Poison Rose of Avalon

Having relished their aromatic grilled feast, Liora and Daran sank back against their picnic blanket, stretching their legs out lazily before them, their fingers digging into the soft fabric for support. As they relaxed, they turned their attention toward the beach volleyball court, where laughter and shouts rang out like music.

The guys took off their shirts, exposing their sun-kissed skin as they slipped into their shorts. Each movement shows off the toned muscles that tensed and flexed with every play.

The girls, radiant in their vibrant bikinis, joined the fray, their laughter ringing out like chimes that filled the air. Every dive and leap was met with playful shouts and cheers, drawing the attention of nearby sunbathers.

"Daran," Liora called, drawing his attention. "It's been such a long time since I've seen people enjoying themselves like this," She remarked, voicing her thoughts. Her eyes were glued to the game, and her expression mix of fascination and delight.

"This is also my first trip without my parents," she added, her tone carrying both wonder and hesitation.

Each player was entirely wrapped up in the thrill of competition. The guys lunged for the ball, sending sand flying with every dive. The girls, full of energy, showcased their agility, spiking the ball effortlessly and drawing cheers from the crowd.

"I wanna take you out." Daran words had come out of nowhere, pulling Liora's attention from the game.

Liora turned to him and her eyebrows raised in curiosity. "As in?"

Daran grinned widely. "After school, we could hang out, you know? Just enjoying ourselves and do all the things people our age do."

Liora's face instantly lit up, the corners of her lips curling into a smile that radiated excitement like a dazzling firework in the night sky.

Years had passed since she had spent time with her age group after their busy school schedule. Since turning ten, her routine had been heading home from school and back again.

Although Dane and Amara took her out on weekends, their age difference made those outings feel different from the carefree adventures the others experienced. She was a stranger to the simplest pleasures of sharing laughter and making memories with friends.

Now, Daran's proposal sparked a glimmer of possibility, infusing her day with more brightness and hope that she had felt missing for ages.

"Would you really do that?"

"Of course!" he replied with a huge grin, pulling out his phone with a playful flourish.

"But first, do me a favour and dial your number into this beauty. I can't let my phone suffer for missing your number any longer."

He extended the phone toward her, a playful twinkle dancing in his eyes, inviting her towards a genuine connection.

Liora laughed a bit sheepishly. "Oh, right. Sorry, Daran. I'm terrible at picking up on these things."

With Daran's name now added to her sparse contact list, bringing the total to five, she had felt oddly proud before returning her attention to the game.

Around the court, students cheered for their friends while others enjoyed the show. It wasn't just about the game; it was a theatrical display, a chance to impress, to flirt, to show off their status, flaunting toned bodies and confident smiles.

Daran gently nudged Liora's shoulder, interrupting her thoughts. He certainly wasn't paying attention to the game or the beautiful curves; instead, he turned to her with a cheeky grin.

"Let's go."

"Where?"

Standing, Daran had extended a hand toward her. "Swimming. Come on, it'll be fun."

She hesitated momentarily, placing her hand in his and rising to her feet.

Her eyes darted away as uncertainty flickered across her face. Clearly, something was troubling her.

"What if I told you I don't know how to swim?" she said softly.

Unlike others, she wasn't as upbeat, possibly because she never really had the opportunity to be. Aside from running, she rarely engaged in anything else and swimming had never been her favourite since childhood.

For this trip, her mother insisted on packing the swimsuit in her bag, just in case she ever needed it.

A surge of anxiety wrapped over Liora. She has one friend at school who is genuinely engaged with her, and today, she fears she might lose that connection because 'she is not fun enough.'

"Would… would you not want to be friends anymore?" The vulnerability in her voice lay bare.

Liora needed more confidence in herself. She watched her schoolmates forge friendships while she remained isolated. It wasn't that she hadn't made an effort; it was as if her attempts went unnoticed, leaving her feeling invisible.

Deep down, she believed that she was missing something essential that made others hesitant to associate with her.

Caught off guard by her silly question, Daran wondered where that thought had even come from.

"Silly! Did I ever give you such an impression?" he replied, rolling his eyes. "We can simply enjoy the water together, and if you'd like, I can teach you how to swim."

Liora lifted her gaze to meet his, searching for any trace of disappointment in his eyes. Instead, she found a bright spark of enthusiasm, and slowly, a tentative grin spread across her face as she nodded.

