The Bad Boy And The Mermaid

Blue

When I touched Tyler’s hand, I could see snippets of his life. His tragic past, bits of his childhood, so much pain and the face of a beautiful woman. I pulled away abruptly and he stared at me in confusion. I took a step back, then another. He had his hand raised towards me. “Are you alright?”

I was panting. If I had kept the connection much longer, it probably would have taken a toll on me. That is one reason why I tried to block away people’s memories when they touched me.

“Blue?” Hannah asked, she was clearly anxious. “What happened?”

I plastered a fake smile and turned to him. “Can...Can I start with my work?”

“Of course. I’m sure Max briefed you about what you’re supposed to do. I’ll be out of your way.”

I just smiled, not sure how else to respond.

“Great.” Tyler said and then turned his attention to Hannah, “You and I need to have a serious talk.”

Hannah rolled her eyes. Tyler kept the door open for the both of us. I walked out followed by Hannah right behind me. She took my hand in hers, a reassuring smile on her lips. “I’ll be in the lounge if you need me. If in case you didn’t enjoy working, you can let me know, okay? No pressure. You’re doing it for fun.”

I smiled back at her. “Kay.”

“One more thing. Max knows you’re my friend but the others don’t, if anyone else asks, I’m going to tell them you’re my cousin okay? You gotta tell them the same, and no talking about being in Hunter’s bed.”

“Got it.” I said.

I had a warm fuzzy feeling inside, Hannah was so nice I could feel her energy. I knew if I was a man, I would have asked Hannah to marry me.

But I was a girl...a woman as Hunter put it and I was so completely attracted to him, it was hard to ignore this feeling. I had never felt this way towards mer-men and I wondered why.

I tried to concentrate towards the work at hand. I had a job now even if it meant just for one day and I needed to be really good at it, good enough for Maximus to hire me for a long time, at least as long as I stayed on the land.

I straightened up my appearance and walked towards the bar where the bartender was preparing drinks.

“Hi!” I said.

He was an angry looking man with a facial expression that said ‘be gone’ but I kept the smile on my face plastered. He was tall too, and silky black hair, and his nose was too pointed. Both his arms were covered in tattoos, from his biceps, all down to his fingers. Overall he was nice looking. Kind of reminded me of my mermaid best friend Adrian, the only difference was Adrian had silver hair and no tattoos.

“Can I get you any drinks?” He asked me politely but his face was still the same. No smile. Stoic.

“I would have loved too, but I’m not allowed.” I said cheerfully. “You see, I’m working as the waitress here tonight.”

“Oh, I see.” He said, pouring drinks in a tall glass and then shaking it.

I leaned against the counter. “I’m Blue.”

He nodded. “Yeah. I guess we all are feeling a little blue today, what with I had to cancel my weekly off just to cover that jackass.” He also had a round silver metal in his tongue. Didn’t that hurt?

I laughed. “No silly, I mean my name is Blue. What’s yours?”

That’s when his lips cracked into a smile. A real smile. “God, I’m so stupid. Sorry. I’m Alec.” He raised his hand towards me for a handshake.

I didn’t want to shake his hand and look into his past, I’ve had enough of that for today but not shaking his hand would also be rude right?

I slid my hand in his and before I could have any visions, I pulled my hand away.

He stared at me in surprise. “Uh-okay.”

“They said Max’s friends are here and I need to be their host.” I informed Alec.

“Yeah, well, that’s the whole point of you covering for Holly.” He muttered. “Just give me a minute, I’ll make a few drinks for you to serve them.”

“Uh..hmm. Say Alec, did it hurt when you got that metal in your tongue?”

nothing I

my mind and it was bad that I couldn’t get rid of it until I asked the person. I decided to ask

like when you put that tongue in a

glasses. The glasses had slipped from his hand. Heads turned to look in my direction. Alec’s face was red, as red as a tomato in

help you.”

was shaking because I had made him cry

you come

him about what Hunter said

around here.” I said, laughing with

sec.” He called

of drinks and handed them to me in a tray to carry. His expressions were clearly amused, he leaned in close. “How could you say something with a straight face? Actually, I never asked the women I kissed about how they felt about the metal in

my

me to kiss you so you

about that round metal, but would kissing this man be appropriate? Considering the fact that I liked kissing Hunter. For instance, if I were

girl touching him had

me kissing other boys would

“No. I don’t think my boyfriend

girl, I was just

again. “Sorry Alec. I’m not allowed to

grinned. “Are you sure you have a boyfriend or you’re just saying that because that’s what girls say nowadays to ward off

Ward off flirty men? What’s a flirty man? Is that like

I talk to them. I was afraid he would break the new set of glasses

lady, just turned my gloomy day into a bright sunny one. I needed a good laugh.” He flashed

he does too. It would

me the drinks in a tray and I slowly walked towards the table filled with...I did a mental headcount, say five

passed the drinks around to each one of them. One of the boys smiled and one of

flutter my eye like yours.”

“What?” He looked dumbfounded.

I confessed. “Is it like this...” I proceeded squinting one of my eye but decided I looked foolish doing

“She means a wink. A wink. Darn it, girl!” He pointed at the embarrassed boy who had supposedly “winked” at me and laughed. “Haven’t seen a girl call you out so

There’s the word again.

Flirting.

They were paying me to laugh and be cheerful while I served

I went back to Alec who was serving drinks to some people. “Hey

me a grin. “Well, flirting is exactly what you and

“And what’s that?”

by the way they compliment them or make em smile. You made me smile a while back so you were flirting

dawned in. I made Hunter smile a lot too, that means I flirted with him.

are friends. Hey listen, I have like two tickets for a movie on

“What movie?”

Do you like horror?” He

I admitted because Hunter never let me. He said I would be

I think you will

do?” I asked him.

at me like he was in awe for a while. “Yeah, they do. And then we could some grab

hand. “I don’t think he would mind,

his

“Sure.” I said.

a smile that almost melted my heart. Alec was a sweet

rich that day. My wallet couldn’t even fit all the money that the Lockhart brothers had given me. I liked Tyler and

night by ordering pizza. We had pizza and coke while watching

But something felt missing.

so I could share everything with him. All about my job,

because I knew he would only get furious. I didn’t know what I would do if I asked him to take me back home with