Tania Sanchez can barely juggle studying for SAT's and training for the biggest surfing competition of her life. Her one escape involves fantasizing about living as a mermaid. It's not until she wipes out on her board and is rescued by one that she...
The sun glinted off the waves, blinding Tania at the wrong moment.
She dropped into the water, biting back laughter. Wouldn't do good to swallow sea water and drown again.
Although, maybe Deloros would save me again.
That was her thought before she surfaced, dragging the board to her chest.
"Back in the water like a champ! Yeah, Tania!" Caleb crowed, steady on his board.
His muscles bulged and shifted as he rode a small crest to shore. She staddled her board, watching her mentor and wondering what it would be like to straddle him instead.
"Jeez."
Tania jumped, but calmed when she noticed Helia had paddled beside her. Water dripped from her dark, thick hair, running down her neck. She grinned from behind ridiculously large sunglasses.
"That boy makes surfing look easy," Helia said, following Caleb's lithe form with a lazy gaze.
Tania laughed, nodding. The laughter was forced, but seemed the natural response, as opposed to the jealously currently choking her.
In moments, Caleb joined them. He splashed water playfully, and Helia hit him back, giggling. Suddenly, a swell knocked her off her board again.
Like a shirt in a dryer, her body tumbled about, and in her mind, she wanted to stay under.
This will protect me.
Even amid the chaos, her fingers closed around the necklace. The smooth stone anchored her, allowed her to spin upright and kick to the surface.
Tania broke through the water with minimal sputtering, a trick Caleb had taught her. Reaching for her slick green board, she checked for her friends.
The pair floated a few yards away, waving at her. They were so close to each other, but moved apart as Tania continued staring.
"You okay?" Helia called.
Was that guilt lacing her tone?
Caleb reached her first, assessing her clinically, lifting her hair to check for coral abrasions.
"I'm fine," Tania murmured, sliding away from Caleb's light touch.
He shot her a questioning glance, but ceased the appraisal.
Truth was, her head was on fire, but not from the water. She felt caught between two desires: her natural and ever-present inclination towards Caleb, and the need to see the creature once more. The necklace reminded her the encounter had been real, despite her mind denying the memories on all levels.
She watched the waves and wondered what swam beneath. What did merfolk do all day, eat seaweed and comb their hair with forks? Maybe Deloros was looking up at the sun filtering through the water, thinking about what humans did on the shore.
"We here to practice or to daydream?" Caleb called from behind her.
After another few moments, Tania lay on her board and paddled out to catch the next wave.
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