Changeling Child

After breakfast, and Antares giving in to her mother's insistence that she and Sirius clear the dishes, Antares showed Trish to her room and Rigel showed Darry to his so they could borrow bathing suits. Though separated, two very similar conversations took place.

"So I noticed you were out on the balcony with Darry earlier," commented Trish casually.

"Yeah?" replied Antares, and little too quickly. "The sunrise over the water is beautiful. He was awake, so I wanted to show him."

"Oh really?" asked Trish in the same casual manner. "From the way you were gazing at him, I'd say you have a little thing for my little brother."

"I, uh, well," stammered Antares, her face flushing bright pink. "I-I wouldn't say that exactly…"

"Then what would you say exactly?" asked Trish with a smile. Antares didn't answer. "Well, let's make it easier. I'm guessing you are as of yet unsure about how you feel, correct?" Antares nodded. "Well, tell me everything you like about Darry. Everything, physical or otherwise. Go ahead, just start talking and it'll get easier as you go along."

"Uh, well he, he saved me from that monster, the Creeper," offered Antares.

"Good, good, keep going," said Trish.

"He made me believe that we could get away from it when I was too afraid to," continued Antares, relaxing a little as she spoke. "He stayed with me and held me when we were both terrified. He's a really good-hearted person, what with going back to that pipe to see if there was anyone there he could help, he's not so full of himself that he refuses to show emotions, he has a kind of innocence that's really sweet, he's really cute, he has those adorable puppy-eyes that no girl can resist, his eyes crinkle up at the corners when he laughs and that's so cute, and oh my God I have a thing for your brother." This last statement was made so matter-of-factly that Trish laughed.

"Hey, don't be embarrassed," she said, putting a hand on Antares's shoulder.

"Well what would he see in a girl like me?" protested Antares. "Look at me! I'm a freak!"

"No, you're not," said Trish firmly. "You're pretty, and I'm sure that Darry can see that as easily as anyone else. You've got a lot to offer, really. I've been talking to your brother, Rigel, and from what he says you're a pretty cool girl. Just give it a chance. Go with the flow."

"And drown in the undertow," added Antares bluntly. "I've gone down that river before."

"Well this time you've got a life preserver. I'll be here for you, and so's your whole family now. Plus, you and Darry have been through a traumatic experience together, and that brings people closer."

Antares laughed gaily, feeling the sound echo all around the room.

"So I saw you looking at my sister when she was making breakfast," commented Rigel as he and Darry each removed their shirts. Darry glanced up.

"Yeah, so?" he asked in an odd voice. "She was the only interesting thing there to look at. Uh, I mean-"

"Oh, so you find my little sis interesting?" asked Rigel.

"No. Well not no, but, uh, I didn't mean…" Darry floundered for words, until he saw Rigel grinning at him. "What?"

"You like my sister, don't you," said Rigel. It wasn't a question, and Darry knew it. His face turned red.

"I, uh, er…"

"Well?"

"Maybe," Darry said in a small voice. Rigel laughed gently.

"Well, what do you like about her?" asked Rigel. "Just pretend that we're just two friends half drunk in a bar checking out a cute girl sitting alone at a table with a book."

"Well, she saved my life," said Darry slowly. "Twice, really. I'd've never known about that hollow pipe if she hadn't shown me. And she took care of me when that thing…well, uh…" He turned around so Rigel could see his back. Rigel gasped in shock.

"Good God," he breathed. "What happened?"

"The Creeper whipped me for trying to protect Antares," explained Darry, turning back to face him. "Ana stopped him and helped me. She made this clay stuff to patch me up. And she helped me get to the road when we were running and my back opened up again. She looks like she needs a hug all the time, and I kinda want to hug her. She's pretty, in an ethereal kinda way. Her hair's like moonlight, and it lit up the darkness we were trapped in. And her eyes, like, have their own light, y'know? She looks so unreal…she is unreal. I've never met anyone like her before, and I seriously doubt I ever will again. She's amazing; I saw her speak with a dead boy just before we got away. I never believed all that Wicca/witchcraft stuff before, but now I do. I believe everything when I'm with her; she just makes it seem like everything I've been told is real is a lie, and it's unreality that's the truth, and I like your sister." He seemed surprised at himself for saying it, but he didn't try to take it back. He looked at Rigel as though awaiting judgment. Rigel just smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. "Oh come on, you really think I'm gonna go for it? Nah, no way."

