Trust Me(2)
Calum's P.O.V
I just finished changing and was heading to the doors when I heard some mumbling in the pool area.
There was Jessica, kneeling near the edge. She looked like she was enjoying the water, even though she said she hates it.
I walked up to her, tapped her shoulder. She shouted and whipped around. It all happened so fast but she slipped and fell into the pool.
"That's the deep end! Your so stupid Calum, now she'll never talk to you!"
I ripped off my shirt and took off my shoes.
"I'm coming for you, Jessica!!!"
I drove into the pool and just hoped that she was fine and not hurt. I saw something long, the colour green and it was moving. As I swam closer, Jessica looked no more like Jessica. Her eyes were aqua blue and her hair was blonde with blue tips.
She still had the top of her uniform on, but the bottom half wasn't there and neither was her legs. There was a scaly green tail moving around.
"Mermaid?!"
She nodded her head and her arm slowly reached towards me.
Was she wanting to shake my hand or hold it? She looked worried and helpless so I grabbed her hand and pulled her out with me. She's a mermaid! Aren't mermaid's great swimmers, if she's a mermaid then why did she need my help getting out of the water?
She flopped onto the edge of the pool and I looked away for a second, wondering what just happened. When I looked back, she was gone. I whipped my head to the side looking to see if she was there, but she wasn't.
I got out and tried to dry myself off. After a while, my clothes were still wet, but I could live with it.
"Calum..."
I looked up to see Jessica back to normal. Her beautiful long brown hair and her dark green eyes staring into mine.
"Oh my gosh. I didn't mean to scare you! Are you ok? Did you have your phone in your pocket? I'm so-"
"It's just like what you saw! I-I'm a mermaid- from the ocean!"
What I saw was real! A mermaid, like from a fairytale! I looked at Jessica and she looked worried. I need to control my facial expressions around her.
"W-why would there be a mermaid here?"
---
"It's hard for you to swim because your tail is so weak."
I sighed.
"We need to build up your strength, so let's keep practicing!"
I nodded my head and took my sister's hands.
We slowly swam together and my other sisters were there cheering me on.
"Go, Jessie! You can do it."
My smile was coming back and I was starting to feel proud of myself. I was almost ready to let go when my tail got a shock through it.
"Owww..."
"Did she practice too much?"
"Are y-you ok Jessica?"
"She's in pain, lets stop here."
"But we only got this far yesterday."
"I-I'm ok sisters.
Cho, the eldest grabbed my hand and we started to swim back home. As we went along, other mermaids were starring.
"That's her, the girl who can't swim."
"Why?"
"She hasn't been able to since birth."
"No way. She must be closer to a sea creature than a mermaid."
"Shhh, she might hear us."
When we got home I pulled myself into a corner behind the cave and curled up into a ball. I silently cried myself to sleep so that no one could hear me.
"I found her!"
I woke up to Cho hovering over me and my other sister's quickly swimming toward me.
2 hours later
"Legs for this girl? I don't think so."
"We have the money right here. So what's the problem?"
"Too young. I can't give a pair of legs to a senseless kid."
"She almost got into an accident with her skilless tail. If she lives on the land with her father, she'll be able to move more freely than down here underwater."
"I get the situation but no means no."
My sister and mother all sighed and started to turn around.
"There is one way. I can give her an 'incomplete' pair of legs instead of a 'complete' pair."
They smiled and swam closer.
"She can live on the land for as long as she wants and can come back into the water, but as a mermaid."
-------
I sat on the land watching my sisters fiddle with their new short hair.
"It's ok Jessica. I'm relieved that we could pay with our hair."
"Don't worry about mommy and sisters, you need to focus on learning to walk with daddy."
He grabbed my hands and I slowly wobbled across the sand with him. I could hear the cheering from behind me.
"Go, Jessica!"
"You're not fully human yet so don't forget to drink lots of water and stay out of the sun for long periods of time!"
They waved goodbye and slowly swam back under the water. I gasped and wobbled over to the water, hoping to go after them. I was pulled back by my daddy and I watched the waves settle down.
--------
"So you can go back to the ocean whenever you want?"
"Yes. I went to the swimming pool because I wanted to see people freely moving around in the water without a care. I'm sorry for embarrassing you in the pool."
Does she want to go back to the ocean? Is that why she kept looking into the pool with sadness in her eyes?
"About my identity..."
"Ah, sure! Don't worry I'll keep it a..."
I gasped.
"WHAT HAPPENS IF YOUR IDENTITY IS REVEALED? DO YOU TURN INTO BUBBLES LIKE IN FAIRYTALES?"
"No. Nothing happens, I don't think. I'm just worried what people will think when they find out and to you, I might look like a monster..."
"Jessica. I'm confused too because I've never experienced anything like this before. But I'll never put you into that kind of trouble. Don't worry you can trust me."
"Thank you, my friend!"
She grabbed my hand and started shaking it.
"Ah, it's nothing"
"Thanks for walking me home."
I nodded my head and watched her walk into her building.
"Wow, jeez."