Chapter 1:

It was 5 in the morning and the sun hadn't come up yet. The day was just starting and the down hadn't broken down yet.

A young, 23-year-old girl was preparing to go swimming, as always. She loved swimming a bit more than the other people. That was because she wasn't just a normal girl. She was a mermaid. Every time she touched water she grew a beautiful golden tale. And that wasn't all. She also had a special power. She had the ability to boil things, control fire, and make lightening.

Despite that however, she was an ordinary and a really beautiful girl. Curls softer than silk fell heavily on her shoulders; eyes as blue and beautiful as the ocean waters were sparkling on her face; her lips were with cherry color and her soft skin was white like milk, making her look like an angelic creature. Her name was Rikki Chadwick.

This morning, like every other morning, she got out of her trailer just before the sun was about to rise, and went down to the beach ready to dive in and swim through the ocean. She loved go out swimming at the down because it was then when the ocean was most beautiful and was revealing the most of his magic. What's more Rikki really liked the darkness ever since she was a little child (which was a bit awkward considering the fact little kids are usually terrified by the dark) and she felt strangely safe and at home when it was dark outside.

Walking towards the beach she realized she wasn't alone and there was someone else.

He was sitting on the sand, a little further than the place she was standing at, and was looking somewhere beyond the waves. Her eyes travelled all over him. He had black fedora on, but under it short black curls were falling down softly, and he also had dark brown eyes and a chocolate-color skin. He was and that was exactly what she thought: handsome. But at the same time he looked a bit sad and distant, and she couldn't help but wonder why.

She walked over to him and hearing her quiet steps he stood up turning to look at her direction. For a moment a trace of fear ran through his face. He thought it was still early and nobody would come to this far secluded beach but it seemed he was wrong.

"Hi, there." She told him studying his face and not sure what else to say.

"Hello." He answered her a bit nervously thinking over the possibility of her being a groupie or even worse – a reporter and what he could do to escape if it was needed.

"What are you doing here so early?"

"What are you doing here so early?" They both asked at the same time.

He let out a small laugh and Rikki couldn't help but laugh too. She found herself amazed by his soft laughter and beautiful smile.

"My name's Rikki." She stretched out her hand to him.

"I'm…" But he hesitated. Did she really not know who he was?! He didn't want to blow the possibility, and besides he didn't want to chance her reaction if she found out who he really was, so he quickly made up a name. "I'm Patrick." He told her and took her hand shaking it. He still was a bit scared, but something in her was making him calm down and he couldn't put his finger on it. "So…what is a girl like you doing in a distant beach like that so early in the morning?"

"I come here every morning at the same time." She hesitated a little, but she added "For a morning walk and then eventually a swim." She didn't want to mention the water, but realizing it would be more suspicious otherwise, she had to add about the swim too, giving him a soft smile.

He smiled back. Something in this girl made him feel strangely calm and careless and happy, all at the same time. Something he hadn't felt for a very long time and that he had truly missed.

"And you?" She said playfully and at the same time just a matter-of-factly.

"I came here because I wanted to be alone for a while." He said.

"Alone?" She looked at him curiously.

"Yes. Believe it or not I like being alone sometimes." And he looked back at her with the same curiosity as hers.

The morning breeze was playing with her blond curls and her blue eyes were shining like the stars on her alabaster skin. "She is so beautiful", he thought and grinned slightly. Rikki was looking back at him with a small smile too.

"So do I." She said. She longed for her morning swim, but she couldn't let him see her. She noticed there was a big rock separating the beach and hiding the other part out of the human eye. "Well, I have to go now. It was nice meeting you." And she turned to walk away.

He hesitated for a moment. "Will I see you again?"

"Do you have your phone with you?" She asked him playfully.

"Yeah, I do. Why?"

"You'll see. Give it to me for a second."

He gave her his phone. It was a grey blackberry. She took it, dialed a number and gave it back to him.

"That's my number I dialed. That way you'll have my number and I'll have yours." She said playfully giving him a shining smile. "I really have to go now."

And with that she said "bye" and left him alone at the beach walking behind the cliff and jumping into the cold, fresh water.

He left the beach too, thinking about her. That beautiful stranger made him feel something new. Something he hadn't felt before. He felt so joyful in that few moments with her and he liked that very much. The sun had started to rise, so he quickened his pace. All the way back home he was thinking about Rikki. When he finally arrived at his house, he found out he had a visitor.

"Frank?! What are you doing here so early?" He said with a smile.

"I wanted to talk to you about some details for the tour."

"Oh, yes, the tour." After meeting Rikki he had completely forgotten about everything, including his work which was really odd, because he always put his work over everything else.

They were discussing the details for almost two hours when Frank noticed that for first time ever in his life Michael barely heard a world.

"Mike? Are you listening to me?" He asked and snapped with fingers in front of MJ's face.

"What?" He said and he looked at him. "Yes, yes, I'm listening."

"Doesn't look like it to me." Frank said and stared at him with curiosity. It wasn't like Michael at all to not pay attention at a conversation about his work.

"I'm sorry." Michael said. "I was just thinking."

"May I ask what were you thinking about?"

"Just…something." He answered quickly.

"Or someone." Frank said. If anything he wasn't stupid and easily sensed what was going on. Seeing MJ blush because of his comment, he started laughing. "Come on, spill."

"Frank, this is private and I'm not going to talk about it! Now what were you saying about the tickets again?!"

"Don't change the subject Michael. Come on, tell me what is going on with you."

Michael sighed. "It's none of your business but ok. I…met…someone."

"What? Really? A girl?"

MJ blushed. "Yes."

Frank smiled.

"When did you meet her?"

"This morning."

"What? This morning? But it's only 6 am?!"

"I know that. I met her on secluded beach where I went for a walk."

"What's her name?"

Michel smiled.

"Rikki."

"And?"

"And what?"

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

Frank looked the slightest bit of disappointed.

"Nothing?!"

"Well…she gave me her phone number."

"Wow. Maybe you should give her a call."

Michael suddenly became anxious.

"You think?"

"Definitely. Unless you think she's after your money."

"No, she's not."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because she didn't know who I am and I lied her about my name."

"You what?! Why did you do that?"

"I don't know really. I guess I didn't want to blow the opportunity and I wanted her to get to know the normal person I am, not the personality."

"Mike, I'm sorry for the question, but do you like that girl?"

Michael's cheeks went red. Frank smiled to him.

"I think it's better for me to leave now, I have to go."

"Ok, then. I'll see you later today in the studio."

"Yeah, definitely. See you later!"

Frank left and Michael went deep in his thoughts about Rikki again.

It was a shock for him to realize how much he actually wanted to see her again. He knew it was dangerous. He knew what would happen if she found out who he was. But for the first time in his entire life it seemed he didn't really care. He took out his phone and glared at the screen. It always amazed him how confident he felt on stage dancing in front of billions of people and how shy he was off stage. After about half an hour and a lot of hesitation he finally brought himself to dialing her number, anxious to hear her voice again.

"Hello?" He heard her answer.

"Hello, Rikki, it's me, Patrick."

"Patrick, I didn't expect you to call so soon?!"

"Well, I guess I just wanted to say "Hi" and to ask you if you'd like to meet me at the beach tonight at midnight."

"Sure, sounds good. I'll be there."

"Really?! That's great. Um, I'll see you there then."

"Yeah, definitely. I've got to go. Bye for now."

"Bye." And he hung up.

His lips twinkled forming a small smile and he started walking nervously back and forth, then went out to go to his giving tree. He found himself unusually excited about tonight. He really wanted to see Rikki again. The sooner the better.