Under the Sea ⇔ Cashton ✓

Tired Of Waiting For The Sunrise

Calum thought the ocean was beautiful the moment he dived underneath it's fragile blue waves. The sunlight danced through the water and shed a hazy golden light through the salted waves, making the shells sparkle and the sand glisten. He couldn't believe the amount of color that the ocean shore exhibited, bright pink coral and deep green seaweed. He watched the ruby red crabs dig into the sand and the schools of fish with ever-changing scales catch the light of the sun, the way the water grew into a deeper blue the farther away it was. He liked how it was warmer closer to the surface and got colder as you swam down. He liked the way the water felt smooth against his bare skin, like soft silk curling around his arms and legs. He was amazed by it. He still is.

But it's a little harder to see the beauty in it when he's perilously aware of all the dangers it holds. He knows how there are creatures that are merciless, that have strong jaws that wouldn't hesitate to close themselves over him. He saw how fragile the groups of mermaids were, huddled together in their clan without straying to far from anyone else. He saw how much humans affected the mermaids' lives without even knowing it, leaving nets out in the ocean and dumping their trash into the water, which can get caught in their tails. It's beautifully dangerous, the ocean is. Like thorns on a rose.

Calum is especially aware of the dangers when he sees Ashton's body still against the sandy ground, his eyes fluttered shut, cheeks flushed. The scar on Ashton's back is slightly visible from the top of his neck, the tissue shining against the light. Calum can't help but think about how he looks like he's simply sleeping, just went down for a nap. Calum hates how much of a difference the reality is.

After Joy went to go talk with Calum's father, she returned to say that she sent him away. Her eyes were glistening, shiny and slightly red. She looked slightly stunned, almost desperately upset that Calum wanted to lean in and wrap his arms around her, but then Joy told him that it was her choice. That she wanted him to go on and leave her and Calum behind.

"I did convince him to talk to the other fisherman and put up their nets back at home. Once Ashton wakes up, we can tell him we can return home. He'll be happy to hear that," Joy had said. Calum couldn't help but feel at awe at his mother. Face to face with his father for the first time in nearly eighteen years, and she had the strength to keep her distance. Calum felt proud.

After Joy left to spread the news to all the others, Calum returned to his worn spot beside Ashton, kneeling beside him and watching his unmoving body in case he even stirred an inch. Which is where he sits now, the water moving in thick waves past him as the mermaids swim around gathering their things in preparation to leave. Calum doesn't move, his eyes trained on Ashton's closed ones. He hates the fact that it's his fault Ashton was caught in the net in the first place. If he hadn't swam back in forth from land to sea, he wouldn't have attracted so much attention from the fisherman. He learned too late that all the movement under the water brought the nets closer instead of farther away. And he hates himself for it.

Calum stares off into the distance, one hand resting against Ashton's bare arm to sense any disruption in Ashton's steady form. He watches Luke glance nervously towards them every so often, his big blue eyes full of worry for his best friend.

Despite his apparent guiltiness for dragging the clan into the mess they are in in the first place, the others in the clan seem to have warmed up to Calum after his successful plan in getting Ashton free from the net. They don't look at him with such distaste anymore. If anything, they look somewhat impressed. At least thankful for what Calum did to free Ashton. For the first time, Calum feels a little bit more welcomed.

He's watching Luke gather up a few of Ashton's things when suddenly Ashton's arm moves, bumping against Calum's hand. Calum spins around, looking down as Ashton groans lowly, his eyes opening slowly, blinking hazily.