The water bottle in my bag gave a soft ripple, the surface vibrating like a whisper. I felt a strange pull—a quiet hum thrumming just beneath my skin. The full moon was coming, and it felt closer than ever, stirring something restless inside me. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to push the unease down.

I knew what I had to do today—find Elara, ask her the right questions, and try to get ahead of whatever this full moon would bring. But telling Jack about it? That was harder.

Letting Jack in had been so easy, almost too easy. His affection felt like warmth I hadn't realized I was starving for, and needing him was becoming second nature. But needing someone... That's dangerous. What if I lean too hard on him and he decides I'm too much? What if I lose control when he's not around?

Jack kept saying he was here to help, to support me—and part of me wanted to believe him. But the other part... It was harder to trust. Not him, but myself.

My phone buzzed in my hand, lighting up with his name. I didn't even realize how tightly I'd been gripping it until my fingers ached. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, and then opened his text.

Jack:
Morning, babygirl. 🥱 After last night, bet ya miss me already from all those hugs, kisses, and affection I gave ya. Spoiled, but it's okay—I like spoiling you. Let's grab breakfast. I'm paying, since someone wanted me all to herself last night. 😉

A reluctant smile tugged at the corner of my lips. Of course, he had to be cute and cocky at the same time. Jack knew exactly how to get under my skin in all the right ways, grounding me with his light-hearted banter.

But even as I smiled, the knot in my chest tightened. His message was sweet—too sweet. It was the kind of thing I should respond to with a "yes" and a heart emoji. The kind of message I should want to wake up to every morning. And I did. But right now, it felt too... much.

I stared at the text, biting my lip. He'd see through me if I answered too quickly, but ignoring it would only make things worse. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was slipping back into old habits—pushing him away, just like I had during our project. Even though we'd finished that part of our relationship, here I was, still holding him at arm's length.

Me:
Raincheck on breakfast, babe. Why you giving me shit so early in the morning? I might head to Waves and Whispers today. Just need some alone time.

The three little dots appeared almost instantly, blinking in a way that made my heart twist with guilt. I knew what this looked like—me pulling away again. Jack hated when I did that. He'd told me once that it frustrated him to feel like I didn't need him. And now I was doing it all over again, even though I knew better.

Jack:
Waves and Whispers... Why do I feel like this is you pulling away again?

His words hit harder than I wanted them to, and I couldn't tell if he was joking or serious. Maybe both. That was the thing about Jack—he always made everything seem easy, but there was frustration buried under that playful charm.

I wanted to call him back, ask him to meet me at Waves and Whispers, but I locked my phone instead, shoving it deep into my bag.

"I need to figure this out on my own," I whispered, the words more for me than for him. But saying them didn't make them feel any less like a lie.

<>

The soft chime of bells greeted me as I stepped inside, the familiar scent of old books and sea salt wrapping around me. Elara was behind the counter, her silver-streaked hair falling loosely over her shoulders, her gaze sharp and knowing as if she had been expecting me.

"Back again, I see," she said, her voice as smooth and unsettling as the ocean at midnight.

A shiver ran down my spine. There was always something unsettling about Elara—like she knew exactly what I needed but would never tell me outright.

I swallowed, clutching the strap of my bag tighter. "I need answers."

Elara tilted her head, a sly smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Do you really think you're the only one seeking them? You're still inexperienced in this world, little mermaid."

Her words stung, but I tried not to let it show. "That's not an answer."

Her chuckle was soft, like waves retreating from the shore. "It's the only one you're getting today."

I clenched my fists at my sides, frustration bubbling beneath my skin. This place always gave me just enough to keep me coming back, but never the full picture.

"And the full moon?" I asked, my voice quieter now. "What's going to happen?"

Elara's smile faltered, and for the first time, I saw something like caution in her eyes. "The full moon is unpredictable. It amplifies power, stirs emotions, and reveals truths."

Her gaze sharpened, pinning me in place. "Just because someone understands what you are now doesn't mean they'll stay when things get hard. And trust me, they will get hard. Are you sure the one you let in is ready for that?"

My heart twisted painfully. Jack had said he wanted to help me, to give me confidence. But what if the full moon pushed me past the point where even he could reach me? What if I relied on him too much, only to have him walk away?

"And the moon ring?" I pressed. "What does it really do?"

Elara's expression darkened, her voice dropping to a low murmur. "The moon ring amplifies what's already inside. Power, emotion, fear—it'll all surge. It might calm you, or it might consume you."

Her words settled heavily on my chest, a warning disguised as advice. "Just because you control your powers now doesn't mean you'll always control them."

A chill ran through me, and I couldn't tell if it was from her words or the growing pressure inside me.

