Chapter 27 #2
When they were together, nothing mattered other than the two of them. Because of that, Harper kept forgetting about the elephant in the room that everyone other than her could see. That Maya’s easy charms shielded a past so filled with terror that everyone ran away from it.
“I didn’t know that,” Harper said. “Maya hasn’t shared anything. About what she’s gone through.”
Harper hurried on when Angela opened her mouth.
“I’m not asking you to tell me. I don’t want to know.”
Angela slowed to a halt. “You don’t?”
“No. Well, I do, but… I don’t want to hear what everyone else thinks. Whatever she went through, I don’t need to know it right now. I can wait until she’s ready to tell me.”
Angela’s eyes narrowed. Not in disapproval like before, but in surprise.
“Then why did you stop talking to her? If it wasn’t because of the rumors?”
Harper crossed her arms, shrugging. “It’s complicated.”
“I’m proficient with complicated. Try me.”
Her tone wasn’t biting anymore. It was softer. More curious than demanding.
“It was just… It was good. Too good, and it scared me, and then she left, which made being scared feel justified, in a way.” Harper looked down, taking a deep breath.
“I thought it would be easier if I didn’t care.
If I could just get ahead of the inevitable crash, then it might not hurt so much when it hit.
But it was harder. A lot harder. I won’t make that mistake again. ”
Angela’s eyes stayed narrowed, gaze inquisitive. Then uncertain. And as the seconds ticked by, it filled with understanding.
“I used to do something similar.” She ran a finger over one of her bracelets.
A silver band with green jade beads. “I know I’m not a very…
pleasant person. Maya is one of the few people who isn’t bothered by that.
I care about her, a lot, and I want her to be happy.
Whenever she talks about you, her smile reaches her eyes in a way it usually doesn’t. ”
Angela cleared her throat. “So, I’m warning you. If you break her heart, I fully intend to hate you for it. No offense.”
Harper couldn’t help but chuckle. “None taken.”
“Good. I’m glad that’s cleared up.” Angela started walking again, slower now. “And since we have a few minutes, I can use you as a sounding board. I’m not making progress with those damn crystals, and my mental blocks are vulnerable to outside perspectives.”
What followed was an incredibly one-sided conversation, one Harper started out fearing would go completely over her head.
But Angela was good at explaining things in a way that was easy to understand.
With how impressed she looked whenever Harper asked a clarifying question, she was shocked by it herself.
They were walking along a forest path—Angela busy explaining the crucial difference between arcane trinkets and trinkets with arcane symbols on them—when cheering soared through the trees. A cluster of cabins appeared up ahead, a crowd of people gathered between them.
Harper stopped in place, mouth falling open. A small courtyard was nestled between the cabins, with a ring drawn in its center using sticks and rocks. Everyone was facing it, laughing and shouting, as two people within the ring circled each other with their hands raised.
Maya was in there. She was wearing her usual outfit of jeans and a t-shirt, strands of dark brown hair having whipped free of her ponytail. Her eyes were on her opponent, a slender man with golden hair and dusky tan skin. Blood ran from his nose.
“Kick his ass, Maya!” someone yelled. Harper recognized the voice as being that of Diana, the other person who was sent to St. Louis.
The comment produced light laughter in the crowd, something both the combatants ignored. The man stepped forward, swinging wide, and Maya spun out of the way, giving the man a light tap in the ribs as she went past. A mark of contact rather than a hit, one she repeated when he rushed her again.
She was so fast. She moved like a dancer, spinning away from blows that definitely should have hit her but which just found empty air.
The man was panting. Sweat dripped off his brow, while Maya looked like she could continue like this for hours. She even grinned at the man, saying something that Harper couldn’t hear but which made him roll his eyes.
Then Maya’s gaze slipped past him. Cut through the crowd, locking on Harper.
The world paused. Everything froze as they stared at each other. Harper even let out a slight gasp, one that turned into a deep exhale.
She hadn’t really dared admit it before. Just thinking about it felt too risky. But you could only lie to yourself so much, and the smile blossoming on Maya’s face only allowed for one conclusion.
Harper was devastatingly in love with this woman.
The moment of peace hung in the air, tranquil and serene. Then the man lunged forward and hammered his fist into Maya’s ribs.
The crowd cringed as one. Angela let out a low ‘oof’ and Harper clasped her hand over her mouth as Maya folded and then collapsed.
“Oh shit, my bad.” The man put a hand on her shoulder. “You okay? I didn’t mean to hit you like that. Figured you would dodge it again.”
“I’m good.” Maya touched her ribs, wincing. “Just got distracted.”
The man looked puzzled for a moment. Then he followed her line of sight, spotting Harper, and his concerned expression turned into a grin.
“Ah. That kind of distraction.” He offered her a hand, and Maya let him pull her back to her feet. “No worries. I’m sure I can find someone else to have fun with.”
He batted his eyes at Diana, who—after a bit of cajoling—stepped up to the ring, grinning and with her fists raised.
Maya didn’t seem to notice. Instead of paying attention to the fighters, she pushed through the crowd, aiming straight for Harper. Whatever pain she’d just been in had vanished, a bright grin growing on her face.
Harper took a step forward, and a step was all she managed before Maya reached her. Not hesitating even a second, she picked Harper up and spun her around. She held her close, joining their lips in a kiss that felt like it was made of sparks.
Harper cupped Maya’s face, sighing into the kiss. Someone whistled. Another person cheered, and several more laughed, but Harper didn’t care. Not even breathing was as important as feeling Maya’s lips against her own.
When Maya broke away, Harper was panting, and it was only in part because of a lack of oxygen.
“Hi,” Maya said, eyes glinting and her smile wide. Harper returned it with no hesitation.
“Hi.”
She wanted to say more. So much more. To put words to the strange feelings coursing through her body. But before she could even attempt it, Maya’s eyes drifted to the side. She carefully set Harper down and twirled a lock of pink hair between her fingers.
“When did you do this?”
Heat rose in Harper’s face. She’d completely forgotten about that. Had been too preoccupied by Maya’s presence, and now she looked so surprised that it was impossible to glean any other emotion from her expression.
“A few hours ago. I like dyeing my hair, so…” It took a ridiculous amount of effort not to lower her eyes. “Do you like it?”
Maya kept staring for another long moment. Then her smile returned, even brighter than before.
“I love it. You look amazing.”
That didn’t exactly help the heat gathering in her face. In fact, it did the opposite. Her flustered silence was saved from being awkward when someone cleared their throat.
Angela was standing a few feet away, arms crossed and brow raised.
“Hey, Angela,” Maya chuckled. She put her arm around Harper’s waist. “Thank you for showing Harper the way. Much appreciated.”
“Uh-huh.” Angela glanced towards Harper, lips pursed. “It was actually to my benefit. She’s sharp, so you better be careful. Otherwise, I’ll steal her for my gaggle of apprentices.”
“Oh, you don’t want that,” Harper said quickly. “I caught a glimpse of what you were doing before. That’s really not my thing.”
“Shame. You’d be good at it, I think.” Angela smirked at Maya. “When you’re done being publicly gross, you should show her around. There’s plenty to see. Such as that cabin you stayed at when you were in St. Louis.”
Maya looked up at the graying sky. “That’s kind of out of the way.”
“Yes, it is. And if you leave now, you can show her that cabin for a couple of hours before Aleksander wakes up.” Angela shrugged and inspected her nails. “Just a thought. That’s all.”
She turned on her heel and walked back down the forest path. Only seconds later, after exchanging glances, Maya and Harper hurried past her. As they ran back towards the heart of the outpost, light laughter could be heard behind them.