Swimming? No thanks

Chapter 23

Alyssa's POV

I lifted my face from my pillow and looked at my clock. It was seven o'clock. I must have fallen asleep. Oh, well, I guess I should get something to eat. I got out of bed and went downstairs and saw my mom sitting on the couch.

"Hey, Mom. Where's Maddy?"

"Who's Maddy?" She furrowed her eyebrows.

"My mermaid friend who needs to learn how to live on land? She's a brunette."

"Mermaid friend? Did you hit your head on something? Mermaids don't exist."

"Yes, they do. I am one, remember?"

"You must have hit your head. Let me get you some ice." She got up and went to the kitchen, me following.

"I didn't hit my head. I know it sounds crazy, but you know it's true. You've seen my tail."

She pulled an ice pack out. "I haven't seen you with a tail. You have a large imagination."

She handed it to me and I held it. "This is wet."

"Of course it is, it's ice. Ice is frozen water."

"I know what ice is, but I should have a tail by now."

"Go rest. I'll get you something to eat." She sent me to my bedroom.

I went to my bathroom and filled up a glass of water. I spilled it on my arm and counted ten seconds in my head. Nothing happened. I screamed at the top of my lungs.

My mom rushed in. "What is it sweetie?"

"I don't have a tail."

"Of course you don't. It was all a crazy dream."

"No, it wasn't! I had a mermaid tail and-" I stopped in my tracks. "The wish," I whispered. "I wished that I had never become a mermaid. It came true. My wish came true."

"You're talking crazy. Just rest, okay?"

"You know what? You're right. I am talking crazy. It was all a dream," I lied.

Maybe Dalton remembered. I mean he has to, he's my twin. We have a connection. He has to remember everything.

"I just need to go talk to a friend."

"Okay. Have fun."

I walked out the front door and walked to Dalton's house. I gently knocked on the door. His mom answered. "Hi, you're Dalton's girlfriend's friend, right?"

"Um, yeah. Is he here? I need to talk to him."

"Come on in. He's up in his room."

"Okay, thank you."

"You're welcome."

I went upstairs and knocked on Dalton's door. He answered, looking like he just woke up. "Alyssa? What are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you, but first did you just wake up?"

"Yeah. For some reason I got home and passed out."

That's not good.

"Okay. Can I come in? This is kind of private."

"Um, sure." He opened the door enough for me to walk in. I walked in and he followed, closing his door behind him. "What do you need to talk to me about?"

"What am I to you?"

"What? You're my long lost twin sister. You know that."

"You remember." I hugged him.