The Mermaid in Me

Prologue I’m not your typical teen. More like a freak of nature. I am an older child, born with these bluish-green scales on my legs. My mother and father took me to every doctor they could. To try and find out what it was and how to fix it. I was given steroids, ointment creams, and even injections, but nothing had worked. The doctors were puzzled, just like my parents. I was the doctor's experiment until my parents decided that it was enough poking and prodding of me. I was told to never show or tell anyone about my birthmark, as they called it. My parents made sure of it. They moved us to a different town. Far away from anyone that may have known us, including extended family. As I was aware, I was the family freak of nature. That's how I grew up. Hiding everything about me. Keeping my head down and my voice quiet. I’m an embarrassment to my family, and I can’t control it. My brother and sister are ashamed of me. They see my legs... Do you blame them? This doesn’t help but make me feel horrible. Including being bullied throughout school because I could never wear shorts or pretty dresses like other girls. I’ve heard their friends ask why I’m so weird or why I have green legs? I know this is punishment on them also. Which is why I do keep to myself, and try not to cause any commotion. It still doesn't help when you have scales on your legs and everyone knows it, or at least believes it. I hid in every way as a good daughter would. Until one year in gym class, my pants slid up. A classmate Devin saw my leg and the patch with scales. He named me Fish Legs from that day on. Fish Legs! That’s an understatement! I wanted to run away after that. I knew I could only hide for so long. My cover then was blown to an extent. That seems to be my luck. Chapter 1 - First Day of Senior Year Beep... Beep...Beep... Beep... Ughh! Stupid alarm! I don't want to wake up today. It’s the first day of my senior year of high school. I really should be glad, but it hasn’t been an easy ride. I can hear my mom now. She’s coming up the stairs. She bursts in and yells at me. “Sandy, get your butt out of bed it’s time for school. Your sister and brother are waiting for you!” I begrudgingly ask. “Mom... Do I have to?” “Yes, it’s the first day of your last year. You can do this! I know you can! You’ve made it this far and you can’t stop now. So, get up!” She slams my door on her way out. I finally get myself up and ready, jeans, and a tee. I’m not one for fancy, even if it’s the first day. Honestly, most of everything I own is black shirts and jeans. My mom has tried to squeeze others into my closet, but I don’t feel comfortable wearing them. I throw my long golden messy hair in a bun. Brush my teeth, slap on chapstick, and quickly glance in the mirror at myself. What’s to worry about when you are an embarrassment? It doesn’t matter how my figure looks when you have a nasty birthmark. There isn’t anyone who would want Fish Legs. I should feel good about this being my senior year and that I’ll finally be free soon. But I have this looming feeling in my gut, I just can’t explain it. I walk downstairs to see my sister Alison, in a beautiful blue flowy dress. My brother is looking at me with daggers in his eyes. He snarls at me, “Sandy, can you please not screw this up for us, this year? Alison and I are tired of having to explain that you aren’t a monster! I don’t know HOW we are even related? Look at you!” I look at Alison and her head is down, I know that look, she agrees but won’t say it. I don’t know how we could ever be related either...They are both outgoing, popular, and well normal, not a thing to hide. But...Me their sister the freak! I grab a piece of toast, and I stammer back at him. “I promise, I will keep to myself, away from you and your friends. I’m sorry we are related.” It was true, I am sorry they have to deal with me. James dashes to the door. “Great enough of the chat. We are going to be late on the first day." We all hear mom yelling at us to get moving and to stop the bickering. The one thing normal in my life. My mom yelling at us to get along. Like every year, we get to school and they jump out of the car. They both run as far from me as possible, to their separate groups of friends. I park the car and walk my lonely self up to school. I see the group of boys that James is in, along with Devin. Who makes a point to shout, "Fish Legs is back!” My head goes down and James looks the other way. I know the routine by now. I didn’t even make it into school before I was already set in my place for another year. Thankfully, this is the last. I could really choke Devin, he is the worst. I can’t believe people listen to him at this school. James is a nimrod for thinking Devin is even remotely cool, just because he plays sports. I survive the walk to my locker and my only friend Tasha is standing there waiting for me. “Girl, are you ready for our last year?” she exclaims. “Let me see your schedule!” As she grabs it from my hands. “Yes! We have the same classes!” I sweetly smile at her and say. “You’d think by this year they would have finally realized we are inseparable. And to answer you, I'm as ready as any fish on land would be.” She always seems to get my jokes even if they are silly, and we both had a good laugh at that one. She seems really excited about this year, and I’m glad to be by her side. Tasha proudly states. “I’m ready for this year with all the big excitement that happens, this being our last year and all. ” I ask. "Oh, like what?Prom? SAT’s? The fact that we never have to walk this school again?” She smiles and she says. “Exactly!” That’s