''Adalyn,'' Vanessa said as she shook Adalyn awake. She groaned, bring her blanket closer, and turned on Vanessa bed. ''Adalyn, I'm going to school. My dad should be leaving soon. If you get hungry, there's food in the kitchen.''

''Yeah, yeah.'' she said.

''Don't leave the house, I want to know if you leave.'' she said and Adalyn moaned her response.

Vanessa brushed her hand against Adalyn beautiful braid and stood up from the floor. Once Vanessa made her dad think Adalyn was a cousin and said she would be staying away, she made Adalyn get a shower. Adalyn seem to hate it when she got out. Vanessa gave her some of her clothes, but they were a little small since Adalyn is tall, probably four inches taller.

*

Vanessa smiled when she saw Raphael leaning against his car when school was over. She walked over to him and hugged him, ''Hey, what are you doing here?"

''To pick you up.'' he said. ''This way, we can be together a little even though your father thinks you're walking. I'll drop you off around the corner so he won't see me since I'm on his most hated list.''

She smiled at him, finding that so sweet. She stood up on her tip toes and kissed his cheek. ''I had a crazy night last night.'' she said as they got in the truck.

''So did I.'' he said and she gave him a confused look. ''You go first.''

''Adalyn, she's staying at my house.'' she said.

''Why?"

''Queen Severina took her tail away, she's not a mermaid anymore. Since Queen Severina doesn't like us, she thinks Adalyn choose my side. She had to swim back to land on legs, Raphael, three hours.'' she said to him and his eyes widen. ''She has no where to go, so I had to make my dad believe she's my mom niece so she could stay. She's wants me to give her tail back, but I don't know how to make it just happen.''

''So you used your gift to make your dad let her stay, but not for us?" he asked and she scoffed at him. ''Sorry.''

''That isn't the point Raphael, Queen Severina took her tail. It's my fault.'' she said, leaning back against the passenger door.

''How's it your fault, Nessie?" he asked. ''You didn't tell Queen Severina to take it.''

''Because I wanted to stay and Adalyn cares to much. I didn't leave with them.'' she told him. ''If. . .if. . .''

''Not your fault.'' he said, ''You don't belong out there, to leave your family or me. You did what was right, Adalyn choose to help you.''

''It's my fault.'' she said. ''No matter what, it is.''

''You're just upset.'' he said.

''I can't even give her tail back, Raphael.'' she said.

''Your a new mermaid who has powers you were never taught how to use.'' he said. ''Queen Severina, she shouldn't be angry and abandon you, she should be here teaching you.''

''She doesn't care what's right or wrong.'' she said. ''She believes I should be saving fish from your family. She hates me even more for turning you.''

''She should get over it.'' he said and she chuckled humorlessly.

''She's a queen, she has been longer then before the human race. She's use to getting her way.'' Vanessa said, making his eyes widen. ''I'm the first mermaid to disobey her, Raphael, she'll do everything to hurt me or the people I love.''

''She hasn't done anything to me.'' he said.

''You're one of us now, she wouldn't so that. She took Adalyn tail, yes, but didn't hurt her.'' Vanessa said. ''I can't talk about anymore. What happened last night with you.''

''Well,'' he said, biting his lower lip and she raised an eyebrow. ''I got a visitor last night by a mermaid to. Nani, she said Queen Severina sent her to check up on me.''

''What?" Vanessa questioned as she sat up. ''What happened?"

He scratched behind his ear, ''Not much, she didn't stay long but to look at me.''

''Look at you?"

''Yeah, in a creepy kind of way.'' he said. ''But the point is, Queen Severina still watching us in some way. Nani said more mermaids will be coming around to watch me. They're waiting for me to screw up.''

''Then we'll prove you won't.'' she said. She moved over closer to him and took his hand, ''Has the enchanted glow come?"

"It. . .yeah. It was awkward having everyone look at me when I'm food shopping with my mom.'' he said and she laughed. He put his arm around her and leaned her against him, ''You look beautiful today.''

''These are my same old clothes.'' she said.

''I didn't mean how you look in clothes, you have a beautiful face.'' he said.

''Aw.'' she said, reaching up and cupped his cheek. ''Not only a handsome merman, but very charming.''

*

Vanessa walked into her house and she heard something from the kitchen. She raised an eyebrow and walked into the kitchen, her eyes widen. It was a mess! Pots and pans everywhere, the sink full of dishes, half eaten food on the counter. It was horrible.

Adalyn was sitting on the small table--on it! Not a chair. She was chugging down a glass that looked like chocolate milk. She didn't stop for air until it was empty and she froze for a moment, then burped.

She smiled at Vanessa, ''I don't remember the last time I had chocolate, Nessa.'' she said, jumping down and over to island where she bit into a half eaten hotdog. ''I can eat anything I want again. These are delicious! I had four already.'' she said over a mouth full.

