The stone in River’s hand glistened in the sun. A familiar nagging feeling came over me and I pulled the tiara from my bag.
“Gwen?” Dawn put a hand on my shoulder. “What are you doing?”
I looked her in the eyes and smiled. “I think I just found our water guardian.”
I held it out to River, but she hesitated. “I already tried. It didn’t work.”
“That was before you were chosen.” I told her. “I can feel it now. The stone chose your uncle, but now it chose you.”
She glanced sideways at Ciela, who was staring up at her, grinning with excitement. “I guess you’ll need at least one mature person to keep you out of trouble.” She conceded. She held out the stone and the tiara picked it up in one of it’s tendrils.
“What do you mean, one mature person?” Aiden asked. “I’m mature.” Dawn snickered, and he turned on her. “What?”
“Relax, Dad.” Ciela laughed. “Mama River’s just joking.”
“Mama?” River looked to me for an explanation.
I chuckled along with the others. “She agrees that you’re mature. Like a mother hen.”
River laughed in the back of her throat and looked pointedly at Aiden. “Sorry, but I’m not interested in boys like you.”
“That kind of hurts, but I’m not interested in you like that, either.” Aiden rubbed the back of his neck, an embarrassed blush spreading over his cheeks. “What do you mean, boys like me.”
“Well… boys.” She said simply. “I’m gay.”
Dawn laughed, but patted Aiden’s shoulder. “Wow, tough luck, Ignis. Gwen seems to attract girls from all over the spectrum.” She held up her phone, showing off her new charm with the colours of the aromantic flag.
Lilli raised her hand, slightly unsure of herself. “I’m straight. Just saying.”
“But you’re also taken.” Aiden jabbed at her. “And I’m not risking the wrath of Will.”
“I’m not dating Will!” Lilli protested, but she was blushing hard.
“Well, don’t tell him that.” Dawn laughed. “He’d be crushed.”
Lilli’s blush deepened further. “What?”
“He’s crushing on you hard.” Dawn flipped through a few pages on her phone, pretending not to care. “You’d better snatch him up before someone else does.” She nudged Aiden jokingly.
It took a moment, but Aiden finally understood what she was insinuating. “I’m straight, too!” he clarified. “I’m not like Daren’s fathers!”
“And what’s wrong with my dads?!”
We all turned to look back toward the school at Daren’s angry voice. He was glaring at Aiden, his claws of dark energy engulfing his hands.
“Nothing!” Aiden shouted. “I’m just saying I’m not like them!”
Daren’s anger didn’t waver and neither did his claws. “Leaving that house was the best thing my dad could have ever done. He got away from that backwards way of thinking.” He glanced at me and clicked his tongue in annoyance. “I said I wouldn’t do anything at school.” He said, more to himself than anyone else.
I felt a cold pang in my heart and I couldn’t help the question that escaped my lips. “Why are you like this, Daren? When we talked on the roof, you were kind. Now you’re being so antagonistical.”
He’ll leave you. The voice in my head reminded me.
Maybe you’re right. I thought back. I’d considered Daren an almost friend. But the way he was acting made it clear he would never see eye to eye with everyone else. He wasn’t even trying.
The look Daren gave me was pained, like he wanted to say something, but couldn’t. Instead, he stepped forward. “Leave the school grounds.” He instructed. “We end this right now.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Aiden gently pulled me through the gates. “Keep her safe.” He told Lilli. “If anything bad happens, run.”
“I’m not leaving.” I protested, but Lilli was already pulling me farther away.
Aiden’s hands became engulfed in his fire, while Dawn called back her bow. They stood side by side facing off against Daren, who still had a pained look in his eyes. Ciela and River stood behind them, frantically trying to muster their own power.
“Please. Stop.” I begged. I didn’t want to see them fight. But more than that, I realized as I watched Aiden step forward and Dawn pull back her string, I didn’t want Daren to get hurt.
An icy pain ran through my chest as I realized why. At some point, I’d fallen in love with him. I wanted to understand why he did these things so I could help him. I wanted to be close to him.
He won’t stay close to you. The voice in my head cried as another shot of pain sent me to my knees.
“Aiden!” I heard Lilli call out. “Something’s wrong with Gwen!” I faintly felt her run a hand over my forehead. “She’s ice cold!”
“No!” Daren screamed. Amidst all the pain clouding my mind, his voice was crystal clear. “Lucia, stop!”
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