Under Changing Tides

Chapter Seven: Dances with Demons

Purple and pink swirl around until the familiar Moon Pool appears. She approaches and dangles her feet over the side so she can sit and enjoy the warmth. She hears a splash and before she realizes who it is, she feels droplets flying off the ends of his hair, and her stomach flips seeing him soaking wet. He eyes her as if he was a shark in the open water and she was bleeding slowly and he wanted an easy meal. Something about the darkness of his stair scared her, and it was this fear that caused her not to move. On the other hand, she wanted him to devour her, like the way she knew only he could, and that scared her.

Bash swam slowly through the water, only his black hair and icy blue eyes visible. The water shallows as he approaches; they are eye to eye; he stands in the water and he places his hands firmly on either of her thighs; his stone face falters as he swallows hard watching her hand glide over his waistband. Her eyes never leave his lips, full and ready to make hers.

Nora scoots forward using him as leverage and can feel Bash press himself on her through their clothes. A harsh exhale meets her as he uses one hand to cup her butt, bringing her ever so closer to him, and his other slipping down the front of her body over her chest; causing her head to fall back in ecstasy and the black swirl to come back around in her head and her eyes go back to seeing nothingness.

Crisp morning air enters through the open window she closed and locked the night before. A red box lays on her nightstand; its contents unknown and where it came from escapes her as well as her eyes focus on the piece of paper with calligraphy Nora written on it. She flips it open and in the same writing states, Almost as beautiful as you. She grabs the velvet box and opens it revealing a silver bracelet with a silver plated crystal, blue and a lace pattern inside the facet. Nora looks out at the Bay and watches as it glitters in the morning sun as she closes the window. She gets ready for the day and wonders what bad things might spring up and happen today.

"Did you put this in my room this morning?" she asks holding out the red velvet box, seeing everyone in a slower speed than usual.

"I did, and it was from Jack Haven;" Amanda quips peeking through her auburn bangs as she sips her coffee then glances toward Jason.

Nora can feel her face light up with the heat rushing to it, but she stays quiet, not sure what her brother will say. His face intrigues her though.

"So when you've been hanging out with Dawson, it been just as friends?" he asks and Nora can feel her stomach clench.

"I haven't seen Dawson since tryouts when he and Jack got the same time." She tells him honestly bewildered by what he said.

"Whatever you say Nora; be careful with all these names you have to remember." He tells her and she feels her jaw drop as he exits the kitchen.

"Jason, uncalled for, don't let me remind you that you were a horn dog when you were a senior too!" Amanda yells after him, but it doesn't make Nora feel any better at all.

"Seriously, I haven't seen Dawson in days and we haven't done anything," she states with a gross feeling and a roll of her eyes; "Since before the accident!" Nora storms off hoping to have better luck at school; she opens the door when she hears Amanda still hollering about something she cannot hear.

Nora opens the door to the fresh new day already tainted with whatever today already had to offer. She knew that today was the day she was looking forward to since Jack asked her, but now something seems weird in the atmosphere after hearing that people think she is still hanging around Dawson. Not to mention this is the second dream about Bash, and she really wanted nothing to do with him.

The air blowing is dull and briny off the bay, but a floral aroma hits gently as a familiar jeep rolls up. Jack exits effortlessly and his opened button up shirt over with his board shorts makes Nora's heart flutter, as he approaches from the walk to the driveway he gives her a brilliant smile and rakes his hand through his hair.