Enchanted by a Siren

Chapter 10: Sleepover

When they arrived at the Patterson’s house they found them waiting in the driveway. The worried looks on their faces made Zen feel even worse than she already did.

Calum jumped out and opened the door for her before she could move. She hugged her arms to her body, unsure what to do in this situation. Should she apologize? Probably a good idea. 

Most of the orphanages she lived in never really concerned themselves with her comings and goings, as long as she was in bed by lights out they didn’t really notice if she missed dinner. Which, thinking about it now, was pretty odd since her blue hair made her extremely noticeable.

Just as she was about to open her mouth to apologize, Mrs. Patterson pulled her into a warm embrace. “Oh my goodness, Zen, we were so worried.” She said in relief, squishing Zen to her so hard she let out a small sound as the air left her lungs. 

She released her and held her at arm’s length. “Don’t do that!” She exclaimed, but smiled again comfortingly at the shocked look on Zen’s face.

“Well, apparently you’ve had an interesting day, Young Lady. You've only been here a few days and already all the boys are fighting over you.” Mrs. Patterson said with a chuckle, making Zen go red as a beet at his jest. 

Zen looked at Calum with pleading eyes. Begging him to save her from this conversation. “I actually wanted to know if it would be okay if I slept over here tonight? Like you said, it’s been a weird day and I just want to make sure Zen’s alright.” Calum asked with his usual charming smile, his shoulders relaxed as he remained in a casual stance. Zen envied how confident and relaxed he was in these kinds of situations.

Mr. and Mrs. Patterson looked at each other with raised brows, they’ve never had a girl under their roof and they were in new territory with boy/girl sleepovers. It was always easy to say yes when you only have a son. “Well, uh… You've always been welcome here in the past, so I don’t see why not.” Mr. Patterson said, eyeing his wife, as if to ask her permission.

This was Calum they were talking about after all, they knew him as well as they knew their own son. Mrs. Patterson smiled in agreement with her husband. He was right, Calum had always been welcome in their home and today was no different.

“As long as Zen’s okay with it.” She quickly added, giving her a pointed look.

“Of course." She stuttered as everyone's eyes fell upon her expectantly. "Thank you.” She quickly added, trying to get everyone's attention off of her. She really just wanted to go inside and curl up in bed, forgetting what happened on the beach.

“Calum, Hun, you don’t have anything with you. Let's go home first and then I'll bring you back when you have a bag packed.” His Mother pointed out, gesturing towards the sandy swim trunks and flip flops he still wore.

“I’m sure he can find something in Ryan’s room that fits him. Heck, there might even be some of his clothes in there.” Mrs. Patterson interjected with a laugh. It was true, Calum and Ryan had so many sleepovers that their clothes often got mixed up. 

“Yeah, that would be perfect.” Calum replied with a broad smile. He turned to his Mom and kissed her on the cheek. “Bye, Mom. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He said, shooing her off. He gave Zen a wink as he turned back to her, and she felt her cheeks flare up again, hoping that the Pattersons hadn't noticed.

Dinner was alive with chatter between Calum and the Pattersons. It was clear that Calum was a frequent guest in their house and Zen was grateful for the distraction. She remained quiet and just listened unless one of them specifically asked her something, and even then she only gave short replies. In no mood for chatter.

The atmosphere was so easy with Calum there, she was glad she didn’t have to endure a dinner of awkward questioning about the events of the day.

When the question finally did arise and Mrs. Patterson asked what happened earlier, Calum saw the dumbfounded look on Zen’s face and stepped in. Brushing it off as Ryan not being there to protect the peace between Toby and himself. He used that to launch into a new conversation about Ryan, steering them away from the topic of what happened on the beach entirely. Zen was relieved, she really didn't have the energy to even try and make up an excuse that would satisfy them.

After dinner Calum offered to help with the dishes and Zen took the opportunity to jump in the shower. She stood in the water as it washed over her and allowed it to rejuvenate her. She almost wished they had a bath so she could soak her aching feet, but as the water hit her body her feet were forgotten and she felt her skin tingle with pleasure. She really missed the water. It was getting worse and worse as the days went on. She needed to find a safe place to swim, and soon. 

She rinsed herself from head to toe and jumped into a baggy T-shirt and pajama pants, letting her wet hair soak into the fabric. She loved the feel of it on her skin and allowed the soggy strands drip all over the place. She could never get herself to roll her hair up into a towel like most girls did. 

After she was dressed she made her way to her bedroom and grabbed her phone from her bag to plug it into the charger. Watching the worried messages and missed calls roll in as it came on. She threw it on the bed as if it was on fire, not in any kind of mood to deal with it. She felt bad enough that she had everyone so worked up. 

She was about to sit down when she realized that Calum would probably come looking for her. The idea of having him in here alone with her made heat flash in her cheeks, especially after what happened in that parking lot today. She supposed that curling up on the coach was as good an idea as any, at least then she could use the TV as some sort of buffer between Calum and her. She sighed, she was used to keeping to herself, finding a quiet spot and hiding there for as long as she could. She was so different from Calum, who seemed to always be around someone.

 Pushing the thought from her mind she grabbed a blanket from her bed and made her way to the living room. She curled up on one of the couches and turned the TV on, flipping through the channels to find something to watch. She wasn’t even comfortable yet when Calum came to sit next to her. 

“What are we watching?” He asked as he sat down so close to her that she had to move her feet so he wouldn’t crush them.

“Nothing yet.” She replied, trying not to let her annoyance show at his proximity. She really didn't want to get in trouble with the Pattersons.

