Grapes Upside Down

45. Champagne (Noah)

~Noah~

When I get to the discoteca, I swear to God every girl from our cohort has got a fucking Chilean boyfriend wrapped around their shoulders.

The American and European girls in my classes flirt with me occasionally, but I'm pretty sure a Chilean has never looked my way. There's something about a guy not knowing what the hell he's saying or doing ever that's less endearing to a female than when the roles are reversed.

Even Daria, the most level headed of everyone in the group, is dragging a strapping, mocha-skinned dude by the wrist as she files behind me in line.

"Noah!" She introduces me to "Alejandro," and I resist the urge to roll my eyes while shaking his hand.

"Is Madisen coming with Ignacio?" she inquires, using English as her boyfriend engages in conversation with Daniela and her Chilean date, who are behind us in line.

"No."

"Ah, bummer. How are you doing?" she asks, expression genuine. "Are you holding up okay living with her still?"

I shrug and flip my hands out to the side, unable to hide my annoyance.

"Shit. Sorry, Noah. I feel like I pushed them together. I didn't know that you guys had kissed that night at the Casino, or that you'd gone home sick. When she came back to the bar to hang out at 2:00am, I sort of thought the ship had sailed between you two. Then when she told me to go ahead and give Ignacio her number, that assumptions seemed confirmed."

"There was a whole fucking lot of misunderstanding involved, that's for sure," I grumble.

She pats my arm once in the dry, unsentimental manner she has.

"Seriously, though. Is he a decent guy, or what's the deal?" I ask, readjusting my posture to shake off her pitying gaze.

"Not that I know him super well, but he seems legit. We've hung out a bit."

"Who's illegitimate?" Daniela butts into our conversation.

"Madisen's 'boyfriend.'" I'm forced to add air quotes in order to get the word out of my mouth; it leaves a metallic residue as if I've just spit out a few rusty quarters. "Daria thinks he seems 'legit.'"

"They are so cute together!" Daniela gushes before catching herself, her exuberance clearly fueled by alcohol. She grimaces my way, registering the acrid expression likely taking over my face. "What happened with you two? You were all over each other at the vineyard that one day."

"What happened is that I'm a fucking idiot, okay?" The statement roars from my mouth loud and loose but detours into exasperated laughter midway through.

After a beat of uncertain silence, the girls crack up alongside me.

"Oh, Noah," Daniela sooths, wrapping a tight arm around my waist, which is about as high up as she can reach with her tiny stature. "You're such a sweetheart. Truly."

"A sweetheart who's super hot and an amazing kisser! That's a deadly combo right there."

Clara has snuck up behind us, cutting the line with zero qualms. She wraps her arms around me like I'm her long-lost puppy dog, and I scan the vicinity for Emiliano, not keen on the idea of being pummeled by a jealous boyfriend. I can smell alcohol on Clara's breath as she releases me and plants a kiss on my cheek. She seems off.

"Well, thank you for that confidence booster," I remark, still searching for her Chilean accompaniment. "Where the hell's your pololo?"

Sucking in a thick, dramatic breath, she shakes her head side-to-side, feigned humor distracting from her clear indignation.