Secretly Mermaid

chapter 4

"Woooooooooot! That was the most incredible party in ages!" Brandon lay sprawled on the sofa. 

The after party was, apparently taking place in Troy's living room, while the boys changed out of their swimming clothes and took seats by the fire place, the girls made coffee. 

"Troy's slowly coming back to us. See I knew that girl wasn't good for you. She was changing you!" Sharlene sashayed her way through the boys and handed Troy a steaming coffee mug.

Troy smirked, he wanted to punch Sharlene in the face but didn't say anything, he thought she was one of his best friends, and she was the one who told Harriet it was for a dare, he had no choice but to say yes when she asked him, and then she was gone, and she wouldn't listen to anything else. 

Elli put an arm around Sharlene's shoulders and pulled her away from Troy. "where's Teagan, Troy?" he looked around for Troy's 6 year old sister who was here less than five minutes ago.

"She's out by the pool! I saw her playing with her dolls there a couple minutes ago." Laurel took a huge swig of her coffee,"Mmhmm, pure heaven." she played with her hair. 

"Teagan!" Troy called out. "come back inside Tee, you'll fall in!" he peeked out the window to see his little sister lean right into the water, she looked up and waved, grinning widely.

"you are still pissed at her about Harry aren't you?" Elli placed a hand on his shoulder. Since childhood, Elli had been the older brother he never had. Both his parents being professors they were out a lot, and Troy had always had issues of his own. If he was sane, it was because of Elli. Troy said nothing. "Look. She did what she thought was best for you. and if Harriet doesn't trust you enough to give you a chance to explain, then maybe you are mistaken about her. Maybe Sharlene is right and Harriet wasn't right for you."

"She could have left my personal life to me." Troy gritted his teeth. 

"If you are diving into a suicide pool do you expect us to stand there and watch you? We do what's best for you Troy, that's what friends are for. Do you think Harriet would have accepted you if she knew?" He looked at his friend meaningfully. Troy knew Elliot was right. There were so many things she didn't know about him. About them. Maybe his friends were right. 

Just then a loud splash was heard.

"Teagan. She doesn't know how to swim!" Troy's face went pale as both boys rushed down. "the pool's too deep for her"

Elliot skipped the stairs in one huge jump and ran right out, to find Teagan soaking wet, standing right beside the pool, shivering. "Are you okay?" Elliot took off his jumper and rushed to wrap Teagan in it as Troy emerged behind him "get a towel!" he called out to Troy.

"Yes!" Teagan whispered and Elli wrapped her tightly in her jumper.

"you made it out on your own, you know how to swim?" he laughed as he carried her to the sofa area further to the side from the pool. 

"No." She whispered again and giggled. "She rescued me."

"Laurel did?" Elliot remembered Laurel knew Teagan was by the pool, she probably pulled her out. 

"No." Tee giggled again. "She did!"

"Why are we whispering?" Elli whispered back as he ruffled her hair to finger dry them. 

"There's a mermaid in the pool!" Teagan whispered again excitedly, her eyes wide with wonder.

"A mermaid with exceptional hearing I'll have you know!" A voice he didn't recognize called out from the pool.