Read Online Teenage Mermaid by Ellen Schreiber - Free Book Online Page B

Cliffs.”
    â€œWhat about your mother?”
    â€œMy mom left us when I was a kid.”
    â€œDo you ever see her?”
    â€œNo. In fact, I never even got to say good-bye to her.”
    â€œYou never got to say good-bye?”
    â€œShe ran off with a used car salesman. My dad wanted her to trade in our Chevy and she traded him instead. Now we only buy new cars!” he said, laughing.
    â€œBut that’s so sad. Where I’m from nobody ever leaves anyone—”
    â€œI pretty much raised myself with the help of my friend Chainsaw, my surfboard, and a Blockbuster card.”
    â€œA Blockbuster card?” I asked.
    â€œWhat’s your story, Candy?”
    â€œUh…me? I like to swim, my parents get majorly on my nerves, I hate high school. And I have a best friend, Waverly. But my life is so boring! It’s not worth asking about. Can’t we just sit?” I asked. “It’s been a long day.”
    â€œOh, sure,” he said, leaning back and staring off toward the ocean.
    â€œBesides, I’d rather know about you. Do you hang here often?”
    â€œNot during school. But don’t worry. Seaside’s a tourist trap, so no one really can tell who’s who if you skip out of class. A major mistake, if you ask me, tohave a school so close to a beach.”
    I stared up at his chiseled face, the light in his eyes. I’d been so distracted with these spectacular Earthly sights, that I failed to notice the spectacular sight right in front of me.
    Spencer caught my gaze and, embarrassed, I turned away. “Well, Spencer…it’s been…”
    â€œDon’t you like your coffee?” he asked, breaking the white plastic rim of his own cup into tiny pieces.
    â€œUh, sure,” I said. I took a gulp and almost choked.
    â€œAre you okay?”
    â€œIt tastes like mud!”
    His eyes sparkled when he laughed, as if I had said the cutest thing he’d ever heard.
    â€œI’ll get you some water,” he offered with a smile. “You sit tight.”
    â€œThat’s okay. I have to—” I began. But he bolted off.
    I leaned back on the bench and pulled my legs up and hugged them with all my might. Spencer was really special. I felt drawn to him the same way I felt drawn to the ocean. I wondered what it would be like to sit in class with him every day, have him teach me to surf, lie in the grass and look up at the puffy clouds. But he’d be returning with my water and I’d have to get my necklace and leave.
    I felt a tap on my shoulder.
    â€œYeah, Spencer?” I said, turning around.
    â€œCan you spare some change?” a scruffy man asked.
    I felt frightened. Where was Spencer? Would the man hurt me since I didn’t have any coins? Did he have a knife? I felt like I was in the Underworld again without shark mace.
    â€œI’m sorry, I don’t have any money with me,” I confessed. “But you’re welcome to this,” I said, handing him my coffee.
    â€œHey, Candy,” Spencer called, anxiously running back.
    â€œThank you, miss,” the man said, his withered face lighting up like the sun. He took the coffee as Spencer approached. “Most people don’t even make eye contact!” said the man as he turned to leave.
    The man turned his attention to Spencer.
    â€œShe has a pretty smile and a gracious heart. Don’t let her get away,” he said, and sauntered off.
    â€œSpeaking of leaving,” I began, rising. “It’s been totally—”
    â€œBut I don’t know anything about you,” he said, handing me the plastic bottle. “Here, everyone likes water.”
    â€œI can’t live without it!” I said, laughing at my inside joke. He smiled fondly. I twisted off the cap, like I’d seen an Earthlady do earlier, and I sucked it down in one gulp.
    Spencer gave me the same look that Earthlady had. “Man, you must be thirsty!”
    I