Chapter 17 Caught up in

That next day; despite Troy Phones and Fisher's set up, Operation Uncover was so far: a bust. Because Marina became very busy pretending Atlanta wasn't in the room; mostly by bury her nose in a week old magazine. While Atlanta sat in silence working up the courage to try another approach to address the elephant(seal) in said room.

It was so infuriating! She had spent ages trying to get Marina to stay in one place long enough to speak too, so as to clear this awful air between them. Now they were alone together and she didn't know where to start?! Or how much time she had left to talk to Marina. Atlanta didn't know how to approach her. Or if she ever wanted too…

Maybe dad was right to question if this friendship was worth the effort. Maybe Atlanta should leave well alone, cut her losses and pretend nothing happened. Go back to as normal as possible? Let Marina ignore her. Let them go back to be only tolerating one another. See if Atlanta cared anymore-!

Atlanta huffed and pulled her own magazine to her. But then she felt Marina eyes on her, watching her. When Atlanta glanced up at her Marina was looking out the window.

But Atlanta hadn't missed the odd anxious flicker in Marina's face…

"Do you want a drink or anything?" Atlanta offered. "I could make us some tea or coffee?" Marina Shook her head not looking at her, her face a mask of cool disinterest. And sat back down in her usual chair by the window. As far away from Atlanta as possible.

"Goodness it's cloudy out there."

"..."

"I know phones said it was quiet but at least that mean's no more disappearing tugboats huh?"

"I was thinking we could all go out for dinner this weekend, if Troy doesn't mind driving? Or a show?"

Atlanta tried again and again as if nothing was odd between them, a one sided conversation trying to fill the un- compianable silence. Her Comments on anything were Ignored or just met with just a yes or a no. both watching when the other wasn't looking and neither getting any reading done.

Five six seven eight minutes of this passed.

Outside was gray and damp, undecided if it was going to rain or not. Inside Thick sticky tension filled the room. The sort that normal comes with several hours at battle stations; when people start getting snappy and claustrophobic under the ground. Or being cooped up together…

Thick as it was it wasn't the sort of tension you could cut with a knife. More like a leaky tap slowly slowly filling a sink with a plink. Plink. Plink. Plink- Until one drip was too many so physics took over and the surface tension then overflowed!

Or maybe something more delicate? Like a bubble that might settle then would pop without warning, but in this case with devastating consequences…

The ten minutes Phones had said he'd be back passed and Maria became more Restless. There was no sign of of troy either.

"I wonder what's keeping him." Atlanta said. But not actually going to check where he was. Marina nodded. but didn't add any comment, vague gesture or otherwise. Her back to Atlanta as she started feeding the fish in The aquarium. Partly for something to do and partly Atlanta felt, to separate them further.

But then a few minutes later she sighed. Marina sighed. Atlanta looked up at that. Marina's limited sounds were all very quiet and all quite similar if you weren't paying attention. But Atlanta had been her friend just about long enough now to tell a cough from a gasp from a laugh. It made Atlanta lean forward in her chair, interest and anxiety piqued.

Marina had her eyes closed, and her forehead pressed agaist the round window of the tank. In the reflection of the glass Atlanta saw Marina open her eyes in big slow blinks, watching the fish sadly a finger trailing along the glass following a fish. Then Marina pulled away slightly, scrubbing her face with her free hand.

It was a move Atlanta hadn't seen all that often. And she felt you knew Marina pretty well at this point. In that moment, the other girl looked so fatigued. It made every bone in Atlanta's body want to wrap Marina up in a blanket and tell her to take a nap.

"Marina what is it?" She asked instead.

Marina jolted in suprise nearly spilling the fish flakes. Then looked up, confused to Atlanta's meaning.

"You sighed. Real loud; especially for you." Atlanta explained. She got up and crossed the room. But Marina flinched again and took a step back. Atlanta, vividly remembering the moments after that stepladder fell, (remembering Marina: All wide eyed, and gripping the edge of the furniture behind with a white-knuckle squeeze…) stilled.

And made an effort of speaking and moving a tad more slowly.

"It was mighty strange, Phones getting fussy over snacks earlier? And you don't seem yourself today either-?"

Marina interrupted with shaking her head and a gesture, a sort of flapping shunting motion. Normally she used it as if she's used the wrong ASL sign when spelling something, or if the others weren't understanding her. Here it was large and over the top she seemed to use it as if to shove aside the very idea, even repeating herself.

Atlanta took it as Marina meaning, "Nothing, Never mind, forget about it-!"

But Atlanta did not never mind and did not forget. Instead Atlanta bit her lip. And then Bit the bullet.

"Are you alright? Really I mean."

Marina went very still and tense. Frozen almost, just for a split second. The same fear from the the other week flickered on her face for like half an inch. Then she shrugged, turning back to the tank. While not looking directly at Atlanta, Marina made the Universal scuba diving sign of okay, and then gestured vaguely to the red head.

"I am a-okay, Atlanta. You?"

"hmm. I'm okay too, thank you." Atlanta replied even if it came out stiffly. She Sat back down on the nearest seat pulling her magazine to her again. But she didn't get a chance to read it.

Because she noticed Marina cocked her head and had glanced back in her direction. As if seeing Atlanta for the first time all over again. And then Marina, rather than Atlanta, finally started the conversation; unpleasant as it was.

'You' in scuba and sign were sort of similar; a two finger point toward the person at the shoulder. Marina didn't normally need to bother with it so it took a moment for Atlanta to twig when Marina made it, as well again gesturing to Atlanta.

"Me?" Atlanta checked.

"You. Atlanta. Yes." Marina asked, again in points and nods and a name. then, "Are you okay?

"Yes? I just told you."

Marina was still frowning over her shoulder at her.

"Like I keep telling Troy. and I'm fine thank you." Atlanta said. it was supposed to be pleasant but she could feel her eyebrows pinching together.

Marina turned around properly, and stared at her, as if Atlanta was being exceedingly thick. The mermaid rubbed her face again. and Shaking her head; Marina then tapped on the wall paneling next to the fish tank. Twice.

It was the system they'd worked out a while ago over radios for her to use. One tap for yes. Two taps meant,

"No."