A Wave Of Desire

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Ocean

~~

This new routine of ours was continuing. We spent that first day home together, and then Makai went to school on Tuesday. He stayed home with me on Wednesday, and now he was back at school today. Tomorrow, Friday, he wasn't sure if he was going to stay home or go to school for half the day so he could get our work.

I was currently sitting at the island in the kitchen on one of the bar stools, doing my homework and eating a bowl of cereal. I wasn't going to try cooking again until Makai was here with me. I didn't need a mess like that again; that was why today's lunch was cereal.

Suddenly, I heard the front door being opened with a key. I was certain that it was Makai coming home from school. But that made no sense at all, he was supposed to be there all day today. I slid from the stool and started for the front hall so that I could see why he was home so early.

I was just about to call out to him and ask him why he was here, when I heard someone talking.

"They shouldn't be here right now, should they?" It was a woman's voice, and it was one that I didn't know. I know it wasn't Makai's staff either because they had come by yesterday while we were both here.

"It looks like someone is here." A man's voice responded when he saw me. "Hello there, young man."

I was in complete shock. These were people that I had never seen before, but I was pretty sure I knew who they were anyway. The woman had long flowing auburn hair that looked like she was swimming in the water even though she clearly wasn't, and there were pure, true red highlights in her hair. Her eyes were a pearly green color that were mesmerizing. The man had shorter hair that was dark brown with pearly white highlights, but his eyes were a familiar seagreen. These people could only be Makai's parents.

"Uh, uhm, h..hi." I nervously greeted them.

"You must be the young man that our son told us about." The woman grinned at me. "It's nice to meet you. My name is Analise Rivers." She stepped forward and held her hand out to me so that I could shake it. I took it slowly and shook it in a daze. I really wish they would have waited to show up until Makai was here. What the hell was I supposed to do with his parents here?

"I..it's nice to meet you." I did my best to be friendly.

"There is no reason to be nervous, Son." The man said as he held his hand out. "I am Reef Rivers, Makai's father. What's your name? I am afraid that our son didn't give us all the details about this situation when he called and begged us to come home." I hadn't been in the room when he called his parents so I don't know if he actually begged them, but I smiled at the thought of it. Makai wasn't exactly the begging type in my mind, unless he was begging me for something, that is.

"My name is Ocean." I answered him as I took his hand and shook it.

"Oh, isn't that precious." His mom grinned at me.

"I'm sorry?" I was confused at her words, tilting my head and looking at her with my eyes narrowed a little.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, sweetie. I just thought that your name was cute. Were you named by your parents?"

"No, I was named by the child protective services agent that took me from the hospital. They thought it was a 'fitting' name for me since I was found on the beach."

"The beach? So your family truly did abandon you." Reef, Makai's father, seemed to be upset when he heard that.

"I wouldn't know. I have no idea who my biological parents are, or what I really am. I just know that I was found and raised by my adoptive parents."

"Oh honey, that must have been a shock to you then. To find out that you weren't human when you thought you were your entire life."

Before I had known what was happening, Mrs. Rivers had walked over to me and wrapped her arms around me. She was shorter than me by several inches and very slender, but her arms were strong as she held me close.

"Don't worry, Ocean, we're here to help you."

Mr. Rivers, however, was focussing on something else. He was looking at me with confused eyes and a worried expression.

"I'm sorry young man, but did you say you have no idea what you are?"

"Didn't Makai tell you?" I was confused. "We found out that I am a child of the sea, as he said once before, but he doesn't know what I am. I am not a Merman, that is for sure."

"Makai hasn't learned all of our histories yet. I regret to say that we kept him away from that culture for most of his life because we didn't want him to rush off to the sea too soon. Chances are you're a sea serpent or a selkie." Mr. Rivers didn't seem worried at all, so I wasn't either. As long as between the two of them and Makai we could figure out what I am, I didn't care.

"I hate to cut this introduction short, Ocean, but Reef and I need to clean up. We've had a lot of travelling to do, and it's left its mark on us."

"Oh, no worries, Mrs. Rivers." I smiled at her. "I will get back to doing my homework."

"Sounds good. When Makai gets home, we will get straight to work on figuring this whole mess out for you."

"Yeah, don't look so worried about it, Ocean. We will get you taken care of soon enough." Mr. Rivers nodded at me. "Now, if you'll excuse us."

The two of them disappeared up the stairs and to their room. I didn't want to take up any more of their time or keep them from doing what they needed to do, so I definitely wasn't going to call after them. However, I wanted to let Makai know that his parents were home. If possible, I wanted him to skip practice today and come straight home. I wouldn't be able to handle sitting here alone with his parents. That would have made me nervous as hell.

I went back into the kitchen and dumped the last dregs of my cereal. It had gone all soggy while I was away, and no longer looked very appetizing. After washing the bowl and setting aside to dry, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and opened the message thread for Makai.

:Me:

Your parents are here.

I sent the message as quickly as I could.

:Me:

Could you come straight back instead of going to practice?

:Makai:

What did they say? Is everything OK?

:Me:

Everything is fine. I'm a little nervous to be alone with them, but your parents are nice enough. Your mom hugged me.

:Makai:

HAHA, yeah, she is really friendly and open like that.

:Me:

It threw me off and made me even more nervous.

:Makai:

You need to stop being so nervous, baby.

:Me:

Oh shut up!

I rolled my eyes at the text message that I had just sent him. He was being a dork, and he knew it. I wasn't that nervous. It's just that, you know, I just met his parents and that was nerve wracking. I was meeting my boyfriend's parents without him even being with me. Who the hell does that?

:Makai:

Yeah, sure, you're not THAT nervous. ???? ???? ???? ????

:Me:

Oh stop with those emojis.

He was making me feel silly now. I was well aware of the fact that I was a nervous wreck half the time anymore.

:Makai:

But why? I think that the emojis could properly convey so many emotions. Especially the way that I feel about you.

:Me:

Oh really? And what emotions or feelings are those?

I had a feeling I was going to regret asking that. Oh well, what was done was done. I would just have to deal with it for now.

:Makai:

Heheheheheh

That evil laughter came before a message that made me roll my eyes and almost laugh myself off of the bar stool at the same time.

:Makai:

???? ???? ❤ ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ????

:Me:

OH MY GOD! YOU ARE UTTERLY RIDICULOUS.

Despite my text to him, I was laughing my ass off.

:Me:

Just come straight home after school, OK?

:Makai:

I will do better than that. I am skipping the rest of the day. I will be leaving here when the bell rings in five minutes.

:Me:

Whatever, see you soon.

I was glad that he was on his way back already. I didn't want to be here alone with his parents. And even though I wouldn't admit it to him, I wanted to see him as well. Even though I had seen him this morning at breakfast before he went to school, I still missed him. Was I hopeless? I felt like I was. I felt like I was some hopeless idiot that was obsessed with the person they liked. UGH! What the hell was the matter with me?