Beyond the Sea (9 page)

*

Peter could hardly concentrate on his homework. He couldn’t get Melia out of his mind. The way her dress hung on her body, the way her sequin eyes sparkled, the way she smelled…Peter was intoxicated. He liked how she ordered an extra scoop of ice cream and ate it all. She was different than the stuck up girls he usually associated with. She seemed compassionate and caring, not selfish or materialistic in any way. That surprised him the most, a girl with a millionaire father, not preoccupied with the finer things in life.

He couldn’t tell if she had fun. She eagerly talked to him, always paying attention and laughing when he tried to joke. She reminded him of a kitten, easily distracted by anything around her. She was curious about everything, and simple things seemed to entertain her. He went over their conversation in his head, dissecting every part to decipher what she could have meant.

After wasting half an hour, Peter stopped himself.

“Get a grip,” he said aloud, shaking his head. Peter didn’t like that a girl he’d hung out with twice had this effect on him.
It has to be because she is the hottest girl I’ve ever met
, he thought. And she was. Peter pleasantly remembered Melia in her wet dress Saturday night. The soaked, thin material clung to her breasts, transparent enough to make him happy.

-Chapter 4-

“Do you feel like we’re being watched?” Melia peered out at the ocean.

Jamie followed her gaze. “For the second time, no.”

“Ok, I guess it’s nothing then.” She frowned but turned back to Jamie.

“So, tell me everything!”

“We picked up his little brother and sister. They are really cute! You know I love kids and can’t wait to have my own!”

“You didn’t tell him that, did you?”

“No, I paid attention during your ‘human boys’ feelings on children’ talk.”

“Good. Continue.”

“Well, after he saw them inside, we got back in the car. He opened the door for me!”

“Awwhhh,” Jamie swooned.

“He had me listen to the music he likes, alternative I think he called it. It wasn’t very pretty but the words were ok.”

“Lyrics,” Jamie corrected.

“Thanks. We went to that ice cream place that has the pink and yellow umbrellas. We got the ice cream, and yes—he paid!”

“See, I told you it would be a date!”

“We sat outside and talked about people at school and the storm. And he asked me if I had plans this weekend.”

“I hope you said you didn’t.”

“No,” Melia said, completely serious. “I told him we were going faery hunting in the woods.”

“What?!”

“I’m joking!” she laughed.

Jamie swatted her arm. “I believed you! So, did he kiss you?”

Melia shook her head. “I think he wanted to. I had the fish in my stomach when he walked me to the door.”

“He walked you to the door? That’s so—wait, fish?”

“You called them butterflies, but I think they feel like fish.” She walked over to Wolfy, who was sleeping on his dog bed on the balcony. “This doggie here was barking, so I couldn’t really hear what Peter was saying. I remember telling him that I’d see him at school.”

Jamie squeaked. “I think he really likes you!”

“I hope so, because I—I think I like him.”

After Jamie left for the night, Melia took Wolfy down to the shore. The feeling of eyes on her was stronger and Peter’s words, “it’s probably not safe for a girl as pretty as you to be out alone at night” echoed in her mind. Where was this feeling coming from? Behind her? She whirled around. She didn’t see anything.

“What about you, boy? Can you sense anything?” Wolfy was too preoccupied with a sandy tennis ball to pay attention. Melia threw it once for him before running into the ocean.

The water felt cold tonight. The foreboding feeling grew stronger the deeper she got. Something wasn’t right. Immediately she feared the darklings. Had Lana felt this? What had she stumbled upon?
She was out all alone, just like I am…
Not wanting to be obvious, Melia had to use great control to swim slowly to shore. Guilt for doubting Actassi dripped from her like the salty ocean water. He was a good King. He wouldn’t let the darklings run rampant. Unless he didn’t know.

Melia hated the fear she felt. She hated the creeped out feelings, the way she felt vulnerable to be alone. She wanted to call Jamie and make up a reason to spend the night at her house. Melia didn’t want to tell her she was scared. And admitting she was scared of the water felt oddly insulting. She wished her mother was home, though she dared not utter a word about the darklings.

