[se] don't you ever let me go

Sohalia

"Thanks, Mona," echoed Soh as their waitress bustled away, perhaps a little too lost in thought to offer her usual bright and cheery greeting. As Jude was realizing, there was no guide to follow, no step-by-step instructions for how to navigate what had become a somewhat delicate situation, and Soh was suddenly terrified to do anything, lest she do the wrong thing. Should she bring up what happened in the jeweler's shop? Or would it be better to just ignore it and act like nothing had happened?

If they just went on as things were, would things be different now? Or, if they weren't, did she want them to be? The concept of love growing from friendship was foreign to the young woman, whose only experience with romance was what she'd read in books. She didn't yet realize that love could sneak up on you, or that love built on a strong foundation was arguably better than being swept off one's feet by so-called love at first sight.

But hadn't their story begun similarly? She had never been touched the way that she'd let Jude hold her the day they'd met - gods, within an hour of meeting! - so what was that, if not a sort of love at first sight? Friendship at first sight?

Gods, but she was confused.

Trying to reclaim a modicum of control over the situation, Soh offered what she hoped was a charming sweet smile. "So," she said in a voice a little higher than normal. "We decided on Frey, right? To ask for the communication devices?"