The Immortal's Gamble

Chapter 31 Battlescars

"Briana Silver. What the hell is this?" I stormed over to her room and flung the monstrosity onto her bed.

The monstrosity in this case was a two piece bikini in the colour of white and maroon.

"I thought it matches your skin tone." She replied innocently, narrowing my eyed at her I shook my head.

"I am not wearing that." I lifted my chin defiantly. Now it was her turn to narrow her eyes at me.

"Yes you will."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"No."

"Yes." Silence draped over us and I groaned while she smirked at me.

"I really can't wear it." I pleaded. If I did, all my scars will be on display and all of them will be so repulsed, they would cut off all ties with me.

"What's wrong?" Her smirk fell upon hearing my desperation. I shook my head. Her eyes clouded with concern as she stepped closer.

Taking a deep breath. I looked up at her.

"Just.. don't judge me." I smiled weakly at her as my hands went to lift my shirt. I heard her gasp and knew she saw what I saw every day.

It wasn't as much as the cigarette burns that decorated my waist but the silvery lines that ran along my side. It was my only outlet, and as I turned, Bri fell silent until my back was out in the open, a shocked gasp escaped her lips. Aside from scars from the cigarette burns, a huge bruise yellowish tinged with black mapped out its course on my shoulder. As though my skin was an empty canvas for the scars and bruises.

"Laura, why haven't you told us anything?" Her voice wavering and I shook my head in disappointment. "I couldn't have let you guys see me like that."

A figurative light bulb lit up next to her head and she questioned, "Is that why you never wore backless tops and always wore jeans or long skirts?" Her eyes searching my face for an answer.

I nodded in shame, averting my eyes. Shaking her head in disbelief, she walked over and engulfed me in a hug.

"I was your best friend and yet I never noticed. I must have been blind." Bri lamented but was cut off with the door opening.

"It's time for the beach!" Penny burst in singing but stopped short upon seeing us in a hug.

"What happened?" And I sighed, Bri looked to me as though saying it was up to me. I turned and did the same, lifting up my shirt and doing a turn and the three of us ended up collapsing in a 

"Is the bikini the reason for your distress?" Penny questioned and I nodded, already feeling drained. Her hands went to her chin as she examined the bikini and then looked at me.

"I've got it!" Penny snapped her fingers and ran out the room, in less than ten seconds she was back.

"This, this would be able to cover them up. I wouldn't want you to head to the beach in jeans and long sleeves as you'd end up with heat stroke. So, shall we compromise?" She lifted up a piece of cloth that looked suspiciously like a skirt and I narrowed my eyes at it as I took it into my hands.

"This.. this is.. What is this?" I furrowed my brows at the item in my hands. Laughing, Penny reached over and flipped it.

"Ohhhh. So I just put this on over the bikini? Can I wear my shorts too?" I bargained and they nodded. Knowing that it was better than having me in jeans. Thankfully, my legs weren't scarred. 

As the girls left the room, I was alone by myself again. 

The door behind me creaked open and I closed my eyes, my peace shattered. "For the last time, can't you just leave me alone?" I turned but came face to face with green eyes.

The sound of crickets played, and I swear I heard a crow fly past cawing at us.

"Well, I just wanted to ask if you like the room." Rhys mused and I ducked my head in embarrassment, mumbling a soft yes.

"So what's up with Arden?" He asks, going straight to the point as he made himself comfortable in the armchair. Oh no he did not.

"I am so not having this conversation with you, I barely know you!" I raised my hands at him and started towards him, but in a flash, he was right next to me.

"Mr Speedy." I muttered, and he nodded with a boyish grin that I couldn't help but return. Shaking my head I went to my bag and took out all my essentials along with the stuff Penny and Bri chose for me.

Finally, it was time to get to the beach. Bri, as usual, was harping on about the food she wanted to eat and the thing she wanted to and Alex was just letting her talk his ear off. Arden and Rhys were nowhere to be seen and I was flanked by Soren and Penny. 

"I'm fine guys, go have fun if you'd like." I groaned, they were worse than five-year-olds who never listen. 

"It's your first time at the beach. The first time in a month since the last crazy stuff happened. You trained your ass off, and now it's time to relax. but you seem so tense." Soren whined, kicking some sand onto my feet. Glaring at him, I shook the sand off and continued lying under the sun. 

"Fine, have it your way then, come on Penny, let's go." Soren huffed and pulled penny towards the beach despite her protests. 

Alone again, I opened my eyes and sat up. Everyone was by the water playing around. How long has it been since we last let ourselves be that carefree? How long has it been since we've been ourselves? We're just a bunch of misfits who banded together because of me. 

"Why don't you join them?" I jumped at the breath in my ear.  Rhys kneeled behind me with a grin.

"None of your business." I scowled, but he merely took his seat next to me on the mat. 

"Whatever," I muttered and pushed back my sunglasses on my nose. 

This wasn't the way I wanted to enjoy the beach but it was good enough. The beach was just as I imagined, the sun warm on my skin but cooled by the salty wind. The sand grainy and pebbly beneath my feet, I could feel every grain of sand passing between my toes. 

If only my parents could be around to enjoy this. 

"Come on. I don't care, you are going into the water." Bri announced, snapping her fingers, I sighed and was about to rebut her but instead, a shriek escaped my lips. My book fell out of my grasp and I was lifted into the air. 

"Steady now, don't throw her too hard. Who am I kidding, throw her into the water!" Bri's excited shout seemed far away as the waves sounded louder.

It isn't time for such a thing to happen. I wanted to do some reading and tanning and here I am dropping into the water. As I stood up, hair dripping with salt water, I fixed my glare at the male species responsible for this unfortunate disaster. His laughter stopped short when my hand reached his neck and plunged his head into the water.