A Tail Away from Home

3. An Unexpected Day

Kore

I've now been in this stupid human form for eight hours and I still hate every second of it. The amount of stares I got on my way to this house from human boys and men is insane. I'll never understand humans. I look out the window and can see my beautiful home from here. It's almost torturous how close she is. If I raised the window I would be able to hear her crashing against the beach and the few rocks that poke up when the water level is lower. Everything smells of salt. Eight hours in only 160 left. I might die.

I hear my name called and I answer. My sister walks and sees my longing gaze towards the ocean and sighs softly as she walks over and sits beside me on the window ledge seat I've been sitting on for the past hour.
"It's not that bad Kore. I know it sucks yeah but we'll be back home before you know it. We have to do this every year." She reaches out and lightly strokes my hair. "I know it's also our first year without mom and dad which makes it a little bit harder. But we'll get through this. I promise."

I nod and lean into her hand as I close my eyes and inhale deeply. "It's a little harder without them here, yes. I'll be better tomorrow. Just gotta get used to legs again. What's the plan for this week? Cause I'm not staying in this tiny house the whole week" I say as I smile slightly at my sister

"We'll definitely go to that ice cream shop we love everyday. Might go see some new movie. Or you could y'a know. Go make some friends close to your age." She nudges my shoulder with her own.

"There aren't people close to my age that don't have gray hairs Frey." I chuckled as I made the joke. She rolls her eyes and shoves me slightly
"You know what I mean. You should go out and meet people. Not all humans are bad. Make some friends that aren't fish."

I reluctantly nod my okay and she seems happy with it as she stands. "Good. Now I'm gonna go to the store and see what I can find to make supper. Might order takeout for tonight." She says goodbye as she leaves me to sit once more by myself. I look back out to the beach and see a small group of teenagers walking towards the water. I sigh and stand walking over to my dresser and dig through the drawers for a swimsuit.

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I've almost turned around and walked back to the house about five times. My mind is doing its best to convince me and my body that we need to go back to the house. Why would I need human friends? I'm leaving at the end of this season anyways. Not like I can keep in touch. After a few years they'll start to notice I've not really aged and then I'll just have to disappear anyways.

I make myself keep walking towards the beach and after another minute or two I can see it. I take off my shoes as I step into the sand. The sun had heated it up so I quickly walked towards the water to soothe the soft burning sensation, setting my towel and bag down where it won't get wet, slipping off my swimsuit coverup and placing it beside my stuff. As my feet touch the water I immediately miss my tail. I miss my natural form. I miss my home most of all. I walk out further till the water reaches my calves. I could do it. I could walk out, dive under the surface and be gone. But I won't. We can't risk being caught.

I hear the water splash abnormally behind me and look to see the teens have started walking in. I smile slightly before turning back around and looking out over the water. I walk out a little further and then hear a voice before a form steps up beside me.

"Beautiful isn't it? But like in an almost scary way. If that makes sense."
I look to my left to see one of the boys from the group of teens beside me. He's pretty handsome. For a human I guess. Brunette, brown eyes, tanned and some muscle build. If I had to take a guess, he surfs. I decided whether or not I should even speak.