Elara handed me a small, leather-bound book as I turned to leave. "This might help," she said, her gaze unreadable. "Or it might not. That depends on you."

I tucked the book under my arm and stepped outside into the cool morning air. The tension inside me felt heavier, coiling tighter with every step I took. I pulled out my phone, my heart stuttering when I saw Jack's name flash across the screen again.

Jack:
Babygirl, you are not doing this bullshit again.

My thumb hovered over the screen. I wanted to tell him everything—about Elara, the full moon, the TikTok video. But the words wouldn't come. Not yet.

What if telling him makes it worse? What if I push him away for good?

I locked my phone without replying, shoving it back into my pocket as the water bottle in my bag rippled again, a quiet reminder of what was coming.

The full moon was on its way, and I had no idea what it would bring. All I knew was that I couldn't drag Jack into this—not when I didn't even know if I could handle it myself.

<>

I'd barely made it through the door when my phone buzzed again. Jack's name lit up the screen, twisting my stomach with guilt. He'd texted me a few times while I was at Waves and Whispers, but I hadn't answered. Not because I wanted to ignore him—because I didn't know what the hell to say.

Jack: I'm outside.

Shit.

I crossed the living room in a rush, pulling open the door. And there he was—Jack Carter, leaning against his car, arms crossed, still in his hoodie and sweats from practice. His hair was a mess, like he'd run his hands through it a dozen times. When his eyes met mine, he gave me a brief smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Hey, babygirl." His voice was soft, but there was a weight to it that made my chest tighten. "Mind telling me what the fuck is going on?"

I stood frozen in the doorway, wrapping my arms around myself like they'd keep me steady. "I just... I needed some time alone."

Jack pushed off the car and took a few slow steps toward me. "Alone. Right." His voice was low, deceptively calm. "You've said that before, remember? When we were working on the project. And we both know how that shit went."

I flinched. He wasn't wrong. I'd pulled away back then too, shutting him out when things got too real. Back then, it was just a class assignment. But now? This was us.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, looking down at the ground. "It's not what you think."

"Then what is it?" Jack's gaze pinned me in place, not harsh, just steady. "I thought we were good. We figured shit out, right? We're together now, aren't we?"

I nodded, but my throat closed up, the words tangling inside my head.

"So what's with the bullshit, Aria?" His frustration bubbled beneath the surface, controlled but visible. "Why are you pulling away again? I thought we were past this."

I chewed on my bottom lip, searching for the right words, but nothing fit. I wanted to tell him about Elara's warnings, the full moon, and how my powers were slipping, but the fear clawed at me. How could I tell him that I was terrified of needing him too much?

Jack ran a hand through his hair, letting out a dry laugh. "You're killing me, Aria. One minute, you let me in. The next, it's like you're waiting for an excuse to push me out. Do you even want this? Or are you just waiting for me to give up?"

My heart squeezed painfully in my chest. "No, I swear it's not that."

"Then what is it?" His voice softened, but the frustration remained, laced with something more vulnerable. "Do you not trust me or something?"

"It's not that." I said it quickly, desperate to stop the spiral. "I do trust you."

"Then stop fucking pushing me away." His gaze burned into mine, steady but wounded. "I told you I'm here. I want to help. Why won't you let me?"

"I don't want to use you as a crutch," I mumbled, guilt wrapping around my words like barbed wire.

Jack stared at me, disbelief etched across his face. "A crutch? Jesus, Aria. That's not what this is."

I fidgeted under his gaze. "I just... I have to figure things out on my own. I can't rely on you to fix everything."

Jack let out a frustrated breath, hands sliding into his pockets. "I never said I was here to fix you."

"I know, I just..." I struggled, feeling the weight of every unspoken fear press down on me. "It's not about you, Jack. It's about me."

"Bullshit." Jack's voice was sharp but not loud, and it hit harder because of it. "This isn't just about you. We're in this together, remember?"

I dropped my gaze, guilt gnawing at my insides. "I just need some space," I whispered, though even I didn't believe the words.

Jack's frustration softened into something heavier—something that hurt worse. "I get it," he said quietly. "You've been doing things on your own for so long, you don't know how to ask for help. I fucking get that, Aria." His voice cracked slightly, and it made my chest ache. "But you've got to stop doing this. Stop making me feel like I'm the only one fighting for us."

The words hit like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless.

Jack took a step back, running both hands through his hair now, as if trying to push his frustration away. "I don't know what's worse—feeling like you don't need me, or feeling like you're just waiting for me to walk away like everyone else."

