It had been four in the morning, when Will decided that she couldn't sleep, and after at least an hour of counting the lines that weren't missing on her hands, Will simply got up. It was the beauty of large towns like Heatherfield, and Will was surprised that she was yet to abuse the fact that the Leisure Center opened at 6.30 on the dot. And it took her half an hour to walk, and she'd wasted forty-five minutes before that in a pointless shower, and Will had found herself getting funny looks as she stood, directly in front of the doors as she waited. And practically jumped the man who unlocked the door as nervous energy had always been Will's flaw.. Well, one of the biggest of Will's flaws, which wasn't bright red.
But it was nearly nine now, and Will continued to push herself through he water; forever watching the clock, or trying to count seconds when her back was turned. She'd have to thank Caleb, for creating this uneased confusion in her stomach that wouldn't settle, because until this moment she'd been doing more math than a weeks worth of lessons with Galg- Mrs Rudolph would have consisted of; simply trying to figure out when it was appropriate to leave for Meridian.. Because she knew that once he'd gotten settled, most days Caleb got up pretty early.. But she wasn't really considered a friend anymore, and allies seemed more of a 'midday' thing.. Or was it afternoon that she should wait to.. And Will's brain felt rattled because she'd been so comfortable before.. She'd felt like she could arrive and wake him up at midnight if she needed to, and she couldn't even think whether she had, and she'd always thought Caleb hadn't minded - the only time he'd been startled being when she and Irma had woke him with Will sitting on his chest, and he'd shot out of the bed quicker than a cat from water, and even then he hadn't been mad... But he'd often acted like he was babysitting the others, and now she was just.. "Rrrgh!"
"Are you okay?" Will immediately found herself drowning, as she wasn't sure if her body was trying to stop completely; to swim on; or to turn around to see the source of the slightly gruff voice that would become the only other person in the pool, and Will somehow managed to find herself at the edge of the pool as she choked hazardously.
"I'm- Fine-" Will peered up, then her deflated back straightened as she realized the boy was still staring at her, and she found herself pouting at his freckled face and blue eyes. "What? Do I know you?"
"Aren't you the fire girl?" Will jolted at that, then found herself pulling her body out of the pool as he laughed lightheartedly, "Hey, and now you're the water girl too! Get it! Because-"
"Because you didn't think to save me?" Will wasn't sure whether it was the blunt tone or her bored expression: maybe the words themself that made the boy stop in his tracks. And she didn't stop herself from glaring menacingly up at the failure of a lifeguard either. "Gee, thanks, both of you.."
...
Julian sat, directly across the table from Caleb, much as he had been for hours. Drake stood beside Caleb, and Aketon as well.. Because he kept trying to leave and Julian knew without him needing to say. Because Drake had said enough, and Caleb hadn't let himself cry once they'd got here. And Julian ignored slightest cut that ran horizontal right over his adams apple. Caleb had woken him with a knife to his neck, and Julian knew it was the only reason that anyone might be on his side. Because Drake had told him. "You aren't Calix."
"Well that one's obvious." Caleb stared forward; past Julian; past the world. But Caleb wouldn't admit emotion.. Weakness.. Anger was the only thing he dared show when he was upset, and Julian had brought Caleb right back to where he'd been two years ago.. Angry. And distant. Denial was what hurt though, and Julian knew he didn't deserve fathership.. But it still hurt. "I'm sorry about your wife."
"That was a long time ago."
"How long?" Caleb's mossy eyes finally ventured in to Julian's, and the curiousity was something Julian wished wasn't there.. Because Julian could lie.. Or he could crush the boy in front of him.
"It'll be sixteen years in a few weeks."
Caleb nodded, and his eyes hid behind brown hair.. But Julian had seen it and something had died inside Caleb. "So I'm.."
And what could Julian do, but nod. "Calix means-"
"I know what it means." Caleb's piercing green eyes shot up in defiant anger, and Julian almost shrank back from their aggression, though neither man moved from where they sat. "It means that I am a replacement and not your son."
"You're a very handsome boy - it wouldn't have been inappropriate to call you-"
"You mean except for the obvious." And Julian nodded, and found himself looking down at the table, because his own dull, olive eyes couldn't take it to look at Caleb.