Heart of Shell (The Mercrutian Chronicles Book 1) (14 page)

“
Well just so I can keep it for the Sergeant I’m helping.”

“
What would he need a water analysis report for?”

“
Well they were discussing the water information near the spawning point for the Depths and this could be good comparative data.”

I wasn’t completely convinced with his explanation, but Merrick had never lied to me. He never gave me any cause to suspect him of something sinister.

“
Yeah I can print another one Merrick, but you know that this has to stay within the Mer community.”

“
I know,” he said. “I would never jeopardize the work the science Mers do.

“
Here,” I said handing the stack to him and then, keying in another printout. We waited a few minutes for everything to print and I gathered it and stapled it together.

“Well I’m all done here. Did you want to come back with me to the lab? My dad would probably like to say hi.”

“
I’d like to,” he began, “but I should get back to that meeting. I know the Sergeant will want my notes on the Depths and I hid them on him.”

He walked over to me a little stilted before leaning down and kissing my cheek. It felt so formal and unlike the Merrick who had been flirting with me not even ten minutes before.

“Thanks Anya.”

“
You’re welcome Merrick.” I said watching him turn around and leave. Then I had a thought.
Had Merrick only wanted the printout of the information?
Was that why there was the glimmer of deceit from him when he had first spotted me? It didn’t matter though, apparently I was going to keep giving him what he wanted.

My week off for March
break seemed to pass and before I knew it, once again I found myself seated in an English class next to Seth and Evie and listening to Mr. Little speak rapidly about literary tropes.

Class let out, and Seth walked Evie and me to my locker. Lately, he had been hanging out with us after classes more and I suspected it was because he had a crush on one of my friends. The thing was that I couldn't really tell who. He'd become quite the flirt.

“
Seth and I are going to go get some chocolate milk before next period Anya, you want some?” Evie asked.

“
No, but thanks though”, I said

“
Only for you,” Seth added with a wink before he turned and walked with Evie in the direction of the cafeteria. I turned back to my locker and pulled out my art portfolio. This class was going to be a free period, so I wanted to make use of the time I had to get our final project finished.

“
Hey Anya,” His voice brushed against my ears in such a pleasing tone, but I was still annoyed with him for using me for information.

“
What do you want Merrick?” I said turning to him my neck having to crane up higher than I had anticipated. We hadn’t seen each other at all during March break. The one time that we had made tentative plans, he had bailed on me. Seeing him I was caught off guard, he looked even better now than he had the last time. He was taller and filled out more, while my only big change was my shoulder length hair and five pounds in weight. His eyes brightened at my surprise.

“
You’re even taller!” I said, not hiding my disdain.

The corner of his mouth pulled up into a smile. “You’ll have to play catch up pipsqueak.”

My eyes immediately narrowed, and I squared my shoulders placing my hands on my hips.

“Seriously Merrick!” He flicked my nose, and I grabbed his hand annoyed pinching the skin between his fingers as hard as I could.

“
Ouch,” he said shaking his hand before leaning against the lockers behind me. I felt as though his looming height was casting a shadow over my body. “Come on Anya, be nice to me.” He pleaded.

I rolled my eyes. “I am always nice to you.”

He looked at me, and then twisted his mouth, “You are, but you could be nicer.” I always felt gutted when he started to get flirtatious.

“
What do you want?” I repeated.

“
Who says I want anything?” He asked.

“
That look on your face tells me,” I said. “Plus you don’t exactly stop by to say 'hello', now do you?”

He looked a little sad before he spoke. “Am I always like that?”

“
It’s not a big deal Merrick. So...?”

“
Well, could you maybe get me more printouts of that water and fish scale analysis report?”

“
What? No!” I said answering quickly. “What do you even need that for? And don’t tell me a science project. I know you don’t take chemistry.”

“
How do you know I don’t take chemistry?”

“
Oh didn’t you know? I follow the Merrick Price fan page online, that those cute cheerleaders set up.” I pretended to shake pom poms and he snorted, running a hand through his hair.

“
I have an environmental science thing I'm volunteering for and I think the research would help.” I turned and looked at him suspiciously. Pearl had mentioned something about a Wetlands field trip she was going on that she thought I should attend. Maybe they were related.

“
The information is for Mers only Merrick.”

“
Of course Anya, I’m going to be the only one looking at it, I swear.”

Just then, Gina and her friend appeared at the end of the hallway and were making their way in our direction. Merrick followed my eyes and glanced at them before licking his lips almost nervously. “Please babe?”

