"Emily! Alison's here!"

"Coming, mom!" I yelled, rushing to put the last of my pancakes in the bin, and my plate in the sink, wiping my syrupy lips on the back of my hand.

"Hey, happy birthday for yesterday!" Ali grinned, extending a wrist with a gift bag dangling off of it.

"Thanks!" I grinned, taking the bag, careful not to tangle it in the various bracelets that adorned the blonde's wrists.

"Well, open it!" Ali exclaimed, getting impatient. I sighed to myself, before reaching into the bag, moving sheets of wrapping paper aside to reveal a pale green scarf. A knot formed in my stomach.

"Like your Mark." My mom frowned.

"Oh, really? I'd forgotten." Ali shrugged, brushing it off just like that. Ali leaned in and kissed me on the cheek, before taking my hand. "Ready for school?"

"Sure." I dropped the bag just inside the door, scarf in hand.

"Let me." Ali said, removing it from my hands and looping it around my neck. She looked towards my house, probably to see that my mother wasn't watching and then she kissed me on the lips. The knot faded. "Happy birthday." She muttered against my mouth. I didn't bother to correct her. She linked our arms, and I could see the mermaid Mark on her forearm. The red, silver and black colours of the tattoo stood out against her tanned skin, drawing attention to her arm, and to her in general. Just how she liked it. "We'll be late. Let's get going." Ali's grin was dazzlingly bright in the sunlight. She leaned into me and eased the keys out of my jean pocket. She walked ahead of me, unlocking the door and slid into the driver's seat.

"Hold up. You don't have a drivers license." I said, standing, arms folded, next to the door.

"Chill out, Em. We'll be fine." Ali smiled.

"Ali." I said, trying to be assertive.

"Emmy." She pouted, her eyes going wide and a little watery. Damn.

I sighed. "Fine. Let's go." I went around and climbed in the other side, losing my footing slightly and almost collapsing into the passenger seat.

"Having a little trouble on land, there, Mermaid?" Ali laughed. I grinned sheepishly, trying to laugh with her for once. I buckled myself in and sat back in the seat. Ali took that as her cue and floored it.

We glided through the streets, with the top down and the wind in our hair. Ali grabbed my left hand in her right. I always thought that driving in a convertible would feel like flying. It felt more like I was being hit in the face repeatedly by an invisible enemy. Ali let go of my hand to change gear. And I sat up in my seat, and raised my arms.

There's the feeling I was looking for.

"What are you doing?" Ali yelled over the wind, turning her head to look at me for a split second.

"Flying." I replied. I heard a siren. Crap. I turned. "Ali. Cop."

"Shit." She pulled over on the side of the road and pressed a button to pull up the hood. "Switch seats with me." I glanced back. The cop was just pulling over.

"No. I'll get a ticket." I scoffed.

"I'll make it up to you." She breathed, leaning forward. I had to make a concious effort not to look down her shirt. She kissed me.

My parents are gonna kill me. "Fine." Ali smiled and my heart fluttered. She clambered over me into my seat as I slid under her and into the driver's seat just in time for the cop to approach the window.

"Good morning, ladies. On the way to school?" The officer who's name badge read GARRETT asked.

"Yes, sir." Ali smiled. He smiled back.

"And are you aware of how fast you were going?"

"Sorry, sir. It's new. Emily literally got it yesterday. She's not used to things this big and fast." Ali replied, batting her eyelashes and leaning forward.

"And you are?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Well, do you have a license?" Garrett asked me. I nodded, holding it out to him. He took it and studied it. "Well, Miss Fields, I'm not going to write you up. Wouldn't want you or your charming friend here to get in trouble now, would we?"

"No, we wouldn't, officer." Ali agreed. She held eye contact with him for a few seconds then turned to me. "Well? Drive." Garrett began to walk away. I grinned. I finally got to drive my new car. My smile felt like it might split my whole face in half as I reached to turn the key in the ignition. "He's gone. Switch back." Ali whispered to me. My grin faded.

"But Ali..." I groaned.

"Please, Em. Just until we get to school." She pouted, kissing me. I sighed, handing her the key. "Fine. But drive slow this time." She smiled, giving me a peck on the lips. My brain turned to mush.

"Let's go."