My breath caught in my throat. "That's not—"

He shook his head, cutting me off gently but firmly. "I'm not your parents, Aria. I'm not going to bail just because things get hard." His jaw clenched as he looked away for a second, trying to collect himself. "But I need you to let me help. I need you to fucking trust that I'm not going anywhere."

I swallowed hard, every word cutting deeper than the last. I knew he was right. He was calling out the very thing I was terrified to admit—that I didn't know how to let someone stay.

But instead of saying all that, I whispered the only thing I could manage. "I'm sorry."

Jack let out a slow breath, the frustration ebbing into something closer to exhaustion. "Yeah. Me too."

He stepped back again, and the distance between us felt like an ocean. "If you want space, fine. Take it. But don't come crying to me later, saying I didn't try."

His words lingered, sharp and heavy, as he turned toward his car.

"Jack—" I started, but the words slipped through my fingers, just like everything else.

He paused, glancing over his shoulder. His gaze was softer now, but there was still an edge of hurt. "When you're ready to stop running, you know where to find me."

And with that, he got into his car, leaving me standing there, heart aching and chest tight with regret.

The silence of the house closed in around me, and I sank onto the couch, the weight of everything pressing down on me. I wanted to call him back, to tell him everything—about Elara, the full moon, the fear gnawing at me. But the words stayed trapped, heavy and unspoken.

The water bottle in my bag rippled slightly, the air around me thick with the pull of the approaching full moon.

I sat there for a long time, staring at the empty street outside, wondering how the hell I was supposed to figure this out without pushing everyone away.

I closed the door behind me, the sound of Jack's car fading into the distance, but the weight in my chest only grew heavier. The silence of the house wrapped around me, suffocating. I leaned back against the door, sliding down until I sat on the floor, knees pulled to my chest.

I could still feel the warmth of Jack's presence lingering in the air, the echo of his words ringing in my head: "But don't fucking come crying to me later saying I didn't try."

A knot twisted in my stomach. I pressed my hands into my forehead, trying to keep it all together, but everything felt like it was slipping through my fingers. I had pushed him away again. I told myself it was the right thing to do—that I needed space, that I couldn't rely on him too much. But the truth settled like a stone in my chest.

What if I'd made a mistake?

The guilt gnawed at me, and no matter how hard I tried to justify my actions, the same question kept circling back: Was my fear of losing control worth sacrificing the one good thing I had with Jack?

I stood and made my way to the kitchen, hoping a drink would calm the storm in my mind. I reached for the water bottle on the counter, and the moment my fingers brushed it, a ripple shivered across the surface. A sudden chill ran down my spine. The bottle trembled, the water shifting unnaturally—just like earlier.

I pulled my hand back, swallowing hard. Calm down, Aria. Calm the fuck down.

But the water didn't settle. It mirrored the chaos churning inside me, as if my emotions were spilling out in ways I couldn't control. A flicker of panic ignited in my chest. If this was what happened when I was just upset, what would the full moon do to me?

Jack's POV

The gravel crunched under my tires as I drove away from Aria's house, my hands gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary. I told myself I was giving her space. That it was what she wanted.

But it felt like shit.

I'd tried to be patient. Tried to show her I wasn't going anywhere. But every time I got close, she pulled away—like she was waiting for me to get tired and walk away, just like everyone else had.

I ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling under my skin. I could talk to Eli or Brent about it, unload everything that was boiling over inside me. But I couldn't. Aria trusted me, and I wasn't about to betray that trust just because I was pissed off.

Still, it fucking stung.

I didn't want to be the guy she only half let in. I wanted all of her—the good, the messy, the scared parts. But if she kept pushing me away, what the hell was I supposed to do?

With a frustrated sigh, I leaned back in the driver's seat and stared out at the empty road ahead.

You told her you'd be there. Now you just have to wait until she figures out she's ready to let you in.

I sank onto my bed, pulling the blanket over my shoulders even though I wasn't cold. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, Jack's name flashing across the screen. I stared at it for a long moment, but I didn't reach for it.

Not because I didn't want to talk to him—God, I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to tell him everything. About Elara, about the full moon, about how scared I was that one day, I'd lose control and Jack wouldn't know how to handle it.

But the words stayed stuck in my throat, tangled up with fear and guilt.

What if I let him in and he leaves? What if I'm too much?

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to shake off the weight pressing down on me. But it stayed. It always stayed.

The water bottle on the nightstand gave another faint ripple, and the air felt heavy, like the moment before a storm hits.

Jack said he wasn't going anywhere. But how long could someone keep promising that before it stopped being true?

I curled tighter under the blanket, feeling the distance between us settle like a wall I didn't know how to tear down.

<>

A/N: I told you just because you see the sweet moments. I am here to make it crash down again. Mwhahaahaha!