Opal Waters | ✔

Chapter 19

When the bell rang, I thought about running. I could always just leave now, I didn't have to take my things or wait until I had my necklace. My life could just suffice with living under the waves. There was no need for human interaction, all they did was hurt you. Use you for their own good.

But something in the back of my mind told me I needed to hear Damien out. I quickly shuffled all of my things into a pile before rushing out of the door. Leaning against the wall I waited for Damien to catch up. The school was weird when it was in a house. The idea of lockers wasn't a thing, everyone had the same classes and usually, they were at the same time. With only a little over a hundred students in the school, it was pretty easy to know everyone.

Damien didn't take long to exit the room. His legs longer than everyone else, his strides pulling him further with each motion. I sucked in a large gulp of breath as he comes into sight. He smiles wrapping his arm around me as he pulls me close to him.

"Why are you acting so weird?" He questions leading me to the kitchen once more. Dinner would be in an hour and it was our week to help with the preparation.

"I don't know, why did you get called into the office?" I immediately cursed myself for being so blunt. I needed to let him bring it up when he felt ready, but instead, my brain had gotten the best of me.

This is why I shouldn't be around other people.

"Asada wanted to talk about a few things," My heart instantly leaped into my throat at the thought of what he just said. Why did she need to talk to him? He hadn't done anything to get in trouble, he has spent every living second with me, there was nothing that he had done that I hadn't. Maybe she really was talking to him about what I had said about the other pods. She must have known he was from another one. She wasn't stupid. She was the queen of mermaids for hell's sake.

"And?" I felt my brain taking over, the curiosity taking control. I needed to know. I needed the questions answered.

"Geez, since when were you so interested in my relationships," I cocked my head up at the boy. What an odd way of wording things.

"Oh shut up," I muttered under my breath kicking at the floor as we drop our things on the floor in front of the island.

"She just wanted to talk to me about the same thing you harassed me about this morning at breakfast," My brain runs through everything we had talked about earlier. We hadn't mentioned anything about pods, so maybe that was a good sign that she hadn't said anything.

"Really?" I question, hoping he would continue his explanation. I found myself acting like a jealous girlfriend, looking for every little detail of her boyfriends night out with friends. I was questioning everything everyone was saying. My heart was having a hard time finding trust, my brain trying to destroy anything logical.

"Yeah, she was worried that I hadn't found my powers yet either, but honestly the other pods don't worry too much about them, I'm not sure why you guys do," Damien grabbed an apple off the counter and quickly took a large bite out of its red skin. Chomping down on the bit as the juices fly from his mouth. "They really aren't that big of a deal," He mutters before taking another bite.

"Yes, they are," I moaned leaning against the counter to watch him as he indulges in the fruit.

"Why, what makes you so obsessed with what my abilities will be?" He questions, taking another bite of the now half eaten apple. I rolled my eyes letting a huff of air escape my lips. Before I could answer a few other students entered the room, causing me to jump off the counter. It was time to get to work to prepare dinner for everyone in the house.

By the time all of the ground meat was smashed into perfect burgers my arms were exhausted. I had no clue how long I had been pressing the meat but I was ready to collapse. Damien was working on cooking the food as he wipes a bead of sweat off his forehead. He was standing over the grill as the heat wafts over his face. I watched carefully, my eyes drawn to him as he pays attention to the food. A couple of the girls and I had prepared the salads and other sides. Luckily for us, tonight's dinner wouldn't be difficult it was just a matter of waiting for it all to cook now.

I chuckled along with the other girls when the cues called for it. My mind not at all focused on what they were talking about. It was getting harder and harder to pretend like I liked the people around this house. The only person keeping me sane was the handsome boy cooking all the burgers for the household.

I grab a rag so I can begin cleaning up the mess I had made, handing the girl who was rushing out the door a tray of the final pressed patties. She nodded taking them out to Damien. I watched carefully as she smiles, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she begins to flirt with him.

I could feel my blood pressure rising.

"You really like him don't you?" A girl with short red hair whispers as she works on scrubbing some dishes in the sink. I turn to look at her, and if looks could kill I feel like mine would. It wasn't any of her business if I liked him or not. Maybe I did, and that was just fine. There was no reason to panic over it.

"Yeah, I guess I do..."