I am doing something a little different for this chapter, because there is something that I want the reader to see/ read firsthand. There are two journal entries, then a scene, then two more.

August 24, 2012

Ferry boat, on the way to the lab

Well, just a few more days to the full moon. Half moon tonight. I wonder if Erin has ever gotten moon struck- she was obviously a mermaid at some point, even though she is not now. If she is, I would love to know how she stays human looking, even when she gets wet. The flu has hit our lab, obviously early compared to elsewhere. It will only be her and I in there today. I'm thinking of "accidentally" getting wet in front of her. It might cause her to talk about her experiences, at the very least. I'll deactivate any of the security cameras in the lab, of course. Or go somewhere where they can't get a good image of me. I'll also make sure to answer whatever her questions about me are- as truthfully as possible. She deserves that much, at least. I won't tell Lewis though- not till tonight, at least. Well, wish me luck!

August 24, 2012

Nice, new house on the Sound

The other day, I got an email from Nathan. He wants Lara to come up to Washington and join me for a few days in September. I looked at the moon calendar, and it's right at the time of the new moon. I don't think he's planning anything, though- he was asking me if he could borrow some money to buy Lara an engagement ring, and he wants me to claim that I miss Nevada and come back with her, and take pictures when he proposes after we get back. I told him I'd do one better than that- I'd take her engagement ring shopping and get one sized for her, claiming that it is "just looking", then go for a racing swim with her in which I mysteriously fall behind, and go back to buy the ring. I will then overnight express it to him.

Just a few more days to the full moon, then about fourteen more to the new moon. I'm thinking of telling Cleo today that I'm a mermaid- she obviously is just trying to find the best way to tell me the same news, maybe if I go first, she'll open up. I don't know if she'll believe me, though. I should probably start by talking about mermaids- I won't include anything that is not true, only the true things, such as that they can live on land until they touch water. I think she may be a saltwater mermaid- so I had better not shock her by telling her that I don't change in saltwater, unless I want to. And I should make out that my power is being able to keep water off my skin. I am working on doing so for other things- keeping a table dry, or maybe my gloves, then I'd work on trying to do so for others. I'm thinking that Cleo may be willing to help. Once she knows my secret, anyways. Wish me luck, dear diary! Cleo is obviously a mermaid, but she also obviously is trying to decide if I am one or not.

As Cleo got onto the elevator to the lab, she watched the parking lot out the glass siding. She saw Erin getting out of her car and grabbing a raincoat. Yes, she definitely used to be a mermaid. Now that she has stopped enjoying the rain, she has become completely sane and wears a raincoat, like a normal person. She will be so shocked when I show her.

Cleo will have no idea what I'm talking about, at first. Of that I'm certain. Her face is going to be priceless when I show her! I'm lucky that everyone in the lab is ill today- even Dr. Forza is sick today. No one will be coming in unannounced! Erin climbed out of her car. She noticed that it was about to rain, and then realized that she forgot to use her powers to make the rain into seawater. She quickly put on a coat that she kept around for emergencies, and then concentrated on staying dry as she walked over to the building. She got onto the elevator and dropped the shield after she closed the door and was on her way up to her floor, the second one. She practically ran to her lab, and came in just as Cleo was getting ready to show her. She knew what was about to happen, and thought to herself that it was not going to happen. Before she knew it, she had a shield like hers around Cleo's hands, which never received a single drop of water on them. Cleo looked shocked when she realized that even sticking her hands under the water would not make her turn into a mermaid.

"Beautiful day, isn't it?" Cleo spun around. "Although, personally, I would love a little less rain- it makes it harder for me to get to work, you see. I watched the most interesting documentary last night- it was on mythical creatures. Isn't that something interesting? There was only a few minutes on mermaids, but, as mermaids were my favorite mythical creature when I was younger- still are, as a matter of fact- I know an awful lot about them already. Like, that they usually have two legs and look completely human- until the moment they get wet, that is." By now Cleo was looking at Erin completely shocked. "Why not you sit down? You see, I have a reason for mermaids being my favorite mythical creature- other than being sun struck, it is the best thing to happen to someone, ever. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Yeah, I guess... I've never really thought about it like that..." Just agree with her, Cleo. C'mon, she doesn't even have her facts right. She doesn't know! She never was a mermaid- no mermaid that I know of gets sun struck.

"I thought you would. It's the best feeling in the world, swimming in water far longer than any mere human could. Although I am curious- are you freshwater or saltwater? I'm freshwater. My tail is pink. Do you want to see?"

"Uhh... Yeah, I guess." Ok, she has officially lost it. No one can become a mermaid in freshwater- I've never met one, and I'm somewhat of a mermaid magnet. Erin sat down on a stool that she had drug over to the sink, and placed her hands under the water. After ten seconds, she turned greenish and transparent, like Cleo had done so many times- Or have I? I turn blue, not green...- and then reappeared with a pink tail, just like she had said she would.