"I should warn you—I might be hopeless." Her tone suddenly came back to life.

"I have got you covered, girl." Daran winked.

On the volleyball court, Donovan leapt into the air with a powerful spike, the ball flying over the net. As soon as his feet touched the brown, shaded sand, his attention shifted unexpectedly to Liora, who was walking away with Daran.

His expression remained unreadable, though the slight clench of his jaw and the faint crease between his brows hadn't gone unnoticed by Kai and Logan.

Back at her tent, Liora discovered two unoccupied beds and no signs of other's luggage or belongings.

"Is the entire tent just for me?" she whispered, her brow knitting in confusion.

While returning to her tent, she scanned the campsite, where other students were pairing off, chatting, and unpacking their bags. She had thought everyone would have a roommate, someone to share their tent with, but here she was—entirely alone.

Her tent stood far from the occupied tents, its flap gently swaying in the breeze. She glanced toward the nearby tents and noticed they all seemed empty.

An uneasy feeling prickled at the back of her mind. 'Did the teacher make a mistake?' she wondered, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the strap of her bag.

But the truth hit her quickly. 'It's probably because the other didn't want to share the tent with me. Am I that terrible to be around with?' It tugged at her heart. Her eyes began to well up.

She posted a forced smile, putting the thought aside. No, she would allow such a notion to spoil her mood. She is going to focus her time enjoying alongside Daran rather than sulking all the time, she told herself.

She rummaged through her backpack until her fingers brushed against her swimsuit. She pulled it out—a sleek, black, asymmetrical one-piece with daring cutouts that revealed soft, smooth skin along the waist.

As she changed, a flush of embarrassment crept up her cheeks. She hadn't worn a swimsuit since she was a child. And her wardrobe was unlike that of others; it was very modest and very comforting over fashion.

Now, at fifteen, the thought of standing in a swimsuit out in a sea of bikinis had filled her with doubts.

'Would Daran think it was ridiculous?' The thought gnawed at her, making her want to back out entirely about learning to swim at fifteen.

Her phone rang, breaking her thoughts. She quickly picked up the call.

"Hey, how's your trip going?"

She was expecting Daran, but the voice that reached her ears was unmistakable - Caspian.

Her grip had tightened around the phone. "Why are you calling me?" she had asked bluntly.

Caspian's tone faltered. "Is something wrong? Did I… disturb you?"

"Shouldn't you be busy? ...With your girlfriend?" she had snapped. "Or should I be grateful you've spared me a few moments between your dates?"

Her words had come out harsher than intended, but the bitterness she'd felt at seeing that Instagram post had rolled forward.

Caspian was stunned into silence before finding his voice back. "Wait—did... you see the picture on Instagram?" His voice held a note of panic.

Her chest had tightened at the mention. "Oh, I'm sorry, CASPIAN! Maybe I shouldn't have. Let me delete my account so I won't intrude on your perfect life," she had snapped again, the words tumbling out before she could stop them.

"No, Ora, wait!"

"DON'T CALL ME." She wanted to end the conversation, even though deep down, she knew she would regret it soon afterwards.

"She's not my girlfriend—she's a friend. She wanted to make her ex jealous. That's all. I swear." His words poured out in a rush before Liora could hit the end-call button, making her pause in her action.

'Where has his delicate and innocent Ora disappeared to? What has this woman done to her?'

Caspian wondered, grappling with how this new version of Ora had filled him with panic.

'Panic?' He struggled to understand how Liora could stir such a sense of desperation within him, compelling him to justify himself in mere seconds. He hoped his explanation would soothe her, melt her and surprisingly, it did.

It took her a few moments to realize how presumptuous she had been regarding Caspian. As her anger began to fade, she recalled the kiss, how that woman's lips had nearly brushed against his in the picture, and her perspective shifted once again.

"Maybe I should ask Daran what a warm kiss feels like; probably experiencing it firsthand could be more enlightening," she said aloud, half to herself and half as a challenge, her tone laced with provocation.

"You are lucky," Caspian replied, his tone disturbingly calm, devoid of the tension she expected, which left Liora perplexed.

"Lucky to be kissed by Daran?" Her question slipped out before she could stop herself. A wave of disbelief and anxiety crashed over her. Did he really feel nothing for her? Was this his way of telling her that any hopes she harboured were futile?

