by Zara Steen
He crossed his arms, but leaned back in relaxation. “Alright Anya, but you’ll have to teach me how to cook first.”
I assembled the noodles and sauce on his plate, cutting up fresh green onions and pulling out some grated parmesan to sprinkle over the top.
“That I can do,” I said.
He disappeared into the dining room and I turned to assemble my own plate hearing him enter behind me and shuffle around in the kitchen before leaving again. Finally finished with my pile of food- not much less than his- I followed and quickly realized he hadn’t turned on a single light. Instead he had lit four candles at the centre of the table and had poured water into wine glasses. It looked romantic and like something from a movie, and suddenly I was feeling flushed again, and remembering the kisses that I had pushed from my mind. When I walked over to my seat he was still standing, and with a seemingly ancient gesture he pulled out my chair for me, taking my plate and placing it on the table.
“You’re being a proper gentleman.” I said impressed.
“Why not?” He asked finding his seat and eagerly swirling pasta around his fork with a spoon and then skewering a scallop.
“You don’t seem the type of Mer to be proper, or a gentleman.” I hadn’t meant for my tone to be flirtatious, but that was the way it came out. Merrick’s eyes flickered with something unrecognizable before he cleared his throat and answered me.
“I’m not always proper or a gentleman, no.” He smiled slowly and continued eating. His emotions were still muddled and hard to read. It was then that a thought came hammering through me.
Eventually, we would be married as he had mentioned. He would be my husband and that meant we would make love. Had I been scientific in that moment I would have said that we would have sex, but it seemed like the realization demanded something softer, more romanticized. Truthfully, after all of the books I had read, it was the accurate way I felt about being intimate. I was wistful and hopeful for love.
I might have only been thirteen (turning fourteen at the end of the month) and he fifteen, but in a few years- praying that by then I had transcended, we would both have cycles when we were in heat. Mers were notorious for being incredibly amorous at that time of the month being desirous creatures anyway, past the age of metamorphosis. Yet even then, once we had crossed that line, would he love me?
Merrick paused from eating, noticing that I was deep in thought. “Not hungry?” He asked.
I didn’t answer, but immediately started eating. I didn't want to delve into that topic any time soon. Love...sex...either of them too complex.
We watched a movie after supper. A documentary on sharks that I hadn’t expected Merrick to want to see. We sat on opposite ends of the couch, our feet meeting in the middle. A couple of times during the film I glanced over to look at him. I wondered what he looked like scaled and if his skin turned the same blue-green like his eyes.
He seemed to feel wary of sharks. As much as I did, although neither of us had met any face to face in the wild. They could be ruthless but for the most part they ate to survive.
The Price family returned home with perfect timing, a few minutes after the movie ended. Even though I had enjoyed my time with Merrick, my mind was now swimming with far too many questions about the future. They were questions that I would have preferred to lock away and revisit at a later time.
Coral, Pearl and Rayne were friendly, giving me each a hug and welcoming me back to their house, though I had been there for the past eight hours.
“Would you like to come up to my room for a few moments?” Pearl asked. Coral was smiling eagerly at her side.
“We could show you all of our great buys before Mom and I take you home,” Rayne said while pulling her long blonde hair- now with two streaks of purple in the front- into a ponytail. I glanced over to find Merrick speaking with his younger brother and Caspian, and then I smiled at them with a nod.
“I would love to see all of your new fashion things.”
Rayne and Ondine exchanged a glance of approval, which I guessed had something to do with me looking at Merrick before agreeing to follow them. I wondered if they would ask Merrick about me later that night once I had returned home. They probably would in the same fashion as my parents. For a moment I contemplated what he would say. Would he answer to their questions? Would he tell them he kissed me?
Coral and I sat on the bed, while Pearl sat on her ottoman and Rayne took to the bean bag chair in the corner. They had all bought new winter clothes in an array of pastels and bright colours and I suddenly wondered if those were the type of things that Merrick would want to see me wearing. Truthfully, it wasn’t really my style.