Soon, and while the sun was still bright, she’d swim out to talk to Actassi. Just to say hi. Because she missed him. That’s all. Though her plan was calming, Melia lay restless in her bed. When she finally did fall asleep, her dreams dragged her down into a deep, dark, watery abyss.

*

“Did you pork her?” Connor asked Peter, not minding to be quiet.

“Don’t talk about her like that. And no.”

 
“Tell me you at least kissed her?”

“No.”

“What the hell is wrong with you man?”

Janet laughed. “Didn’t I tell you Peter’s a prude?”

Connor looked at Peter and shook his head. “No, I think this means you like her.”

Peter opened his locker. “Well, yea.”

“No, I mean
really
like her,” Connor tried to tease.

“Wait,” Kaitlin said, looking up from her homework she was feverishly trying to finish. “If he really likes her then why didn’t he kiss her?”

“Because,” Connor explained. “If a guy really likes a girl, he respects her. And if he respects her, he takes it slow.”

Janet ran her hands over her body seductively. “But he didn’t take it slow with me.”

Peter grinned. “Exactly.” Even Kaitlin laughed.

Janet kicked her. “Well have fun with Fishy over there. Tell me this: does she sleep on a water bed?”

“No. But her bed is really comfortable.” He shut his locker and walked across the hall to say good morning to Melia, leaving Janet with her mouth gaping.

Melia was tired. She’d tossed and turned all night. Images of darklings flashed through her mind like a horror show. Jamie knew right away something was wrong with Melia.

“You ok?”

“Yea.” Melia sat on the ground. She was wearing a short denim skirt, wedge sandals and an off the shoulder black top, complete with a strand of pearls and matching earrings.
 
She looked casually chic, as always. “Tired, I guess.”

“Up late thinking about
him
?” she whispered as Peter drew near.

“Yes,” Melia said, not feeling like it was a complete lie. Peter had crossed her mind once or twice…or three or four times.

“Hey Melia,” Peter said, trying not to appear googley-eyed.

“Hi Peter.” The fish lashed their tails in her stomach. She was aware of Janet and Kaitlin staring daggers at her. “How are you?”

“Better, now.” His smile was too big, he knew it.

“You were bad before?” she asked, tipping her head.

“No, it’s just that now, you know, never mind.”

Jamie picked up her books. “I promised Jeff I’d look over his math homework. See ya later,” she said to Melia.
 

“So,” Peter began nervously. “Want to meet my friends?”

“Sure.” She smiled sweetly, not meaning for Peter to interpret it as seductively as he did. He carried Melia’s books as they crossed the hall.

“Hey guys, I think you all know Melia,” he mumbled, knowing fully that
everyone
in the whole high school knew who Melia was. Suddenly his little group of friends grew in number. “This is Connor, Nate, Matthew, Brian, Kaitlin, Amanda, John, and Janet.”

“Hi,” Melia said nervously. She didn’t know what to do with her hands. She wished she had her books to hold.

“I love your top. Where’d you get it?” Amanda asked.

“I’m not really sure, actually.
 
My mom got it for me,” Melia answered.

 
“And your hair,” Kaitlin cooed. “It’s so shiny! I love that little braid thing too.”

“Thanks.” Melia stepped closer to Peter. She felt a like a gazelle surrounded by hungry lions. What did the popular girls want from her?

“So,” Connor said, his voice boisterous, “You treating my boy good?”

“Uh, yea.”

Peter shook his head at Connor. For some reason he felt Melia’s discomfort. Connor nodded, acknowledging Peter’s silent request. “You coming to the beach tonight?” Connor asked.

Melia didn’t understand why he spoke with such bad grammar. “No, I have Tae Bo tonight.”

Connor said, “Oh, you do? Do you think you could kick my ass?”

“Yes,” Melia said confidently. Peter laughed.

