So here's the next chap! Sorry if it's a tad short but I think the story's progressing pretty well compared to AYW/OR. I'll keep you guys updated! :D Please review. I need 3 to post the next chapter!

Chapter 2: Queen of the Merfolk

Tryouts, as it turned out, weren't so horrendous.

Our school's team was one of the best in the nation so that's why it was hard for me to eat in the past couple of days. Partly because I thought if I ate anything, I thought I would gain weight so I would sink once I got into the water…And partly because I was just naturally nervous. I had to convince Leesh and Kris that it was truly from the nerves. My insecurity with my weight had obviously gone too far for them to think that I would become like Layne and her cohorts.

A lot of people were impressed by my speed. I didn't even realize I had speed. While running wasn't my forte, I knew I was always a lot faster with swimming. I'd occasionally time my laps but since not many people were at the gym when I was (and swam in the dark when everyone was still asleep), I just focused on being at one with the water. I enjoyed being in it. It was inexplicable to describe the pleasure I felt when I dived in.

My mom certified me Mermaid Girl when she'd started her workout an hour after I'd been in the pool one day.

Olivia Ryan, editor of the school newspaper, gushed that my butterfly stroke was flawless. She was also a member of the team for 2 years now. The captain of the boys' team, Josh Hotz, royal pain in the ass yet certified major hottie, told me that I could break the county qualifying time, which was very difficult to do, considering the competitive atmosphere that lurked within every square inch of campus. Josh seemed like a really different person here, too. He seemed dedicated and serious…almost likable.

While I surprisingly got praise, the rejection was to be expected. Coral McAdams, actually known as Strawberry for her pink hair, shot me a glare when I beat her in a mock relay. Becca Wilder teased Strawberry for not having proper sportsmanship and challenged me after. She seemed like a nice enough girl but when I beat her as well, she became Strawberry's second-in-command in the bitch department of the swim team.

It was rumored that they were the top 2 contenders for captain of the girls' team. I wouldn't know what I'd do if I'd have had to follow their rules and take their so-called encouragement, not to call them death-threats.

That's if I even made the team, which I felt a little more confident about. I'd allowed myself to have a little faith.

The atmosphere was intense. Everyone was determined to do their best and it made me not completely regret having come here. This wasn't a joke, I realized. Claire had the most passionate look on her face as she watched her teammates practice. It still struck me when she said to me in the locker room:

"Dylan, I know that we aren't the best of friends but I'm not the standoffish, aloof bimbo that everyone thinks I am. I do have a heart."

I had misjudged her. Claire seemed pretty cool. She was encouraging and positive. She had all the qualities of being team captain and more.

Shockingly, she was stepping down from her position as captain because she'd just gotten approval from Principal Wells that she can start the school's official archery team. She left the whole team appalled and concerned if they would make regionals without her.

She laughed. "You're all ridiculous if the team's success has been riding just on me." She looked endearingly at a lot of her team members and friends. "I'm still on this team. I'm team manager. I won't be competing unless I have to take someone's place. But Principal Wells finally caved into my idea I've been wanting to start!"

Chris Plovert frowned. "But Claire…"

It was so obvious that he's harbored a crush on her since freshman year. Never to be reciprocated.

She raised an eyebrow at him as she put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry but I can't be captain anymore if I'm not going to put my whole heart and soul in it."

He'd turned bright red at her touch and her sad eyes. Claire didn't know how much of an effect she had on him and on the team. On everyone, if you wanted to be technical.

She smiled at him as she walked over to me. "You see? You had nothing to worry about. There was no swimsuit issue."

I blushed. People were staring. But what surprised me was that they gaped. They weren't snickering or whispering to each other as I'd expected. And I was glad.

"I guess not." I laughed. "A lot of people said that I was fast."

Claire grinned. "I was rather impressed. You have a chance of making it as captain!"

That hit me hard. "What? Captain? Are you insane? Are you mad?"

She laughed. "Nope. You're mad for being so down on yourself, Little Red."

