-Jason-
I didn’t understand why my parents were so happy about whatever this school was. I just knew that it meant we couldn’t see each other every day. I knew that I wouldn’t be graduating with Elijah. I had missed too much. Sometimes I wonder why I was even put in school because I missed so much. I wasn’t too sure what I was going to do, but I would make it work somehow. Maybe if I went to summer school I could do something. Maybe attempt to get a job somewhere, figure out what I am good at.
“Well we are going to turn in early. We probably won’t be here when you two get up. We have to be in to work early tomorrow.” My mother smiled at us.
“Alright, Good night mom, night dad.” I said standing up and hugging them.
“Good night, and don’t think that we won’t be able to hear you two sneaking around.” My father stated.
“We’ll be fine. It wouldn’t be the first time that we’ve slept together.” I told my parents bluntly.
“J-Jason.” I looked over at Elijah and her face was red.
“Good night you two.” My mother laughed as she followed my father up the stairs.
“What I was just stating the truth.” I shrugged my shoulders.
“That’s not something that parents need to know.” She mentioned.
“It’s not?” I asked confused as I sat back down next to her.
“You may be book smart for not really being in school for fourteen years, but sometimes I question your common sense.” Eli stated with a little bit of a sigh.
“Book smart? Common sense?” I asked confused.
This just made her laugh and she shook her head, “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it. I’ll tell you some other time.” She said shaking her head.
“Alright.” I nodded and sat back down by her. “So are we still going to go to the pool tomorrow morning?” I questioned.
“Are you sure that you want to get back into water so soon?” She questioned back.
I looked down at the floor and fiddled with my fingers, “To be honest, not really, but I know that this is the only way to get over my fear of water.” I answered honestly.
“What do you think the things behind your ears are?” She asked me.
“I think that they are gills. The only way I can test it is if I’m underwater I think…” I trailed off.
“Jason, what’s wrong? You seem down all of a sudden.” Elijah commented placing a hand on my cheek and making me look at her.
“You look beautiful in that dress. You should wear dresses more often.” I smiled gently at her trying to change the subject.
“Ja, you’re avoiding my question.” She mentioned.
“I don’t understand what Duke is. It’s obviously a school by how mom and dad were talking to you about it. I can’t even graduate with you. I’ve missed so much. I don’t understand the simplest of things. I’m clueless about others. I’m not even human any more. The head researcher was right…I’m just a freak. I’m not even human.” I muttered looking away from her.
“Jason, you are not slow. You are not a freak, you are my boyfriend and I love you.” She told me.
“Yes I am Elijah. I’ve been experimented on practically my who life, the only reason why I’m book smart is because of my parents, I’m sure that only a quarter of me is human now. I wouldn’t be surprised if I sprouted wings at some point.” I ranted as I felt tears swell up in the corners of my eyes.
Elijah didn’t say anything. She pulled me into a hug and didn’t let go. I couldn’t hold back anymore. I hugged her back and started crying. “I’m sorry.” I muttered.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry for being yourself hun. Everyone needs to vent.” I felt her hand run threw my messy hair. “You’re hair is a lot longer now.” She commented trying to make me feel better.
“You don’t like it do you?” I asked with some disappointment in my voice. I was able to hide behind my bangs again and it was long enough for me to pull back into a ponytail.
“I do like it. I’m just going to have to get use to it again.” She said.
I pulled away from her and looked at her after wiping my tears away. “Sometimes a wonder why you don’t run away from me. I’m a freak of nature. I shouldn’t even exist. I scare people with the way I look.” I mentioned.
“That’s what makes me love you more. You are different from others.” She smiled at me.
I leaned down and kissed her lightly on the cheek and trailed down her neck then pulled away. “I’m heading to bed. It’s been a long day. “ I smiled at her as I toyed with her.
“That’s not fair.” She huffed crossing her arms.
“It’s pay back for doing the same to me earlier.” I smiled sweetly at her and stood up and wandered upstairs.