“Bring it,” Connor joked.

“Jamie said it’s not polite to do that in a skirt.”

“‘Jamie said’?” Janet huffed. “What is she, your puppet master?”

“Of course not,” Melia retorted. She knew what that phrase meant. “I’m not a puppet.”

Peter took a step forward, hoping Melia would follow. “We’re gonna go to class.” Despite a belittling look from Janet, he walked away from his friends.

*

She was all he could think about. Even his sleeping thoughts were wrapped around Melia. Her voice, her lips, her hair, were all so beautiful. He dreamed of them on the beach. She was wearing a white dress. After a kiss, he slid a thin strap over her shoulder, the silky fabric moving effortlessly down her smooth skin.
 
The blaring beep of his alarm was most unwelcoming. Stiffly sitting up, Peter kept the image from his dream on his mind as he got into the shower.

He arrived at school before Melia. He wasn’t sure what he should say to her, so he went over different options in his head. He knew Melia and Jamie got to school early. Impatiently, he checked the time on his phone. His heart sped up when he remembered their conversation last night. He had called her just to say ‘hi’ of course. They ended up talking for two hours.

Peter hated talking on the phone. It was boring and awkward. But it was different with Melia. If neither spoke for a while, it was ok. It was nice having her on the line.

He looked down the hall; she wasn’t there. Wanting to do something to make the time go by faster, Peter went to the bathroom. When he returned, Jamie was putting her books away.

“Hey Jamie,” he said, not wanting to seem rude by asking what he wanted to.

“Hi Peter. Melia forgot something in the car. She’ll be right in.” Jamie smiled. She could sense Peter’s anticipation. She focused on him, looking with her second sight, trying to figure him out.

“Am I that obvious?” he asked, embarrassed.

“No.” Without Melia by her side, Jamie felt like the vulnerable outcast she had once been. She was a dark cloud compared to Peter’s popular star. The contrast cut in her like a knife.

“Good,” Peter sighed. Jamie looked different today. Her hair was wavy, and she wasn’t wearing black. “Pink looks good on you,” he blurted, feeling like she needed to hear it.

“Thanks,” Jamie said quietly. “Melia made me wear it.” She looked down at the form fitting shirt. “It’s hers.”

Peter nodded, not sure of what to say next. Should he ask Jamie about Melia, to see if there was anything she thought he should know? No, it was too soon. Or was it? Wasn’t now the perfect time to find out the secret things Melia liked? Before he could muster up a worthwhile question, Janet and Kaitlin walked passed.

“Boo!” Janet jeered. Jamie’s eyes flew to the ground. What good does seeing spirits do if she can’t command them? She’d love to send a poltergeist after that bitch.

“Ignore her, she has some serious issues,” he spat, causing Jamie to smile ever so slightly.

“Hey guys.” Melia’s honey smooth voice came from behind them. Peter whirled around, an image of her from his dream flashing through his mind. He felt the blood rush to his cheeks. He needed a distraction before it rushed somewhere else.

“Melia,” he breathed. “Hi.” Lana’s pink shell necklace got caught on the large ring she was wearing and tore from her neck as she lifted the strap to her messenger bag over her head.
 
It landed on Jamie’s feet. Jamie bent down quickly to pick it up, fearing the shell had cracked. She flipped it over; it was intact. As she stretched her arm out to give the shell back to Melia, darkness swallowed her.

Wind. Sand. Rocks. The moon dodging clouds. Sharp debris under soft feet.

Jamie gasped. Melia put an arm around her and lowered her to the ground.

“Are you ok?” she whispered, taking the shell from her hand. She knew what happened, she knew the emotional and physical toll it took on her friend, and she wanted to know what she saw. After a weak nod from Jamie, Melia thrust her hand into her purse and held her wallet out to Peter. “Can you get something from the vending machine?”

“Uh, sure,” Peter answered. He was confused on what had just happened. “Are you alright, Jamie?”