I kneel on the cool, damp sand, letting my fingers trace lazy circles while the waves roll in and out. My thoughts swirl with the rhythm of the water, but one name keeps breaking through the surface. Jack. Without even realizing it, I've written his name in the sand—long, flowing letters stretching across the shore.

The sight of it makes my heart skip. Why did I do that?

Before I can make sense of it, I hastily swipe my hand over the letters, erasing the name as quickly as it appeared. The ocean washes over the smudged sand, wiping away any trace of my slip-up.

I glance up just in time to see Eli's boat nearing the beach, bobbing along the gentle waves. He hops out with a groan, shaking his head as he makes his way over. "You didn't even bother to wait for me, huh? Just because you can swim fast and beat me here."

I stand up, brushing the sand from my hands, forcing a grin over my racing thoughts. Focus on the moment, Aria. "You're so slow," I tease, trying to lighten the mood. "I figured you'd take forever. Besides, I like swimming—it's fun, and I love seeing the ocean, the dolphins, the fish... everything down there."

Eli gives me a playful glare, rolling his eyes dramatically. "Okay, fine. Last time I ever hang out with you. Not even two days of being your friend and I'm already getting brushed aside. Tossed aside for some fish, huh?"

A giggle slips out before I can stop it. "Maybe try practicing how to breathe underwater first. Then you could actually keep up."

He narrows his eyes at me in mock irritation but can't suppress his smile. "Well, excuse me for not having gills or a magical tail. Besides, the bottom of the ocean is scarier than space. No thanks."

"It's not scary," I reply, laughing. "It's pretty down there—calm, peaceful."

"Yeah, nice try. I'm not falling for it." Eli shudders dramatically. "I don't care how pretty it is, I'm not getting in the ocean, especially with sharks lurking around. That's nightmare fuel."

I laugh again, the tension in my chest easing slightly. "Not everything in the ocean is out to eat you, you know. There's more to it than just sharks."

"Right," Eli replies with a grin. "You keep telling yourself that while I stay on dry land, far away from any deep, dark ocean floors."

"Then why the hell do you even have a boat if you're so scared of the water?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. "You're constantly heading to Eclipse Bay."

"Correction," Eli says, holding up a finger. "I'm on a boat, not in the water. Big difference. Plus, let's not forget you made me hike to the moon pool. Still brutal, by the way."

I laugh, shaking my head. "You could just stay on land, then. Nobody's forcing you to come."

Eli smirks, shrugging. "Well, I do have a friend who happens to be a mermaid. I can't let her have all the fun, can I? Besides, that moon pool's too pretty to leave to just you."

A smile tugs at my lips despite myself. Eli really is one of a kind. "Guess I'm lucky to have you, then."

"Damn right you are," he says with a wink.

I shake my head, still laughing as we head to our cars. Even though my thoughts keep circling back to Jack, I'm grateful for Eli's easy banter, the way he always manages to lift the weight off my shoulders—if only for a moment.

We head to our cars, the sun casting long shadows across the sand. The lighthearted teasing lingers between us, but the weight in my chest never really goes away. Not when Jack's still there. Always lingering at the edges of my mind.

Before Eli gets into his car, I ask, "What are you doing tonight?"

"Gonna FaceTime my girlfriend," he says with a soft smile. "I miss her like crazy."

I nod, my own chest tightening just a bit. "I wish I could meet her. I feel like we'd get along."

"You definitely would. She's a total bookworm. You two would probably talk about novels for hours." He chuckles, then adds, "It'd be nice to have both of you around."

I smile at the thought, but as we part ways, the loneliness seeps in again. It always does.

<>

The house is empty—again. The silence is suffocating, filling every corner of the place like a reminder of how isolated I am. My parents are never here, too busy with their own lives, and it's left me to handle things on my own for as long as I can remember.

I settle onto the couch, grabbing my phone and aimlessly scrolling through Instagram. Jack's profile. My fingers hesitate before tapping on his latest story. It's just a quick clip from football practice—sweaty, breathless, and grinning with his teammates. No mention of Brooke.

