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, just kiss

eyes widened. “Really?

that, and I’m pretty sure Hunter wants that

that we can talk

(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...” after we’d successfully saved our numbers and she’d dumbed the garbage back in her bag, she asked me. “What do you

your nails. Can we paint my

know a great saloon in this mall. We are giving you a mani and a pedi and then we’ll do some makeup for your face.” She declared with a mischievous

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

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

good at it. When I looked at myself in the mirror for the final product,

I looked pretty, right?

Would Hunter like it?

told me 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

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

at me, mostly boys the

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

inside the shop yelled. “What

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

laughed, just like others had. “You’re funny.” He looked me up and down and I really didn’t like the way he was looking at me,

continued to leer at

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

Stupid Blue!

out to her but knew there was no use. There

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 in the morning, the

was going to cry. What if Hannah couldn’t find me and went back home? What if Hunter didn’t bother to

“Hunter.” I whispered.

tears had blurred

an older man with a bushy mustache. He was tall and

my friend.” I

“What’s her name?”

“Hannah.” I said.

I’ll help

eyes widened. “You

as

* * *

Hunter

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

“Hey.” I said.

first thing that my sister said when she answered the call. Hannah answering on the first ring was a clear reason

“What is it?”

“Blue.”

chill ran down my body, and my palms were starting to feel 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 to why I was leaving an hour earlier. The cafe was a family business, my brother Ryan was the in-charge here and

to her and make up an excuse for an emergency, hoping like hell she’d fall for my excuses one last

from my sister, Hannah. She’s in

“Huh. For once, she’s taken your position of falling into

I hated how she enjoyed teasing me. “Can I go? Will you cover

agree for a coffee

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

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

date. It’s a