Moonlit Tides

A New Beginning

The golden rays of the late afternoon sun filtered through the sheer curtains of Mr. Smith’s cozy living room, casting a warm, amber glow over the room. The city of Maine, nestled near the beach and surrounded by dense woods, bustled quietly outside. The clock on the wall ticked toward 4 PM, and the sounds of seagulls and distant waves mingled with the occasional chatter of passing pedestrians.

"Yes... Mary thank you... I owe you my life on this one" said Mr Smith hanging up a phone call, he was seated at the dining table with a look of both pride and concern, he cleared his throat and addressed Oceania and Stella. “I have some good news, Oceania. You’ve been accepted to study at Royalty High School. You’ll be starting next Monday, and you’ll be in the same class as Stella.”

Stella’s eyes widened in surprise, and she clapped her hands together in delight. “That’s amazing! We’ll be in the same classes. This is going to be so much fun!”

Oceania’s heart raced with a mix of anxiety and excitement. “Royalty High?” she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Stella, who had been organizing her school supplies, glanced up with a bright smile. “It’s a great school! You’ll love it. And having you in my class will be wonderful.”

“Indeed,” Mr. Smith agreed, his expression softening. “But there’s a lot for you to learn before you start. We need to make sure you’re comfortable with everything on land.”

Just before dinner time, Stella took it upon herself to guide Oceania through the basics of human life. The first lesson of the day was writing. Stella sat beside Oceania at the kitchen table, a stack of notebooks and pens spread out before them. “Okay, let’s start with the basics. You need to get used to holding a pen and forming letters. It’s quite different from writing with a quill underwater.”

Oceania took the pen, her fingers trembling slightly as she tried to mimic Stella's smooth strokes. The motion felt foreign, and her writing wobbled across the page. She frowned, her brow furrowing in concentration. "This feels so different from what I am used to," she muttered, frustrating creeping into her voice.

“It will get easier with practice,” Stella encouraged, demonstrating the smooth, flowing strokes of each letter. “Just keep at it, and soon it will feel natural, don’t worry if it’s messy at first.”

Next came learning about human accents. They sat in the living room, a small radio playing softly in the background. “Try repeating these phrases after me,” Stella instructed, guiding Oceania through common phrases and idioms.

Say it like this,” Stella said, demonstrating the correct accent. “It’s ‘good morning,’ not ‘good moaning."

Oceania repeated the phrase, trying to mimic Stella’s inflection. “Good morning… good morning?”

Much better!” Stella cheered, though Oceania could still hear the faint traces of her original accent. “It’s all about getting the rhythm and intonation right."

The concept of human time was another new challenge. Stella helped Oceania understand the 24-hour clock and the concept of time zones. “Here’s a calendar,” Stella said, pointing to the dates. “This will help you keep track of days and important events. We use these to manage our schedules and routines.”

Oceania nodded, trying to grasp the complexity of human time. “It’s so different from how we keep track of time underwater. In the ocean, we follow the sun and moon cycles, but it's different here on land. Time feels so... rigid."

Stella nodded sympathetically. "It's a lot to get used to. We have specific times for everything, from meals to school subjects."

"On land, time is segmented into precise units," Oceania said thoughtfully. "Underwater, time flows more naturally. We gauge time by the position of the sun and the rhythm of the tides."

“It takes some getting used to,” Stella said. “But you’ll adapt quickly.”

“Don’t worry if you’re a bit confused at first,” Mr Smith interrupted, emerging from his room. “We’ll get you a watch, and I’ll help you set alarms until you’re comfortable.”

One evening, as they discussed practical matters, Stella’s tone became more serious. “Oceania, you need to be careful about locking the bathroom door when you bathe or at least add more soap into the tub to create a lot of foam”

Oceania looked puzzled. “Why is that so important?”

“Well,” Stella began, choosing her words carefully, “my mother, who is the president of the supernatural hunting organization at school, often visits. She doesn’t know about… well, our family secrets. So, you need to make sure no one sees you when you’re in the bathroom. It’s best to keep your tail hidden from her, or else we will find parts of your body somewhere as a specimen for a science study or project”

Oceania’s eyes widened with a mix of frustration and fear. The gravity of Stella’s warning sank in as her heart pounded. She nodded, her hands gripping the edge of her chair as if trying to anchor herself. “I understand,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “I’ll make sure to lock the door and keep everything private.” The thought of exposing her secret made her stomach churn.

“Good,” Stella said with a reassuring smile. “We don’t want any surprises. I’m here to help you with anything you need."

