AN: This story is based on what I hyposthesised: Mrs. Chatham mentioned that the gift of being a mermaid becomes too much and she was forced to give it all up. So the gift can become a curse to where it disrupts the human lives of the girls. If I say anymore it would give away half of the plot line but you'd probably figure it out.

Mysteries of Makko

Chapter 1,

Melanie McCartney always thought she had the rottenest luck. Or the universe loved messing with her. Her luck always seemed to turn sour the second things started looking up. She was almost an agonizing thirty minutes away from meeting up with Ava at Rikki's to celebrate the end of the summer and the beginning their freshmen year at high school.

The thought of the end of summer left a hollow feeling in her gut. For some reason Melanie thought that this summer would be different, some change or life altering event would happen leading up to some unseen future. Every day she felt a sort of passive waiting for a sign, a life altering declaration that would happen. So far for the past two and a half months it's been sadly ordinary. Which isn't realistic, this wasn't a movie where that some life changing event happens and a huge adventure follows in its wake. But it was a nice thought. It definitely left a bounce in her step. The waiting feeling turned into tense mas of anxiety which was starting to eat her from the inside out.

However though the freedom of summer ending, it meant the first steps to high school. A new chapter a page turns away in her life that Ava's been counting off the hours for since the second grade. Honestly it scared Melanie. She despite her curiosity the idea scared her; high school was ruthless full of vicious air headed girls that made bull sharks flee in terror and boys with snark comments about anything and a hundred other cruel and embarrassing unknown variables. Plus she had only two friends friend: Ava and Ronnie.

Ava had been her friend since the first day of the sixth grade. Melanie had a goal that day of making it through without being noticed, she hated attention. Quickly she scurried to the back of the class and opened her books. She had coincidently looked up at just the right time and locked gazes with the blond haired preteen that walked in with the masses. They've been friends ever since, each other's only friend. Melanie secretly feared that one day, perhaps in high school, that she would one day grow tired of her and move on leaving Melanie utterly alone. Though she knew that Ava would never do that but one fact remained: Melanie was her only friend by choice.

Melanie groaned letting her shoulders slump bringing her thoughts a full three-sixty back to her bad luck. It was almost ten past ten, Ava told her ten sharp. Ava hated being late with a fiery passion and she was totally going to skin her alive. Melanie could hear it now, "Today is the official last week end of summer and you were late? It's a crime against nature! You should be ashamed of yourself."

The dark haired girl grimaced; maybe she should pick up a chocolate bar as a peace offering. The way things were going she might as well pick up a whole box.

"Hey dad? How many more boxes?" the young girl asked with a smile on her face and a hand on her hip.

A mop of dull blond hair popped into view, her dad gave her a blank stare. "Oh? Oh! There should be one last box up at the car sweetheart. Oh and be careful its heavy."

Okay maybe not that long.

"'kay dad, I'll be back in a sec." Melanie turned and jogged at an easy pace up the docks and up the ramp. She could hear her dad's voice in the back of her mind lecturing her never to run on the docks.

Reaching her dad's embarrassing faded baby blue land rover, Melanie checked to see if anyone was looking. Melanie never understood why her dad loved this car so much. It was a clunker and was barely holding together with duct tape. He even named it Pluto, which was weird even for her dad. Melanie quickly snatched the last box with a huff. Her dad wasn't kidding about it being heavy.

While her arms took the strain, Melanie shuffled along down the ramp. Boats stationed around her bobbed in the water with the never ending soundtrack of the gentle waves lapping against their hauls. Seagulls cried overhead in clear blue skies and Melanie could faintly hear the gruff voices talking from somewhere. It was peaceful in a way, boring but peaceful. Not a place that Melanie would want to spend the rest of her day but worth acknowledging.

Melanie shifted the load so that she could twist her wrist towards her flashing her waterproof watch. It was a thirteenth birthday present which was ironic because Melanie never took it in the water before. The face showed that if she hurried that she may make it to Rikki's by 10:30 or 10:40. Picking up her pace she navigated her way back to her father's boat the Cleopatra. It was then when fate struck.

