Teenage Mermaid (6 page)

W
here were the senior bullies when I really needed one? To shove me into a locker and put me out of my misery! I'd blown everything. In one period my humiliation would have spread like a computer virus! Chainsaw and Robin would have ten minutes of new jokes on me. But really, what did that matter? Only
her
opinion mattered. And she had seen everything through those angel blue eyes.

I had to get away. The beach was my only solace, my surfboard my only friend.

W
hy did Earthdude run off? Maybe he didn't recognize me. Did I blend in that well with the other Earthees? Maybe Madame Pearl's potion had worked too well.

I ran to the back of Seaside High, where I finally found the stadium. Thirty Earthteens sprinted around the track. Everyone was wearing white shirts and blue shorts. And not one of them sported blue hair.

I saw a group of students sitting on the steps.

Exhausted, I tried to catch my breath. A girl sitting on the first step was engrossed in a book.

“Did you see a guy with blue hair?” I asked her.

She shook her head, not taking her eyes off the book. Seaside's white-and-blue band could have noisily
paraded right by her and she wouldn't have looked up.

“What time is it?” I asked.

She held the book with one arm and extended her other, exposing her watch. Eleven forty-five.

I couldn't see the ocean from here, but I could feel it calling me. I had been so close to completing my mission, and now success seemed so far away. I couldn't spend any more time scouring the Earth. My necklace and my Earthdude had disappeared.

I only had one choice. I had to go home! Tell Waverly all my new experiences—Earthdudes in blue jeans, Earthdudettes with different-colored toenails, and me walking through a crowded corridor instead of swimming through a winding tunnel. But worse, I'd have to confess to the crime of borrowing and losing a family heirloom. Take all that was due me, and remember my Earthly experience with melancholy, far underneath the waves in a frigid boarding school in the Atlantic.

I could feel the ocean's waves inside me. I took off my shoes and walked down Seaside High's warm paved road, wanting to feel all there was to feel through my Earthly feet for the last time. I found the warm, grainy sand comforting, yet sad. I was leaving my dreams behind, as I made my way down the sandy beachfront. I passed the lifeguard stand and raced along the tide, not letting it catch my feet. Out of
breath, I climbed up on the rocks underneath the pier, my sandals swinging from my fingers. I leaned over the water's edge, imagining what it would be like to have the water tickle my toes.

I wondered if I would now be a famous merexplorer, celebrated throughout Pacific Reef's history as the one who made it back, winning awards, featured on talk shows, pictured in encyclopedias—but knowing in reality that I'd only be able to tell Waverly of my experience. I stood up and, for one final time, gazed back at my new world and all its beauty—Seaside High peering over the hill, palm trees extending their branches to the sky, happy tourists sunning underneath the glistening sun.

And outside Mickey's Surfboard Hut—one Earthdude with illuminating blue hair!

It couldn't be.

I raced back over the rocks, jumped onto the warm sand, and ran as hard as I could.

“It's me!” I proclaimed, waving my arms. “It's me!”

Out of breath, I finally reached my Earthdude, who stared wide-eyed, like he was drowning again.

I
didn't recognize her sweet voice at first. I'd only seen her—glistening underwater, sparkling through an algebra classroom window, and giggling in Hanover's class. Now she was standing in front of me almost out of breath herself.

What could I say to her now that I had the chance? I had waited what seemed like an eternity to see her again. Hadn't I made a fool of myself enough today?

Still, I was elated. While she recovered her breath and pushed back her hair, I wished it were my hand exposing her perfect face. A million questions raced through my mind. Had she seen my ad? Where was she from? What was she doing in the ocean yesterday? I could barely believe that this beauty had
pressed her savory lips on mine! But the words turned to alphabet soup when I opened my mouth.

“You know who I am, don't you?” she asked forcefully.

I now realized why she was here. Not to let me thank her, like I'd originally intended, but just to get her necklace back.

I nervously fingered the chain in my pocket, as if I had ripped it off from a jewelry store. “I waited at the stadium. Did you get my note?”

“Yes, but I overslept. I looked all over school for you,” she said, agitated. “But I thought your hair was dark red.”

“I change it every week.”

“Is that normal? Do you change your name every week, too?”

“It's normal for me. But my name's always Spencer.”

“Well, Spencer, can I have the necklace?” she asked suddenly.

