Scourge Sixty-Five - No
Scourge Sixty-Five - No
My cheeks are fire as I laugh. It sounds a bit high-pitched to , and I cant et Ess eyes as I giggle. Yeah, how wild is that, I say.
Then Felix grabs by the shoulder and half turns . She doesnt look happy. Her eyes are determined and her lips are pursed. No, she says.
No? I repeat.
She shakes her head, then points to Es. No.
No what? Es asks.
Felix gets up, then takes a deep breath. Lily, Bianca, can you finish that idiot off and make sure were not overwheld by zombies or anything? she asked. Valeria and Es and need to have a talk.
Yeah, Im not getting involved in whatever weirdness you three have going on, Lily says.
Bianca just nods and discreetly walks over to a struggling zombie and blasts so fire into its face with a dismissive flick of her wrist.
Um, what are we talking about? I ask. I really hope its not about what I said to Es.
Its about what you just said to Es, Felix says.
Shoot.
V-Valeria must have slipped, and, uh, our lips touched, Es says. Yes, thats perfectly plausible.
No, Felix says. She sounds like soone telling a dog off for sticking their nose in the toilet. None of that. That was a kiss. A proper K-I-S-S kiss. On the lips. Right after Valeria confessed. Dont even try to weasel out of it.
I, well, you know, I start. I dont know what Im starting because I dont know where Im going.
Felix glares at , puts her hands on her hips in a rather Es-like gesture, and leans forwards until her face is very close to mine. Do you have any idea how long Ive been waiting for you to confess?
You what? I squeak.
Well, either you or Es. Co on! Youre like, perfect! Both of you. And I dont just an for each other. Es brings the book smarts to your leadership smarts, and you have the motivation that Es lacks to get things that arent reading done.
Es and I glance at each other, then break eye contact so fast it might never have happened at all.
Obviously, you love her, shes like, one of your best, best friends, Felix goes on, and I just kind of shrink in on myself. Maybe I can manufacture a spell to have the floor swallow . And she obviously loves you right back.
My heart does this weird thing where it flops around wildly for a mont and I hear myself gasp in ti with Es.
Dont pretend otherwise, Es, Felix says. I can see around corners, you know.
W-w-what does that an? Es stutters.
Youve literally slled Valerias pillow before. My head is spinning, and Felix just keeps going. Whenever Valeria does sothing extra Valeria-like, you sigh and go oh, Valeria. You have a diary.
You read my diary?! Es squeaks. I think she might work with on my floor-swallowing spell idea.
No, Felix says as she recoils a bit. Id never do that to you, thats your private thing. But I can hear you muttering while you write, you know? Felix chuckles. But dont worry, Valeria has done much worse.
Im dead. Im so dead. Dead and gone. Not even Mom can bring back from this. Theres no point. Life is a terrible burden and I dont want it anymore.
I cover my face with both hands and hope that my friends wont cry too much at my funeral.
Anyway, Felix says. She crosses her arms. Secrets out. No more hiding it. You cant put this back, because I swear on every god Ive t, if you try to shove this secret back I will rip it out and wave it around until you have no choice but to deal with it.
Es is making a high-pitched keening noise.
Through the heavy bass-thump of my heart, I hear a distant thought. Yes, I might, maybe, really love Es. Shes great. But... well. I start to chew on my lip and focus on the floor. Thats one big secret out, but theres another, bigger, worse one that makes everything so much more complicated.
Felix sighs, and I glance up to see her smiling ruefully. Shes looking between and Es. Okay, wow, youre both the sa kind of dumb sotis because youre having the sa dumb thoughts at the sa ti. Its like... like the bits of your brains that handle romance were both too small and broken, so youre sharing the sa one between the two of you.
Felix looks right at Es, reaches over to her, and pulls my best friend close. And then their lips touch. Theres a smooch sound, Ess keening switches pitch a few tis and her hair poofs out with an electric sizzle.
Es, Felix says. I love you.
Oh. Felix loves Es too.
Thats nice.
I hope they invite to their wedding.
My heart stops beating. Life sucks. Its awful. Birth was a curse.
Then, while Ess still processing that, Felix scooches over to and... wait, when did we all end up kneeling on the floor? Felix is suddenly really close. Her eyes are sparkling with joy, and not just the magic. I catch her scent in the air. Campfires and a million spices and just... Felix.
Then her eyes close and her lips touch mine.
I am confused.
Good confused.
Very nice confused. Very warm-in-my-tummy and please-dont-stop confused.
Felix pulls back and I just stare. Im putting one and one together in my head and hitting three. Valeria, she says. I love you too. Also, I forgive you for taking Ess first kiss, but Ill be wanting so other firsts for myself, alright?
Huh? I say intelligently.
Maybe lifes not so bad.
Es raises a hand, like a student in class. Question, she says.
Yes? Felix asks.
What?
Felix nods. Its a perfectly reasonable question to ask, I think we all agree. Its simple. You love Valeria, and you probably... I hope, also love . Right? Vals pillows arent the only ones you were slling.
Es makes a strange choking noise. But girls cant love more than one girl! she says.
Says who? Felix asks.
Uh, Es says.
I asked Semper for permission to date you, she said it was okay, Felix says.
Es is on her feet. I dont actually see her standing, she just goes from being on the ground, legs bunched under her, to standing. You did what?
Shes the closest thing to a parent you have, and I wanted to do things right, Felix says. I asked Luciana about dating Valeria too.
Mom knows?
When?! Es asks.
Felix pauses and glances up and to the side, as if looking through her own mories. Uh... that was when Semper first showed up at the castle. You rember, when you t her and fainted?
I dont recall Es having such good lungs, but the volu she screams at is proof of that. That was two years ago!
I know! Felix says right back. Do you have any idea how long Ive been waiting? She makes a vague gesture that ans a lot and nothing at the sa ti. Mostly I translate it to a heap of frustration and impatience and maybe a desire to hug soone. Youre both so... dense!
I dont actually want to know when she asked mom.
So, I interject. Um. What now?
Felix grins. Dont worry, Ive had years to prepare for this. I didnt expect to do it while surrounded by undead who want to eat us, but I was also totally prepared to have this discussion while the three of us were dying of old age, so this is actually pretty great.
Im listening, Es says.
First... we do nothing for like, a few hours, Felix says.
Why? I ask.
Felix nods, as if shes expecting the question. Because you, Valeria, need to pretend that this didnt happen while secretly stewing on it for the next bit, and you do that best while distracted. And you, Es, need so ti to think of every possible reason this is a good or bad thing and maybe youll want to look at so references or sothing. Oh! Felix reaches into a pocket and pulls out a small tin case. She pops it open, revealing a page thats all folded up. Here.
Whats this? Es says as she takes it.
A list of books about romance, relationships, dealing with polycules, uh, and stuff like that.
Es blinks a few tis, works her mouth open and close, then locks eyes with Felix. And you have this inside a tin case?
In case it gets wet.
Thats... really sweet.
Felix grins. Yeah, just you wait. Ive got so many ideas and plans and its gonna be great. But I think we can take it slow at first. Or... well, we dont have a choice. I need to get the two of you used to kissing before we get anywhere.
I can suddenly recall the sensation of soft lips on mine and my thumping heart starts beating hard again. Maybe that wouldnt be too bad.
You know what, Ive decided that lifes pretty great after all.
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