The Waves Are Ours

13-Bonfire

The days passed quickly after that. As soon as Ashton and Michael came home from the pool Michael had asked Luke about going to the bonfire. Much to Michael's delight Luke had agreed to go. Ashton had shot him a 'told you so' look but Michael promptly ignored it. He was so excited just to have Luke agree to his suggestion. He couldn't wait.

During the week Calum continued to teach Michael how to play the guitar, with some input from Luke as well. He was so excited that he'd graduated to bring able to play parts of some songs now too. Even if he did need a piece of paper with the notes still to remind him how to play.

Ashton had been busy practicing for another of his bands upcoming performances in the following week. The three of them had gone to watch several times. Michael couldn't help but watch them in excited awe. He hoped that someday he could at least play as well as they could.

The days became a steady rhythm of trips to the beach, watching band practises and just hanging around the house. Michael was just thankful that he hadn't seen any of the palace guards or Luna for a few days. He seemed to hope that maybe his father had decided to give him more time before sending them again. He was still debating what he was going to do if they showed up again. He knew he didn't want to go with them but had no idea how he could get his own way.

He hadn't brought himself to talk to Luke yet about his feelings or the fact that he was a merman and the Prince of the Pacific Ocean. He'd talked about it with Ashton and been over it a billion times in his head. Wondering what he could say to Luke. He wondered how he could explain that he was a merman without scaring him away instead. Yet every time he started to bring it up, he would get butterflies in his stomach and talk about something different instead.

As they arrived at the bonfire, Michael knew he had to tell Luke the truth tonight.

Although the palace guards and Luna had stayed away. He didn't believe that he'd seen the last of them. He knew he needed to explain things to Luke before he was caught in a sticky situation. Yet would telling Luke make things worse. He trusted Ashton's judgement, but he wasn't sure he agreed with him on this one. He couldn't see Luke believing him or understand. He couldn't bear the thought of what would happen if Luke didn't.

Luke was doing most of the talking as they walked towards the growing amount of people crowding around a large wood pile. People were sat on various towels and picnic blankets around it. Even with all the people he could faintly see Ashton and Calum amongst them. Apparently, Ashton had shared the plan with him as well, minus anything that involved tails.

Music played over a loudspeaker and a small stage was set up nearby.

Between them was tiny lanterns that dotted the sand. Food trucks lined the beach behind them. Kids and teenagers raced past with arms covered with glowing lights. Michael's eyes followed them with fascination.

"Damn we should've brought glow sticks." Luke groaned his eyes on the bright lights.

"Oh, we have some spares." A voice called from behind them. Michael and Luke turned to find a mother and father behind them with two young children in tow. Each of them covered in the ornate glow sticks. Michael couldn't help but grin at the glow stick glasses the father wore. The man had a few weird pale looking sticks in hand and was offering them towards them.

"Thank you so much." Luke nodded gratefully to the man as he gave him the pile.

He then passed a few of them to Michael expectantly. He stared at them for a moment. He realised there were also these small plastic things besides the long ones. He frowned, as he wondered just how on earth did, he makes them glow? He looked back up at Luke in alarm how was he going to explain that he had no idea what to do with them.