Dark Stars, Light Stars

Chapter 18 - The Ocean You've Cried

You don't wanna keep on swimming in the ocean you've cried. But I won't let you drown, I'll pull you back to the shallow. – Jacob Luttrell / Zedd, Done With Love

Justice

Somebody clears their throat before me. Thinking that it's Alistair, I slowly open my eyes, only to find my Dad standing in front of me, his arms folded across his chest and a gun in one of his hands. I close my eyes and try to go back to sleep.

Wait . . . my Dad? Oh this is bad.

'Dad!' I cry as I sit up. 'What are you doing here?' I disturb Alistair as I wake up because his arm snakes around my waist and he tries to pull me back down onto the bed.

'Justice, go back to sleep.'

I slap him with my hand but he doesn't react.

'Alistair.' My Father booms. Ali opens his eyes and fixes them on my Dad. His cheeks go red and his eyes are wide from what I think is fear.

'Hey Mr. Casanova. Up early today?' Alistair laughs softly. I face palm myself and curse under my breath. I knew we'd get caught.

'Justice, I need to talk to you.' My Dad says. I nod and stay where I am. He's going to kill me.

'Alone.'

Alistair gets the hint and hastily gets out of bed before leaving the room. I see him flash me a smile as he leaves, his hands shoved into the pockets of his tracksuit.

Once he is gone (and the door is bolted shut thanks to my Dad), my Father turns to me and glares.

'Why was Alistair in your bed?'

This is going to go so bad so quickly.

'Nothing, he just was a bit upset last night with his sister and was also comforting me.'

He eyes me carefully.

'He knows that Abigail is his sister?'

I nod in response. I was expecting to receive a lecture from him, about the rules I must follow when I'm under his watch and whatnot, but I don't think I'm going to get one.

'Did anything happen last night that I should know about?' He asks. I shake my head.

'No, nothing happened. I promise.'

My Dad takes this in for a moment before asking, 'Did you kiss?'

'What. No! Of course not.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yes! I'm sure!'

'Okay, because a girl your age should have a boyfriend by now.'

Oh my God. My Father did not just say that. I try to hold in a laugh, but a small chuckle escapes me. My Father smiles and bends down before the bed.

'I just don't want you to get hurt, Justice. You know he suffers from depression, right?'

'No,' I tell him, 'I don't.' And that is true. I should have guessed it earlier, but I just assumed that he was always upset because of what was happening around us. I never knew that his sadness had consumed him.

'People that suffer from it tend to seek attention for themselves. Now I know that Alistair is not like that, but in the future, there is a change that he will turn on you. For what reason, I don't know. But you're my only daughter, and I can't put you through that.'

'I understand . . . and I'm also your only child.'

'Something like that.' He says quietly before standing up to leave. He unbolts the door and places the gun he had back on the table. He smiles at me before disappearing back into the hall.