My brows furrow, surprised. But then again, I shouldn't care. It's none of my business, right? I close my phone with a sigh and curl up, trying to push the thoughts of him away. Sleep doesn't come easily.

<>

The school halls are buzzing, but I'm barely paying attention. My heart skips every time I catch a glimpse of Jack. Still ignoring me. He passes me by without a glance, his shoulders tense, his jaw tight. The space between us feels wider than ever, and I don't know how to close the gap—or if I even want to.

Eli notices it too. His eyes flick between Jack and me during class, his expression thoughtful. He's planning something. I can tell by the way he's been watching me, as if trying to figure out how to nudge me in the right direction. But even he's not sure how to handle it.

At lunch, the tension is thick. Eli's sitting at the popular jocks' table with Jack, Brooke draped over Jack's arm, smiling as if she doesn't notice the distance between him and me. Jack's laughing, acting like everything's fine. But I can see it—the strain in his eyes, the way his smile doesn't quite reach them.

He's better off. That thought slices through me, sharp and painful.

I hesitate, hovering near their table. My heart pounds. I should go over. Say something. Anything. But then I see Jack lean closer to Brooke, whispering something in her ear that makes her giggle. My stomach churns, and I turn on my heel, heading for the library instead.

From the corner of my eye, I see Eli glance at me, sighing softly as he goes back to talking to his friends. He knows. He always knows.

The library is quiet, the familiar scent of old books calming my frayed nerves. I retreat to my usual spot in the corner, pulling out the strange book from the bookstore. The woman who sold it to me... there was something off about her, but I haven't figured out what yet.

I flip through the pages, my eyes catching on sections about powers I hadn't even considered—Aerokinesis, Atmokinesis. My fingers trace the words. Could I really...?

I read more about merpeople potions, intrigued by a recipe for moisturizing lotion meant to keep their skin hydrated and youthful. It warns that if the ingredients aren't balanced, it could make the user act younger. Interesting...

But my mind keeps wandering back to that TikTok video I saw weeks ago—the one that got deleted. The girl with the strange powers. I need to know more.

Lost in my thoughts, I don't hear someone approach until a voice startles me.

"Mermaids?" Jack's voice cuts through the quiet, and I jerk my head up, my heart hammering in my chest.

Jack stands at the end of the table, his expression unreadable, but his eyes are sharp—too sharp. I feel like he can see right through me.

"Where's Brooke?" I blurt out, the words spilling from my mouth before I can stop them. You're such a dumbass, Aria. 

Jack's lips curl into a smirk, but there's no warmth behind it. "Mind your business." He steps closer, his gaze flicking to the book still open on the table. I scramble to close it, my fingers fumbling, but not before his eyes catch the word mermaids.

"What's with the sudden interest in mermaids?" Jack asks, his voice casual, but there's an edge to it—like he's trying to piece something together. He's getting suspicious.

My heart races as I shove the book into my bag, avoiding his gaze. "It's just... research," I stammer, but my voice betrays me. Too fast. Too defensive.

Jack crosses his arms, his gaze never leaving mine. "Research? For what? Some secret project I don't know about?"

The question feels like a challenge, and the air between us is thick with tension. I can feel him closing in, inch by inch, trying to unravel my secrets.

"I said it's nothing," I snap, trying to mask the rising panic in my chest. But Jack doesn't back down. His eyes narrow, suspicion flickering in them as he watches me carefully.

"Right. Sure it is." Jack's voice softens, but there's a dangerous edge now, something that makes my heart pound. "Just make sure you're not too distracted by your mermaid research, okay? We still have that project to finish. This grade is too important for me—especially with senior year coming up. I need good grades if I'm getting into USC."

Distracted with my mermaid research? My mind reels. He doesn't get it—he doesn't get me. Mermaids aren't just some random fascination. This secret... this weight I carry... it's my whole life. And Jack stands there, oblivious, throwing his words around like this doesn't cut deeper than he knows. The fuck!

My frustration boils over before I can stop it. "Sorry if mermaids fascinate me!" The words are sharp, biting. Jack visibly flinches, caught off guard by the force of my tone.

