the stage, his mind going blank as he hit the floor.