When it came to clothing, Oceania faced another hurdle. Stella helped her choose outfits that were stylish and practical for life on land. As they looked through clothes, Stella gave Oceania a soft, colourful dress made of light, breathable fabric. Oceania hesitated, feeling the cool, airy material in her hands. The pastel color and gentle drape were very different from the heavy, layered clothes she wore underwater. “These clothes will help you blend in and feel more comfortable,” Stella said, reassuringly. “They’re made to be easy to move in and to handle the changing temperatures here.”

Oceania tried on several outfits, each one feeling like a new experience. As she slipped into a soft cotton blouse, she winced slightly at the unfamiliar sensation of the fabric brushing against her skin. The blouse clung to her in places, and the neckline felt too tight, making her feel both exposed and constrained. She adjusted the fabric, feeling its texture shift under her fingers.

When she tried on a pair of jeans, the rough denim felt scratchy against her legs. The fabric was stiff and didn't move like the flowing clothes she wore underwater. The waistband pressed into her sides, and she had to keep pulling at it to make it more comfortable. "Everything feels so different," she said, her voice frustrated as she fidgeted with the new clothes. The textures and fits were overwhelming, each fabric a new challenge to adapt to.

“Don’t worry,” Stella said, offering encouragement. “You’ll get used to it. And you’ll look great in whatever you choose.”

With Stella’s support, Oceania began to feel more at ease. The adjustment was challenging, but each day brought her closer to feeling like a part of this new world. As she prepared for her first day at Royalty High, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of hopeful anticipation.

*******

One afternoon as the sun was setting Oceania and Stella walked down the quiet street. The air was refreshing cool and crisp, She was slowly growing more comfortable with her human form, though each step still felt strange and new. As they walked past a big, secluded house at the edge of town near the woods, Oceania noticed its mysterious look. The house had dark gardens and tall iron gates that made it seem intriguing.

“Who lives there?” Oceania asked.

“That’s Nathan Holmes' place,” Stella said.

Suddenly, the gates creaked open, and Nathan walked out. He was dressed casually, but there was something elegant about him. He wore dark sunglasses and carried a small, fancy box.

Stella’s face softened with a smile. “That’s Nathan,” she said quietly.

Oceania looked at Stella and noticed the fondness in her eyes. “You like him, don’t you?” she asked with a knowing smile.

Stella sighed. “Yes, I do. I’ve liked him for a while.”

Oceania and Stella stopped in their tracks. Nathan stood out, and there was something intriguing about him. He moved with a smooth, cat-like grace, every step measured and precise. He glanced at Oceania, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. He then looked away, carrying the box and walking towards his car.

Oceania asked in a whisper, “Is he always like this?”

“Pretty much,” Stella said. “He keeps to himself a lot. But he’s known for being different. You probably think it’s strange, but there’s something about him..."

As Nathan approached a sleek, black car parked at the edge of the driveway, he carefully placed the box inside the trunk. He then turned back towards the house, seemingly unaware of the two girls watching from a distance.

Stella nudged Oceania. “Let’s not bother him. He’s got his own way of doing things.”

But Oceania couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Nathan than met the eye. His mysterious aura and magnetic charm left her feeling curious.

As they walked away, Oceania cast one last glance over her shoulder. Nathan had disappeared inside the house, leaving the garden bathed in the soft afternoon light. The encounter was brief but left a lasting impression.

While on it, Stella chattered excitedly about the next day, the day of school reopening. Oceania listened, absorbing the details of human life and customs. Suddenly, a loud bark broke through the calm, and a large dog came barreling towards them, teeth bared and eyes wild.

Stella froze in fear, but Oceania instinctively stepped in front of her, raising her hands in a protective gesture. To her astonishment, a shimmering barrier of water formed in front of them, stopping the dog in its tracks. The animal skidded to a halt, yelping in surprise before turning tail and running away.

Stella stared at Oceania, her eyes wide with shock. "How... how did you do that?"

Oceania looked at her hands, which were still gleaming with a faint, ethereal glow.

The light was soft but unmistakable, casting a gentle glow on her skin. Her eyes widened in surprise, and her voice wavered as she tried to make sense of what had just occurred. “I... I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice trembling with both wonder and fear. “It just happened."

Stella glanced around nervously. "We should get back home before anyone notices."

They hurried back to their house, their hearts racing. Once inside, they went straight to Oceania’s room, where they were greeted with an unexpected sight... Stella's mom.