The Mermaid Spell

Hello!  Thank you for choosing to read The Mermaid Spell.   I've noticed that this book has gotten exceedingly popular on the Fantasy list so I just wanted to write this little author's note before you begin reading.  This was one of the first stories I ever wrote and most of the story thus far was written while I was in 7th grade.  During this time I had this weird obsession with mermaids and magic and all that jazz.  I'm going to be a Junior in high school now.  My writing style has obviously changed and the grammar isn't as atrocious as it once was.  I used to be so excited about this story that I would not even proofread and just go right to publishing the chapter.  That's why you will see several words that don't make since (I type very quickly and I don't think much while I write.  I just kind of do so I often put words that aren't meant to be there.)  The chapter titled "Hope" is where the most recent chapters begin and hopefully the story actually starts to make a bit of sense.  (Also I was super into the show H2O: Just Add Water in 7th grade so that's why there are so many parallels to that.)  You'll also see my characters making fun of my old writing style and how confusing it used to be since this story has so many plotholes it was pretty ridiculous.  From here on out I will be attempting to fill all those plotholes and finish up this story since so many people seem to like it.  (Beats me why I got over 100 messages about it because this story is as crappy as it gets.)  Anyways, please bear with the writing until the most recent chapters.  Everything will start to make sense after that.  Happy reading!

"We're here!"  My dad called as our packed van pulled into the shell-covered driveway of our new vacation home.  I was the only one who didn't cheer, even my older sister, Rachael, rose her tan arms in excitement.

"Come on El!  Aren't you excited?!"  My mom exclaimed from the front of the car. 

"No."  I muttered and folded my arms.  This was supposed to be my perfect Summer.  The Summer I would dance with Ian Fields at the Summer Beach Ball.  It was the Summer I was supposed to hang out with my friends at the mall every day and jump in the secret waterfall in the woods behind my house back in New York.  Ever since my dad came home and announced we were renting a house in Cape Cod, right on the beach, for a whole months, I had been devastated.  I had had to explain to my friends that I couldn't do anything we had planned on doing.  Even as I passed by ian in the halls, I had to look away to keep him from seeing the burning tears on my face.

"Oh come on, we'll do everything you wanted to do!  We could go to that cute little shopping square down the road and you could find a surfer to dance with while he roast marshmellows on the beach!"  My mom suggested.  "We could even go after we unpack, I could use a new sundress, maybe even a book for the beach."

I rolled my eyes and sarcastically agreed.  I knew I could never get some hot surfer to even talk to me.  I was the chalky skinned, muddy brown eyes girl with short hair and crooked teeth.  The only reason I would be dancing with Ian was because my friends and I had planned I would 'casually' bump into him right before the couples' dance.

The car stopped in front of a mansion-like house with every door and window open.  There was a sand-covered staircase just steps from the sand and a pool right behind it.  My dad had told us that it was a work friend's who had offered to let us stay in it and make sure all the plants were watered and were tended to.

I pulled out my suitcases from the back of the car and rolled them inside.

"James!  I think I've just died and gone to heaven!"  My mom dropped to her knees just as I entered.  I had to admit, the place was A-list.  The front room was just the beginning.  The walls were windows which were wide opened and curtains blew in the salty breeze.  There was a laid out turquoise colored couch and love seats and a glass coffe table.  A plasma screen was a bove the hearth which was lined with seaglass and the spiral staircase lead to the main floor.