Flawed

Ch. 12

Laura's idea of fun was holding ourselves in our room while we watched reruns of "Gilmore Girls," painted our nails and stuffed our faces full of junk food. I had to admit I was having a good time. However around midafternoon I was itching to go explore, and if that meant I ended up at the pool- I was okay with that.

"Hey, I'm thinking about going to check out the pool. Want to come?"

"Oh no chika, I just stuffed my face full of Doritos, I'm not swim suit ready."

I chuckled, typical. "Totally fine, but I'm going to go anyway."

She shrugged "Suit yourself, but I can't promise to save you any munchies for later."

I went into my room to dig through my suitcases, for a brief second I thought about staying in to unpack, but the need to swim was overwhelming, I'd always loved the ocean, my mother used to say if I could sprout fins and gills I'd never leave. I guess now I knew why. I find my bikini, I'd never been self-conscious before but now being surrounded by annoyingly attractive people, I found myself doing a once over in the mirror. My blue bikini paired well with my tan skin and long legs, one of the reasons I bought it was because it made my eyes pop. I had curves, maybe a little more than I liked to admit, my hips curved out in an hour glass figure but my stomach was smooth and flat, my boobs were average, I guess? A solid C- Cup. And as always my dark brown hair cascaded around my shoulders in waves I could never contain. I sighed, I am what I am. I pulled on some shorts and a plain white T, grabbed the map of the campus from my desk and set out to find the pool.

While I originally thought about going to the pool, I decided I'd prefer the ocean. I always used to go there to clear my mind and gain some perspective, and that's exactly what I needed to do. Unfortunately it took me about an hour to arrive, luckily for me the beach appeared empty. I assumed it was a private beach for the students, and since I hadn't seen many on my way out here, I was happy to be alone. I plopped my things down in the sand and walked out to the shallow water and stuck my toes it. Relief. It was as if all the stress poured out of me and into the waves, I laid down in the sand and let the water encompass me. Peace. I'm unsure of how long I laid there before I started feeling a tingling sensation wash over my body, and it wasn't the water. I looked down and it appeared as if though my skin was sparkling, blue colors swirled around me, aquamarine, light blue, dark blue, teal. What was happening? Was this my magic? I looked down and my feet were starting to sprout scales. What in the actual fuck? I ran out of the water as fast as I could.

I kept looking at my feet, and before I knew it I was flying backwards and into the sand.

"Jesus what the fuck? Are you okay?" The voice said

I couldn't just yet find my voice, I kept looking at my feet which were oddly back to normal, no signs of blue scales anywhere. I stared up at him, blonde hair, ridiculously blue eyes, he looked like a Greek god.

"Do you want me to get you some help? You fell pretty hard."

"Uh no, I'm okay, you're just really hard." The words fell out of my mouth before I could take them back.

"Hard, huh?" He grinned

"No, I mean, yes, I mean, your body was hard."

He laughed, a whole hearted full belly laugh.

"The names Parker, and you are?" He offered me a hand to help me up, which I accepted.

"Charlee, sorry about that, I must have dozed off and had a bad dream." I looked back at the water thinking that was the only explanation for it. Surely if I were going to sprout scales Laura would have told me.

"Look, I hate to be this person but, this is a private beach for those at Blackbird academy. I'd rather not see a pretty girl like you get in trouble."

If I wasn't blushing before I sure was now.

"Oh, I actually go here."

He raised his eyebrow at me. "You go to school, here? I've never seen you before."

"Guilty, it's my second day on campus."

"Water, blue eyes, water affinity?" he asked, skeptical. I could tell he was skeptical, so I kept it short yet to the point.

"So they tell me, but I have yet to do or learn anything magical."

He grinned. "So you really do go here."

"Yup."

"Listen, I didn't mean to scare you off, we just don't get many new people here."

"So I've heard."

"It must be overwhelming."

I laughed, "You have no idea."

We ended up talking for an hour or so, Parker was nice, charming, he made me laugh and I felt comfortable hanging out with him. Easy. As soon as the sun started to set I realized I should be getting back.

"It's getting late, I should head back before my roommate sends out the firing squad."

"You should meet me in the dining hall tomorrow morning for breakfast, I can introduce you to a few people. Tell your roommate to come as well."

"It's a date," I realized what I said and tried to backtrack. "Not a date, date, it's just a saying."

"It's a date." Parker said, a twinkle in his eye. He reached over and tucked my hair behind my ear, and leaned in, I could tell he was going to kiss me. My first kiss, I wanted this didn't I? I thought I did, but at the last second I turned away and he ended up kissing my cheek.

"Not the type to kiss on the first date huh? I can get behind that, I'll see you tomorrow Charlee."

I waved goodbye and started my walk back to the dorms. I was walking the trail and following the map to a T, I was a little over half way back and about to pass the arena. Before I could comprehend what was happening an arm snaked me from behind and pulled me into a storage closet just off to the side by the stands.

"What the f-" I snapped.

His hand planted firmly on my mouth, and I stared into the eyes of Sebastian Lane. "Quiet little bird, you wouldn't want anyone to hear you now would you?"

"Little bird? This morning it was little one." I practically spit out venom in my anger.

"I've decided I liked little bird better, you always seem to me running into me."

"Running into...running from, I could see how a brut like you could get that confused."

His eyes danced with something, amusement perhaps?

"No one dares talk to me like that, except you." His eyes were glowing red, it was mesmerizing.

"Pardon me, but I'm not caught up yet on the way things work here." I was suddenly very aware at how close we were, my breasts were pressed up against his chest, and I could feel his hot breath on my neck. Wetness began to pool between my thighs.

"Careful little bird, I can smell you're arousal." He dipped his head and nipped at me neck, I groaned, and as it were possible he pulled me closer. "I can smell him on you. I don't think I like that." He flipped me around and my back was pressed up against his front, he tugged my hair over my shoulder as his lips travelled across the nap of my neck. I couldn't help the way my body reacted as I backed up even closer into him, I felt his hardness through my shorts. "You're playing with fire, little bird, you'd do well to remember that." He shoved me from him and slammed the storage closet door shut behind him.

I needed a second to compose myself, okay, I needed a few seconds.