but I’m still moving too
fast. I’m lucky the slide is enclosed or I would have flown to my death by now.
I scream in terror as I whip around another turn, this time hitting my head.
The left side of my body feels the impact but I’m already at the end, zooming
through the tunnel’s opening and then knifing the water at a high velocity. I practically
slam into the spring’s bottom.
The
cold bristles of water prick my body all at once as if I just submerged myself
in a tall bucket of ice. I pull myself up until I reach the surface and gasp in
the warm air. The cold sensation is refreshing as it cascades down my face. I
wipe the water from my eyes so I can see.
The
water dissipates from my skin steadily, beginning with my head and neck, and all
the way down to my toes. My insides adjust to the temperature quickly.
Well,
that was the rush I needed but not in that way. I want to yell at Rose now and
tell her, “I told you so. This is exactly
why I need to be using my powers, so that they don’t build up like this to the
point I can’t control them. Just like the fire.”
After
a few seconds I’m able to calm my mind and swim for the rope boundary, just in
time for Alec to soar from the slide to the water.
* *
*
It
takes some coercing to get everyone on the riverboat ride. They would rather
frolic in the water and I don’t blame them, but the tour guide is giving a
history lesson on the Weeki Wachee river and I want to hear it.
We
cram aboard the floating platform and take our seats on the left side, filling three
rows of the boat. Alec sits beside me, Trisha next to Matt, and Brent with an
annoyed Ava. I’m sure Ava would have chosen the seat next to Alec but that’s
not for me to worry about. I really need to get over this jealousy I have with
Ava and Alec. Alec couldn’t be more clear in his decisions—and his
decision appears to be me .
I
smile at him now, realizing how fun this is to see him in his element among
friends. Even surrounded by our peers at his Fourth of July party, Alec and I
kept to ourselves for the most part. I was too interested in getting to know
him to want to meet anyone else.
Alec
touches a spot on my knee causing a red-hot reaction in my cheeks. I turn to
see what he’s gotten my attention for—hoping that he won’t catch the
blush he’s caused.
Brent
and Alec are focused on two mermaids, perched on a rock, waving leisurely at
the riverboat passengers. I don’t recognize either of them. To think that
there’s an entire population of mermaids is exciting and confusing all at the
same time. I’m fascinated by the life mermaids have chosen by living here; constantly
in the public’s eye, gawked at by kids and males especially. I glance at Brent
who is practically breaking his neck in effort to continue viewing the
mermaids, and I let out a subtle snort before turning back to the front.
There
was a pamphlet we received when we entered that elaborated on what I read
online. It explained how the mermaids not only entertain, but take time to
volunteer and educate kids on their off time.
We
are the same in many ways, but so very different. Mermaids choose to live their
lives in the public’s eye, and that takes an insurmountable level of bravery.
The permanent smiles on their faces exude confidence and show me that they are
naturally happy with their chosen paths. I envy that feeling. They don’t have
to hide who or what they are. They
simply are.
I
look at Alec who thinks he knows me. He thinks he likes who I am, and here I
am, lying to him, but it’s not just me—his parents and soon Trisha will
be added to that list. It makes my brain hurt from thinking about all of the
things that I’ll never be able to talk to him about. How can one possibly build
a relationship on lies and secrets?
Rose
once told me that a relationship between a Normal and an Enchanter is hard. There
are secrets and double lives that the other half can never access. At one point
in history it was
fast. I’m lucky the slide is enclosed or I would have flown to my death by now.
I scream in terror as I whip around another turn, this time hitting my head.
The left side of my body feels the impact but I’m already at the end, zooming
through the tunnel’s opening and then knifing the water at a high velocity. I practically
slam into the spring’s bottom.
The
cold bristles of water prick my body all at once as if I just submerged myself
in a tall bucket of ice. I pull myself up until I reach the surface and gasp in
the warm air. The cold sensation is refreshing as it cascades down my face. I
wipe the water from my eyes so I can see.
The
water dissipates from my skin steadily, beginning with my head and neck, and all
the way down to my toes. My insides adjust to the temperature quickly.
Well,
that was the rush I needed but not in that way. I want to yell at Rose now and
tell her, “I told you so. This is exactly
why I need to be using my powers, so that they don’t build up like this to the
point I can’t control them. Just like the fire.”
After
a few seconds I’m able to calm my mind and swim for the rope boundary, just in
time for Alec to soar from the slide to the water.
* *
*
It
takes some coercing to get everyone on the riverboat ride. They would rather
frolic in the water and I don’t blame them, but the tour guide is giving a
history lesson on the Weeki Wachee river and I want to hear it.
We
cram aboard the floating platform and take our seats on the left side, filling three
rows of the boat. Alec sits beside me, Trisha next to Matt, and Brent with an
annoyed Ava. I’m sure Ava would have chosen the seat next to Alec but that’s
not for me to worry about. I really need to get over this jealousy I have with
Ava and Alec. Alec couldn’t be more clear in his decisions—and his
decision appears to be me .
I
smile at him now, realizing how fun this is to see him in his element among
friends. Even surrounded by our peers at his Fourth of July party, Alec and I
kept to ourselves for the most part. I was too interested in getting to know
him to want to meet anyone else.
Alec
touches a spot on my knee causing a red-hot reaction in my cheeks. I turn to
see what he’s gotten my attention for—hoping that he won’t catch the
blush he’s caused.
Brent
and Alec are focused on two mermaids, perched on a rock, waving leisurely at
the riverboat passengers. I don’t recognize either of them. To think that
there’s an entire population of mermaids is exciting and confusing all at the
same time. I’m fascinated by the life mermaids have chosen by living here; constantly
in the public’s eye, gawked at by kids and males especially. I glance at Brent
who is practically breaking his neck in effort to continue viewing the
mermaids, and I let out a subtle snort before turning back to the front.
There
was a pamphlet we received when we entered that elaborated on what I read
online. It explained how the mermaids not only entertain, but take time to
volunteer and educate kids on their off time.
We
are the same in many ways, but so very different. Mermaids choose to live their
lives in the public’s eye, and that takes an insurmountable level of bravery.
The permanent smiles on their faces exude confidence and show me that they are
naturally happy with their chosen paths. I envy that feeling. They don’t have
to hide who or what they are. They
simply are.
I
look at Alec who thinks he knows me. He thinks he likes who I am, and here I
am, lying to him, but it’s not just me—his parents and soon Trisha will
be added to that list. It makes my brain hurt from thinking about all of the
things that I’ll never be able to talk to him about. How can one possibly build
a relationship on lies and secrets?
Rose
once told me that a relationship between a Normal and an Enchanter is hard. There
are secrets and double lives that the other half can never access. At one point
in history it was
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