741Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known
-Carl Sagan
Seven years later…
I slammed the door shut behind me as I entered the house, not bothering to shout any cheesy greeting to announce my presence.
I'm sure you're familiar with them; the television famous "Mom, I'm home!" or the obnoxiously cheerful, "Hey everybody!"
Not only were they exceedingly lame, but they were also wasted words, as my parents were never home. Bermuda was far more life-fulfilling than raising their kids apparently. I didn't live alone however, I shared the house with my sister Erin, who was so self-absorbed I might as well be invisible, unless she wanted something, like now.
"Hey Frizz-Ball, have you seen my car keys?" said sister demanded, strutting into the kitchen like she owned the place. She was clad in an expensive pink sweat-suite, blond hair billowing behind her like an over-perfumed mane. I yanked my sweater sleeve over my nose so I wouldn't gag at the overpowering scent.
Didn't anyone teach her that less is more?
While I was busy attempting not to pass out from perfume intoxication, Erin began viciously ripping open drawers and cabinets, a frown marring her pretty face as each time she came up key-less.
"Okay seriously?" she snapped, skirting around me to check inside the microwave—yes, the microwave— before whirling on me expectantly.
"Helloooo?" she hissed, waving her hand in my face, "Earth to Kerrie-land. Im pretty sure I asked you a question like five seconds ago. How about answering it this century? And you should really do something about that hair of yours, it's repulsive."
She wrinkled her nose, eyeing my tangled, wavy locks pointedly before crossing her arms.
I rolled my eyes.
I'd actually seen her keys in the cabinet under the sink the night before, but of course I wasn't going to tell her that. That would be like giving a murderer a chainsaw.
Ignoring her comment about my hair, I tilted my head in feigned innocence,
"Did you check your pants yet?" I drawled, " I hear a lot of things get in there."
She didn't deny the insinuations of my words, instead turning to face me with raised brows.
"Yeah, whatever virgin," she stressed, flinging open the pantry. Three packets of instant noodles fell out, not that she bothered to pick them up. "Try insulting me again when you actually land a date."
I scoffed.
"Yeah, because saving yourself for someone who actually cares is such a travesty." I countered as I bounded up the stairs to my room. I was so over this. "We can finish this conversation when you've gotten all your shots."
I locked the door behind me in case she decided to initiate a surprise attack—it's happened before (don't ask)— then flopped down on my un-made bed, backpack and all.
Erin and I had been like this for as long as I could remember.
I'm pretty sure it had something to do with Dad marrying my mom practically a week after hers died, not that I even had anything to do with that. My mom is black, so not only did we act like total strangers most of the time, but we didn't even look related. We were as different as heaven and hell (her being hell of course). And it didn't help our relationship much that she thought she was the epitome of perfection. Sure she's pretty, I'm willing to admit that, but pretty girls came by the thousands these days.
My cell phone buzzed in my pocket and I answered without even glancing at the caller I.D. It was always one of two people.
"Hey Kerr Bear!" Laney chirped into my ear.
I winced at the nickname. She thought it was adorable. I thought it was downright cruel.
"What Laney?" I sighed, impatience coloring my tone. Erin had drained the last of my energy, and I wasn't up for her usual antics.
"Touché," she teased, and I felt the corners of my lips twitch.
"Matt and I are already down at the beach, you coming?"
I paused, mulling it over.
Hmm.. beach, or sleep?
"C'mon," Laney urged, sensing my hesitation, "It's practically tradition now."
She was right of course. It was practically like a tradition to us.
Ever since that day seven years ago, Laney and I went to the beach on the last day of school in hopes of catching another glimpse of the mysterious merboy. We weren't very successful to say the least, and always came home with our tails between our legs, yet the next year we were right back at it like nothing had happened.
"Fine." I relented, wiggling out of my school pants. They were skin-tight and itchy as hell. "I'll be there in ten minutes."
"Hurry!" She exclaimed, "Or you might miss him!"
Right.
"Whatever." I snorted then hung up.
I stood slowly from my bed, dropping my backpack on the floor and slipping into my favorite shorts.
"Where are you going?" Erin probed when I came downstairs.
She was seated comfortably on the living room sofa, not even bothering to turn her head as she tapped away at her cell-phone and gnawed on a bar of chocolate. I didn't miss a beat with my curt response.
"None of your damn business."
Her shoulders visibly tensed at my answer, head whipping around to shoot me a poisonous scowl. Grey eyes narrowed furiously, before relaxing as realization seemed to dawn on her.
I resisted the urge to cringe.
Great.
"You're going to look for that 'merboy' again aren't you?" she snickered smugly, "Aren't you too old to still believe in fairytales?"
I could feel my cheeks heat and banished her internally to the darkest, deepest corner of the universe.
"It's not a fairytale," I denied tersely, attempting to keep my voice neutral and failing miserably, "He's real and me and Laney saw him."
Erin waved a dismissive hand at my outburst. This was the only way she could get under my skin and she intended to take full advantage of it.
She always did.
"Well you wanna know what I think?" she queried craftily.
I frowned.
Not really, but I'm sure you're going to tell me anyway.
As predicted, she took my silence as an invitation to continue.
