Chapter Six

We stayed in the ocean until the sun went down. Jason showed me how to communicate with marine life better and how to move things with abilities without having to touch them and more. We laughed, joked, and played around, losing track of time. I looked up, seeing the darkness above.

"I should get home." I looked at Jason. "My aunt and uncle are probably worried."

"You're right." He stood from where he had been sitting cross legged on the sea floor. We swam at full speed back to shore. I laid in the soft waves, wondering how I was supposed to get out. I watched Jason whip his wet hair back and look at me with his emerald eyes. He looked so mesmerizing and it made my heart throb. "What?" He raised a curious dark eyebrow. I blinked, snapping back into reality.

"What? Oh, nothing." I began pulling myself out of the water. He pulled me into his arms, my legs reforming as I held onto him. I felt the sand beneath my feet as I stared into his eyes. Suddenly, I started blushing.

"What's wrong?" He blinked, seeing my reddening face.

"Oh, besides being into your muscular arms so close to you?" I blushed harder. "I don't have any pants." I could feel his arms tense up and his body freeze. I pulled my shirt down.

"Okay...." His eyes held panic. "Here." He let me go and pulled his shirt off. It was long sleeved and black. He handed it to me and turned around respectfully. I placed my feet through the neck hole and pulled it up to my waist, tying the sleeves like a belt.

"There." I smirked. He faced me again, studying my new outfit. "I know. I look like a hobo with this shirt as a skirt."

"No, no. It looks like an actual skirt with how you tied it." He nodded. I looked at his bare chest decorated with black tattoos and buffed with muscle. My thrashing heart made me dizzy. "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing!" I squeaked. "I just need to get home!" I quickly walked past him. I could hear him laugh as he followed.

* ~~ * ~~ * ~~

I opened my home door, seeing my aunt and uncle waiting in the living room. They stood up, surprised.

"You're back!" My aunt hugged me.

"You said to be back so I could graduate." I hugged her back.

"How do you feel?" Uncle asked as she let me go.

"Alive. It's the best feeling I've had in years." I smiled.

"You could've stayed out longer. It's Sunday." My aunt looked at me, slightly worried.

"She was afraid you'd send a search party." Jason smirked, leaning against a wall.

"Goodness me! Where is your shirt?" She studied him and Jason pointed to me. "Why are you wearing his shirt?"

"He's hot, right?" I giggled. "Oh! Part of me being half mermaid means I can't wear pants in the water." My aunt and uncle stared at me bewildered. My aunt grumbled something, going down the hall.

"You two are being safe, right?" My uncle stepped forward, raising an eyebrow.

"You think I lost my favorite pair of shorts because we were having sex?" I scoffed.

"You love him, don't you?" He raised both eyebrows. "I remember you telling me for years-"

"He didn't know that!" I snapped. "He didn't need to know that either!" Anger and betrayal of my secret filled me suddenly. I scowled then went down the hall, slamming my door shut. I grabbed fresh clothes then went to shower. Fresh water didn't change me, which was good. I stayed in my room for the rest of the night, afraid Jason was still here.