Six
Honestly I have to say that yesterday was really cool. Now it’s back to school. Geezus! It’s only the second day of school and I’m already sick and tired of waking up at 6:30 in the freaking morning! My bag is really heavy with notebooks, binders and whatnot. I’m waiting outside with Matt for the bus. I really don’t like the bus. I mean first of all, it’s filled with kids I don’t know. Like sixth graders and seventh graders. A few 8th graders but the bitches and bastards of my class. Really can I have some of my friends besides Anthony that are on my bus?
Anyways the bus came and the bus driver is really cool. His name is Jose, and he’s the best. He actually puts on the radio and he kinda blasts it. It’s super cool to actually listen to music on the bus, because the other bus drivers are way to bitchy to even talk to us let a lone put on the radio. He also doesn’t bitch to us about seat belts. I know it’s not a good thing but it also saves us time.
So the first half of the day was really boring which means it was normal. Well after I gave the grand tour of our school to the new kids, James and Tyler. They really don’t talk much.
We handed in all the papers we needed to be signed and money that was needed for some trips. The teachers gave us their Class Rules sheet and told us to read it out loud. Then we started our actual lesson.
Then came lunch. The most interesting part of our school day. Lucy wasn’t here today so Anthony was a bit upset by that. So Maxi took Lucy’s seat which was right next to Anabeth. So you could imagine how well that went. By that time Michelle was getting mad. Not jealous . . . well maybe. It’s hard to say with Michelle, she hides her feelings pretty damn good.
“So guys, whose gonna film Civil War II?” Mel asks. I giggled and shrugged.
“I have no idea, but someone has too! I mean this would get popular so fast on YouTube.” Maxi moved his hand and spilled my water bottle. It spilled all over me good thing I’m wearing a black skirt or else it would look like I pissed myself. But then I noticed the green/blue skin on my wrist and arm. Then I noticed something growing. I stand upand grab paper towels.
“I’m sorry, Brittany. You okay?” Maxi says laughing. I roll my eyes and smirk.
“Yeah I’m fine, I’m just gonna go to the bathroom. Be right back.” I call out as I ran to the bathroom. I hid in the stall and panicked trying to dry my hand so that I could get back to lunch.
My hand is dry and it’s still not going away. I twist my wrist and notice that it looks like a fish fin. Holy Shit! This cannot be happening to me! Yes I made a wish that I wanted to be a mermaid, but I was six and obsessed with The Little Mermaid! I didn’t mean it literally!
Oh shit, now I’m extremely thirsty! Like I can’t even swallow my spit because I don’t have any. So I covered my wrist with my sleeve and went back to the lunchroom. I sit back down and gulp down the rest of my water. It wasn’t enough but I can deal.
“Hey, you dry?” Michelle said. I gave a shaky laugh and nodded. I can feel that fin thing retract itself back to god knows where. It sounds grows and painful but its really not it just sort of tickles.
“Hey, what’s that on your wrist?” Amanda asked. I froze up and looked at m wrist. The skin thing is still there.
“Umm . . . it’s paint.” I said. I was panicked. What else could I say?
“Paint?” Mel says raising her eyebrow. I nod and look away.
“Yeah, it’s the type of paint that shows up if you get it wet. Matt got it yesterday and he spilled it.” I shrug and pull back my sleeves.
“Then if it’s paint why does it look like fish skin?” Amanda asks taking my wrist and running her finger over it. I tensed up again and shrugged.
“I—I guess it’s an allergic reaction?”
“huh, guess so.” Mel says. I let out a breath I wasn’t even aware I was holding. Amanda shrugged and went back to lunch.
Okay that was scary. I don’t even now what it is! How the hell am I supposed to tell my friends? ‘Oh, um it’s fish skin and when my hands get wet I grow a fin.’ Yeah um I don’t think so. If I’m lucky this will all go away soon. Oh god please let this go away. I have no idea what the hell is going on! I really want answers and I want them now.
The lunch bell rang and I ran from the cafeteria. I went to my locker and grabbed my binder. I rolled up my sleeve and relaxed when the fish skin was gone.
“You want answers?” A voice said. I jumped and turned around. IT was James. I glared and shut my locker.
“What? Don’t sneak up on me please.” I look at him for a moment and start to walk toward the girls locker room.
“You said you wanted answers. I have them.” James said. I never said that. I only thought that. How could possibly know that I thought that?
“I never said that.” I start to walk again but he kept pace with me.
“You thought it. I have the answers you need.” I walked a little slower. I think he’s legit. Then again how the hell could he read my thoughts? That’s only possible in Twilight and other stupid movies.
“Okay, tell you what. After school you give me the answers I want okay?” I’m pretty sure this guys joking with me but hey I’ll play along. After all, somehow he was able to read my thoughts and I have to admit I’m scared out of my mind. More then I’d like to admit. Weird things are happening to me and I’m desperate to find answers.