“So…” He started and she dreaded what came next. “About today.” He continued, but she cut him off swiftly by saying. “Do we have to talk about it? I feel bad enough about this whole thing and I just want to put it behind me.”

“Why do you feel bad? You didn’t do anything wrong.” He insisted, trying to comfort her. She couldn’t explain why she felt bad, why everything was her fault, she couldn’t tell him the truth. Instead, she settled for a half-truth.

“I didn’t tell anyone where I was going… Twice. Everything today might have happened differently if I had.” She explained, trying to ignore his gaze as she kept flipping through the channels.

She expected him to disregard her and tell her it wasn’t her fault again, but instead he just asked. “Why didn’t you?”

She was taken aback by the question, but he didn’t blink. He was looking at her expectantly and she had no words to explain. No words to say that people don’t usually care where she goes or what she does, that no one has ever come looking for her or worried that she was alright. “Just not use to it, I guess.” She ended up saying, hoping he'd leave it at that.

“Well, I know I certainly care if you’re okay… But I actually just wanted to say I’m sorry for how I acted. I don’t know what’s going on with me. I feel different ever since…” He frowned as if trying to conjure up a memory. “Actually, ever since I met you.” He admitted, looking at her as if there was something he was missing. “There’s just something about you. I didn’t see it that first day, but I see it now. You’re different somehow.”

She wished she could explain, she wished she could just tell him the truth and see if it snapped him out of the enchantment. Let him go back to being the indifferent boy who missed his friend. For some reason the thought of doing that scared her more than anything else.

“Calum, I wish I could explain. I wish I could give you back your peace of mind.” She offered, meaning every word.

“My peace of mind?.” He retorted with a frown. “I don’t want it. What I want is you and I don’t feel like lying about it anymore." Zen finally met his gaze as he continued. "I want you like I’ve never wanted anyone in my entire life. You’ve enchanted me, Zen.” He continued with a serious look, wearing his heart on his sleeve. His eyes grew sullen as Zen burst out into laughter.

She couldn’t help herself. When he said that she had 'enchanted' him she couldn’t stop the laugh that shook through her body. Oh boy… If he only knew how accurate his description was. As soon as she got a glimpse of his face, which flashed with hurt, she stopped immediately. He thought she was mocking him, if only he knew.

“Sorry, I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you. I promise.” She quickly tried to amend her mistake. He had been telling her how he felt about her and she had dismissed it like it was a joke.

“Well, that answers that…” He said, looking away, trying to hide the disappoint he knew she would see on his face.

“No, Calum. It’s not like that.” She retorted, leaning forward and placing her hands on his arm to comfort him, begging him to understand, even though she couldn't even begin to explain.

“Then what’s it like, Zen?” He demanded and there was a slight bite to his voice.

He was looking at her now, their faces much closer than since she was leaning forward, holding his arm. Her mind drifted back to the car, to the near kiss, but she could not, under any circumstances, kiss him. She had no idea what would happen, would it solidify or break the enchantment? Besides, it would be fake, this whole thing was fake. Everything he felt for her… Fake. He must have realized where her mind had drifted to as his eyes flashed to her lips.

“It’s not real, Calum.” She said in a soft voice, which made his brows stitch together again as he blinked away.

“How can you say that?” He replied, her heart wrenching at the hurt in his words.

“I’m sorry, I can’t explain it. You need to trust me on this. What you feel for me isn’t real.” She pleaded, willing him to understand.

“How can you know what I feel?” He brought his face even closer to hers, daring her as he searched her eyes. They stayed there for a moment breathing each other in before Zen snapped out of the trance their nearness had put her in and pulled away. 

“Stop it!” She said defensively, much louder than she had intended to.

“Stop what?” He said with a smirk, leaning back and resting against the couch.

“Trying to kiss me!” She almost yelled in frustration.

“You kids okay in here?” Mrs. Patterson asked from the door. Clearly their voices traveled.

“Yeah, sorry. Just… talking.” Calum said, but Mrs. Patterson’s eyes came to rest on Zen expectantly.

“We’re fine, sorry for the noise.” She replied, blushing at the thought of Mrs. Patterson hearing their conversation.

“No need to apologize. You weren't making any noise. Just remember that it’s school tomorrow. So, don’t stay up too late, okay? Goodnight.” Mrs. Patterson reminded them as she turned to leave.

“Goodnight.” They said in unison, but she suddenly turned back and added. “Oh, and… If you two don’t mind… Doors open.” She smiled as she said it, but Zen felt herself go red at what that insinuated.

“Of course.” Calum replied with an easy smile, but Zen felt like she was going to die of embarrassment.

As Mrs. Patterson left, Zen turned to Calum wide-eyed. “Look at what you’ve done.” She chided him.

“Me?” He laughed.

“Yes, you! With all your… Feelings.” She knew it was insensitive, but she didn’t care.

He smiled at her mischievously as he leaned over her, she shrunk back into the couch and even though he wasn’t touching her she felt his warmth all over her body and it made her heart race. “Don’t act like I’m the only one here with… Feelings.” He said sensuality before straightening up again. 

“I won’t do anything you don’t want me to, but I have a feeling that you do want it, Zen.” He winked and her heart was pounding in her chest, but he casually took the remote from her as if nothing had happened and started flipping through the channels until he found a movie he liked.

“How about we watch this? Pirates of the Caribbean four, deadly mermaids are always a winner.”  He stated with a smirk and Zen had to clamp down on the laugh that wanted to escape her.