Summary:
Everything is going well for the two boys, but there is still a problem that nags at the back of Jonathan's head. A problem that he was always reminded of when he looked down at his tail.
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It’s been a month now since the net accident. The two boys were closer than ever since the day. Evan tried his best to stay longer with his mermaid friend until it got unbearably cold and dark. He hated to leave, but the smile Johnathan gave him after every goodbye told him tomorrow will bring another day.

It became a new tradition in their hang outs for Evan to bring different types of sweets and snack foods for the other. Today he brought double stuffed Oreos, a sour apple lollipop, and Lay’s sour cream and onion chips with something else for the mystical man.

As he walked down the beach, feeling the hot familiar sand beneath his feet, he kept his eyes on the ocean. The water sparkled as it always did under the sun’s rays. It was always a beautiful sight even if he sees it every day. Everything was beautiful when Johnathan was around.

Speaking of the other, Johnathan was laying on a smooth flat rock with his back to the sky. His head laid on his arms as he sun bathed. The heat felt so nice on his muscles. He was starting to grow sleepy until he heard footsteps on the beach.

His blue eyes opened as a smile spread across his face. Evan was standing on the sand wearing his owl printed swim trunks, a gray muscle shirt, black sunglasses that hid his beautiful brown eyes, and a backpack slung over his shoulder containing the goodies of today. Johnathan mentally kicked himself for looking at the other for so long.

A small smirk crept along Evan’s face as he lowered his shades down his nose. “You come here often?” he jokingly flirted which was responded by a scuff and an eye roll from his friend on the rock. His smile grew as he pushed his shades back up in place and took a seat on the edge of the water.

Johnathan tried his best not to blush, but he felt the heat in his cheeks and they were not because of the sun. His head perked up when he heard the zipper of the backpack drift above the waves. Humans had some weird foods. Like, cotton candy and pixie sticks. They were good until the water made them extra sticky.

Evan dug in his bag and pulled out a bag of chips and Oreos. He had his friend try regular chips to see if the texture was okay. To his surprise Johnathan liked how salty they were. Actually, it shouldn’t have been surprising since he lives in salty water and eats in it too.

Sometimes he forgets his friend is only half human until his eyes drift along Johnathan’s body to end up at his blue tail. It slowly swung in the air as if it was a fan. Like the water, it shined against the rays from the ball of fire above. He only touched it a couple times when Johnathan wasn’t paying attention.

“What did you bring me?” the owner of the tail pipped up. Evan blinked his eyes until he found out he was looking at his Johnathan’s body for too long. Luckily he was wearing his shades today. His focus went back to his food as he opened the bag of Lay’s. “More chips. These are different from the other ones you had.”

Blue eyes were filled with happiness and curiosity at the word of chips. He quickly scooted off the rock and into the water. The refreshing cool water sent a shiver down his spine as he crawled his way up to the shore. “How different?” he asked when he reached Evan.

The human stuck his hand down into the plastic bag and pulled up a chip. “Sour cream and onion. It’s still salty,” Evan answered as he handed the chip to his eager friend. Johnathan took it and quickly bit into it. He chewed it for a while until he smiled.

“Pretty good. Different, like you said,” his eyes met shades and he really wished they weren’t there. Even if he could still see Evan’s eyes through them it wasn’t the same. “I like the other ones better though.” Evan gave a quick laugh until he put a few chips into his mouth. His eyes were roaming down Johnathan’s body again.

He really was beautiful. The amount of muscles the other had was amazing, but yet again he swims to get around. The way water dripped down onto his sides and disappeared beneath. His blue tail dipping into the water then coming back up to trickle water onto his lower body. It was mesmerizing to watch his body. It was even better to watch those blue sharp eyes looking back at him.

Ever since he learned about Johnathan’s secret he looked online about mermaids. There were paintings of them, but none of them captured how beautiful his friend looked right in front of him. Most of the artwork was of women. It was rare to find male mermaids in his search. That’ll be a question for another time though.