Little Red?

"Dylan Marvil, Becca Wilder, and…Coral McAdams!" Coach Hanson called us over to where he was writing on a clipboard.

Becca and Strawberry had been on the team since high school's started. I gulped. What would he want with us? The 2 girls raised their eyebrows at me and then started squealing with anticipation. I guess they were best friends when it came to swimming. They never spoke when it was school time. It was curious, as Claire would have described.

I glanced at Claire, panic-stricken. She shooed me away and shot me a thumbs-up.

Coach Hanson was 25 as well as the object of all the girls' affection because he was in league with Zac Efron and Chace Crawford when it came to his looks. Girls swooned over his silvery blue eyes and his trademark dimples. He was certified to have the "cutest butt" in one of the girls' bathroom stalls. His title didn't do him justice if you asked me. He was good to look at but that didn't mean it was easy for me to just casually talk to him.

But somehow, I was immune to the hot young teacher.

"What's up, coach?" Becca took her swim cap off already because tryouts had ended, followed by her trademark swish of her long hair. I couldn't suppress my eye roll.

Strawberry rolled her eyes also at Becca and her eyes caught my gaze. I looked away finding coach staring intently at me.

Was I being booted off the team before I even started? That couldn't be possible. That would be an brand new all time low on rejection for me.

"Now, you guys are the girls' team's fastest swimmers but I've decided to make all three of you co-captains this year, with Dylan as anchor."

"What?" Becca and Strawberry screeched.

What?

I was basically at the highest position on this team. I couldn't believe it. I smiled a little at the 2 girls' reactions. And being anchor? I've done enough research, watched the Olympics, and practiced enough to know what being the anchor entitles. I get to swim last in the relays, therefore determining if our team will finish first or not at all.

The pressure would sink in later, trust me. I didn't have time to ruminate it through my mind. For once, I was truly proud of myself and even if it didn't concern me before, all eyes fell on me and everyone cheered.

Coach laughed. "Congratulations. I'm sure all 3 of you will work to the best of your ability to keep the team's success going." He patted us on the shoulders and then called out: "Claire!"

Claire ran over to us. "What's up, Jace?"

"You're looking at your successors." Coach smiled probably because of her use of his first name.

"Really? Way to go, girls!" She beamed at me particularly as she said this.

"And Dylan's our anchor." He grinned at me.

No effect. That was pretty unusual because he was just so pretty.

And apparently, my role as anchor was what made Becca and Strawberry seethe more than the announcement of me also being a co-captain.

Claire high-fived me. "I'm going to be your mentor and you shall be my apprentice, Marvil. Best get yourself prepared because you're in for a lot of intense training."

That made my dear co-captains snicker but I could still feel their glares on me. But even they couldn't shake me from my joy.

"WHAT?" Kristen and Alicia shouted, causing echoes to sound across the empty hallway of Briarwood. Somehow it reminded me of my fellow captains. I grinned. Even though they scared me, I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of stepping over me like a doormat. I intended to treat everyone on the team as my equals. Just as valuable and necessary.

"I'm co-captain and anchor. So whose house are we headed to?"

Kristen was about to collapse as Alicia smiled wide. They shrieked at the top of their lungs in excitement. "DYLAN!" They smothered me in congratulatory hugs.

"We had to push you to go to tryouts and you come out as queen of the merfolk! Kris laughed.

Alicia said, "We're headed to the Spanish Riviera for a celebratory dinner!" It was a family-owned restaurant that was run by her Uncle Ivan.

The next day was….Well, the perfect word would be refreshing. Odd. Good.

It made me realize how valuable the swim team was in correspondence to the school's glory. After the team won regionals last year, everyone made sure they kept up-to-date with the team.

"Way to go Dylan!" Massie Block, who was talking to Claire by the wishing fountain, called out to me. Her hair was up in an elegant bun that was made spontaneous because of her mass of curls. I remembered that she was best friends with Claire and also from England. Claire turned and winked at me.