Babe
? My mind raced, it was the first time he had ever called me by a term of endearment and it was reckless with Gina so close by. I couldn’t lie to myself and pretend that it hadn’t affected me. I actually kind of liked it, and nodded soundlessly before tilting my head towards Gina and speaking with my eyes that he should go.

“
You’re the best.” He said before walking up behind Gina and her friend and joining their conversation.

Ugh! I wanted to wring my hands. Why couldn’t I say no to him?
Because he’s your betrothed dummy
! I yelled at myself mentally.

I had forgotten my Art
book in my locker. How I had managed to do that I wasn't sure, maybe it had to do with my complete lack of coordination that week. I was feeling lonely lately and I didn't know what would have brought such a feeling on. I had been spending a lot of time with my friends so the feeling felt absurd, unnecessary.

Walking down the hallway, I could hear voices speaking intimately. I prayed I wasn't going to stumble upon a couple necking. That would only leave me more reeling. The past couple of weeks had flown by and I felt as though time was speeding ahead dangerously, like if I closed my eyes for too long I would wake up and it would be the summer. At least the weather was improving, but something just didn't sit well with me over March Break. It had been quiet, haunting almost.

“What do you mean, Jericho?” I heard the voice say with a giggle. That voice was familiar, grating, and a shiver crawled up my spine.

“Come, on,” he replied, “forget about that other guy, you know it's me you want. Don't you remember how much fun we had together last weekend? Don't you remember what I did for you?”

I rounded the corner faster, my heart pounding, could it really be who I thought it was. That damn voice that was like nails on a chalkboard every time that pouty mouth opened.

It was Gina!

He was leaning in for a kiss, and her eyes opened wide when she saw me and she swatted him away quickly.

“Jerry, please! I don't know what you're talking about.”

His eyes followed hers to me. Jericho Maitson, captain of the basketball and football teams. He was a senior, graduating this year with a scholarship to a school somewhere out west.

I didn't stare, I knew better, instead, carefully, slowly I moved towards my locker and opened it, thank goodness Evie had put a mirror up in there. I pretended to put on my lip gloss and then rummage for my art book. I heard the heaviest sign escape from what could only be a male.

“G, I'm getting sick of these secrets,” he said trying to be low enough so that I would not hear. “I'll see you after school,” he said and let out another huge sigh before I heard the shuffle of his clothing as he left.

Had it been anyone else I would have been embarrassed for stumbling upon them. Instead I was intrigued.
Did she know that Merrick had kissed me?
I supposed that he and I weren't any better. Then again, I had no idea what Gina and Merrick's arrangement involved. I only knew that Merrick was going to be my husband.

“Anna?” I heard behind me.

“Uhhh,” that made it worse. I turned around really slowly.

“Look that wasn't what you thought at all,” she said to me her chin tilted high.

“Oh?” I ask, “mind reader, are you? So what was I thinking G-Dog?” I wasn't impressed with her attitude. I looked her straight in the eye.

She seemed to weaken for a moment before she caught herself and shook it off. “Whatever, look Jericho is just a family friend, so it's not really any of your business what we were talking about.”

She was right about that, it wasn't any of my business, and it was sure as shell something that I did not want to know more about. The only thing on my mind at that moment, was Merrick.
Did he know Gina was hanging out with Jericho Maitson in empty hallways during class time? Would it hurt him? Should I tell him?

“Look, just forget whatever you saw here, or you'll be sorry.” Gina looked down her nose at me. She was threatening me, and yet all I could feel was amusement. “No one would believe you anyway.” She turned on her heel and started to walk away.

“You're right Gina,” I said, stopping her from going further. I couldn't stop myself, the words came spilling out before I could reel them back in. She glanced back at me puzzled.

“No one would ever believe that Jericho Maitland was interested in you.”

I don't know why I did it, but I did. In that one cruel moment, I had stooped to her level and attacked her self-esteem. I thought she was going to attack me, like a vicious dog attacking its prey. Her face twisted into the starting of her pounce, but we were interrupted.

“Ladies, are we having a social meeting in the hallway?” It was Mrs. Humpries, the school guidance counsellor.

“No, Mrs. Humpries, we are not,” I answered calmly. “I came to get my art book.” and then flashed her my hall pass. I had baited her, yes, but Gina always seemed to have a case of the crazies around me. It didn't take much to bring her from zero to one hundred on the anger scale with me.

“Ummm I was just headed to class Mrs. H,” Gina said swallowing nervously.

I didn't want to stick around to witness. Mrs Humpries was a stickler, and hated it when students called her Mrs. H, I knew that Gina was going to get detention. There was no need for me to watch her awkward moment.  I had a feeling that if I took any longer, anyway, my art teacher would start to get concerned.