If I returned it to her now, I'd lose her. She'd show up for school tomorrow, hand in hand with Calvin Todd. I'd be destined for the rest of my high-school days to watch her sparkling smile radiate toward him at football games as he scored touchdowns and more. I only had one choice. “You saved my life, and I don't even know your name,” I said urgently.

“Well…people around here call me Candy.”

“Candy, I wanted to ask you something first. Before I give you back the necklace,” I began, my grip slipping on the surfboard as I tried to muster up courage. “I'd like to pay you—”

“I don't want money,” she insisted. “I want my necklace.”

“But I want to thank you, properly. After school…Take you to the pier for dinner…Then I'll give it back.”

She didn't respond, but impatiently looked toward the ocean.

“What's your favorite restaurant?”

“I can't stay for dinner,” she blurted out.

I glanced around, wishing Chainsaw were here. What would he say now? Then I noticed the Starbucks on the pier. “Then how about a cup a coffee now, on the pier?”

She looked up with sudden interest. “I've never been on the pier before.”

“There's a first time for everything,” I said, leading her to my favorite hangout.

I
had a few hours left before my potion lost its effect, but for safe measure my plan was this: spend a little time with Earthdude—I mean Spencer—make him feel he's not indebted to me anymore, and at the same time catch a few more Earthly sights, smells, and tastes. After half an hour, I'll say, “It's been great, thanks, gotta go.” He'll hand over great-grandpa's necklace, and when he looks away for a second, I'll dive safely back into the water.

I was overwhelmed by the pier's magical brilliance. Previously I had only glimpsed it from the rocks below or viewed it from the ocean, miles away. And now it was within my reach. A huge white wheel with red and silver dangling chairs stood in the distance,
nautical shops lined the boardwalk, and tiny huts sold T-shirts, sunglasses, and shell necklaces.

I wheezed from climbing the stairs and leaned on the boardwalk railing that overlooked the ocean, trying to recover my breath.

“What kind of coffee do you like?” Spencer asked kindly, leading me into a shop with a freakish mermaid on the sign.

Latte, Frappuccino, cappuccino. The funny words I read meant nothing to me. I didn't even know what coffee was! “I'll have whatever you have,” I said.

“Two double lattes,” he ordered.

I'd never thought I'd even visit Earth for a minute, much less a day, and here I was standing in a shop ordering drinks!

I ran my fingers over everything—drinking cups, bottles, hardened treats inside beautiful papers. I gazed at objects shaped like sponges and sea cucumbers beneath a glass counter.

“Want something?” he offered, close behind me.

“Do you?” I asked, looking for guidance.

“Sure. But you pick this time. Anything in the store,” he said proudly.

I was overwhelmed with choices and scanned the counter. There were mudlike squares displayed on a dish, a jar filled with red and white striped tubes.
Overwhelmed, I pointed to a solid white cup with a black label.

“I'd love some tips!” I exclaimed.

“You're hilarious!” he said, as he and the perky counter girl laughed at my choice.

“Two scones, please,” he ordered, pointing to a puffy sand-colored orb inside the case.

He led me outside where we sat on a wide wooden bench facing the ocean. I ingested my Earthly world at the same time I ingested my hardened spongy scone. Children ran along the beach, a young couple splashed each other in the water, two elderly Earthees walked arm in arm, an athletic man ran along the shoreline with his panting black dog.

“So tell me everything,” Spencer began between bites. “Were you swimming or surfing the other day? Where did you live? Why did you transfer? Where do you live now?”

“Uh…I live west.”

“By the planetarium?”

“Closer to the beach…”

“Oh…by Yates Bluff.”

“What about you?” I asked, as a seagull called out overhead.

“I live with my dad in Pacific Cliffs.”

“What about your mother?”

“My mom left us when I was a kid.”

“Do you ever see her?”

“No. In fact, I never even got to say good-bye to her.”

“You never got to say good-bye?”

“She ran off with a used car salesman. My dad wanted her to trade in our Chevy and she traded him instead. Now we only buy new cars!” he said, laughing.

“But that's so sad. Where I'm from nobody ever leaves anyone—”

“I pretty much raised myself with the help of my friend Chainsaw, my surfboard, and a Blockbuster card.”

“A Blockbuster card?” I asked.

“What's your story, Candy?”

“Uh…me? I like to swim, my parents get majorly on my nerves, I hate high school. And I have a best friend, Waverly. But my life is so boring! It's not worth asking about. Can't we just sit?” I asked. “It's been a long day.”

