Rising Tides [Klance Ver]

Chapter 5: The Tale of the Mermaid

The next morning, Lance woke up with the sun streaming through his window, casting golden rays across his room. He felt an unusual excitement bubbling within him, a lightness he hadn't felt in a long time. The memory of Allura—the vibrant mermaid with the pink tail and bubbly personality—was fresh in his mind, making him smile as he got ready for school. As he slipped on his shoes, he couldn't help but replay the details of their encounter. Allura's laughter echoed in his ears, and he found himself looking forward to sharing the story with his friends. It felt good to have something incredible to talk about, even if it was completely wild. When he arrived at school, the familiar hustle and bustle enveloped him. Students filled the hallways, laughter and chatter echoing off the walls. Lance spotted Hunk and Pidge at their usual spot near the lockers. He walked over, his heart racing with anticipation.

"Guys!" Lance exclaimed, practically bursting with energy. "You won't believe what happened last night!"

Pidge raised an eyebrow, leaning against the lockers with a smirk. "What is it? Did you finally talk to Ezor? Spill the tea!"

Lance took a deep breath, excitement bubbling up inside him. "No, it's even better. I met a mermaid!"

There was a beat of silence, and then Hunk burst into laughter. "A mermaid? Seriously? What did you do, swim into a Disney movie?"

"Yeah, right," Pidge added, crossing her arms skeptically. "You expect us to believe that?"

"I'm serious!" Lance insisted, his cheeks flushing. "Her name is Allura. She has a pink tail and white hair! I found her on the beach after I left the party. She fell out of the water and was all tangled in the sand."

Hunk shook his head, still chuckling. "Dude, that's the craziest thing I've ever heard. Did she give you a seashell necklace too?"

Pidge snorted, trying to stifle her laughter. "What, did she say she was from Atlantis?"

Lance felt a twinge of frustration. "No, listen! She was real! I swear! She even said I could call for her if I wanted an adventure. She's just... different."

"Right. And I'm the Queen of England," Hunk said, rolling his eyes playfully. "You must've been really bored at that party to make up a story like that."

"I'm not making it up!" Lance shot back, his voice rising. "I know it sounds crazy, but I wouldn't just say that! I mean, how often do you meet a mermaid?"

"Not in our town, that's for sure," Pidge said, her skepticism still evident. "You might've been tired or hallucinating. Did you drink too much at the party?"

"I had one drink!" Lance protested, feeling his shoulders slumping. "I was completely sober when I found her. I promise!"

"Okay, okay," Hunk said, holding up his hands in surrender. "Even if you met a mermaid, what's the plan? Are you gonna go swimming with her now?"

Lance hesitated, feeling a little silly. "I... I don't know. I just thought it was cool. Maybe I will try to find her again. She said she'd be around!"

Pidge chuckled, shaking her head. "Dude, you need to lay off the ocean adventures. Maybe go for a hike next time."

"Yeah, Lance," Hunk teased, "maybe stick to earthlings for a while."

Feeling defeated, Lance rolled his eyes. "Whatever. You guys will see. I'll prove it to you. I'll find her again."

The bell rang, cutting off their banter, and they started to head to class. Lance walked alongside his friends, but his excitement had dimmed a little. He wanted them to believe him, but the way they laughed it off made him doubt himself.

Maybe it was too crazy, even for me, he thought, biting his lip as they walked into the classroom.

Classes dragged on, each hour feeling longer than the last. Lance struggled to focus, his mind wandering back to the beach and Allura's vibrant smile. What if she really was out there, swimming in the ocean while he sat through math equations?

By lunch, he was desperate to get back to the beach, to see if he could find her again. Maybe it had all been a dream, but the way she had looked, the sound of her laughter, it all felt too real. He needed to know if she was waiting for him.

"Hey, man!" Hunk called, snapping Lance out of his daydream. "You want to sit with us?"

Lance glanced over at their usual lunch table, where Hunk and Pidge were already seated with their trays. He hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, sure."

As he joined them, he noticed the lunch crowd was buzzing with talk about the party last night. People were sharing stories, laughing about wild moments, and for a brief moment, he felt a pang of jealousy. They were having fun, yet he had experienced something amazing that none of them would ever believe.

"Did you see Ezor?" Hunk asked as he dug into his pizza. "She's been hanging out with Ryan all day."

Lance shrugged, forcing a nonchalant expression. "Nope, can't say I have."

"Guess you missed your chance, huh?" Pidge teased, but there was a hint of sympathy in her tone.

"Yeah, I guess," Lance replied, trying to hide his disappointment. "I'm over it anyway."

"Good," Hunk said, tossing a piece of lettuce at him. "Let's find you a new crush, one that doesn't live in the ocean."

Lance tried to laugh along, but his heart wasn't in it. He glanced out the window, the ocean glistening in the distance, and he wondered if Allura was out there, just beyond the waves, waiting for him to come back.

"Hey, do you think there's really a mermaid out there?" Pidge asked suddenly, catching Lance off guard.

"What?" Lance turned to her, surprised.

"Just curious," she said, shrugging. "I mean, if you really saw one, I wouldn't blame you. This town is weird enough."

Lance's heart raced. "You're not serious, are you?"

"Of course not," she said, rolling her eyes. "But it would be kind of cool if there were."

Lance couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm, even if it felt like a long shot. "Yeah, I guess it would be. But trust me, Allura is real. I just... I need to find her again."

As the lunch bell rang, signaling the end of their break, Lance made up his mind. He was going to find Allura, no matter what it took. Even if it meant facing the laughter and disbelief of his friends. The ocean called to him, and he felt an undeniable pull to answer it.