"Why not?" asked Rigel calmly. "Let me tell you a little something about Ana: she likes fun-loving, playful, goofy kinda guys, but guys who can also be a little romantic at times. She likes guys who'll give her roses and chocolates and go on thrill rides and play boardwalk games with her. And she likes guys with dark eyes and longish hair. Just something to think about." He patted Darry's shoulder again and left with a smile and a pair of red swimming trunks. Darry stared after him for a few minuets before changing into the trunks Rigel had lent him: black ones with flames around the bottom. As he changed, he thought about what Rigel had said. He did like Antares, there was no doubt about that, but he thought he just liked her as a friend, someone who had shared a horrific experience with him. Would she even like him back? Could she like him back? …Did she like him back? He shook his head slightly. Well, whatever. Besides, she was three years younger than him…although, she had said that what mattered more was that two people love each other when he asked her her opinion on his fake best friend who was dating a fake girl three years younger than him. Why had he asked her that, anyway? Just to see what she would say? To know if he had a chance? Why?

Antares dressed slowly in her large closet while Trish changed in her bedroom. She had a thing for Darry; she couldn't deny it to herself now. But he was three years older than her…though he seemed to share her opinion when he asked how she felt about his best friend who was dating a girl three years younger than him. But why would Darry like her? Then again, they had been through a lot together…and she knew that he at least liked her as a friend…maybe more, considering they had appeared to be cuddling when she woke. Or maybe she was the one who had cuddled with him. No matter what she thought about, it all came back to her attraction to Darry. He was sweet and smart and strong in heart, mind, and body. The fact that he was really cute didn't hurt either. Physically, he was just her type, but she always tried to look for what was inside a person first.

'C'mon, what've you got to lose?' coaxed a voice in her head. 'Look, you try for something with him and if it bombs, he's leaving at the end of the week and you don't have to worry about it.'

"I don't want him to leave," whispered Antares. "I want him to stay here…with me." She smiled and made up her mind to try and get closer with Darry. She finished dressing and rapped smartly on the closet door. "Trish? You done?"

"Yeah, come on out," came Trish's reply. Antares did so. Trish had chosen her red bikini with black roses on it.

"Damn it, that suit looks better on you than me," said Antares with a grin. Trish laughed.

"Well, you haven't tried it with your new look yet," she replied, looking at herself in Antares's mirror. "'Sides, you look great."

"Yeah, I think I've lost about twenty pounds off my body and twenty years off my life," muttered Antares, but she smiled. Living off veggies and fear had done something for her once-mediocre figure, she had to say. And the shimmery emerald green bikini she wore, which looked like dragon scales, did look pretty good on her with her new appearance and emerald eyes. Smiling, she slipped her feet into a pair of black sandals and wrapped a see-thru black and silver sarong around her waist. Once dressed, the two went out and discovered that the boys had already gone down to the beach with the blankets and umbrella. Antares's parents shooed the girls off with their towels, promising to join them soon with Trish and Darry's parents, they just had to go out quickly. Accepting this, the girls headed down to the beach where their brothers waited.

Darry and Rigel looked up as the girls approached, and Darry stared when he saw Antares.

"Wow," he breathed. "She looks awesome." Rigel grinned.

"Well you'd better get that starfish outta your pants before she gets down here," he advised. Darry flushed beet red and shoved Rigel, who only laughed.

"What are you looking at?" inquired Trish.

"Your brother," replied Antares distantly. Realizing what she had said, she quickly added, "Uh, that is, I mean…he looks good in those trunks, he's got a nice build…" her voice trailed off and she blushed. Trish laughed.

"Just give it time," she advised. "It'll all turn out good, you'll see."

Darry and Rigel had already set up the blanket and umbrella, so the girls just tossed down their towels.