There was a splash off to Melanie's left, not loud enough to concern her but enough to catch her attention. Then there was that feeling of falling when your heart stops as your stomach ascends into your throat. The heavy cardboard box disappeared from her hands and reappeared crashing on to the path of the docks spilling its contents. Melanie's heart was pounding, her head racing and her ears were buzzing. A passing pedestrian jumped back, stumbling as he landed and cried out. The frantic girl mumble an apology which may have sound as incoherent sting of wordless sounds, all she could think, pray, "please don't be broken, please don't be broken, please, please, please…"

Melanie scrambled to put back her father's instruments, scanning each one over for any noticeable damage. When her hand grazed over something warm and soft did she realize that she wasn't alone. Frozen like a deer caught in head lights she trailed the hand up and arm and finally a face.

Crouched next to her was the most handsome boy on the gold coast, Josh Gilberts. He had dark brown locks that obscured his deep blue eyes that reflected the sea. His clear skin was exposed by a grey t-shirt revealing lean muscles and wore teal blue and white swim shorts and black flip-flops. It was his casual beach day wear; Melanie had seen him wear it plenty of times at the shore over the last few summers she had been there. He brushed away his bangs with the back of his hand and flashed her his signature smile, Melanie suddenly felt light headed. In attempts to stable herself she involuntary gripped his hand that hadn't moved since she realized who she bumped into.

Her ears felt hot and familiar warmth creeping up her neck. At any dreaded moment Melanie's light tan face was going to darken into a deep ruby red. Right now, Melanie wanted to excuse herself so she could find a nice deep ditch to crawl in and die. That is if she could speak.

"….sorry again." The hair haired boy smiled causing Melanie's heart to stop.

"W-what?" someone should just shoot her now. It would be a lot more dignified than dying from embarrassment. "Um, sorry what?"

His vibrant smile faltered a bit as it was overshadowed by a concerned look on his face, "maybe I bumped into you harder than I thought."

"No, no…I'm fine, really." She assured him as he helped her up. Her knee throbbed dully probably skinned but Melanie didn't want to say anything.

"Well as I was saying, I'm sorry I should've been paying attention. I guess that's what you get when you horse-around on the docks huh?" He gave her a genuine look of regret. "Are you sure."

"Uh ha," Melanie nodded vigorously smiling like an idiot. "Ya, it's not me I should be worried about…" Melanie's hazel eyes widen into saucers, "My dad's stuff! If anything is damaged he is going to kill me then gut me like a fish."

"That's only if right?" Josh then got back to his knees and started to carefully place the instruments in the box. "Is this all of them?"

Melanie shrugged, "I-I, um, maybe? I'm not sure." She looked back at the glistening water, "I don't know whether any of it fell in the water."

Josh glanced at the water and then at Melanie. He then kicked off his flip-flops and took off his shirt and handed it to Melanie saying: "I'll be back in a sec."

"W-wait? What are you doing?" she called out but it was too late. He disappeared under the surf in a splash spraying Melanie with salt water. She stood in shock, her hair somewhat dripping and her T-shirt uncomfortably wet, Melanie cried out his name. She could make out a dark figure in the water. He did not just do that. He did not just do that for her. She was a total and complete stranger to him, Melanie saw him at the beach, in school, and even at Rikki's. But Melanie was pretty sure that he never saw her. She typically had that effect on people, always a face in a crowd. And even if he did Melanie wasn't worth the memory space, she was just a plain-Jane girl trying her best to get through the day.

When Josh came back to the surface sputtering she let out a sigh of relief and crouched so they were more or less eye level. He pulled himself on the dock with one arm but didn't make any further attempts to climb back on. In one hand was a black rod a foot in length with a small black box sitting on the top. Her father's equipment.

"I think I saw two or three more down here," Josh handed her the underwater camera, her hand brushed against his shocking her in the process. At the sight of Melanie jerking her hand back he smiled sheepishly, "Sorry."

Then he was gone again, once more looking for the missing instruments. Melanie gripped her heart in attempt to calm her heart down. Josh was being a nice guy, nothing more, she tried to reason. Shaking her head she distracted herself by putting the black rods back in the box but that only lasted for a second. Ava wasn't going to believe her.

There a wooden clunking sound, Melanie turned around to see Josh set three of her father's tools before hauling himself up onto the dock. Ignoring the muscles that flexed Melanie scurried to her feet to help him. He thanked her under his breath. His legs dangled over the side, water drizzled down the curve of his lean muscles. Josh made a valid attempt running a hand through his damp and now black hair, pushing it away from his face but flopped back in his face. As usual he looked stunning.

