Pine Creek Campgrounds, Colorado

Corey set him up with a campsite that had some overhanging trees nearby. She said she picked it with the rain in mind, hoping it would keep the ground a little less wet for him. It wasn’t much of a problem finding him a good spot, since the storm had forced some of their campers to migrate up to the one of the other grounds with lodging. She said this with a bit of concern in her gaze. He appreciated the thought she was putting into his placement, but also felt guilty that it was being there in the first place that was obviously causing them so much trouble.

Aden was encouraged though, when the rain slowed down to overcast while they looked through their supply shed for an old tent that he could borrow. They managed to find one and set it up, and it seemed to be in good enough shape that it would keep him dry even if it did rain. Corey was warming up again also, which reassured Aden even more that he had made the right decision coming back. She was a little short with him at first, but it felt like she was perhaps just giving him a hard time as revenge for leaving in the first place.

The afternoon felt like a success, and Aden felt a fraction lighter while having someone to share a conversation and a dry sky with. A warm shower and hot food helped also. With his hair still wet, Aden was invited to split yet another another dish of leftovers with Corey. This time it was chili. Aden’s mother had never been very good at cooking. Cassie though, she turned cooking into magic. Aden had a feeling Corey’s mother was the same.

As if he had summoned her, Corey’s mother showed up as they were heading out of the cabin again. Corey had attempted to pull Aden out of the house without initiating conversation, but her mother stopped them.

“Hello there, I don’t know you.”

Corey was a splitting image of her mother, but with a sharper jaw and deeper eyes. Her mother had a delicateness about her where Corey had sharp edges. It was impossible to not see that they were related though. In fact, Aden would have guessed they were siblings if Corey hadn’t expressly told him she was an only child while they devoured two bowls of chili each.

Behind him, Corey rolled her eyes, but Aden put on a smile to greet her. “Afternoon, Ma’am. Aden.”

“New camper. I’m showing him the lake. Bye.” Corey drawled out the word for emphasis, but Aden resisted when she tried to tug him away, refusing to be so disrespectful to her mother.

“Aden. I’m Tatti. Has Corey helped you get settled in? Everything comfortable?”

He nodded. “She’s been very accommodating.”

“Ok going now!”

Aden reached out to shake hands with her mother, and when Corey tried to pull him away again, it was resisted by Tatti’s grip around his. They shook, but the woman didn’t let go of his hand right away, and when Aden gave a curious expression, his confusion was answered.

“You have water in your eyes, Aden.”

He felt his lungs contract. He had to have heard wrong. He smiled, nervously. “Excuse me?”

Corey hissed a sharp whisper at her mother. “Anam. We talked about this.”

“Are you a Pisces, boy?”

“I’m uh… Capricorn…” Aden resisted a laugh when Corey rolled her eyes and sighed next to him.

Her mother nodded. “The sea-goat. I can see the ocean in you.”

“You’re reaching, mother.” Corey was pulling Aden away again, this time peeling him out of her mother’s grip.

“If you looked you’d see it too, Deelee. He’s waterlogged.”

“We’re human beings, mom. We’re all full of water. Almost eighty percent!” Corey called back as she dragged Aden along with her at an almost jog, letting out a tired groan once they were far enough away for her mother to not hear.

Aden let them settle into a steady pace before bringing it up with a chuckle. “Waterlogged?” He tried to sound casual, but he was still surprisingly shaken with the word.

“My mother thinks she’s a witch.”

Aden stifled a laugh. “Oh,” he said, as if that explained everything.

Corey allowed her hard expression to shift into her own small smirk. “She was the youngest in a big family. She had to be different somehow and I guess she picked religious rebellion. She got really into paganism and never grew out of it. For how long she’s been into it, you’d think she’d actually know enough about it to not come off as bat-shit insane to everyone she meets.”

“Insane is a strong word.” Aden paused, considering, then added, “Eccentric.”

Corey laughed, her face lighting up. Aden tried to let it settle his discomfort, but his mind dwelled on what her mother had said. You have water in your eyes.