FINNED (The Merworld Water Wars) (17 page)

“Now those I approve of,” said Airianna.

With my new dress and shoes in hand, I said goodbye to Airianna, thanked her for her help, and headed home to wait the long two days before I could slip on the ocean dress. I, Marina Valentine, enemy of dresses, rival of high-heels, friend of jeans and t-shirts alike, am giddy to put on a dress.

Chapter Twelve

Ballerina Interrupted

Valentine’s Day
. I was all ready for the ball and feeling shockingly whimsical. My hair was shiny and full, and my dress was elegant and flowing. Since slipping on the shoes, I’ve decided this whole dressing up thing wasn’t so bad after all.

“Sweetie, the limo’s here. Oh, Marina, you look so beautiful,” said my mom when I walked into the living room. “I still can’t believe how kind that old shopkeeper was to give you this outfit. You look like an angel.”

“You really think so, Mom?”

“Breathtaking,” she said, her eyes glistening.

“Uh, the one who has the breath-stealing power tonight is you.”

“You don’t think it’s too red? You know how red can look hooker-bright on a blond,” she said, twirling in her long gown.

“Mom, you’re a total Kate,” I said, putting a pack of gum in my purse.

“Well, now, which one? There are tons of Kate’s in Hollywood.”

“I mean, look at them. Does it matter?”

“Good point. Hope you won’t mind walking in with your old mom.”

“You’re hardly old, and I wouldn’t want to walk in with anyone else.” Well, except for Troy Tombolo, but that was unlikely to happen in this lifetime.

On a glorious February night, my mom and I crawled into the back of a black limousine and enjoyed the ride to the ball.

“Aren’t you excited to see Hambury House? I’ve been looking forward to it all week!”

“The ball isn’t being held in town?” Only now did I notice the limo driving away from downtown—reckon I was too preoccupied playing with the crystal dolphin, mermaid, and seahorse charms adorning my dress.

“I told you this week about Hambury House. Don’t you ever listen to me?”

“Of course…just not that day, apparently.”

My mom sighed and rolled her eyes. “Hambury House opens its doors once a year for the annual Valentine’s Ball. Its owner is a mysterious recluse. Yet, the house is somehow ready for the ball practically overnight with no help from any townsfolk.”

“Nobody knows who owns the house?”

“Not a soul. Fascinating, isn’t it?”

“That’s one word for it.”

Twenty minutes later, the limo pulled up in front of a magnificent manor. Giant cupid balloons towered over the brightly lit, peach-colored estate. My mom and I filed in with the rest of the guests as heart-shaped fireworks illuminated the sky above.

Mom hugged me before prancing over to join a rather dashing Mr. Gibbs. I watched him kiss her hand and escort her into the ballroom.

Well, I’m alone in a dress and heels. Not my ideal scenario on Vomit Valenyuck Day, but I guess it could be worse…can’t think of how at the moment, but I’m sure it could be. Can’t put off the inevitable any longer, I suppose. Ballroom, here I come.

Ah, well, this was interesting. Everybody stopped to stare at me. The fact that I’m the only one not wearing red probably aggravated the situation. I wondered how many of the awed faces knew the legend of the dress. I forged ahead, determined not to let any of them intimidate me.

“You look lovely, Marina, truly,” whispered Airianna when I passed. She didn’t dare speak to me outright in front of so many Ravenflames.

Hmm. I’ll take post at the dessert table. After all, my butt is always looking to expand, and I do love pastries. Ooh, a King Cake!

“At least you actually dressed appropriately for the ball.” The slimy voice ruining my King Cake could only belong to one person: Katrina Zale.

Dear God. Her dress was hideous. It was bright red, strapless, backless, and ridiculously short.

“Practicing for your centerfold debut, Kat?” I never fail to piss her off royally. It was surprisingly gratifying.

“Well, it is what guys have drooled over for years.”

“And now they drool over the new Ned Dam Fourth and Inches video game. Things change.”

“Where did you find that dress?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

She knows about the legend. “Why do you want to know?” I asked.

“Curious.” Her attempt at a genuine smile unnerved me.

“Memory lapse, sorry,” I said.

“No matter. Shame such a dress is wasted on the flat form of a Normal. Have to get back to my sexy date. Enjoy your pastries.” She walked off, slinking across the room.