"OK, anyone up for some beach volleyball?" asked Rigel. "We've got a net and a ball here-"

"Now we just need teams of five," said Antares with a laugh. "Tell you what. How about when all our parents get back, we play adults against kids?" Everyone agreed with this suggestion.

"So what should we do 'til then?" asked Rigel.

"Well, we could go swimming," Trish offered. Again, everyone agreed.

"Race ya!" crowed Antares. Everyone took off running for the water. Antares made it first, followed by Darry, Rigel, then Trish. The water was warm, leading Darry to wonder why Antares had said it was cold. He just shrugged it off and swam out to join Antares and her brother, who had passed Darry whilst he was lost in his own thoughts. The four splashed and played for a while, playing Sharks and Minnows, Marco Polo, and other kind of silly kids' water games. No one cared how silly they were; they were just having fun. After a while, they split up into two teams of two, Trish and Darry against Rigel and Antares in some new game they were trying to make up. Trish and Rigel grinned secretively at each other. They had a different idea.

"So are you gonna get her drunk first, or jump ahead to 'Kiss mah tattoo, baby'?" Trish asked Darry. Darry slipped and nearly fell.

"What the hell are you talking about?" he asked, trying not to look at her or Antares.

"Oh come on, do you really think no one's noticed?" laughed Trish. "You have a crush on Ana. Go on, say it!"

"No way," said Darry through gritted teeth.

"Come on, Dare," said Trish, more gently. "Maybe she likes you back. You never know. You like her; I know you do. So talk to her. Try and start something." Darry shook his head, then he sighed.

"I don't know," he sighed. "Rigel and I were talking about this before, and he said she might like me, but I don't know."

"Just trust me, OK?" coaxed Trish. "I'm you big sister; have I ever led you wrong before?"

"Yes," replied Darry, but he smiled. "I'm not gonna get her drunk, to answer your original question."

Trish just smiled.

"So I've noticed you hanging around Darry a lot lately," commented Rigel conversationally.

"Yeah, so?" asked Antares. "He's my friend. We've been through a lot together."

"Not to mention that you're totally crushing on him," added Rigel with an impish grin.

"Well that too, but-" Antares broke off when she realized what she had said. "No, I didn't mean…you tricked me!" Rigel laughed.

"C'mon, did you think I wouldn't notice? I'm your big brother; I'm supposed to pick up on these things. 'Sides, I think he likes you too."

"You're joking," scoffed Antares. "I'm just a kid to him. We're friends, but seriously, come on."

"I'm not 'coming on'," said Rigel patiently. "I think he likes you. I've seen the way he looks at you. What have you got to lose?"

"The only friend I've got who truly understands what I've been through," said Antares quietly.

"Let's not try to be a martyr, shall we?" asked Rigel. "I'm just saying that I'm a guy, and I know when a guy's sweet on a girl, OK? Just spend some more time with him, get to know him. You might be pleasantly surprised." Antares sighed.

"I haven't had much luck in love in the past," she said.

"Forget about Patrick," Rigel said gently. "Patrick was a prick. Darry's different; you know that. Just think about it, OK?" Antares nodded. She flexed her fingers so they cracked, and felt her nails graze her palms. Closer inspection revealed them to be far too long. With a small shrug, she carefully bit them down to size as she always did when she didn't have nail clippers available. Not the neatest way to do it, but it got it done. She nipped the last bit of the first nail off and started to spit it out again when she stopped. The nail tasted different on her tongue…sweet, almost. She rolled it around in her mouth for a moment, intrigued. Before she even realized what she was doing, she had swallowed the nail and started casually on the next as though nothing strange had happened. She stopped mid-bite when she realized what she had just done. She grimaced, disgusted. She felt strange, and not just from what she had done. There was an emptiness at her centre that wasn't there before, and a feeling of not-belonging. She felt, just for a fleeting instant, that she wasn't supposed to be playing here with these 'human cattle'. She should be…should be…

'What the…what did I just do?' she thought, stunned. 'Why the hell did I do that? …What's wrong with me?'