The Sea Taketh (Alex Singer) (24 page)

“But what do you really know about him besides the fact that he’s a merman?”

“Loads, his dad and mom are agents in the I.P.S. which is the equivalent of our F.B.I. He has an older and younger brother. They like sports as much as my family does, and vacation in the Mediterranean.” She stops, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I know more about him than you know about Christian, yet you’ve completely written him off.”

I know she’s right and wonder when Jen got all philosophical. Usually, she’s only worried about scoreboards.

“Did you two get some soda?” Sven slides into the booth followed by Henrik and Christian. Their hideous orange wigs are gone, and they’ve washed the paint off their faces.

“I’m glad you cleaned up,” Jen says, sliding over to make room for him. “I can’t take you seriously with orange hair.”

He laughs as he puts their seafood pizza on the table and fills our glasses. He takes a seat next to Jen. Christian slowly sits down next to me, and Henrik moves a chair to sit at the end.

“Did you get the boys all situated?” Jen asks.

“Yes, we’ve got it all worked out with Kyle. The waiters will make sure they have everything they need,” Sven answers before stuffing his face with anchovies.

“How was your time in Europe?” Christian turns and asks me. His piercing blue eyes make me hesitate for a moment.

“Between modeling and homework I was constantly in motion, but what I did get to see was beautiful,” I say.

“You were fantastic in the fashion shows we saw on the internet. When do the new magazines come out?” Jen asks.

“I have no idea. Colin determines all that.”

“What is your contract with him?” Henrik asks, sipping soda.

“Gramps signed it, but Becky told me that since I only work with Colin, he’s being more than generous,” I reply.

“Sven, a couple kids are throwing crusts.” Kyle peeks in his head from the kitchen.

“They better not be!” Jen says, jumping to her feet.

Sven laughs. “Henrik, we better go protect the children from the jellyfish!”

Leaving me and Christian in silence, the three of them hurry away to stop the food fight.

I’m aware of the dangerous situation that I am putting myself in, but my scientific cur
iosity gets the better of me.  I ignore the uncomfortable silence as I hesitantly take one of his hands into my lap, carefully removing his glove. I gently run my fingers across his, tracing the webs in between. It is surprisingly soft, like the skin on the back of my neck. Unbuttoning his orange sleeve, I feel the light green fin on the side of his arm. It, too, is extremely soft. I glance at him, and find him looking at me. He lifts his ungloved hand and traces my face with it. In spite of myself, I sigh at his touch.

             
He breathes me in deeply. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to touch you without the gloves.”

He removes the other glove and takes my hands in his.

              “You’re very warm,” I say.

             
“Yes, it’s so we don’t get cold in the water.”

             
“You don’t have scales.”

             
“No, we’re mammals.”

             
“So, you don’t have a fish tail,” I think aloud.

             
He laughs softly. “Humans have vivid imaginations. The fins on our legs have been mistaken for tails.”

             
“You don’t need to come up for air?” I ask.

             
He shakes his head. “Never, we draw oxygen from the water.”

             
“You drew the water out of Dan’s lungs, didn’t you?” I say, thinking back to the Senior Ditch.

             
He nods.

             
“And when I tried to save you in the ocean, I was just . . .”

             
“Alexandra, I love you,” he says abruptly.

             
“I can’t leave Gramps.”

             
“I’m not asking you to,” he interrupts. “Just choose to go to college in Atlantis. You will still be able to visit Thomas.”

             
“Is Atlantis one of your cities?”

             
“It’s the capital city of the Atlantic Realm and has wonderful universities.”

             
A thought pops up in my mind. “But they’re not going to give a scholarship to a human girl, are they?”

             
“You don’t need to worry about money.”

             
It’s my turn to interrupt him. “I’m not letting you pay for my education. It’s too expensive. Besides, I’ve worked too hard to make sure I can go to school.”

             
“If you won’t let me pay for it, you have the money from your modeling,” he says.

             
“No, I’ll never touch it. That’s Gramps’ retirement. He can’t fish forever, and I have to think of both our futures.”

             
“We will work something out.  We have six months before we graduate,” he reasons.

             
“Christian, I don’t understand this connection we have, but it’s not enough.” I force myself to let go of his soft, warm hands. “I promised Gramps that I’d be home by eight. I’ve got to get going.”

             
“I’ll drive you.” He puts on his gloves and lets me out of the booth.

             
“No, it’s only a couple blocks, and I want to stretch my legs.” I button up my coat.

             
“Alexandra, I don’t like you walking by yourself, especially after dark,” he says.

             
“It’s not your decision.” I smile sadly at him as I slip out the side door and into the night.

             
The sky is clear, making it extremely cold. I put a hat on my head before shoving my hands in my pockets. I watch my breath swirl in the air as I walk through the village. Christmas lights twinkle from windows. I usually love this time of year, but Christian has me completely distracted. It is several minutes before I hear the engine behind me.

