She’s a Mermaid

I paddle back outside after taking a wave to shore. The water begins to feel still. To still. It seems like it’s only been a few minutes since I was surrounded by other guys battling for the same right off the jetty. But now as I look around, I realize I’m the only one out here. Oh well I surf by myself all the time. What makes this so different? What makes today feel so different?

Just as snap back into reality I find myself staring out the back. Why does that wave look so big? Why does it look like it’s getting bigger? Why is it crashing so far out?!! Before I can even attempt to duck dive I’m sucked underwater and straight into the reef. I pull at my leash only to realize that my favorite board is no longer attached to it. I try to swim up but I’m caught on a piece of coral. Don’t panic, my mind scolds but I guess my body doesn’t feel the same way. Just as I’m about to pass out two hands grab my and pull me toward the surface. It’s blurry but I swear I caught a glimpse of something. It looked like a fish but in the prettiest way possible? It was pretty alright. I didn't have much time to look because before I knew it I was losing consciousness.

CHAPTER 2

I wake up next to a pool of water I assume belongs to me. Well I’m not dead I conclude as I become more and more conscious I realize that the humming I’ve been hearing wasn’t coming from the bump forming on the top of my head. I turn around maybe a little fast because I almost passed out again. “Careful” a soothing voice whispers. I look up and see someone. Maybe I am dead, I think as I look into the eyes of a girl. Not just any girl, one with long golden hair and eyes more beautiful than the ocean. As soon as I make eye contact with her she gasps and pours something over my eyes. When I open them again she’s gone. Don’t quote me on this. I was unconscious like five minutes ago, remember?

Chapter 3

“LUCA!” My mother shouts from downstairs as I hit snooze for the millionth time on my alarm clock.

“YOU’RE GOING TO BE LATE!!” She screams from downstairs.

“Can I just skip first!!” I yell

“I SWEAR..” she begins

“CHILL I’m coming!” I cut her off before this gets bad.

I throw on a blue T-shirt and black shorts before slipping into my trusty vans. I look in the mirror for a second. Yep I still have brown hair and a wetsuit tan. After deciding a hairbrush won’t be necessary I ran downstairs.

“Bye mom” I yell while grabbing a bagel and running out the door. Yep I'm going to be late and I still have to pick Wyatt up. At least we have physics together so I won’t be alone.

“Dude you’re kidding me” Wyatt says while hopping into my old ford.

“Not my fault you failed your driving test three times” I respond

“Fair enough” he replies

“What happened to you yesterday” he begins “I got out of the water and didn’t see you”

“I don’t know” I say “I was alone and got sucked into the reef”

“Dude” he over exaggerates

“Ya it was crazy one second I thought I was dead and the next I was on the beach with some girl.. I think” I reply

“What girl” he questions

“I don’t know I can’t even remember what she looks like” I answer

“Ok fine keep this girl all to you yourself” he begins

“But I’m glad you’re alive buddy” he halfway jokes as we pull into the parking lot.

“Ah Mr. Gold and Mr. Maxx it’s nice of you to show up this morning” our Middle Aged science rocks T-shirt wearing biology teacher Mr. Carrie snarks.

“Why thank you Mr. Carrie” Wyatt says innocently as the class laughs

We take our seats and begin to copy down the facts of the day.

We are taking notes on DNA when the class is interrupted by Mrs. Montell, the school principal.

“Ladies and gentlemen I want you all to give a warm welcome to our new student Miss Lana Zale” she says motioning to the girl in the doorway.

“She looks really fam..” I begin

“Hot” Wyatt cuts me off and calls out

“Hey Mr. Carrie there’s a seat right in front of Luca and I for ummmm”

“Lana” she calls from the doorway

“Ah Lana” Mr. Carrie says “come introduce yourself to the class”

“I thought I just did?” She questions and the class laughs

“You’re name ,where your from, something interesting about yourself” Mr. Carrie says while motioning to the front of the room.

If I wasn’t so intrigued by her I don’t think I would have noticed the way she grabbed the desk to help guide her to the front of the class.