By the end of the
month, I was ready to give Merrick the research that he needed. I had managed to get it the following day, but I wanted to be able to talk to him alone. I didn’t feel comfortable just handing it to him in the hallway with Gina and a bunch of his male Mer friends around. I also didn’t want Pearl to know what I had done. Even though there was nothing bad about my actions, it felt like it should remain secretive between Merrick and I, so I couldn’t give it to her to give to him. Since Rayne had finished high school a semester early, Pearl and I spent a lot more time in the library together now, and both of us saw Merrick during school less and less.

I took a deep breath and walked down the hall near the entrance where Merrick’s locker was and where I knew he would be at the beginning of his lunch break. I wasn’t lucky enough to catch him alone. He was surrounded by his and Gina’s friends. I approached them slowly.

“
Oh watch out Merrick, whale incoming!” Murdock teased turning his attention to me. “Hey Anya, did you eat any krill today?” He added making weird snacking noises.

I shook my head in disgust. Since I was still quite small, Murdock had taken to making fun of my weight by calling me a whale. How his metaphor worked- I didn’t know, but the other Mers in his crew seemed to find it funny regardless. I couldn’t wait to fill out properly. I had only gained ten pounds since my scaling and that wasn’t enough to show much on me- at all. Mermaids are supposed to be well insulated, we swim in the coldest depths of the ocean, but I was tired of feeling bad for something I couldn't control. Now that I had transcended, it would only be a matter of time before I looked like a true mermaid. I was so irritated by the time I stopped in front of Merrick’s turned back, that I didn’t care that Gina and her friends were standing there, I shot an insult back to Murdock in
Mecrutian
. I knew I probably shouldn't have lowered myself to his level, but my temper got the best of me. 

Some of his friends snickered, and through his laughing at Murdock, Havelock managed to say, “Ooooo burn!”

“
What did she just say?” Gina asked and Murdock’s eyes darkened.

“
It doesn’t matter,” he said wiping his nose as though he were completely offended.

“
You asked for that,” Merrick said.

“
Look, Merrick,” I said trying to control my voice, “can I talk to you for a sec? I have that info you needed.”

“
No, you may not talk to my boyfriend,” Gina said. “We have lunch plans, skeletor.” She crossed her arms and stepped in front of Merrick.

Everything that she said stung. Boyfriend. Skeletor. My jaw ticked and I knew my eyes went dark. I licked my lips annoyed with her presence. I would have liked to throw some magic on her, but I would never live it down in the Mer community. Plus, I had to be the bigger person. I had been so far, why would I change.

“Whatever, enjoy your lunch, G-Dog.”

I saluted her and moved on. As I walked away I could hear Merrick speak loudly. “Why do you have to be that way Gina? She was doing me a favour.”

I had made it halfway down the hall when a strong arm was pulling me around. Merrick brushed his hair out of his face.

“
I’m sorry about that babe, you didn’t deserve that.” His eyes were soft. I was still frowning, but when Merrick called me babe it was like every bad feeling went away and I melted a little on the inside.

“
Wanna turn that frown upside down?” He asked with his usual charm.

I pulled out the papers from my book bag and swatted him in the shoulder with them before I handed them over. He was looking at them carefully, and nodded his head in approval.

Before I could stop myself the question blurted out of my mouth. “Do you call Gina babe too?” I tucked a stray hair behind my ear, but it fell forward again in rebellion.

“
No,” he said looking up from the papers. “I call Gina, Gina.”

“
Why not sweetie, or cupcake, or love muffin?” I asked wanting to know what exactly she was to him. I had experienced firsthand part of what he felt for her when we had been skating, but he was different with the both of us.

“
Love muffin?” he questioned before he continued, “those would all suggest she’s sweet.”

“
Yeah,” I said, “they’re terms of endearment.”

His eyes had a sparkle as he spoke. “Well she’s not exactly sweet, now is she?” He spoke again before I could, wiggling the papers. “Listen, thanks for these.”

“
Wait,” I said, trying to stop him before he returned to them.

Over March break I had taken the time to carve a shell pendant with Merrick’s name on it in
Mecrutian.
I had planned to give it to him early on the platonic date we had scheduled that never came to fruition. His birthday was the last day of the month and even though that was a few days away, I had a feeling I probably wouldn’t see him again for some time. I had hung it on a black leather cord to set off the iridescent blues in the white of the surface. He watched me closely as I lifted the necklace from my beneath sweater and pulled it over my head.

“
Happy early Birthday Merrick,” I said holding my hand out to him with the wrapped up necklace hidden beneath my fingers. Gina had kept glancing over at us, but she had been distracted long enough with one of her friends while I had taken it off, to miss me placing it into my palm.

