Mer Tales 01 - Everblue

my hand.
    She took it and smiled; her green eyes sparkled at me under thick black lashes. “Hello.”
    My stomach did flip-flops when the soft skin of her hand brushed against mine.
    “ So, we were talkin’ about the courtin’ room in the palace and wondered what the kids were doin’ there. I was quizzin’ Fin on why he don’t attend.”
    Lily scrunched up her face. “Oh, it’s ‘cause it’s so boring, Uncle. The girls stay on one side of the room and the boys, the other. With the chaperones floating about you can barely get close enough to talk without someone tapping you on the shoulder, making you stay six inches apart.”
    In awe, I watched her lips move. The perfect pink crescents framed white straight teeth and produced a source of melodic eloquence I’d only experienced with Ash.
    Badger slammed his cup down again, knocking me out of my daydream. “Janey Mack! Why do they all got their knickers in a bunch over kids talkin’? How they expectin’ folk to be attending the festival if they don’t let you at least mingle? If I were a chappy, ya all would be getting' promised tomorra’.”
    “ Uncle.” Lily rolled her eyes. “How anyone can think we’d just start making out because we were alone in the same room with a boy is absurd. We know the promise is a lifetime bond and, contrary to popular belief, mermaids do have self-control. Besides, have you seen the mermen? There definitely isn’t anyone there I really want to—” she looked down and blushed, “—court.”
    She flicked a glance at me. I swallowed hard, lost for words.
    “ Ya got a level head on yer shoulders like yer ma and aunt,” Badge interjected.
    Lily smiled. “Thanks.” She perched her hands on her knees. “So, I don’t think I’ve even seen you at the palace. Are you visiting?”
    “ Uh.” My mouth became dry. “Yeah, I guess so. We—my family—spend most of our time in Tahoe, guarding the gate.”
    “ Oh?” Recognition flashed across her face. “That’s it. You must be Colin’s cousin. Right?”
    I looked away, unsure if our relation would harm my chances of getting to know her further or not. “Yes?” I eventually croaked out. “Are you friends?”
    “ Yeah, actually. He’s always talking about taking over the gate and I haven’t seen him around lately, so—”
    I ran my hand through my hair. “Yeah, he’s there now ‘cause my dad had to go on a mission for the King.”
    “ Oh, wow.” Lily’s eyes grew wide in understanding for a second. “I see.”
    I looked away and Sandy came back in the room with a tray of cheese and crackers, along with fresh strawberries, grapes, and cut up wedges of apple with peanut butter. “Lily and I went into town today and picked up some fresh fruit.”
    Badger grunted in approval.
    “ Oh, my gosh!” Lily suddenly exclaimed, “I can see now why you spend so much time on land, Fin! The town was amazing. People were everywhere. Girls and guys holding hands and kissing right in public, and Sandy made me wear a dress and shoes. Shoes! Can you believe it?” She propped her barefoot up on the table and giggled with pride. “Look. I’ve even got a blister!”
    Badger laughed. “Only me niece would think a wound received on land is a badge of honor. Now this be a wound.” He pointed to a large scar on his thigh. Sandy punched him in the arm and gave him the evil eye, while sitting on the arm of his chair. “I was teasin’.” Badge rubbed his arm and tried to act hurt until Sandy wove her hands into his hair.
    Lily swooned, oblivious to their incessant flirting, and continued. “And we ate homemade pizza which was amazing and chocolate ice cream. And the animals—I’ve heard about dogs, but never seen one in real life before. This little white fluffy one was so adorable. I wanted to take him home with me.”
    “ You’ve never been on land?” I asked, eyebrows knitted together.
    “ Well, we went once when I was younger, but not where people were around and definitely not to a—what did you call that, Auntie? A farm?”
    “ A farmers’ market,” Sandy corrected.
    “ Yes, with the farmers selling their fruits and vegetables in a park. I can’t wait to try an avocado and a tomato. But you say you live on land in Tahoe all the time? How do you get to do that?”
    “ Uh, we’ve got a pool in our basement.” I licked my lips, amazed at how naïve she was to the world above her. I guess if you always stayed in Natatoria, you wouldn’t know what