The Bad Boy And The Mermaid

Blue

“Hannah, where do your parents live?” I asked her since I’d never heard Hunter talk about their parents.

“We used to live together at first. Me, Hunter, Ryan. I’m still in high school so I live with my parents, Ryan has a condo downtown and he takes care of the family business. And Hunter, well. He’s not the obeying kind so Dad disowned him temporarily after a series of bad behavior. He’s the black sheep of the family.”

Hunter certainly didn’t seem like a sheep to me.

“What kind of bad behavior?”

I didn’t think there was anything remotely bad about Hunter’s behavior. Sure he was a little scary when he was angry, but he was still nice.

“He used to get kicked out of schools, the soccer team, getting into fights. That sort of thing.” She explained.

I nodded. I could ask Hunter about it later.

“Who is Ryan?” I asked.

“He’s our oldest half-brother. Ryan’s mom died when he was four and then Dad remarried Hunter’s Mom who...well, it just didn’t turn out well. They separated, and then he remarried for the third time to my mother.” She said taking a sip of her drink that she called a “slushie” it made her tongue look blue. “Dad’s been through some rough marriages.”

“So the three of you have three different mothers?” I was surprised. I’d never heard of something like that.

She nodded. “Yup, but we share the same Dad. My moms pretty cool though.”

“My mom’s cool too.” I told her.

Then Hannah started talking about music and some boy band that I didn’t know anything about so I continued to nod my head. I guess she was really tired of my nodding, because she suggested. “How would you like a nice haircut?”

“A haircut?!” I exclaimed.

“Yeah. We’ll just trim your hair a bit.”

I shook my head. “I can’t. I’m not allowed to.”

“Why not?”

“Mermaids can’t cut hair. It’s a sin.”

Hannah seemed suspicious. “Mmm-hmm.” She eyed me warily. “Oh, I see.” It was clear she didn’t believe me at all.

It’s a good thing she didn’t push about cutting my hair. I liked my hair long.

“Hannah, can I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“How do I make Hunter like me?”

She laughed. “I think he already likes you, honey.”

I didn’t believe her. “I don’t think so. Whenever I ask him if we could kiss, he gives me his cheeks.”

She snorted. “Well in that case, you should take the lead.”

“What do you mean?”

permission, just

eyes widened. “Really?

that, and I’m pretty sure Hunter

number so that we can talk sometimes if I needed your

bag but came empty, then she picked her bag (that read Prada) and dumped the contents onto the table. Finally she picked the phone out of all the junk. “Save my number. It’s double four...”

the color of your nails. Can we paint my

mani and a pedi and then we’ll do some makeup for your face.” She declared with

Hannah insisted that it was fine but I kept refusing. In the end, they painted only my toes and did a mani for my hands. My nails looked lovely with the peach nail color. I stared at it in awe. I

that Hunter gave me but she waved it off and told me to keep it

that she called “makeup”. She assured me that she was good at it. When I looked at myself in the mirror for the final product, I really looked different. I had something

I looked pretty, right?

Would Hunter like it?

would be time for me to go back home and that Hunter would come to collect me after his part-time work.

received a call and she excused herself. “It’ll just take

me, mostly boys the age of Hunter. I

I shrieked loud. I think some people turned but I kept walking towards the cone. It was humongous and lit up,

The guy inside the shop yelled. “What are you

the ice-cream on the truck. “I was wondering if I can get that ice-cream.” I pulled out the money I had from Hunter.

He looked me up and down and I really didn’t like the way he was looking at me, it was

continued to leer at me. “Are you alone,

answer because I was not his honey and started walking away. I glanced behind me but there was no sign of Hannah. Where was she? It was crowded and I couldn’t see her. I’d strayed away from her because I was dummy and I’d been too mesmerized by

Stupid Blue!

no use. There was no way she would

him and then he’d know where to find me. I reached for my pocket when I realized I was wearing the new dress. The phone was in the pocket

if Hunter didn’t bother to come to the mall and decided I wasn’t worth all the trouble? What if he looked for me but

“Hunter.” I whispered.

tears had blurred my

older man with a bushy mustache. He was tall and had a bulging stomach. He cleared his throat. “Need

my friend.” I said. “I’ve lost

“What’s her name?”

“Hannah.” I said.

I’ll help you find

eyes widened.

nodded as I followed

* * *

Hunter

terribly wrong or else she wouldn’t have called me again when I’d already called an hour back to

“Hey.” I said.

she answered the

“What is it?”

“Blue.”

sweaty. “I’m on my way.” I told her as I stormed into the staff room of the café, pulled down the apron and stuffed it inside the locker. Good thing my brother wasn’t around, or else I’d have to give an explanation as

up an excuse for an emergency, hoping like hell she’d fall for

got a call from my sister, Hannah. She’s in trouble, kinda.” I told her. “It’s

with suspicion. “Huh. For once, she’s taken your position

eye-roll. I hated how she enjoyed teasing me. “Can I go? Will you cover for me? If Ryan asks about me, tell him it was an

for a coffee date

had warned me that Stella had a thing for me and it seemed like everyone knew about it, excluding me. Sometimes when we were working together, she’d find a reason to touch my hand or just playfully hit me, things like that. I’d assumed it was just a friendly thing between colleagues. Now, it seemed like that little “rumor” had some truth to

of hot in a dorky way. Trim waist, boobs the size of watermelons, dark hair tied in a ponytail and eyes the shape of almonds. She was nice

A date.