Ch. 5 Nova

Nova's P.O.V.

Fu.ck him! 

I was still so upset, and oddly very hurt. I let Ryoko take over and fly us around campus, taking us to the siren side of the academy. She rushed us towards the water, shifting with me as we dove down from the sky into the water. The shift was seamless, from my dragon to my siren. It was as easy as taking a deep breath. I swam down to the bottom of the lake where I knew I'd find Emanuel. 

Emanuel was a sea witch I'd met last school year. It was the first year the school had opened and everyone was so cliquey, still kind of are. I found Emanuel alone at the bottom of the lake when I was exploring. Sea witches aren't exactly the most liked creatures, but he was different. He was kind and caring despite the hate he received. He was a year younger than me, a sophomore this year. 

"Hey, what brings you down here?" He smiled at me when he saw me. His large purple fin had grown since last year. His teeth were sharper and his muscles larger. 

"Just needed to see a friendly face." I smiled at him, feeling myself calm already. I am not sure what it is about him, but when I'm near him all my troubles just seem to fade away. 

"My face is friendly?" He smiled wider, looking almost menacing with those teeth, but it was those eyes that really gave away his kind demeanor. Those blue almost silver eyes.

"Extremely." I smiled at him. 

"I think you're the only one that thinks that." He laughed, his short brown hair floated around his face.

"Well screw everyone else. My opinion is the most important anyway." I joked. 

"I'll agree with that." He winked and we both laughed. "So tell me what really happened?" 

"Fu.cking Augustus." I sighed, sinking down to lay on the large flat rock. He did the same laying beside me as we stared at the sun's reflection on the surface of the water. 

"What did he do now? I feel like we're always mad at him." 

"We?" 

"Well, yeah, if you're mad at him, then as your best friend, I'm mad at him too." He said it so matter of factly, making me chuckle. 

"Thanks, self proclaimed best friend." 

"You know it's true, so is it really self proclaimed?" He smirked. 

"I guess not. To answer your question, he slept with my roommate." 

"Already? Damn that fu.cker moves fast." Emanuel sounded almost impressed. 

"Don't be impressed, I thought we were mad together?" I arched my brow accusingly. 

"Sorry, the guy in me took over for a second. Back to being mad.” He furrowed his thick brows. “Bad Augustus, what a jerk face." He nodded his head to affirm his own words to himself. 

"Thanks." 

Why am I so hurt by this? I knew he slept around. I knew the number of women he's been with was immense. I guess I just never witnessed it, never actually heard it or seen it happen. Hearing it today, it did more than just piss me off. It fu.cking hurt me inside. I think at some point I fell in love with Augustus without even realizing it. 

Damn him.

Emanuel and I quietly enjoyed one another's presence for a moment longer before I decided to stop being a coward and reemerge. I need to talk to Ares, because he didn't deserve to be blown off like that. Andy knows me so well that I am sure she figured out my feelings before I even had. There's no need to tell her. Andy is like the twin I never had. Uncle Ash made sure she and I were attached at the hip growing up, so much so that it felt like she really was my twin. She feels more like a sister than a cousin. 

"I better go face the world. Are you coming with me?" I tried to get him out with me, but I know he won't come out unless he has to. 

"Not yet. I'll see you at lunch though. Save me a spot." He told me. 

"You got it." I got off the rock, pushing my red fin to swim as fast as possible. 

I reemerged, finding Ares there with a towel and clothes. He knew just where to find me like always. He always knows when I'm ready to talk too. I guess that's the seer part of him. I found it really comforting, and convenient. 

"I'm sorry." I told him shyly. 

"No need." He placed the towel and clothes down on the ground before turning around. 

Being naked wasn't something any of us were shy about, but no one really gawked at anyone either. Of course as a shadow weaver, Ares doesn't deal with this much, so he always turns to give me privacy. He's a gentleman like that. 

"I didn't mean to blow you off. I was still upset." I explained, still feeling bad. 

"I know, Nova. You don't have to explain." He stayed staring at the tree surrounding the lake. 

"I'm dressed now." I told him as I finished getting my shirt on. I saw him blush a little bit when he got a peek at my bra before I pulled my shirt all the way down. 

"Sorry, you had said you were done." He didn't meet my eyes and I just laughed at his shyness. So different from Augustus. 

"It's fine. I was done. It's just a bra Arie, don't freak out on me." I teased him, shoving his shoulder lightly with my hand. 

He huffed, but gave me that small smirk of his. Ares didn't smile much, always serious or focused. I saw him smile wide maybe once, and it was enough to shake my world. His smiling face is the most handsome thing I'd ever seen. If he sported that smile more often, well shit.t, maybe I would have fallen in love with him instead. That would definitely make for an easier life. I fell for the wrong brother, that's for sure. 

Damn Augustus.

"I'm not freaking out. I just don't want to disrespect you, Nova." He finally met my eyes, those beautiful and bright lilac eyes stared back at me. I love his eyes the most. 

"You never disrespect me, Arie." I assured him, giving him a small smile. 

"Nova…" He paused for a moment, and I knew the question that was coming. This was Arie, he knew it all the moment he touched me. I saw it plainly in his eyes. "You love him, don't you?" 

He didn't have to say his name. I knew who he was referring to. I sighed heavily, looking up at the darkening clouds. 

"I think so, but I don't think I really knew it until today." I admitted. 

"I'm sorry, Nova." I could tell he meant those words, he wasn't just saying them. He really felt them. "I'll get him into shape for you." 

I laughed because I don't think there's anyone that can change Augustus' ways. He's a stubborn as.shole. There's no changing him unless he wants to change. 

"We both know he won't listen to either of us." I shook my head. 

"Eventually, he will. I just have to keep pestering him." Arie sounded more determined than usual. 

"Thanks. Don't tell him what I said, okay? I don't want him to know how I feel." That would be too humiliating. 

"I won't. I promise." 

How do I stop loving Augustus Barlowe?