Undertow - A Modern Gender Bender of The Little Mermaid

Chapter 3

                                                                   Carter
   I knew I shouldn't have been there. I shouldn't have gotten that close. I should have been helping my father. I should have listened to that stupid crustacean. I shouldn't have even been  in a place where I was able to see her. But I did. And what could I do? I couldn't just let her drown.

   I was just going for a swim with Flounder, and to be fair it was the same swim I would have normally taken, mostly. I had never gone out past the sandbar before and at first I was pleased at just how deep the water was. Then, I saw her. She must have just gotten there, or at least just stopped struggling because she was only a few feat from the clear surface. Her dark hair swirled around her and her face shone in the light streaming from the sun. She was so beautiful, quite possibly the most beautiful looking creature I had ever laid eyes on. As I swam nearer, she looked so peaceful, as if she was sleeping. I knew she wasn't sleeping though. Humans didn't just sleep underwater. She needed help and considering that there didn't seem to be anyone there for her she needed my help. When I was right up by her I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her to the surface. It was strange, being so close to a human, and a breathtaking one at that. I had Flounder check ahead as I swam and he called back the all clear. I swam faster than I ever had with one mission- to save her.
I pulled her onto the shore and gently placed her on her back. I tapped her shoulder but she was clearly unconscious. I checked her pulse and started CPR. I gave her the rescue breaths and started chest compressions.
"C'mon miss. Don't die. Don't die," I thought to myself.
I leaned in and gave the second set of breaths, feeling her lips against my own. She was so stunning, even like this, on the edge of death.
"Don't die on me. C'mon...Don't make me risk such a giant punishment from my father for nothing," I thought.
More compressions.
1,2,3,4
I counted thirty of them.
I went back to the rescue breaths.
"You're too pretty to die. Please, wake up," I thought.
   Her eyes fluttered up and down a few times. They were crystal blue and must have been the most dazzling things I had ever seen. I smiled. Why wouldn't I? I had saved her and she would be safe. That was all that mattered. But, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness wash over me as I dove into the water. All I wanted to do was talk with her or (and this could never happen) take her with me. But I couldn't. I knew I couldn't. So I swam away with Flounder in tow, hoping I could come back soon and catch even a glimpse of her from a distance.

   As I hurried off, I heard Flounder struggling to keep up.
"Carter" he said as he caught up "Did you really just do that? I really don't think we should have done that. What if your dad finds out?"
"Relax buddy," I said and patted the little guppy on his head "Dad isn't gonna find out cuz we aren't going to tell him."
"I dunno... That was risky? What if someone saw us swimming this way? What if a human saw you? What if your father calls us in just to check up on you and you accidentally say something?"
I stopped and stared him in the eyes.
"I won't accidentally say something. Will you?" I knew Flounder had the slight tendency to overshare when he was nervous and I couldn't risk being caught.
"Who me?" He asked, sheepishly.
I just looked at him.
"Ok fine I won't say anything. But you might want to consider being the only one talking."
I nodded "And don't tell Sebastian either. He would either tell or die from guilt."
We swam through the seaweed forest and I expertly avoided the poison kelp, being mindful to tug on Flounder's Finns if he got too close to the slimed green and red algae.
"I know, I know. Gosh Carter you act like I'm such a guppy."
I chuckled, "You are a guppy Flounder,"
He rolled his eyes.
"So what was it like?" He asked.
"What?"
"Being that close to a human? Kissing one?"
"Founder, it wasn't a kiss. Humans need air to breathe. I was giving her air."
"Yeah sure, whatever. But really, what was it like?"
"I dunno. It was kinda nice, I guess."
"Aww you're just saying that cuz she's pretty. I don't think it has anything to do with her being human."
"Flounder, you're making it sound like I was being creepy or something. It was nice being close to her. She's clearly not hard on the eyes. But she was about to die so I was glad to be there to help her."
"I guess... But you weren't scared?"
"Of what?"
"Of a human"
"No. I was scared that she was going to die."
"Ooo do you liiiike her?"
My home was in sight now, it's familiar gold spires reached up to the sky in the world above.
"Flounder, we're almost home. Let's just drop it for now."
"Fine."
As we approached the gates to the castle I could hear Flounder singing under his breath "Carter has a girlfriend. Carter has a girlfriend." He grinned at me and I ignored him. If he wasn't quiet I was gonna get into serious trouble.