* * * * *
Encased in her raincoat’s protective shell, Abby walked the six blocks from the bus stop to Emmett’s. Her stomach was busy churning again. If she hadn’t known better, she would have thought it was food poisoning. Even if he saw everything, her mind raced in circles as she trudged through the rain, what can you really do? Beg him not to tell anyone? She didn’t know Brian very well, but she was pretty sure that wouldn’t work. He’d confronted her. He’d sent her an email. That meant he wanted answers, that he might not back down.
The rain was growing heavier now, coming down in thick, gray slabs. Abby hated this kind of weather with its the constant paranoia of where the water would hit.
The downtown streets were virtually empty even though it was only a little after three. This was, in part, because of the rain, but mostly because it wasn’t tourist season. She passed the town’s two art galleries, still open for business— she had no idea why, glad the bus had let her off so close. That was one of the nice things about Clifton. The place was practically microscopic, so it was relatively easy to get around.
Abby cursed Brian under her breath as she stomped through a sea of puddles. He hadn’t even given her a time, just “after school.” Well, she thought, squinting into the rain, if he’d been stalking her like he seemed to be, than he would know she didn’t have a car. She scurried down the sopping street, part of her praying that by the time she reached Emmett’s, Brian would already be gone. But when she finally ducked into the coffee shop, she found that that wasn’t the case.
She spotted him at the very back table, as far from the other patrons as he could get. He sat hunched over a coffee mug, glancing up as he slurped his drink, his dark hair tumbling into his eyes. If he weren’t so nerdy, Abby mused, he might actually be kind of cute. A blush flashed across her cheeks, but she ignored it and made her way over to him.
A coat rack stood at the shop’s rear, only a few steps from Brian’s chair. Abby carefully removed her raincoat, shook it out as far from her body as possible, and hung it on the rack. During the whole time she did this, she refused to say hello. She made herself pretend Brian wasn’t even there. Don’t give him the upper hand, she thought. Don’t let him see how scared you are.
“Hi,” said Brian, shooting her a nervous smile once Abby was seated across the table from him. “I’m really glad you could make it.”
Why is he being so nice? Abby wondered. She glared at him, not sure what to say.
“Can I get you something?” asked Brian. “I’m buying, okay?”
“No thanks,” said Abby, anger tightening her throat. What did he think this was, a date?
“You don’t want anything? You look kind of cold.”
“I’m fine,” growled Abby. “Look, what do you want? You didn’t drag me all the way down here for social visit did you?”
“No,” he stammered, looking away, a blush creeping up the back of his neck.
“Listen,” said Abby. “You asked me here. What do you really want to say?” And please don’t let it be what I think it is.
“I saw you,” he whispered, leaning in close, then glancing around to make sure no one had heard.
“Saw what?” said Abby, holding her breath.
“You know” he said. “You’re a….”
She was going to make him say it. He had to say it. She had to be sure. “I’m a what?” she asked, a little too sweetly.
“A mermaid,” he whispered, staring into her eyes, all traces of the blush gone from his skin. “I know. I saw everything.”
Silence filled the little table. For a long, painful moment Abby didn’t know what to do. Then she looked at Brian and began to smile. But it wasn’t a kind or friendly smile. It was as harsh and cruel as she meant it to be. Please she pleaded, please don’t be a book. Make sure he thinks that you’re telling the truth.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but if I were you, I’d stay away from me.”
“You’re not even going to deny it?” he asked, his pale face full of shock.
“I don’t have to,” she said. “It’s totally lame. I mean, who believes in mermaids anyway? Everyone thinks you’re a total nerd. No one’s going to care what you have to say.” Abby knew it was cruel, but that was just too bad. She had to stop him from telling the world.
Brian glared back, his eyes going cold. “You know,” he said, leaning in close, all hint of friendliness gone from his voice. “Everyone thinks you’re a little odd too. I mean, the way you look— you don’t have any friends. And do you know what? Now I think I know why.”
“Well you don’t,” snapped Abby, jumping up from her chair. “And you better stay away from me Brian Baker. At least if you know what’s good for you. Mermaids have special powers, you know.” Abby leaning in towards him while praying no one could hear. It wasn’t that crowded, but you never knew. “Maybe I’ll kill you with my song.” And with that Abby grabbed her raincoat, wishing it didn’t take such an eternity to button the thing up to her neck and check to make sure her legs weren’t exposed. When she was finally done, she stormed out of Emmet’s, slamming the door as hard as she could then stepping out into the rain.
She was halfway down the block when someone grabbed her arm.
“What?” she screamed, wheeling around. It was Brian and he was totally drenched. It’d obviously taken him several minutes to get up the nerve to go after her. By that time, he’d had to dash into the rain. He’d been in such a rush that he’d forgotten his coat.
“Abby,” he said, “I didn’t mean— none of it came out like I wanted it to.”
Abby stared at the sopping boy, his hand clenched around her plastic, blue elbow. She wanted to tell him to take his hands off her, but something made her hold her tongue.
“I’m not threatening you,” pleaded Brian, his voice almost lost in the rain. “I just wanted to understand, that’s all.”
“Well you can’t,” said Abby, finally getting a hold of her brain. Then she jerked her arm away and ran down the street, leaving him alone in the pouring rain.
Black Waters (Book 1 in the Songstress Trilogy) Page 8