"I think you're one acorn short of a nut case little girl."
I could feel my temper spiking, and took a shuddering breath. God, she was annoying.
"And you're one snickers away from obesity big girl, " I snapped in retaliation. It wasn't true, but it got her going anyway.
Panic-stricken eyes alternated between me and the half-eaten chocolate in her hand, smoke practically billowing out her ears as she hurled the candy away with disgust.
"Bitch!" she screeched, and I couldn't help but notice how she self-consciously grabbed at her stomach.
"Slut," I countered easily then let myself out the front door, just avoiding the black pump she decided to fling at my head.
OOoo~ooOO
The thing I loved most about where I lived is that it was approximately a block away from the beach. The second thing was that it's fifteen miles away from the nearest dentist, not that that delighted me….much.
What? I liked sweets.
"At last, my savior has arrived!" Matt exclaimed jokingly when he caught sight of me.
He raced across the sand, scooping me up with ease into a bone-shattering embrace, spinning in wild circles while I cackled like a mad-woman.
"What?" I teased, " Are you implying that Laney is too much for you to handle on your own?"
He grinned charmingly before setting me back on my feet.
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
We both laughed heartily until sand was kicked in our direction. We turned to see Laney herself glowering at us a few yards away, hands poised on her narrow hips and foot tapping in obvious agitation.
"Yeah, whatever," she muttered, "Matt you know I brighten your dark and dreary life. Same goes for you Kerr."
Matt and I trades glances, before doubling over in laughter again.
God I loved this kid.
Laney and I met him back in seventh grade when he almost drowned in the pool during P.E. Laney had rescued him, but pretended that he was teaching her "life saving" techniques to save him the embarrassment of being saved by a scrawny little girl half his size. Together, we taught him how to swim and now, ironically enough he's on the varsity swim team at our high school.
"Fine." Laney was pouting, "I'll just look for the Merboy by myself."
After declaring this she crossed her arms defiantly over her chest and turned her back to us, purposely stalking in the direction of the water. I swear, the girl could be such a drama queen.
"But you don't even know what he looks like." I told her, sobering up from my giggling fit.
She stopped walking, but didn't turn around.
"So?" she retorted, "I saw his tail."
"But I have the binoculars," Matt pointed out, and held up said item. She shot him a nasty look over her shoulder.
"Then let's start looking!" she commanded, facing us again in irritation. We snickered, but obeyed.
Two grueling hours later…
"Okay, I'm pretty sure he's not going to show up." Matt stated.
It was nearing dusk, and the sun was almost completely hidden behind the water, bright rays shimmering off the constantly moving surface and reflecting in the sky with splashes of reds, violets, and oranges. The three of us sat huddled together on a large rock, facing the ocean and watching as it disappeared across the horizon.
"Yeah," Laney agreed in disappointment, "Maybe next year?"
Her words tugged at my heartstrings. Maybe next year. That 's how these days always ended. I was beginning to believe I'd imagined it all. The rocks, the voice, those eyes. But if I had imagined it then why did Laney remember? And if he was real then why didn't he just show himself already? Frustration building, I was ready to suggest we leave when something out in the tide caught my eye.
"Matt give me your binoculars!" I demanded and ended up snatching them from his fumbling hands with my haste.
What seemed to be a driftwood primarily cleared to the image of a teenage boy floating limply in the ocean water. The waves wrapped around him like foamy blankets, carrying him further from shore with each passing wave. I could feel my heart thudding in my ears as I watched him drift further and further away, gripping the binoculars until my fingers ached.
"It's a boy!" I shrieked in panic, "He looks unconscious!"
"What!" Laney cried at the same time Matt yelled, "Where?"
I pointed out in the direction the boy was and Matt stripped off his grey t-shirt without a moment's hesitation, leaping from his spot on the rock and sprinting across the sand into the cool abyss. Laney and I chased after him, stopping just at the tide's edge. The water rushed over our bare feet and we jumped, startled by the icy temperature.
"Be careful!" Laney shouted after him, and we watched anxiously as he dove in, taking long powerful strokes. He had reached the boy within minutes, grabbing him under the armpits and backpedaling back to shore. Laney and I scampered to meet him at the water's edge, where he deposited the motionless body before collapsing down on the sand beside it, chest rising and falling in clear exhaustion.
For once I was actually grateful for my sister. She made me take CPR classes at fourteen in case she drowned in the bathtub. Ridiculous, I know, but that was Erin for you.
While I immediately attended to the boy, Laney rushed over to Matt to make sure he was okay. After performing mouth to mouth, I gave a final thrust to his chest, and he sputtered, turning over on his stomach to hack up the water that was clogging his lungs.
"Are you alright?" I asked, placing a steadying hand on his back as he gasped for air.
His skin was cold beneath my fingers, and I contemplated giving him my sweater when he was suddenly facing me.
I started at the abrupt movement, emitting a small squeak when I realized he was looking directly at me. A perfect mixture of sky-blue and forest green, although a bit darkened by the lack of sunlight. I would know those eyes anywhere.
It was him.
A/N: So what did you guys think? Hopefully better than the last chapter. Well untill next update hugs and kisses everyone!