The Waves Are Ours |Virgato|

Chapter 13: Bonfire

The days passed quickly after that. As soon as Richard and Chris came home from the pool, Chris had asked Joel about going to the bonfire. Much to Christopher's delight, Joel had agreed to go. Richard had shot him a 'told you so' look, but Chris promptly ignored it. He was so excited just to have Joel agree to his suggestion. He couldn't wait.

During the week, Erick continued to teach Chris how to play the guitar, with some input from Joel as well. He was so excited that he'd graduated to being able to play parts of some songs now, too. Even if he did need a piece of paper with the notes to remind him how to play.

Richard had been busy practicing for another of his band's upcoming performances in the following week. The three of them had gone to watch several times. Chris couldn't help but watch them in excited awe. He hoped that someday he could at least play as well as they could.

The days became a steady rhythm of trips to the beach, watching band practices and just hanging around the house. Chris was just thankful that he hadn't seen any of the palace guards or Luna for a few days. He hoped that meant that maybe his father had decided to give him more time before sending them again. He was still debating what he was going to do if they showed up again. He knew he didn't want to go with them, but he had no idea how he could get his own way.

He hadn't brought himself to talk to Joel yet about his feelings or the fact that he was a merman and the Prince of the Atlantic Ocean. He'd talked about it with Richard and been over it a billion times in his head, wondering what he could say to Joel. He wondered how he could explain that he was a merman without scaring him away instead. Yet every time he started to bring it up, he could get butterflies in his stomach and talk about something different instead.

As they arrived at the bonfire, Chris knew he had to tell Joel the truth tonight.

Although the palace guards and Luna had stayed away, he didn't believe that he'd seen the last of them. He knew he needed to explain things to Joel before he was caught in a sticky situation. Yet would telling Joel make things worse? He trusted Richard's judgement, but he wasn't sure he agreed with him on this one. He couldn't see Joel believing him or understanding him. He couldn't bear the thought of what would happen if Joel didn't.

Joel was doing most of the talking as they walked towards the growing amount of people crowding around a large wood pile. People were sat on various towels and picnic blankets around it. Even with all the people he could faintly see Richard and Erick among them. Apparently, Richard had shared the plan with him as well, minus anything that involved tails.

Music played over a loud speaker and a small stage was set up nearby.

Between them were tiny lanterns that dotted the sand. Food trucks lined the beach behind them. Kids and teenagers raced past them with arms covered with glowing lights. Christopher's eyes followed them in fascination.

"Damn, we should have brought glow sticks," Joel groaned, his eyes on the bright lights.

"Oh, we have some spares," a voice called from behind them. Chris and Joel turned to find a mother and father behind them with two young children in tow, each of them covered in the ornate glow sticks. Chris couldn't help but grin at the glow stick glasses the father wore. The man had a few pale, weird looking sticks in hand and was offering them towards them.

"Thank you so much," Joel nodded gratefully to the man as he gave him the pile.

He then passed a few of them to Chris expectantly. He stared at them for a moment. He realized there were also these small plastic things besides the long ones. He frowned as he wondered just how on Earth did he make them glow? He looked back up at Joel in alarm. How was he going to explain that he had no idea what to do with them?