Deep Dive (L.s AU)✔

Chapter 4 Anxious

Harry's Pov

"Mermaids!" Eleanor said simply, excitedly. "I heard that some of the old locals here have stories of them lurking in the sea."

If I said my heart didn't drop to my gut, I'd be lying.

Lottie tried, but failed, giving me a look that suggested she felt the same. I really, really, didn't want to hear what the others would say and I really wanted this to blow over.

"Mermiads?" Liam laughed, making me and Lottie relax slightly. "I mean, come on, El, do you really believe in that?"

Eleanor shrugged. "I don't know really...but I mean, there has been some pretty goods pictures and proofs online about it. Its quite interesting. I researched it before we headed down here."

She seemed to be playing it off. I just wanted her to shut up.

Until she turned her attention to me and Lottie. "But I'm curious, you two have lived next to the sea your whole lives...have you guys seen anything?"

She smiled but her smile seemed sour. Her face playing it off as if she wasn't interested but her eyes were like of an eagle's. Her question made my heart race and my nerves to bunch up. I looked away, quickly giving Lottie a pleading look.

"Well, i-i," she stuttered. "Ask Louis! He's lived next to the sea longer than we have!"

Louis laughed but his body faced me, making me guess he was trying to catch my eye but I kept my eyes on my hands in my lap.

"No, I haven't seen anything. I don't think they're even real, honestly. Really, El, where have you heard of them online?" Louis directed the conversation away from me and Lottie, focusing on her.

I gave him a mental thanks.

"Well, my father has always been interested in the sea and is a marine biologist. I got interested because he was talking about them and even how to find them or hunt for them so I got to researching some websites and online librarieson my computer..." she started but when she spoke about hunting them, I was done.

It made me grow angry. I knew there was a whole sea out there with them and even though I didn't grow up in the sea amongst them, they were still my kind and I had a secret to protect.

She was poking in too much and I didn't want to hear about it. Never in eight years since I grew tail, had the topic of mermaids ever been brought up.

So I blocked her out, turning to Lottie to whisper to her.

"I'm going to ocean soon if she keeps this up," I whispered, leaning away from Louis so he wouldn't hear me.

Lottie gave me a look that told me she was up for it. "Honestly. I mean, who randomly brings that up? Its weird."

Me and Lottie snickered quietly to ourselves which caused Eleanor to stop talking suddenly. I perked up to see her with an annoyed look on her face.

"Whats so funny?" She snipped which made Louis sit back and roll his eyes, glancing at Lottie.

"This conversation," Lottie said honestly, shrugging. "I mean, come on. Mermaids? They aren't real!"

I blew out a sigh, looking to my lap again to avoid anyone's eyes. This moment just became awkward and I was already comfortable enough with the talk of it.

"Well, why are you so pressed about it? If anything, it makes me believe that you have seen something and just aren't saying anything!" Eleanor pointed out, being smug.

Lottie rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

The air grew tense and I just was done really. My body was itching to get in the water anyways.