Sleeping With Sirens (A Siren's Love, Reimagined)

Twelve: The Stormy Sea

DAY TWELVE

School the next day passed in a blur. In true "me" fashion, I refused to think of my conversation with Luna and my dreams of Jack. And in retaliation, the anger and hurt inside me festered and blackened, flowing through me like acid. I avoided my friends, my mother and Carina most of all. I knew what they'd see in my eyes, a broken mess of human flesh wound too tightly to function. In my free time I sat on the beach and listened to music, writing in my journal. I didn't respond to Luna's mental prodding, or the allure of the ocean. Shouldering my way through the mass of students eager to go home, the hallway was suddenly barricaded by Ryan, Jace, Conner, Jax, Rhea, and Bennett. I frowned, already annoyed and itching all over as their worried gazes scanned me head to toe. Rhea looked the most pissed off, her eyes narrowing dangerously beneath her short dark hair. Ryan looked sad, his baby blue eyes puppy-dogging me to death, and the others looked, well, a mixture of caring and annoyed. The crowd thinned until it was just us, and that's when the real fun began.

Rhea spoke first. "Alright, intervention time. What's going on? You haven't returned my texts or calls lately and I'm worried about you. We're worried about you."

I chewed my lip, suddenly finding my worn doc martins very interesting. "Look," I started, scrubbing a hand down my face before meeting their eyes one by one. "I'm grateful for you guys, but we don't know a lot about one another. I need my space alright? I've got my own shit too and I need you to respect that. Otherwise this friendship is going to be over before it begins. It's not personal, I'm just going through a lot right now."

Hurt flared across her face, and as bad as I felt, my words rang true. I was glad to have friends, but sometimes I couldn't stand myself long enough to be around them. This was just my way, going lone-wolf when I needed time to heal. Rhea uncrossed her arms with a sigh, and Ryan stepped forward. "If that's what you need, we will respect that," he shot her a look. "But we don't let people into our group that often, if ever, so just know that you've made friends for life, even if we do hardly know each other. I know you had a rough time at your old school, and we aren't here to make your transition any more difficult or uncomfortable. Just know we care about you, ok?"

I could see the kindness in his eyes and knew that he meant what he said, and the others reflected that, but I wasn't ready. They didn't know the monsters that lurked beneath the waters of my ocean, eagerly waiting to devour me, body and soul. I muttered a thank you under my breath, peeking at them from underneath my lashes. "So um, can I go now?"

Wordlessly, they parted to let me through. It was a little creepy how they all stood like soldiers waiting for a command. "I'll be in touch," I added, if only to get Rhea off my back. "And if you want to stop by tonight, you're welcome to. I have swim practice today but I'm free after six. My moms work until basically tomorrow, so it's just me."

Jace's face lit up and a grin stole across his lips. "Pizza, weed, and a movie?" He glanced at the others, who nodded, a palpable relief in the air.

I snorted but chuckled. "Yeah, whatever."

I tensed when I moved to pass through them, and Rhea gently touched my shoulder.

"I'm sorry if I came off a bit bitchy. I'm a bit protective over my friends. Do you need a ride home after swim?" My brows arched in surprise at the offer.

"It's okay, I get it. And yeah actually, if you don't mind. I can pay for your gas too."

She rolled her eyes, tugging me into a hug. "Girl, you have a lot to learn about friends. We'll see you at six." I watched them walk out before hanging a left and making my way to the pool, touched by their kindness and care for me. The walk was short, and soon I was shouldering through the doors of the locker room.