The Little Mermaid (My Version)

Smitten

Jocelyn’s POV

I wanted to blatantly ask her, “Can I touch your tail?” but I decided to be more subtle with my curiosity.

“So…” I began. “You’re a mermaid?”

She pulled a few stray strands of silky black hair out of her face and, after a very brief moment of hesitation, flipped the tip of her tail out of the water.

My eyes widened.

“That…I…wh-“ II stammered, unable to find the right words.

She laughed.

“And you’re a human…” She said mockingly.

“I…yeah.” I stood up and pulled my skirt up a little over my knees.

“Wow.” She said, reaching a webbed hand out to touch me. “I’ve never seen…legs…up close before.”

She ran her fingertips down my shin and pulled back after realizing what she was doing, as if she had done something against some sort of law. If they had laws where she came from, that is. Most likely.

I wanted to say something, but for some reason, my words got caught in my throat.

Just…go with the feeling. I reasoned with myself. How many opportunities do you get to see a mermaid?

I looked at her hand that was resting on the ground next to my foot, then bent over and took it into my own, studying the delicacy of the blue-green tinted webs in between her fingers.

“And I’ve never seen webbed hands.” I said in an uncomfortable attempt to break the silence.

I looked up at her face to see her cheeks getting rosy and immediately let go of her hand.

“Sorry…” I said sheepishly as I looked away.

“Don’t be,” she smiled that dazzling smile again and rolled over onto her back, her ebony hair flowing around her. The tip of her tail was slapping the top of the water, splashing the rest of itself with it. I studied her tail. It was a stunning shade of aquamarine, and it glistened in the morning sunlight. My eyes traveled over the rest of her body and soon felt myself blushing.

…Mermaids don’t wear clothes.

 A part of me wanted to turn around, but the rest of me was paralyzed.