By the time the sun begins to set, we're walking back toward the orphanage. Alara is quiet for once, just humming under her breath, skipping every few steps like she's trying to keep the day from ending. The bread roll she shared with me is long gone, but she still holds the ribbon she picked up at the cloth shop, twirling it between her fingers. When we reach the orphanage gates, I stop and take a half-step back. "This is it," I say, my voice flat.
She turns to face me, smiling like she's not ready to say goodbye. "That was fun."
I nod. "It was."
"I'll come around more often."
I shake my head quickly. "You shouldn't."
She frowns. "Why not?"
"You're the Overseer's daughter. You can't keep showing up here like you're one of us."
She steps closer, her smile returning. "But I want to."
"I don't care," I say. "You shouldn't."
She doesn't listen. Instead, she pulls me into a sudden tight hug. I freeze, standing stiffly as her warmth envelops me. Before I can process what's happening, she leans in and presses a quick soft kiss to my cheek. She pulls back next, her cheeks slightly red but her smile wide. "Goodbye, Ashen." Then she turns and walks off like it was the most normal thing in the world.
I stand there for a long time, my cheek still burning and my mind a frenzy of thoughts. She kissed me. She did it like she had every right to. Like we've gotten so close to each other in that way. I brace up, put myself together and turn, walking inside.
The dining hall Is half-empty when I arrive, and I conclude everyone has retired to their beds. I open the door to the room and all eyes move to me. I know that look. Alara coming to see me openly during breakfast warranted this look and I don't even want to imagine what would happen when they find out she kissed me.
I straighten up, don't look at anyone and walk straight through, past the staring eyes and whispering children. Past the girls trying not to giggle and the boys craning their necks like I've suddenly grown two heads. I reach my bed space and sit down slowly. My side still throbs. And by now, the bandage would have already gummed to the injury. I press my palm against it, closing my eyes as I suppress the pain.
After five minutes, I hear footsteps. Lyara doesn't say a word. She just walks over, drops beside me on the edge of the bed, and pulls out the little jar of ointment she's been carrying around since last night. Before I can stop her, she lifts my shirt. "Hey, what are you.. " She doesn't answer. She slowly removes the bandage and scoops out the ointment, pressing it hard against my side.
I flinch. "Ow. Easy, what's your problem?"
"You didn't tell me you knew the Overseer's daughter," she says casually. Her eyes on my wounded side.
"I.. I don't want to talk about it," I answer, exhaling softly. She pauses for a while and dabs again, this time rougher than before and my breath catches. I jerk slightly and look down at her. "Are you doing that on purpose?"
She doesn't answer, just keeps rubbing the ointment in. My voice drops to something softer. "You're making it worse." I tell her.
"Good."
I narrow my eyes. "What's your deal, Lyara?"
She doesn't look up when she askes. "What is she to you?"
I blink. "What?"
Her eyes meet mine briefly before she continues. "Alara. What is she?"
"She's… just a friend." I answer. Unsure of what Alara's opinion about us would be.
Lyara pauses. "Friends give kisses on the cheek now?" The silence that follows stretches for too long. She saw us. I glance sideways at her. "Were you watching us?"
She shrugs, finally setting the jar down. "I have better things to do." She stands up, brushing her hands against her skirt.
"Yeah. I thought as much," I say, meeting her gaze.
Her face is unreadable as she stares at me. Her eyes are calm, her mouth flat but it feels like she wants to say something but is holding back. Without another word, she turns and walks away and I'm left sitting there with a burning side, a confused head, and thoughts of a kiss I didn't approve of.