"A job well done, Little Red." She tossed her pig-tailed head back and laughed.

I smiled and nodded at them in response, tucking my hair behind my ears. I'd almost tripped over a Sharpie that lay on the hallway floor but no one had noticed, thankfully.

"Congrats, Dyl!" Josh shouted from his crowd of friends. His sun-kissed mane was hidden under a beanie with the school's logo on it. His friends all resonated his congratulations. "We're gonna make a pretty good team," he said, winking.

"Definitely." I waved at the boys and kept walking.

"Marvil, good job!" Derrick smiled wide as he passed me in the hall. His congrats stunned me. His eyes were more revealed today and they were…greater than I could ever picture them in my head. Seeing him in the flesh beat the hell out of my dreams.

Snap out of it, Dyl.

The attention was overwhelming and that was an understatement.

I got to my locker and opened it to see my reflection. I wanted to make sure my face hadn't lost it's natural tone. Otherwise, it would've been as red as The Little Mermaid's hair.

"Hey. I heard the big news."

His voice could be a soft murmur in the crowd of raging teenagers but I could recognize it in an instant. Cam was leaning on the locker next to mine.

And just like that, the stun I'd received from seeing Derrick vanished completely. My palms started getting clammy and if it wasn't because of all the excitement going on, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of his black hair combed to a messiness that was too awesome to describe, making his eyes more significant as they didn't waver from mine.

"Cam…Look, I'm sorry about yesterday." I've been dying to say it, figuring out the right way of telling him how I was sorry for running away. And it took so long to realize that apologizing was enough. I wasn't professing my love for him because that was nonexistent.

But that wasn't what my physical reactions were telling me.

It started feeling really hot right now. And I knew it wasn't just me.

As each day passed, Cam Fisher never failed to confuse me deeply, even if I was queen of the merfolk.

Leesh and Kris were going to be harder to convince since I noticed them watching us at the end of the hallway. They were grinning wide and whispering to each other.

"No need to apologize. You seemed tense all day…yesterday. I wanted to see if you were okay…" His blue eye and green eye reflected his sincerity, making my heart race quicker. These feelings were growing, weren't they? This wasn't good. I could sense it. And I didn't even know what I was feeling. All I knew was that frustration was bubbling to the surface. "Apparently, you're fine now." He beamed. "Congratulations on making anchor, Miss Co-captain."

I blushed. He was aware of my existence and he cared? All in a matter of just weeks? This was very hard to believe but…call me crazy, I really wanted to believe it. "Thanks, Cam. That was very sweet of you…But yeah, I'm great." I laughed but it came off as the most awkward giggle. "I can't believe I did it. I'm queen of the merfolk."

He frowned. "Queen of the merfolk?"

"My friend Kristen called me that yesterday." I really laughed this time.

His smile returned as easily. "It…suits you."

The bell rang. "Well, I've gotta get to Bio. I'll see you around."

When I slammed my locker shut and walked only a pace past him, he startled me when he grasped my arm.

I gasped as I caught his gaze. I couldn't interpret it. It wasn't hostile but it wasn't the sexually-active one, thank the Lord, I was expecting from a guy

"Cam? What?" I breathed heavily.

"I…" He began and hesitated. "I'm sorry. I'll see you later." He reluctantly let me go.

I walked backwards slowly as I tried to figure out what his deal was. "Okay…"

"Hey Dyl! You coming to Biology?" Kristen called me over.

Cam looked lost and he avoided my gaze now. I was disappointed but I responded to Kris before she said anything else. We headed off to class.

Alicia frowned. "You okay?"

"What happened?" Kristen glanced back at him.

"He's gone." Leesh gasped.

We turned and like magic, he'd just disappeared. Either his first period was in the girls' bathroom, the room closest to my locker or he was a fast runner. Both those options seemed unlikely. I was left with an unsettling feeling and I couldn't decipher it.

I thought my tossing and turning at night would've lessened but this would drive me to insanity. Claire would call me mad for a whole new reason.