"Tah-dah! What do you think, Cleo?"

"Cool. Do you have any sorts of powers- you seem ok with water, and I've seen you get wet before."

"No, you have not seen me get wet- my power is to make it seem like I got wet, but I really keep the water about a tenth of a micrometer from my skin, or anything that attaches to my skin, such as hair. I did it to you when I came in- you see, you have much more to learn from this than me, as one of my professors was once a saltwater mermaid- a woman named Gracie Watsford. Apparently her family thinks she is dead, because of some miscommunication, as well as someone who could very well have been her stunt double dying. People thought it was her, as they both had the same name, and the other lady was quite obscure amongst the community."

"Wow... That is honestly a lot of information to take in. Does anyone else know, besides Gracie?"

"My sister and her boyfriend know, as does this old Native American woman. She was the one who warned me about getting sun struck."

"You trusted your sister and her boyfriend?"

"Yes- my sister has the same secret, and her boyfriend happened to find out the same day as us, as she was with him the second time she changed. Ever since then, the island that we changed on has been calling to him."

"What is this 'sun struck' business?"

"We became mermaids on the new moon, and ever since then, we have had the possibility of getting sun struck on a new moon, if we look at the sun, or even near it. I tend to make it rain or be overcast those days."

"Do you ever get moonstruck? It sounds like it is a lot like that, but on a full moon by looking at the full moon."

"No. Is that what saltwater mermaids have happen?"

"Yes. Can you protect me from this full moon? I fear that it will be a special full moon, seeing how it is a blue moon."

"Sure. You have to look at the moon to be affected, correct?"

"Yes. And can you make it cloudy all around the world- that may help many mermaids to not get moon struck?"

"Of course."

Cleo then fingered one of the scales on Erin's tail.

"Careful, I don't know about you, but when I get wet, I tend to become wet all over, even if it is just a drop on my fingertip."

"Oh... No... not good..." Cleo sat down half a second before she became a mermaid herself. Erin slid down from the chair and sat down next to her. "Wait, if you become wet all over, how do you get dry?"

"I sort of push the water out of my body- it's not as dangerous as it sounds, and then turn it into saltwater, which doesn't change me unless I wish it to do so. Or, I just turn it into saltwater to begin with, but that leaves me slightly dehydrated and dry the next time I change."

"Salt water has no effect on you? Is that why the rain became salty suddenly- I can feel it in my skin, it became more salty and less polluted."

"Correct." Then Erin turned the water on her into saltwater, saying that she was taking a bath that night anyways; she'd get nice and moist then. She reverted to her human form, and stood up. Cleo watched it all enviously.

"You are so lucky to be able to do that- all I can do is this." And she pulled out all of the excess water, that which her body did not need and was just sitting on the surface of her body, and became human as well. She casually tossed the ball of water into the sink and watched it swirl down the drain. It was Erin's turn to watch enviously.

The rest of the day passed quietly for the two mermaids. They each went about their daily business, although when Erin offered Cleo a chance to see her house, Cleo agreed, and was all the more excited when Erin mentioned that it was on a private saltwater beach.

The two women went over to Erin's house right after work, and sat and talked about life as mermaids. Cleo did not mention Rikki or Bella, although she did accidentally mention Emma when she was talking about when Emma tried to dye her hair, as Erin talked about a time where her sister needed her help to dye her hair, as she wanted to look different for a while. Problem was, Erin turned the water to saltwater, which reacted to the dye, making Lara's hair bright purple instead of brown. Lara never dyed her hair after that.

Both girls went for a swim around dusk. It was Erin's first extended amount of time in the water, and she found it to be quite exciting. Although she did not want a tail, she did retain her abilities as a mermaid- she could still swim just as quickly as Cleo, and held her breath for even longer, without even feeling like she was anywhere near the end of her oxygen supply. Both girls agreed that it was quite fun swimming around like that, but they had to get home. Cleo swam home- her house, ironically, was exactly parallel to Erin's house, across the Sound. They arranged for Cleo to meet Erin at her house when they were both awake that next morning, and they would talk more then.

However, Cleo had a surprise awaiting her when she arrived home, which she wrote about in her journal.

August 25, 2012

My writing desk

When I got home last night, Lewis was there waiting for me. He was in front of my house, and so it took a while for him to realize that I was home, as I went in the backdoor, not wanting any of my neighbors to look and see that my car was not in the driveway when I came up to my house. I turned on the living room light, which caused him to turn around and walk up my front steps. I quickly texted Erin that I was home, and that my boyfriend had just arrived to see me, as a surprise, then went and opened the door. Lewis grinned at me. I hugged him, then stepped aside so that he could come in. He was, thankfully, alone.

He asked me how I was. I replied that I was doing well, and that I had missed him. I did not mention Erin to him, because I did not think she'd appreciate it.

