Chapter 1: Metamorphosis
Two friends, Rachel Chadwick and Charlotte Watsford live in a trailer park in Astoria, Oregon. They're both 16-year-old street-smart girls. Charlotte's parents have died in a car crash and she lives with her grandmother, Gracie. She has been bullied in school by other girls when she was growing up while Rachel stuck up for her. She owns her late father's motorcycle and has had an unrequited love for Lewis McCartney since she and him were 8 years old. Rachel lives with her father Terry after a bitter divorce from her mother Samantha.
After going swimming in the ocean, Charlotte read to Lewis the poems she wrote for him. "That's really touching... I like you too," said Lewis. "I've been wanting to ask you something... Do you want to go out and have dinner at my house tonight?", asked Charlotte. "I, uh. I'm sorry, but I've already promised my parents that I would go to Disney World with them," said Lewis. "Maybe later then?", asked Charlotte. "Yeah, sure. I'm sure you'll find someone who'll-I mean, well-" "Hey, it's fine. I understand. It's no big deal. It's good to keep promises," Charlotte interrupted. "Do you want to-," Lewis started. "Actually, I just remembered my science project is due. I better hurry home," Charlotte interrupted again and walked off. Rachel said to Lewis, "Nice going. You know she's had a crush on you since third grade and I think you two have a lot in common, not to mention both of you have motorcycles." "No, I don't think we do and besides, I'm not attracted to her," said Lewis.
The next day Lewis and Charlotte drove on their motorcycles after Charlotte picked some fruit using her pocket knife to meet two other girls in town, Chloe Sertori and Emily Gilbert. As Lewis introduced them to Charlotte, she got disturbed by the sight of them. "Aren't you happy to meet them?" asked Lewis. "I don't know. Just because they know how to shake, that doesn't mean anything," remarked Charlotte. "We don't mean any harm," said Emily. Charlotte then turned to Lewis and said "I don't like either one of them," then turned to Emily. "Her in particular." Emily then pulled her to the side and assured her that she isn't trying to get in her way on anything. Later on, her and Chloe met Rachel as well. They heard about a place called Okam Island, about a mile and a half into the ocean from Astoria. They went there and decided to relax in the moon pool on a full moon. The four girls became mermaids and Lewis became a merman. The next morning all of them discovered what they turned into and that they had separate powers with the exception of Rachel and Charlotte: Chloe can manipulate water, Emily can freeze things, Rachel and Charlotte can heat things up, and Lewis can turn water into gelatine and a crystalline substance. It was from that point onward that their adventures had begun.