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?”

but nothing

it was bad that

like when you put that tongue in a girl’s mouth? Does she feel the metal?”

turned to look in my direction. Alec’s face was red, as red as a tomato in Hunter’s refrigerator. He produced a broom and began cleaning the pieces of

help you.”

shaking. I wondered if it was shaking because I had

did you come

what Hunter said

from around here.” I said, laughing with him. “You didn’t answer

one sec.” He called

made another round 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 tongue. But the noises they made at the back of their throat, it proves they enjoyed it

That answers my question.”

you say, you want me to

kissing this man be appropriate? Considering the fact that I liked kissing Hunter. For instance, if I were to see Hunter kissing other women like the way

big NO. Just the fact that the Stella girl touching him had disturbed me so much that he had promised

that meant me kissing other boys

“No. I don’t think my boyfriend

girl, I was just

shook my head again. “Sorry Alec. I’m not

you sure you have a boyfriend or you’re just saying that

thought about that for a moment. “I don’t know what you mean. Ward off flirty men? What’s a flirty man? Is that like a

roared with laughter just like others do when I talk to them. I was afraid he would break the new set of glasses and the drinks he

bright sunny one. I needed a good laugh.” He flashed me a set of

It would be fun.”

a tray and I slowly walked towards the table filled with...I did a mental headcount, say five boys including the brother, Phoenix who

each one of them. One of the boys smiled and one of his eye fluttered at me. I stared at

my eye like yours.” I

“What?” He looked dumbfounded.

with my eyes.” I confessed. “Is it like this...” I proceeded squinting one of my eye but decided I looked foolish doing it because the Lockhart boy

at the embarrassed boy who had supposedly “winked”

There’s the word again.

Flirting.

They were paying me to laugh and be cheerful

the boys left, I went back to Alec who was serving drinks

“Well, flirting is exactly what

“And what’s that?”

or make em smile. You made me

I made Hunter smile a lot too, that means I flirted with him. “Well, does that

Hey listen, I have like two tickets for a movie on Saturday,

“What movie?”

you like

I admitted because Hunter never

I think you

do?” I asked him.

awe for a while. “Yeah, they do. And then we could some grab dinner, I mean, only if you’re free that is. If your

don’t think he would mind,

his phone. “Let’s exchange

“Sure.” I said.

flashed me a smile that almost melted my heart. Alec

me. I liked Tyler and Max but I really wasn’t so sure

that night by ordering pizza. We had pizza and coke while watching the huge tv screen in her bedroom.

But something felt missing.

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

wanted to call and apologize him about yesterday but I couldn’t bring myself to call him mostly 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 him and if