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?”

ask for permission,

eyes widened. “Really? I can

nothing wrong with that, and I’m pretty sure Hunter wants that

have your number so that we can talk sometimes if

onto the table. Finally she picked the phone out of all the junk. “Save my number. It’s double four...”

like the color of your nails. Can we paint my

you a mani and a pedi and then we’ll do some makeup for your

was too excited for some unknown reason. As decided, we went to the shop called a “beauty saloon”. An hour later, when the lady started dipping my feet inside water, I refused to let them. 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.

tried to hand her the money that Hunter gave me but she waved it off and told me to keep it instead and use it when I wanted

colored dress from one of my purchases. Hannah did some face painting 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

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. I was elated with the idea of

Hannah received a call and she excused herself. “It’ll just take a minute.” She

at me, mostly boys the age of Hunter. I

little shop with a huge ice-cream cone on it. “Ice-Cream!” I shrieked loud. I think some people turned but I kept walking towards the cone. It was humongous and lit up, shinning like a star. I stared at it in awe and reached my hand towards it. If I could reach it, maybe

the shop yelled. “What are you

at the ice-cream on the truck. “I was wondering if I can get that ice-cream.” I pulled

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

leer

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!

out to her but knew there was no use. There was no way she would hear me over the

walking back towards the path I’d walked in but I still couldn’t see her. I remembered I had a spare phone that Hunter had given me. I could call 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 of the shorts that I’d worn

lip trembled, and I knew I was going to cry. What if Hannah couldn’t find me and went back home? What 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

“Hunter.” I whispered.

had blurred

with a bushy mustache. He was

for my friend.”

“What’s her name?”

“Hannah.” I said.

help

eyes widened. “You

as I

* * *

Hunter

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

“Hey.” I said.

first thing that my sister said when she answered the

“What is it?”

“Blue.”

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,

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

my sister, Hannah. She’s in trouble, kinda.” I

me through her Harry Potter glasses with suspicion. “Huh. For

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

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

size of watermelons, dark hair tied in a ponytail and eyes the shape of almonds. She was

date.