Hidden Worlds

by Kristie Cook

  Tardy for practice, I ran across the pool deck and took a spot next to Georgia in the sea of bodies laying, eyes closed, on the cement wearing their street clothes. They were listening to coach run through a visualization exercise. Normally we had practice the day before a meet, but today, for some reason, Coach cancelled it.

  “Where were you?” Georgia whispered, jabbing me with her big toe.

  “Sh-h-h.” I pushed her away and checked to make sure Coach didn’t see us talking.

  I closed my eyes, already versed in the routine. We were supposed to be timing our race, but no matter how hard I tried, my thoughts reverted back to Saturday night. Twirling on the dimly lit dance floor and gazing up into the eyes of the one I adored, hoping to coax a kiss. Instead of brown eyes, blue ones, clear as a sunny day in Tahoe, looked back at me. Fin’s as he held me close.

  A pang of dread hit my stomach. His family still hadn’t returned—each day making me crazy with worry. What could possibly have happened that they’d abandon their business? Another man with white hair and beard who frequented the building, told my mom Captain Jack’s was closed indefinitely. Was Tatchi and Fin never coming home?

  I felt sick. And Colin, though breathtakingly gorgeous, the vibe I’d gotten from our two interactions made my internal warning bells sound off. I didn’t entirely trust myself around him to ask what happened.

  Without them in my life I felt empty.

  Startled at the sudden rustling of feet and backpacks scuffing across the pavement, I opened my eyes. I’d missed Coach Madsen’s dismissal.

  “Good work, everyone,” she barked out. “I want each of you to eat a dinner loaded with carbs tonight and practice the visualization before you go to bed, early! I’ll see you all at eight o’clock sharp. Eat breakfast!”

  Georgia stood over me with one hand clutching her gym bag and the other on her hip. “Come on, let’s go.”

  I rose to my feet and grabbed my things in the process. She looped her arm within mine, pulling me toward the gym doors faster than I wanted to walk.

  ***

  We arrived at her house and Georgia promptly whisked me upstairs to her room. The attached bathroom (that I totally drooled over) resembled a hair salon with oodles of products strewn across the counter. In her room, hair magazines were scattered across her bed and she plopped me down in front of them.

  “Pick a style you like.”

  I thumbed through a few pages, but the busyness of her room distracted me. Every inch of her walls contained a pin-up of either a hot movie star or boy band, half of which I’d never heard of. The rest of her childhood collections were stored on shelves that hung a foot below the ceiling: dusty birthday figurines, ballerinas in boxes and teddy bears galore.

  I focused back on the pages and finally found a girl with hair similar to mine. Loose ringlets fell gracefully around the model’s shoulders with a few tendrils pulled up and piled on her head. “What about this one?”

  Georgia turned from the mirror with a lipstick tube in hand. Her bright red lips parted into a smile. “That’s awesome. Let’s try it.”

  She coaxed me into the bathroom, forcing me to sit on the porcelain throne.

  “So,” she said while sucking on a lollypop, curling iron in hand, “have you kissed him yet?”

  “What?” I bit my lip as my cheeks heated up. Not only had I never been kissed, but the thought of finding some dark corner at school to make-out in made me nauseous. The last thing I wanted was Georgia to know the embarrassing truth about my lack of experience. “We haven’t really had the opportunity.”

  “Seriously? Well, I’d be making the opportunity, girlfriend,” she said sexily. “And quick ’cause you don’t want to lose this fish. Besides, I hear he’s an ah-maz-ing kisser.”

  The thought of him kissing other girls and knowing they’d bragged about it made my chest hurt. “Really? Who said that?” I asked, shifting in my seat.

  “Just the talk. Hold still.”

  I looked down at the magazine in my hands, desperate for something to get the conversation off of me. On the front was a picture of a familiar face, Zac Efron. She had a poster of him in her room. “He’s kinda cute.”

  “Kinda?” She flapped her hand back and forth in front of her face. “He’s like the most gorgeous actor ever.”

