Hey guys I've decided I'm gonna do one chapter at a time. It's just easier for me, and some people want that so, that's it enjoy.
America POV
We rode down fast through the forest and down the school's long driveway. I've never felt so alive in my entire life. I was excited and terrified all at once, and it worried me. Maxon was so close, close enough it made my mouth dry and my heart pound. No you can't have feelings for him. It would never work, besides how would he react when he finds out. Wait if, if he finds out.
We got to the mall in record time, and waited for the others at the entrance to the food court.
"I don't know weather that was exciting or terrifying." I breathed a laugh.
"The first time always the weirdest. Trust me it was the same for me." He laughed too.
I don't know why but, no matter how hard I tried I couldn't help but be drawn to him. He had the most perfect laugh, and hair that looked like it was made from pure sunlight. His smile was slightly lopsided but that's what made him cute. He had eyes the color of melted milk chocolate or polished brown Mahoney. He was strong to with muscles bulging even under his jacket, but not in a way that was too much or disgusting he was just…. Perfect.
I lookedaway before he caught me staring. "I think the others are here." I was blushing but I hoped he didn't notice.
"Yeah you're right come on let's go." He started walking towards a white convertible that had just pulled up, and I followed.
"Hey guys you beat us!" Celeste said cheerfully. They were all smiling, they were up to something I could feel it.
"Uh yeah, I guess we did." I took a hesitant step forward.
"Come on, we can split up and meet back at the food court in say an hour." Marlee didn't wait til we answered. "Good let's go." She grabbed my arm and dragged me away.
"Ok, what's going on with you two." I pulled away once they had dragged me upstairs into an empty bathroom.
But they acted as though they didn't hear me. "What happened with you and Maxon?"
"He let you ride his bike, for real?"
"Did you wrap your arms around him?"
"Did he ask you to the bonfire?"
"Did he say he liked you?"
"Did you two k-"
"Ok enough! Quit talking over each other!" I threw my hands up and let them fall. "I told you, me and Maxon can't and won't happen! Now give it a rest!" I yelled the look of hurt on their faces shut me up and made me feel guilty. "Please guys. You don't understand I wish I could tell you but… I can't." I spoke softly, and left the bathroom.
As soon as I left I ran as far away as could before the tears fell. Why, why can't I be a normal girl. One who goes shopping and hangs out with her friends. And dates boys, instead of this. Some mermaid princess who's never even seen her kingdom. Who can't even trust those she's closest to. Who's running from anything and everything. I ran until I reached the first exit I could find and burst out of them, but I kept running. I don't how long I ran or where I was going, all I knew was that I had to get out of there. Soon enough I collapsed on the side of a tree in an empty park, and cried. I cried for hours, curled up in a ball, wallowing in my own self pity.
It was almost sunset when someone found me. And unfortunately it wasn't my favorite person.
"Aw, trouble in paradise." Kriss sneered.
"Go away Kriss I'm not in the mood." I was upset, and didn't want to do something I'd regret. I just wanted to be left alone. "I mean it, leave."
"Why should I. The perfect little red head over here all alone in tears." She stepped closer to me. "Let me give you some advice. I run things around here. And Maxon is my boyfriend not yours, so back off red." She had leaned over her face inches away from mine. "And on more thing red, I will make your time here a living hell, until that message gets through your thick skull. Ok."
I was angry with her and before I knew it, I was up with Kriss pinned up against the tree behind me. My hand holding her top in a fist. "No, not ok. Who do you think you are, getting a kick out of others people's misery. And I think I know why. Your miserable yourself. Your angry that you can't get Maxon. Your angry that people are prettier than you, smarter than you. You want everything and you're angry because you can't have it. Well news flash Kriss, you'll never even come close. Not ever you're nothing because you treat others like their nothing. So I suggest you get your fucking act together, before I make you regret it." I had burned her shirt a little and I noticed that when I lightly tossed her behind me.
She stumbled a bit before she regained her footing. "You're going to regret you ever said that red. Believe me." She glared at me hard before she walked away, her hands in fists.
"She's mad cause she knows it's true." I whispered to myself.
I didn't bother following her back to the school, even though I had no idea where I was. I jumped a bit when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I looked at it to see tons and tons of notifications. 85 missed calls, and 98 texts. All from Maxon, Celeste, Marlee, Aspen and Carter. Some even came from Lucy.
I read some of them.
