Wolf's Moon --- ONC 2022 (LONGLIST)

Chapter 9

It was quiet, dead silent as everyone stared at one another, waiting for someone to say or do something to break the uncomfortable silence. It wasn't like they had been doing anything wrong, they had only been talking to pass the time. There was no problem with getting to know someone, but the look Noah was giving the two of them and the unbearable silence surrounding them made everything rather awkward. It was one of those times you wished you could hide, but there was nowhere to run to and do so. 

"No, you're not interrupting anything. We were just talking and getting to know one another. . . after he got done looking at my shoulder." 

"I can see that." 

Callista rolled her eyes immediately understanding the meaning behind Noah's words. 

Slowly, Callista turned to look back at Delta. The moment her eyes met with his, she watched him quickly pull his hand back from her and cleared his throat. She could have swore that a blush was forcing its way across Delta's tanned skin. Seeing it had surprised her, causing her own sun kissed cheeks to warm and butterflies to flit around in her stomach. It was a reaction she didn't expect to have. . . at all. 

"okay, okay, out of the way. Best friend coming through." 

Noah effectively snapped Delta and Callista of their thoughts, successfully pulling their attention back onto her. She was very good at doing that lately, seeming to want the attention that Callista was getting as of late. 

Jumping up from his seat, Delta moved out of the way and walked over to where Moro was standing. His eyes continued to dart back to Callista every couple of seconds until Moro met him near the kitchen. His attention to Callista had not gone unnoticed, Moro making that very clear with what he asked Delta; 

"Something catch your attention?" 

Drawing his attention away from the silver eyed woman, Delta tried to hide his sudden attraction to Callista and play it off as a complete misunderstanding. A breathy chuckle leaving his lips as he waved off the question as best he could. 

"It's nothing like that." 

"Right, that's why you can't keep your eyes off her." 

Delta knew that Moro was right, he couldn't keep his eyes off Callista. Ever since they met on the side of the road, she was all he could think about. Everytime he closed his eyes, his dreams were filled with her face. He got distracted with his thoughts of her and she left him feeling more alive than he has ever felt, but at the same time he felt as if a part of himself was missing. What left him so dumbfounded about everything was the fact they had only met the day prior and he was feeling such a way. 

The sigh that left Delta was a good sign that he was giving up with hiding what he --and Moro-- already knew. He wasn't doing a very good job at hiding it anyways, so giving up seemed like his best option. 

All it got him was laughed at by Moro. 

"Come over here and lets talk for a moment." 

Being slapped on the back, Delta allowed himself to be led over to a set of stairs. However, he did spare Callista a final glance, their eyes meeting momentarily. They each held one another's gaze until Moro gave him a gentle tug, pulling his attention back to where he was being led to. 

Regardless of Delta looking away from her, Callista watched both Delta and Moro sit down on the bottom steps leading up to her room. She was curious about what they could be talking about, but Noah didn't allow her to linger ton those thought for very long. 

"Earth to Cal, best friend calling." 

Callista forced her attention from the two men and let it rest once more on Noah.