The Unclaimed Human Luna
Chapter 28

El POV

No new apartment was given. Logan had come and informed her that until she could behave herself and not upset her mother she would stay where she was. He wanted to see that she was trying to fit in, willing to stay here and make an effort. Though he had allocated her a new suite, it was larger and plusher than the one she was in currently. Not given her a choice as previously mentioned.

He had made a point of showing it to her. She was under the impression that he thought showing her the suite she would get, would change her attitude. It was not in the East Wing either, like him and his most important CEO’s were, but in the middle of the building, down a long hallway to the back of the apartment complex.

It had a large balcony that had a view of the northern woods, he’d told her. He had her walk all the way through it. It was at least three times the size of the room she was in currently and actually had a separate bedroom to her living area. It was nice, she thought to herself. But was not going to be bribed into being nice to him.

It had been three days since their dinner, and she’d wandered about the gated community, hung out with Marlo and his friends when they weren’t off doing summer studies, apparently prep classes for the beginning of their journey into college. Something that Logan expected most of them to do. Attend at least two classes to get used to the University and prep for it.

Though not all of them had to do this, not all of them even had to go and get a degree, some of them just worked right out of school in the kitchen or cleaning department, the laundry department around the community as gardeners and lawn keepers.

She had spent some of her time down by the lake and a day strolling in the woods, though that hadn’t gone down so well, been informed that she really shouldn’t go wandering about the woods. There were wolves roaming out there as well as a few other wild animals.

She knew there were, heard wolves howling during the night sometimes when her window was open, heard them during the day even, though not often. She’d not seen any since that day she’d tried to leave after getting here the first time, but knew they were out there.

She ate breakfast every day in her room and never went downstairs till after 9. This gave Conner plenty of time to go off to university and she didn’t have to see him. She had only laid eyes on him once, since being brought back. She’d been headed downstairs and seen him heading out the front door of the apartment building, had come to a halt and waited till he was gone, before walking the rest of the way down to the foyer.

She was polite and well mannered, hadn’t picked a fight with her mother in three days, pretty much didn’t really see her either, had seen her and Logan kissing at one point and turned and walked in the other direction, did not need to see the two of them like that, it hadn’t been a little k**s, were really l*p locked all leaned up against a wall like two bloody teenagers getting ready to go at it, kind of reminded her of Cordi and Collin.

She was swimming nearly every night in the indoor pool and was trying to prepare herself for that swim across the lake. It was going to be a nightmare to do. The indoor pool was fifty metres long and she was exhausted after just 10 laps, that was only 500 metres, had to really start pushing herself or something. The gym was always busy. There were always guys and girls in there doing weights and cardio.

Not that she joined them, just hit the pool every night at about 11 when it was empty, looked around and found a storage room. There were a few kickboards in there, for teaching the little ones to swim, she guessed, took one back to her room, was likely going to need some sort of floatation device on her long swim.

She’d not ventured out of the community, not even tried to, just sat around in one place or another and talked to Cordi or Xavier when they weren’t busy, though she did note Xavier was more reserved with her than he’d once been. Wondered if he’d met someone, asked him that and he’d not replied for many hours, then simply sent ‘no.’ but that was it. Something was going on with him. She didn’t know what and he wasn’t about to tell her either.

He did ask her nearly daily if she was alright out there in Utah. She’d sent back a yes, she was she supposed. Sat in her room of a night before going for her swim, applying for scholarships to universities, anything and everything, it was very time-consuming, but she needed to do it. Didn’t tell anyone what she was doing, not even Marlo when he asked her why she always retired to her room by 8pm.

Had told him she just liked her space was all, left it at that, he did not need to know she was working on her way out of here once and for all. Started using that black credit card she’d been given to let them think she was willing to stay here, be a part of the family. Knew Logan was tracking her purchases. He’d smiled at her just this morning and stated, “It’s good to see you using the card I gave you.”

She’d used it yesterday down in the town’s café to buy herself lunch and coffee. It was the first time she’d used it, in fact. She had stared at him more than a little annoyed, but then when she thought about it later, could use that to her advantage, if he was tracking her with it, could use it in Logan or wherever she was allowed to go, make it look like she was actively going to be a part of his family. Stay here, like he wanted her too.