Blood pounding in her ears Melanie barked, "Sorry!" making him jump then chuckle. "I-I mean, sorry you got wet and all."

"Don't worry about it and by the looks of it I got you to." Josh smiled, his eyes sparkling and Melanie felt her knee getting week.

They lapsed into an impregnated awkward silence. Melanie nervously played with her hand not knowing whether she should leave or not. Josh didn't seem to care as he just sat there staring at the water with a smile like remembering a found memory. Melanie glanced at Josh then at her feet then back at Josh. Nervous butterflies exploded in her stomach and found she lost the ability to speak. Again. Now she knew that there was some higher power that just loved to mess with her life. She was a foot away from the crush of her life and she could not find anything to say while standing there like a moron. Melanie felt her legs tense as she fought the urge to flee.

"You look familiar," Josh's voice startled her. Her head snapped towards his face which had a friendly smile. "You went to my school right?"

Melanie nodded, "Ya, that's right."

"Weren't you in choir or something?"

Melanie stared at him gapping, "Y-you know? I mean, you know?"

"Well I think I saw you once, you were on the top row off to the right of the stage."

"Ya," Melanie confirmed her heart fluttering. He knew her.

"Melanie right?" she nodded, "I'm Josh."

"I know. I mean, well, um, I-I know." Melanie mentally smacked herself. Just shut up already and get out of there, she scolded herself. "I should go. My dad's expecting me," she told him before briskly half walking and half running back to the safety of her father's boat.

"Then you should take that box that's been giving you so much grief."

"Right," she sighed reluctantly turning around to face him again and make an even bigger fool of herself. "Thanks," then added, "I'll see you around."

Which was true. Melanie would see him but she'd make sure that he'd never see her again, even if that meant ducking into a dumpster to evade him. She spent enough time embarrassing herself in front of him for a life time. Some things were better off from a far.

Melanie wasn't even ten feet away from him when he called out, "Melanie-wait up!"

"Yes?" Why couldn't the universe leave her be? Turning with a big smile she watched him jog up the way with a steady easy pace. Why did it have to be him?

"I've got two questions. One can I get my shirt back?"

Josh chuckled at the light tan skinned girls face; she blinked rapidly mumbling a string of words that he didn't catch all of it but "sorry". Starring at Melanie, Josh wondered if she was always like this.

"Um, what was the second thing you wanted to ask me?" Melanie's voice cut through his thoughts.

"Oh right, I wanted to ask you if you were doing anything later."

Melanie froze her eyes huge and she whispered, "Me?"

"Ya, a friend of mine is throwing a party on his dad's boat later tonight." Josh rubbed his neck smiling sheepishly. "I wanted to invite you 'cause I feel a bit guilty about what happened…"

The universe was finally making sense and the little flittering hope that was bubbling in her chest died. "No, it's okay. I've got plans with friends, anyways it was an accident. You don't have to do that."

"No I want you to come, bring your friends. More the merrier."

"I don't know…" Melanie couldn't believe that she was actually thinking about it. "Where would we be going?"

"Just up and down the coast," Josh smile seemed brighter. "Six a' clock, the Sea Queen. Hope to see you there." Then he left leaving Melanie in a state of shock.

"No way!" Ava screamed excitedly making Ronnie cringe as she sipped her mango smoothie.

"Shhh! It's not that big of a deal." Melanie urged her friend as she stirred her own smoothie with the straw.

After the conversation between her and Josh occurred Melanie walked back to the Cleopatra in a daze that freaked her dad out. When he saw her he jumped out of the boat and grabbed the load she was carrying and asked if she was alright while checking whether she was okay or not. Robotically she replied still trying to process what happened. When she finally snapped out of it she convinced her dad that the sun was getting to her. Melanie knew that he didn't believe her a single bit but they had trust system. Her dad knew that when she was ready she would tell him. He smiled and turned his attention back to the floating laboratory picking up his discarded check list. But behind his smiling façade Melanie caught a glimpse of alarm that lingered in his blue eyes.

He then dug in his wallet and bulled out a couple bills, "Go have fun with your friends. You got your key on you right?"

"Always," she assured her father reluctantly took the money and left. Melanie glanced over her shoulder and saw her father's back turned towards her. His hand nervously placed on the Cleopatra with a look on his face that reminded Melanie of constipation. It was a look she knew well enough, he wore it as she grew up since childhood. A look that escorted paranoid tendencies, he'd freak out over the smallest things like puddles and be really weird about once a month. Over the years it dissipated but seeing it on his face again made Melanie nervous.

