-Chapter Three-
I Heard It Through the Waa'bard
After dessert, we all move into a side room for drinks. My wine is ancient history and bubblier drinks are being shared around. I'm standing with Nahyuta.
"So Rayfa seems pretty annoyed about the no alcohol thing, huh?" I murmur. He's leant against one of the decorative tables at the side of the room, coolly sipping his champagne.
He's pale blue eyes shoot upwards, "less about the alcohol, more about how she feels perceived."
"You think she feels immature."
"Yes," he says nonchalantly, "Although the very fact that she thinks being of age to drink will make her seem more mature seems to have the opposite effect."
I shrug, "it can't help that she isn't used to being told no. Y'know, being a princess and all…"
Amara sidles over, drink in her hand resting carefully on her other arm.
"I think she's cheering up," she says quietly, more to Nahyuta.
We both glance over at her. She's with Datz and Maya who are laughing over something. Rayfa seems to be trying hard not to join in.
"Those two are a hoot," Amara remarks as Rayfa looks over at us quickly before turning away again, "I think she's a bit jealous of Maya, but frankly, it's difficult not to like that girl."
I nod in agreement. Hard not to like, indeed.
It's pushing 1 o'clock when Amara insists that her and a rather sleepy looking Rayfa simply have to retire to bed. She thanks everyone for coming.
"If anyone wants to stay they're welcome. The Palace has many rooms."
Datz is so wasted by this point that he stumbles after them, a rather unamused looking Nahyuta supporting him.
And suddenly it's just Maya and I.
"It's so late," she says, as we make our way through the front gates and towards the Bazaar.
"Time flies and all that," I say, my tone casual. I'm several drinks deep, but I'm still a little nervous now we're alone.
"Yeah, you seemed to have fun tonight," Maya comments.
"Sure. When Nahyuta wasn't insulting my wine, or Rayfa wasn't accusing me of insulting the strange foods of Khura'in. Don't get me started on Datz."
"Don't be silly," she begins, "I bet you didn't think about work or reforming the legal system once."
"Are you poking fun at me?"
"You're an easy target," she giggles.
The street lights are hitting her face and leaving shadows here and there, but what I can see is her wide grin and long dark hair swinging behind her as she messes around.
"You're right," I say.
"Huh?" She asks, turning around and walking backwards in front of me.
"I did have a good time tonight."
"I'm glad. The night was a success!"
We're walking side by side again and we're almost back at the temple where she's staying.
"Do you want to go out sometime?" I ask, boldly. It's so out of nowhere that even I'm surprised. I'm suddenly insurmountably glad I can't see her face.
She's quiet which I instinctively know is a bad sign. She's also stopped walking and has turned to look at me.
"Uh, sorry. Just forget I said anything."
Thank goodness it's dark because my face is glowing like the inside of a volcano right now, "I mean, Datz said you thought I was cute, but he was probably playing a joke on me. We just got along so well tonight that I thought…" I trail off, wishing she'd go inside already.
"Datz said I think you're cute?" She asks. Her tone is light, confused even.
"Uh, yeah. He's a doof," I remark, silently thinking Datz is about ten alternative less charitable words, too.
It's just light enough that I can sort of see her expression. Thoughtful.
She's quiet again and something seems to click. It's a bit like she's having a conversation with someone that I can't see.
"I was talking to Datz the other day in the bazaar," she states.
"Oh?"
"I told him that I think Rayfa thinks you're cute."
She's trying not to laugh. I'm trying not to die of embarrassment.
"He must have misheard me. I guess the Waa'bard was being kinda loud…" she trails off and I'm left wondering what more there is to say at this point. I'm feeling quite chilly, the cool night air is blowing my hair back and some of Maya's hair across her face.
"So Rayfa thinks I'm cute, huh?"
Maya smiles, "she hasn't confided in me, exactly. Yuty thinks she does too. He wasn't sure what to do about it, so he asked me. I said to do nothing. These things usually work themselves out. She's not the only teenage girl who's ever had a crush on an older man," Maya says.
"Well that's less than ideal," I mumble, "I'm more than ten years older than her. I take a deep breath and look at Maya, "I wish you thought I was cute instead." I say, figuring I might as well be honest. I've got nothing else to lose now anyway.
She just shrugs, turns her head slowly to the side and looks me up and down, "I never claimed to disagree with her. I just said Datz had relayed faulty information to you," she's still considering me, "sure I think you're cute."
"Uh, really?" I ask, rooted to the spot, barely able to believe what I'm hearing. She's so matter of fact, it's a little unnerving. "Well we should probably do something about that, then?" I say, trying not to grin. The result is probably strange but luckily, I doubt she can see me that well anyway.
And then she shrugs, "fine by me."
"Fine."
I'm full of a strange new-found confidence as I move closer to her until our bodies are nearly touching. Her fingertips are almost touching mine as our eyes meet and our lips are only just about separate. I can feel her breath on me and smell the vague scent of lemons. In this exact moment, I can hardly believe how well this is going.
And then her head tilts to the side as though she's thought better of the entire thing and instead of the amazing kiss I was anticipating I just get another smile.
"Well, I guess I'll see you on our date, then." This is more a statement than a question, "goodnight, Apollo."
And with that she dashes inside and I am left, once again, with simply the thought of Maya Fey.