I can see the flicker of confusion in his eyes, but it's too late. The anger simmering beneath my surface has already slipped out, and I can't pull it back.

Before I can stop myself, the words keep spilling out. "It helps me keep my mind off my parents always being gone for business trips. At least you're not alone in your house."

Shit. Why did I say that? My heart stutters in my chest as I realize what I've just admitted. I can feel Jack's eyes on me, watching, studying me like I'm some puzzle he's determined to solve.

Jack's expression shifts, the frustration in his eyes softening into something I didn't expect—concern. His gaze lingers, and when he speaks again, his voice is quieter, gentler, like he's trying to understand me in a way no one else has. "What's going on, Aria? You said something about being left behind... about your parents. What happens at your house? Are you alone?"

He's too close. The words hang between us, thick and heavy, and I can't breathe under the weight of them. I don't know how to answer without giving him more than I already have. Too much. He's getting too close.

The invisible barrier I've built over the years, the one that's kept everyone at a distance, is crumbling. Piece by piece, Jack is pulling it down, trying to slip inside, trying to see me. And the part that scares me the most? I've always had a crush on him, admired him from afar, but I never thought he'd actually try to understand me.

No. I can't let him in. Not Jack.

Instead of answering, I turn on my heel and walk away—fast. My heart's pounding, my pulse racing in my ears, and my thoughts spiral, unraveling the careful control I've tried so hard to maintain. I can feel Jack's eyes burning into my back as I leave, the unspoken questions still lingering between us like a storm waiting to break.

He's getting closer. Too close. Not only did I accidentally let him see those mermaid books—the ones that could lead him straight to my secret—but I just gave him something real. Something personal. And I'm not ready for that. Not with Jack.

Behind me, I can hear him let out a frustrated sigh. He doesn't call after me, but I know he's still watching, trying to understand why I keep running. And the worst part is—I don't even know if I can answer that myself.

<>

Jack's POV

I stand there, watching Aria walk away—again. The frustration simmering beneath my skin feels like it's about to boil over. She does this every time—shuts me out, runs the second I get too close. Why? What is she hiding?

Her words still ring in my ears, the way she snapped about mermaids like it was something personal. Sorry if mermaids fascinate me! The intensity of her voice, the raw frustration—it was more than just a random outburst. And then she mentioned her parents, again, slipping up for the second time about being alone.

Something's going on with her. And now I've got more questions than ever.

I run a hand through my hair, trying to make sense of it all. I didn't mean to push her, but the more I try to understand, the more she pulls back. It's like she's put up these walls so thick that no one can get through—not even Eli, even though she lets him in more than me.

That thought twists something sharp in my chest. Eli. Why does she trust him so easily? What makes it so easy for her to let him in when I've been trying for weeks, months even, to get to know her?

My mind flickers back to the library, the way she shoved that book into her bag so quickly, the way her whole demeanor changed when I brought up mermaids. It wasn't just random research. There's something there. What the hell is she hiding?

And then the slip about her parents—left behind. Alone. She's said it twice now, and each time it feels like I'm catching a glimpse of something raw, something real underneath all the layers she hides behind. But before I can even ask, she bolts, like letting me see even a piece of her is too much.

What happens at her house? Why is she always so guarded?

I lean against the wall, exhaling slowly, trying to calm the frustration buzzing through me. It's not just about the project anymore. It hasn't been for a while. I can't stop thinking about her—why she shuts everyone out, why she runs the second someone gets too close.

I don't understand why it's bothering me so much. I shouldn't care this much.

But I do.

I don't know if it's because of the project or because of everything else—the weird way she disappears sometimes, the things she said today, the way she looks like she's carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.

And those mermaid books. What was that about? She acted like it was no big deal, but her reaction said otherwise. Maybe it's nothing, but... I don't think so.

I shake my head, trying to push away the questions for now, but it's impossible. The image of Aria storming away, her frustration barely contained, sticks in my mind. The way she looked at me, like I was getting too close to something she wasn't ready to reveal—it feels like there's more going on than just the usual stuff.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Or maybe not.

Either way, I'm not letting this go. I'm going to figure it out. I'm going to figure her out.