Johnathan must have known he was looking because he was smiling up at him. His cheeks were a little flushed and his eyes sung to him. Evan shook his head and closed the bag of chips with a clip before putting them back into his bag.

The mermaid pushed his upper body up to stretch before plopping down on the other’s lap. This was a normal position between the two. The comfort of Evan was closer to his human half as the comfort of the ocean was closer to his fish half. It made him feel a lot safer. “What’s that?” he asked.

Evan picked up the pack of Oreo’s and opened them easily. Some of them were already crumbling and he frowned. “These are called Oreo’s. It’s a cookie with cream filling inside of them,” he replied picking up the best looking cookie. Johnathan giggled and opened his mouth.

Evan placed the cookie in Johnathan’s mouth then got himself one. The curious boy chewed the treat and made a pleased noise. Once he finished he gave his best friend a toothy grin. The Asian covered his mouth and tried his best to hide his laugh, which failed.

“What’s so funny?” Johnathan questioned with a frown. As Evan finished his cookie he cupped the mermaid’s cheeks gently. “You have cookie stuck in your teeth, dude.” Embarrassed, Johnathan quickly rubbed at his teeth.

This made another laugh erupt from Evan as the man in his lap furiously tried to clean his teeth. Johnathan showed his teeth up at the other with such a sad face. Poor thing. The youngest gave him a nod to confirm he got the cookie out of his teeth.

“So were they good?” he asked while the other huffed. A moment passed as Johnathan thought. “They were okay. It was hard to chew at first because they’re hard,” his eyes looked up at the sky. The reflection in his already blue eyes became a perfect swirl of blue. He truly did belong to something more human.

“But,” Evan’s attention was grabbed away from the other’s eyes. “They made my teeth look gross so they get a low score.” The pout Johnathan was trying to muster was so adorable. He could tell the other wanted to laugh, but forced it down. It didn’t work as his contagious laugh filled the beach.

These were the best moments for Johnathan. Instead of being in his home around the same boring people he could come here with Evan. The man who didn’t run away from him when he found out what he really is. It didn’t make his heart ache as much now when he calls him his friend.

It only beats faster when he thinks about the Asian. Even though he’ll never get to see Evan’s house or walk with him it was fun to lay on the sand and talk. Every morning he woke up thinking about Evan and every night he went to bed thinking of the same man who he was slowly falling for.

His thoughts were interrupted as a circle wrapped in plastic on a stick was presented in front of his view. Before he could speak Evan was already ahead of him introducing the new food. “It’s a lollipop. Made out of sugar like cotton candy, but you suck on these,” he spoke as he freed the candy from the plastic.

Evan carefully put the plastic wrapping back into his bag in order to not litter in Johnathan’s favor. The mermaid took the sweet and popped it into his mouth to only make a face that made Evan laugh uncontrollably hard. Johnathan’s taste buds were a blazed as he puckered his lips.

Whatever tastes this is Evan sure thinks it’s funny. Humans were so weird. He took the lollipop out of his mouth with a pop. “What the hell is this?” he questioned with a disgusted face. “It is sour apple flavored. It’s supposed to make you feel like…well,” Evan gestured to the other’s sour expression.

Johnathan shook his head and gave back the green treat. His taste buds had enough after that. They still tingled. He gave Evan a firm stern until he saw the other smiling back at him. “Too much for you? I could eat five of those in one day,” Evan bragged.

The other could only stick his tongue out in defeat. An idea rung in his head causing him to smirk as his tail submerged into the water then quickly flick it in their direction. Water splashed on the both of them. Johnathan gave a laugh as Evan frowned, but turned it into a smile.

Hours went by as the sun still shined above the two. Johnathan had moved to lay beside his friend as the other made himself comfy on the sand. The two sun bathed in silence as Johnathan’s thoughts roamed. He let his eyes wonder to Evan a couple times then forced them to look at something else.

