Mer Tales 01 - Everblue

it. I’m not really going to go through with it. He’s got his sights on a human girl anyway. It’s just a way for both of us to get the pressure off, you know?”
    The mention of Dorian picking a human girl over a mermaid brought Ashlyn to mind. Though I’d never bring her into this world willingly, there were so many times when I was tempted, like the day we left. But after meeting Lily, I started to feel like I could be happy with a pure-born mermaid.
    Tatch thumped her fist into my shoulder. “Didn’t you hear me?”
    “ That’s a great idea.”
    “ Geez, take all the fun out of it, why don’t you.” She gave me a dirty look then swam up through the porthole into the house.
    I clenched my jaw a few times and looked up at the house. Yesterday had been my best day since we’d been trapped in Natatoria and today, my worst. I didn’t want Mom to know about my altercation with Azor so I plastered on a fake grin and went inside. Crap day or not, my stomach was about to turn inside out and start digesting itself.

21
ASH

    I paced the length of my room in my sling-backs, trying to get a better handle on walking. My hair was perfectly styled, make-up done to my mother’s standards, dress altered to fit me like a glove, and my ride fashionably late. And to top everything off, all I wanted to do was vomit.
    “ They’re here!” Lucy called up the stairs in a breathless frenzy. “Hurry up, Ashlyn!”
    I craned my neck to look out the window as the limo and three cars filled with parents pulled up into the driveway. At the sight, my pulse thumped wildly through my veins. Callahan got out first and took my breath away wearing a magnificent black suit.
    His shoulders rose and fell. I wanted to call to him and wave, but stood faltering in my self-confidence as the rest filed out: two of Callahan’s friends: Dustin and Evan, and their dates: Shannon from the swim team and Kylie, who happened to be a close friend to Brooke.
    What if I make a complete idiot of myself tonight?
    I wasn’t as prepared as I’d hoped to be, especially with Kylie being in the limo with us. Visions of her prying the crown from my head on the ride home flashed through my mind. For my safety, I hoped the student body voted someone else Queen.
    I smoothed my sweaty hands on the bedspread and proceeded toward the stairs. The parents’ chattering voices swooped up the stairwell. I hesitated, wishing for a place to hide.
    Dad turned the corner and looked up at me, his comforting eyes sparkling with pride. “Ashlyn, you look breathtaking.”
    I willed away the tears as I walked down the steps to take his outstretched hand. He kissed me on the cheek before escorting me into the living room. The occupants hushed.
    Callahan’s dark chocolate colored eyes met mine and his smile wrapped me with warmth, melting away my nerves. I joined him by the fireplace and Mom handed me the green orchid boutonniere. The noise returned as parents voiced compliments and snapped photos, lessening the attention on my entrance
    “ Hi,” he said with a rickety voice. “You look really beautiful.”
    “ Thank you. You look great, too.”
    My hands shook, trying to pin the darn flower onto his lapel and not stab him by accident. Mom noticed and took over. I gratefully moved out of her way.
    He opened the plastic case containing a red rose corsage and took my hand. His touch sent electricity down my arm, energizing my skin as he slid the elastic over my wrist and slyly interlacing his fingers with mine. I squeezed his hand back and smiled.
    The chaotic photo shoot slowly turned more organized as couples were paired up and commanded to smile, look over here, get closer together, move further apart. When I thought I couldn’t take another blinding flash, Georgia pulled me close for a best friends shot. Reluctantly, I let go of Callahan’s hand.
    She giggled and pressed her cheek into mine. “Isn’t this awesome?” she asked through the teeth of her smile as her mom aimed the camera.
    I grunted an acknowledgement and noticed my feet had already begun to hurt. Behind Georgia’s mom, Kylie stood with a straight-face, solitary hand on her hip. I questioned why she’d agreed to ride with us. Was she here to ruin my evening with Callahan on purpose?
    After the last flash, I pulled away. “Shouldn’t we be leaving soon?”
    Georgia looked at her cell phone and gasped, grabbing onto Jeremy’s arm. “Time to go.”
    To my relief, Callahan’s hand found mine