Aqua Waters | ✔

Seventeen

"Can I talk to you?" I heard his voice after a knock sounded on the door. I didn't want to let him in, but his voice was so soothing and comforting. I feel trapped in the sound, before heading to the door to open it. I'd almost forgotten I was still wearing the blanket from the living room, I quickly took a seat on my bed, pulling the sheets around my body to further cover myself. Gage sat on the edge of my bed staring at me, his eyes full of sorrow.

"Don't," I mumbled, I wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone else's hurt right now. My entire life had changed, they can't expect me to just let them pile their feelings on top of everything I've been through. Gage was silent like he was trying to figure out what to say. His eyes dancing over my exposed collarbones before bouncing back to my face. My hair was probably a mess and I didn't even want to think about my mascara situation.

He leaned forward, letting out a sigh like he had something serious to tell me, something that he was rethinking at this very moment.

"Do you want to get out and do something sometime?" Something that doesn't have to deal with this whole mermaid thing?" I cocked my head as soon as the words left Gage's mouth. In the midst of everything was he really still asking me out? I wasn't the girl boys wanted to date, let alone a boy who knew about my secret. My body shivered with confusion waiting for an answer to pop through my head. What if Sammy liked him? I hadn't even had a free moment with her since we met him, he took over every aspect of my life. I shook my head, this wasn't the right time. He was stunning and everything I searched for in a man, compassionate, helpful, manly beyond belief, but this just was not the right time for something like this to start.

"Give it time," I hoped he didn't take my response horribly, I leaned forward placing my hand on his leg. I wanted to date him more than anything. I couldn't help but feel awkward when he was around, in fear that he would leave and not enjoy my company. I enjoyed every little detail I got to spend with him. He was nearly perfect, but he was still the unknown and currently, there was just too much of that in my life.

"Time?" He questions as if the word was a foreign object and he had to figure out its meaning.

"There's a lot going on right now. Ask me in a few days, I promise my answer will be different," I tried to smile. I begged for him to know I wasn't turning him down forever. He calmed me, he made me feel better about everything. I wasn't giving up on a chance like this, but I just needed more time. That was something he was going to have to give me.

"Oh, I get it, your right, that was probably really bad timing huh?" Another shiver rocketed through my body at the thought of him being just as awkward around me as I was around him. Did he really like me? Was he just asking me out because he pitied me? I shook my head, there wasn't ever going to be a good time in my life.

"I will get out of your hair then," He paused for a moment, "I just want to say, you looked really great today, even in your scales," He stood up slowly before waving and leaving the room. I couldn't help but smile, my face turning bright red from embarrassment. Most our interactions tonight, I've been in the nude. My clothes disappearing when I transform, making it dangerous to wear anything cute ever again. I collapsed on my bed staring up at the ceiling. Maybe calling my mother would get my mind off things.

---------- A Little While Later ----------

I mindlessly fumble with my phone, staring at the board in front of me. We kept a tack board of everything we learned and why we thought it was happening. I ripped a piece of paper scribbling on it before pinning it in the appropriate spot on the board.

Scales are different based on my mood?

But was this only my mood when I transformed or was this no matter what? I wrote the date next to it so that we would always know when I completely destroyed the section of floor in the kitchen. What were we going to do about that? I wasn't a carpenter, I didn't know how to fix things.

I listened carefully trying to hear any sounds of movement throughout the house. Glancing at the clock it read 9:42 p.m. Sammy should be off to bed soon, I should hear her feet along the floorboards any minute now heading to her room.

I glanced back at my phone thinking of the conversation I just had with my parents. They were actually coming to see me. This should have made me jump for joy, the love of my parents was all I needed. But instead this terrified me, they were coming to this little town, a place I haven't even yet discovered because I've been so cooped up in my room searching for answers. Answers to something I can't even tell them about. I felt the need to rush out, find Sammy, and begin planning our week with my parents, but the energy left my body. I did whatever I could to muster up enough energy to get out of the chair and back into bed.

Once I was finally in the warmth of my sheets, my eyes shut, drifting slowly into sleep. My body was numb, motionless, my mind snoozing. I fell into the deepest sleep, I've ever been in.