Chapter 31 #2
It made Charlie sad that none of these people could see Asgard.
Sure, the landscape was beautiful in and of itself: water like glass; clean, sparkling rocks; bright fall leaves mixed with evergreen pine needles; stars twinkling in a sky utterly clear of city smog.
Those seniors sitting on the dock probably thought it was one of the most magical places they’d ever been, even without the strange creatures and enhanced colors that Charlie could see.
Still, a part of her wished everyone could experience what she was. Could feel what she felt.
But they couldn’t, and—for the most part—Charlie was glad. It kept them safe.
“It’s not unusual,” Elias said in a low voice, causing Charlie to jump. She’d forgotten he was still there. “For there to be more Asgardian creatures in remote places like these. The farther they are from modern civilization, the more comfortable they are.”
“Makes sense.” Charlie watched as one of the mermaids inched farther up the rock, exposing pale, almost-clear lips and gills that ran from her jaw to her neck. “They must hate this. Us coming here and disturbing their peace.”
“Maybe. Though, if I had to guess, she”—he nodded in the direction of the mermaid—“is mostly just annoyed that the Seal keeps her from snacking on any of you. Human meat is a mer delicacy.”
Charlie stared at the mermaid in horror. “Are you serious?”
“Perfectly,” said Elias. “You didn’t think mermaids were actually like Ariel, did you?” He tutted with disappointment. “Come now, Charlotte. You know Asgard better than that.”
“That’s … terrifying.”
“I know,” he said happily. “We should go say hello.”
Charlie rolled her eyes. “I don’t think so.”
“Aw.” Elias pouted. “But the night would be so much more fun if she knew that a few of us weren’t protected by the Seal. Imagine all of your delicious fear, wondering which of your friends she would drown and eat for dinner.”
“Elias.”
“Kidding, kidding. Between your already-overwhelming fear and that of your brother’s, I’m more than satiated.”
She looked over at Elias. “Mason?”
“Oh yeah. Are you kidding me? That guy has been terrified all day.”
“About Rattatosk? But he hasn’t said anything since the parking lot.”
“Trust me. He’s freaked. If I had to guess, though, he isn’t scared for himself.”
“Ahhh.” Nodding, Charlie looked over at Lou.
She had set up shop beside Mason at the beer pong table and appeared to be giving him some sort of pep talk.
Between her fingers was a Ping-Pong ball, which she held right in front of his nose, like a professional tennis coach telling her student to visualize the ball.
Charlie wouldn’t be surprised if that was what Lou was actually saying. “Of course.”
“Do you think he’ll ever tell her how he feels?” Elias asked.
“I don’t know.” Charlie watched as Lou finished her speech, slapping Mason lightly on the cheek before turning to face their opponents.
Mason elbowed her out of the way, moving in to shoot first. Infuriated, Lou punched him in the arm.
“They’ve known each other forever. And I mean forever.
I don’t know if she’ll ever see him as anything other than her best friend’s annoying older brother. ”
“I wouldn’t be too sure. You’d be surprised by the number of girls who fall in love with their best friend’s older brother. Especially when they’re as handsome as Mason.”
“Ew.” She wrinkled her nose. “Don’t call my brother handsome. I’ll throw up all the beers I haven’t drank yet.”
A devilish smile lit up Elias’s face. “That sounds like a problem that needs to be remedied immediately.” He held out an arm and nodded toward the sandy kegs. “Shall we?”
Charlie glanced down at Henry, who was waddling back and forth beside her shoes, clearly eager to join the festivities. “You ready?”
He sent back an image of him drinking from a tiny Solo cup filled with beer.
“Absolutely not,” she said. “You’re, like, two pounds. One sip and you’ll be drunk.”
One word arrived in her consciousness: FUN.
“And since when can you send me full-on images, not just colors or words?” she asked.
THE MORE TALK, THE BETTER TALK.
Charlie chuckled, shaking her head. “Always full of surprises.”
She looked back at Elias, who was still waiting with one arm extended.
This time, she didn’t blow him off. Instead, she kicked off her shoes and tossed them aside.
Then she took Elias’s elbow and let him lead the way, even though it would have everyone gossiping within minutes.
Let them gossip, she thought. They didn’t know what she and Elias had been through. They didn’t know the truth.
And the truth—one she no longer felt the need to run from, to squash so deep down within her that it could never be found—was that Lou was right: Elias was trying. He was working hard to earn back her trust, even if it was only because his boss—her father—had ordered him to.
Still, something in her gut told her that it wasn’t only that.
It wasn’t just an order, a job to be fulfilled.
Something told her that Elias was trying to gain back her trust because he truly wanted it.
Because he wanted a friend. A real friend, not just the guys that invited him around because of his face and his ability to shotgun beers.
And Charlie had no qualms about entering a party arm in arm with a friend.