Capsized By You

Chapter 1a

Marissa

The loud slapping of plastic on wood brought her back to the room.

"Can you put your goldfish tendencies on hold and get this done?"

Marissa spun around in the chair and gathered up the folders scattered across the desk. She began to scan over the documents with no real intention of reading them.

She nodded and flipped the page, "Yeah, I'll get on it right away. Thanks, Chole."

"Really," she asked, taking the papers, "What did the first sentence say?"

Marissa smiled; she didn't have to read it. Her sister always wanted the same thing, the budget. That's all she yelled at her for. That and spending too much time with the kids at the—oh shit.

"The budget for the orphanage needs to be done. A new branch will be opening soon or something like that," she said.

"It's nice that you remember about the budget that was due last week, but this one is for the party on Friday," Chole huffed, throwing her hands on her hips, "You may have dad wrapped around your pinky, but if you screw this up, being his favorite won't save you."

"He loves us all equally. Daddy understands my need for creativity and freedom, just like he understands your need to control and micromanage everything," Marissa said, grabbing the folder.

"You're about to turn twenty-two; you need to grow up already. It's about that time where you're going to get matched."

Marissa all but fell out of her chair with laughter. Her? Being matched? Chole may be the walking dead with her new werewolf husband, but that wasn't going to be her.

"If Camila wasn't safe, what makes you any different?"

"Both of you were made for married life. He knows, restrictions, and I do not mix."

Marissa glanced at the clock. The kids should be getting out of class soon.

"You went to visit them three times this week already. We have to start making plans for the party," Chole called out as Marissa stepped into the elevator.

"We'll do it tonight, I promise."

With that, Chole let her go in peace. One thing Marissa has never done was break a promise.

Getting to the neutral zone was a journey, but it was worth it. It was the one place where humans, werewolves, sea beasts, and elves could get together without starting another war. Entering a territory not designed for your people, uninvited, could get a lot of folks killed. The neutral zone had some of the best boutiques, restaurants, and clubs, but it also held the orphanage. One of the few things each organization could agree on was the kids; thank God for that. The checkpoint was the worst.

"You've been visiting a lot," a guard said, shaking the contents of her bag out on the table.

She rolled her eyes and checked her watch. Caleb should've been on shift already; she hated explaining herself every time, only for them not to believe her. After not finding anything, he picked up the detector. Adjusting his loosely fitted pants, he began waving away. Marissa didn't have time for this. She stopped to feed the ducks a little bit by the pond then grabbed a new outfit and earrings for her hidden piercings. At this rate, she'll miss visitation hours.

"I visit the kids. Hell, it's my job," she said, slapping it away.

A few guards broke out in laughter, "Getting shitface is a job? Sign me up," he said.

You get high once and cry at a beautiful statue; you're considered a drunk.

"I'll take it from here. Your shift is over," Caleb said, placing his cup in the security booth.