Jess

I love him. I'd been saying it for so long, and now as I truly thought about the words I realized I did not love Aaron. What I feel for him is so much more than that. He is my everything. And now he wants to be a monster to be with me. Aaron will give up his family and all hopes of being a normal human because he wants to spend eternity with me. And he has done so much for me, I suppose if this is what he wants...I have to give it to him.
I stood and opened my door and walked down the hallway of the academy. My steps clicking against the floor and resonating off the stonewalls. Somehow, they seemed louder now. And the hallway seemed brighter. I did not stop at his door I just went straight in, and as I saw him sitting on the edge of his bed my eyes went straight to his hands and I saw what he was staring at, my ring. I wanted to cringe but I held it back. He did not look up or even acknowledge me. He was still very angry. I stepped forward snatched the ring from his fingers and his head snapped straight up, he was about snarl something but I shushed him.
I held the ring over my finger cautiously, "Now Aaron you know I love you more than life itself," I slid the ring over my ring finger. "And I will agree to do this for you, but not until we're out of high school and I can drink legally." I had two years then.
He stood; he was silent as his head hovered over mine. He grasped my fingers and brought them to his lips, "As long as this ring stays on your finger, you will promise to marry me on your twenty-first birthday and never leave me." I nodded.
He dropped my hand and sat back down on the edge of his bed. I sat on the ground and rested my head his knee. I knew he was smiling now. Aaron loved to smile, especially when he got his way. He slid down onto the floor next to me, and he tilted his head and kissed me. He kissed me as if we'd been apart ten years. Even when he knew, it had barely been ten minutes. He kissed me like a thirsty man in the desert. He kissed me this way and only I know why.

I sighed, as Aaron and I broke apart. "I don't want to fight anymore."

Olivia

Staring down at the pool I wanted to cry, I wanted so bad to simply jump in and let loose my fins. Of course, it would feel wonderful better than my bath tub but still no comparison to the sea. The salty air called to me even now. I could feel my fins bristle almost on my legs. I sighed. But I'll never be able to share it with Cooper. I thought to myself.

Cooper would never know my pain. He'd never know how much it hurt to be separated from the sea. The sea would always be apart of me, a part he could never be involved in, it was something he'd never be able to understand. He'd miss out on so much.  I ran the bottom of my big toe along the water and allowed the skin change to scales. It felt so good. I stepped back from the pool, took a breath, and a running head start into the water. As my body entered, the water and it encased my body. My scales rippled from my legs as they became one and it felt so good to be free. I sighed and let the bubbles escape my mouth.

I just began to float when I heard as another person jumped into the pool. Before I even tried to recognize the person, my legs had reformed. I looked to the person who had just joined me and realized it was Cooper instantly and that he was still completely clothed. He swam toward me and embraced me. I began to yank at him because I knew he needed air soon. But he shook his head and before I could protest, further, his lips met mine and I clasped myself closer to him. My legs wrapped around Cooper because at this moment I never felt closer with him. And I finally felt that my war between choosing the sea and Cooper was over. I don't want to fight anymore, I thought. Because now I didn't have to fight. I was free. And as we floated to the surface I whispered, "I love you," to Cooper. Because I truly knew that I loved him more than anything.

Abby

I screamed. "Noo!" I sobbed as the images flashed through my mind. Death. Death was everywhere in my mind. Screams of terrors coming from Jess and Olivia as flames encased them. They cried their goodbyes, to Cooper and Aaron who Derek and I had to restrain. Everything was silent. Aaron fell to his knees before me. Cooper ran off and smashed into the trees. "No..." Aaron sobbed silently.  "She died before but, I can't take this twice. She finally agreed and now this." He looked up to the sky. "I take it back! You don't have to marry me I'd do anything to have you back. Or to have back these past weeks." He wept openly.  And I turned to see Derek and before my eyes, I saw him struck down. I screamed and ran to him but it was too late. He was gone and the flames swept away the forest, and everyone I cared for was dead. My cheeks wet with the tears I blinked quickly as the scene around me spun the torment the pain. And Derek was simply gone, forever. I was utterly alone.

I screamed and sat up straight in my bed, clutching my sheets to my chest. I was in a cold sweat. My voice echoed against the walls. I jumped off my bed and ran to my door to Derek; I knew had seen what I had just seen and I needed him. But just as I stepped out my legs stopped and I dropped to my knees and my tears sped. Awful sensations befell me, and I sobbed into the hardwood floor. I didn't want this! I don't want this. "Ahh!" I sobbed. I heard in the distance the slamming of doors and hoarse shouts. And finally, a warm hand on my back.

"Abby, Abby it's not true it'll be okay. They're still here." He told me. I clutched onto him and simply let him hold me.

"The images, the images were so awful. Derek..." I was quiet and I thought over and over. I never wanted this. No, I had never wanted to fight. Nothing good ever came from fighting. I don't want to fight. "I don't want to fight anymore." I whispered to his chest.

"Abby, we can't...." I put a finger to his lips.

"No, I refuse to fight any longer. I will not fight this any longer. I will not fight the darkness. Fighting hasn't worked maybe something else will." I stared at him with my red watery eyes. "I don't want to...fight anymore." My voice cracked and my tears began to come faster as I remembered those horrible images. "Don't leave me," I cried. "Please don't leave me." I sniffed and he rocked me back and forth in his arms.

"I love you." He said.