Cascadia's Fault

Discomfortable

Johnny leaned back against the hearth, enjoying the dregs of heat, "You do know he's about two inches taller than you."

"Doesn't change the fact he's my little brother, therefore a runt."

"Just remember that when he uses your head as an armrest," he observed.

"I can still take him down," she retorted, "almost as easy as I can you."

"Wow, Caz," Noa apparently was incapable of staying out of it, "why would you want to?"

Jem, who had been relatively quiet as she helped CJ gather his things, said, "Really? We spent all morning taking each other down.

Why are you being judgy?"

Johnny saw Caz duck her head to hide her grin then turned his attention to Noa, who had the grace to look embarrassed and start backpedaling, "I didn't mean it that way! I meant that it seemed like it was more about beating than learning..."

Jem wasn't going to let it go, "So, now Caz is just beating people up?"

"No! It came out wrong. I'm sorry, Caz, I didn't mean for it to sound the way it did."

It was Johnny's turn to hide his smirk when Caz looked Noa dead on, saying, "Sure, Noa, I know exactly what you meant."

Noa bit her lip, glancing around, "Anyway, I better go find Lulu. Don't forget the schedule is different on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so tomorrow is the Monday, Wednesday, and Friday activities."

Tal gathered up some of CJ's gear. "I'll give you a hand back. It's the least I can do after you didn't kill me my first time playing."

Johnny caught Jem's eye, and she sent him that look that made his shoulder blades itch. Her smile was feline before she stretched,

"Listen, I'm going to head back before the ravaging hoards and grab a shower. It's been a long day in nothing but cold and wet, and I don't want to fight for the hot water in the morning."

He watched her go without waiting for a reply. He also saw Caz realize that this very neatly left them alone in the quiet corner of the Rec Room. Kids and counselors were beginning to wrap up games and activities, but the rear hearth had been left to their group once the game had really gotten going. Now it was just the two of them, and she was looking everywhere but at him.

"I should go, too. Especially since these sadists like to get us up at oh-dark-thirty." She started scooping up her things, shrugging on her jacket.

She looked so uncomfortable, Johnny almost didn't, then he did. He reached out and took her hand, "Caz, stop." She stared at him but didn't pull away. "Are you uncomfortable because you're here by yourself or because of what you told me?"

Caz sat back on her heels, still staring at his hand.

He didn't let go. Instead, he moved just a little closer to ensure no one else overheard. It didn't look like anyone was paying attention, but why take chances? He lowered his voice even more, saying, "Listen, we all have our issues, our secrets, our stuff, and I'm not going to talk to anyone else – not even Jem, if you don't want me to – about yours."

Caz finally met his eyes. It felt like being under the scrutiny of a lie detector. God knew he had his own things he was still sorting out, but whatever she saw had her huffing out the breath they'd both been holding.

"Look, I don't know if Jem told you..."

"About Noa?"

"Yeah. Not that it's any of my business, 'cause it's not, but I figured you'd appreciate the head's up so you could make your own decisions." She looked embarrassed. Johnny had to shove down the urge to laugh again. He knew she wouldn't appreciate it. And she would definitely not appreciate any effort to console or reassure her.

Sloggy ground, for sure.

Instead, he stroked a thumb over the cuff on her wrist and let go.

"Caz, stop. Thanks for looking out for me. I bet that wasn't easy for you. I bet the only person you're used to looking out for is CJ."

She was back to staring at her vest scrunched up on her knees. "Yeah, well, I owed you for yesterday. And for CJ."

He didn't stop her as she finished collecting her things and left the rec room. Instead, he watched her disappear into the misty night and wondered how many people she'd ever owed in her life.

His guess was not many.

And, yet...

He didn't want her friendship based on owing each other. No, that wasn't even true.

Yup, it's official, I'm pathetic.

Disgusted with his own train of thought, he layered up and checked the time. He still had twenty minutes before bed check.

He was going to use it.

The rain that had plagued the camp all day chilled Johnny almost immediately, but he no longer cared. He scanned the dark, listened to the night, then sprinted for the beach. The path he and Caz had taken was well-marked, but with the fog, it was just a broken leg waiting to happen. However, now that he knew the way, he let himself go, building up speed until he knew he was just a blur in the woods. When he got to the edge where the trees gave way to brush, he peeled off his vest and jacket, then yanked off his sweatshirt and t-shirt. His skin came alive with gooseflesh, prickling in the cold. He heard the easy crash of the surf as the sand gave way beneath his feet as he quickly pulled off his boots and socks. Jogging out closer to the water, he scanned the beach and inky water before tipping his head toward the sky.

Every sound was amplified.

Every ripple on the ocean and in the stormy clouds defined.

The scent of salt and verdant green filled his nose and lungs as every grain of sand made itself known.

The wings burst free, unfurling from his flesh and bones and back in one quick motion, something still so new that there was a stinging pain as everything settled to where they belonged before he shot himself into the still dripping sky.