I spot Eli sitting on the bleachers, his phone pressed to his ear as he chats with his long-distance girlfriend. Normally, I wouldn't interrupt, but this thing with Aria is eating away at me, gnawing at the back of my mind. I need answers.

I stride over, barely registering Eli's relaxed posture as he leans back, laughing at something she says. His carefree expression irritates me—how can he act like nothing's wrong?

Without thinking, I step closer. "Eli, we need to talk."

Eli glances up, his brow furrowing when he sees the look on my face. "Uh, babe, let me call you back, okay?" he says into the phone, his tone shifting from playful to serious.

His girlfriend's voice is faint on the other end. "Okay, bye. I love you, babe."

"I love you too, babe." Eli mutters, hanging up with a sigh before turning his attention to me. He leans back against the bleachers, raising an eyebrow. "What's up? You look like you're about to explode."

I cross my arms, staring him down. "What's going on with Aria?"

Eli's expression hardens, the easygoing smile fading from his face. "Not this again."

"Yeah, this shit again," I snap, frustration bubbling to the surface. "You've been spending more time with her than I have. She's shutting me out, and you're right there—getting in her head. You know something, Eli. Don't bullshit me."

Eli lets out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Dude come on, man, you've gotta back off. That's not for me to tell."

"Back off?" I scoff, taking a step closer. "No way. She's pushing me away, and you're just going along with it, keeping her secrets. What the fuck is going on?"

Eli's jaw tightens, but he holds his ground. "Look, I get it. You're frustrated. You don't like being left in the dark. But whatever's going on with Aria, it's her business, not yours. Not mine either. I'm just there because she needs a friend."

"Bullshit." My voice is louder than I intended, but I can't control it anymore. "If it's not your business, then why is she confiding in you and not me? What makes you so special, Eli?"

Eli's eyes narrow, but he keeps his voice level. "Maybe because I'm not fucking demanding answers. Maybe because I'm not pushing her when she's not ready to talk."

I glare at him, my frustration mounting. "You're telling me nothing? After everything, you're going to stand here and act like you don't know what the fuck is going on?"

Eli meets my gaze steadily. "That's exactly what I'm saying. It's not my place to tell you anything. If Aria wants to tell you, she will. But you have to give her space, Jack. You can't keep pushing her like this."

I clench my fists, the anger simmering just below the surface. "This is more than just space, Eli. She's hiding something, and you know it."

Eli sighs, standing up from the bleachers, his eyes softening. "Look, I know you care about her. I do. But you can't force her to open up. You can't force her to trust you. You're going to push her even further away if you keep doing this."

The words hit harder than I expect, cutting through the anger with something closer to truth. He's right. But I can't admit that. Not right now.

I take a step back, running a hand through my hair. "So that's it, huh? You're just going to keep covering for her?"

Eli shrugs, his expression firm. "It's not about covering for her. It's about respecting her boundaries. She'll come around when she's ready, man. But you've gotta let her get there on her own."

His words hang in the air between us, and for a second, I feel the weight of my frustration lifting, replaced by something heavier—doubt.

"Yeah, well," I mutter, turning on my heel, "I don't have time for all these fucking games. She better figure it out soon. This shit is exhausting"

As I walk away, the knot in my chest tightens. Why does it bother me this much? Why do I care so much?

<>

The field is the only place where I can shut it all out—Aria, Eli, the damn project, everything. But today, it's not enough. Not really.

"JC, focus!" Coach's voice cuts through the air, but I'm already zeroed in. The frustration that's been simmering all day, every day, is about to boil over, and football is the only outlet I've got left.

I take the snap, the ball firm in my grip, but all I can think about is Aria walking away. Again. Eli knowing more than he's letting on. Again.

Brent flashes past me, cutting through the line like he's born to run. I fake the handoff, pulling back for the pass, my eyes scanning the field for the opening. But instead of playing smart, I charge forward, my body moving like it has a mind of its own.

I'm hit hard, but it barely registers. The adrenaline surges through me as I bulldoze through the defense, my shoulder driving into the chest of a linebacker. This. This is what I need.

