by JE Hunter
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Kyle, what are you doing here?” I held the door open, waiting for him to come in before realizing he was waiting for me to come out. “Just a sec, I need to get my backpack. We can talk on the way to school.”
Kyle nodded silently. I ran into the kitchen, took my empty plate and cup to the sink. I snatched my schoolbag from the floor and slipped into my black Keds.
“So what’s up?” The sun trickled through the heavy forest cover, lightening Kyle’s dark brown hair and glinting in his eyes.
“I wanted to talk to you about Colleen.”
I reached back, looping my thumbs in my bag straps. “Does she know you’re here?”
“Nope, and I don’t think she’d like what I’m about to tell you either, but I really think she’s being an idiot. You two are good friends, and on this island it’s good to have as many friends as possible. She shouldn’t throw that away just because some pirate broke her heart.”
I twisted, glancing at Kyle. “What? I thought they just embarrassed her, she didn’t—she didn’t have a crush on Caesar, did she?”
To my relief, Kyle shook his head. “Not Caesar, Jim. The pirate who was the mastermind behind the whole net thing.”
“I never would have guessed. She never said anything.” I thought back over our conversations about the incident. She’d never said much about Jim and I’d never inquired about him since he’d graduated last year. But now that I thought about her anger, and her feelings, it made sense.
“Jim tricked her into showing up that morning. He’d asked her if she wanted to go for a swim with him before school—as kind of a date. Only he didn’t show up. Caesar and Markus did though, with the net and the sign. Jim never let her forget it. He joked about it all year whenever there wasn’t an adult around to stop him. Jim was a bully, Nessa. A mean one. And Colleen used to like him—before she knew who he was.”
I stepped on a twig that lay in the path, snapping it under my foot. “That’s awful. The whole thing was awful, but it was a year ago and I know Caesar’s not that guy anymore. I’ve seen the look in his eyes when he talks about it—I know how sorry he is. I’m not going to stop going out with him.”
Kyle reached out a large hand and stopped me. “I don’t expect you to.” His brown eyes were serious and solemn. “I just wanted you to know everything so that when it takes Colleen a month or two to start talking to you again, you’ll understand why. It might sound strange, but I’m asking you to forgive her for how she’s acting right now, and to be friends with her once she’s ready to be friends again.”
The leafy green bushes behind Kyle wavered. I stilled, expecting to feel the breeze, but I didn’t. The morning felt, and sounded, free of wind. I stared at the bushes, my gaze unwavering. I don’t know what I expected to see, but whatever it was, it wasn’t there.
“Nessa?” Kyle prompted me.
“Sorry, I just thought I saw something move.” I shook my head, a tendril of my red hair drifting out of my braid and falling in front of my eyes. “After the weekend I’ve had, I keep seeing things everywhere. I think I’m a bit paranoid.”
“I would be too if some creep had tried to kidnap me and sell me for my skin.”
“Skin? Never mind, I don’t want to know. I’m not sleeping very well as it is. Anyway, if Colleen does come around—and that seems like a pretty big if—of course I’ll forgive her.”
Kyle and I walked the rest of the way to school in silence. He entered the building ahead of me. As usual, the dormitory kitchen was buzzing with students cleaning up their breakfast dishes. Colleen was sitting on a tall stool at the counter to the left, chatting with Rainbow. I watched her for a few moments, reflecting on what Kyle had just told me, and tried to put myself in her shoes. Then I walked straight up to her and said, “Hey, Colleen, I brought you that book I told you about, I really think you’ll like it.” I reached into my backpack, ready to pull it out.
She turned her head and looked right through me. Shia!” she called, waving as the mermaid entered the room, dark hair flowing like silk around her shoulders.
I tried not to glare at the mermaid who smiled brightly and sat down next to Colleen.
“Last night was so fun. We should go out again tonight.” Colleen smiled so widely I could count all of her teeth. She was purposely ignoring me and making friends with Shia—who always hung out with Caesar. What kind of game was this?
Shia tossed her hair over her shoulder, nodding. “Definitely, I loved that cave you showed me. I didn't know there were such amazing places around this island.”
Colleen shrugged as if it was nothing. “I guess that comes with growing up out here. You know, there’s this really cool old shipwreck on the way to town. I could take you there sometime. Once they decide to let us past the boundary again.”
I bit my lip and turned away. I would have to catch Colleen when she was alone and didn’t have anyone to use as a shield. I went over to the far side of the kitchen where Amynta and Markus were finishing their breakfast: bowls of grainy cereal with milk. They were discussing something animatedly. Juan scowled at the end of the table. There was no sign of Caesar.
“Good morning Caesar's new girlfriend!” I could see the teasing in Amynta’s eyes. But even so, my face flushed.
“Thanks, but my name's Nessa.”
She giggled. “I suppose I could still call you that if you really want me too.”
“Please do,” I said, my voice soft, tired.
Amynta looked at me and frowned. “Did things not go well last night with Caesar? I was pretty sure they did because he came back to the dorms with the biggest smile on his face.”
“No, it's Colleen. She won't talk to me because I'm dating Caesar. Yet she seems to have no problems being best buddies with Shia who is always hanging out with Caesar.”
Markus shrugged, dropping his spoon in his bowl after finishing the last bite, he leaned back. “That's different.”
“How?” I watched as Markus slid his silver ring off his thumb and began juggling it between his fingers like a magician playing with a coin.
“Shia’s just friends with Caesar; you’re dating him.”
I looked at Markus blankly. “That's not a difference. Does she talk to you guys? Colleen I mean?”
Juan almost laughed, but apparently was still too grumpy to do so. “Somos piratas.” He was definitely grumpy if he was speaking Spanish. I looked point blank at Markus for a translation.
“We're pirates; of course she doesn't talk to us.”
“Right. Wrong people to ask.” I exhaled and looked around the room. “Where is Caesar anyway?”
“Trying to look pretty for you.” This time Juan spoke in English and laughed. Apparently there were a few things he thought were worth smiling for in the morning.
“He is not.” But right then Caesar walked into the room, looking gorgeous. His normally carefree, wavy black hair was slicked out of his eyes. He was wearing a new pair of loose fitting blue jeans, and his black button up shirt was clean pressed with the top couple of buttons left undone so I could see his shark-tooth necklace. I smiled at him, but before he could say good morning, Shia jumped up and stepped in front of him.
“Caesar, are we still going to study together later?” Shia rested one hand casually on her hip. She stood on one leg and rested the other on her toe. I moved my gaze over to Colleen, who appeared to be patiently waiting for Shia. My anger skyrocketed.
“Study?” Caesar looked as puzzled as I felt.
“Human math, counting—what do you call it? Shopping? I need to learn.”
Shopping. As if Colleen couldn't have just volunteered to teach Shia that herself.
“I'll let you know,” Caesar said, politely sliding by Shia. The mermaid sat down next to Colleen again, and two began laughing about something. Colleen had no problem being friendly with her.
“Earth to Nessa.”
I jumped. “Sorry, still sleeping I think.”
“I’d lov
e to still be sleeping. Or doing anything other than spending the day in class.” Amynta smiled wistfully. “I’m calling dibs on you today, now that you’re off grounding. We can hang out in the social room after school.”
“My first time to the social room, how thrilling.”
“Don’t get too excited,” Markus said. “It’s not much more than a television and a pool table.”
“Time to clean up,” Joanna called, stepping into the kitchen. “Class begins in five minutes.” She spun on her heel and turned left, entering the classroom directly from the dormitory kitchen. The minute she was gone, everyone groaned collectively. Eight more hours until we could have fun again.