“So did you have a good time with Merrick?” Coral asked lying on the bed with her chin propped up on her hands and her feet kicking playfully in the air.
“Of course they had a good time,” Rayne said. “Did you spot the leftovers of what Anya must have cooked for him? You spoiled him.”
I laughed outright. “He really can't cook can he?”
“He can barbecue,” Pearl said with a shrug as she finished folding the last of the few sweaters she had bought.
“Do you think...?” I began but stopped.
“What?” they all said in unison. It was comical. They were leaning towards me as though I was professing a secret.
“Oh nothing,” I said with a wave of my hand and folding my legs up on Pearl's bed.
“Do we think that Merrick likes you?” Rayne asked her eyes wide with excitement.
“Oh no, not that,” I said. “That might take some time. I guess I just wondered if you think I should wear different clothes, or maybe change my hair or something.” My fingers pulled on my dry bob of strands.
“Well I think you shouldn't change anything,” Rayne said. “Merrick likes you the way you are. He picked you after all.” I was tempted to tell her why he had truly picked me, but bit my tongue.
“Although,” Coral began, “he does like girls with long hair,” she finished saying as she gently touched a lock of my hair. “Maybe you could grow it longer.”
“Do you use conditioner?” Pearl asked me, hearing the rough scratch of my hair between Corals fingers.
“Yes,” I said unable to hide my exasperation. “I've tried everything, conditioner, leave in oil treatments, de-frizzing spray, shine protection. You name it, I put it in here to see if it would work.” I gestured towards my head.
Rayne laughed. “My hair was like that too, before I transitioned. Here try this,” she said handing me a pink swirled bottle of Head and Shoulders.
“Oh no I couldn't take the shampoo you just bought Rayne.”
“Please take it Anya, as a gift, we all wanted to bring you back something. I enchanted that bottle to make hair extra smooth and silky so it should work wonders for you. I got you this rocking headband too, so it's kind of fitting” It was a gingham pattern in cobalt blue, a cute bow affixed to one of the sides.
“Oh right!” Coral said digging into her bag, “I bought you lip gloss in va va voom red.”
“And I got you black nail polish,” Peal said with a wink, “you've got a bit of that Goth thing going for you.”
“You guys,” I said blushing, “you're way too nice to me! I didn't even bring you anything.”
“You kept Merrick company, and he's not grumpy now. That's good enough for us!” Rayne said with a thankful sigh.
“Yes!” Coral and Pearl chimed in as well.
A soft rap at the door drew our attention to it and Ondine opened the door.
“I'm sorry to break up the fun girls, but it's getting late and I really should be getting Anya home.”
Coral whined, “Awwww, pooper.”
We all laughed, but I gathered my things, placing them in a small plastic bag that Pearl handed me, and thanked them again for the gifts. Rayne went to start up the van and Ondine turned to speak to me before joining her.
“Merrick is on the front porch Anya, if you would like to say good
bye to him. We'll be in the van waiting for you.”
“Thank you,” I said before she slipped out the side entrance. I made my way to the front porch and pulled on my boots. Sure enough, Merrick was seated there on the bench. He stood as I approached.
“What's in the bag?” he asked me and I opened it up for him to see. He reached down and pulled out the nail polish, as he examined it, he arched an eyebrow.
“Pearl bought it for me,” I said with a smile. “I really like it.”
“Black eh?” he asked, and I nodded.
“Wicked.” He added, his voice throaty as he plopped it back into its place and looked back up to my eyes.
“Thanks for the great day, Merrick,” I said rushing forward to give him a hug, my head sliding under his chin. I didn't even care if I wasn't being cool. I was way too happy to have friends who were so thoughtful. Being honest with myself, the night truly had been great. Were it not for this arranged meeting, I would have simply spent the night reading.
“No problem, Buttercup,” he said as I backed away ready to leave.
I frowned. “Buttercup? Really?”
“I could call you, Petunia, instead.” He said with a smirk.
