Dark Tides

Chapter Eight

          "Two weeks? Ugh, that sucks," Cassi groaned as they took turns feeding the sting rays in the touch pool. "I'm really sorry. Guess it could've been worse huh?" Cassi had no idea. Hadley had debated whether or not to tell Cassi what had really happened that night, but still wasn't sure if the girl would even believe her. As the days slipped by even Hadley wasn't even sure if she believed it. If it hadn't been for the boy she would have dismissed it all as some weird hallucination. The truth was, a part of her needed that boy to be real.

          "It's not your fault," Hadley replied, with a shrug before reaching over to grab the back of a child's jacket in order to keep him from trying to climb into the water. The kid gave her a dirty look and she stuck her tongue out at him before he ran off. "I was the one who lied."

          "Yeah, but my parents are the ones that ratted you out," Cassi declared as she reached past Hadley for another handful of shrimp. She handed one to an eager little girl before she turned her attention back to Hadley.

          "They didn't know," Hadley protested. "How did the rest of the night go?"

          "Well, since you asked, I met this really hot guy, his name is Craig and, get this, I think..." she leaned in closer and lowered her voice. "I think he's in college!"

          Hadley couldn't help but smile, it didn't take much to distract Cassi. "He sounds like quite the catch."

          "Yeah, I guess," Cassi replied with a shrug. "Miles and Conner did what they usually did - nothing. Eli was a total buzz kill though. All he did was mope around after you left."

          "Hey! Get down from there," Hadley called towards a little girl climbing onto a rock display. She pouted as her mother turned and pried her off the rocks.

          "Oh yeah?" Hadley added, trying to sound as disinterested as possible. While Eli was the last person she wanted to talk about it secretly pleased her that he was feeling so guilty. "I don't even know why he bothered to show up at all."

          "Come on, Hadley, he felt really bad, and I know you're still upset, but... maybe you should just talk to him?" Cassi suggested. "He's been asking about you at practice this week. You could just hear him out?"

          "I just... I need a little more time," Hadley replied with sigh. "I'm going to take this stuff back into the kitchen. I'll see you later, okay?"

          "Sure thing," Cassi called as Hadley gathered up the empty buckets and toted them back towards the kitchens. "Oh hey!" Hadley paused and looked back towards Cassi questioningly. "I'm leaving early today, dentist appointment." She made a face and Hadley shook her head and laughed.

          "You have tons of fun with that," Hadley called before continuing on her way.

          Hadley hovered just outside the archway of the last exhibit and simply stared into it. Normally she didn't think twice about the darkness that greeted her, but with the memory of the creature fresh in her mind she was hesitant. She knew that just around the corner the gloom would be broken by the occasional, illuminated hole in the wall. Within each space lay a window offering a glimpse into the swirling world of Hadley's all-time favorite sea animal: jellyfish. The graceful creatures were brought vividly to life by an array of black lights mounted above the tanks.

          Even on busy days Hadley made an effort to visit the exhibit. The entire world could be crashing down outside, but when one crossed the threshold into this mystical underwater sanctuary, it commanded a silence that even young children seemed unwilling to break.