“Sure, yeah. Meet me at my locker.” James says and he goes to the boys’ locker room. Oh god. This is going to be one long day. I go into the locker room and get changed quickly. Then I go the bathroom and put my hair up in a messy bun.
I walk to the gym and Connor yells boo and I just stand there and shrug. Connors about 4 feet tall long blond hair and brown eyes. He’s nice when he’s not with his friends. I have to admit he’s kinda cute but he’s too small and nasty with me.
So I find my friends sitting on the bleachers and I spot Dan with Kyle, Andrew and Kevin. I go over to Dan and kiss his cheek saying ‘hi’.
“Hey.” He said smiling.
“Hi. What’s up guys?” I asked. Kevin, Andrew and Kyle shrugged and said ‘Nothing much, you?”
“Nothing much, just here, chilling.”
“So I hear that--” Dan got cut off by Kevin.
“Whoa what’s that on your wrist?” Kevin asked me. I look down at my wrist and the fish skin is still there! I thought by now it would go away. Shit. I froze and I tensed. I couldn’t help it. I felt my heart rate speed up and I found it hard to breath.
“It’s an allergic reaction,” I said quickly, “Matt spilled some of his new paint on my wrists and I guess I’m allergic to some of the chemicals inside it.” I looked at Kevin and shrugged.
“I didn’t see it this morning.” Andrew said.
“That’s because my sleeves covered my wrist.” I said with an edge. I glance at Dan and I found him Glaring at Andrew and Kevin. I’m actually surprised Kyle didn’t say anything. This would be just like him. Asking all these questions about the strange green/blue stuff on my wrists.
“What?” Kevin asked after a few moments of silence. I can tell he was uncomfortable.
“Just shut up man.” Kyle said. Kyle glared at them and Kevin raised his hands in surrender.
“So anyways I heard that there’s going to be Civil War II at 6 today.” Dan smiled at me and I nodded in confirmation.
“Yeah, are you going?” He asked me giving me a squeeze.
“Nah, I have to go to the doctors to get this checked.” I gesture to my wrists, “But tell me all about it later.” That’s when Mr. McPeak Blew the whistle and that meant warm ups. Our basic warm up is jogging from one end of the gym to the other about 20 times. It’s not much but my friends and I are lazy so it takes us a while We usually either jog really slowly or speed walk. Then after that we would sit in a circle in the middle of the gym and he would explain what we’re doing today. Today we’re just shooting hoops. It was practice for basketball next week.
“okay, Grab a partner. When you have one lock arms, so I know that you have one.” I immediately locked arms with Dan. I mean he was right next to me and it’ll be pretty interesting to shoot hoops with him.
We got the basketball and we start to pass it to each other. Then once he got it he took a shot and made it in. He passed the ball to me and I started dribbling it. I moved in front of the basket and shot. But I hit the rim and missed. Dan laughed and I took the bal back and shot again but I missed and Dan was laughing again. I rolled my eyes and continued shooting until I made it in the basket. I got it in 3 times in a row without even jumping to get an extra boost.
“Huh, lucky streak.” Dan says coming toward me. I turned around when he reached for the ball.
“It’s my turn, babe.” Dan says grabbing the ball from behind. He shot a few more baskets and then Mr. McPeak blew 3 whistles and that meant go get changed. I did and I put on cucumber melon spray. Dan likes it and so does everybody else and plus why would I want to smell like sweat? Eww gross. I grab my things and wait for the bell to ring. Once it does I return to my locker to put away my lunch purse. I forgot to put there after lunch.
“Hey.” Anthony said.
“Oh, hey, Ant. What’s up?” I ask as we walk to class.
“Nothing that’s the problem.” He smiles and I laugh. The poor kid gets bored so easily. HE can’t help it.
“Aw, well come to Maxi’s house. Civil war II is gonna happen at 6.” He shrugs one shoulder as if saying maybe. I turn the corner and enter the class.
10th period is the shortest of all the other classes. So of course it went by fast. I’m really glad that we’re not doing debates this year. I totally failed at debates. I’m not that kind of person.
Ugh, but that means James. I really don’t want to talk to him. I think he’s a total nutcase. Like I said I’m going to play along. So that means actually listening to what he has to say. That’s okay. I’m a natural born listener . . . ya know when I want to.
So after I pack up my stuff I scout for James and found him to the left of my locker all the way down to the end. I walk over to him and put on a fake smile. He spots me and tried for a smile but epically failed.
“Come on.” He said as he closed his locker. He started walking and I followed behind him. He looked over his shoulder and jerked his head telling me to walk besides him. So I did. It was kind of hard because it was so crowded. Dan was at his locker and he caught me with James. I smiled at him and walk over to him. I hug him and kiss his cheek but he took my chin and his lips met mine but just for a moment.