“Really, Merrick, you've got to think of a more original nickname for me.” I shook my head, but I was fighting back a smile and then waved before I walked to the van.
By the time I got home, I was exhausted and it was eleven o'clock. I was going to go straight to bed.
“How was your night?” my parents asked meeting me at the door.
“Great!” I said with a smile. “I'm beat and heading to bed.”
“Wait! Don't we get any details, Anya?” My father called out to me as I walked up the stairs.
“Well, Merrick and I hung out in the shed for a bit while he fixed his bike. I made supper, which we both enjoyed and then we watched a documentary on sharks. All in all, it was pretty fun.”
“That's it?” My mother asked.
“Yep,” I replied. There was no way I was telling them he kissed me!
They both looked at one another and shrugged and with that I headed to my room and changed quickly, brushing my teeth, then collapsing into the covers.
Chapter 6
It had been two weeks since I had arrived in Seabright, and things were finally starting to fall into a routine. I had become closer to Leah and Evelyn, and really began to enjoy spending time with them. They were funny, and sarcastic, and incredibly intelligent. It was like we were kindred spirits. If I was late for lunch or arrived for a class after them they were worried, or wondered where I was.
Pearl and Rayne were just as close- like sisters to me really, and whenever I ran into them they kept suggesting that I should come over to their house sometime for a girl’s night.
It was a strange feeling to have them all want me around. It was peculiar to me to feel wanted, to feel like I belonged.
I arrived at school and said goodbye to Rodney hopping down the stairs. My mother had helped me make invitations for a get together with my new friends. I hadn’t really had sleepovers in my pre-teens, so it would be my first sort of birthday party or celebration.
Entering the main hall, I walked towards the lockers where I could usually find Rayne and Pearl. My eyes searched until they found them, and not far off was Merrick and a group of males, all clearly Mers. There were four of them altogether, and my senses lit up. It was a strange feeling something like being close to sand and ocean water.
I couldn’t help but look at Merrick while I walked over, until a couple of girls walked up to him and his friends and my attention switched to them. Both of them were older than me. The first had long curly brown hair and green eyes, the second had auburn hair in long messy layers and blue eyes rimmed in eyeliner. The second sidled up to Merrick and placed her hand on his forearm, laughing at something he had said. Something about their conversation made me uneasy
“Hey Anya!” I heard Pearl say to me, pulling my eyes in her direction.
“Hey!” I said, still feeling slightly thrown.
Rayne nodded in the direction of the redhead. “Don’t worry about Gina, she’s got nothing on you.”
They had seen me look at Merrick. I could feel my face grow warm with embarrassment.
Pearl groaned. “Ugh, she’s the worst. I don’t know why Merrick even bothers with her.”
I shrugged and smiled, pretending to not care. Or did I really care? I couldn’t tell. Honestly I hardly knew Merrick anyway; one night of hanging out clearly did not make us a couple, especially since we both agreed time would dictate how things went for us.
“I came over to talk with you ladies anyway,” I said with a bright smile, “never mind boys.” They both smiled at me.
Rayne winked at me and then whispered. “Yeah we know. My mom called your mom this morning. You’re coming home with us after school. We can’t make it to your birthday thing on the first of December since our father has some Mer military function. Your mom is dropping your stuff off at our house as we speak.” She looked at Gina again now draped over Merrick and scowled.
Pearl moved in closer to me. “I would still love to have my invitation though. I’ve never gotten one for anything.” I handed it to her and her hand smoothed over the envelope in admiration. “Oh it’s so pretty.”
It was a sea shell set of cards in shades of purple and blue that my mother had bought at a craft store. As a finishing touch, my mom had even showed me how to write with a calligraphy pen and ink. There was nothing Mers appreciated more than small trinkets of beauty.
“Coral was jumping around like a dolphin when she found out you were coming over tonight. Meet us here after school, kay?” Rayne added. Then her voice darkened, “Ugh, sometimes I want to box Merrick’s ears. WHAT’S HE THINKING?”
