Atlantis. The colorful world my tyrant-like father forbids me to enter. Of course, a forbidden world is a tempting one. Every time he forbids me to go to Atlantis, I feel the currents pulling me toward it even more.

Right now, I'm hanging out with my best friend, Percy. He's staring at me through his deep-brown eyes intensely. I return his gaze, directing my bright blue eyes to look straight into his. He keeps staring, neither one of us blinking. Finally, I laugh nervously, pushing a strand of my wet, brown hair to the side.

I'm in the pool at my house, crossing my arms above the water, on the cement, and Percy is sitting at the glass patio table with black, iron and wicker (strange combination, I know) chairs.

"Why are you staring at me, Puppy?" I say, using my nickname for him.

Percy and I grew up together, and we'd always been a little…weird, to put it mildly. Instead of hanging out at the ice cream shop downtown, we'd climb the steep hill behind my house – his was across the street – and invent crazy snacks. Our favorite was always pickles and peanut butter.

On the day I came up with this nickname for him, Percy had been trying to get me to try cotton candy dipped in hot sauce and sprinkled with cheddar cheese shreds. I'd scrunched up my face, refusing even to touch it. Percy, ever determined to get my to try his new creation, had widened his eyes, pouted his lips, and tilted his head to the side. After trying not to let his chocolate eyes get to me, I'd finally caved.

"You look like a puppy!" I snapped, grabbing the cotton candy from his hand and taking a bite with a huff.

It was gross, just like I knew it would be. But Percy had a way of getting me to do things I wouldn't normally do. His puppy-dog-look was just one of many tactics he used against me.

Now, Percy blinked and leaned back, laughing. He stretched his arms above his head before settling back in his chair and returning his gaze to me.

"No reason, Annabeth. I just like staring at you."

I give him a look, "Oh, really?"

He looks up like he's thinking before intertwining his fingers behind his head and leaning back in a relaxed pose.

He shrugs, "Yep."

"So," I say, raising an eyebrow, "I don't have food on my face or something stuck to my tail?"

Percy sits up straight, resting his hands on the table. I don't know, twirl around and let me see."

I roll my eyes at him. "I'm not giving you a show."

Percy pouts, slumping back in his chair. I smirk before diving underwater and skimming the bottom of the pool, heading straight for the deep end. Flipping over so I can face the surface, I see Percy stand and watch me, crouching by the side of the pool. When I found out I had a tail, Percy had been the first to know.

"Percy! Silence. "Percy!" I yelled. I heard footsteps running towards me. I was in the pond near our willow tree that we always sat under whenever we wanted to hang out and talk, play games, or try crazy food concoctions. Planning on going for a swim by myself, I'd dove straight in and risen to the surface only to discover a shimmering navy-blue tail replacing my legs.

"Woah."

Percy had reached the side of the pond and could see my tail through the crystal-clear water. He backed up a few steps, his eyes never leaving my tail. I stared after him, my mouth open even though I couldn't force out any words. All I knew was that I didn't want him to leave. Percy stopped, slowly lowering himself to a sitting position on the soft, green grass.

"Dude," he started, turning things over in his mind, "you have a tail!"

"No, really?" I spat sarcastically.

Percy looked at me, his blue eyes piercing through his dark-brown, shaggy hair. I expected his expression to be defensive - after all, I'd just snapped at him – but he just gave me a small smile. I smiled back guiltily, sorry for snapping at him.

Percy had helped me out of the pond, pulling me onto the grass. As soon as my tail touched the dry ground, my legs returned in a blur of dim, blue light. Percy and I had both looked at each other and made a vow to never tell anyone about this – about me.

I'd eventually told my father, who revealed to me that he was a mermaid – well, merman in his case – too. I was hurt that he never told me, that he just let me find out on my own. What if I'd been by a bunch of people when my body finally decided it could change? I don't even want to think about what would've happened.

My father worked with me after school from that day forward, training me to resist the urge to transform when I was in water. Now, I can swim without my legs being traded for a tail. Also, I've developed the ability to control small amounts of water. Percy has always been there for me, but I know he's always wanted a tail of his own. He jokes about it a lot.

I splash through the surface, doing a flip in mid-air before diving down again and coming up to rest my arms on the side of the pool. Percy smiles down at me.

"And you said you wouldn't give me a show…show off." He teases.

I stick my tongue out at him and grin. Percy extends his hand and I take it, letting him help me out of the pool even though I could just switch to my legs and climb out. Percy loves to tease me, tickle me, and even humiliate me sometimes, but when it comes down to it, he's a gentleman, a cocky one, but still.

I watch my tail disappear and admire the dim, blue light. Percy watches too, and we smile at each other. It only lasts for a second, but the light is still mesmerizing. Standing up, I brush my self off and suggest we head in for snacks.

"Pickles and peanut butter?" Percy asks hopefully.

I smile, "What else?"