The Mermaid in Me

Chapter 26 - What a Jerk

We finish our trip, at the same restaurant that overlooks the beach. I can see the bench but not Maggie.

Just as we are walking back to the hotel, I happen to look up and I see an umbrella from a distance. I start running towards her full speed.

I begin yelling. “Maggie! Maggie!” As I get closer, I noticed she has stopped, and is looking at me with a smile on her face. I caught her attention, this is my chance.

“Maggie, I just wanted to ask you one more thing, please?”

She barely gets anything out of her mouth before I hear the others coming. “Anahita, I told you to leave! Your father had to leave you to protect you, he’s a mermaid as you should know! Now go back to your human family, it’s best that way.”

She goes into a blank stare once again. I know she’s faking it.

“If it isn’t Maggie?” I hear my mom say, from behind me.

Maggie responds in a groan. “Well, I was just telling your daughter how beautiful she is and how she is very lucky to have you as parents. I need to be going now.”

My mom is embarrassed, as she says. “Oh, thank you! She is our blessing. I’m sorry if she bothered you. We did the same thing to you many years ago, but we wanted her to know we searched.”

“Yes, you did a wonderful job, and it’s time for me to go. I knew you were perfect for her.”

She scurries off with her umbrella. That woman knows way more then she is letting on. Why won’t she just tell me? It’s all so confusing!

My parents both look at me in annoyance.

“You can’t just run up to people screaming like that!” My dad shouts at me.

He wouldn’t understand and there isn’t any point in telling him.

“I’m sorry dad, I just wanted one more chance. It sounds like you and mom did the same. I really am thankful for having you as parents. Let’s go back to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the night if we can.”

They all look relieved with me.

I have even more questions, but not one person to talk to about it.

Alison and I spent the evening with the boys as my parents rest in their room.

James is annoyed by this entire trip and he makes it very known. “Did we need to come all the way here to learn you were found on a beach?”

I gasp at his audacity. “You wouldn’t know what it feels like. My whole life you’ve picked on me and come to find out, all those hateful words are true towards me!”

I explode.

I can’t control my emotions that are taking over. “You suspected I was adopted, and you know it! You hung out with Devin even after he started those rumors. You even made me promise not to come around your friends! You made my boyfriend promise to do extra practices, just to be with me! Have you lost your mind?”

I look at Luke who’s about to choke my brother at this point. Alison is looking at the floor and that’s no surprise, she wouldn’t get involved if her life depended on it.

James starts to speak, and I cut him off. “Don’t even say anything! The only reason you allow me around is that your friend Luke likes me! Imagine being treated like crap your whole life? Never fitting in and finding out you are alone! I’m just as disappointed. At least I tried. After that, then come moan about some little trip you had to make.”

That was all it took for the tears to come bursting out. I can’t be strong all of the time. He has been a bully, just like the rest. I never wanted this life. I never asked for any of this! I just wanted to know the truth.

James looks at me mortified. “I’m so sorry. I am the biggest jerk for a brother. I've been awful, please don’t cry.”

I can’t stop to even speak, so I just point to the door. James gets up and leaves. Luke comes over and puts his arms around me.

“I’m so sorry you had to deal with that. You don’t deserve it. I didn’t know he treated you like that? I’m here for you!”

I lean in closer and sob in his arm. “He’s just being selfish! I didn’t need him rubbing it in, that I didn’t find out anything, but seeing the spot I was found."

I lift my head at him with agony in my eyes. "Do you mind if I just go to bed? And please don’t bother him. I know he feels bad. I have been holding so much in. I exploded more than I needed too.”

Luke kisses me before he gets up, and says. “You do need your rest, and I won’t say anything to him.”

Alison comes over, tucks me in, and gently says in my ear. "I know he has always been jealous of you. I see your pain, and he doesn't realize it. I'm always here for you." I give her a loving glance before I close my eyes. I don't want any more attention. I just want to be left alone. I can hear she's left the room, and I'm sure it's to set James in his place.

I can’t sleep knowing my father left me purposely on the beach. My mermaid parents just left me and the only one who knows, won’t tell me. She sure doesn’t have a problem telling people she’s a mermaid. But then again, my dad goes with it and thinks she’s crazy. She might be, but I knew she knows who my father is, and I will find out. I have more information than what my family thinks and I just need to get home to Tasha all about it. I’m done discussing anymore mermaid talk with anyone other than a mermaid. As for James, I won’t be saying much to him, he might be sorry, but he has some anger issues that I can’t handle. I’m learning things that go way above his IQ level, that’s for sure.

I hear Alison get up and in the shower. It’s finally time to go back home. I surprised her by being up and waiting to use the bathroom after her.

Alison greets me as soon as she walks out. “Well, look at you, sleepyhead! Up early and ready! I knew you wouldn’t let what James said last night, get to you!”

I huff dramatically and then smile at her.

If only she knew he was the least of my worries.

“I’ve had those feelings for a while, and he needed to know how I felt. I might have looked crazy, but I’m not! I was treated like a monster, and he knows it.”

Alison nods in agreement before continuing. “You are right, and I never defended you. I think you are a wonderful sister and I’m proud of you. I would want to visit the place I was born, just like you did. Even if I didn’t find out anything, I still got to see. I think, it's was important to you, and James got what he deserved last night.”

I hug her before I dash into the bathroom to get ready for the trip home. I want to put the necklace on I got before we get on the road. As soon as it lays on my neck, I feel a surge of energy. I quickly take the necklace off.

Did that just happen? Did I just feel that?

I put the necklace back on. I feel the same energy as I did before. This time it isn’t as shocking. I wonder why this necklace does this to me? I can’t possibly have magic powers with this thing on. I look in the mirror at the pearl. It isn’t glowing. I put my hands out, they aren't webbed. I try and throw my hands up in the air as if something was to come out of them... Nothing! I even look at my leg to see if it has changed. Nope! I know the necklace has a kind of power it gives me, but I’m not sure what that is.

We gather in the lobby as my dad checks us out. I can’t wait to get home and talk with Tasha. Luke has been following me around like a helpless pup this morning. I don’t know if he thinks I’m still a ticking time bomb, that’s either going to scream or cry. I keep the smile on my face, Alison so pleasantly gave me, and James stays away from me. He can’t look me in the eye, and I don’t care. I finally said what I needed to. He will have to accept me at some point. I was left on this beach, and as Maggie said, I’m lucky. I’m not going to be the freak anymore. I am tired of hiding so I don’t bother anyone. It’s time I do this for me, and me alone.

Thankfully the road trip home is quiet as everyone is tired. I fall asleep in Luke’s arms for most of the trip. I spent most of the night running everything through my head, on why my mermaid family would leave me, to protect me. It doesn’t add up. But it made the trip home faster. I can finally tell Tasha. I just need to figure out how and when to do this.