The Mermaid in Me

Chapter 17 - I Can't Believe Her

I don’t want to move, I'm tired from life. If I don’t get up, I know my mom will be up here yelling at me. I just can’t deal with any more pressure. I need to know from Tasha. I want her back! I don’t know what to think.

I am so mad at Luke. I can’t believe he would say that. I don’t understand anything. He gives me confidence. He also makes me feel so normal, and that’s all I have ever wanted. But he didn’t have the right to say what he did to me. Maybe I can talk to Tasha today. I’ll try and explain everything. I know Luke doesn’t like her but I do care.

My head is going to explode. If I don’t get out of it and ready for school. I need to find out more, I just need to have patience.

I make it to school with James and Alison walking behind me. They haven't been leaving me. They’ve actually been by my side with Luke. They kind of let me be the leader.

I love this feeling of ordinary life. This is the life Luke gave me, and I’m not going to mess it up with him. What if Tasha is making all this crap up? I’m going to find out. I’m tired of waiting and I don’t have long. If what she says is true.

I see Luke as I get up to the school, and I look the other way. I don’t have time for him at the moment. I need to speak to Tasha about everything.

I see her putting her bag in her locker. So, I quickly get to over to her. “Um... Can we talk Tasha?”

She doesn’t look at me. She continues to pull her books out for class.

“Please, just listen to me! Everything has gotten out of hand between all of us, and I can’t deal with it. You are my best friend and he is my first crush. I want you both in my life. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you anything."

She glares at me. “Keep going.”

I can’t help but smile knowing she is letting me in. “I’m so sorry! I really should have told you. James and my parents got Luke involved. After... I might have motioned being a mermaid.”

Her eyes widen and she focuses on every word I’m saying.

“They think you are crazy for telling me I’m a mermaid. They don’t and won't believe it. I was found on the beach, so I think it's true!”

I can feel the tears welling behind my eyes. I can’t cry now, not in front of everyone.

Her face drops in relief. “So, they think I’m crazy?”

I nod at her as she continues. “Well that’s fine with me, I knew you were a mermaid. Did you tell that loser of a boyfriend anything? What’s he thinking? Is that why he won’t let me near you alone? Where is he, anyway?”

I can't believe her audacity! After she tripped him! I might have apologized, but he didn't do anything.

“Excuse me! He didn’t do anything to you! He doesn’t know anything, other than I'm crazy for talking to you, especially after what you did to him!" I get louder as I continue. "You haven't liked him since day one. I'm trying to have you both in my life, and you throw him under the bus any chance you get. If mermaids are so real... Why aren't you teaching me more about them as you promised?"

She slams her door and arrogantly says. "Because you will tell your stupid human anything that I tell you! I got lucky with your parents! I also won't trust any guy that was expelled from his last school for hurting someone. I don't want that for you, but you have to learn on your own. And I bet he didn't like getting a taste of his own medicine!"

Before she walks away she chuckles. "And look who it is now!"

I turn around to see Luke standing right behind me. I don't have time for him either. They are both ticking time bombs.

He starts in at me. "This is what I was telling you about last night! She is a hot fuse."

My heart starts to beat fast, I can't stay mad at him, I squeak out. "I'm sorry Luke. I wanted to talk to her about my parents, I owed her that apology. I just don't understand what has gotten into her. I need her more than ever."

He grumbles at me. "You don't need me? Because I can walk away, but I did all this for you." He pulls out flowers from behind his back. I can't help but smile and wrap myself around him.

He pulls away slightly from me and spouts. "I won't have you worrying about her anymore. She doesn't deserve your time, and I won't have my girl around that kind of craziness."

I couldn't agree more since it wasn't even about my parents. It was all about him! Does she even care?

"I'll do whatever you say. I'm the one that should be sorry for not trusting you. She has some issues right now that I can't explain. She might be a friend, but she isn't acting like one.

He grins down at me. "I'm glad you said that. I'll take care of you. We don't need her around, it's just us and that's how I want it."

His dominance is overwhelming, but I'm sure it's because he's my first boyfriend. He grabs me and kisses me in front of everyone passing by. I can feel their eyes on us. I pull away hesitantly. "Let's not make more of a scene. I've had enough of it and we need to get to our classes."

Luke smirks as he lays one last kiss on me before he walks away.

I can't concentrate in class with the way Tasha is acting now. She's moved her desk closer to Devin's and won't even look at me. Teaming up with my enemy. I don't understand why she needs to hurt me more!

Doesn't she see I want Luke and her in my life?

If this how mermaids act, then I don't want to be one! They seem very rude, and I'd rather be a human at this point.

I want to have this awful mark disappear before Luke wants to see it. That's the only reason I can think of wanting to be a mermaid. I have a feeling he will, and I don't want to show him, I'm just not ready. And a part of me wants the chance to be normal. I’m used to being a freak.

I'll ask him about going with me on winter break with my parents he might like that a lot. I'm going to work on being a good girlfriend instead of people who don’t like me.