Opal Waters | ✔

Chapter 22

I didn't even have an answer for him. I found myself storming up the beach before he could even process what had happened. I didn't take well to those who lied to me. I didn't have time to play these mental games.

"Opal wait!" I heard Damien shout as his feet thud against the sand. He was running after me, I could tell, but it still didn't change how I felt. I continued to wander up the beach to get away from him.

"I'm sorry, let me explain," I shook my head. There was no reason to give him the satisfaction. If I was angry at him it would make it easier to leave him anyways. Would I tell him I was leaving? No... that would leave a trail that people would be able to follow. I shook my head. The sooner I could get to the dorms the sooner I could lock him out and not have to talk to him today. Tomorrow morning I'd put my request in to take some time off from school and that would be the last Damien would see of me.

"Opal, I am not taking no for an answer, turn around and listen to me!" I heard the words before I felt his arm on mine. He grabbed my wrist pulling me, twisting me so I had to look directly into his eyes.

"Leave me alone," I shouted, pushing him away from me. There was nothing he could do to redeem himself to me now. I hated liars. I hated people who lied. My heart sank in my chest as I realize that is exactly what I had been doing to everyone else the last couple of weeks, heck the last couple of months. I knew I was going to run away. I've been formulating a plan for what felt like forever and continued to lie about it to everyone else.

Maybe I hated myself.

"Opal, listen," His words were softer now, his grip still firm on my wrist. I shook my head trying my best to pull away from him, but soon I realized there was no use for that. He was stronger than I was and he obviously had something he really wanted to say to me.

"Fine, what?" I shouted. Allowing myself to settle into his grasp waiting for his unconvincing words to grace my ears.

"I know how big of a deal it is for mermaids to know what their powers are, I just for some reason don't have any and I didn't want you to think I was a loser because of it, I've really grown to like you Opal, I don't want to lose you," His words were so sincere, his head hung low like he was going to cry. I kicked at the sand for a moment looking at him.

I couldn't believe it but he had done it. I knew he had a special hold over me, but the thought of him just trying to impress me for some reason was enough for all of the anger to slip away. I mentally curse myself for allowing him to do this.

"Why did you think lying to me would impress me?" I dropped my head just like he had before. A heavy sigh was lingering on my lips as I ran my fingers through my hair.

"I was hoping I would have discovered them by the time you found out," He shrugged his shoulders taking a couple of steps towards me.

It wouldn't matter anyways. He didn't know what his true powers were and that meant he couldn't come with me. An ache begins to form in my heart as I try to bury the sadness in my voice.

"Don't ever let me catch you lying to me again," I mentally chuckled at myself. I was a joke. I was going to leave him, so really all he had to do was make it a couple of days without lying to hold up his end of the bargain.

"I promise you won't," He placed his hands up in the air as if he was trying to defend himself.

"Good!" I teased him. Turning to continue my way up the beach. There was a feeling mulling in my gut, something he had said that left things slightly unsettled.

"You said you were too young to find any info out about your mother because you weren't eighteen?" I questioned him. I felt my eyes welling up as I asked. Maybe the excuse I had used wouldn't work, but it was too late now because I couldn't take it back. If I used a different excuse on my paper and he found out people would start asking questions. I shook my head trying to bury every negative thought that I could, but this only made the feeling grow stronger. Maybe I needed to hold off on running away? I could tell him they denied my paperwork, using my age as a reason. I'd wait until things settled down better. Maybe in the meantime Damien would find his powers and I could take him with me. But would it be worth the risk?

"Yeah, a lot of the documents you need to request, you have to be eighteen, so if you don't know the info about your mother beforehand you'll have to request it at the courthouse," I shook my head. Damien and I had been spending lots of time together but I had only just realized he didn't know how old I was. Was I supposed to tell him? Would that make things weird? We were only a mere four years apart but still.

I tried my best to hide the fear on my face. I wasn't actually trying to find my mother. I'm not sure I would even want to find her if I was. But that was the excuse I had made up and that was what I was going to have to go with.

My heart started racing.

"You do know your mother's name right? And a general idea of where to go to find her?" Damien cocked his eye to look at me. I shook my head to myself before turning to him.

"Oh yeah, I got it figured out," I tried my best to fake a smile. Maybe he could see through it, but if he did, he didn't say anything.