''Did you eat everything?" Vanessa asked as she walked over to the fridge, finding it nearly empty.

''You said if I get hungry I should go to the kitchen.'' she said, reaching into a bag of Doritos. ''I've been eating seaweed and fruit for the last hundred years. Everything so different and delicious! I had to try everything. . .twice or a few times.''

''And your still going?" she asked. ''Your stomach isn't that big.''

She shrugged and opened a brownie, biting into it. Vanessa walked over and took it from her, ''Hey!"

''Adalyn, the kitchen a mess!'' Vanessa said.

She looked around, realizing, ''Oh.'' she said. She smiled, ''I'll clean it now!''

''Thank you.'' Vanessa said. ''Be quick, we have to go to my dad friend Anita house tonight to eat. . .if you have room lift.'' she said, patting Adalyn food baby belly.

Raphael

Raphael lift his head from the toilet and flushed it. His mom had lobsters downstairs and when he looked into the creature dead eyes, he lost his stomach. He washed his mouth and put a hand over his stomach as he walked over to his room.

His phone rang and he took his phone out from his pocket, ''Hello?"

''Raphael!" Ava squealed and he winced at the sound of her high pitched voice, ''You finally answered my calls.''

''I've been busy.'' he said, sitting on his bed and ran a hand threw his hair.

''I heard you been hanging out with some girl name Vanessa.'' she said, sound calm and cool, but he knew his ex called for a reason.

''Yeah.'' he said. ''What do you want, Ava?"

''Well we haven't seen each other since Vincent pool party and it didn't end well because of that stupid soda explosion prank.'' she said and he knew it wasn't some frat house prank. ''I thought maybe we could hang out. I went over to shop earlier but your dad said you quit worker there? I thought you loved that job. What happen about becoming a sailor?"

''Change of plans.'' he said. He rubbed his hand across his face and yawned, ''Look Ava, I didn't get much sleep last night. Got to go.''

''Oh.'' she said, sounding disappointed. ''Okay, but call me later so we can hang out sometimes.''

''Yeah, sure. Bye.'' he said, ending the call.

*

Raphael had woken up in the middle of the night and just felt like this sudden wave to be near the ocean. He had snuck out his house and drove to the boardwalk. He walked towards the oceans and stood at the end of where the water was, only an inch away.

He looked out into dark water and he just felt like being in it. He wasn't sure why it felt so important, but it was. He didn't even feel like himself because his normal self would never leave his house at three in the morning to come here.

He reached down to his shirt and took it off. He took off his flannel pajama pants. He stepped into the water and his feet were fully fins now so he fell to the ground.

Scales formed his arms, starting from his top hand to his elbows. Gold scales on his outer side of his abdomen. His fin feet gold coming up to his knees.

Cold water hit him, but it didn't feel cold. It was like the perfect temperature. He swam further into the water and he swam at the surface for a little before he dunk into the water, going down a little.

The water in the dark seemed so beautiful at night. A few fish swam around him and he smiled, they seem to like him. He noticed some oysters laying down nears a rock and he swam down to them. He picked one up and noticed how different it looked a little. He seems them in a jewelry shop a dozen times. It was a pearl oyster. His eyes widen and he opened one of shells. A pearl shined as if sun hit it.

*

Raphael knocked on Vanessa door and he waited for someone to answer. The door opened and Vanessa looked up at home surprised.

''Hey.'' she said.

''I have something for you.'' he said, taking the hair comb out of his pocket, holding it out to her.

Her eyes widen, ''Oh, my God.'' she said, carefully taking the comb from him. He had bought the comb this morning. It was a plain comb with metal flower and swirl designs. He had added a few pearls he found. ''It's beautiful, Raphael.'' she said, touching the pearls.

He was happy she liked it, it made getting burn by hot glue worth it. He took the comb from her and brushed it on the right side of her hair, pulling it back. She looked beautiful with it on. She smiled as him and he leaned down to kiss her. 

"Hello Raphael,'' her dad cut in, making them both jump.

Damn, Raphael said. ''Hey Mr Porter.'' he gave Vanessa a friendly smile. ''How's your day going?"

''Fine.'' he said, pulling Vanessa in. ''Vanessa can't go anywhere, she's grounded remember?"

''Oh dad.'' she groaned. ''He was just bring a gift over. See? Isn't it beautiful?" she asked, touching the comb with a sweet smile.

''Lovely.'' he said, but didn't really seem to care. ''Now go see if Adalyn fine, she's been in the bathroom for awhile now.''

Vanessa groaned and looked at Raphael, ''Bye, Raphael.'' she said, quickly hugging him before her dad could stop her and his arms went around her quickly. ''I do love it.'' she whispered to him and kissed his cheek.