Page 7 of Emerge

Chapter Three

Riley

There had been no word from Finn or my mom since the early hours of Tuesday when they reunited. Jax didn't seem bothered by it, but I was worried that Finn had killed her or locked her away somewhere.

We took a few days off school to recover, but by Thursday we decided it was time to return. My grades were already suffering and now on top of it I had to deal with the realities of being a creature that gouged out eyeballs and cut off dicks.

It was a lot easier to accept that I was a siren now. I had been in denial before, but now the cat was out of the bag. Or should I say the catfish?

I snorted as I climbed out of the front seat of Jax's SUV. He gave me a questioning look before shutting my door and grabbing my hand. Despite being close at homecoming and the bonfire over the past weeks, it was the first time we'd held hands in front of the masses.

Every eye in the parking lot was on us as we met with Blake, who took my other hand. My face felt like it was on fire, but I held my head high.

"Check out the cheaters with the murderer."

"What a shit show that is."

"I heard Morgan was under the influence of those pills when he crashed."

"Can you believe they are all together... like together, together?"

I glanced at Jax and his jaw was clenched so tight I was surprised his teeth didn't crack. I squeezed his hand as we walked through the gates and headed to my locker.

"Well, this is going to be fun." Blake leaned against the locker next to mine. "The best thing for us to do is not to react."

"Screw them," Jax bit out. "We own this school."

I shut my locker harder than intended, causing them to jump. "No, you don't. What did you expect? You surround yourself with people who are only friends with people who get them ahead in life."

"When this all blows over, they're going to be sorry they even dared to-" I put a finger against Jax's lips.

"We have bigger problems than worrying about a bunch of idiots." I moved my finger and gave him a quick peck. "I'll see you at lunch."

Blake took my hand again as we walked to English. "By the end of the day, I'm sure he's going to punch someone in the face."

I laughed. "Doesn't feel so good being on the other end of the bullying, does it?"

"It doesn't bother me." He opened the door for me, and I could tell from the look in his eyes that it did bother him.

Aiden was already in his seat, and I sat down next to him, bracing myself as he slowly turned to stare at me. I hadn't had a phone for a few days, so he only knew what Ivy had told him, which she had assured me hadn't been anything at all.

"Are one of you going to tell me what the hell is going on, or am I going to have to create a story in my head in which the Tritons kidnapped you and Ivy and took you to their sex dungeon for incredibly wild and crazy sex?" he yelled at me in a whisper and I couldn't help but smile.

"If that had happened, I can guarantee you, you would be the first to know." I looked across the room at Blake, who was staring at me, before I turned back to Aiden. "We just needed a few days to recover after Morgan's crash."

Aiden sat back in his chair, crossing his arms. "I don't believe you. Ivy looked wrecked yesterday, but she won't tell me anything."

Ivy and I had talked a few times on the phone since our lost-at-sea adventure, but she appeared to be dealing with the whole thing fine. "Wrecked as in she'd been in a sex dungeon or emotionally wrecked?"

"Emotionally." Aiden flipped open his notebook. "You know how unshakeable that girl is. To see her all emo is shocking."

Class started and I couldn't keep my mind off Ivy. Mr. Gale had sure done a number on her, and I couldn't fault her for feeling the way she felt. He had gotten into her head and made her go against everything she was; loyal.

"Riley?" Mrs. Williams called from across the room, putting the classroom phone down. I hadn't even heard it ring. "You're wanted in the office." I raised an eyebrow in question. "Mr. Gale would like to speak to you."

I nearly choked on my own spit hearing his name. I quickly glanced across the room as Blake gripped the edge of his desk before starting to pack up his stuff. I did the same, and Mrs. Williams didn't say a word as Blake followed me out of the room.

"What do you think he wants?" I tried to calm my voice, but it came out shaking anyway.

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