AN: James and Nadine in Fins Series (by Terra Lynn Childs) Universe. i have two stories for this universe but they're completely unrelated. will be posting both today. 😊
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"So that's why you talk with ocean puns." Lauren said offhandedly, as she swam closer to me. I still can't believe I've told her everything. Being what I am, I am naturally a coward and to tell her the truth really took a lot out of me. I expected shock at least, disbelief would also be normal, I even dreaded disgust. But here she was, barely surprised, looking like she'd just solve a puzzle. Lauren really is the best friend anyone can ever wish for.
"I tried to keep the slang low." I replied to her comment. I dangled myself in the life buoy we brought. Not that I need it, I can swim. Heck, I can't even drown. We only brought it as a cover for my lower body, if you get my drift.
"Wait, but you love sushi." She said, looking at me. "Aren't you supposed to be friends with them or something?"
I laughed. "Only in animated movies." I said. "Though I must say I really like Little Mermaid."
"You love everything Disney." Lauren commented, laughing along.
"But do you talk... I mean, can you talk to fishes?" She asked curiously.
"No." I said. "It's like with terraped--that what we call humans," I said instantly at her confused look. "It's the same with humans and land animals. So we can keep fish as pets as well as eat them. Being vegetarian isn't really a fad down in our kingdom." I explained.
She nodded. "And you don't immediately turn mer even if you're in the sea." She said.
"No, that's also just a human myth. We can control when we want to transfigure." I told her.
"Oh... are there other forms of merpeople? Like Ursula, for example. You know, half human, half octopus." She asked.
I laughed hard at that. And it seems she understood that as a 'No.'
"And I used to believe Little Mermaid was based from a true story. Stupid James." She said, annoyed though she sounded fond as well. 'Stupid James' is Lauren's brother who takes every opportunity he has to annoy Lauren. But when he's not actually trying to 'ruin Lauren's life' --as she calls it-- he's actually quite nice. He have a nice smile, and nice eyes, and he's always fun to be around, and quite charming. We're not very close, but as I am not really what you'd call, 'popular,' aside from Lauren, he's the one I talk to the most. And --quite natural, if you think about it really-- he's the one I want to bond with.
With this in mind I said, "Well, the trident is real enough. And kissing a mermaid is really quite a powerful thing." I told her.
"What do you mean?" She asked, interested.
Before I could answer though, there was a splash of water and next thing I knew, Lauren had disappeared. The next moment, she came back to the surface gasping for air and glaring at a laughing--speak of the devilfish--James.
Lauren started to rant shoving James on his shoulder. This was ignored by James who kept on laughing. I couldn't help but laugh a little as well. The expression on Lauren's face was just priceless. Admittedly, I panicked earlier, thinking something--like a shark that have a taste for mermaid which can easily mistake Lauren for one because of my scent-- had grabbed hold of her feet and pulled her down. But since I knew it was only James and Lauren is okay now, my relief had turned to laughther.
"Sorry, sorry." James said, not looking sorry at all and to top that, he winked at me, letting me know that he really isn't sorry. I must have blushed, but thank goodness I could hide half my face in the water.
Lauren was still ranting, but James isn't really listening. He gave Lauren a quick hug and 'Sorry' and then ran off, escaping from his sister's wrath.
It's always entertaining to watch these two. Not because I want to see my best friend tormented but because it's all just good fun for the two of them. They're quite close, and I'm a bit envious since I don't have any siblings or cousins.
"Ugh!" Lauren let out in frustration and heaved a deep breath.
"He'll drive me insane." She said in exasperation, now a lot more calmer. "And he's here only because he wants attention."
I looked at her in question. I didn't understand what she meant.
"Well, believe it or not, we got on okay when, we'll when it's just us. And I mean civil and all." She said. I raised my brows at her. All these years I've been with them, I've only seen them at each other's throat. Well, Lauren raging at James and James laughing indifferently.
"He's very nice actually," She continued to say. "what he's doing is mostly... well, for show. I don't really understand his logic." Lauren's voice was becoming softer, as if she's talking more to herself than to me. "I mean how can a girl starts-- keeps doing his stunts around her. Well, knowing him---just be nerves. ---been awkward around girls. I expect he doesn't know how to act in front of---"
I heard her mumbled and I couldn't really understand. I looked at her as she trailed off. I knew something was wrong when I saw her face ashen in shock.
I turned around to see that there was a portugese-man-of-war just some feet away from us. I instantly took hold of her hand and swam desperately away from it, leaving the life buoy. I knew about Lauren's trauma of man-of-war. When she was little, she was stung and was paralyzed, and she almost drowned. It was a good thing her trauma didn't extend to trauma of the ocean.
