Justin Bieber and The Mermaid

13. True Love's Kiss!

Suddenly Lily appeared before us, treading water. "I'm a mermaid!" she declared, with pride, with reluctance, with relief.

We just stood in disbelief.

"This is lame! You're spoiling the fireworks "'cause you want to prank me back for something?" Fredo argued.

"You said it yourself when I told you how she saved my life. Remember? You said, 'She swims in the ocean better than you, saves your life, and disappears.' Well, she's not a swimming instructor or a lifeguard. You have your answer now - she's a mermaid!

"It's true! I'm really a mermaid," Lily called, resting her arms and head on the edge of a rock.

"I thought you can't be seen!" I said, concerned, kneeling in front of her.

"I'm a mermaid - not a ghost." She winked.

"If she's a mermaid, I'm an alien!" Fredo chided.

Lily pulled herself onto a rock next to us. Her tail wasn't slimy like I would have imagined a mermaid's would be, like a snake or fish, but rather sleek, sexy even, almost glowing. We knelt, entranced, touching her fin, like we were touching the horn on a unicorn.

But Lilly pulled at her side. "I've got to go," she said and quickly dove into the water like a dolphin. In an instant she was back.

"We have to tell someone!" Fredo demanded. "Or make a video! We could make millions!"

"We can't tell a anyone," I said sternly. "No one must know - swear on your life!"

Lily stared up at us, her eyes pleading for secrecy.

"No one tells a soul!" I said through gritted teeth.

Fredo looked at me with reservation, then at Lily. "Justin, you sure do get into predicaments. Okay . . . I swear."

We crouched by Lily. It was as if we were entranced, mesmerized by her mermaid spell as she lapped her tail gently against the water.

"Have you always been like that?" Fredo asked incredulously.

"Have you always been like that?" she asked.

We all laughed.

I knew I only had minutes left with her. "I need to talk to Lily alone. Make sure no one comes around," I said. "The fireworks are almost over. People won't be distracted anymore."

Lily was magical on earth, but as a mermaid, she was even more magical, even more seductive. Everyone was staring up at some stupid colored lights, when a miracle was floating right before my eyes.

"I was afraid you wouldn't believe me," she said, sliding up on the rock when we were alone.

"Yeah - " I began, holding her wet body in my arms, her lovely tail draped around my jeans.

"I wanted to be with you forever," she confessed.

"But - " she said, fingering the locket.

"I don't want you to leave," I said, grasping her wet hand.

"I don't either, but - "

"I'll never see you again?" I asked, my heart breaking.

She nodded.

"We could meet at specific times," I pleaded. "I could surf out to your home."

Lilly stared up at me with watery eyes and shook her head. "It could jeopardize our existence. And yours . . ."

A cop leaning on the boardwalk fence suddenly shined his flashlight down on the rocks. "Hey, you on the rocks! Away from the water!"

Suddenly I was blinded by the light and deafened by the sound of splashing water. Lily was gone!

"Out of all the girls in the world, I had to fall in love with a mermaid!" I laughed sadly, but it didn't stop the tears from tumbling down my face as I stared out at ocean. I'd lost the chance to say good-bye to Lily

"I didn't get to say good-bye!" I said, taking off my shoes getting ready to dive in and go after her.

"Are you crazy? You'll drown," Fredo said.

"Then I'll drown!"

"Justin - " I heard Fredo yell over the music and fireworks as I dove into the cold night water.

Drowning? How could Lily drown? She's a mermaid!

But I didn't see Lily anywhere. The sea was totally dark, brightened for an instant, when a firework was shot into the air and exploded. I waited, not knowing which way to swim. My heart stopped beating, time stood still. Why weren't they firing off the fireworks that lit the sky like a universal spotlight?

"Lily," I called. "Lily!"

I treaded endlessly, waiting forever for Lily to appear until I finally  saw her pale hand, only yards away from mine, reach up for the moon, and then slowly sink beneath the surface.

I quickly swam in her direction and reached for anything I could grab.

"Lily! Lily! Where are you?" I called, breathless, scared, tormented. I was lost myself. The waves crashed against me, bobbing me up and down like a discarded pop bottle.

"Lily!" I called, getting a mouthful of saltwater.

"Here," another mermaid finally shouted, behind me. They were floating back toward the pier. I felt frustrated, trying desperately to get closer as the waves pushed against me. Gasping for air myself, I finally reached the other mermaid who introduced herself as Ari, who was holding Lily's limp head.

"I thought she was a mermaid."

"She is!" Ari shouted.

"But she's drowning!"

Lily's sparkling blue eyes were shut, her glowing skin sallow, her spirit withering away.

"She's drowning of a broken heart! Only you can save her," Ari cried.

"CPR? Help me take her back to shore."

"No! With the kiss of love!" she said hurriedly. - the kiss of love, that's what Madame Pearl said, only a kiss of love can save her!"

"Who's Madame Pearl?"

"It's in the kiss - that's what she said! Please! Help her!" she pleaded.

"That's easy," I said, smiling, but almost out of breath. Ari handed me Lily's listless body. I leaned in to kiss her, I looked back to the rocks where a crowd was gathering on the highest point. Fredo had called over a policeman and were pointing at us while several onlookers stood around them. One man was taking off his shoes. Two orange-clad lifeguards were running along the pier. I didn't have another minute.

The booming fireworks' finale crashed overhead, drowning out the music. Reds, purples, greens, oranges, coppers, crimson shot across the sky like passionate electricity.

Lily opened her eyes for a brief moment.

"Justin," she whispered breathlessly and closed her eyes again tiredly.

She was greatest gift I'd ever been given, I held her close in my arms. She had saved me, and now it was time for me to save her. I knew I would never be able to let her go.

I took a deep breath, and I kissed her full, soft lips. Lips once full of life, once full of love. Her eyes opened slowly. I didn't have to say good-bye, after all. In fact, I was just beginning to say hello.

That night, I saved a mermaid and found true love!

                                    The End.