“Hi I’m Lana Ray I just moved from Santa Barbara” she says calmly

“Something interesting?” Mr. Carrie questions

“Umm I’ve never gone to a real school before” she says slowly

“Alright well welcome Miss Ray were pleased you chose Point Loma High” Mr. Carrie begins

“And as Mr. Maxx so enthusiastically pointed out there’s a seat at lab table seven right in front of Mr. Gold '' he says while pointing at me. She smiles in a way that makes my heart beat really fast. It’s official, Lana Ray makes me nervous.

“Hi” Lana says as she sits down right across from me

“Why hello Lana” Wyatt says making Lana sound way longer than it is

“Hey” I respond

“You know you look really familiar” I begin “have I seen you somewhere? Maybe the beach?” I continue

I study her reaction and don’t get much of an explanation from her expression.

“I don’t think so” she says “I just moved a few days ago I haven’t been to the beach much yet”

“Oh” I respond

“Maybe somewhere else” she shrugs

“Ya maybe” I reply praying she doesn’t hear the uncertainty in my voice.

Chapter 3

“Dude you know she’s hot” states Wyatt as we walk toward my car.

“I didn’t say she wasn’t I just feel like there’s something up with her” I respond

“Well there’s only one way to find out” he replies

“Wya...” I begin but am cut off by Wyatt yelling “Lana!” Across the parking lot. She turns around and waves then Wyatt calls her over

“Hey guys” she says, her ocean blue eyes sparkling. I used to think green was my favorite color but she’s seriously making me rethink my decision.

“Where are you going” Wyatt says

“I’m just walking home” she responds

“We can give you a ride right Luca?” Wyatt says while elbowing me.

“Thanks but it’s ok” she says

“No no really it’s fine” I say reassuring her

“Are you sure?” she says, looking at me with those blue eyes. Those familiar blue eyes.

“Ya where do you live?” I ask

“Coral street” she responds

“Sick were going that way anyways” Wyatt says

“Ya we have to get our boards before Garbage” I finish for him

“Garbage?” She questions

“It’s a beach break” Wyatt says

“Oh” she responds as we get in the car

Chapter 4

“So do you like the beach” Wyatt says

“Love it” the sunkissed girl responds

“You should come with us” Wyatt says

“I would but I don’t surf” she says

“You can swim though right” I say as we pull up to Lana’s house.

“I uh..” she pauses “no I can’t swim?” She says in a way that doesn’t sound believable.

“Thanks guys I’ll see you tomorrow” she smiles and gets out of the car before walking to the front porch of her house.

“She can’t swim?” Wyatt questions

“Mike Coduel used to live there the whole third story is practically a pool and she’s right on the beach” he continues.

“Weird” I say “maybe she’s learning” I say with optimism.

“Maybe she’s lying” Wyatt says in a skeptic tone

We both shrug it off

Chapter 5

Wyatt’s surfing good today. I can’t really say the same for myself. Every time I look out at the waves or down at the reef I’m reminded of what I can’t remember. I saw something. I saw someone and I think that someone was Lana Ray. It can’t be though she can’t swim.

“Heads up” Wyatt calls from my left

“Woah” I say as I’m forced to duck dive a wave at least a few feet overhead

“I thought it said 3-5 on Surfline” I call to Wyatt

“Weird” he says.

“That wave didn’t even break by me” he continued.

I look around and realize he’s right, the only person who had to duck that wave was me. I turn to look by the rocks and swear I catch a glimpse of hair? before it disappears.

“Did you see that?” I call out to Wyatt.

“See what?” He replies.

“Over by the rocks” I say

“Dude you’re tripping” is his response.

I think he’s right.

Chapter 6

“Shut uppp Luca!!” My annoying ass sister yells from across the dinner table

“Cara! Be nice” My mother scolds.

“What’s that you’re humming sweetie?”

“What?!” I responded “I don’t hum.”

“Ok well you just were sooo” Cara scoffs.

“I guess you’re both deaf” I say while excusing myself from the dinner table and running upstairs.

Chapter 6

“Smack!” “Smack!”