“Oh, sure,” he said, leaning back and staring off toward the ocean.

“Besides, I'd rather know about you. Do you hang here often?”

“Not during school. But don't worry. Seaside's a tourist trap, so no one really can tell who's who if you skip out of class. A major mistake, if you ask me, to
have a school so close to a beach.”

I stared up at his chiseled face, the light in his eyes. I'd been so distracted with these spectacular Earthly sights, that I failed to notice the spectacular sight right in front of me.

Spencer caught my gaze and, embarrassed, I turned away. “Well, Spencer…it's been…”

“Don't you like your coffee?” he asked, breaking the white plastic rim of his own cup into tiny pieces.

“Uh, sure,” I said. I took a gulp and almost choked.

“Are you okay?”

“It tastes like mud!”

His eyes sparkled when he laughed, as if I had said the cutest thing he'd ever heard.

“I'll get you some water,” he offered with a smile. “You sit tight.”

“That's okay. I have to—” I began. But he bolted off.

I leaned back on the bench and pulled my legs up and hugged them with all my might. Spencer was really special. I felt drawn to him the same way I felt drawn to the ocean. I wondered what it would be like to sit in class with him every day, have him teach me to surf, lie in the grass and look up at the puffy clouds. But he'd be returning with my water and I'd have to get my necklace and leave.

I felt a tap on my shoulder.

“Yeah, Spencer?” I said, turning around.

“Can you spare some change?” a scruffy man asked.

I felt frightened. Where was Spencer? Would the man hurt me since I didn't have any coins? Did he have a knife? I felt like I was in the Underworld again without shark mace.

“I'm sorry, I don't have any money with me,” I confessed. “But you're welcome to this,” I said, handing him my coffee.

“Hey, Candy,” Spencer called, anxiously running back.

“Thank you, miss,” the man said, his withered face lighting up like the sun. He took the coffee as Spencer approached. “Most people don't even make eye contact!” said the man as he turned to leave.

The man turned his attention to Spencer.

“She has a pretty smile and a gracious heart. Don't let her get away,” he said, and sauntered off.

“Speaking of leaving,” I began, rising. “It's been totally—”

“But I don't know anything about you,” he said, handing me the plastic bottle. “Here, everyone likes water.”

“I can't live without it!” I said, laughing at my inside joke. He smiled fondly. I twisted off the cap, like I'd seen an Earthlady do earlier, and I sucked it down in one gulp.

Spencer gave me the same look that Earthlady had. “Man, you must be thirsty!”

I smiled and shrugged my shoulders. He leaned his arm against the railing, blocking my escape. I glanced down at his
Abbey Road
T-shirt.

“I have that compact disc at home,” I said.

His eyes widened. “No way. You like the Beatles? So many girls at school are only wiggy about current bands. But the Beatles were real musicians!”

“The Beatles, the ocean, saving you. You might say we're connected,” I said.

His face flushed and he immediately took a sip of his latte. A freakish mermaid on the side of the cup stared me in the face.

“Mermaids don't have two tails!” I said, looking at the drawing. “And crowns are so five cycles ago!” I rolled my eyes.

“You're funny,” he said, with a laugh. “You know what? My best friend thinks you're a mermaid!”

I gasped. Was my identity obvious? Had he known all along? But Spencer's grin reassured me that he was only joking.

“Do you believe in mermaids?” I asked playfully, but secretly hoping for a positive response.

“Like I believe in trolls and gnomes!” he exclaimed.

We both laughed. He had the cutest smile, the corners of his mouth turned up sweetly. I wondered what
it would be like to kiss his lips out of the water, to touch his face, his wild blue hair. But he averted his eyes toward the sea.

“Well…I better—” I said.

“It's funny,” he began, “but when I saw you underwater I thought—”

“That I was a troll?”

“It must have been the lack of oxygen,” he said, with reservation. “But I thought I saw a ta—”

“Really, I should be—”

“Why were you swimming so early, anyway?” he asked.

“I love swimming,” I defended. “I prefer it to walking.”

“Yeah.” He smiled. “Me, too!”

He stared at me, his eyes mixed with passion and nervousness.

“Why did you transfer to Seaside?” he asked, looking at a ship on the horizon.

“It was either that or the Atlantic,” I replied truthfully enough, placing my foot on the railing so that it was almost touching his.

