When Life Gives You Fins by Elaina H (most read books txt) 📕

            “What are you doing?!” she laughs out loud.

            “You looked like you wanted to dance,” I twirl her around, “So what’s up with Josh being here?”             “Well, it’s a funny story really. My old date dumped me ten minutes before I was supposed to come to dinner. So I had to run all around looking for Josh. He was outside my door the whole time pouring his heart out to me.

            So I drug him down here mid sentence.”

            “Wow!”

            “Yeah, tell me about it!”

            When we come back around Zak and Josh take each of us. Josh is actually a really great dancer. I don’t know what his problem is?

            “So what’s Josh doing here?”

            “Adrianne’s old date dumped her ten minutes before.”

            “Sad story,” he says.

            “For who? She’s happy and he dumped her!”

            “Good point.”

            After the song ended Zak and I sat down. Destin and Wilma stop dancing shortly after we do, but the King, Queen, Adrianne, and Josh keep chugging along.

            Destin bows in front of me, “May I?”

            “I don’t know, you wanted to throw a chair at my head!”

            “That was an hour ago!”

            “Fine!”

            Destin and I dance we switch on and off with Adrianne and Josh. I had a blast.

The Moment You’ve Been Waiting For!

            The music stops and they tell us the ball is about ready to be begin, and that we should get ready to make our entrance.

            I turn to Zak, “You never said we had to make a grand entrance! I can’t do this! I can’t do this!” I am cutting off circulation to his hand.

            “It’ll be easy, just like the dance we have to do,” he waves it off.

            “We have to do a dance! Okay,” I release his hand and turn around, “I’m leaving!” he catches me by the waist.

            “I don’t want to have someone fill in for you!”

            “I do! Adios!” Zak keeps dragging me by the waist.

            “Come on! It’ll be easy, I’ll be right here.”

            “Why didn’t you tell me this before? I would have said no!”

            “Exactly!”

            I start freaking out and shaking, “Oh my gosh!” Zak says, “calm down! It’s going to be okay,” he continues to say soothing words into my ear right up until the point where we have to walk out.

            The King and Queen go first, everyone cheers. We’re next, Oh my God!

            “Just remember, I love you,” Zak whispers last in my ear.

            Not helping! Not helping at all! Now I’m freaking out even more.

            I take a deep breath and walk out onto the stage, praying I don’t look terrible. I haven’t even seen myself.

            Everyone cheers for us as we enter and exit the stage.

            That wasn’t too bad. I smile as we go down the steps, “Not as bad as you thought?” Zak asks.

            “No.”             Adrianne and Josh come down next. Josh is living it up! He’s blowing kisses to the crowd and Adrianne is laughing at him the whole way down. She really is happy!

            Wilma and Destin go last, Destin doesn’t smile. What is his issue?

            As everyone makes room on the dance floor for the royal family and their dates dances I get ready to puke.

            “It’s the same music you danced to in the Dining Hall. Don’t worry, you know this.”

            The music starts and I close my eyes, Zak keeps talking to me trying to calm me down. Slowly I relax, a little.

            First, I open my eyes, Second I smile, and Third I actually move my self – Zak isn’t dragging me – it’s still really terrible. But it’s bearable now.

            After the music stops everyone claps. A speaker begins to talk, “Now we have our winner from the drawing. Who will get a special spotlight dance with the royal family? I will pull five names: King, Queen, Prince Zak, Princess Adrianne, and Prince Destin.

            Here we go! The first name, dancing with the King is, Maria Helen.” An older woman comes and shakes hands with the King.

            “The Queen, Dylan Wilson!” A young teenager comes up and high fives the Queen, she’s surprised.

            “Dancing with Prince Zak is, Jennifer Benson!” Blondie swishes her hips in her dress and puts an arm around Zak, he smiles nervously.

            “With Princess Adrianne, Dylan Wilson! Wait! What are the odds of that happening! We are going to have to draw again folks. The winner is Ian Oddessy!” A old man walks up to Adrianne and spins her around she smiles and laughs.

            “Finally with Prince Destin, Fiona Jordan!” Fiona walks up and smiles at Destin.

            Of course he doesn’t know who she is. Fiona waves at everyone, she’s so sweet.

            A slower song begins, everyone takes their places. Jennifer’s grip tightens on Zak’s shoulder. She’s talking to him, he’s trying to avoid eye contact.

            I knew that wasn’t the end of Jennifer Benson. She’d be back for more, and here she is.

            When Josh notices his sister and Zak dancing he frowns, he gives me a ‘what are you going to do’ look.

            But when Josh and I look at Adrianne we smile. She’s twirling around the dance floor with this older man, one of whom she’s never met. He chuckles with Adrianne.

            As the song comes to a close, the King and Queen give bows to their dance partner. Destin is smiling at the Fiona, who gave him a piece of candy.

            Adrianne hugs the old man and introduces him to Josh. Jennifer hangs tightly onto Zak for an extra minute.

            Zak points towards me trying to get away. Blondie gives me a glare. Whatever. I could care less.

            Zak finally gets away from her and walks toward me. “Sorry about that?”

            “Not your fault, drawing was rigged. I mean what are the chances of that happening?!”

            “Zero to none?” Zak guesses.

            “Probably.”