Coach blows the whistle, a sharp, approving note in the air. "That's what I'm talking about, JC! Keep it up!"

The praise is there, but I'm not playing for Coach's approval. I'm playing to burn off this fury building inside me.

As I jog back to the line, Brent catches up, giving me a clap on the back. "Man, you're on fire today. What's gotten into you?"

I shrug, out of breath but not really tired. "Nothing. Just playing hard."

Eli comes up, keeping pace beside us. "Or playing pissed," he says with a smirk, his tone light but his eyes watching me carefully. "You're not usually this... intense."

I don't bother responding. My mind is still locked on everything I'm trying to ignore. Aria pushing me away, Eli playing the nice guy who's got all the answers but won't say a damn word. It's bullshit.

The whistle blows again, and we're back into formation. But every hit I take feels too light, every play too easy. It's not enough. The frustration keeps building, an itch I can't scratch.

I take the snap, but this time I don't even look for the pass. I charge through the line again, the defense barely slowing me down. A hit comes—hard—and I welcome it, the force driving me into the ground, but it feels good. Let them hit me. Let them try.

As I stand, Coach yells from the sidelines, his voice sharp. "JC! Great play, but don't lose control out there. We need you sharp, not reckless."

I nod, barely acknowledging him as I jog back to the huddle. Sharp, not reckless. That's funny. I've never felt sharper, never felt more in control out here, but I know it's not real. It's just the game.

"Guess we're not holding back today," Eli says, his voice still trying to cut through the tension. But I can see it—the way he's watching me, like he knows this is about more than football.

I glance at him, feeling the frustration rising again. He knows something. But he's not saying anything. Just like Aria.

The whistle blows one more time, and we run the play. I fake the pass, hand it off to Brent, but the moment he's clear, I'm charging again. My shoulder crashes into the defense, and I feel the impact like a release, a brief break from the storm in my head.

As we reset, Brent looks at me again, a frown pulling at his lips. "You good, man?"

I don't answer. I'm not sure I know the answer anymore.

<>

Practice is over, but my mind is still racing, stuck on the image of Aria walking away—the sharp edge in her voice when she snapped, the frustration that spilled over like she was barely keeping it together. And then there's that damn mermaid book she was reading. I keep replaying it in my head, piecing it together with everything else.

I think back to the time at the beach with Eli, when we both saw her and then hearing words about me to her camera with that secret vlog of hers that I found out about when she didn't say shit. I have to find out myself. She didn't notice us, but I remember it clearly—the way she made that water ball from the ocean, like it was nothing. At first, I brushed it off, just another strange moment with Aria. But now, all of it—the water, the mermaid book, her secrets—it's gnawing at me, pulling me deeper into this mystery she's wrapped herself in.

Something's up, and I can't shake the feeling that it's bigger than I ever imagined.

I pull off my helmet and wipe the sweat from my forehead, glancing over at Eli, who's packing up his gear. He's been trying to play it cool all day, but I know better. He knows something. He's holding out on me.

"Eli," I call out, my voice sharper than I mean it to be.

He looks up, already tense like he knows exactly where this is going. "Dude, seriously? The fuck? This shit again?"

I toss my helmet aside, closing the distance between us. "We're not fucking done with this. You're going to tell me what's going on with Aria."

Eli sighs, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly annoyed. "Bro, for real? Goddamn it, just let it go."

"No. I'm not letting it go," I snap, stepping closer, my frustration boiling over. "She's keeping her walls up, shutting me out. She's hiding something, Eli, and you fucking know it. I can't just sit here and watch while you stand there, keeping quiet."

Eli looks at me, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I told you, Jack, it's not for me to say. Aria's my friend too. I'm not going to betray her trust just because you can't handle not knowing."

"Dude, this is about the project that she's been letting it slide with no progress," I argue, my voice rising, frustration leaking out. "I've been trying to figure her out since this whole thing started. She gives you all the answers, but I get nothing. She said something about her parents—about being left alone—and now she's reading books about mermaids. I'm not making this up, Eli."

