Scourge Sixty-Five - No

Scourge Sixty-Five - No

Scourge Sixty-Five - No

My cheeks are fire as I laugh. It sounds a bit high-pitched to me, and I cant meet Esmes eyes as I giggle. Yeah, how wild is that, I say.

Then Felix grabs me by the shoulder and half turns me. 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 Esme. No.

No what? Esme asks.

Felix gets up, then takes a deep breath. Lily, Bianca, can you finish that idiot off and make sure were not overwhelmed by zombies or anything? she asked. Valeria and Esme and me 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 some 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 Esme.

Its about what you just said to Esme, Felix says.

Shoot.

V-Valeria must have slipped, and, uh, our lips touched, Esme says. Yes, thats perfectly plausible.

No, Felix says. She sounds like someone 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 me, puts her hands on her hips in a rather Esme-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 Esme. Come on! Youre like, perfect! Both of you. And I dont just mean for each other. Esme brings the book smarts to your leadership smarts, and you have the motivation that Esme lacks to get things that arent reading done.

Esme 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 me. And she obviously loves you right back.

My heart does this weird thing where it flops around wildly for a moment and I hear myself gasp in time with Esme.

Dont pretend otherwise, Esme, Felix says. I can see around corners, you know.

W-w-what does that mean? Esme stutters.

Youve literally smelled Valerias pillow before. My head is spinning, and Felix just keeps going. Whenever Valeria does something extra Valeria-like, you sigh and go oh, Valeria. You have a diary.

You read my diary?! Esme squeaks. I think she might work with me on my floor-swallowing spell idea.

Says who? Felix asks.

Uh, Esme says.

I asked Semper for permission to date you, she said it was okay, Felix says.

Esme 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?! Esme asks.

Felix pauses and glances up and to the side, as if looking through her own memories. Uh... that was when Semper first showed up at the castle. You remember, when you met her and fainted?

I dont recall Esme having such good lungs, but the volume 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 means a lot and nothing at the same time. Mostly I translate it to a heap of frustration and impatience and maybe a desire to hug someone. 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, Esme 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, Esme, need some time to think of every possible reason this is a good or bad thing and maybe youll want to look at some references or something. 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? Esme says as she takes it.

A list of books about romance, relationships, dealing with polycules, uh, and stuff like that.

Esme blinks a few times, 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.

***