Wretch. I will not let her spoil my King Cake, by darn. Although the vision of Troy Tombolo in a tuxedo might cause me to choke on a bite, the sight of a trashy merbitch hanging all over him would effectively ruin my appetite. Such was the case, I’m afraid. Just look at her, draped over him like a limp piece of seaweed!

As the night progressed, I continued to stake my claim to the King Cake…and other cakes…and cookies…while couples danced closely to icky-love songs. I’m happy for them, really. Very happy. Truly. Yeah.

“Ladies and gentlemen, soon we will retreat to the balcony for the annual Valentine’s Day fireworks extravaganza,” Mr. Anderson announced. “It’s time for the last dance of the night, everyone. Make it worthwhile.”

Only one more dance to watch Katrina wrap her noodle arms all over Troy. I think I’ve done relatively well, given the circumstances. I haven’t wanted to crawl under the table and hide, and I haven’t puked.

The band started playing the final song, only to stop moments into the toe-tapping tune. An audible groan filled the room. Initially, I found the group of peeved Merpeople absolutely hilarious—by the looks on their faces, you’d think Mr. Deep Blue Sea decided to cut back on its salt intake. Yes, I found it all terribly amusing…until I noticed Troy Tombolo whispering in the conductor’s ear. Katrina smugly looked around at everyone; I considered hurling a football-shaped cake at her head. When Troy finished talking to the conductor, he slowly turned and walked towards one girl—me.

I couldn’t breathe. My heavy senses drowned under a thin veil of hope—hope I tried to ignore because it had always let me down.

“May I, Savior?” he asked, holding my pāua shell necklace before me, ready to place it around my neck.

I simply nodded and lifted my hair as he gently secured the necklace around my neck. There was no denying how complete I felt with it against my skin. Facing me once more, he clicked his heels together, bowed slightly, and held his hand out for mine.

“Will you dance with me, Marina Valentine?”

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“I’m taking the ballerina out of her music box, if she’ll let me.”

Smiling, I placed my hand in his and let him lead me to the dance floor. The band began playing one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever written. He pulled me so close to him that not a sliver of light could pass between us. We glided around the lonely dance floor, not as two, but as one, in front of every single merperson in town. He has made his choice. Though surrounded by disapproving glares, I could see nothing but him.

“
I am forever yours
,” he sang in my ear.

Please, God, don’t ever let this song end—I was too afraid to know what might happen when it did. I snuggled into his chest and allowed his arms to envelop me. He kissed the top of my head several times before the song ended much too soon.

“To the balcony for fireworks,” said Mr. Anderson, forcing a light tone. “We will talk later, Tombolo.”

Mr. Smarmy’s words acted like a dagger to my conscious mind. While everyone silently gravitated for the balcony, I ran out the front doors and headed for the beach.

Once outside, I gulped at the cool sea air, trying to replenish the breaths that so easily escaped me while in Troy’s arms.

“Marina,” said Troy, joining me on the beach.

“What are we doing? This can’t happen. As much as I might want it to, it can’t. It’s selfish. I’m selfish. You’ll be in danger, Troy. I know you’re a prince of the sea. I know your father, on behalf of the Fairhairs, entered into a water pact with Katrina’s father, giving Zale authority over these waters. You can’t break the pact, Troy, and being with me would annihilate it.”

“It would go against the pact, yes, but it will not break it. There are other actions I could take…or fail to take…that would break the pact. Being with you will not put me in danger. If anything, it will bring me to life. But the pact isn’t the only reason you’re scared to be with me, is it? It’s me, my kind.”

I shook my head. “It’s just a lot to take in. I’m on serious emotional overload here. So much exists that’s not supposed to exist. There’s so much bad…so many big, evil baddies.”

“True, but where there’s bad, there’s good, just like in the human world.”

“Like a good vampire or a cuddly werewolf?”

“Well, sometimes, yes,” he said, smiling. “But I meant things like fairies, angels, flying horses, unicorns, and Santa Claus.”

Cool air flooded my mouth, stinging my teeth. I stared at him, hardly believing what I just heard.

“I assure you, they’re all very real. For every evil, there is pure goodness. The good ones are harder to see, but they’re there when you need them,” he said gently.

