Most Ardently

by Gabe Cole Novoa

Lu laughed, shaking her head. It was then that Oliver noticed Charlotte, who, contrary to expectations, didn’t look pleased. Her mouth was thin and unsmiling. A crease furrowed her brow, and for an uncomfortable moment neither of them said anything. This was a very different reaction from Lu, or when Oliver had shared the news with Jane. He wasn’t sure how to interpret her sudden change in mood. Lu seemed to notice it too, because as her gaze slid to Charlotte, her smile melted off her face like ice on a summer day. They were entering the more populous part of London now. Though the sounds of horse hooves on the packed road, squeaky carriage wheels, and conversation as people walked past them were impossible to escape, Charlotte’s silence felt like an absence of all sound. Like Oliver had fallen into a dream in which he couldn’t hear. Finally, Charlotte said carefully, “And … what did you say?” Oliver was no longer sure he wanted to have this conversation with Charlotte, but it was far too late to change course now. “Well, it would have been rude to refuse,” he said, trying to infuse his voice with more confidence than he had. “And anyway, Jane thinks I should go.” “I agree with Jane,” Lu said. “It’s an opportunity to get to know more boys your age. If you want to go, I think you should.” Charlotte’s lips became a flat line. Oliver bit his lip, forcing himself not to look at the disapproval clear on her face. The following silence made him want to squirm. Why was she actin...