Not that I’m an expert in any way. I hardly noticed boys until Conrad, but there are ways of showing you like someone, making me wonder why Lucy encouraged Noah to talk to Zoe if she likes him?
Conrad nudges me, whispering, “It’s all an act.”
He gestures to Lucy — an unmistakable cloud of jealousy crossing her face as Zoe laughs again. Lucy does like Noah so it’s time for me to work some magic of my own, wondering how I can get my hands on some Telynin (truth serum) which will definitely do the trick.
There’s obviously the issue of Lucy being tricked into telling Noah how she feels — the truth serum loosening her tongue — meaning if she realises she doesn’t love him, we mess up Noah’s chances with Zoe. I’m starting to think we should have stayed out beyond The Society Sphere, heading to The Royisin Heights to track Neve down.
Conrad nudges me again, recognising the introspection I sometimes get lost in. “They’ll work it out,” he whispers, keeping his eye on Noah’s nervous interactions at the bar.
He’s got more faith than I have in Lucy ever expressing how she feels, but he’s right — it’s up to them to work it out. Although, this won’t stop me thinking about how we can help. I mean, what’s the benefit of magic if you can’t add a little wonder to people’s lives?
Noah finally returns with four glasses of Jysyn Juice and a Parasil: a self-refilling glass container. The Parasil suggests Zoe’s not planning to close anytime soon, meaning we’ll soon have Rebel’s Rest to ourselves: a nice reward for an eventful evening.
“So …?” I ask, curious at the grin on Noah’s face.
“I’ve got a date,” he whispers, sipping his Jysyn Juice with a shaking hand. “Tomorrow night in The Winter Quarter.”
“No way,” Lucy responds with a little too much intensity. “You’ve got a date with Zoe Tallis …?”
“Yep,” Noah says, checking himself over in the window. His chinos, grey T-shirt and matching waistcoat are fairly unmarked after our skirmish in Drandok. “Seven p.m. tomorrow which means no night ranging for me.”
“Good man,” Conrad says, patting Noah on the back. “You’ve finally worn her down.”
“Very funny,” Noah replies, clearly getting stressed at the idea of the date. “So, what do I wear?” he asks, getting only a shrug from me.
“Come on,” he prompts to Lucy and me, “I need a woman’s touch.”
“You’ll have that tomorrow night,” Lucy replies with her usual sarcasm but she can’t hide the envy, causing her more pain than she realises.
“Seriously, guys, I need your help. What do I wear? And where do I book a table?”
“Merrymopes definitely,” Conrad suggests.
Merrymopes is Conrad’s favourite place — the magical milkshake and ice cream parlour in Founders’ Quad. I love it too, but I’m not sure it’s going to be Zoe’s idea of a first date.
“I’d say somewhere more sophisticated,” I suggest.
“Like where?”
“Wimples …?” I reply, getting the expected laugh from Conrad and Lucy.
Noah doesn’t find the idea of date in a sweetshop so funny.
“You’re not helping, Guppy.”
“Velerin’s,” Lucy suggests. “It’s the classiest restaurant in The Winter Quarter. You’ll impress Zoe if you take her there. It’s also near The Sinking Bridge where couples go on first dates, hoping to share their first kiss.”
Noah turns to Lucy, surprised by her attention to detail. “Thanks, Lucy; that really helps.”
“Any time,” Lucy replies with a smile that hides her true feelings.
“Can you pay in Kyals at Velerin’s?” Noah asks, glancing at the sight of a wizard vanishing through a portable Perium outside.
Conrad takes the bag of Kyals from his Keepeasy. “Here,” he says, handing Noah the bag of Kyals back. “A first date’s more important than a bet.”
With that, we raise our glasses in celebration of Noah’s success with Zoe Tallis — the barmaid who watches us clink our glasses with a strange smile.
20
Romance & Reflections
With Noah getting ready for his date and sleeping soldiers on the tail of Neve Blin, Conrad and I decide to spend the early evening in The Cendryll. We sit in my bedroom on the fourth floor, something that’s allowed in the daytime with strict orders for Conrad to be in his own room or elsewhere before nightfall.
Although we’re Night Rangers, eighteen is still the magical number for official wizarding status, meaning we’ve been accepted but are still treated like kids in some regards. Not that this is a big deal as there are plenty of places where romance can thrive, the top floor of The Weary Winzer our favoured spot at present.
No-one really goes there and an Invisilis charm keeps us hidden from anyone using surveillance devices to see what we’re up to. A girl needs her privacy, after all. For now, though, the romance in question is Noah’s date with the girl he’s been chasing forever: Zoe Tallis.
I’m still in shock that Zoe’s agreed to go on a date with Noah. Not because I think she’s out of his league; it’s more that she’s always seemed separate … as if she enjoys the attention of the regulars in Rebel’s Rest, but no more than that. The only niggling doubt I have is linked to the strange smile she had on her face, watching us celebrate Noah’s success last night in Rebel’s Rest.
I just hope she’s not stringing him along, only giving him the date to stop his endless pursuit of her. It will crush Noah if she’s building his hopes up, but Zoe doesn’t strike me as a cruel person so I sit with Conrad on my bed, studying the Panorilum that hovers in the middle of the room: the big piece of parchment paper that acts as one of the Society’s surveillance devices.
The large, moving illustration of Society Square focused in on Velerin’s: the location of the
