🎈Oscar and Mer 🍆🪼🔮🐌🤕💻💞 🔨

XIV

**PRESENT**

Oscar went to Mer's room and knocked on it softly. He needed to apologize to his friend. Mer was only trying to help him and just like Mer said, he pushed him away. Mer didn't answer and Oscar opened the door a little, sticking his head in.

"Mer?"

Mer lifted his head out of the trashcan and stared at Oscar. Oscar's eyebrows furrowed.

"I'm sorry. Do I need to come back?" Mer shook his head and spit into the trashcan for good measure. He put it back on the floor and looked up at Oscar with a curious expression. "Did you eat something bad?"

Mer shook his head no. Oscar nodded a little and then walked in further, slowly sitting down next to Mer. Mer watched him with a sleepy look and Oscar smiled.

"You look tired." Mer nodded. "Is this the first time today that you've been sick?"

I threw up earlier but it was in the bathroom. Your father didn't hear me.

"Oh, okay..."

Why are you here? I thought you were mad at me.

"I wasn't mad at you but... but I wanted to say that I was sorry. You're right; when I get anxious or upset I tend to take it out on everyone else... especially those trying to help me. You were only trying to comfort me. I'm sorry."

It's no big deal. I know you like you know me...

"I guess... Hey, um... remember when uh... when Trent pushed me off of the pier?"

Mer's eyes seemed to get dark. The Trent pushed you off of the pier?

"You don't have to act like you don't know about. I know it was you who saved me."

Mer lifted his lip up in a snarl. I didn't save you! [Pearly] did!

"What?" Oscar said, confused.

I was upset and confused and [Pearly] went to speak with you on my behalf. She was very angry that you had taken everything out on me and I told her to let it go but she went anyway. When she did, she... she told me that you fell off of a boat! He ended the last word with a squeal of anger, busting a bulb nearby. The sudden pop of the bulb scared Oscar and he jumped. Mer was fuming and looked like he was ready to murder someone.

[Pearly] came to find me because she said she rescued you from falling off of a boat but you weren't breathing. You had showed me how to do the chest pumps and she knew I could help. Are you telling me that the Trent actually pushed you off of the pier?

Mer flashed his eyes at Oscar and Oscar was taken aback by his glowing eyes. He had never seen Mer be so angry or show this side of him. Oscar was a little hurt to know that Mer hadn't rescued him in the end, but it was eight years ago and he was still alive. Whether it had been Mer or the white pearlescent mermaid that Oscar had nicknamed Pearly who had saved him, he still owed them a thank you. If not for her, he would have died on impact to the water.

Mer stood up and started pacing in front of Oscar, chewing on his bottom lip as he did. An electric feel seemed to fill the air as Mer got more and more riled up. Oscar finally stood up and stopped Mer from walking anymore, putting both hands on his shoulders.

"Mer, stop..."

She lied to me! Mer signed, throwing Oscar's arms out of his way as well. Why would she do that?! Why wouldn't she tell me what happened?!

"I don't know, Mer. I don't know Pearly like you do. Did you tell her about when you almost drowned Trent before?" Mer nodded. "Well, maybe she realized that you drowning humans was a bad thing, or maybe she was trying to protect you."