OK! First real story. Let's do this! Haha and I am a complete amateur, so sorry about all grammar mistakes that will probably happen. Also, I would adore any and all feedback/reviews. Help me improve and write better stories in the future.

Disclaimer: this should be obvious considering I'm here, but I do NOT own the little mermaid or any of its characters. =]

"Another party. Another night of small talk I won't remember in the morning, or even want to for that matter."

I look up from my hands folded neatly on my lap and face the mirror. My black hair's messy and still in its permanent state of damp. My sky-blue eye's glazy and bored. My heart-shaped face that everyone says is "the spitting image of your mothers" staring back at me.

There's a knock on my door. "Here we go."

"You in there honey?" Goes the deep, familiar voice belonging to my father.

He slowly creeps open the door and walks in, relaxed and with a certain confidence he naturally just possesses.

Somehow he isn't calming like normal, maybe just annoying.

After stopping a moment, he says, "You look amazing, my sweet little birthday girl. Are you coming down to your party soon? You don't turn 16 every day!"

I look back to the mirror. My light blue corset dress hugging my body before floating out at the hip, my makeup thrown on last minute somehow working, and my favorite necklace I got from my grandfather when I was little sparkling in the light. Now if you just took away the crazy hair, bored expressions, and the overall look of dampness away, I would have maybe believed him. Maybe.

"Thanks dad, I'll be down in a moment."

"Oh don't rush her, now lets' fix that hair of yours" rings the gentle voice of my mother.

I turn around to see her standing in the doorway with that amused look of hers on her face. Her red hair pulled up into a bun and her favorite purple dress softly moving as she begins walking towards me.

"Oh, hey mom. And my hair's pretty hopeless, can't I leave it?"

She just giggles and starts brushing. "So, how's Troy?"

I turn completely red, like I usually do every time he's mentioned.

I've had a crush on Troy sense that amazing day when land and sea came together and we literally just swam into eachother. Having a relationship that's more than friends is impossible however. For the usual reasons, He's popular. I'm weird and the laughing stock of my aristocratic peers for good reason. Oh, and he happens to be a mermaid, which I clearly am not. Yeah, just the usual. But hey, a girl can dream. Right?

"Mooom! Haha"

"So he's doing well I take it?"

We both laugh. My mom isn't adored by everyone in the kingdom and beyond for nothing. She really can calm a person down and make you feel special.

"So Melody, ready to face some legged friends now?" She cheerfully asks while tucking the last strand into place.

That lady can do wonders with hair.

"Gee, can't wait." I say, annoyance creeping back.

I hate feeling like such an outcast here. When I'm in the water, I'm free.

I swim with the fishes, breath the fresh air, and visit with the merfolk like my grandfather, Triton himself, and, of course, Troy. We all met up in the garden cove that was dedicated to my grandmother located just down the beach from the castle.

But on land? I'm the freak that wishes she was a fish. The one no one ever sees and when they do she's always acting all jumpy. "Not fit for a future queen" is a common one around here.

So, as I walk down the grand staircase to the room of fake smiles and friends, I'm fighting the urge to turn and make a mad run for it.

"It IS my birthday after all. One night won't kill me."

I reach the bottom and Faro, the leader royal jerk himself, walks up and holds out his hand for a dance.

"You look amazing tonight, but who need to waste time talking on a night like tonight. Shall we dance?" He asks in his cocky, slow voice. His smile is too fake, but I can't be rude to a diplomat's prized sun.

I take his hand fighting every urge to slap it away, and we walk out to the dance floor. All eyes on us.

"Let the party begin…"

So, how do you think I did?

Remember to review! Please. hah