“Love ya. I’ll talk to you later.” Dan said. He smiles at me and I smile back.
“Love ya too. Bye babe.” I walked away and I smiled over my shoulder. James was waiting for me at Tyler’s locker. I stand there and wait.
“Come on. Meet us outside.” James said to Tyler. James starts walking and I keep pace besides James.
“So you have answers?” I said to him after we made it outside.
“Yeah, I do.” He said leaning against the brick wall.
“Okay, so what are you waiting for? Spill.” I cross my arms across my chest and put my stuff down.
“Okay.” He said placidly. We stood there in silence for a while. I started to get impatient. I start to look around and I start to move around.
“Um, aren’t you going to tell me?” I said. I get impatient pretty easily. James was just getting to me.
“Yeah, once Tyler gets here. You have a ride home?” James asked. Huh, this was the guy who was staring at me and blushing when I smiled at him. I didn’t really think about a ride. I’m going to hitch a ride with Me. She stays here for a while. Usually hangs out with other people.
“Yeah, I do. I’m carpooling with Mel.” I gaze into his eyes and found him looking at me the same way he did when we first met. I felt that pull too. Like the one I felt for Dan, but with James . . . its stronger. I looked the other way and started to sway.
“Hey, guys.” Tyler said. Thank gawd! I was getting really uncomfortable.
“Great, hi, um now can I get my answers?” I said.
“Answers?” Tyler said giving me confused look. I roll my eyes and nod.
“Yes, answers. James here is gonna tell me what I want to know.” I look over at James and he nods.
“Okay, that stuff on your wrist? It’s scales. Like fish scales. You’re also growing a fin. Oh and you’re a mermaid.” James said. I look him over from head to toe and burst out laughing, Did he just say mermaid? I think he just lost all his cool right now.
“Um, excuse me did you just say that I’m a mermaid?” I got a little more serious.
“Yes. When you were about 3 months old they put you up for adoption on land.” Tyler said. Now its his turn to get the look.
“How the hell do you know?” I ask folding my arms across my chest and raising an eyebrow.
“We were there.” James said. I pick up my things and start to walk. I’m so not listening to anymore of this crap. Mermaids don’t exist. I was not adopted and they are just trying to pull my leg. Where did they get all of that anyways? Probably a book or something on the internet.
Someone touched my arms and I turn around to see James looking at me with a caring look.
“Please, just hear us out.’ He whispered.
I shake my head, “you guys are insane.” I whisper back to him and start to walk home.
“Hey, hey, wait up.” Tyler said running to me. Once he caught up with me he walks in front me blocking my path.
“Sorry, we came on a bit too strong. Just hear us out. Please, just this once.” Tyler begs. I know I’m going to regret this but I’m going to hear him out.
“Fine. Just this once, Make it quick.” I cross my arms across my chest and set my stuff down.
“Okay, That stuff on your wrist? It really is fish scales. They appear every time you get wet right? Then this delicate fin grows out of your wrist in the same skin but there’s cartilage in it to give it that shape. You don’t get tan because your skin doesn’t work like that. People like us . . . are supposed to stay white. Your eyes and hair get lighter slowly. I can tell your hair was darker and your eyes weren’t this shade of teal. They were darker.” How does he know all of this? I know he hasn’t been stalking me. I would’ve known. I look at him in the eyes and search for any kind of sign that means he’s joking, but there wasn’t any. I swallowed the lump in my throat and shook my head. My knees started to wobble and I gave in. I was kneeling on the floor looking down on the concrete. So . . . its all true. Mermaid? Me? No, this can’t be. This is too much. My head started to throb.
“Yeah, it’s overwhelming. It took me a while to get used to it too.” Tyler said. I look up t him and is see understanding in his eyes. I still can’t believe this. That means my whole life is about to change. Just when it’s getting amazing, it starts to change for the worst.
“I can’t. It’s all too much.” I shake my head and stand up slowly. I grab my stuff and turn around.
“Want us to walk you home?” Tyler asked. I look back and nod once. I saw Tyler gesture to James to come with us and he did. It was a silent walk until we reached CVS.
“Thanks for walking me home. I can walk from here.” I said quietly offering a slight smile.
“No problem. Call me if you want to talk.” James said handing me a piece of paper with his name and cell phone number. I smiled at them and nodded.
“I will.” They smile at me and I walk to my house. Just in time because the bus just got there and Matt just got off the bus. He saw me and tilted his head to the left and raised his eye brow. I forced a smile and walked on the drive way.
“You okay? Why were you walking home?” Matt asked as he kept pace with me.