“Santa Claus? Seriously?”

“Seriously,” he laughed. “I’ll take you to see him one day.” He moved closer to me.

“Stay back, please. I…can’t. I’ve been foolish to think we could be together. And here I’ve been so frustrated with you for how you’ve handled things with us, for the things you’ve said…when all along…you were right.”

“No, I wasn’t. I talked to you like a heartless ass, and I’m so sorry. I didn’t know how to let my heart talk. It’s something I’m learning to do, because of you. Marina, your fear will keep you from ever living, from ever loving.”

“You don’t understand,” I shouted. “I want to live, and I want to learn to love, but I don’t know how. When I’m around you, when I’m not around you, I feel like I’m falling, like something is pulling me down, some force I can’t seem to resist. Everyday is another new feeling, another test I have to pass in order to make sense of my heart, but I never seem to get any closer to understanding how I feel whenever you look at me, whenever you touch me. It’s like I’m losing myself to you.”

“Maybe you’re not losing yourself, Marina. Maybe you’re finding yourself with me. I’ve found myself with you. You are the only girl I have ever met who has the guts to stand her ground, and I respect that about you more than you know. I never saw true beauty until I saw you standing in front of the class, reading your poem.”

“So, I looked my loveliest while talking about my butt. I’m not sure whether to be offended, humiliated, or write it off as a typical male response,” I said, trying to slow my breathing.

“Well, tell me, is this a typical male response? My hand is unworthy of holding yours, but I need your touch. My soul feels ashamed when around yours, but I need your soul’s influence. My eyes soak you inside of me without asking, but I cannot deny them. My heart rests helpless as a child in your hands, but I don’t want it back. I have fallen for you, and I have no desire to stand back up. I don’t deserve you, Marina, but I need you, and I’ve never needed anything.”

Something worked through the center of my body like a small fluttering moth; I think, though I’m not an expert, it was elation.

“Definitely not a typical male response. Very Jane Austen, actually. So, how do we do this? How do I do this?” I asked, falling to my knees in the sand.

Kneeling down in front of me, Troy took my hands and lightly kissed them. “Fall with me. You’re not alone anymore. You have so many impenetrable layers around your heart.”

“I know.”

“I want to undress your heart, if you’ll let me.”

I softly touched his lips with my fingertips. He held my face in his hands, swept away my tears, and tenderly brushed my lips with his before kissing me deeply, lovingly. My eyes never opened.

Chapter Thirteen

Sprinkles or Showers?

March: Luck be a lady

Monthly Life Caption: Love on the Rocks

Mood: Could it be? Am I HAPPY?

Eating: Fried foods

Music: Love songs of any and all generations

When I say
love on the rocks
, I mean it quite literally. Troy and I have kissed on every possible surface—his bed, my bed, the floor, his truck, the beach, our cave. He even carries me high above his head and effortlessly glides through the water, delivering me to the lonesome rocks just beyond our cave. Once there, he slides atop my body and begins his trail of kisses, never taking the same path twice.

My body yearns for the touch of his skin day and night; I’ve never known anything like it before. Staying a good girl with Troy was, admittedly, very difficult, not that he has ever tried to pressure me. On the contrary, Troy believes in something called eternal serendipity. Of course, he never explained its meaning. Maybe I can nag him into telling me today at lunch.

WARNING: Slight detour ahead. Immediately following Valentine’s Day, I planned to meet Troy in the cafeteria; he had his meeting with Mr. Smarmy the period before and figured he would be late. As usual, I entered our aquarium-cafeteria and sat alone at the Normal’s table. Less than ten minutes later, Troy walked over to me, lifted my tray, grabbed my hand, and led me to the head table.

“Out,” he had said to a bewildered Katrina. “Now.” He was so fierce that no one wanted to challenge him, much less Katrina. It was such a
nobody puts Marina in the corner
moment, and I loved every minute.

Katrina left without protest. I thought then, as I do now, that her silent acceptance was merely a sign of something to come, something dire. Still, we have occupied the head table for over a month without conflict.

End of detour.

Back to present day: Lunch & nag time
. After indulging in some crispy chicken and buttered corn, I decided it was time to bug my boyfriend.