Underwater

by Doe, Anna B.

  I hear them laugh softly at something, the sound filling the air around us and making my teeth grit.

  What is she doing out? Isn’t she supposed to come out just once? On the night of the full moon? I tilt my head back, looking at the sky, the new moon barely visible on the dark sky.

  When I turn my head back, completely confused with what is happening, I wish I had never looked away from the sky.

  Caleb’s head is turned sideways to look at her. Nymph is watching him through her lashes, smiling shyly. After that, everything happens in slow motion.

  Caleb blinks a few times, like he’s trying to see her clearly. His hand cups her cheek, brushing away the runaway strand of her hair and he leans in. His eyelids fall shut as his lips touch hers in the softest of kisses.

  My heartbeat slows down until I can’t feel it against my chest anymore. But that’s not possible. I’m still alive, still breathing. If I’m still breathing, that means my heart has to keep beating, right?

  I put my hand over my mouth the stop the painful sob from getting out. Sob after sob hushed by the barrier I put up so they wouldn’t hear me. Wouldn’t see me.

  The tears roll down my cheeks.

  Big and heavy.

  This isn’t happening.

  This can’t be happening.

  She can’t have him.

  Not Caleb.

  I dive in and let it all out.

  Hidden beneath the ocean, where nobody can hear me, where nobody can see me, I let it all out. Scream after painful scream as my tears mix with the salty water around me.

  I let it all out.

  The hurt.

  The confusion.

  The loneliness.

  All of it.

  Until nothing else is left, just the pieces of my broken heart.

  CALEB

  I laugh hard, my mind hazy. I’m not sure what she said exactly, but it feels good to just let go and relax. It’s been so long since I’ve done that.

  She whispers something in my ear, long, loose curls brushing against my shoulder and making me shiver. Her sweet scent surrounds me. It’s strong and overwhelming.

  The laughter dies and I blink, trying to drive away the dizziness. My eyelids feel heavy, so heavy it’s hard to keep them open.

  What is wrong with me?

  It almost feels like I’m drunk, only I didn’t drink anything. Or did I?

  Once I fight through the blurriness, I see her sitting next to me. So close her thigh is brushing against mine.

  When did she get so close?

  Why is she so close?

  We met just a while ago, and although I didn’t want any company, it was hard to resist her pull and light jokes, so I gave in. She sat next to me while we talked about everything and nothing in particular. Only now, it doesn’t seem like such a good idea.

  She bats her eyelashes at me, nibbling at her lower lip. Her eyes fall to my mouth, and I know what she wants. Maybe I should give in. Maybe she’ll help me forget about Marissa and move on.

  Her tongue darts out to wet her lips as she leans in. I inhale sharply, waiting for the first touch of her lips against mine.

  Her scent overwhelms me as she comes closer. A scent so sweet, so… wrong.

  I can feel her body heat next to mine, when I put my hand between us.

  This is wrong.

  So freaking wrong.

  “I can’t…” I rasp, moving away.

  She stumbles backward, looking at me with big, wide eyes. Eyes that remind me so much of Marissa’s, only they’re not. She isn’t Marissa. And Mar, my Mar, is the only girl I want. The only girl I’ve ever wanted. The only girl I’ve ever loved.

  “But… why?”

  “Because this is all fucked-up. I’m sorry, I have to go.”

  Getting quickly to my feet, I hurry away as fast as I can. With every step I take in the other direction, my mind becomes just a tad clearer and I feel weight lift off my shoulders. I didn’t fuck it up. Thank god I didn’t fuck it up. Because maybe, just maybe there is still a chance…

  MARISSA

  I don’t know how long I stay underwater, safe from everything waiting for me on land. If I could, I would stay out here forever.

  Away from all the noise and all the people.

  Away from the secrets and lies.

  Broken promises and broken hearts.

  But I can’t. If for nothing else, I can’t let her win. Not now. Not when she broke the rules. Or maybe she didn’t. Maybe she just didn’t tell me all the rules before we started playing our game. Just like she didn’t tell me what was on the line when I asked for her help to save Ty.