That was loud enough to get the attention of Merrick, Gina and everyone surrounding them. Pearl, for the first time I had ever witnessed, looked smug and Rayne’s eyes looked stormy as they centred on Gina. My eyes grew wide with surprise and I scratched my head lightly while turning in the opposite direction and averting the gaze of the group.
“Who is that ugly uni-brow girl with your sisters Merrick?” I heard a voice ask loudly, and I turned back around slowly to see Gina’s blue eyes scanning over me.
UGLY?! I knew I was no Mer, but she didn’t have to insult me!
I had the feeling that I was not going to like this Gina person one bit, but I didn’t react.
Merrick sighed, a heavy one that didn’t sound very pleasing at all. Only,I couldn’t tell if the sigh was because he was considering how to explain who I was to this girl, who clearly liked him, or whether it was the question that made him annoyed.
“She’s a friend of the family Gina, that’s all. Just don’t worry about it.”
I couldn’t help but feel a little wounded, especially when Rayne and Pearl gave me sympathetic looks. I shrugged it off. Nothing was going to stop me from being excited about my first ever—girl’s night. Then I really smiled, tonight would be filled with fun. The bell rang, it’s ringing chime giving me an annoying jolt.
“I’ll see you guys later!” I said to Rayne and Pearl and briskly walked passed Merrick and Gina.
“What does she mean she’ll see your sister’s later?” Gina asked. Only this time I didn’t wait around to hear Merrick’s weak excuse.
Classes seemed to fly by. I think it had to do with the fact that I was eager for the day to be done. Before I knew it, I was waiting by the lockers for Rayne and Pearl. They came bolting towards me with stricken expressions on their faces, speaking to me rapidly. I didn’t catch much of anything until they slowed down, their breaths steadying.
“Whatever happens, just say no,” Rayne said. “Or you could pretend that you can't hear.”
Pearl nodded and then added. “Don’t make any sudden movements- she’s like a snake.”
I watched them, amused while they uttered their absurdities. When they stopped abruptly, looking down the hall,
I could see why. Gina was walking alongside Merrick and heading in our direction.
They caught up with us and Rayne and Pearl crossed their arms in disapproval.
“Hey ladies,” Gina said to them with a smile, and I noticed her unease with them. She looked as though she wanted their approval, but could tell she didn't have any sympathy. “So Merrick tells me you are all celebrating Anna’s birthday tonight. Can I come?”
“ANYA, and no you may not.” Rayne corrected her, and a smile pulled up from the corner of my mouth. For some reason I wasn’t angry anymore just amused by Gina; this close I could actually examine her. She was taller than me and a bit shorter than Merrick, but not nearly as pretty as Rayne or Pearl. She wore too much makeup to try and fill the gap, but her skin looked dull. She was slim, not curvy like a Mer and even her blue eyes were devoid of vivid colour. She looked sad, pathetic almost. I wondered if Merrick kissed her the way he had kissed me, if it was her supposed sexiness that appealed to him.
Merrick had watched me gauge her. She looked at him in a pleading sort of way and nudged his arm.
“Why don’t you let Anya decide Rayne? It is her birthday thing.” Merrick said, looking at me with a challenging gleam.
And then everyone was looking at me. I didn’t falter. I had already known what I would say. I wondered if he thought this were some type of game between the two of us to see who would cave first and beg the other to try and date. He had told me what he wanted; time to be young- and clearly stupid- so I would give it to him.
“I don’t mind you coming Gina, but it’s not my house, or my car, so that part you’ll have to settle with Rayne and Pearl.”
They both seemed shocked with my response, so I sent out an emotive wave letting them know my reasoning. If anything confirmed to me that I was indeed a Mer, it was my uncanny empathic abilities. Merrick caught a whiff of it too because his eyes went straight to me in awe.
I had let Rayne and Pearl know that I felt sorry for Gina, clearly she felt she had something to prove and I had the benefit of their friendship while she didn’t, which was something I was grateful for and gave me advantage. I felt much stronger than her. They smiled at me.
