Scales (A *Tail* starring One Direction, like no other)

Chapter 9 ~ The Reaction

Chapter 9.

"Hannah!" Leylanie yells as she dashes over to me, her eyes puffy and her cheeks tearstained.

"Where the hell were you?" Chayanne gasps as she sprints behind.

Liam is the first to reach me though and he slams into me, engulfing me in a tight hug.

"Are you ok? We found your board, what happened? I was so, so worried." He questions, still hugging me tight, I'm worried he's going to crush me.

"Can't breathe!" I reply.

Liam lets go and I exhale,"Well I was out surfing when I was caught in a rip and dragged out to a different part of the beach, I had to swim to shore and then walk back here." I explain, with my cover up story. They'd never believe what really happened.

"Thank God you're safe!" Leylanie says, on the verge of tears.

"By the way, where did you get that awesome bikini top? I've never seen it before..." Chayanne asks me, suspicious.

I forgot to think of an excuse for that one.

"Oh, umm..." I begin.

"Chayanne stop asking her things, we should be happy she's not dead, now let's get you home." Leylanie interrupts.

"Thank you Leylanie!" I think gratefully.

Liam picks me up—which is become a regular thing he does these days—and carries me back home with everyone else following.

He grabs the key and lets us all in, then sets me down on the sofa.

I decide to put on my pjs and then head back into the lounge to make hot drinks for everyone. I kind of just want everyone to leave though, I'm completely shattered from the day I've had. But since they've all been through a lot today too, I decide to remain silent on the matter and be a good hostess.

It's around 10pm when everyone heads off home.

Then it's just Liam and I.

We sit in an awkward silence for a few long minutes.

Then he suddenly grabs me and holds me close to his chest.

"If anything had happened to you out there, I couldn't live with myself." He tells me, a stern look in his eyes.

"I'm sorry." I sob.

"It's not your fault, stuff happens, I was just so worried."

I nod, "I know, but I feel bad that I made you so upset. Come on, it's probably time we go to bed, it's been a long day."

He sighs, "It definitely has. I guess it's just a reminder of how dangerous the ocean can be, I'll make sure to keep an eye on you next time we go surfing."

The two of us get up and head into the bathroom to brush our teeth.

Liam still looks pretty worn out while we're brushing, so I pull a face at him in the mirror to try and cheer him up.

He pulls a face back, and I crack up at his attempt.

Then he runs his brush under the water and turns to me, a wide grin on his face "I think you've just initiated a toothbrush war!"

My eyes widen in horror, that is not a good idea.

"Liam!" I shout as he flicks some tap water at me, a drop lands on my toe.

All of a sudden I drop, falling to the bathroom floor.

It's icy cold, but a shiver goes through my spine as I glance up to find Liam staring at me.

"Hannah? What the actual hell?" He whispers, his voice tight.

I stare at him. I don't know what to say.

"You have a tail?" He whispers again, still in shock.

"Um..."

"Hannah? How did this happen?"

"Liam I..."

"Are you playing a prank on me? If so, it's cruel Han, It really is."

I shake my head, "No, I'm—"

"Fine then, I'll take you to the hospital!"

"Stop! I can explain!" I shout at him, my voice louder than I expected.

He shuts up after that, picks me up and carries me through to my room, setting me carefully down on my bed.

As I dry off I start to explain this whole mess to Liam.

"Remember in the cave, the cut." I begin.

"Yeah.." He mumbles, his tone measured.

"Well, after that I started getting more and more cuts up both my legs, then when I went surfing, well I got wet and I got a tail."

"You have got to be kidding me." Liam whispers, half amused half serious.

"Liam, this is real, this is me now. Whenever I touch water I get a tail, I..I can also breath underwater, along with other things..." I tell him.

"What... what are you?" He asks, bewildered.

"Liam, I'm a Mermaid."