  Just a game.

  That’s what this is for her, just a stupid game.

  Well, I’m not letting her come out a winner.

  With that thought in mind, I drag my tired body out of the ocean and onto the beach where reality is waiting for me. I take the towel to dry my body so it can become human again.

  Just as I’m slipping my dress on, I can hear footsteps nearing.

  I don’t have to turn around to know who’s behind me. By now, I’ve become accustomed to the sound of her footsteps and the strong smell of the ocean surrounding her. The overwhelming saltiness that fills the air is nothing like the light scent surrounding Caleb.

  “I thought you got your legs once every full moon,” I say, not turning around to grace her with my undivided attention.

  “True,” she agrees, walking toward the ocean. She stops at the very edge, looking in the distance. “But the more time passes, the more time you spend in the ocean as a mermaid, the more I get the chance to walk on land.”

  “And you conveniently forgot to mention that.”

  Nymph shrugs nonchalantly. “It slipped my mind.”

  Slipped my mind, my ass.

  Grandpa was right; you can’t bargain with ocean creatures. They are greedy beings that only care about what they can get out of the deal, and they’ll stop at nothing to get it.

  Predators.

  “Riiight…” I drag, looking at her carefully. “Just like you, oh so accidently, slipped and fell into Caleb’s lap, your lips landing on his.”

  “What…” She turns around, eyes so similar to mine staring daggers my way. Well, honey, two can play this game.

  “Stay away from my friends and family,” I warn her, my voice low and filled with repressed anger. “You don’t belong here.”

  Green eyes take me in from head to toe, shining like they’re looking at me for the first time. And maybe she is. Maybe now’s the first time she actually sees me like more than just a silly girl who’d do anything to save the boy she loves.

  “You think you can stop me?” Her head falls back in laughter as she turns away from me. “You have less than two weeks silly girl. Do you really think that’s enough time to change the destiny? The necklace is almost black, you spend more time in the ocean then you do on the land…”

  She’s too concentrated on her tirade to see me coming. Like a silent wave, I sneak up on her. My hands land on her shoulders and I use all the strength I have in me, all the frustration and anger, to push her into the ocean.

  “Watch me,” I say, lifting my chin higher once she emerges spluttering the water that entered her lungs. There is no way I’m giving her my legs. No way I’m letting her and her scheming ways win this stupid game we’re playing. “Now go back to where you came from. You don’t belong here. I do.”

  Her eyes darken to the color of the ocean in the storm, narrowing into tight slits. She’s pissed; it’s rolling off of her in waves. But I don’t care, because I’m pissed, too. Pissed that she tricked me into asking for her help. Pissed that she decided to play God with my destiny. Pissed that she offered me something so magical and beautiful, something so hard to resist, yet so dangerous to want. Pissed she decided to play with my friends and my heart. Just pissed. At her. At myself. At life.

  “You don’t know who you’re messing with,” she hisses as her legs turn into a tail in f
ront of my eyes.

  Now, looking at her like this, at my feet, she doesn’t look like she did the first night I met her. She’s just a washed-out, petty version of a once beautiful and powerful creature.

  “No, you don’t know who you’re messing with.” I take a step back, getting away from the wave coming at us. “But you’re about to find out.”

  Marissa

  “You girls look beautiful.”

  I turn around and find my mom leaning against the doorway. Her eyes are filled with unshed tears while a soft smile curls her lips.

  “Thank you, Mom.”

  “Thanks, Mrs. D!” Noel throws over her shoulder, hurrying to the bathroom in a cloud of pink silk.

  I twirl around, looking at my reflection in a floor-to-ceiling mirror. “Too much?”

  Mom comes behind me, her hands landing on my shoulders as she looks at our reflection. “It’s perfect. This color suits you, makes your eyes stand out.”

  “It does, doesn’t it?” I smile softly.

  Since I didn’t plan on going to prom until the very last minute, Noel took me shopping last week. She had her dress picked out months in advance, although she didn’t know she’d have a date. But as she kindly informed me while we were searching for my dress, she planned to go with or without a date from the start. The girl has balls, I’ll give her that.

