~
As we pulled up to the school Friday morning, I took a deep breath and turned to Cruz. “Here goes nothing.”
Abby wanted me to stay home but I refused. I wasn’t about to give anyone the satisfaction of thinking I was cowering at home, afraid to show my face. I parked the car and looked up to see Ethan’s blue truck pull into the space next to us. I got out, and when he saw me the pleasant look on his face dissolved.
He came close, horrified eyes inspecting my face. He groaned, “Tell me what happened.”
“It’s no big deal,” I said.
“Shayla jumped her at the pier,” Cruz piped up. Ethan’s face hardened and his eyes grew cold.
“It’s okay,” I told him. “I’m fine.” I’d never seen him really angry before, and it was a little alarming. Looking around, he spotted the group of surfers that hung out near the parking lot. I could see that Shayla wasn’t among them, and I wondered if she had fully recovered. Ethan headed over towards them, fists clenched.
“Uh-oh,” Cruz said as we started walking to class. I looked over see Long and Ethan talking animatedly. Heather and Jamie were in the crowd and I saw Ethan turn their way. It looked like he was having words with them too, and I could hear his raised voice from across the parking lot.
“Let’s get out of here,” I said, mortified. As usual, I was the subject of whispered speculations and curious stares all day long. Heather and Jamie approached me between classes and apologized, handing me a paper sack. I looked in to see the shoes I’d discarded on the pier before I dove in and felt uncomfortable, remembering my attempts to provoke them. They wanted to let me know that Shayla was sorry too, and that she’d be all right. I accepted their apology, telling them I just wanted to forget the whole thing.
I truly did, because all I could think about was what I had planned for after school.
Cruz spent most of the day trying to convince me not to meet Lorelei. He didn’t know that I wanted–no–I needed to find out about my mother. I was adamant. By lunchtime he had given up and agreed to accompany me. Megan was shocked, both at my bruised face and my after school plans.
“Mermaids are clearly unpredictable,” she was dismayed. “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“I’ll be out of the water on my surfboard, and wearing a wetsuit,” I explained calmly. “What could possibly go wrong?”
“Um, she could accidentally kill you…”
We had to stop talking when Ethan approached and pulled up a chair next to mine.
“What,” he paused, looking at me seriously, “were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t thinking,” I replied evenly.
Megan snorted. “I hear that!”
“You should never have gone in after her–you’re lucky she didn’t drown you!” Ethan said.
I smiled facetiously. “I have been said to be lucky.”
“It’s not funny! Especially after what she did,” his jaw clenched at the thought. He must have heard the whole tale from the surfer crowd. “That was really brave. You saved her life,” he said, looking at me with admiration.
I looked down, ashamed.
“It was no big deal; besides, everybody else was too drunk to do anything.” I felt another flush of guilt, because I knew that I didn’t deserve any praise for saving Shayla. He was right about her nearly drowning me. I looked up at him with pained eyes. “Can we just drop it, please?”
He shook his head and smiled at me. “Marina, you are one strange girl.”
Cruz chimed in, “You don’t know the half of it!” They all laughed for their own reasons while I twisted in the wind, forced to take the credit for something I didn’t do.
The rest of the day literally crawled by. I kept looking at the classroom clock, eager to get to the beach. I wanted Cruz’s help to get down with my gear and be there with my clothes when I got out of the water, so I kept reassuring him it would be fine. I was certain Lorelei wouldn’t hurt me, and increasingly desperate to know the truth about my mother.
When we got to the parking lot Shayla was standing there waiting by the Porsche. She looked meek and contrite, and I knew instantly she was there to apologize. Ethan and Cruz stepped forward as if to protect me, but I waved them away from us. She needed a chance to speak her piece.
“Go now!” I snapped at them, eager to get the school day over with. I walked up to Shayla, looking her in the eye.
“I’m sorry about yesterday,” she said, her voice filled with shame. She dropped her head as if awaiting a blow. “You must hate my guts. I don’t know why you did it. I don’t deserve to be alive.”
“Please–please–just forget about it,” I pleaded. “Everyone needs a little help sometimes.” I was thinking about Lorelei.
Shayla looked down at me incredulously. “I was wrong about you.”
“Yeah, well, we all mess up. Let’s just put it behind us and start over.”
She shuffled her feet a little, lowering her gaze. “I owe you a purse,” she said.
“Don’t worry about it,” I held up my hand. “Seriously–not necessary.”
“Thanks for being so cool about it. You know, Ethan really likes you.” She met my eyes intensely. “He’s not as tough as he looks–just don’t play around with his feelings.” She turned to leave with her head down again.
“Shayla?”
“What?” she asked, turning back suspiciously.
“Lay off Cruz and Megan, okay?”
She looked taken aback. “Uh … sure.”
She walked away and Ethan rushed over, searching my eyes for a clue as to what had transpired between us.
“Are you still up to go surfing tomorrow?” he asked.
“Absolutely! First thing tomorrow,” I smiled even though it hurt my cheek.
“See you then,” he said, watching as I climbed into the Porsche.
I looked over at Cruz slowly walking towards us. “Come on!” I called out. “Chop-chop!”
Cruz rolled his eyes at me as he slid into the passenger seat. “Can we re-think your after school plans?”
“Not a chance!” I said as we pulled out. I looked back to see Ethan standing by his truck, eyes glued to us as we drove away. I waved goodbye.
~
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
BUOY