Breathing Water

CHAPTER 45

Mason readjusts me. Draping my body over his shoulder and started walking in the direction of the water. I start screaming, flailing my legs and pounding my fists into his back. Suddenly a firm, familiar, female voices intervenes. "Mason. Put her down or I will hurt you in ways you can't possibly evan imagine."
He chuckles bouncing me up and down. I can see that he is standing in the shallow area. I am raised just high enough to not be touched by the salty water. "What could you possibly do to me, Macey?"
"Oh, I don't know. Remember that mole you accidentally told me about at Frank's party last month?"
I feel his chest suddenly fill with air as I think he gasps. Frantically he says "You wouldn't. Not for her."
"Oh, but I would and I would enjoy every second of it."
I feel him shift back and forth contemplating his options before finally deciding that it's in his better interest to listen to her. He walks out of the water and slowly removes me from his shoulder. I look up as I am being placed on my feet and flash a thankful smile at Macey. As I turn around and regain my footing I feel something cold and wet slid over my foot. I look down just in time to see the tide retreating from just between my feet I quickly look up and give Shelly a panicked look. Her face reflects mine telling me that she saw and is freaking out too. Suddenly she looks to the group of teenagers in the water behind me and starts screaming "Shark! Oh my God! There is a shark in the water! Everyone get out!" She starts shaking her hand and as I feel the now familiar heat around my waist I realize that she is motioning for me to get out of there during the panic she'd just created. I run as far from the party as I can before I can tell that I am about to change.
I have just reached the edge of the groups of people and run as deep as I can go before diving in and morphing into a mermaid. I stay under and swim a little ways out. When I come back up I am far enough away that no body can see me but I can still make out the group of teenagers hanging out for the beach party. I can see them all drunkenly searching for the nonexistent shark that Shelly was screaming about. Not finding it they start walking away apparently bored with the party.
I keep myself a float waiting for them to all leaving. Soon they are all gone except for one female figure. I swim closer but not too close and verify that it is Shelly. Satisfied I start to swim back see a glimmer come and go too quickly too make anything out of.
I pull myself up on shore. Sitting up while supporting myself with my elbows, Shelly walks over calmly. She sits next to me and gazes out to the ocean. "That was close. Too close. Twice." I hum in agreement.
We sit is silence for a few minutes watching the waves. "Can I touch it?" Shelly looks curious.
"Sure." She reaches over and runs her fingers across the scales gently. It surprises me how strange it feels.
She moves from just below my hips down to the tip. I flap the sheer fins. She hesitates before holding one between her fingers. "Woah! It looks so delicate and fragile, but feels thick, sturdy, and durable."
"Yeah, that was my first thought too." Shelly and I both look up in surprise. I didn't say and neither did she, in fact, it was a third voice entirely. My jaw drops as Glimmer smiles back at me from the water with wet hair. She drags herself onto the shore next to me and my shock grows as I see her silver tail following behind her.