"You would have died twice by now." Caspian's voice darkened. His grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned white. "You are... really lucky I'm not there right now." He emphasized each word.

How could she? Liora, his sweet, maddening Ora, even daring to suggest something so absurd. He clenched his jaw, swallowing the raw fury he bit down on the inside of his cheek to keep from exploding.

'If it weren't for Daran being the last connection keeping you from loneliness, I'd have made sure that boy vanished without a trace long ago. And now, you....., Ora, dare to invoke his name to taunt me?'

Caspian knew Liora's words were hollow, thrown out in a moment of frustration, but any rationality flew away when it came to her.

Liora was his. From the moment he first laid eyes on her, he'd known. No one else had the right to touch her, make her smile, and bask in her presence. She was his orbit, and anyone who dared to rival him within it was a threat.

After a long stretch of silence, Liora let out an awkward, sheepish laugh, her confidence faltering. "Oh… so… so were you jealous?" she asked hesitantly, her voice shaking slightly.

"Jealous?" Caspian repeated her word, his teeth grinding as he struggled to control his fuming rage.

He scratched his side temple and let out a sharp breath, steadying himself.

"Not nearly as much as you, Ora," his tone softening. The intensity in his voice shifted to something gentler, almost tentative.

"Ora, no other girl interests me besides you."

The words hit Liora like a sudden rush of cold water. Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she couldn't process what he'd just said.

'Did...did he mean what I think he meant?' Her heart began to race, a mixture of disbelief and hope flooding her chest. Her thoughts scrambled as a wave of warmth spread through her.

"My gal is fiercely possessive!" Caspian's voice carried the edge of amusement. A slow smirk spread across her face.

'My gal? Did he just call me his?' the thrill of Caspian's words sent a surge of excitement in her veins. Rolling over the cosy mattress in sheer delight, she smiled ear to ear.

"Will you take a similar selfie with me?"

The question seemed innocent, but Liora's stomach churned at the thought of it. Her brow furrowed, and the joy that had been building inside her seemed to vanish.

"No, I won't do that... I refuse to... I can't go along with what you did with other girls," she said firmly, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice.

Call it selfish, but she wanted to be Caspina's first and expected the same in return.

Another silence settled between them, filled with unspoken words.

′Did my words hurt him? Is he mad at me? Did I make a mistake?′ Liora's heart thudded heavily in her chest, and as the silence stretched, her mind raced with confusion.

Just moments ago, she was lost in joyful movements on the mattress, but now she's entirely still. Not a single part of her body dared to move as if she feared Caspian might suddenly snap at her and end the call.

"Ora, I will keep that in mind."

Liora breathed a sigh of relief; Caspian wasn't angry with her. In fact, he still wanted her in his life. This news was like a breath of fresh air for her.

Okay," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. Joy threatened to swell her heart, but she kept it at bay.

"Ora?"

Her heart skipped another, his voice pulling her back into the moment. He kept calling her name over and over today, and with each repetition, butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

She felt like a leaf caught in a gust, swept along by a rush of emotions, unsure of where it might lead.

"Yes?"

"I don't care how this sounds," Caspian continued, "keep yourself covered."

Liora blinked, trying to process every single word he spoke. His request felt more like an order, commanding, yet something about it was almost intoxicating.

Why did it sound like dripping honey in her ears, sweet and alluring, despite the underlying authority? Liora pondered. She looked down at the swimsuit she was wearing, a revealing cloth.

"Call me old-fashioned, but that's how I feel. The thought of anyone daring to even glance your way is unsettling to me," he added with a declaration that showed the depth of his twisted emotions, and Liora silently listened.

"It would really get to me, Ora. You understand what I am saying, right?"

The strain in his voice was impossible to ignore. It was as if something dark and relentless was clawing at him from just below the surface, begging to be acknowledged.

"Your words are like a carved fate. I will follow every word of it." Her simple response was intentional, and she wished to ease his tension with her reassurance words.

Liora had no idea Caspian could be this overzealous. Rather than taking control of her own choices, she found herself wanting to please him and make him happy.

"Be a good doll, my beautiful Ora. And if you can't sleep tonight, call me!" Caspian's voice softened, and the call ended abruptly, leaving Liora in a daze.

Standing near the ocean, Caspian looked at the waves, a small, satisfied smile tugging at his lips. He had made his claim and ensured that Liora would remain his.