Mermaids, Trigonometry, and Everything In Between

The 29th Thing

**Seb's POV **

It felt as though a whole day had passed when I woke up. My memories of the night before were hazy at best. Not to mention the killer headache I had.

But at least this full moon, I woke up in the den where I was supposed to be. That, I considered an improvement. I threw on a new shirt, did my best to sneak past the remaining guys still passed out on messy piles of hay in the low basement lighting, and climbed the steps to the first level.

I didn't have a clue where Max was till he set his tray of eggs and sausages across from me and laid his head on the cafeteria table.

"Still waiting on those waffles." I said flatly.

Max slowly raised his head to face me, "It's too early for this."

I pulled out my phone from my pocket and casually remarked, "Funny text you sent me last night--'Sorry, Seb, gonna have to take a rain check on the food. Ran into a cheerleader who needs my help. Catch ya later. Sunglasses emoji.'"

Max groaned.

"So," I continued, "Either you met a girl who could stand being with you for more than five minutes and spent the whole night with her--doubtful--or you, my friend, got moonphased. Judging by the look on your face I'd say it was the latter."

Max set his head back onto the table, "I remember about five minutes of last night. The rest is a blur."

"Oh how the tables have turned," I said, taking an arrogantly loud slurp of orange juice from my cup.

"Shut your mouth," Max rubbed his eyes, "I haven't been moonphased in years and you know that. Something weird must have happened."

I shrugged, "Or you got phased by all the normal stuff that causes phasing. Sleep deprivation. The flu. A whole lotta meat--"

"You're right," Max cut me off sarcastically, "I think I ran into a swimming pool filled with steaks last night."

"I'm just saying it probably wasn't anything weird. Maybe it was even this girl you were with. One bad bout of nervousness and boom--total wolf out. Speaking of which, who is this girl anyway?"

Now Max let his mouth curl in a pompous sort of way, "Blondie we met at the party that one time. The one you don't like."

It took a second to compute this part. Her.

"I don't dislike her..." I trailed off.

"Yeah, whatever," Max said, "Anyway, she needed help finding her roomate. I offered her my keen sense of smell, which apparently backfired. Probably blew my chances with her."

"What happened to her, then?" I asked quickly.

"Dunno. She's a mermaid so I'm guessing she went back to her dorm before the moon was fully out. I haven't seen her since I phased out. Hey, you think I'll see her at practice? Maybe we can straighten things out. Could even get her number if I'm lucky."

An image of Max with his hand around Elly's shoulder, asking lamely for her number, flashed through my brain. I tried to squash it.

"Nah, Asher's probably gonna run us dry today. First game's coming up."

At the mention of the start of the season, Max became a new man. His eyes gleamed with fresh fury.

"We're playing the Huntington Chimeras. And by playing, I mean defeating."

"Yeah, yeah," I said good-heartedly, because I'd heard his whole spiel before.

"You think you could talk to Asher about me playing on the field? Even if it's just defense." Max looked at me with pleading eyes.

"Hmm..." I play the hum thoughtfully.

"I'll make up for the waffles. I kinda forgot where they are, but I'll figure it out."

"And?" I questioned.

"Three gordita tacos?"

"Deal."