He truly did admire Evan, but at the same time he envied him. He knew what was beyond the beach. He knew people more than he’ll ever know. It ate at him the more he thought on it. It was a burden to only be able to crawl on the sand.

Johnathan started chewing on his bottom lip before he gave in. “What’s it like to have legs?” his mind worked before his lips could close to stop him. He worked more on his lip now. The silence felt like hours until he heard Evan shift next to him.

The Asian was propped up on one elbow as he faced his body toward the voice. His fantasy friend looked nervous as he chewed on his lip. It made his brows knit together. He didn’t quit know how to answer, but he knew Johnathan wanted an answer.

“Well, it’s tiring,” he started as he lifted his shades above his head. “They get me places. Sometimes they cramp up when I work out too much and it sucks. They start falling asleep if I sit weird. That’s the worst,” he chuckled to himself.

The worried blue eyes softened with confusing. He looked up to meet Evan’s gorgeous brown eyes that glimmered in the sunlight. “What do you mean they fall asleep? Legs can sleep?” Johnathan asked. This caused the human to blink then think for a moment. He never thought he had to describe how legs worked.

“I don’t know if you ever have the feeling, but it feels like needles are stabbing you. It’s really uncomfortable,” Evan stated. “And you don’t want to move because the feeling will get worse. It goes away though.” He saw Johnathan relax and form a small smile on his face.

“What a fucking weirdo,” Johnathan remarked with a grin. Evan shoved his shoulder playfully and pulled his shades back down over his eyes. “You don’t get those feelings?” he asked before settling on his back. “Sometimes, but you’re just a weirdo.”

Evan turned to look at his friend and forgot how to breathe. It was like he was in a dream. Johnathan was giving him a warm smile that matched the warmth of the sun. His amazing blue eyes were connected to him and it was like the first time they met. He was so unreal even lying next to him.

His mind filter stopped working as his lips began moving. It needed to be said.

“You’re so beautiful.”

It was the most serene voice he has ever heard in his life. His whole body itched to hug the other, but he stayed put. It was just a simple compliment, but the way Evan is looking at him makes it feel so much more. This scene was so artificial he could be dreaming right now and wake up in his bed.

It wasn’t a dream though. Not when he can feel the sand underneath him and the birds chirping in the distances. This was as real as it gets. Evan called him beautiful. Out of everyone in the world he called him beautiful with so much feeling. Beautiful..

Johnathan lifted himself up and made his way back into the ocean. Evan was quick to lean up and watch as the other left. He felt his heart sink. He should have shut up.

“Hold on, okay? I forgot to give you this,” Johnathan called with a smile. On the same rock he was laying on before he collected a seashell into his hands and returned to Evan’s side. He had the goofiest smile on his face while he presented the seashell.

It was a perfect shell without missing pieces or scratches. Its colors were still vibrant and he started to question if it was real. Of course it was real. Johnathan lives in the freaking ocean that is filled with them.

Evan took it into his hands gingerly. He rubbed his thumb against the ridges and smiled. He could easily get one for himself, but the fact Johnathan gave it to him made it worth much more. After looking it over Evan met his friend’s eager face.

“I saw it on my way here. I know there’s some on the shore, but this one reminded me of you,” Johnathan began twiddling his fingers. “How you have deep ridges and you’re perfect,” he stopped himself from going further.

His cheeks were turning red as he avoided the other’s gaze. Evan took off his shades and smiled down at the seashell.  It was a nice present and even better now. The man in front of him became smaller in himself. The usual look when Johnathan felt uncomfortable or insecure.

Evan cupped his friend’s chin to lift his head up. Brown mixed with blue as they looked at each other. This really was as real as it gets. As real as Evan’s perfect smile and as real as his perfect fingers cupping his chin. As real as Evan closing the distance between them.