"…yo, Mel you in there?" Ronnie asked one eye brow rose.

"What?" Ronnie laughed at Melanie's blank face while Ava huffed and rolled her eyes.

"I was saying, no big deal? Are you nuts? You were invited to the party of the summer by Josh Gilberts and it's no big deal?" Ava done (for the moment) sat back in booth shaking her head. "There is something wrong with you."

"Weren't you paying attention to anything I said? I made a complete buffoon of myself in front of one of the most popular guys that we know." Melanie hid her face in her arms. "I'm such an idiot."

"You maybe an idiot, but Josh was the guy who asked out the idiot." Ronnie pointed out.

Ava glared at Ronnie who shrugged, "Ronnie's right, Josh asked you out. You should be ecstatic."

"Josh didn't ask me out," Melanie muttered into the table sounding like "'osh idn't ass ee ow." Hazel eyes peeked out behind her arm, "And even if he did, it's a pity date. I'd rather stay home."

"Well if you don't want him. I'll have him-ow!" Ronnie turned to Ava with a sour face, "What did I do?"

"Not helping," Ava growled through her teeth.

"It was a joke. I thought you had a little more faith in me?"

"Even if I did, it was certainly misplaced."

Melanie muttered weakly, "Guys…"

"Wow, way to make the new kid feel real welcome."

"Welcome? I thought I was driving you away."

Ronnie leaned forward resting her elbows on the table top, "Then I guess you haven't been dropping enough hints."

"..guys…"

Ava gripped the table till her hands were white, "and maybe you were just too dull to notice them."

"Guys!" two pairs of eyes landed on Melanie, "Enough. I'm fine really. All I want to do is spend the rest of the summer with you guys. Can you drop the subject now?"

There was a chorus of "okay" and "fine". Melanie let her head fall back into her arms trying to forget Josh's breath taking smile or those kind eyes…Melanie groaned. This was going to be harder than she thought.

Melanie closed her eyes and focused on the sounds around her. The café was buzzing. Dishware clinked, conversations hummed, radio music drifted from the stereos hidden in the corners of the room, shoes squeaked as bus-boys and waitresses commuted in-between tables delivering and taking orders. It would be a few more years before Melanie could get a job here or anywhere. Peering through the cracks of her arm she saw three moderately good looking boys hitting on a few pretty faces in the far corner. Melanie wondered if anyone would take interest in her like that. Her mind drifted back to Josh smiling up at her. No, he most certainly did not think of her like that.

"So…" Ava piped searching for a new topic. "Are you going to the party?"

"Didn't Mel just say to drop the topic?"

"I was just curious; this might be what we've been waiting for."

"What do you mean?" Melanie looked up, her chin resting on her hands.

"Well, this is the chance of a life time. Any ways it'd be a good experience. Who knows this could change our lives."

"I thought you didn't care about the status quote," Ronnie asked.

"I don't," Ava shook her head. "Where did you come up with that?"

Ronnie rolled her murky brown eyes, "It doesn't take a genius to know that Josh hangs with the "in" crowd."

"That's not what I meant."

"Then you might want to be more specific oh-gorgeous-one."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"So this hasn't anything to do with the fact the whole boat would be filled with pop-" Ronnie was interrupted by Melanie who silent the whole conversation, spoke up before another fight broke out, "Ava please continue."

Ava shot Ronnie a dirty look before continuing (Ronnie retaliated by sticking her tongue out at her), "As I was saying, that I just have this feeling about this party. I think it's a good one."

"…maybe your right." The dark haired teenager considered.

"Oh come on!" Ronnie exclaimed scarring Melanie at the same time gaining the attention of surrounding customers who shot Ronnie a dirty look.

"Want to scream that any louder?" Ava asked sarcastically.

Ronnie ignored her, "I mean seriously, you're going to a party full of popular on the whim of a feeling?" Ronnie looked at Ava, "What are you physic?"

"This could be good for you too Ronnie."

"Meaning?" the agitation clear in her voice as bells which clashed with her passive body language.

"Ronnie whether you want more friends or not, it's good to meet new people. You're new here so you're at a disadvantage."

"That's rich coming from the girl who only wants two friends."

"Actually I only wanted one friend but two I can tolerate." Ava corrected. "So what do you say?"