He got down on one knee as he said "Cleo, this is something that I have been wanting to ask you for a while now. I have gotten your father's permission, now all I need is your consent. Will you marry me?"

I gasped. And then began crying. I hugged him and yelled, "yes, yes, yes! I love you too!" I knew my neighbors would be coming soon to yell at me for making such a noise, but I was so happy. I would not be surprised if Erin heard me, as I am pretty sure that I saw a small glimpse of a pink tail, which is so light that it almost glows in the dark. Lewis looked at me, worried.

"Are you sure? You are crying! Are you ok?"

"Yeah- why wouldn't I be ok? I'm crying because I am so excited! You've finally asked me! I've been waiting and waiting for you to do so... I love you, Lewis. And I know I want to marry you." With those words, I kissed him.

I am so excited for our wedding- I will sneak over to Erin's, and we will video chat with the girls and plan the wedding together. The five of us. Lewis does not need to be a part of it, for today... Because it'll include the wedding dress planning today, of course! I'm so excited! Off to Erin's I go! With you, of course, dear diary! I do not want Lewis to find out about Erin...

August 25, 2012

The beach

When Cleo came over today, I did sort of expect the news she gave me- I had noticed a guy in her front yard earlier that evening, and so I stayed around to watch what he did to her. I did not tell her, because I thought he might know her, and that could make her upset. I think she may have seen me watching for her, but I am not sure. But I am sure that Lewis is now her fiancée. She was so excited when she came over here- and I'm excited for her.

But for one problem. I used to date- before I became a mermaid. Now I don't, because I don't think a guy would want to date a freak, once he found out, if they were not already together and in love. That's why it worked for Cleo- they both had been crushing on each other since forever, and so the mermaid thing didn't change how they felt. With Nathan and Lara, they were best friends before they were even a year old, and they have remained that way ever since. But I've had no one like that- except Michael, but it took us so long to finally get together, and it was so awkward that it could never have lasted, even though we both had feelings for each other. Now, our relationship would be even more awkward, yet I sort of hope that he'll somehow come back into my life. I don't care how- I don't even care if Lara makes Michael meet up with me "accidentally" at some point. I just want to see if I can make that relationship work enough for me to someday have the same excitement as Cleo, the same as Lara will soon have (less than a month; I'm so excited for her!).

I want someone to love me in a way that I can return my love to them.

And I would love for him to be smart, funny, nice, handsome, and, most importantly, understanding and caring. I think Michael fits all those requirements- he's tall, has dark hair, green eyes, maintained a 4.0 throughout high school, he has always cared about me, and how my life is going. I think he may be the one, although I was too shy to ask him out, and he took a while to ask me out, because he is so shy. But when we finally got to the non-awkward part of our relationship, it was the best thing ever. He was in love with me, and I was in love with him. I was glad that he had already left for college when I turned into a mermaid- I don't think I could have hid it from him that well, seeing as we would have seen each other that next day. He probably would have been in that classroom with me.

I wonder how he is doing, and if I will ever see him again. I hope so- he is probably the best guy for me, and if I never see him again, I will never know if we could have worked out. At least I can use my power to make me seem as though I am normal, if he does ever want to tell the world about me. I could make him look like a complete lunatic.

And yet I love him, and deep down, I know that if he never accepts me for who I am, I will never accept myself. That's probably part of the reason why I haven't had a relationship in the last few years. I'm scared of what I will find out about myself.

After Cleo introduced me to Emma, Rikki, and Bella, I decided that, as Cleo knows, they should know who I am as well. So I told them. They seemed surprised, and Emma kept on saying that I had it backwards. So I showed them, which made Emma stop, at the very least. I think I have a few new friends now that they know- I certainly know that they are not going to turn into my enemies. I told them that they'd never have to fear a full moon again, and, unless it was pouring buckets, a sudden rain shower that causes it to be impossible for them to get to work. I did add that I had to have some warning, such as "Oh, it looks like it's going to rain in such and such a place today. I wish it were dry..."

I'm so excited for Cleo- as we were talking, she kept on looking at the ring on her finger, as though it just seemed to be too much to take in all at once. I think I know the feeling. The first time I stayed dry, I was so shocked that it took me about ten minutes to "turn it off", as Lara put it.

I like how my life is right now- Cleo just introduced me to Lewis a few minutes ago. We had agreed beforehand that I would tell him that I am a mermaid later- once I've stopped seeming so strange to him. It will take some getting used to, having a guy back in my life. I just wish September would hurry up and come already- I want to see Lara.

Thank you for reading this! Please review it- I like reviews!- be it good or bad. I know that this is sort of the same as some of the other ones on here, but most of the ideas are my original ones, meaning that it should end up a little differently. I will get to Lara and Nathan in the next chapter, as well as Will and Bella. If you review, I may be slightly more inclined to put up the next chapter sooner, which I do almost have done, I just have to edit it.