Seasons

Chapter 10 - Who Needs School When You're A Mermaid?

"Your house is amazing," mumbled Emily through a mouthful of granola and fruit as she stood at the open glass doors. She stared out into the garden, looking at the pool and the sprinklers turning in lazy circles.

"Thanks," I said shyly as I spooned yoghurt out of its container onto my breakfast. I picked up a spoon and wondered to join her. "I haven't actually been in the pool yet."

"You haven't?!" She cried, looking at me in amazement. "That would be my favourite part!"

I laughed, "I guess I just haven't had time."

"Can we today?" She asked, looking at me with excitement in her hazel eyes, "I mean, as long as no one sees us we should be safe right?"

"Right," said Rikki who came to join us, popping a strawberry in her mouth and stepping outside into the sunshine, "that's assuming you turn as well."

"We should try it all together now," I suggested, setting down my now empty bowl on the table behind me and gesturing for them to follow me back upstairs to get changed. They followed behind, Emily's face still etched with a worried expression.

...

"Ready?" I said, squeezing Emily's hand. We stood at the side of the pool, staring down into the aquamarine water and the tiles rippling below it.

"Three...two..-"

"One!" Shouted Rikki and launched herself into the pool, sending cascading droplets splashing back onto us.

Emily yelped and tried to brush them off frantically. "Help me!" She said, eyes glistening as she looked at me, "please Alex I'm scared."

"It's fine," I soothed her, "but you're going to have to jump in."

"Does it hurt?" She asked, clinging onto my hand.

"Not at all but quick!" I let go on her hand and dived in as I felt my legs prickle. I pierced the surface, feeling the water whoosh all around my body as bubbles erupted from my legs. When they cleared, I was left with a silvery tail again. I laughed underwater, only bubbles dribbling from my mouth, and flicked the end, propelling myself upwards.

I broke the skin of the water, looking back to where Emily had stood, but she was gone. I spun around in the water, only seeing Rikki who was floating along on her back, spurting water like a fountain from her mouth, oblivious.

Sudden bubbles erupted to my left and a brunette head shot out of the water. Emily laughed, water trickling off her forehead and nose as she splashed and ducked under again.

"This...is...amazing!" She gasped between dives before swimming over to me on her front, a silvery blue tail flicking up behind her.

I laughed, "Thought you might enjoy it."

"This is so worth missing school for," she sighed as she treated water next to me, dreamily laying her head back into the pool.

"You betcha! And you even get a cool mermaid bra!" Called Rikki from the shallow end as she pulled herself from the water whilst we laughed, flopping out onto the side. She pulled a towel from the nearest deckchair, drying herself quickly before hopping to her feet and running inside. She emerged a minute later with a tray of icy drinks, setting them down next to us and sliding back into the pool, the water foaming at her waist.

She handed them out and we hopped up to sit on the side, our tails still dipped in the water as we sipped the pink cordial.

The sun had fully risen and I could feel it already baking the back of my neck as it glittered off the shattered surface of the pool.