Celeste- America we're so sry, we didn't mean to upset u. Plez come back, plez
Ames I'm getting scared and Marlee's hysterical call us plez
Come on one little text or call just to know ur ok
Carter- Where r u, u disappeared call us plez
Marlee's really shaken and worried call plez
America don't be like this ur really scaring us
Marlee- America I'm so so so so so so so so sry, plez call me
I need to know if ur ok, ur my best friend
I know ur mad but plez don't do this, just tell us ur ok and we'll leave u alone
Aspen- Come on Mer call us, it's getting dark
Where r u the school closes at 9, come back plez
U don't even have to speak to us ever again, just come back
Lucy- plez call them I've never seen them so distressed it's scary
Their really worried and sorry call them at least once
America you saved me from Kriss, your a really good friend plez don't scare me like this, come back
Maxon- Ames, where r u, worried sick call us plez
Plez, text, call, flying messenger bird anything
That one made me laugh, as silent tears began to stream down my face.
If you don't pick up by sunset I'm calling the police
Come on pick up I need to know if ur ok
I don't know why but the thought of Maxon needing to know I was ok made butterflies sore on my stomach. So I listened to one of his voicemails out of the 52 he left.
"America call us please, or text or email, I don't care. Ames please I know you're upset the girls told us what happened. I don't know what's going on with you, or why you're so set on us not happening. But we're your friends we want to help you. Take all the time you want, all I hope is that you can let us in someday. Even if that's years from now." He took a deep breath. "I don't know why, but I care about you America a whole lot. You make me feel things I've never felt before. I have no idea why I'm confessing this on the phone when you've supposedly gone missing, but I do. I just-just come back and if you want to, we can talk more. Please America come back to us," His voice broke. "Come back to me." The voicemail ended and before I knew it I was full out sobbing.
He cares, he really cares. But I still can't tell him or anyone for that matter, it'll change everything between us. I can't not ever.
Once I had calmed down I looked at my phone. 8:45pm I missed lunch, and dinner. I have 15min to get back to the school Aspen said the gates closed a 9.
"Ok, mermaids have wonderful sense of direction, in water. Now let's test that theory on land."
I took a deep breath, and let my mind, body, and heart take over and guide me. Then I started running.
Maxon POV
We were in the girls dorm, we had been there since the girls told us America had run off, and that they'd haven't heard from her since.
Marlee was still crying but she's no longer hysterical, and Carter was trying to comfort her. Aspen had left carrying Lucy when she fell asleep on his shoulder, and Celeste has just been sitting on the chair, staring out into space while mumbling things under breath. Me, I couldn't stop pacing, and thousand thoughts kept running in my mind and all sorts of terrible scenarios. What if she got kidnapped, what if she's in trouble, what if she's lost right now, or worse what if she's d-. I choked, I couldn't even think it.
"Has she called back yet or least a text." Marlee whispered.
"No, nothing." Celeste responded solemnly.
"I'm sure she's alright. She's strong." Carter said rubbing Marlee's side.
I hope so. I really do.
We sat there for another thirty minutes before we all decided to go a wait at the front gates. They couldn't close the doors if there were students right outside.
Aspen had caught up with us on our way out, he sat on the steps with the others. "Maybe we should head in it's getting late, and the girls are asleep." He picked up Celeste while Carter picked up Marlee. They both stirred slightly but didn't wake up.
"Go ahead. I think I'll wait a little longer." I waved them off.
"Ok man, but if you're not back in an hour, we're filing a missing person report for her." Carter said, and they both walked inside.
"That's what I'm afraid to do." I sat there till 9:00 when they were required to close the gates. "She's gone, she's really gone." And for some reason the thought crushed me.
I got up when I saw a figure walking in the distance towards the school. I couldn't decipher whether it was male or female or even human, they were too far away. But there was only one person who'd just be walking in this late.
I started running, and when I reached her, I picked her up spun her around. She squealed and started laughing.
"Maxon, put me down! Now!"
I put her down. "Where were you. You gave us all heart attacks." I said breathless and happy that she was ok. I realized I was still holding on to her tightly and that we were very close but didn't care. All that mattered was that she was alright.
She blushed hard. "I'm sorry I just had a lot on my mind that's all. And there's a lot going on too. It-it's hard to explain." She looked down. That when I noticed the tear stains on her face.
I lifted her chin so she was looking at me. Her eyes were pained she wanted to tell me something, but it looked as though she couldn't like something was restricting her, like she was… scared.
"Hey, are you really alright, you can tell me anything you know. I'm here for you." I looked deep in her eyes. A piercing deep sea blue. I knew she understood my meaning, she knew could, but she was still afraid.
"Yeah I know." She shivered.
"Here take my coat."
"Oh no you don't-"
"But I want to." I wrapped my jacket around her shoulders. Even though I was freezing, and my arms immediately sported goose bumps, I couldn't help but want to spend more time with her.
So I asked. "You wanna sit down?"
A/N
Ooooooo. What will they talk about. And will America finally tell them her secret. Don't know find out sooooooooooon. Honestly, I wouldn't expect a chapter to come this quick again. I was just really excited and had a lot of time to spare. So I wrote yeah.
Bye people I may or may not know.