  It was so last-minute that all the good stuff was sold—Noel’s words, not mine—but I did manage to find this beauty hidden in one of the smaller boutiques.

  The dress was made from the most delicate of silk in an aqua-green color that looked like it was made for me. The upper part was tight, adorned in elegant embroidery with sparkly jewels and small seashells. Short, barely-there sleeves cover my shoulders and it buttons at the nape of my neck, leaving my back bare. From the waist down, the material falls evenly, hugging my legs. I even went all out and bought matching cream-white high heels to go with the dress.

  “You look like an ocean goddess. It’s a shame Tutu missed it.”

  The analogy to the ocean goddess is like a stab in the gut, a reminder that this is it. Tonight is the last night. Uneasiness that I’ve been trying to hide the last few days rises to the surface, making my stomach queasy.

  Light falls over the charm that hangs around my neck. It’s now completely black, with just a trace of dark azure at the very top.

  Nervously swallowing the lump in my throat, I turn around and pull my mom for a hug.

  “I love you, Mom,” I whisper softly into her hair.

  She pats me on the back, chuckling lightly. “Hey, now… why so mushy all of a sudden?”

  I laugh, playing it off, although deep down I know this may be the last time I see her. The last time I get to hug her and tell her I love her.

  Yes, I’m going to prom with Ty, but does that mean I broke the curse? No, far from it.

  If, by that time, you get the boy who owns your heart to confess his love to you, the spell will be broken and you’ll be human again.

  The words that the nymph told me not so long ago echo in my mind. What if it’s one of her games? What if getting Ty to confess his love isn’t the key to breaking the curse? She lied about other stuff, so there is no guarantee she didn’t lie about this.

  The necklace is almost black, I remind myself. It has to mean something.

  “I’m just feeling emotional.” I dismiss it, but hold on to her for a second longer.

  Just in case…

  “What did you do to your hair?!” Noel shrieks loudly as she comes back into my room.

  She starts fussing about my hair, rearranging the curls this way and that. Opposite to mine, she straightened hers so it falls down her back in a sleek line.

  “Don’t mess anything up again, silly girl!” Noel gives a warning glare as she takes a step back to give me one final look before she nods in approval.

  She looks gorgeous. Her floor-length dress is pale pink with fine lace covering the silky material. It’s hugging her every curve and showing off her assets. Tiny straps cover her shoulders, and a shiny diamond necklace is settled between her breasts. Of course, she’s wearing ultra-high high heels to match.

  “My two little girls, all grown up.” Mom comes between us, hugging us closely. “Come on, let’s go take some pictures before the boys come to get you.”

  Noel claps excitedly. Her hand curls around my wrist, and she pulls me behind her. “Let’s go, let’s go! They’ll be here any minute.”

  Seeing my best friend so excited about prom makes me happy. She deserves it. And Robert is such a nice guy. He treats her like a princess. I still can’t believe how it all played out, but after that night at the bonfire party, they’ve been inseparable. It’s a good thing they both got into college in California so they won’t be far away from each other next year.

  When we get downstairs, Mom sends Dad next door to fetch Noel’s parents so we can all take pictures together.

  And for the next twenty or so minutes, we do just that. First it’s just me and Noel, every possible pose from serious to silly. Then we each take a picture with our families.

  I hate having my picture taken, but when I see how happy it makes Noel and my mom, I can’t say no, so I plaster a smile on my face and go with it.

  Once the phones are put aside, I finally breathe in relief, but only for a second before the doorbell echoes through the house.

  Noel grasps my hand, her eyes wide. “They’re here!”

  I want to laugh at her surprised face, but keep it at a low giggle. “They’re here,” I agree. It would be so easy to tease her about it, but I decide to keep my mouth shut. Only for tonight.

  “I’m not ready.”

  This time, there’s no escaping the laughter. “You are ready. You look gorgeous, Noel. Robert won’t know what hit him.”