“Huh” I get out of bed

“Luca!!” Wyatt calls quietly from outside

“What” I call down from the window

“Two words” he smirks “Sophia Nickol”

“No way!” I say about to shut the window. There’s no way I’m going to my ex’s

“Come on man everyone’s going” he pleads

“I already told Lana we’d pick her up on the way”

“You told Lana?!”

“Well duh” he says sarcastically “She’s waiting for us”

“Fine I’m coming” I surrender and run downstairs

“I’m coming on one condition” I say as we get in the car

“What?” Wyatt asks as we pull up to Lana’s house.

“You keep me far away from Sophia Nickol”

“Who’s Sophia?” Lana asks while buckling in.

“Luca’s ex girlfriend” Wyatt sing songs

“Really? what’s wrong with her?” Lana asks

“We went out for a while” I begin “until I realized she was a crazy bitch” I answer

“Don’t worry we’ll protect you won’t we Lana” Wyatt says while gesturing to the girl in the back seat

“Oh of course we will don’t worry,” she says while touching my shoulder. I never realized how good she smelt. Like vanilla and sea salt.

Chapter 7

The cops are bound to show up soon, we can hear the party from two streets away. Oh well, guess we’ll just have to make the best of the time we have.

“How were the parties in Santa Barbara Lana?” I ask

“Santa Barbara?” She questions “Oh ya um” she pauses “they were fun”.

“That was suspicious but we like you so well ignore it” Wyatt says

“Wyatt” I snap “sorry he can be a bit blunt, just ignore it” I say and she smiles at me. I smile back.

“Ok now that you guys have had your moment I should

tell you that nothing beats Sophia Nickols house it’s the party of the year” Wyatt says as we get closer to the sound of Sophia’s playlist. .

“OMG you made it” an annoying voice shrieks

Not sure if I already explained this but I really don’t like Sophia.

“Hey guys” she says while hugging Wyatt. I know she’s doing it to piss me off but I don’t care. I prepare myself for an embrace but it never comes. Instead she moves right past me and over to Lana

“Oh my gosh you’re gorgeous” she sing songs

and she’s right I didn’t really have the chance to look at Lana tonight until now. Her golden hair is pulled back into a low bun and she’s wearing a sapphire blue dress that compliments her eyes.

“Oh um thanks you to” she responds in a way that makes me think no ones ever said that to her before.

“Are you guys like a thing” she says in a way that makes me think the answer is going to determine how nice she is to Lana.

“I uh”

“Um well”

“No” Lana finally stutters

I'm starting to feel a bit nervous because I’m beginning to wish we were.

“Lana’s new” Wyatt says

“Oh!! come come I’m going to introduce to people''

“That’s ok I’m fine with Wyatt and lu..”

“No come on” Juli cuts her off

“Bye boysss” Julia says over her shoulder. I watch as she takes Lana away from us. Away from me.

“Well it was fun while it lasted” Wyatt says

“We’re never seeing her again”

“Come on she likes us” I respond

“Well see about that” he says in defeat

I give him a few seconds to pout before we make our way towards the pool.

“What do you want?” I ask him

“Anything strong” he says

“I don’t think that’s going to be available to us” I say motioning towards Sophia and the circle of girls taking shots.

“Shit” Wyatt says

“She’s gonna ruin Lana”

“Maybe she’s really just being nice” I say

“Luca you of anyone should know that there’s nothing nice about Julia except her parties of course”

I have to agree

“But fine we will leave her be” Wyatt says coldly

“Dude she’s going to be fine let’s just keep an eye on her we’re taking her home anyways” I reason

We do our best to keep our eyes on Lana throughout the night. But a few games of bp later Wyatt’s pretty useless and from the looks of it so is Lana. I’m not drinking of course. I have to drive them home.

“Who wants to go swimming!!!” Julia screams

“Swimming?!” Wyatt perks up

Before I even have time to react Julia’s beginning to shove a very beautiful very drunk Lana Ray into the water.

“Hey I” She mumbles

“STOP” I yell “SHE CANT SWIM”

But Julia either can’t hear me or just ignores me as she pushes Julia in. I ran over to the side of the pool but I’m to late. Lana along with the rest of the party is now in the pool. Except Lana’s not in the pool?