             
A rusty white delivery van, without its lights on, is slowly following me. At first, I try to rationalize that it’s probably someone from school playing a joke on me, but a terrible feeling of foreboding fills my stomach as the van suddenly speeds around the block. I know that whoever is driving the van is trying to cut off my path home.

             
I begin running in the opposite direction, to the beach. I sprint as fast as I can over the sand and snow. My boots slow me down so I take them off and carry them. I hear nothing but the waves hitting the shore and my own footsteps as I run to my house.

             
Just when I think I’ve lost my pursuer, a hand reaches out of the darkness behind the gate to our house. I duck and hit at it with the boots in my hands. I hear a man swear as the hat disappears from my head. I don’t stop running until I’m safely inside my house with the door locked.

             
“Alex, what’s wrong?” Gramps asks, looking at the boots in hand and my wet socks.

             
My eyes go to Christian, who’s sitting next to Gramps. It obvious they’re discussing me over a bottle of wine. He’s come to check-up on me like I can’t take care of myself! My stubborn streak of defiance kicks in.

             
“Nothing’s wrong!” I say, marching down the hallway.

             
“Then why are you carrying your boots?” Christian asks behind me.

             
“I can take care of myself!” I shout out my bedroom door before locking it behind me. Fearful that the man who chased me is outside looking for me, I lock my window and shut my curtains before crying myself to sleep.

9

Photos

              “Alex, this just came for you.” Gramps puts a thin, black velvet box on my desk.

             
I put down my pencil.

“Who sent it?”

              “You know who sent it. He feels badly about not telling you the truth earlier.”

             
“Gramps, why do you two act like you’re best friends?” My frustration with the both of them starts to rise in my chest.

             
“Christian and I are good friends. We enjoy having a good glass of wine together.” He sits on my bed, innocently

“What’s the deal with the wine? Are all mermen alcoholics?” I turn around to face him.

Gramps chuckles aloud. “Mermen don’t get drunk. Alcohol doesn’t affect them like it does humans. They just like the taste of wine, that’s all.”

“Maybe that explains the wine, but I’m still confused why you want the two of us t
ogether. You do realize that he wants me to go live in the ocean?”

“And I would fully support that decision.” Gramps pauses to see my reaction before co
ntinuing, “You and Christian are good together. I’m an old man, and I just want to make sure that you have someone who can take care of you.”

“I can take care of myself,” I retort.

“Alex, none of us can take care of ourselves. When I lost your grandmother, I was grateful to have your mother and father, and when I lost them, I was grateful to have you. Everyone needs someone to take care of them, and I’m not talking about money. For the past seven years, we’ve been taking care of each other. It would be nice to add Christian to our family.”

“You sound just as serious as he does,” I groan.

“I am. Christian is the only guy I’ve ever thought was good enough for you. Now, let’s see what he sent you.” He smiles innocently at me.

“No, I’m going to go give it back to him.” I stand up and grab the box. “I feel like the only sane person left on the planet. Wine drinking mermen!”

I march out of the house. Being nervous about the night before, I stop at the brightly lit street, checking to make sure it’s empty. Satisfied to find nothing out of the ordinary, I quickly cross it. I climb the front steps and knock loudly on the large wooden door.

Sven answers the door wearing a fifties pink apron and holding a feather duster. The t
iny, ruffled apron looks ridiculous on his large frame.

“Where is he?” I demand.

“Up in his room,” he says. “I’ll go get him for you.”

“Don’t bother.” I push past him.

Taking the stairs two at a time, I storm onto the second story landing. I don’t know which room is Christian’s, so I start opening doors along the hallway of the old Victorian home. Henrik gives me a look of confusion when I open the library where he is studying a book of maps. I don’t say anything as I shut the door and continue looking for Christian. After looking in a couple empty bedrooms, I finally find him working on a laptop in his bedroom. He jumps to his feet when he sees me, pulling ear buds out of his ears.

“What do you mean by this?” I hold up the box.

“Do you like it?” He closes his laptop and smiles. I can tell he’s delighted to see me.

“I haven’t even opened it. You can’t just give me gifts.” I put it on his preposterously sized bed and place my hands on my hips.

“Why can’t I give my girlfriend gifts?”

“I’m not your girlfriend!” I demand loudly.

“You are most certainly my girlfriend, even if we don’t always see eye to eye.” He stands up and I see that he’s wearing shorts and a t-shirt, exposing his fins. His usual gloves are missing.

“Christian, I told you that a relationship between us is impossible.”

“Yes, but not that you don’t want that relationship,” he counters. “However, as I am the merman, I believe I am the expert on merfolk. A relationship between us is very much possible, and I will wait indefinitely for you.”

“You never listen to me! Why do you have to be so stubborn?” I stomp my foot.

“Because I love you.” He takes my hand in his and tries to pull me to him.