“I’m fine. I had some things to do. So I stayed after.” I say quietly.
“Are you sure? You don’t look so good.” Matt stepped in front of me and looked me over.
“I’m fine. I promise. You worry too much about me.” I touch his cheek and smile. I walk inside and gently put my stuff down in the corner. Then I stormed upstairs and sat on my bed. I stared at my ceiling and thought about what Tyler told me. Can I really be turning into a mermaid? Was I really adopted? I don’t believe what James told me. I can’t be, but I just hate the fact that it sounds so true. I know that my life is changing. I’ve known for a long time. I’ve just been to scared and unaware to even suggest it. Now everything was coming together. All I have to do is find those adoption papers. I know exactly where mom and dad keep them. Dad isn’t home and Mom won’t be home for a while.
I ran down stairs and went into my parents room. I go to the back of their closet and find a purple folder. Tears started to roll down my face as I open the folder and find the papers. I just stare at them my eyes blurring and the tears spill. There are 3 papers. A birth certificate. They don’t know my birthday so they picked the day they found me. Foot prints of my baby feet, and other papers of the adoption. So my entire life was basically a lie. Matt’ not my brother. I don’t know who I belong to. Everything is just so messed up now, I can’t even think straight.
“Hey.” Matt said. I jumped and put the papers in the folder and put the folder in the back of the closet.
“Hi hon. You know better then to sneak up on me.” I gave a nervous laugh and wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. Then I turn around and smile at Matt.
“Sorry, what’s wrong?” He asked. I gaze into his eyes and realize that Matt isn’t part of me. He’s not my brother. He never was. I couldn’t help but burst into tears again. Instantly Matt’s arms were around me, comforting me. I couldn’t help but wrap my arms around him.
“I’m sorry, I was just watching this really sad clip from The Last Song that was sent to me.” I sniffle and wipe my eyes again.
“Oh, are you sure?” He asked. I smile at him and kiss his cheek.
“Yes, I am. I’ll be fine.” I assure him. I get my things and start to do some of my homework.
Wow, I had to lie to Matt. I doubt he knows. After al he was born after I was adopted. He thinks that we’re related. I know that we’re not. Everything seems so obvious. No wonder my skin is so much lighter then my parents. Matt is white, but he has a tan about 3 shades lighter then my dad. My eyes are hazel, or they were anyways. My parents have dark brown eyes. MY dad has black curly afro hair and my mom and brown straight hair. So how did I come out with almost dirty blond? Wow, how could I have been so blind.
I finished my homework and called Tyler. I told him everything and he told me if I wanted to come over to talk but I told him I’ll talk to him at school. I just need to be alone for a while. Next week, I’m going to have to talk to mom and dad. I need to know everything. I can’t right now because I’m trying to handle this myself. I have to understand completely. Right now I’m at the confused state.
I have to talk to someone. I run into my room and take out my sell phone. I call the first person I can think of. Anthony. We share everything, it felt wrong to call Dan first. I just couldn’t keep this from Anthony.
So I called Anthon and he answered on the second ring, “Hey what’s up?” He said.
“Anthony? Can I tell you something?” I said in a soft voice.
“Sure, you okay?” He asked.
“I don’t know. Anthony? I just found out that I’m adopted.” I took a deep breath but it came out shaky.
“Whoa. Want me to come over?” He asked kindly.
“Yes, please.” He hung up and I stayed in my room staring at the ceiling and crying softly until I heard a soft knock at my door. I wiped my eyes and sat up.
“Who is it?” I asked.
“It’s me. Are ya decent?” Anthony said. I had to give a small laugh.
“Define decent. Yeah, please.” Anthony came is and sat on my chair. I explained everything I found. I left out everything about the mermaid things. He just sat there, listening to me carefully. That’s why I just love to talk to Anthony. HE always listens.
“Do your parents know, you know?” He asked.
I shake my head, “I just found out. It’s just too much for one day.” I gave a nervous laugh and Anthony hugged me. I hugged him and started to cry.
“I don’t know who I am anymore.” I whisper. Anthony held me tighter and it’s just so comforting to know he’s always there for me. I stopped crying and took deep breaths.
“Course. You’re Brittany. You’re my best friend. You’re 13 years old and you’re in 8th grade.” Anthony said parting from me. I smile and nod.
“Thanks Anthony. You’re the best.” I gave him one last hug and kissed his cheek briefly.
“I’ll call you later. I’ll keep it a secret, promise.” He got up and left. I sat on the bed and I felt a lot better.
The rest of the day was nice and easy. I didn’t raise any suspicions and I acted completely normal. Then at night everything went weird. It was a full moon and I felt . . . well it’s hard to explain. Powerful, I guess? I don’t know. All I can say is that I felt really weird and amazing.
I went to bed and fell asleep.
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