Spencer was so different. And not just because he was an Earthee. He was different from every soul I had ever encountered. I felt a connection without our sharing words, a connection just sharing space.

“So, is Calvin your boyfriend?” he asked in a halting voice.

“Are you kidding? He's so like the dudes back home. He was just trying to help me find you.”

“Well…then I should thank him,” he said sweetly. He looked to the ocean.

I felt a strange pulse deep inside my veins. I could tell by the sun that it was after one o'clock. The moon was on the rise. “I wish I could stay longer,” I said, trying to push past him.

But he didn't budge and instead grabbed my hand and led me into Seaside Arcade—a room filled with metal machines, flashing lights, and loud, wild sounds. “This is my favorite place in the world, besides the beach.”

I covered my ears.

He stuck four coins into a model of a motorboat and told me to sit inside and steer the wheel. He then got into the next boat.

“Ready?”

“Of course!” I said, having no idea what I was in for. I looked at the screen, but my boat wasn't going anywhere. Then I noticed Spencer was pressing a pedal on the floor, so I copied his moves. My boat began to move. It was wild pretending to be on top of the water, instead of deep below the surface. But I soon
crashed into another boat whose driver flew overboard.

“Oh, no!” I screamed. “What do I do now?”

“Drive on!” he said, shifting his stick.

“But the man's drowning!”

“You can't save everyone,” Spencer teased, swerving to avoid a lighthouse.

G
AME
O
VER
lit up on my screen. My boat no longer moved. While Spencer continued to drive his own boat, I decided to explore the rest of the arcade.

I had heard of guns. I'd even seen some rusted cannons at our Pacific Museum. But these two were pointing at a screen of ghosts.

“Wanna play?” Spencer asked, catching up to me.

I nodded, curious.

Ghosts floated in front of us, like delirious mermen. We had to shoot them. My stomach turned over as red blood squirted out from their gun wounds and their heads popped off. By mistake I shot a girl with yellow hair. “You play,” I said, and handed Spencer the gun.

“I'm sorry,” he said, following me through the maze of games. “I wanted to show you a good time, but we're just doing things I want to do.”

I stood mesmerized in front of brightly colored fuzzy animals in a glass case. I tapped the glass, but the animals didn't move. It took me a moment to
realize they weren't real.

“Which one do you like?”

I pointed to a wide-eyed pink swan.

Spencer maneuvered two white controls on the machine, and a metal crablike claw grabbed the pink fluffy swan and dropped it. Spencer picked the toy out of the chute and proudly handed it to me.

“I love it!” I exclaimed, squeezing it to my chest. “It's the softest thing I've ever touched besides—” I began, as our eyes met.

I wanted to say “your lips.” He stared at me with soulful eyes. But I felt a sharp pain shooting through my veins.

“Besides?” he asked, grabbing my arm.

“I gotta go!” I exclaimed, turning away from him and walking out of the arcade.

“But it's only one-thirty,” he said, following me along the pier. “What about a ride?” he asked, pointing to a huge wheel with swinging chairs that touched the sky. “You can stay another three minutes.”

“Well…”

I was enjoying Earth. I would have stayed forever if I could. I wanted to touch, see, smell, and hear everything. What was so important at home that it couldn't wait for a three-minute ride? “Okay!”

Spencer ran to get tickets and came back with a huge blue weblike substance on a stick as well.

“Candy for Candy.” He laughed, handing me the stick.

We sat close on the ride. I could feel my legs against his blue pants.

I stuck my finger in the soft weblike treat. Sweet grains slithered on my tongue. “This is amazing—what is it?”

“Don't tell me you've never eaten cotton candy!” he said, taking a bite of the blue cloud.

Suddenly we lifted off the ground. I grabbed Spencer's arm for dear life as we swung into the air. I had never seen a view of the world like this before!

“I feel like a bird!” I said, wide-eyed, when we reached the top.

“You've never been on a Ferris wheel?”

“I've never been higher than the rocks at the pier,” I confessed in my excitement. “Look, there's Seaside High School! Look at the students! They're so tiny!” I exclaimed, pointing. “They look like sea horses!”

“Everyone else says ants. You're totally clever.”

“Yeah…ants,” I corrected myself.

“You really have a unique view of the world. You say things no one else would ever say. You do things no one else would ever do.”

“Like saving you?” I said, looking at him.

His face turned red. Now he was the one who looked down, pointing. “Hey, look at the steroid-
buffed lifeguards! They don't look so big from up here.”