Swim Away (Mermaid)

Chapter Seventeen

"I'm leaving now, Dad. Bye!" I quickly grabbed everything as I was about to run out the door to school, but before I made it out, my father stopped me. 

He called me over. I sighed, having no choice but to walk over to him. I spent so much time trying to avoid him. I didn't want to talk about this mermaid stuff, which I knew he would bring up. It infuriated me how he knew about this and said nothing. How could he hide this from me?

"Lara," my dad called as I slowly backed up and saw him getting a cup of water. I stared at the water, never actually noticing or caring when people would drink water. I felt like I had to be away from it, even if the person knew my secret. "We have to talk about this. Skip school." 

Honestly, I didn't want to skip school. School looked nice, actually.

I put my backpack down and leaned against the counter. My dad finished his cup of water and told me to follow him. Of course, I followed. We walked out on the porch and down to the sand. Did we really have to be by water? I dragged myself out by the water and I couldn't help but stare at it.

"Lara, I know, that you are a mermaid." I turned to my dad, pressed my lips together, and nodded. "I knew about it from the beginning. I couldn't tell you any of it though, as request by your mother and other mermaids. They said there was a chance you would be human with a few abilities, like Noah. But as you know they were wrong. I knew when Noah showed up. I may not be able to tell that he was part of your world from his eyes, but there are other ways to tell." I gave him a questioning look. "That doesn't matter." 

I looked around, then kept my eyes on the sand. I wished I stayed human. No tail and yes, no powers. I could do so much with powers and it did scare me a little. If I wanted I could harm anyone. But my dad should've told me. It would've been better to know what was going to happen to me. Who cared if they said I wasn't supposed to know. That was something I had to know. But honestly I didn't know if that would've made a difference, because I wouldn't be able to prevent what has happened.

"You still should've told me, regardless of their request. It's my life, it's going to happen to me, and I think I deserved to know." I watched the wave as it came close to my feet. I took a step back. "Look what its done to me! I can't go near water anymore!" I ran my hand through my hair then slid it across my face, hoping I wiped away any tear that would fall.

"I wish I could've. You wouldn't believe how many times I came close to telling you. But you never showed signs that you were becoming a mermaid. I thought you were going to stay human. I'm sorry, Lara." My dad really did look sorry. I couldn't stay mad about it, it wasn't his fault. "I should've told you when I saw Noah."

"Yeah, you should've. But it's okay, we can't change anything. Is there anything you can tell me now?"

"No, Noah should've told you everything." He looked around, scratching his head, then back at me. "Wait, there is something." He looked up at the blue sky as if waiting for the sky to speak his words. He rubbed his chin and frowned. He didn't seem too happy about what he was about to tell me. As the time went by, I could feel my heart beating faster. I kicked the sand and looked down, pressing my lips together. 

I looked at my dad and forced myself to look into his eyes.

Who was I kidding?

"What?" I whispered, turning my head to the ocean then back at his face.

"Whatever you do, don't fall for Noah."

A loud thud came from the journal in my hands. The book was slammed shut. I didn't understand why Noah closed the journal. I gasped, turning to look at Noah's face. His eyes were frozen on the journal. I shook my head. I wanted to read about what was written about the protectors. 

I reopened the journal, but Noah slowly closed it. I kept the journal closed on my lap and narrowed my eyes at him. He grabbed my hands, looked down at them, and smiled sadly. He slowly felt my palm with his thumb and sighed. I watched as he softly made circles on a palm. "Not yet. I want you to get to know me before you read about what they say about protectors, okay?"

"Why?" I asked. I didn't know Noah had control over what I had to read. 

"I told you, I want you to know me better. Not all protectors are the same, that's all." I nodded, taking the journal back to my room, and Noah followed. I placed the journal behind my pillow, not wanting to leave it out in the open. "That's an obvious hiding place."

"Shut up," I replied, rolling my eyes. 

Noah lied on my bed and stared at the ceiling. I watched him from where I stood, near the balcony doors, which were now shut. 

My heart was beating faster as I continued to stare at him. He made my heart feel funny. I put my hand at my chest, not knowing how to handle the way I was feeling. 

My bed creaked as Noah sat back up. His eyes landed on mine, and I gasped. Chills ran down my body from the way he was looking at me. He stood up and walked towards me. I felt his hand against mine when he grabbed it. A breath escaped me. If we were cartoons, a question mark would be flying out of my head. 

"Let's get something to eat and watch a movie." 

I followed Noah as we left to go to the mall, which was a bit far, but Noah didn't seem to care, even though there were places to eat and a movie theater near by. 

"Movie." I repeated. A place I hadn't gone to since I moved here. 

"Yes. Don't tell me you've never been to the movies." 

"I didn't just come from the ocean!" I yelled at him. 

He only laughed as his reply. He opened the car door for me, and I gave him a look, then sat down. I could tell he was waiting for a thank you, like the first time, but I only smiled. I watched as he came over to the drivers side and started the car. I kept my eyes on him. 

He caught me staring.

"Some things never change."

I tried to hide the shock of what my father told me, and I didn't know if I was doing a good job or not. I kept calm, or so I thought. It felt like he knew about that day I had with Noah. I didn't have anything to hide though, we were just hanging out. And getting closer. 

How was I not supposed to like the guy I spend most of my time with and know he had my back? 

"You don't have to worry about that, Dad." 

I wanted to be with Noah, even if I acted like I didn't want to. What I didn't get was why? Was he just being a dad, knowing exactly who Noah was and was warning me, or was there something more to this?