Justin Bieber and The Mermaid

7. Kinda like a first date

Lily's POV

I felt frightened. Where was Justin? Would the man hurt me since I didn't have any money? Did he have a weapon? I felt like I was in the Underworld again without the shark mace.

"I'm sorry, I don't have any money with me," I confessed. "But you're welcome to this," I said, handing him my coffee.

"Hey, Lily," Justin called, anxiously running back to meet me.

"Thank you, miss," the man said, his withered face lighting up like the sun. He took the coffee from me as Justin approached. "Most people don't even make eye contact!" said the man as he turned to leave.

The man turned his attention to Justin. "She has a beautiful smile and a kind heart. Don't let her get away," he said, and wandered off with a smile on his face.

"Speaking of leaving," I began, rising. "It's been totally - "

"But I don't know anything about you," Justin said, handing me a plastic bottle. "Here, everyone likes water."

"I can't live without it!" I said, laughing at my inside joke. He just smiled, his wide smile that I was beginning to love. I twisted off the cap, like I'd seen a woman do earlier, and I sucked it down in one gulp.

I smiled and shrugged my shoulders. He leaned his arm against the railing, blocking me from leaving. I glanced down at his Metallica t-shirt.

"What's metallica?" I said.

His eyes widened. "No way. You don't know who they are? They're a real cool rock band, what kind of music do you like?"

"Ummm....I don't really know much music," I said.

His face flushed and he immediately took a sip of his latte. A freakish mermaid on the side of the cup stared me in the face.

"Mermaids don't have two tails!" I said, looking at the drawing. "And what's with the snakes from hair!" I rolled my eyes.

"You're funny," he said, with a laugh. "You know what? My best friend thinks you're a mermaid!"

I gasped. Was my identity that obvious? Had he figured it out all along and was just waiting for me to admit it? Just as I was beginning to get suspicious Justin's grin reassured me that he was only joking.

"Do you believe in mermaids?" I asked playfully, but secretly hoping for a positive response.

"Ugghhhh...about as much as I believe in Santa and the Easter bunny!" he exclaimed. I didn't have a clue who either of those things were so I just shrugged then we both started laughing.

Justin had the cutest laugh, a bit goofy but attractive still and the corners of his eyes squinted a bit and I could see his dimple on full display.

"Well . . . I better - " I said, trying yet again to make my exit.

"It's funny," he began, "but when I saw you underwater I thought - "

"That I was Santa?" I tried to joke.

"It must have been my lack of oxygen," he said, with reservation. "But I thought I saw a ta - "

"Really, I should be - " I cut him off from finishing his sentence.

"Why were you swimming so early, anyway?" He interjected.

"I love swimming," I defended. "I prefer it to walking."

"Yeah. I like surfing!" He confessed.