Masked

XXIII.

I apologize for grammatical mistakes that occured, but I'm somewhat excited to get this one out. Enjoy reading and stay safe!

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Waking up next to another body in her bed was not something the brunette wasn't used to, yet she still was confused as of the fact that the person sleeping next to her was not Jonah, but Isabelle. Lara yawned as she shifted slightly to get more comfortable. It was still early, but the muggy air that came through the window they left open last night was enough to make her break out in sweat again.

That, and the fact that Lara remembered what happened last night after she glanced over to her friends sleeping form. The archaeologist hid her face in her hands, rubbing her eyes. Why did she do that in the first place?

After they got interrupted by Abby, the brunette had extreme problems with listening to what the other woman told her. It was something about the drive to San Juan, but Lara couldn't remember anymore. What she did remember was Abby asking her if she was alright since the brunette seemed absent while talking, but all Lara could do was to nod.

For the rest of the evening her and Isabelle carried on like they normally would, none of them mentioning the almost-kiss. Lara cringed. Even if she tried to convince herself that everything between the two of them had been normal, it was still awkward. Had leaning in for a kiss been a good idea at all?

The brunette sighed, sitting up in the bed, looking at her hands she had put into her lap since she couldn't bear to look at her friend which was still fast asleep, her back turned towards Lara. She bit her lip when noticing how painful and loud her heart started beating in her chest.

Just in that moment, Isabelle started to shift as well, seeming to wake up. Sighing she turned around onto her other side, only to stop mid-movement to give a perplexed stare over to Lara, which stared back. Both started to tense up.

"Uh... Morning."

"Good morning..."

Feeling more awkward than ever, Lara watched her friend rubbing her eyes, stretching and finally sitting up as well. She didn't know what to say to her... Addressing the situation they were in didn't seem like a good idea right now.

"How did you sleep?"

It sounded like Isabelle was trying her hardest to sound casual. Or was that just her imagination?

"To be honest, horrible. I thought I got accustomed to the heat here but... guess I was wrong", Lara replied, trying to sound just as casual.

"Yeah, well. I definitely brought the wrong clothes for this trip... I could take a shower right away."

Lara managed to smile weakly at that remark and nodded.

"Yes. Hopefully we can once we find the box."

"Hm."

A bit of unpleasant silence followed. Isabelle rubbed her eyes once more before looking onto her phone.

"So uh... When will we leave for the mission?"

Lara tensed up again. That was what Abby tried to tell her yesterday, but since she didn't manage to listen, the brunette didn't know.

"Uhm. To be honest I... have no idea", the archaeologist replied truthfully.

Lara's friend nodded, sighing.

"Well, I just have to ask her myself then. I'm super awake anyways, so..."

Isabelle had gotten out of bed while she said that, starting to go through her clothes.