Deep Betrayal

the verge of experimenting. He’s still trying to resist, but he’s going in the lake soon. I don’t think he should transform … accidentally … without any warning.”
    “I was afraid of that.”
    “It’s time to tell him,” I said.
    Calder drew his eyebrows together, knitting them into an inverted V. “Again. Bad idea.”
    “Why?”
    “Remember what I told you. Once I changed, I wrote off my entire family. Once he transforms, he won’t be the same.”
    “You were only three. That won’t happen with my dad. Besides, not telling him isn’t an option anymore.”
    “You’re not seeing the big picture here, Lily.”
    “I need to fix this.”
    “Fix this? What needs fixing? Quit thinking you can fix everything. I need you to stop and listen to me.”
    “Not on this.” Muffled sounds from the beach reminded me of where I was. I kissed him once more. “I’m glad you came back. I thought maybe you changed your mind about me.”
    “You should know by now, I never break my promises.”
    He was very serious, but I grinned broadly. “I was counting on that. Let me go check on Sophie. You stay here.”
    Carefully, ducking my head, I rolled out from under the metal hull. The sun blinded me for a second so I didn’t immediately recognize the dark, silhouetted figure surrounded by sun spots.
    “Lily?” Jules asked. She grabbed my shoulders and shook me until my teeth rattled. “Haven’t you heard us calling for you? We’ve been going crazy. The lifeguard has everyone in a line, doing a freakin’ body search of the lake. I thought I was going to puke thinking I’d be the one to step on you. Sophie is bawling! God, Lily, I thought you were dead. I could kill you right now!”
    I looked past her shoulder to the people linked at their elbows, shuffling through the water as a single unit. Most of them I’d never seen before. “I’m sorry, Jules. I really am.”
    “What were you doing under that boat?” she demanded. Seriously pissed.
    “I, uh …”
    “Sorry,” Calder said, and crawled out from under the hull. The muscles in his chest and shoulders flexed as he pushed himself to his feet. “It’s my fault.”
    “Oh, man,” Jules said.
    My sentiments exactly. “Um … Jules, this is Calder White. Calder, this is my best friend, Jules Badzin.” Calder stuck out his hand, and I didn’t have to look at him to know what he was doing. Jules wasn’t blinking, and Calder’s projections were readable in the air. At least to me. Jules, poor thing, was sinking like a stone. How well did I know how that felt. I jabbed Calder hard in the ribs.
    “So glad to finally meet you,” Jules said, pushing her hair behind one ear.
    Oh, brother .
    Walking with Calder back toward the picnic table was a surreal experience. It was like two universes colliding: On my left walked my past, steadfast and normal. On my rightwalked my hoped-for future, less certain and one hundred and eighty degrees removed from normal. I wondered which one would implode from the pressure of the other. I couldn’t help but notice Jules stealing sideways glances at Calder. I knew what she was thinking without being telepathic.
    “Quit having impure thoughts,” I whispered in her ear.
    “Oh. My. Goodness,” she said through her teeth.
    Calder squeezed my hand. Of course he heard every word. He probably could have heard it from across the parking lot.
    Jules ran ahead to tell the lifeguard I was safe. I almost wished I was hurt. It would make this so much less embarrassing if I was bleeding. Maybe I could fake a head injury.
    The lifeguard blew his whistle in three sharp bursts and a collective groan came up from the shore. Rob came running, his face pale and sickly.
    “Geez, Lily, where were you?” Then he noticed Calder. “Who’s this?”
    “The figment of my imagination,” I said, more coolly than he deserved.
    Rob pulled me from Calder’s side and nearly suffocated me in a hug. “I thought you were dead,” he said. “Don’t do that again.”
    “Yeah, okay. Fine,” I said, laughing a little. “I’m sorry. I should have told someone I was going for a walk.” I pushed Rob off while electricity fizzed in the air behind me.
    Rob let me go and stuck his hand out toward Calder, who hesitated and blew a long stream of air from his lungs before taking Rob’s hand.
    “Thanks for bringing her back safe,” Rob said.
    “I can take care of myself,” I said, which made Calder wince, though I wasn’t sure