Everything was perfect at that moment. Johnathan could feel Evan’s breathe on his lips. “Shit!” Evan cursed as he let go of the mermaid’s chin to cover his eyes. The warm breathe on his lips vanished and were left cold against the ocean breeze.

Evan rubbed his eyes quickly before putting his shades back on. At the last moment his eyes wondered and met the sun. How stupid of him! He ruined the whole moment and now a cloud of awkward fell on top of them.

“Uh, thanks for the gift. I really like it,” he forced a smile as he pocketed the seashell into his bag. Johnathan only nodded and gave a small “yeah”. It was very unsettling now. The way Johnathan held himself and looked out into nothingness made Evan’s heart sink ever more.

He couldn’t redeem himself at this point. Once he looked into the burning sun the feeling left him. An unwanted silence fell between them that felt like a year went by.

Quick glances were stolen as Evan looked at Johnathan. His back was facing him as he held his tail against his chest. His eyes never left the sea. They were forever drowning in doubt. This hurt more than any breakup he has gone through.

As his glance lingered more than he wanted he caught sight of sad blue orbs. They stared at each other before Johnathan looked away in a hurry. If Evan’s heart wasn’t broken before it is now. He cleared his throat and dug in his bag for the mystery item he had for the other.

He leaned over to Johnathan and placed the teddy bear he had bought for him by his tail. “You talked about how soft my shirts are so I bought you this,” a sad smile appeared on his face as he sat back down. Johnathan’s hand was hesitant to touch the unknown object.

Until his fingers felt how soft the fur was. He ran his fingers through the brown fur of the teddy bear’s stomach up to his face. Never in his life had he felt something so soft before. It was like his fingers were in heaven.

He quickly picked up the toy and hugged it; breathing in the scent that he knew was Evan. “What is this? It’s so soft,” he spoke quietly. The mermaid buried his nose into the fur and couldn’t help the smile forming on his lips.

“It’s called a teddy bear. Some people collect them and others sleep with them,” Evan responded as he cautiously scooted closer. Johnathan rubbed his face deeper into the fur and giggled. “I like teddy bear!” he exclaimed.

The cloud pressed down on them lifted as Evan watched the other hug the bear. Then he saw Johnathan frown and he quickly came up with any reason why. “I can’t take him. The water will ruin him,” the older sighed. “The water ruins everything.”

That sinking feeling returned in Evan’s chest. “The water doesn’t ruin everything,” he whispered as he came closer to the other. “It brought you, didn’t it?” Johnathan’s eyes were wet as he looked at his friend. They could be mistaken as the ocean easily.

“So? Even if I came from the ocean I still can’t walk with you,” he replied bitterly. Evan sighed. Johnathan was right, but it didn’t change how he felt. With a smile and a swift removal of his shades he seated himself right next to Johnathan. “I can still hang out with you. I can sit here all day and just listen to you talk,” he began.

“Do you know how much I wait to come here just to see you? That’s all I think about. When I go to the store I think of what kind of food you might like to try that day. I bought that sour lollipop just to see you pucker your lips like an idiot,” Evan chuckled to himself.

Johnathan was peaking over the teddy bear. This friend of his that always made his chest burn and beat heavier knew what just to say. His tears were on the brink of falling as Evan kept talking.

“I think about you every day, Johnathan. Like a lot to be in fact. You help me when I can’t sleep at night because I’ll remember your smile and it makes me feel so much better. I don’t care that you can’t walk with me. I don’t care that you’re only half human. You’re my best friend, Jon. I love you.”

The tears were spilling like waterfalls as the words fell out of the Asian’s mouth. Evan was quick to cup his cheeks and wipe the tears away with his thumbs. Johnathan couldn’t help, but cry harder as he looked at the man he admired for a month.

The way he smiled at him was bitter sweet. The hands on his cheeks were warm and he never wanted them to leave. He wanted Evan for himself, but he couldn’t. It would never work out for them no matter what.

