Prism - By Rachel Moschell Page 0,10

took a deep breath, smiling nervously. “Anyway, I’m sure you won’t want to hang out with us anymore.”

Noah unexpectedly burst into laugher and ran his fingers through his hair. “You know what guys?” he said. “It can happen to anyone. We all make…assumptions sometimes. And I’ll see you around. Just so you know not to try to, you know, hook me up. Someday, if it’s all over…” Noah jerked his chin over Wara’s way, “I’ll let you know so you can introduce me to any eligible sisters you may have. C’mon, I think it’s time for us to be going for today,” Noah announced to Wara, a little too loudly. He threw Tiago and company one last red-faced smile and headed for the door.

Noah remembered to hold the door open for her, and then they began a brisk walk towards the closest major street. It was obvious that neither of them felt like going back into Café Amara. The cool night air hit Wara full in the face and the fire rose from her belly to scald her cheeks as she realized what she had done.

Did I actually just kiss Noah?

She had, and in front of witnesses.

Oh God, I can’t believe this!

Noah was quiet for nearly a block, and Wara nearly suffocated with shame.

I am the worst missionary in the world!

What if the mission heard about this? Just one more thing to add to her list of awful indiscretions.

Then she heard a soft chuckle. She jerked her head around to look at him, still not quite meeting his eye. The cobblestones shimmered a little in front of her, and Wara was starting to feel a little queasy.

“Well, Wara, that was a little unconventional,” Noah nodded, “but you really saved me there. I don’t know what else to say, so I’ll just say, ‘Thank you.’”

“That was really dumb,” Wara mumbled. “I should never drink. I never learn.”

Noah was silent a minute more, and then he put a hand on Wara’s shoulder. “Can we sit down here for a sec?” he asked evenly.

“Sure, fine,” she answered too hurriedly. She plopped down on a bench in the plaza they had been passing through, in the shadow of a darkened colonial cathedral that was hidden away in the heart of downtown. She crossed her arms tightly across her chest and waited to hear whatever Noah had to say.

This wasn’t going to be pretty.

The quiet continued as Noah sat down a comfortable distance away on the bench, and stared off towards the stone pillars at the plaza’s center. Finally he spoke.

“So, that was my first kiss.”

Wara jolted. She couldn’t help glancing over at him to see if he was serious. The way his lashes were lowered, that twist of his lips…Wara suddenly realized she knew Noah too well. He was serious.

Memories flooded her heart, unwelcome, and she swatted them away in anger. It wasn’t fair! Ok, yes it was. It was no one’s fault but her own. But sitting here watching Noah, she could tell that he still cared for her as a friend, even though she’d totally humiliated herself.

And she felt just destroyed. Even if she really loved him, Noah would never, ever, be able to be with someone like her, not with her past and his…his first kiss?

“Look, this was a huge mistake,” Wara groaned out loud. “I just felt bad and wanted to help you…and I didn’t think.”

Oh yeah, and I’m drunk, she thought angrily.

“I think I should go home and you should go…back to the coffee shop. And just please, don’t tell anybody.”

As if he would. Wara felt the slow burn spread across the bridge of her nose. What a disaster!

“I won’t tell anyone,” Noah promised her. “And really, while tonight has been a little…weird, I think it worked really well to save me from Rudolf. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

Wara sighed and blew her bangs out of her eye as she stood up, tottering unsteadily.

“Hey, wait a sec.” Noah frowned at her. “I’m not letting you go home by yourself! You, my dear, are totally wasted.” He stood up and held out his arms to steady her, just as nausea surged and the night began to spin around in circles.

“I’ll take you home, send the guys a text that they can sing without me. And don’t worry,” he said seriously, kindly. “I won’t tell anyone.

4

mocha

AFTER DECIDING HOW FRANCO SALAZAR would die, Alejo’s team took the rest of the day off. Alejo spent most of the