my friend, the normal one! I’m so thankful for her. She’s always defended me. I’m not sure why but she does. Her personality is so kind and beautiful! We became friends after everyone found out about my legs, during my freshman year. She screamed at Devin, in front of everyone, that they were tattoos and she has them too. Not many believed her. She is tall, with long brown hair, touched with copper streaks, and the structure of a goddess. Not one marking that anyone including me, could see on those legs. I never questioned her nor did anyone else. And ever since then, she has been by my side. The day is going as smoothly as possible, aside from the looks and whispers. A few chants of it smells like fish in here, not anything I’m not used to. Tasha and I have lunch together, we gossip about our summer. She went to the West Coast and spent her break on the beach. She told me of the amazing people she met. The adventures she takes with her family over the summers are so exciting! They seem like the perfect family. She helps with her brother and takes him to and from school every day. She watches him until her parents are home. They are close-knit, unlike mine, that even hate to be related. Literally, hopping out of a running car as I'm driving, just so they won’t be seen with me. Maybe it’s the fact I’m a freak and Tasha isn’t. I would love to feel appreciated for once in my life, instead of being told to hide. The only one who lets me be myself is her. If she knew I was a freak. Would she still be friends with me? She didn’t see my leg, she just defended me in front of everyone that was chanting, Fish Legs. It’s finally the last class of the day, and I’m ready for it to be done with. It’s English and by far the worst. I don’t even want to think about the senior paper that's due. A million words on a subject I could care less about. I wish it was creative writing or something. I would have a story to tell, that would be worth a million dollars. That’s always been a dream of mine. I mean, I am a bookworm. I just don’t like reading about things that can put me to sleep, which is typical for school assignments. The classroom door opens and an unfamiliar boy walks in. He just stands there with a paper for the teacher to read. The teacher announces, “Class, this is Luke Shuster, he is new to this school. Please be helpful to him.” Luke sits down right next to me. I look at Tasha who’s on the other side of me. I mouthed the words to her. “Who is he?” Her eyes get big. I know she’s just as puzzled as I am. She always knows who the new student is. She practically knows everyone. She whispers back, “I don’t know but I’m going to find out!” I try not to look at him, but I can feel his eyes on me. I can only take it for so long before I finally say to him. “Can I help you with something?” He replies, “Yes, your name?” Shocked I spit out, “Sandy, and your name?” He sweetly replies. “I’m Luke, and it’s nice to meet you!” Did he just say nice to meet you? I guess he hasn’t heard the rumors about me yet. I blushingly smile and say. “The same.” Did I really just say the same? I immediately put my head down and go back to work. I can still feel his eyes on me but I’m not going to give in. I look at Tasha and she glares at me. Thankfully last hour goes by fast and I can get out of here. The bell rings, and I go to grab my bag, which now has Luke’s hands on it. He says softly in my ear. “I can help you with that if you would like?” I’m overly flustered, I immediately yank my bag and make a bolt for the door. Tasha is waiting still glaring at him. Not ever have I experienced something like that. Just wait till he finds out I’m Fish Legs! This isn’t good. I hope it’s not another whisper or nickname, I wonder what it will be next? If he wasn’t so dreamy I might not be anxious. He will find out soon enough, especially in this school, what a true freak, I am. Tasha moves me out of the way and makes her introduction to him. Gosh, it feels like time has stopped. I can see them chatting, but I'm not sure about what. She calmly walks back and says. “There is something about that boy I don’t like!” Not sure what she meant. Since he is the only boy that has ever sat next to me, without pulling some kind of prank or making a crude joke about me. I reply, “He seems nice and those eyes are amazing.” Yet another glare at me. What is up with these looks? She snarls at me. “Never let a pretty face fool you! I’ve got more to learn.” Not sure what that was about, but I’m sure I'll find out soon enough. She is protective, and maybe a bit too much. We walk to our lockers with this kind of tension in the air. I can tell she’s thinking about something. If only I could read her mind, and what did she know that she won’t just say about this new guy? I know I can’t ask her now, she’s on a mission, but I’m sure I'll be first to know. I can’t get Luke out of my head. I can’t believe someone so attractive would sit by me or even ask to help me carry my bag. It’s going to hurt me when he finds out I have scales. Why do I keep daydreaming about him? But how can I not? Tasha did not like him from the moment he walked in. And for her, she's normally is the welcoming committee. That does raise a big red flag for me, she knows her gut. She's protected me numerous times before. I have to cool off these thoughts and get back to reality. Where are my siblings? I have been sitting in this car for far too long! How long does it take to get your stuff and get to the car? Well, maybe if I had more friends I wouldn’t be this angry. I start sulking, looking around for them, I just want to get home.