ELEMENT

Chapter Thirty-Six: Matchmakers

"Well?" Paladin leaned forward. "What are they up to?"

Mage rolled her eyes, patting her dress down. "Meadow just said something really weird."

"Weirder than usual?" Paladin smirked.

"Shut up." She giggled in response. "Yes, actually. Apparently, she has cracked the code."

"What code?"

Mage seemed unbothered. "She says she knows who I am."

Paladin snorted. "Yeah, right. She doesn't really, does she?"

Mage didn't respond, just crossed her arms and smiled a bit.

"...Mage?"

"I find it really funny, that's all."

"Oh, my God, Mage, does she know?!"

"Well, since you seem all hot and bothered about it, I guess I just won't tell you."

"What?!"

-

Things were quiet. Naturally.

The town library, albeit packed with people, was silent as a mouse, aside from occasional whispering. Sage and Ethan paid no mind.

"I haven't been here in ages," said Sage, running their fingers over book spines. "I have so many overdue books."

Ethan gasped. "Sage, how dare you!" He remarked jokingly.

"I know, it's such a crime! I should be imprisoned for eternity!" She laughed, feigning disappointment.

"Ooh." Ethan pulled a book off the shelf. "This one looks interesting."

"Oh, I've read that before."

"Yeah? What's it about?"

"These four kids go through a closet and find a magical kingdom which they have to save from a witch."

"What a coincidence." Ethan laughed, sliding the book back where it was.

"And I've read this one too." Sage grabbed one from the very top shelf.

"Okay, what's that about, then?"

"A guy and a girl find each other, get over hating each other, and fall in love. Then both of them tragically die."

"Morbid. Eesh."

"Yeah, but it's pretty sweet."

Ethan peeked through the shelves, making a squinted expression. Then, to Sage, with some sense of insistency: "You ever think about how Robin and Meadow tease us?"

"It's not just Robin and Meadow," Sage giggled softly. "At this point, it's the entire kingdom."

"Yeah. Well." He glanced off. "I-I think they have the right idea."

"Hm?"

"You haven't thought about it?" Ethan asked. "Me and you? Because it's all I've been thinking about, really."

"I mean, yeah, I guess I have thought about it." She nodded carefully. "I never really could put a finger on it. I mean, you're you."

"And you're you." Ethan was fumbling on his words. "You know?"

Sage shrugged. "We're both out of each other's league."

"Exactly."

"...Uh, I don't know where this is going."

"I like you."

Sage's eyes bulged out of her head. "FUCKING- FHGJGFDSK-"

Ethan pointed. "Your face is red."

Sage laughed, bringing a hand to their cheek. "I know!"

"Your face is also really pretty."

"Uh, your face is bad at flirting."

"Your face catches me off guard a lot. In a good way."

"Your face is, uh, a cute face."

"Thaaaaanks."

Sage stammered a bit. "I also like you."

"Oh, good." Ethan sighed in relief. "I already told my mom we were dating."

"...Your mom is—"

"That's the J O K E ." Ethan giggled, going back to a low whisper. "Do you wanna kiss as a couple now?"

"Yeah, sure."

So they kissed. It was a very unremarkable kiss. I don't know what else to say here.

Behind the shelf where Sage and Ethan were, Meadow, Robin and Cole were leaning up against it and listening carefully.

"See, what did I tell ya?" Robin whispered. "Libraries are the best place for confessions."

"Those fucking love nerds." Meadow smiled. "I wanna punch them lovingly."

Cole chuckled incredulously. "They don't even know we're here, they're so immersed with each other!"

"I knew Ethan would pull through eventually." Meadow elbowed Robin. "I'm so glad we got him to do this. We are the best matchmakers."

"We should celebrate with some chili bowls." Robin nodded convincingly, staring at Meadow with wide eyes.

"Suuuuure."

To Be Continued in Chapter 37