            “How about I introduce you to some people? People from all over the sea travel here for our events!”

            “Really?!”

            “No. But some people come from a few mils away!”

            I frown, “Not quite as exciting, but let’s go anyways.”

            First, Zak tells me he’s taking me to meet his aunt and uncle from The Florida Keys.

            “Ooo, exciting!”

            “Yeah, to warm down there, for me at least!”             As we get closer our path is intercepted by an older man and a younger woman, “Zakipoo!” screeches the young woman.

            “Hi!” he fakes excitement, “CJ, this is my grandpa and grandma.”

            ‘Grandma’ speaks again, “What did I say about that word. It makes me feel old. Call me Caroline, please.” She gives me a blinding smile, “and you, dear, are just gorgeous! They don’t get more unique than you! With that red hair, and my goodness, it’s even short!”

            “Thank you, I guess?” I say to Caroline. Caroline is Fake. From her hair to her boobs to her too shiny tail.

            “If I were you I would put some strawberry-blonde highlights in! It would be fabulous!”

            Grandpa stays quiet until now, “Babe, leave her be. I’m sure she likes her hair the way it is. Say, Zak, where’s that Jennifer girl you had last year. Now she’s exactly how every man likes them. Blonde with a green tail, feisty!”

            “Hey you! Is that why you fell in love with me?” if you haven’t guessed it, Caroline has blonde hair and a green tail.

            “Sure.” That’s real convincing, but it’s convincing enough for Caroline.

            “Grandfather! Celia, is just as good if no better than Jennifer!” Zak’s eyes turn toward me, “besides, she doesn’t have to have blonde hair and a green tail for me to love her,” he says this quietly now.

            My heart is in my throat. This is the third time he’s said it, but it doesn’t make it easier to hear. My goodness, what am I supposed to do!

            Thankfully, I think, Zak’s grandfather decides to pipe up, “Woah there! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves! There are plenty of fish in the sea! Right? Just hold your horses.” He’s worried about Zak. No, he’s worried about how it will look for there family not to have the epitome of a mermaid.

            “Well, I’ll have you know, Sir! I am a world class swimmer, I’m just as ‘cool’ as any other mermaid, and I am kick-butt! So deal with it!” I am breathing hard because I was so nervous. I can’t decide whether or not Zak’s facial expression is surprise or embarrassment, Shoot!

            “Well, I’ll have you know! You definitely have the feisty down!” He slaps me on the back and laughs. “Call me George!”

            “Okay, George.”

            “We’ll see you guys later, we have to go talk to your Mom and Pop!”

            I turn to Zak after they leave, my expression says it all ‘What the Heck!’

            “Don’t know? He’s really out there.”

            When we get back to our original mission, they’re gone.

            “Oh well.”

            “Too bad. They’re my favorite relatives. Is that prejudges?”

            “Depend who you ask? Me. I’d say no. Caroline, ‘Oh my gosh, Zakipoo! Don’t be mean!” I slap my hand to my cheeks, in an ‘Oh my gosh’ gesture.

            “You have that impression down! Do me?” he looks a little nervous at this one.

            “Okay! ‘Sup! I’m Zakipoo…” I can’t finish because I’m basically rolling on the floor from laughing so hard.

            “Very funny,” he says blandly, but there’s a smile playing on his lips.

            All the slow waltz music has stopped and rocking jams replace them. It’s just like a party.

            Zak catches me staring at the dance floor, “Do you want to dance?”

            “Oh my God, yes! I’ve been waiting a whole minute for you to ask!”

            He shrugs his shoulder as if to say sorry. I drag him to the dance floor, he yells at me to slow down, he can’t go that fast.

            So I drop his hand and go as fast as I can through the throng of people. I make it to the dance floor ten seconds before he does.

            And you know what song it playing, California Girls, by Katy Perry!

            “I love this song! Since when do they play and music under here?”

            “Since ever?”

            “Yes!” I start dancing by myself, after a minute Zak joins me.

            “You know, you were the only one dancing by themselves.” He tells me.

            “I figured!” we dance to two more songs after this one.

            The ball is the best, everyone is letting loose and having fun. I guess I just love it because it’s the only party I’ve ever been to. That sound really pathetic.

            We’re worn out a beat, so we sit down at a table with our names on it.

            “W`hat are all the tables for? Didn’t everyone already eat?”

            “Yeah, there’s a toast tonight, they want everyone to be sitting!”

            “What’s the toast for?!” right as I finish the announcer comes over the speakers.

            “Please, everyone, have a seat. We have a few toast we’d like to make before this night of fun continues!

            Let’s start with our most obvious! Our very own Royal Family, for hosting this lovely ball in their lovely home!” Every member of the family stands and smiles. Everyone in the crowd takes a drink.

            “And this year!” the speaker continues, “we have a half mermaid in attendance! Everyone give a warm welcome, if you haven’t already met her, to Celia Jane Kendal!”

            Most of the crowd goes wild. Zak tells me to stand up. I feel myself shaking my head.

            Oh great! I’m going to throw up! I stand and everyone cheers.

            Unfortunately, I stand so I can get to the bathroom. And that is where I go, to the porcelain God.

            Once I’m in, I swim past all the women and throw up. It’s really nasty, but I have terrible stage fright.

            I can’t even think about the thousands of people in that