The Mermaid Tale "If I Could Stand"

He Saw Me

Chapter Two

     The waves rushed against the rocks as I sat up gazing in admiration at the building. This was nothing new, but my same routine. I knew that staring at the school would do no help. I loved the scenery. Sometimes I'd hear them walk over to the sea and admire it's waves. They would wish to be like me swimming around. It seems like to me that mermaids wanted to have legs and humans wanted to have fins.
    Out of all things why would you want to be a mermaid! It depressed me that I couldn't explore the land. I'm trapped in my own home.

After I hear the bell ring at the building more people come out and I hear them talking and blabbering their mouths. I swim back under the water to avoid being seen. The ocean was dark and cold. There were no fish like there was before. I once lived a life most mermaids could never have. I had jewelry and family, but over one decision I lost everything. I'd listen to my other fellow mermaids bash the ones who walked on land. They said it was a sin and that humans were sins too. I knew then I was different from the others. I loved the humans and their land. I still remember the day I was cursed.

There are a Mermaid's Commandments to be followed by all of us. Us as the women had to respect and listen to our fathers. If we ever ignored his rules we'd be reprimanded harshly. I wasn't just reprimanded I was abandoned forever. My father had cursed me and my soul was trapped in a dark colored sea shell.
I was lonely in there. It was dark. Once, a little boy from the land picked up the shell I was in and laughed cheerfully. His happiness made me happy. That day the curse stopped and I was released into loneliness. The curse was not just the shell it was being alone forever too.
***
"David do you know how dirty and unclean that ocean water is? No one has even swam in this thing for fourteen years. That's what Ms. Duval said." The girl said crossing her arms in disgust. "Listen Amy who actually gives a shit what some old lady says? This looks pretty cool to me." The boy says putting his toe in the dark water.

    I had heard their voices many times before. They were always together and sometimes they'd peck each other on the lips and on the neck. I suppose they were in love which I had never been and watching them made me jealous. I'd do anything to be her.

"I did some research on this ocean and they said many years ago there were mermaids who lived in it. I also did a little research on mermaids!" Amy yells trying to stop David from playing in the water. "Mermaids are hot." He jokes.

I can't help but giggle under listening. It was nice to see other faces time and time again despite they were so immature and free spirited.

"Mermaids drown people. You think they're beautiful but they kill people."

I hear this and I feel guilt. It's true. That's what we do, but I do not and I never will.

"What are you two doing down here?" I hear.

   The voice was unfamiliar. His voice also had an accent. It sounded maybe French or Italian. I knew these two languages because many of the merman around here used to speak it and copy the human's tones. I looked up from the water and saw the boy in linked arms with a girl with short auburn hair and a school uniform.

They all were in the school uniform which meant they were from the building. I studied the boy. His hair was thick and chestnut brown. It shined in the sun. His skin was a creamy tan and his eyes were a beautiful light green. His eyelashes stood out like long sharp pencils. He was tall. I'm not sure if I almost drowned in that moment but his glory made me swallow water and choke. I listened more to their conversation to get a glimpse of his name.

"Amy's being over protective again."David says shooting her an ugly look.

"No I'm not! I'm just telling him that this water is filthy!" She yells

The beautiful boy walks over and looks in the sea. It's so dark he cannot see me gazing back at him. I wanted to pull him, but I would drown him if I did that.

"It's pretty mysterious to me." He says.

The girl he is with looks into the water with him. Her face is scrunched up in disgust.

"Alessandro this water is gross. Let's go!" She says pulling his arm.

Alessandro? I repeated the word over and over again. It was a smooth name.

"Alright fine."

"Don't forget there's a party at Derek's place tonight!" David shouts as they walk back to the building.

My head pops out the water as I watch them leave. I wondered what human parties were like? What did they do? I watched Alessandro for the most. He reminded me of a boy I saw in a human magazine that was in the water once.
***
Alessandro's POV
School was once again a drag. I was tired and I craved for my soft bed. I didn't even feel like going to that party and knowing myself I probably wouldn't. I'd probably stay with Amber. We could party alone anyway...

"Class, remember that it's key to highlight important areas in your textbook." I can't help but put my head down. The boredom of the classroom was painful.

"Alessandro. Do I have to talk to you about following the rules and regulations of a healthy school environment again? It's important that you respect those who want to learn." The old woman says standing over me.

"Mrs. Duval who said I didn't want to learn? I want to learn but I can't when you're teaching. Are you sure you have a degree in this because I feel like shooting myself."
The classroom snickers and laughs. This made her angry and her sharp blue eyes pierced mine. She was short and plump and would look friendly, but if she ever got angry she'd scare you.

"I will not put up with this behavior! It's either you sit here and learn or leave my class for the day!" She yells slamming her book on my desk.

I lean back and smirk as the class continues to laugh.

"I rather leave." I say scooping up my books and walking straight out the class.

I look over at Amber who's giving me a sorry look but I ignore it. I could teach myself to learn anything. I didn't need some old person bickering with me on my Sophmore year about learning. I'm too old for that.

Usually, if there's class you won't see anyone in the halls. I looked out the large windows at the sea. It calmed me down when something bothered me like this. I guess maybe I shouldn't have been sleeping in class, but I couldn't help it. The waves were vicious this morning. They kept roaring and swooshing against the rocks.

It was sometime before I noticed something strange in the water. I saw a head with red hair sticking out the water. I was startled and I saw it turn and look at me. I almost fainted as I drew back from the window. She dove right back under as soon as I saw her. What the hell was that?! I believed for a moment that I had lost my senses, but I'm pretty sure I just saw a mermaid.