  I hear footsteps move away and the distant sound of the door opening, followed by the murmur of voices.

  Noel looks like she’s about to hyperventilate, which I find amusing, but only slightly. “Deep breaths,” I remind her.

  “How can you be so calm? You’re going to prom with the love of your life!”

  “I don’t know,” I confess. “Now, come on, deep breaths.”

  Noel nods her head, inhaling through her nose and releasing it slowly through her mouth. She repeats the action a few times before her breathing returns to normal.

  “Girls, the boys are here!” Mom calls from the doorway.

  “Ready?” I look at my best friend. Her pupils are still dilated, and I can see the remains of paleness on her cheeks, but overall she looks good.

  Her grip on my hands tightens. “Yes, let’s do this.”

  Hand in hand, we walk to the front door.

  Both Robert and Ty turn in our direction in unison. They look handsome and slightly awkward with both Noel’s parents and mine standing in the small space.

  My eyes find Taylor’s. He gives me one of his sweet, crooked smiles as he takes me in. Warmth spreads through my belly, and I can’t help but smile back.

  He’s wearing a classic black suit with a crisp white shirt underneath it. A black bowtie is tied around his neck, and I can see he’s not quite comfortable in his own skin, although he cleans up pretty nice.

  “You look… gorgeous.” He swallows hard, his eyes drinking me in.

  I feel myself blush under his stare. Nibbling at my lower lip, I whisper, “You look pretty nice yourself.”

  The silence falls around us as we stare at each other. I’m not sure what to do or say, but thankfully Rob, always the jokester, saves me from figuring it out.

  “Are we going to party or what? I’m hungry.”

  “Did I tell you how beautiful you look?” Ty whispers, his lips brushing against my ear.

  “Only a couple of times,” I joke, chuckling lightly.

  His arms tighten around me, pulling me closer to his chest. Sighing, I give in, letting my head rest on his chest as we sway to the music, a romantic ballad that drew most of the peop
le to the dance floor.

  We’ve been here for a while now. After Rob chased away the building tension between Ty and me, we said goodbye to our parents and got into his truck. The guys took us to dinner at the only decent restaurant in our small town, and it seemed as if half the senior class had the same idea. Dinner was nice, and once we got away from the probing eyes of the adults at prom, the tension and awkwardness disappeared and we returned to the group of friends, most of whom we’d been going to school with for years, talking and joking around.

  A few couples away, I spot Noel and Rob, also lazily swaying to the music. His lips are pressed against her ear, and he must be telling her something funny because Noel is shaking with suppressed laughter, her blond head glistening under the dim light of the room.

  Ty follows my line of sight. “They look good together.”

  “So happy,” I agree.

  Will I ever find somebody who makes me so happy? So carefree?

  You already did, but you threw him away.

  A wave of nostalgia washes over me. My heart squeezes painfully in my chest, but I push it down. It’s been happening so often in the last few weeks, I’ve gotten used to the feeling of hurt.

  We fall into silence. It’s nice, the feeling of Ty’s arms around me. Familiar yet new. Comforting.

  Being with Taylor is easy. That’s what I learned these last few weeks. Since the news about my break-up with Caleb spread around school, Ty has been around more. Like he was just waiting for the right moment to sweep in.

  We’ve spent time together, in school and out. He would come to my work for a quick chat, or we’d go to get ice cream and take a walk on the beach. We’d talk about everything and nothing, mostly avoiding the subject of Caleb.

  The song stops for a few beats before it switches to the next one. This one more upbeat than the last. Ty’s hands fall from my hips.

  “Do you want to go outside for a bit?” He looks around before his eyes settle on my face again.

  “That sounds nice. It’s getting pretty hot in here.” I wave a hand in front of my face in hopes of cooling myself down.

  I’m not sure if it’s the nerves or if it’s actually hot, but I’ll take the out when I can. For hours I’ve been thinking of how to get him somewhere alone. Somewhere we can talk and hopefully he’ll tell me how he feels. “Let me go to the ladies’ room for a minute and then we can go.”