Even before I reached the shore, James--who seems to have spotted what happened--was already there and he pulled both me and Lauren out of the sea, looking almost as white as Lauren. It was the first time I saw him like this. There was real panic in his face. As we near the shore, I transfigure my tail back into legs but left finkini shorts (made out of blue scales since my tail is azure blue) cause I left my shorts and undies on land and went in the with the same finkini shorts. (I can't transfigure with my shorts on. Go figure.)
"Are you okay??" He asked, looking at Lauren and then at me.
"It didn't sting us." I said. "But..." I trailed off as I turn to look at Lauren.
I moved closer to Lauren and hugged her, trying to reassure her. "I'm sorry..." I said. Lauren just silently shook her head.
"It's hardly your fault." James said, giving me a small smile. "But, I suggest you just swim in the pool rather than here in the sea." He said.
"Bret, Henz, Jude! Let's go to the pool instead!" He called to his friends who were still in the beach.
"Come on." He turned to us and slung an arm around me and Lauren, leading us both to the pool. "There won't be any fish there."
Yeah, except me. Well, at least half a fish. I'm only half mermaid. My dad is a merman but my mom is human.
James led us by the bleachers where Lauren had flopped down, looking a bit tired. I sat besides her.
With only a nod at us, James had turned back and returned to his friends, who were now in the pool.
Lauren and I just stayed by the bleachers because, as Lauren already knew, chlorine can be toxic to merpeople. I can tolerate to stay by the pool but to actually swim in the pool...
After a while, Lauren seems to be coming back to normal and we just chatted. She still have many questions about our world and I was more than willing to answer everything to distract her.
"I think I'll go for a swim." Lauren had said, looking at the pool.
"Go ahead." I told her, smiling.
She frowned. "Shame you can't join me. Can you at least sit by the pool or would that be too much?" She asked. Well, truth be told it would make me nauseous, but I think I can handle it.
"Yeah, sure."
We both stood up and made for the pool but before Lauren could bend down to jump into the pool, someone --obvious who is it really, James had pushed her to the pool and before I could even gasp, James had suddenly placed his arms under my legs, carry me and jumped for the pool.
---
I feel myself start to transfigure, my body reacting as if I am in water and need my gills. And then there was panic. Where was I? What happened? Shaking my head, I regain a little control and stopped the change.
I opened my eyes and was stunned that the first thing I see is James. It seems I was lying down and he was hovering over me. He was a bit red, but he also looked very worried.
"Are you okay? He asked me. I felt disoriented so I didn't answer. I still don't understand what happened.
James then coughed but continued speaking nontheless. "I'm so so sorry, Naddie. I didn't know you were allergic to chlorine. I thought you and Lauren were going to swim. I'm really sorry."
I stared at him.
"Please say something." He pleaded. "You're starting to scare me."
"You..." I said feeling panicked once more at what I thought possibly happened. "What happened?" I asked and I looked around and saw Lauren also hovering, right above James. I made to sit up.
It was Lauren who explained how James thought it funny to push her the pool and to jumped in with me in tow. She told me about me blacking out, about James panicking and bringing me out the pool and dare I say it, the mouth to mouth resucitation.
I mentally groaned. I looked at Lauren helplessly and she perked up. Maybe she remembered what I said about mer-kiss being powerful. There was another dry cough from James and I saw him touch his throat. The transformation is already in the process.
"We need to go..." I said.
"Home?" James said quickly. "Okay, I'll go get my---"
"No, back to the sea." I said, giving Lauren another significant look. She nodded, it seems she understood, thank Poseidon.
"Let's go." She said.
James seemed perplexed but he followed us anyway.
I can't believe it. I've been wishing for this to happened, but not like this. I wanted to tell him how I feel, tell him about what and who I really am and ask him straight out if he feels the same and if he would want to bond--which is generally equivalent to being married here in land. I didn't want him to accidentally kiss me and be bonded with me without him knowing. I really can't believe this.
When we reached the beach, James was already having fits of coughs.
"Let's go in the sea, you'll feel a lot better." I told him.
He didn't ask, though he looked like he wanted to, and just let me pull him to the sea. Lauren stayed at the shore.
I felt him relax when we were in a deeper part. Well, at least he feels better now.
"I have to tell you something." I told him.
He nodded slowly. "I'm listening."
My head was blank. Where do I start??
I heaved a deep breath and then said. "Do you believe in other worlds?" I asked him.
"What, like fairies or aliens?" He asked, looking taken aback. And then his eyes widen and looked down the water.
"Are you talking about mermaids?" He's sharp. That was quick.
"Unfortunately." I confirmed.
He nodded slowly once more. "Okay... so you believe in mermaids?" He asked looking baffled.
"James, I am a mermaid." I told him.
He just looked at me for a whole minute.
"And..." I said, after it became to awkward. "You're turning into one."
Cliffy End! 😁