Mermaids, Trigonometry, and Everything In Between

The 6th Thing

Mom and Dad met me at my room to say goodbye, and I realized I could've just texted them for directions when I couldn't find the girl's dorm, since they knew the place. As I shrugged off the little episode I had earlier, I saw Mom sticking a little golden locket on my dresser drawer.

She noticed me staring and added, "It's a little departure present. For luck."

"Thanks," I smiled. Gen was sitting in awe on her bed ever since they came. She had murmured something a 'nice to meet you,' and entered into silence the rest of the time. I couldn't figure it out. After all, it was just my parents.

"You know, we could stay for a little longer, get some dinner together, and help you unpack." Dad suggested.

"That's alright, you don't have to!" I said a bit too quickly. I was getting a bit anxious waiting to meet other people, and the last thing I needed was for everyone to see me toting my parents around. It'd definitely be strange.

Mom nodded, as if she understood, "Well, then, we'll be heading out. Keep your phone charged and give us a call tonight to let us know how you're doing, okay?"

"Totally." I nodded. And before I knew it, they were well and truly gone. It felt like I was tasting freedom and adventure. I turned around, and there was Gen, recovering from her glossy look.

"You alright?" I questioned.

"Abso-frickin-lutely. Quick question, though, are your parents gods? I could practically feel their immensity."

"What?" I almost laughed, "That's so weird! They're just my parents, nothing special."

"Whatever you say," she said, shrugging.

"Now, what about this party, when is it?" I asked.

Gen's face lit up like she was made of matches, "Right! The party! It starts at 7pm."

I raised an eyebrow, "That late? Looks like we've got time to kill then."

Gen looked as if I shot her in the heart with an arrow, "Are you kidding me? Maybe in mermaid world. Here in the real world, it is going to take us every minute. We need a makeover that says, "make way for the future queen bees of the school."

I half wanted to call her crazy, but the way she talked seemed like she had the confidence to do just about anything, and I kind of envied that.

"As long as we don't look like circus performers, I'm in."

Gen's eyes sparkled, and I wondered if I would regret this. 

*** 

It was exactly an hour and thirty minutes after 7, and Gen and I were standing in front of the open glass doors of a high class recreation building. Gen called it 'fashionably late,' but it was beyond me why we had to waste the time like that. I'd already been waiting hours.

I made the first move to open the door.

"Wait, Elly," Gen said abruptly.

I groaned, "What could possibly be left to do?"

"Well," she said matter-of-factly, "There's an underwater entrance to the club through the lagoon in the back. You should go through there."

"What, now? After hours of makeup and choosing outfits?"

Gen sighed, "Yeah, that was just for fun. But if I told you beforehand, you wouldn't have let me doll you up. Here," she tossed me a maroon halter swim top, covered in designs of japanese cherry blossoms.

"Seriously?" I asked, starting to feel a bit exhausted by her powerful personality.

"Come on, Elly, you gotta. All the other mermaids go through the underwater entrance, it's tradition. I'll pick up your extra clothes and bring a towel for you when you get inside."

I was about to argue, but I stopped. Was she right? Did all the other mermaids do it? It's not that I wanted to be like them, but I was really itching to connect with some of my own kind. It was weird not being around other mermaids all the time.

"Okay, fine." I rolled my eyes, "But if we ever go to another party again, I'm doing it all myself."

Gen nodded eagerly.

She and I ducked behind the huge fern trees that encircled the front drive of the building and found the lagoon. It was massive and obviously man-made. Underwater lights lit up the water and wooden bridges created ambient walkways over it.

"Look!" Gen pointed. An older looking girl, with perfectly curled brown hair had come from the other side. She wore a white slip over what looked to be a bikini. Then, she stepped into the lagoon.

"She must be another mermaid. Quick, follow her inside."

I shoved the maroon top under my shirt and tied the strings so it'd stay on. Here goes nothing, I thought to myself.

The water was warm, and only went up to my waist. I pulled off some of the other things I had on, just as I felt my tail start to form.

"Cool," Gen was in awe, as she usually was.

"Thanks," I felt awkward. Having a tail didn't seem as cool back when everyone else had one. It was weird thinking that other people could admire it.

The girl across the lagoon ducked underneath the water. That was my cue.

"See ya inside," Gen urged me on.

I swam underneath the surface toward the other mermaid, pushing hard to catch up. I imagined all the blush and sparkly eyeliner I had on was just about gone, but it was replaced with the thrill of the race. Who knew what would happen tonight?