  I smiled. The bait worked. With each comment, I hummed and hawed as I felt her spray and press each piece of my hair carefully with a curling iron. But the whereabouts of Fin’s family consumed my thoughts. Sadness crept in as I hoped I worried for nothing and they’d come home—and soon.

  “You hate it, don’t you?” Georgia chewed on her fingernail after handing me the mirror.

  I came to my senses and looked at my reflection, shocked at what I saw. “Oh, wow.” I stood up and turned to the side, using the hand mirror to see the back. She’d perfectly replicated the hair style in the picture.

  Georgia blew out a gust of air. “Whew. I was worried. You looked so sad.”

  “No, sorry. I’m distracted, that’s all.”

  She crinkled up her eyes and sighed. “Not the race again?”

  “Well, yeah,” I lied.

  She turned her finger in a circle to signal me to spin around and sit back down. “Don’t. It’s going to be fine. Stop thinking about it or you’ll psych yourself out.”

  “I know.”

  “Close your eyes,” she demanded, make-up brush in hand.

  In rapt concentration, Georgia quietly painted a masterpiece on my face, letting out little “oohs” and “aahs” every once in a while. The sweep of the feathery brush and her warm breath eased my conflicted heart as she blew off the excess make-up. After what seemed like multitudes of brush strokes, she finally handed me the mirror. I expected to see myself completely vamped out, but the girl looking back at me was stunning.

  “He’s gonna kiss you when he sees you,” Georgia cooed and danced out of the bathroom. “I’m starved. Ready for pizza?”

  I turned away with a blush, inspecting the fake eyelashes. “Yeah, sure.”

  With each mention of kissing, the butterflies already in my stomach started doing crazy aerial stunts. I hoped some food would make them knock it off for a while, but with the continued thoughts of Fin, they’d just start up again with a renewed vigor. Why I kept thinking about him and not Callahan stumped me. Maybe my feelings stemmed from me wanting to prove I was worthy of Fin’s attention. With one look, he’d have to finally realize I’d grown up into a beautiful young woman.

  When Mom picked me up a little after nine, I expected her to rave about my make-over. Instead, I got a lecture about how girls my age were trying to grow up too quickly and make-up should enhance one’s natural beauty. Crushed, I remained silent the entire way home.

  Without even saying hello, I strode past my family and went to my room, slamming the door. I threw myself on my bed and burst into tears. Why did she have to ruin everything? A soft knock interrupted my pity party.

  “Can I come in?” Dad asked through the door.

  I looked down at my pillow case. Charcoal smudges lined the fabric. “Um …” I jumped up and studied my reflection in the mirror over my dresser. Georgia’s handy work had turned into black trails down my cheeks. I did my best to wipe away the evidence.

  “Yeah, Dad. Come in.”

  He turned the knob and peaked around the door. “Everything okay?”

  “I don’t know.” I sat on my bed and rubbed my toes into the carpet.

  He joined me and put his arm over my shoulder. “More sister drama, Mom troubles, guy issues, or is it nerves about the meet tomorrow?”

  I fidgeted with my newly painted nails. “Mom hurt my feelings.”

  He grunted, partly in acknowledgement, partly in concern. “Does she know?”

  “She should know.” I scoffed. “She insulted me in the car. Basically called me a tramp.”

  “Is that what you thought I meant?” Mom asked, appearing from around the corner.

  The wat
erworks started, leaving me humiliated. I hated to cry, but in front of my parents for something as stupid as too much make-up left me feeling wretched. “Sort of.”

  Mom walked over and put her arm around my other side. “Honey. I was only trying to tell you that you’re naturally beautiful, inside and out. You don’t need to put on a lot of make-up to impress anyone or get a boy’s attention. I’m sorry if that hurt your feelings.”

  I leaned into her shoulder and hugged her back.

  She pushed a wayward curl behind my ear. “It’s hard for me to see you looking so grown up. You’ll be lovely tomorrow night.”

  “Thanks.” I looked away. She could retract what she said in the car, but I knew her first impression—lovely wasn’t a word she used.

  I scratched my eyelid and loosened a lash. Embarrassed, I darted from my room toward the bathroom, praying Lucy wasn’t hogging it. “I’m going to wash my face.”