Eliza looked at the time. It was nearly three in the afternoon, and she was down by the lake, staring at it. There were a few teens around her here at the lake, some of her newfound friends, the people Marlo had introduced her to, weren’t actually so bad, and they all thought Logan was overbearing at times. Didn’t mind hanging out with her, even when Marlo was off at uni.

The group around her were lazing about, a few of them were openly making out and getting all hot and bothered. She’d wandered off away from the group and heard a few chuckled at her. One guy called out “Just wait till we see you and Marlo like that.”

She’d shaken her head at him, “Not going to happen, we’re just friends.” She’d told him and had seen half a dozen of them laugh at her for it. Rolled her eyes at them and wandered off to let them be. She was not interested in being more than friends with any of them. Marlo knew this, she’d made it perfectly clear to him. Though he was still interested in her, she knew that.

None of them seemed to care about kissing in public, or grinding up against each other for that matter. A few of them even giggled and ran off into the woods. She did not need to be told what for. It was pretty darn clear they were going off to have s*x.

She stepped into the water and waded out till she was waist deep, then dove under and headed off at a casual pace out towards the middle of the lake. This was not going to be a race. No one was really paying her any attention. She knew they wouldn’t be. The group she was with were all couples and their attention was solely on themselves and their significant other.

She swam till she was tired and then rolled over and just lay out there and floated around. It was a cloudy day today, not so hot and the water was nice, but she was willing to bet it was going to be freezing cold during the night, which was when she thought was the best time to get out of here. Leave in the wee hours of the morning, or after everyone had gone to bed.

Was just lazily kicking and moving her hands to keep herself slowly inching her way across the lake, didn’t look to see how far she was, knew even in an hour of swimming she’d barely be 500 metres from the water’s edge, this swim was going to be a nightmare. It took her nearly an hour to swim ten laps in that pool, at the rate she was going it was going to take her a full 12 hours to swim across it.

She stopped and looked back at the water’s edge after a while, and found that no one was paying attention to her. That was good. She continued on her slow journey across the lake. Switched between freestyle and breaststroke. Till she was near unable to swim.

Rolled onto her back and just floated out there. Was going to have to make her way back, turned herself around and did just that, saw the clouds get darker and realised it was going to rain, smiled to herself as the first few drops fell, and splashed on her face, always did like the rain.

Was she realised a very long way from the edge of the lake, it was going to be a long swim back, but that was why she was out here, testing her limits. If she had that kickboard with her, it would be much easier and she could just rest her head on it and kick away for as long as she liked, rest easily without worrying about having to stay afloat.

Rolled over and really struck out for the shore when the rain really started to fall, and the water began to get choppy, had no real choice to. The only problem was she was getting tired herself now, needed to rest and had nothing to do so with. Definitely needed some sort of floatation device for this swim. Felt a large wave of water hit her as the real down pour started, just as she turned her face up to breathe and floundered in the water as she started to cough, nearly choked on the mouthful of water she’d gotten.

Was under the water a moment later, having tried to put her foot down to stand up, to breathe, only to have nothing under her. Nearly panicked as she realised there was nothing there to stop her from sinking. Then she was met with something hard up against her body and then she was above the water and, being moved through the water, felt hands on her and she was being hauled up out of the water, coughed a few times and finally looked up to see who it was, though the heavy rain was hindering her vision she was pretty certain it was Adam looking down at her.

Found Conner looking right at her a minute later, both his hands were on her face, pushing her hair back. She tried to push them away, he was frowning down at her, his eyes moving over her, then she was physically moved from Adams lap. To the front of Conners’ jet ski and felt him sit behind her. She was too tired to argue, then they were off heading back to the shore, was going to get in trouble and she knew it. His whole body felt tense against hers.

She was too darn tired from her swim to really care though, and just leaned back against him with her eyes closed. His body was warm despite it being cold out here. She didn’t even argue with the man handling she got from him, as she was pulled from the jet ski the moment it hit the shore and marched off down the path. Found herself wrapped in a towel and put in his car. She wasn’t the only one in it either. She wiped the water from her face with that towel and found Brayden looking right at her.

“You’re in trouble, do you know that?” He murmured, though he sounded somewhat amused to her.

Closed her eyes and sighed “I was just swimming.” And she had been, testing her limits was all, wasn’t actively trying to do anything. “Just went too far out I guess.” There was no point in trying to argue it.