Eli raises an eyebrow, his lips twitching, half-amused. "Oh, really? This is about the project? Are you sure about that?" His voice takes on a teasing edge. "'Cause it sounds like something else is lingering there, bro. And mermaids? Seriously? What kind of fantasy world shit are you living in? They don't exist."

I glare at him, feeling my jaw tighten. "Don't laugh. I saw her book, Eli. She's reading about mermaids. Is it... is it some kind of secret project or something? Are you involved?" I hesitate for a beat, then add, "And yes, it's only about the project, man. Nothing more."

Eli's expression shifts slightly, like he's not buying it. "Only the project, huh?"

And for a second, I don't even know if I believe that myself. But I'm not about to admit it.

Eli's face softens a little, but he doesn't back down. "Look, I get it. You care about her. But you're going to push her away even more if you keep going at it like this. She's not ready to open up, Jack. Not to you, not to anyone."

I clench my fists, barely holding back the frustration boiling inside me. "Seriously, she can't tell me a damn thing about her life. The only real answer I got out of her was about her being alone all the time because her parents are never around. That's it. One question answered about her home life. One."

Eli hesitates, his expression shifting to something between sympathy and frustration. "Maybe it's because she's not used to this shit, Jack. Dude, she's been keeping invisible since freshman year. She's admired you from afar for years. She's had this secret crush on you, and now you're in her face, pushing for answers. What do you expect her to do? Bow down?"

The words hit me harder than I expect. A crush? On me?

Eli's voice softens, but there's still a sharp edge of irritation. "Think about it, man. She knows your history, probably better than you realize. She's seen it all—how you dump girls the second things start to get too real. Like that girl from the game—you gave her your jersey for show, and then what? After that party, you bailed. No explanation, no nothing. Aria knows she's out of your league. The gossip? That shit would crush her. So yeah, she'd rather stay invisible than deal with you and all the baggage you bring. Stop being hypocritical, bro. You do the same thing when girls try to get deeper with you—you push them away just as fast."

Invisible. Scared. A secret crush? My head's spinning, trying to make sense of what Eli's saying. This whole time... I take a step back, my chest tightening under the weight of it all.

Eli watches me, his expression softening slightly. "Look, I get it. You're frustrated. But she's not used to being noticed by you, Jack. She's been alone in her own world for years. You can't just barge in and expect her to open up."

I exhale, dragging a hand through my hair, feeling the tension still coiled tight in my chest. I've been pushing, trying to get through to her, and she's been pushing me back just as hard. Space? That's bullshit. We've been circling around each other for weeks—her shutting me out, me trying to break down the walls. And now Eli's telling me to give her space? What the hell does she even want?

The thing is... I'm not even sure what I want anymore. She's not just another girl, and I can't figure out why that's messing with me so much.

And alone for years? That hit harder than I expected. I didn't see it coming. All this time, I thought she was just pulling away for no reason, shutting me out because that's what she does. But knowing she's been dealing with that—that loneliness, that isolation—and I had no idea? It makes me wonder how much I've missed. How much I've been too blind to see.

I shake my head, trying to clear the storm of thoughts swirling inside me. "So, that's it, then?" I mutter, my voice sounding more defeated than I'd like. "You're just going to keep quiet?"

Eli shrugs, but there's no smugness in it. Just resignation, like he's as tired of this back-and-forth as I am. "It's not my story to tell, Jack. If you really want to know, you've gotta be patient. Stop pushing her."

Patient. That word twists something inside me. I've been patient. Haven't I? I've been trying to break through, to get her to let me in. But every step forward feels like two steps back. I stare at Eli, the frustration simmering just beneath the surface. He's right. Deep down, I know it. Pushing Aria won't get me anywhere.

But waiting? That feels impossible too. How much longer can I just stand on the sidelines, watching her pull away?

"Fine," I mutter, turning away, my fists clenching at my sides. "But this isn't fucking over."

Eli watches me go, shaking his head slightly, a sigh slipping through his lips. "Yeah, I figured."

<>

A/N: Another chapter edited and my hands hurt from typing all day. Comment, vote, and feedback will be greatly appreciated.