Swimming Ducks

Part 7: The Next Morning

Hi! So this chapter is a little shorter, I think, but is quite important, hope you enjoy!

TARYN'S POV:

I awoke more tired than I had been when I went to sleep. The grip of exhaustion was pulling my eyelids closed but the sun streaming in through the curtains and the buzzing nervousness across my skin pushed them away, forced me awake. My head was beginning to ache, a dull pain tapping at the inside of my skull. I pulled out my phone and clicked it on, the bright white of the time against my screen hurting my eyes.

08:27

I rubbed my eyes, sitting up and trying to arrange my braids so they were semi-acceptable. Everything ached from the slightly-deflated air mattress, my arms so stiff it was as though my joints had rusted. Thoughts skimmed through my mind like bugs on the surface of a pond, too fast for me to catch. But one thing lingered there, a heavyweight in my chest that caused me such a mix of anxiety and excitement that my skin felt alive, humming with electricity.

Last night. Alice's hand in mine. Her ring against my palm, her fingers gently brushing against mine.

I looked around, realising that Alice and Ash were gone, their beds unmade. I could hear their faint chatter in the kitchen and I stood up, slowly working my way towards the door in a sleepy haze. A small pinprick of dread began to build in my chest, slowly growing as I neared the kitchen.

Act normal act normal act normal.

The two were sitting at Ash's breakfast bar on stools, Alice's hair adorably messy and Ash's somehow looking both mental and perfect. My heart started working double time as Alice turned to smile at me, the look in her eyes reading both oh shit and it's okay at the same time. Ash turned around and gave me a look I couldn't place. "And she is awake!" they laughed. I rolled my eyes, collapsing so heavily into the stool next to Ash that it damn near fell over. They sat between Alice and me, making my heart feel weird, almost sore, like I needed to be near her again, feel her hand in mine.

She probably doesn't feel that way Taryn, you need to let go.

Ash cleared their throat. "I have something to say," they announced. My heart seized up and I felt my chest tighten. I clenched my fists.

They saw.

"Do tell," Alice taunted, but I could see the panic in her eyes. I locked eyes with her for just a second and I could see the worry begin to settle in the creases of her mind. My head began to pound as I struggled to keep my vision. My stomach began to churn.

Ash leant their elbows on the counter and I swallowed against the panic of rising in my chest. "You two held hands."

I locked eyes with Alice again and she seemed to be thinking as frantically as I was.

What do we say? What do we say? What do we say?

My heart was thudding out of my chest and I could almost feel Alice's doing the same. She spoke before I could. "Taryn just seemed, um, tense, I wanted to make her feel more relaxed." I tried to open my mouth but the words got trapped in my throat. Ash looked between up both, smiling slightly.

"Say what you want," they began, "But I've seen the looks across the classroom, the smiling at each other. The way Taryn will do anything to be alone with you, and the way you'll very gladly be alone with Taryn. Despite the fact you love animals with all of your heart, you never come to my house, despite the fact it's a farm, because you're always with Taryn. And Taryn, you were caught staring at her yesterday! You two really need to be more subtle."

I stared at them, gobsmacked. I'd never even thought about 99% of what they said, and their words hit me in the gut like a train. Again, I tried to speak, but my brain lose the thoughts as they came.
"What the fuck?" Alice breathed, "I hadn't noticed any of that."

Ash just smiled at us. "Look, I'm not going to get involved in whatever this is, but I think it's cute. You two know each other better than anyone else, and you're clearly into it."

I stared at my hands. They were sweating and clammy. "I, wow. Um, Ash, how did you see that?"

They shot me a look somewhere between disgust and amusement. "Do I look like I ever sleep?"