  “Well, my work here is done,” I heard Dad say behind me.

  I closed the door and leaned up against it. In the mirror, conflict etched its worrisome talons down my smeared skin. First with Mom’s hurtful comments, and second from the turmoil of my continued drive-by thoughts about Fin. What did I expect to happen tomorrow? Did I want things to go further with Callahan? Or was I holding back because I still harbored feelings for Fin?

  With an angry tug, I pulled off my other eyelash. The skin underneath stung, making it painfully obvious I’d done something wrong. I stood with two black rows of fake hair stuck on my fingertips. I didn’t do the girly thing well.

  But still I floundered, with more than what to do with the eyelashes. Life felt so unsure, especially knowing Callahan would be expecting a kiss from me tomorrow. Why was I so willing to kiss Fin, or even Colin, but scared to death with Callahan?

  The warm wash cloth felt good over my face and a little moisturizer brought back the natural glow to my skin. But Mom’s comment still rang loud and clear. Was I really trying to grow up too soon? Maybe she was right. The excessive make-up was a little over the top.

  With a flick of the lashes into the trash, I went back to my room to wait for Callahan’s call. I hoped my sheep flannel jammies would infuse my psyche somehow and help put me to sleep later. From the window, Tatchi’s house caught my attention. All the lights were on inside.

  Without hesitation, I picked up the phone and dialed. Someone had to pick-up and when they did, I would make them give me answers. I’d had enough.

  18 - FIN

  The day couldn’t have ended better. I rushed home to find Mom in the kitchen cooking dinner.

  “Mom!” I briskly walked toward her and held out a golden cup filled with rubies. “Here.”

  “What is this?” she asked with knitted brows, dusting her hands on her apron.

  I smiled proudly. Only after a few weeks of training, I’d managed to defeat Badger in the first round and then took out the subsequent fighters with ease. “I won the tournament today.”

  She blinked back at me, confusion crossing her face.

  “This was the prize,” I said, lifting my eyebrows to convince her. “And I want you to buy back your diamonds with it.”

  Mom gulped as she looked at me, then back at the cup. A tear spilt down her cheek—not the reaction I’d expected. I could count on one hand the times I’d seen her cry.

  Needing a distraction, I tipped the cup to the side, ready to spill out the contents. “You better hold out your hands.”

  She dropped her dish towel as the blood red stones piled into her trembling hands. Once the last gem fell, her hands formed a ball over them like they were a life saving rope.

  “Fin, I can’t take these—”

  I put my free hand on top of hers. “This isn’t an April Fools joke. And if you don’t use them to buy your diamonds back, I’ll be upset. Just think of it as my gift to the family—that I paid for the stove and air bubble. And that’s what we’ll tell Dad when he comes home.”

  Her voice hiccupped. “This is too generous.”

  “What else am I going to do with them? Save for college?” I laughed under my breath and thought of the solitary ruby I’d put aside for the future in my sling pack. “It’s what I want to do.”

  She put the stones in her apron pocket and enfolded me in a hug. “Thank you, Fin,” she whispered in my ear. I puffed out my chest. Dad would be proud.

  ***

  Still on a high from the tournament win and Mom’s surprise, I rushed off to collect Tatch at the palace.

  “You’re late,” she said, punching me in the arm and swimming ahead, this time decorated from head to fin in blue.

  “Sorry. I had things to do.” I raced to catch up with her.

  “Nothing can be more important than saving me from the palace and Azor’s claws, so it better be good,” she said with a sneer.

  I smiled evilly and watched her smirk vanish as I filled her in on what really happened with the win and the rubies.

  She rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine. I guess that’s kinda important, but next time, please come get me first. I can’t stand being there any longer than I have to.”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  “Today was exceptionally grueling.” She slowed her pace, lengthened her neck and stuck her nose in the air, wiggling her tail in small precise movements. “We learned how to swim proper, like a merlady,” she said, complete with an English accent.

  I laughed. “What?”