“I made it, so don’t throw it out,” I said wondering if he would ever wear it. He reached out and took it delicately from my hand.

“
Thank you Anya,” he said sliding it into his pocket. Then he turned around and headed back to his crew. I watched him walk away, I didn’t care if Gina saw me and when he glanced back at me there was surprise in his eyes that I had been so bold. I was no longer annoyed or angry so I gave him a slow and sassy smile as best I could. Gina could chew on that during their lunch, and I didn’t really care, not even if it landed Merrick in hot water with her.

For a moment, I thought he might frown or give me a dirty look for being so reckless, but instead he just stared at me, that same look that made my insides melt until Gina grabbed his arm and pulled him out the door.

Merrick kept his distance
for the entire months of April and May. The few times we had spoken had been in the school hallways and our conversations hadn't been about much of anything. Idle chit chat about the weather or his sisters. Part of me regretted ever giving him that stupid necklace. Pearl had said that I shouldn’t take it personally. He was busy with driving lessons, and shopping for a motorcycle or a car so that was taking up most of his time. Not to mention the fact that Gina was as demanding as ever.

I dreamed of him, often. It was the same dream continuing over and over again. I was on the beach, him in the water, bathed in moonlight and me never quite reaching him. The tide always pulled him away from me, the closer I tried to get. Finally though, in my most recent dream, I had reached him and he had embraced me, and it was then I realized that his tail was far paler than the colour I had expected. It was silver and glinting off the rays of moon beams. He had wrapped his arms around me ,and we sank down beneath the surface, his mouth kissing mine as we fell into the blackness below. Deeper and deeper, we drifted down, until I could see only the faint outline of him before me, and the only warmth I felt was from his touch. I could faintly see his hair float up and wisp out, and then all of a sudden, a light pierced through the darkness. It was coming from his chest and when it dimmed slightly, relieving the ache in my eyes I realized it was from the heart of shell I had carved for him. It had melded with his flesh. We slowly floated back up to the surface, and as the water slid off of us there were voices, threatening and angry, calling to us from the shore. When I turned to see them, I awoke.

The dream had haunted me for days and it was like Merrick somehow knew that I was thinking of him because I didn’t see him that week, not even once at school in the hallways. I scolded myself every time my eyes searched for him, but I couldn’t help it, I had felt such peace and joy with him in the dream, in his arms that I wanted to see him, even if it was just for one moment. School kept on though, and I charged my way through it, distracting myself by putting all my efforts into my work. I was the one planning to leave soon for the summer, but I still couldn’t help, but feel like I was the one rejected.

It was a beautiful summer
day in the last week of school, but neither of us, Pearl or me, had felt much like basking in the sun. So  we had both retreated to the school library where we hid in the stacks and pulled out interesting Art History books and Photography compilations. My mood seemed to match Pearl’s.

Even though Merlin and her would spend most of the summer together, he had found out that his training was extending an extra two weeks because of some storms in the South Pacific.  There was an attack on a Mer village by the Depths. His instructors had been recruited to help in the fight, and so all of the students in his training class had to wait for their dismissal.

She felt as though she should be excited that she would see him soon, but the extra few weeks of waiting were hard on her already saddened Mer soul. Rayne had left early, planned to finish her schooling so that she could be with her mate. It was harder for them to be apart. Even Coral and Murdock had grown closer, and he had taken her out on a few dates lately with the hopes that the two of them could at least become amicable. It seemed as though things were better between them, and at least Coral distracted him from annoying me. I wondered why Merrick and I didn’t feel the same draw to one another, though at moments like this I knew that we'd been apart for too long. I craved seeing him, worse than a chocolate craving and nothing seemed to help.

“
How can you spend the whole summer away?” Pearl asked me for the fifth time that day. Only this time I didn’t elaborate on what an excellent opportunity it was to get the placement, or the fact that the beach in Cap Pele was gorgeous, or that I had plans to explore as much of New Brunswick as I could on my weekends off, instead I simply answered what my mood made me feel.
“
I don’t know.”

“
You’ll come back,” she said with a happier tone, noticing my tinge of sadness.

“
I will.” I said.

“
Thank goodness,” she said with a smile, she leaned her head towards me and I tilted mine so that we were braced against each other affectionately.

“
I’m going to miss him,” I admitted, “a lot.”

“
He’ll miss you too.” She said and almost had me convinced.

“
No, he’ll have Gina,” I said. “He’ll be fine.”

“
She’s not the same as you Anya. She can’t compare.”

I nodded and puffed out a breath, but honestly I wasn’t convinced.