Millions (#2)

Imposter

"Charles, honey, get up.", Charles' Mom said softly. The young mermaid groaned, rolling in his hammock. "He probably thinks he's to good for school.", Leo sneered. The boys' mother shot Leo a glare, causing him to leave the room with a baggy white shirt. "Just a few more minutes.", Charles grumbled. Charles' mom yanked the covers off of him. "I mean it, young man. Up.", his mother affirmed. Charles dragged himself out of bed, grabbing a random shirt. His mom nodded as she left. "You can have breakfast at school.", she added. The mermaid put the shirt on and quickly combed through his slick, black hair. "On land, there are these things called grilled cheese sandwiches. They taste really good until the water gets to them.", he said. Leo rolled his eyes. "You've been talking about land for phases.", he sighed, "At least before this 'Kurt' showed up you'd talk about a nice coral reef or something. Charles got his satchel, still feeling drowsy. For some reason he didn't respond, giving an empty shrug.
"He's actually quiet.", Charles heard someone whisper. He was angry. Yes, he was working without getting yelled at or getting into trouble, and that was a good thing. the problem was that he didn't feel like he was in control. It wasn't him carving into the thin, neat wood plank in front of him. There was something else using his body. It made him want to scream, kick, do anything that would say 'Help me', yet he felt too tired to do anything. "Hey.", someone whispered, catching his attention. Charles turned around, giving a yawn. "Are you okay?", a boy with green eyes asked him. "You look like you've been to Angelmento.", he jested with a light smile. Charles lazily shook his head. " 'Course not. I don't go there, Frank. Nobody does.", the grey eyed mermaid replied.
"Bren's been there.", Frank pointed out. Charles glanced at a boy hunched over his desk with dark brown hair and an almost glowing tawny tail, seeming to be in a sickly daze. "Good point.", he admitted, "I actually got help from Kurt.", he informed. "You got drugged from a human?", Frank asked, his emerald green eyes widening. "Not drugged, per say. I just got some land medicine, that's all."
"Mr. Slaton.", his teacher warned. Charles turned around, facing his desk again.
"So, are you watching the harvest?", Leo asked. Charles put a rock in his satchel. "Nope, can't. I'm doing more research.", he replied. "You've been working for three phases. Take a break.", Leo insisted. "I'm not slacking off just to watch another ship sink.", Charles retorted. "It's the first hunt of the summer! Everyone'll be there .", the red tailed mermaid said. "Lasgari.", Charles muttered. "I've got to to get moving if I'll be at shore in time.", he remembered. "Why don't you want to be with your family?", Leo asked, his voice broken and tense. "I love you, I love Mom. It's just that I can feel my purpose. The gods want for us to learn about land, learn from humans, and I'm going to fulfill that prophecy.", Charles argued, beginning to swim away. Leo grabbed his wrist. "What's gotten into you?", he barked, "Sneaking off late at night, coming home sick, This isn't you. This isn't Charles!"
"I am Charles!", the grey tailed mermaid hissed, the fins on the sides of his neck quickly swerving back. "Just because you're not the spotlight of the family anymore doesn't mean that you can hold me back from destiny.", he retorted, making Leo let go. He swam off, only turning back into last time.
"Don't wait up for me."