Sereia's POV
"Thanks for coming in to help Sereia," William gratefully spoke. "We need all hands on deck with this storm that is heading our way."
"It's no problem," I told him as I helped to peel the potatoes.
It was better than torturing myself in the dark.
Dad's funeral was set for two days from now and I was anxious.
This will be the last time I get to see him and have a final goodbye.
"I don't know what is up with Chicago and these storms this season," he said. "Never use to be like this."
"Global warming," I simply said and he laughed.
"Ah, you finally made it!" William exclaimed with a wide grin and when I turned around to see who it was, my heart stopped.
It was Elliot, and the anger radiating off him was unmistakable.
His jaw was clenched tight, and his eyes burned with a fury that sent a shiver down my spine.
The lighthearted atmosphere of the room vanished instantly, replaced by the weight of his seething presence.
I wanted to say something, to break the silence that stretched between us, but the intensity in his gaze pinned me in place.
"Take my place since you two work well together," William instructed him. "I'm going to help someone else. Chop, chop!"
When William walked out, Elliot sighed as he rolled up his sleeves.
He washed his hands before coming to stand beside me to peel William's remaining potatoes.
I kept my head down as I felt the tension thickening the air between us.
My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the unspoken words hanging between us.
I could feel his silent anger radiating like a physical force beside me.
The urge to speak, to say anything that might diffuse the situation, an apology.
However, I feared that whatever I said would only make things worse.
So I stayed silent, hoping that by not meeting his eyes, I could somehow avoid the inevitable confrontation.
I felt so guilty.
All I'd done was constantly lie to him.
I even lied about my feelings for him not being real when I knew that they definitely were.
The way how my mind has constantly thought about him since the day he cut ties with me.
I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but nothing would out.
My eyes eventually landed on his ring finger, he's not wearing his wedding ring anymore.
He finished peeling the potatoes quicker than I expected and began to walk away.
I immediately held his arm, not wanting to miss out on the opportunity of speaking to him.
I'll be in Maine soon and I'll never see him again.
"I'm sorry," I told him sincerely. "I'm sorry for hurting you."
He took a step closer towards me as his face grew angrier. "Keep your apologies."
"Please Elliot," I pleaded. "If you would just let me explain-"
"I know enough," I glared at myself before walking out of the kitchen.
I blinked away the tears which built up from his intimidating glare as I picked up the last potato.
He hates me, I get that.
But if only he could just give me a chance to express how sorry I feel.
I finished up the last potato before heading outside to see what else William needed help with.
Elliot was already helping to organize the cots.
A loud thunder striked and I flinched from the unexpected sound.
When my eyes returned to Elliot, he was already watching me.
We were exchanging glances in the crowded shelter.
I'm sorry my eyes tried to communicate to him.
I hate you his eyes responded.
Suddenly, he forced himself to look away from me.
"Sereia!" William shouted my name as he looked at his check list.
"What can I do for you, William?"
"I need you to set up a bed for them," he explained as he pointed at the two little girls behind him. "Said they ran away from their group home. The police said they'll come pick them up in the morning."
My heart broke when I saw their muddy, barefeet. These girls couldn't be any older than eight or so.
"Would you two like to take a shower?" I asked them and the older one immediately nodded.
I stretched out my hands to them and they held them, although hesitant at first.
I grabbed all the necessary supplies and some clean clothes that should be able to fit them before guiding them to the showers.
After they were all dressed in clean clothes, I grabbed a towel and dried their soaking wet hair.
"So what are your names?" I asked them.
They stayed quiet before the older one decided to answer. "I'm Riley and she's Mia."
I smiled. "Wow, those are really cute names. I'm Sereia."
Riley smiled back at me while Mia hid behind her older sister.
They kind of reminded me of Violet and I.
The only difference was that Violet would be the one standing behind me.
When I was finished drying their hairs, I headed to the section that William said I could set up their beds.
"So how old are you girls?" I asked in a loud tone as the rain tried to overpower me.
"I'm eight and Mia's six," Riley answered and I smiled at her when we reached the area.
My smile dropped when I saw him spreading blankets on two beds.
He turned around and put a smile on his face when he saw them. "Are you girls ready for bed?"
Both of their eyes widened.
"Is that for us?" Riley asked and he nodded.
"Yes, I think I'm too big to fit in this bed," he said and she laughed.
I found myself smiling but quickly shut it down when I remembered his kindness was not directed at me.
Another thunder struck and Mia flinched.
"Are you perhaps scared of the thunder?" I asked her and she hid behind her sister even more.
"It's ok," I comforted her. "I'm afraid of thunder too."
She slowly but surely began to reveal herself to me.
I could feel Elliot's eyes drilling into skull as I admitted my fear of thunder, but I ignored him and focused on Mia.
I smiled. "How about we sleep right next to each other tonight? You and Riley can prevent me from getting scared while I do the same for you."
She pointed at Elliot. "Can he stay?"
I watched her in shock because this was the first time I'd heard her speak.
We looked at Elliot and he nodded to them with a smile.
I took Riley while Elliot took Mia and we tucked our girls into bed.
"Are you our mommy and daddy?" Mia asked us as she blinked slowly.
Elliot and I both looked at each other before I spoke for us.
"We're not."
"Well, can you be?" she asked and I struggled to find the right words to answer her.
"You two deserve a mommy and daddy that love each other and are an actual couple," he told her. "We aren't that couple, so hopefully they will find you a real couple who deserves you, okay?"
She nodded as she yawned.
He gently brushed her hair. "Good night, Mia."
"Good night Daddy for tonight," he said to him and he smiled.
He turned to Riley. "Good night, kid."
She smiled brightly. "Good night, mister."
When they both fell asleep, he got up and started walking away.
I got up too and followed behind him. "Elliot."
He halted and turned to me.
The calm expression on his face for a minute had now turned into a glaring one. "What?"
"Can we just talk?" I asked. "Please."
"No, I told you that I don't ever want to see you again," he said. "Don't show up here again."
"Where is all this mean behaviour coming from?" I asked him feeling completely blinded.
"The moment I found out you betrayed me."