A Simple Tail

A New Surprise

-Let the drama begin-
As a person with very different abilities you can bet high school was a complete mess of chaos and torment with a blood red cherry of homework on top. Now don't get me wrong, I have things I like about it. Nosy new kids with lock picking skills are not among them. Now picture me, at in the pool after a stressful day in calculus, just getting out my nerves when, "And this way is the pool, where the swim teams practice." Very loudly was yelled right outside the door. Immediately I knew that my life was over. Seeing as showing off a, at the moment, bright blue tail to the swim coach wasn't very good for my health.
"So, are we going in or..." A new voice asked. Please say no Mr. Moza. Please please please.
"Sorry kid, swim captain takes her off period here sometimes. But if you're still curious at the end of the day I'll give you a tour." Mr.Moza headed my silent prayer. Looks like my "sneaking" the keys wasn't actually very sneaky. Then again, maybe I could've just asked. But that wasn't the point. The point is, I'm not going to be put in a freak show today. Which means it's a pretty not terrible day.
"Alright, alright. I think I can find my way back from here." The still unidentified voice broke through my straying thoughts. "If you're sure, but I'm headed that way anyways. And getting someone who's been here a day lost in a school this big wouldn't look too good." Mr.Moza responded. "Don't worry, I have a map, and there are signs too." "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you." Mr.Moza said back, fading as he walked away.
Now why someone would want to be left alone after being here a whopping whole day, is beyond me. After all, I still get lost, and I've been going here for three years. That's when it all clicked into place. Quite literally. Not two minute later I heard a click. And there he was. Someone I had never met. Seeing me as a mermaid when I didn't even trust the women who gave birth to me knowing. With panic being forced down I managed a "Who are you and what are you doing here."
"I, uh... wanted to see the pool." He replied. "Well you've seen it, now please leave." I answered back. "Wait, it that a tail?" He voiced my dread.
"Yeah, can't a girl cosplay?" I tried.
"Oh, of course, duh. It is just really realistic I guess. I mean you had me fooled." An awkward chuckle "But it's just so real."
So I had two options. Get him close enough to mess with his memories or get him to think it's fake and leave. And Right now faking it out wasn't working too well.
"What? You really think something like that exists? Please. See for yourself. It has a seem and everything." That was all it took to get him closer. Soon enough he was an arms distance. I took a chance and grabbed him.
"What are you doing?" He asked when I realized it wasn't working.
The magic I had so carefully practice since I was in middle school wasn't working. Not to mention that as he asked he saw that there was no seem. No stitching. No fabric at all. And I could do nothing to make him forget.
"Hold on here. That is way too real. Are you actually... no way...that isn't. What is going on here!"
"Cosplay?" I replied weakly. Knowing the end was near. As I anticipated the end I got a somewhat surprising demand.
"Tell me everything." And so with nothing left to lose and no faith left in magic, I did. I left out the too personal bits. Like my dad and the magic incidents from over the years. But I did tell him about my powers. Which is probably a bad idea since they don't seem to work on him. Which I also mentioned.
"Wow." Was the response I got after telling my life story.
"Really? Wow, that's all I get? Not a you've gone through a lot, or a hi, my name is ... and this is really freaky, really?" At this point I'd be fine with him screaming. But instead I was stuck with a perpetual hmm face.
"First off, my name is Jared, and I have no idea what is happening anymore. Also this is really freaky, what, am I in an old horror movie?"
"Seraphina or Sera, thanks for asking. And is this really the time to be critiquing my word choice?" I said, unable to hold in the sarcasm.
"Well it's not everyday you get to correct a mythical creature." He replied. I guess he had some sarcasm up his sleeve too.
"Anyways, what now? Spread the word. Put me in a cell. Tell every army ever. Because if you do then you better come visit and write my biography before I die. If not I'll curse you, or something."
"And here I thought your magic didn't work on me." Stupid brown eyed, sarcastic little jerk.
"But, I plan to pretend this never happened." Beautiful, red headed, kind young man. "But, in return you have to do something for me." Cruel, sadistic, devils grin terror.
"And what might I ask would that be?" I swear if this is something I'll regret I will never forgive this maniacal psycho.
"Be my friend. And your first act as my friend is to help me get out of this maze of a school." I have never once been in a more jaw dropping situation.
"That's it? Just be your friend? Really?" "What? Did you think I'd ask something gross?" He even had the nerve to look at me like he was offended.
"How could I know what you wanted from me? For all I know you could be a serial killer." I said back sharply.
"Sorry to burst you bubble, but I happen to be a nice person." Like I'd believe that.
"Coming from the guy who picked a lock to see a pool." I pointed out.
"Coming from a girl who owes me her life." He said back, winning the argument. "Fine, but why did you pick the lock?" I asked sincerely.
"He said the swim captain was in here. Who would pass up a chance to meet or maybe race a swim captain. Obviously not me. Then again I wasn't really expecting to see that the captain had a tail." He said. Why did he have to be right. A good first impression could make or break his chances. Picking a lock was a bit extreme, but the thought wasn't.
"Well, nice to meet you rookie. This changes nothing by the way. You have gained no edge." After all, I may owe him my life, but that didn't change the rules.
"Okay, got it. I can't really expect much after all this anyways." He said, defeat heavy in his tone.
"Hey Jared, since we're friends now and all, could you help me out." I asked, using my signature pretty pretty please eyes, which worked pretty much everyone. He was clearly trying to resist, but the eyes never fail earning me a "fine." From him. He soon realized why I wanted help. The reason being that my tail was super heavy. It's use clearly for water and not land.
"Why... are... you... so... heavy?" He asked, taking a breath after each word.
"You think it's hard now? Imagine being me and doing this alone." I replied back as I dried off.
Soon enough I was back on two legs. And being looked at very closely.
"What?" I asked. I may be different, but that doesn't mean I like it when I get stared at for it.
"Nothing. I guess you just look a lot prettier normally." He said, like it meant nothing at all.
"Well thanks I guess," using the same throw away tone, "let's find our way out of this maze." And so we did.
We started chatting randomly. Me asking about his family and him wondering aloud about our school. Almost too soon we reached the door.
"So..." I said. "What next?"
"I suppose your number and schedule would be a start." He said, handing me his phone and class list. As it turned out, we had two classes and lunch together. Looks like we could have met like normal people at some point. Not that I could really ever consider any part of my life normal.
"See you in class?" He questioned. "Yeah, in class." I confirmed, smiling as he walked to a car near us.
"Hey!" I yelled before he got in. "Yeah?" I got back. "Thanks for not dooming me to a life of misery!" I got a chuckle in return. "By Sera." He said as he opened the car door. "Bye Jared."

*Authors note:
So, I finally stopped being lazy and wrote a chapter. Thoughts on progression, plot, characters? Leave me some in the comments and I may incorporate or correct stuff because of it. You never know right? So see you in the next chapter😘