Tainted Tides

Chapter 11

*Ant's POV*

As Dec and I laid together, revelling in the warmth between us contrasting the cold stone below us, I stared out at the stars. I found myself unable to focus on the constellations above us, rather my senses were trained on the movements in the smaller body next time mine. With my arm resting below his head and wrapped around his shoulder, I could feel the parcels of hard muscle on Dec's back pressing into my arm.

I had the inexplicable urge to trace my finger over each ridge in his muscle.

I pushed the thought from my mind. I was simply admiring my friend's physique...

You don't want to trace your finger over your friend's bare muscle....

You don't want to glide your nose up your friend's bare chest, along his neck, and into his hair...

No. No. NONONONONONONO.

I had to stop...

What was I EVEN THINKING????

He's just a friend......

...

...

...

...

...

Right???

I was brought out of my thoughts by him abruptly sitting up. Concerned by the sudden change in behaviour I sat up with him.

"Are-are you okay Dec?" I asked. He didn't respond or react to my question at all. It seemed like he didn't even hear me. After a few silent moments, he spoke.

"Ant... I've got something to tell you-"

"Hey Ant," I heard the voice of my most annoying friend speak from the base of the rock. I hung my head an let out an exasperated sigh. Dec had gone quieter than the stone we were sat on.

"What do you want Stephen?" I asked, making no effort to mask my annoyance.

"We found her Ant,"

My heart dropped in my chest.

"We found Her."

My mouth fell open in shock. I hadn't expected to find her that quickly...

"But there's some complications Ant. Robbie is waiting back on the ship with the details..." Stephen said.

I nodded in silence and turned back to meet Dec's eyes. I gave him an apologetic look but I think he understood because he gave my hand a quick squeeze and stood up, pulling me up with him. I knew I owed him an explanation later, but I had no idea what to say...

Could I... Trust him?

We both jumped off the tall rock and briskly walked back to the ship.

The short walk was filled with a tense silence.  Even the sound of Stephen's prosthetic was muted by the sand; as if it knew not to break our focus. I walked a step ahead of the others and I could practically feel Dec's curious gaze drilling into my skull.

As if I didn't have enough to worry about: first of all, trying to figure out everything I was feeling and thinking about Dec, then about her , and now I had to worry about what to tell Dec. I felt annoyance build within me, threatening to turn into anger.

Anger directed only at myself; at my own confusion. I decided I needed to focus on finding her first.

As we walked on board, I led us straight to my private quarters, where I expected Robbie to be waiting. As we walked into the room, I battled with the decision of letting Dec into this plan or not, but during my hesitance, Dec let himself in and closed the door behind him.