I went into my room and left the door cracked as I stripped into my boxers and laid down in bed. It wasn’t long before Eli was in my room in a tank top and short shorts. She quietly shut the door behind her and wandered over to the bed. I moved over so that she could get into bed with me. She turned to face me and I pulled her in closer to me. We started kissing each other. I pushed my tongues past her lush lips and explored her mouth. After I pulled away I smiled a little at her. I had missed her so much.
“I’m not done with you yet.” She whispered with a sly smirk spread across her lips.
I smiled at her and closed my eyes. I didn’t actually realize how tired I was until I laid down. It had been a long three months without a lot of sleep. I fell asleep as I felt Elijah’s warm embrace against my body.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I woke up with Eli wrapped in my arms sounds sleep. I laid there and just looked at her. She was so beautiful; I didn’t want to lose her. I was happy that I was hers and she was mine.
She must have felt me move around a bit because she woke up and looked at me. “Good morning beautiful.” I said to her wit a small smile.
“Good morning to you too.” She returned my smile.
It didn’t take long for us to get out of bed. We didn’t know if my parents were still home or not so we didn’t want to be going at it then have one of my parents knock on the door and walk into my room. We got dressed then grabbed a couple of towels and out bathing suits and we wandered off to the school so that she could teach me how to swim.
The morning air was cold, but that was to be expected with the weather trying to switch over to spring. This would be my first spring in fourteen years. I was excited to see the flowers bloom on the trees. It was a nice walk though and I was happy when we got to the school. I went into one of the locker room and changed into my swimming trunks. They were black with a lighting blue dragon going around the legs. I walked over to the door that led out to the pool and I took a deep breath before walking out into the chlorine fill air.
I looked over at the pool and my heart dropped. This was going to take a while. I knew it was. The experience that I had yesterday did not help me at all.
“Are you ready to learn how to swim?” I turned to see Elijah come out of the girls locker room wearing a deep purple two piece bikini. My face instantly heated up and it was hard to look at her.
I nodded as I started fiddling with my fingers and hiding behind my bangs. I heard her giggle and she walked past me then I heard a splash. Turning back to the pool I couldn’t find Elijah anywhere, then she popped up from under the water.
“Well come on.” She motioned for me to come over to the pool and I did slowly. “It’s only five feet here so you’ll be able to stand up in the water just fine.” She told me.
I nodded and got into the pool. It was warmer then I thought it would be. I still had to calm myself down though. “Alright, now what?” I asked after I was breathing normally again.
“Well first bop under the water really quick to get your hair wet.” She smiled at me. “I know you can do it. Just hold your breath before going under and then come back up really quick after your entire body is under the water.” She told me.
“O-okay.” I stuttered and then took a breath and blew out my nose as I went under so I couldn’t get water up my nose. I stayed there for a little longer then I needed to and opened my eyes under the water. I could see a blurry figure out Elijah’s legs and torso next to me. I didn’t want to try it yet so I came back up.
“Lay on your back, I’m going to make sure that you float first.” She commented placing her hands on my back.
I followed her instructions and she told me that I caught on pretty quick on how to swim. When we got to dive I was a bit worried because it meant I was going into the water head first. But she made me watch to see how to swim under water first then I gave it a shot. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. I actually rather enjoyed swimming after learning how to swim. I swam underwater until my lungs started to hurt for holding in my breath for so long. I let go of the air I was holding onto before I could get to the surface and I too a breath of water in, but It was different…I wasn’t choking this time…I was breathing normally. I stopped about half way up and looked around when I heard a splash into the water. After the bubbles cleared I could see a blurry Elijah swimming over to me as fast as she could underwater. I swam up and she did so as well. When we surfaced she took a deep breath of air.
“Are you alright? I saw your air bubble on the surface and I panicked.” She said as we tread water.
“I can breath under water. I was right. They are gills. I can breath water just like I can breath air.” I told her.
