Academy Island

Rain

The day lingered with much to do, easing up only as the sun went down. I rolled my shoulders, stiff from reaching so many times. I could feel every position I'd held throughout laundry day still in them. The last basketful of dried linens drooped as I lugged it back down the path to camp. Bed sounded so good right now, plopping down and letting the day fade away to blissful sleep. I smelled dinner though, and my stomach reminded me, loudly, that it wanted to be taken care of first. I wound my way over to Gabriel's hut, doorway bright and busy with noise. I poked my head in through the open door.

"Delivery." I said softly.

Gabriel jumped, bumping back against the table piled high with folded shirts behind him before doing a three sixty to face me. He had his hands behind his back, the intention to hide whatever he was doing so obvious. I narrowed my eyes at him. "What's wrong?"

He grinned sheepishly and shrugged. "Sorry, not sorry."

I heard the shuffling behind me, many feet in the sand attesting that the guys had congregated, right where I was. I glared at him. "You didn't."

Petals, soft and plentiful, suddenly showered down over my head. I blinked at them as they shushed over my lashes and down my cheeks. These guys. I twisted, images of them flickering between the still tumbling flowers showed most of them smiling at me. My eyes widened at the roasted fish on a platter, seventeen handcrafted candles lit and stuck in it's side, arranged just like the gaping thing was a birthday cake. Luke was the only one who looked...disgusted. I couldn't help it. I giggled, eyeing the cake that eyed me back.

Silas, the fish cake bearer, blushed deep despite the tan.

"We didn't have much notice."

"Or anything sweet." Luke added miserably. I shook my head, as much to say it was fine as to dislodge the rest of the floral confetti. I reached up, putting a hand on Silas' arm and rising on tiptoe so I could blow out the candles.

They cheered when they all went out, and we went about finishing up the day with the gussied up dinner, the only ones absent Kota and Mr. Blackbourne. I stared up at the watchtower where it's window was still lit up with torchlight, the low murmur of their voices carrying down to us. The sick twist in my stomach reminded me that it seemed like Kota had been avoiding me of late, ever since I'd found father's suitcase floating among the rocks offshore. I'd tried not to care, but it was getting to me. He'd been worried. I could still feel the ghost of his hug around my shoulders, see the concern in his eyes. 

Hard to describe how it'd made me feel. Warm. Welcome and wanted. I wasn't used to it. Especially not used to wanting to fix how he was feeling so he didn't avoid my presence anymore. 

They said goodnight at the door, crowding around until I finally shut it. I sighed and turned toward the hammock, halting mid-step at the anomaly perched on my windowsill. My fingertip fell over the nine silky buds in brilliant red, then down on the little velvet box that had been found in Father's suitcase, velvet still bruised a bit from it's sodden journey pressed between his belongings. My thumb played along the seam, nudging it open ever so slightly, hesitating. 

The hinge sprang open by itself suddenly with a snap, making me jump. I put my hand over my chest and peered inside.

A tiny heart glinted back at me, a delicate chain through it's middle. I pulled the middle insert out and released the necklace from it's display, holding it up in the moonlight as I placed the box back down. A floating heart. The chain ran over my hand, whispers of cool metal tickling as the pendant swung and the tag hung free. I stared at it. This wasn't like Father. Everything he'd ever gotten me had been secondhand. This was...new. And expensive. First the family vacation, and now this. I coughed and scratched at my eyebrow, confusion rattling through me as jungle crickets began their nightly song outside. I dropped to the hammock and turned the little bauble over and over in my hands before sighing and reaching for the velvet box again, dropping the little chain and it's decoration back inside.