  “It seems the only thing mer-matrons care about is beauty—not education or any type of real accomplishment. Their only goal is to teach us how to be a pretty thing for the mermen to enjoy—oh—and to make merlings with. That’s it. And amazingly enough, the maids all seem cool with it, anxious to be paired to the one their parents have picked out for them.”

  “Really.” At the mention of merbabies, I checked out. I wondered instead how Lily felt about beauty school and who her parents had planned to match her up with. “Are all the mermaids there?”

  “I think so. But are you even listening to me? It’s primitive and wrong!”

  “Yeah,” I said nonchalantly. All I wanted to do was deliver her safely home and get to Badger’s. I hoped Lily might stop by again.

  “Oooh!” Tatch spun around and put her blue tinted face inches from mine. “The girls are slaves for you boys! To keep as trinkets and baby makers!”

  I backed away. “I know. But what can we do about it? No one seems to care the customs are ancient. I mean, once someone promises, they end up living happily ever after—pretty or not.”

  Tatch groaned and threw her hands upwards. “Boys! You all think the same!”

  She took off and disappeared over the ridge. I let her go since our house was just on the other side. Finally free, I darted the other way toward Badger’s house.

  ***

  Badger walked to the porthole and motioned for me to come inside.

  “Aye, look who be washin’ himself up on me shore. Welcome, lad.” He clapped me on the back once I phased into legs and directed me toward the living room. “Have a seat.”

  My stomach pinched when I spotted Lily sitting on the couch, wearing a pink dress that accentuated the curves God gave her. I tried not to gawk.

  “Hi, Fin,” she said.

  “Hey.” My heart rate increased as I walked over to join her. “How’s it going?”

  She smiled, flashing her white teeth. “Great.”

  Badger relaxed back in his usual lounge chair and kicked up his feet. “We’s just be talkin’ about the weather on land. Lily here’s never seen snow before.”

  “You haven’t?” I raised my eyebrows. It didn’t take long to get over the wonder of the messy stuff; being buried in drifts six months out of the year tended to make it more of a hassle than a phenomenon.

  “No.” She looked down and played with the beads on her skirt. “There aren’t too many gates in snowy places, and yours is a little unique and unfortunately not open to the public.”

  “Oh, right.” I pa
used. “Well, sometimes we get as much as fifteen feet in one dump. I’m sure you could visit next winter, when we’re back there. We could go ice skating.”

  Her face lightened. “Ice skating? I would love to try that. Is it hard to do?”

  “Blarney!” Badger interrupted. “In my country, we don’t entertain such silly sports. Now Gaelic football, that’s the—”

  “Badger,” Sandy called from the kitchen. “Would you come here for a moment?”

  He pressed his furry eyebrows together. “Ya need me, doll?” It appeared helping Sandy with chores didn’t rank high on his list when he had a captive audience listening to him yammer about the good ole days.

  “Yes, please,” she replied.

  “Hold that there thought, you two,” Badger said, hoisting himself from his chair. “Coming, love.”

  Once alone, Lily looked up at me through her eyelashes and my heart roared in my chest. The desire to grab her cheeks and bring her lips crashing to mine rocketed through my shaking limbs.

  To leave two single mers of the opposite sex alone was against Natatorian law. I used to think the temptation to kiss a mermaid was a total myth, never having the opportunity until this moment. But as if someone had just said, “don’t think of elephants” all I could think about was kissing her. I stood up and began to pace, suddenly interested in the trophies on the mantel piece.

  “So, do you go to the school at the palace too?” I asked.

  “Yes. All mermaids are required to attend school until they are promised.”

  I ran my hand along the rough-hewn wood and closed my eyes, trying to focus. “My sister comes home every day colored from head to fin. Is that all they do there?”

  “No.” Lily giggled, a light tinkling melody that warmed me. “The matrons have taken a liking to her ever since she’s arrived. They’ve swarmed on her like a shark in a feeding frenzy. It’s because she doesn’t have a prospect of a merman yet. They’re all trying to get her to pick one of their sons. It’s all about promising up.”

  I turned around, careful to avoid staring at her lips. “Really? How’s that? We aren’t royalty or anything.”