A little while before that

SUN. IT BEAT my back and curled around my sweaty arms as the ball hit my fists. The volleyball flew into the air, and me and my teammate watched as it flew higher and higher.

The sun blinded our vision, and we looked down to see the yellow, white and pink ball fall into our opponent's court.

Jett wiped his hand on his brow, moving to the right and diving to catch my throw. My best friend bumped into his teammate, a dark haired guy I'd invited for the sole purpose of setting up with Jett, and the two tumbled into the sand.

The ball landed onto the ground with a soft thud beside them.

Silver hair glimmered under dark hair, and the two rolled to the side, spitting out sand.

I barked a laugh before looking at my teammate, a girl who Jett had invited for the same purpose I'd invited his teammate. It was a game. Every time we came to the beach, we'd invite a random person and set the other up while playing a game of volleyball. The woman he'd picked was nice, but I just didn't feel that connection.

Me and the woman, who's name I'd learned was Amara, silently shared a look.

She coughed into her fist and hid a laugh, not as obvious as I was.

I leaned in close to her, still keeping an eye on Jett and the guy and whispered, "Can we ask them to get a room?" This wasn't the first time the two had accidentally fallen onto each other.

She let out another cough and cleared her throat before whispering back, "God forbid they're alone."

"I think that ship already sailed," I chuckled before leaning back.

Amara was a nice woman, and pretty.

Really pretty.

With long, wavy hair and upturned eyes she was stunning.

But I wasn't looking for anyone right now, and wasn't about to start. I'd only relented because of tradition, and I was glad I had.

Jett and the guy had been flirting ever since they set eyes on each other three hours ago, and he'd been complaining about being single for the past... Seven months? It could've been eight, but I wasn't so sure.

"So I'm feeling really sweaty, wanna take a dip in the sea?" I glanced at Amara and twisted my lips into a smile.

She smiled back and looked down at her phone. Her eyes turned larger and she quickly stuffed it into her pocket. "Shit," She muttered, pushing her feet into her sandals. "I'm really sorry, Issa, but I've gotta go." She bent down, picked up her beach bag, and ran across the sand without another word.

"Uh, okay, BYE!" I called out, but she was already a small dot in the distance.

That girl could sprint.

I looked back at Jett and his 'friend.' They had gotten off the sand and were now talking animatedly with each other.

I smiled.

Jett deserved someone nice. Not that I wasn't one, but someone nice romantically.

A cry split the air in two, and I glanced to my left to find a girl curled over her leg.

My feet kicked up sand as I jogged to her.

Was she hurt? Did she have parents? Did no one else hear her scream?

I had to help her, save her.

The girl's face was hidden behind her long, black hair. She silently sobbed as she clutched her left leg, in small breaths that sounded too familiar.

Bending down, I reached a hand out to bring her hair back from her face. "Hey there, are you okay?" My voice turned softer, more smoother.

I moved her hair behind her ear and stared at her tiny face.

My face.

I stared at my brown eyes, my straight nose and thin lips. My eyebrows were furrowed, and the frown on her, my, face faded to a smile. It showed all my teeth, lips stretching across olive skin. Her eyes started tearing up as her smile continued to stretch off her face.

Not again, not again, not again.

"STOP," I screamed at the girl. I grabbed her by my delicate shoulders and shook them. Shook me.

But she didn't stop smiling, she continued to smile until it reached her ears. Blood dripped from her mouth, staining her teeth red.

"Y–" Her face shifted into a woman's face. A villain's face, the person who I vowed never to grow into. It then faded to a man's face, one that had haunted me ever since I turned six.

"MOMMY," The girl sobbed. She clawed at my hands trying to pull away. Her face wasn't mine anymore. It wasn't the woman's or the man's. It was hers.

She had thin blonde hair and hazel eyes, eyes that were tearing up.

"Oh my god, I am so sorry." I let go of her, hands shaking and mind reeling.

A woman who looked just like the girl raced toward her, bending down and scanning her for any signs of hurt.

I hadn't hurt the kid. She only had a small bruise on her ankle, from where she'd fallen.

"You psycho." The mother spat before dragging her kid away.

"I only wanted to help," I tried to call after her.

I only wanted to help the kid, it wasn't my fault she'd started shape shifting.

I only wanted to be the good person. She had heard her daughter scream, and she didn't come.

She left her daughter there, crying and hurt.

I had only wanted to do what she couldn't do.

It wasn't my fault.

Something brushed my shoulder.

No.

It couldn't be her again.

Couldn't be him again.

I twisted and slammed my left fist into her face. His face.

No, Jett's face. It was Jett, and he swore as he cupped his cheek. "Damn, Narissa. It's just me."

I knew he knew whenever he used my name. Not my nickname, Issa.

"Shit, I'm so sorry, J." I bent up to examine his cheek.

No, I wasn't supposed to hit good people.

"No, it's fine, Issa." His blue eyes flashed in understanding, and a small part of me cracked. He was the only person who understood me, why I acted like I did.

Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair. "What happened this time?"

"H– Her face. It– It changed." He knew how it had changed.

It happened so many times I should've expected it. Not specifically with children, just with people.

He leaned in closer and wrapped his arms around me, rubbing my back. I leaned into the hug and blew out a breath. "The doctor said it would've stopped, that it should've stopped."

"I know, Issa, I know."

"Fucking unfair." I cursed before straightening. I went rigid, and pulled away as I spotted something in the sea. "What happened to the brunette?"

"He said he went to get drinks," Jett narrowed his eyes.

"Really? Because I can see him making out with some blonde in the ocean," I pointed to the two, and Jett followed my finger.

To where he floated in the surf, mouth glued to another woman.

"Bitch," Jett curled his hands into fists, seething. "The little fuck had a girlfriend the whole time and decided he wanted to play me."

"Shit."

We both stayed silent for a long time, watching as the waves raced over them, running to the sand before they ran back to the sea.

"That woman deserves better." He said quietly before he stormed through the sand. The wind blew his hair, ruffled it as he charged towards the couple.

I agreed with him, yes. But this was his battle, not mine.

He trudged through the water and tapped on the brunette's shoulder. The man spun around, shock lining his face.

And then Jett's fist flew into it.

The girlfriend clapped a hand to her mouth, and watched as blood dripped from her boyfriend's nose.

Jett stared apologetically at the woman, mouth moving as he spoke.

I shifted a little closer.

I couldn't hear anything from here.

Her face turned from shock to hurt, then to absolute rage as she slapped her 'boyfriend' in the face.

It was safe to assume that he was now an ex.

A wave washed over them, curled over their bodies and dragged them down.

The girl rose.

The ex rose.

Jett didn't.