“In the rain, a storm brewing?”

She heard the car doors open and bang shut, didn’t open her eyes. “It wasn’t raining when I went for a swim, it was sunny.” She told Brayden.

“You could have bloody drowned out there Eliza.” Conner grated out at her, “no one knew where you were,”

“Hmm, they were all making out, so I went for a swim.” It was the truth, didn’t care that he was angry with her. She was too damn tired, to be honest, to really care about anything, and she didn’t want to argue with him either. Was also trying not to argue with anyone.

“She’s tired, Conner, I don’t think she was trying to get away.”

Snorted with amusement, “I can’t swim across the lake,” she murmured, “not that good a swimmer.” It was her plan if she couldn’t get out in her car by herself. But it was going to take a lot out of her, might just have to steel a jet ski, swimming was likely out of the question she now realised.

She could feel several eyes on her, ignored it. Pulled that towel closer around her and wondered how they had found her, didn’t even know they were back from Uni, “how far out was I?” she asked the question as the car started to move.

“To bloody far.” She heard Conner snap “If Marlo hadn’t been looking for you and his friends hadn’t told him the last place, they’d seen you was going into the lake, you could have bloody drowned out there.”

“Hmm, would have solved all your problems with me in one fowl swoop, huh.” She murmured.

“That is not funny, Eliza. I don’t wish you harm.” He muttered.

Didn’t say anything to that. He probably didn’t, had never physically harmed her. He just didn’t want her here was all. Well, she was working on that plan. Would go when she could. “I’m cold.” She murmured and pulled that towel tighter around her.

Found a hand on her forehead. “Might want her to see the doctor, could have swallowed too much water.”

“I’m fine, just cold and tired.” And she was.

Was made to get out of the car and walked into what she could only guess was the private hospital Marlo had told her about. It smelled of antiseptic and was all white tiled floors. “What have we got here?” a woman looked right at her “you must be, Eliza. Nice to meet you.” the woman smiled “I’m Dr Jeanie, what’s the problem?”

“Nothing.” Eliza shook her head. She was a tall woman with blonde curly hair and soft blue eyes, her smile was warm and friendly.

“Near drowning in the lake, please check her over Doc.” It was Conner.

“Alright Conner, your dripping water all over the floor, go put some dry clothes on.”

“Don’t let her leave till I collect her.”

“Alright.” She nodded and waved him away “Now young lady, how do you feel?”

“Fine, I just swallowed like a mouthful of water is all. Don’t even know why I’m here.”

“Come on, let’s check you out. He’s just doing his job. Making sure you’re alright.” Dr Jeanie walked her into an examination room and checked her vitals, listened to her lungs and nodded “You’re all good, not even a temp.”

“Thank you for checking.” Eliza smiled a little at her.

“You look tired though, Eliza.”

“I am tired, it was a long swim. Went out too far.”

“Hmm, alright. You feeling well otherwise?”

“I guess so why?” she nodded.

“No reason, just something I ask everyone around here. I have got some stubborn patients that don’t like to volunteer information, and have to ask the question to get an answer. I do.”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you sleeping well?”

“Not really.” She answered honestly.

“How many hours a night?”

“I don’t know 5 or 6, I guess.

Saw Dr Jeanie frowning right at her now. “And you thought it was wise to go swimming without proper sleep.”

“I didn’t think about it.” and she’d not really thought about how little sleep she was getting.

Saw Conner walk into the room and frowned at him “This is private.” She told him.

Saw him raise an eyebrow at her and heard the doctor chuckle, “Where done here anyway Eliza, I recommend going and having a nice warm shower, then getting something hot to eat and a night’s proper sleep.”

“Thank you.” She nodded.

“Happy to help, Conner, she is fine, just tired from her swim is all. Back to the…apartment with her for rest.”

“Thank you, Jeanie.” He nodded and held the door open for her, then looked at Eliza. “Doctor’s orders let’s go.”

She rolled her eyes at him and walked out, was still wrapped in that towel, didn’t relinquish it, it was warm and fluffy, felt nice on her skin. He took her all the way back to the apartment and inside, Marlo was standing there waiting for her, as were her mother and Logan. G*****d internally as all eyes fell on her.

“I’m fine.” She got out before anyone said anything.