Page 23 of Daughter of Garnet

“I knew that color would look great on you. It makes your eyes pop.”

It surprises me that I feel so confident wearing this. I put on my white sandals and hold my hands out before spinning around.

“Do you approve?”

She hums happily. “I do. Let me get dressed, and we’ll head out.” She quickly braids her hair, paints her lips red, and pulls on a pair of high-waisted trousers in the same shade, along with a cropped black shirt.

“You look incredible,” I tell her, and mean it. “People are going to be all over you.” I don’t know if she’s into women or men, but that doesn’t matter. Every eye will be on her, no doubt.

“Too bad for them, I’m bringing a date.” She loops her arm with mine and guides me out the door.

The party is deep in the forest, off the path, and near the pond where I first met Dominic. It’s not a huge gathering, but it’s enough to make me a little uncomfortable. I haven’t taken the time to get to know anyone except Viv and the people in my Menagerie group. Being around so many new faces makes me feel like I need to put on an act to impress them.

Viv heads straight for a folding table and grabs two cups, filling them up from a deep bowl of purple liquid. When she places one in my hand, I curl my lip.

“What is this?”

“Punch. It’s different every time, so no telling if it’s good this go-round. Try it.” She takes a sip and waves a hand, encouraging me on, so I raise mine and take a tentative drink.

It’s not bad. The bite of alcohol is there, but a rich, fruity taste nearly drowns it out. I take a second sip, and it’s even better.

“Okay, this is good. Who made it?”

She shrugs and grabs my hand, pulling me closer to the fire. “Who cares? It’s delicious.”

Around a bonfire, people sit on logs, most chatting or groping at one another, but a few have guitars and play a soft melody. When we find a free log, we sit down, and I stretch my feet closer to the fire. They spark and jump, the orange, red, blue, and white flames seeming to dance in the moonlight.

The night is clear and almost a little warm, but I don’t feel uncomfortable by the fire. In fact, I find myself relaxing more, the soft crackling a balm for my busy brain. My skin feels tight, but not in a bad way, as the heat washes across it.

“So. You and Warren…” Viv’s sentence trails off as she takes another drink.

“Are just friends. Always have been.”

“Okay, but do you want there to be more?”

That's the question, isn't it? I won't deny that I'm starting to feel something for Warren, but maybe it's just a side effect of homesickness, and he as always felt like home. “Our parents have always talked about us getting married. We avoid the topic.” I take another sip of my punch, feeling it loosen my tongue. “We don’t need it getting in the middle of our friendship right now. We can address it when we’re done here, when we figure out how to adjust to our new lives and careers."

There is no rush to examine my feelings around Warren bringing people home. I can bury that for later.

She angles her body closer to me and away from the fire. “What if he doesn’t move back to your hometown? Will you follow him?”

A month or two ago, I probably would’ve said yes. I want to say yes. But the words get stuck in my throat. I scoot closer to the fire, letting its warmth wrap around me. “Maybe. I don’t know. I don’t know what I want to do with my life. I need to figure that out before anything else.”

“Well, if you need someone to bounce career ideas off of, I’m here. I’ve had my career plan in place since I was small.” Viv drains her cup, and I know the alcohol is hitting her as her eyes are already taking on a hazy quality. “If I don't get a job in government, I would want to be a professor. History. Teaching people about the Gods and their Blessings.”

I didn’t realize she was so devout, but she was homeschooled because of it, so it’s not all that surprising.

Maybe I should let her know just how many gaps there are in my knowledge. I don’t think Viv would judge me. She'd help me get up to speed.

Before I can admit how behind I am, she stands up. “I need another drink. You want one?”

I toss the rest of my drink back and hand her my cup in answer, and she saunters off.

I’m only alone for a few moments, lost in thought as I stare at the fire, when a weight hits the log next to me.

“I know your secret, Zoe.”

CHAPTER 13