Chapter 4: Cranky Cousin

"Did you suddenly go deaf, Kayla?" Brianna says as I continue to cook to the sweet sounds of sizzling bacon, eggs, and sausage. I use the spatula to turn the food over and eventually, I dish it out onto a plate for Aiden to eat.

"I'll explain later. For now, Aiden is our guest. He's been through a trauma and needed a place to hang out for a while until he figures out where to stay."

Aiden looks at me and I look back at him. It isn't a lie, but it isn't the truth either. Maybe he isn't in shock that he was banished, it sounded to me like he knew what the risks would be. Perhaps hearing me give permission to stay here is a relief. He doesn't have anywhere to stay as far as I can tell, and judging from his outward appearance he's going to need to go shopping.

"What happened to the blonde friend of yours you were walking with on the beach earlier," Brianna turns and asks Aiden. A question I wish I had thought of myself, but a good one nonetheless.

"He isn't exactly a friend. I was asking him about the beach and was trying to get a job as a lifeguard. I'm a pretty good swimmer and figured I could use the extra income. He told me to come in for an interview in the next few days. But right now, I don't exactly have a lot of money. But I am willing to pay rent if you'll have me."

Brianna's eyebrows raise toward the heavens as an angry expression settles in. She hooks her arm in mine and begins to whisper in a panic.

"So he's living here now? You didn't think to ask me first, Kayla? I wake up to a man in our kitchen and you expect me to just go along with this. I want answers, how long have you been seeing each other? You just had a breakup for Christ's sake. What is wrong with you? You can't even let yourself heal," Brianna says as she begins tugging at my shirt in a half-forceful and half-playful manner.

"No...well... I haven't exactly invited him to live here officially. But he's in a bit of a bind. He's having family issues. We can't just turn him away," I insist as I look back at Aiden. Bri didn't hear his sob story, but I did. Why would he have a reason to lie about being banished?

"Sure we can. Do you want to die? Do you want to get raped in the middle of the night? You know literally nothing about this guy other than his good looks. If he stays, he's staying in the shed out in the back or we can get him a tent," Brianna says as she pushes me with her hand. Our arms are no longer locked, a symbolic gesture of my imagined betrayal.

"But we have a guest bedroom, Bri. He's willing to pay. I don't see what the big deal is. You really are a worry wart, just like your mother before you."

It's true Brianna's mother was a worry wart. She read about all the superstitions and believed every single one of them. She avoided stepping on any cracks in case it would destroy her mother's back. Brianna's mother was known to go to fortune tellers for all the answers. Crystal balls, tarot cards, and witchcraft all had their part to play in her life.

"I know my mother was a little strange. But she had her reasons. And besides her behaviors have nothing to do with our current predicament. You made a decision without me in the middle of the night, to have a man you just met live with us. Can you not wrap your daft head around why am pissed off? Do I have to spill it out for you?"

Aiden turns to leave. He's observed our quarrel for some time now and has probably had enough for one day. I can't say I'd blame him. Brianna is a bit much to handle sometimes. Her reactions aren't always the best and have often hurt someone or another. Her social skills are a bit lacking, especially during our youth. I blame that on the isolation that her parents kept her under. A deep paranoia that the world would mold her into something she wasn't supposed to be. Regardless of who Brianna is, she will always be my friend and I should take her superstitions into consideration if we are ever to move past this.

"No, you don't. I understand. It's a bit much. But the truth is last night, I was awakened by the voice again. It called to me and I followed it toward the ocean."

"You followed the voice again? Jesus, Kayla take some melatonin and get a good night's rest for once in your damn life. Your parents aren't out there. Your grandfather isn't out there. The only family you have left now is me."

Brianna and I recently found out that we are third cousins on my father's side through some distant relationship named Uncle Bobbin. Allegedly he was an infamous lobster fisherman. She might be right, she might be the only living cousin or relative I have. The fact that we are able to afford this shack of a house on the seaside is testimony to the will my parent's left behind.

The will kicked in six months ago when my parents were declared dead by the coast guard. They searched for Grandpa Jerry and my parents and their bodies were never found. Perhaps Poseidon really did steal their souls and force them to live out their days as sea maids.

"I know, Bri. It's not that simple. I followed the voice and this time it wasn't singing nonsense. It was singing actually words. It wanted me to follow it into the sea, but Aiden convinced me otherwise. He told me the sea maids are dangerous. So I listened and he told me about his banishment."

I instantly cover my face. I wasn't supposed to reveal Aiden's banishment to Bri. However, it might win Aiden brownie points and might be the pivotal reason that she lets him stay in our seaside shack of a house.

"You're banished?" Brianna asks finally addressing Aiden as if he hasn't been here this whole time. Her lack of social skills today is completely mind-blowing.

"Yes, we can talk about that later. So am I allowed to stay?" Aiden asks while getting to the point. He takes three more slices of bacon and flashes a flirtatious grin in our direction. The type of grin that cheesy movie stars flash before the camera to show off their glory.

"Yes, Aiden you can stay. After you get the lifeguarding position. Until then have fun sleeping in the shed out in the back," Brianna yells and tosses a hammock in his direction. Brianna can be a softy when she wants to, but that cheesy smile wasn't meant for Brianna. She's as tough as nails on the outside, but at her core, a peach plum exists with an ambition to do the right thing if need be.

Brianna picks up a broom and begins sweeping the front porch. As for me, I continue cooking and start a pot of coffee. It's clear that after this morning, I am going to need an entire pot myself to make up for not sleeping and compromising with Brianna. Aiden's smile convinces me though, that I've made the right choice regardless of what my cranky third cousin has to say about it.