All By Myself

Chapter 3

Once at home, Dad led me inside, where I sat on the lounge. Mum came in, but when she saw that I'd been crying, she paled.

"What is it? What's happened?" She asked in fear. Dad moved closer.

"I would like to know too." He said. I felt tears start again.

"Oh Mum, Dad. I am sorry. I didn't know his job, I never asked." I sobbed. Mum moved to me.

"Whose job? Honey, you're not making sense." She said.

"Coach Brad. Tabitha's dad. At the pools today, a colleague of his came over and...called him doctor." I gushed. Mum gasped, but Dad touched her shoulder.

"What kind of doctor is he?" Dad asked. I cringed slightly.

"Genetic. He never told me, because he thought it would bore me." I said. Dad swore, and Mum burst into tears.

"I knew it. They will find you. They will hurt you." She sobbed. I shook my head.

"No, they won't. They don't know where we live, and we've been very careful." I said. Dad sighed.

"We will have to move. The college you are going to, is it far from the ocean?" He asked. I shook my head.

"No. And there is a deep pool there. I could swim, just no transforming." I said.

"We will get you a car next week, and once school is over, you need to cut ties with Tabitha. It's too dangerous." Dad said. I nodded.

"Of course. I completely agree." I said. Mum blew her nose.

"I'm sorry I got us into this. It's been so perfect." I said. Mum hugged me.

"It's not your fault. He has been your coach for three years. You weren't to know. I blame Brad. He should've told you." Mum said. We tried to keep going on as normal, but Mum was constantly jumping, afraid. Dad found another house and put ours on the market. With a private beach, we knew it would sell fast, and high.

School was finishing, and, despite everything, I was dreading saying goodbye to Tabbi. She had become my best friend, but Dad was right. It was dangerous. I cried on the last day of school, for two reasons. Firstly, it was the last day. I had spent so many years here, so many memories. Secondly, saying goodbye to Tabbi. I promised her I would give her my new address once we moved, but I had a feeling she was dubious. I didn't blame her. We had barely spoken since the meet. We said goodbye with promises to see each other at Graduation. I had been offered the role of Valedictorian, but declined, so Tabbi had become Valedictorian instead. I never told her I was first choice, she seemed so happy. I asked the Principal not to mention it during Graduation.

All the parents were there, and families and, sitting in the third row between Kyle Shand and Lucy Slater, I looked around for my parents. I spotted them and smiled, but as I turned to face the front, I met Brad Thompson's gaze. He smiled, but I could swear it was calculating. I returned his smile, and turned to face the front. Tabbi was on stage with a few other students – School Captain, House Captains, etc. Yes, I'd been offered a few different roles over the years, including a Prefect. I had accepted that one responsibility, but had kept my head down otherwise.

The ceremony started, the Principal talking first, wishing us all the best for the future, that we represented Dunham Academy. The School Captain then spoke, though I tuned her out. I snapped back to attention when the first row stood and trumped to the stage. Parents had been told not to applaud until the end, though every now and then a merit would be mentioned, to which a smattering of applause was allowed. I stood up with my row, my hair tied in a bun, and walked to the aisle with the others.