“Please stop crying. You’re going to make me cry,” Evan’s voice was just above a whisper. His own brown eyes were becoming shiny with tears. “I can’t,” Johnathan mustered out between sobs. “Not when you’re saying such sweet things about me.”

A tear rolled down Evan’s cheek and his friend was quick to wipe it away. “It’s true. I want you to know that. I’m glad I came down here a month ago to hear you sing,” his smile was brighter than the sun slowly fading over the horizon. The sky was starting to turn an orange and pink shade.

The oldest of them was speechless. It would never work out, but he wanted this moment so bad. He had dreamed of a similar scene back in his bed. It didn’t feel as good as this one though. This felt better than any dream he had.

Evan started to lean as the feelings from before began to bubble up. Johnathan was quick to close his eyes as he met half way. The warm feeling returned and unlike before it stayed. Johnathan was hesitant before Evan broke the space and connected their lips.

Johnathan’s lips were softer than he thought. Every tense muscle he could feel on the other vanished as they melted together. Their lips worked together in a small passionate way. It was bliss for the both of them.

Their kiss tasted of salt water and a hint of Oreo’s. Johnathan was melting. He would become a puddle in Evan’s hands if was possible. This overdue kiss made his worries fade into nothing. His mind was so empty he felt like he was floating. Evan’s lips were the only thing he ever wanted to taste.

When the kiss broke from need of air they couldn’t move apart after being so close. Their foreheads stayed pressed together as they stared into each other’s eyes. Everything shifted, in a good way. Evan felt like a weight was lifted from his shoulders.

Then Johnathan broke out into a smile and laughed lightly into his bear’s head. He never felt so alive before. He didn’t want the night to end. As he looked into earthy eyes he made quick to peck the other’s lips.

Evan smiled as rubbed his thumbs against the wet cheeks of his friend. Or crush? He wasn’t sure what they were, but that is for another day. Right now he just wants to stay here and drown into Johnathan. “Sleep with him tonight and think of me,” the other spoke softly while cuddling more with the bear.

“Don’t worry I will,” the Asian chuckled. “For right now you keep cuddling with him.” Johnathan nodded and kissed the top of the bears head. Evan brought the other into his lap and held him close as if he would drift back into the open blue.

They stayed like that as the sun went down like it usually did. Evan peppered gentle kisses to the mermaid’s shoulders and neck. Johnathan began to sing as he usually did as it got dark. It was the same song that brought them together. He always hummed it without thinking.

It was dark now that the moon has made its appearance. The two boys lay cuddling on the cool sand as the tide touched their toes and tail. “It’s getting late,” Evan spoke with hurt in his voice. Johnathan smiled as he cuddled closer into the other’s side.

“Then go home. I’ll be here tomorrow,” his voice was too calm for what he was feeling inside. He sat up and looked down to see Evan frowning. “Just dream of me until we meet again. Don’t look so sad.”

“I can’t help it. I don’t want to leave you,” his voice was low. They became so close in less than a minute. He felt he would crumble if he left. He felt something soft on his chest and didn’t have to look to know it was the bear.

What made him get up was when Johnathan started making his way back into the water. Once he got into the water a hand grabbed his arm. Evan was in the water next to him pushing his body’s urge to chatter his teeth. “I’ll see you tomorrow, right?” he asked with so much sorrow in his eyes he thought he would break.

Johnathan only smiled and wrapped his arms around Evan’s neck. “As always. I’ll be in your dreams, Evan,” he whispered before placing a kiss against the other’s lips. The human tried to deepen the kiss, but was broken off too soon. The mermaid gave him one more smile before he turned and disappeared into the water.

Evan made his way to the shore and packed his things. As he returned home he stripped off his clothes and put on a warm pair of pajamas. He hugged the teddy bear that smelt of salt and sea. A smile plastered on his face as he went to bed and dreamed of a blue tail.