“Lana?!” I call

Nothing.

She’s not here.

“Wyatt, where's Lana?!”

“I don’t know” he replies from the water

“She’s gone” I say

“How? she was just..” he looks around “right here”

“Shit”

What am I supposed to do? she’s gone. How do you lose a 17 year old girl?

“Wyatt I’m heading inside to look around”

“K I’ll keep a look out around here”

“Ahh!!” “Dude” Are the responses I get from walking in on Anna Chambers and Mark Smith.

“Oops sorry guys but you know while I’m here have either of you seen Lana?”

“No!! Get out Luca!” Mark yells while Anna points to the door.

“Sorry” I say as I Exit

Chapter 8

“Should we check by her house?” Wyatt asks while we drive home

“Can’t hurt” I sigh

Weird, the only light that's on is upstairs on the story with the pool.

“Maybe she went to sleep?” Wyatt says with absolute uncertainty.

“Let’s check” I say while getting out of the car. We knock but there’s no reply.

“Oh well” I say

But Wyatt twists the door handle and it’s unlocked. We shouldn’t go inside. But…..I want to know she’s safe and I’ve been curious about that third story pool for a while now. Besides, Wyatt's already walking up the stairs.

“Are you coming?” he motions

“Do you hear that?” I ask as we walk up the second flight up stairs.

“Ya shut up this isn’t the time to be humming” he responds.

“No that wasn’t me..I” but I don’t finish because what I see has me utterly shocked. First of all the rumors are true this is a huge pool. Second of all Lana was majorly lying about not being able to swim and third of all she has a tale. I assume Wyatt’s thinking the same thing. My thoughts are confirmed when he yells

“WHAT THE FUCK.”

“Ahhhh!!” Lana screams reaching for a bottle at the side of the pool but she’s too late . Something tells me to grab the bottle and I throw it to Wyatt.

“Give that back!” She exclaims

But Wyatt throws it out the window

“What the hell guys?!” She screams

“Um sorry?” We say in unison

“Wait what no we aren’t” I say

“You..you have..” Wyatt stutters

“A tale” Lana finishes

“A tale you wouldn’t have remembered if you didn’t throw my potion OUT THE WINDOW”

“Oh so you were going to wipe our minds” I accuse.

“Well duh” she says “just like I did at the beach but thanks to your friend over here I can’t”.

“I knew it!!!” I exclaim

“I knew you were familiar”.

“You have a tale?” Wyatt repeats in shock

Chapter 9

“I’m a mermaid,” Lana confesses.

“Well duh” my very inconsiderate best friend responds.

“Wyatt,” I scold.

“I don’t believe this” I finally stutter.

I don’t know why but I lean down to the pool and reach for her tale

“Hey!” She calls

“Can I?”

She held out her tale to me. It’s a dazzling blue color that I can’t quite put into words. The same as her eyes.

“You’re beautiful” Shit! I didn’t mean to say that. I swear she's going to think I’m so weird. But she just looks at me with those dazzling blue eyes and smiles before grabbing my hands and pulling me into the water.

“Hey!” I say as I splash her. I spin her around as she laughs and say “promise not to erase our minds” I beg.

“Ya please” Wyatt calls from the edge of the water.

“Please don’t tell anyone” she responds.

“Never” I swear.

“Cross my heart” Wyatt concurrs.

“Then I won’t erase your memories”.

“Ok then now that we got that over with I guess we'll just pretend this is normal” Wyatt says while cannonballing into the pool.

Chapter 9

“We’re friends with a mermaid! Do you realize how sick that is?” Wyatt exclaims while we head back to my place

“I still can’t believe it” and I really can’t.

Why is she living on land? And why did she show up at the beach at the exact time I went under? There’s so many things I wanted to ask her but I just didn’t feel like it was the right time to do it. Especially because she may or may not have the power to erase my memory for a second time, and this time I don’t think I could handle forgetting her.

“Do you think she’s here for a reason?” I ask Wyatt

“I don’t know, ask her,” he responds.

And I will…. Eventually