Part 18 (1/2)
”So, I looked my loveliest while talking about my b.u.t.t. I'm not sure whether to be offended, humiliated, or write it off as a typical male response,” I said, trying to slow my breathing.
”Well, tell me, is this a typical male response? My hand is unworthy of holding yours, but I need your touch. My soul feels ashamed when around yours, but I need your soul's influence. My eyes soak you inside of me without asking, but I cannot deny them. My heart rests helpless as a child in your hands, but I don't want it back. I have fallen for you, and I have no desire to stand back up. I don't deserve you, Marina, but I need you, and I've never needed anything.”
Something worked through the center of my body like a small fluttering moth; I think, though I'm not an expert, it was elation.
”Definitely not a typical male response. Very Jane Austen, actually. So, how do we do this? How do I do this?” I asked, falling to my knees in the sand.
Kneeling down in front of me, Troy took my hands and lightly kissed them. ”Fall with me. You're not alone anymore. You have so many impenetrable layers around your heart.”
”I know.”
”I want to undress your heart, if you'll let me.”
I softly touched his lips with my fingertips. He held my face in his hands, swept away my tears, and tenderly brushed my lips with his before kissing me deeply, lovingly. My eyes never opened.
Chapter Thirteen.
Sprinkles or Showers?
March: Luck be a lady.
Monthly Life Caption: Love on the Rocks Mood: Could it be? Am I HAPPY?
Eating: Fried foods.
Music: Love songs of any and all generations When I say love on the rocks, I mean it quite literally. Troy and I have kissed on every possible surface-his bed, my bed, the floor, his truck, the beach, our cave. He even carries me high above his head and effortlessly glides through the water, delivering me to the lonesome rocks just beyond our cave. Once there, he slides atop my body and begins his trail of kisses, never taking the same path twice.
My body yearns for the touch of his skin day and night; I've never known anything like it before. Staying a good girl with Troy was, admittedly, very difficult, not that he has ever tried to pressure me. On the contrary, Troy believes in something called eternal serendipity. Of course, he never explained its meaning. Maybe I can nag him into telling me today at lunch.
WARNING: Slight detour ahead. Immediately following Valentine's Day, I planned to meet Troy in the cafeteria; he had his meeting with Mr. Smarmy the period before and figured he would be late. As usual, I entered our aquarium-cafeteria and sat alone at the Normal's table. Less than ten minutes later, Troy walked over to me, lifted my tray, grabbed my hand, and led me to the head table.
”Out,” he had said to a bewildered Katrina. ”Now.” He was so fierce that no one wanted to challenge him, much less Katrina. It was such a n.o.body puts Marina in the corner moment, and I loved every minute.
Katrina left without protest. I thought then, as I do now, that her silent acceptance was merely a sign of something to come, something dire. Still, we have occupied the head table for over a month without conflict.
End of detour.
Back to present day: Lunch & nag time. After indulging in some crispy chicken and b.u.t.tered corn, I decided it was time to bug my boyfriend.
”Tell me about eternal serendipity,” I whined for the one-hundredth time.
”Not getting why I have to talk about this when you won't talk about being the Sav-”
I waved my hands and winced. ”Ah, ugh, what was our deal?” Just the word...Savior...made my skin crawl. Fate choosing me as the Savior was about as rational as Dracula getting employed as an emergency room surgeon. Catastrophically bad.
”We don't talk about Savior stuff,” he said, rolling his eyes.
”Uh-huh, exactly. Not ready, not willing, and definitely not able to face all of...that. On the other hand, you are very able to talk about eternal serendipity.”
”Funny, I'm not so ready or willing.”
”Please! Pretty please with a crab puff on top!”
”If you'll stop whining, I'll tell you,” he groaned.
”I'm a great whiner, huh?”
”No, you're annoying!”
”Ah, then I'm great. Annoying is the mark of a great whiner.”
”And you're kinda cute,” he said, sneaking a kiss.
I could hear the whispers growing louder around the cafeteria. ”Well, that does undermine my ability to effectively whine, but if it gets me a kiss and the answers I want, I see no harm in it.”
”Brat.”
”You love it,” I teased.
”So I do. Eternal serendipity. It's our belief that two souls are forever fated to live as one,” he said, playing with my hand. ”The sea determines whether or not you and your chosen one are fated to be together. If the sea so finds, then a beam of diamond-filled light will break from the ocean floor, engulf the two lovers, and bind their souls together forever.”
”Have you ever seen this happen?”
”No. I've only heard the stories.” He frowned at his red snapper.
”What is it?”
”My mom and dad were supposedly bound together by the light, but they haven't been together for years. I really don't want to talk about it.”
I knew not to push him. ”Well, maybe the ocean isn't always right.”
”It's not like human marriages, Marina. People in your world don't always marry for love. Some marry for l.u.s.t or money. Others marry for convenience, or because it's the n.o.ble thing to do. Marriage in the human world is very rarely for true love,” he said, moving the snapper around on his plate.
”What happens when two people break the ocean's bond? Is it like divorce?”
A small, sad grin crept across his rugged face. ”Not even a little bit. When the ocean bonds two souls, it's for eternity-they are fated to live and die together, then move to the afterlife as one. There is no way to break the bond once it's made.”
”But, what about your mom and dad?”
”The merp who chooses to leave their soul mate will also leave behind their soul.”
I gasped. ”So, that's their punishment. If they leave their chosen love, they must forfeit their soul.”
”Yes. The mate left behind will have two souls and can never become bound to another. In a way, the sea forces love. Very unlike your world, of course. Divorce is a way to sever all bonds. The two former lovers move on to new people and new lives. It's disgusting the way humans toss and trade lovers like a pair of jeans.”
”Not to point out the obvious, but you aren't exactly Mr. Innocent. You've been with puss-in-really-ugly-boots, Katrina,” I said, my cheeks burning. ”And I'm sure there have been others before her.”