" Sir!" The coast guard repeated, "What seems to be the problem?"
The boy stuttered uncertainly for a moment before, " A seal!" The men looked at him curiously, possibly contemplating the teens use of drugs. " It was caught in the net, and, and…. Eating my fish!" he finished lamely.
" A seal," The larger man said disbelievingly. "Was eating your fish? And you called the coast guard?"
"Yes, I panicked, but everything's cool now. Just going to pack up and uh, take it home." The red head tried at a smile and turned around blushing, biting his lower lip.
"Your mighty lucky I don't ticket you for this." The shorter man commented. " Be sure to keep us for emergencies lad." The men chuckled and started the engine.
He closed his eyes and released a breath as the engine of the coast guard slowly disappeared. His father was sure to be informed and he would never hear the end of this from his stepmother. He stood there a moment longer taking in the past few minutes of his life, trying to process all that had happened.
What was he going to do with the boy? He couldn't keep him on the boat. Maybe he could toss him over the side and hope to be rid of him. But there were much too many flaws in that plan. He took a deep breath and faced the lid of the hatch.
"There gone." He called. The lid slowly lifted and the icy glare of the blonde penetrated the red head, causing him to flinch.
The blonde looked around, decided it was safe and completely lifted the hatch, and climbed out.
"Whats your name?" The red head gaped at the blonde, whom might he add, just saved the life of. How dare he command the name of a boy who had just helped him such.
"Yours first." He sated staring coldly at the blonde.
"Mello."
"Matt."
The blonde, Mello, was now shivering again. Matt's coat soaking wet now, the blonde would surly freeze if he didn't get him to land soon.
"I'm taking you to my grandfathers house." Matt stated.
"Fine. Just don't tell a sole you found me, or else." The threat was less threatening due to the blondes shivers.
"Here," Matt tossed the boy a blanket from the cabin and sat down at the steering panel. "Don't move. Stay low if you don't want to be seen, we're going into town a ways." He muttered coldly.
Mello grunted a response and collapsed onto the dingy cabin floor.
Matt's grandfather, Roger, had died last year. He had been quite a hermit and chose to live as far away from the town as one could on the island. His cabin was small and one roomed. No one had dared touch it after his death fearing a ghostly haunting. Matt was the only one not afraid of the old man, and as close as anyone could be to a hermit in the family.
He steered the boat to the nearest pier and hitched up the smaller row boat to take the pair up to the seaside cabin. Mello distastefully climbed in and let the red head take the handles and row them to shore. Neither of them spoke until Mello slipped whilst getting out and toppled into the water, getting completely soaked again.
He stood looking like a wet cat and cursed at the red head for laughing at him.
"Shut it ass hole." He growled shaking his head a frown etched into his porcline skin.
"M' sorry." Matt said biting his lip to keep in the giggles that threatened to explode. He mad himself busy by tying the raft to a nearby post and followed the blonde up the steps and unto the porch of the tiny house.
"Where is the old man?" Mello more or less commanded. He kept his glare going until he saw the now sullen face of Matt.
"He's gone."
Mello waited for an explanation, but Matt continued to the door and removed a key from under the dead plant nestled in a pot on the porch. Mello huffed. He hated being ignored. The feeling was unknown he did not embrace it.
"What's that supposed to mean? When's he coming back?" he stepped in front of the red head blocking his way.
"He's dead, so most likely never." Matt muttered and pushed past the blonde. Why was helping this boy again? "I'll bring some food later, if you tell me were your from. And why you're here."
"I can't."
"Why not?" Matt was getting frustrated.
"I just can't- I don't even remember. I'm here because you brought me here."
"So you don't know how you got in the water?"
"No."
"How 'bout why you don't want people seeing you?"
"Because I was caught in you net."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"I wasn't caught in their nets. I was caught in yours. You cant get rid of me."
"So your like some kind of mermaid then?" Matt scoffed.
Mello hesitated a moment looking at Matt curiously. "I prefer sylkie."
Matt laughed waiting for the boy to laugh with him and tell him the truth. "You can't be serious."
"Why not?"
"You expect me to believe you're a sylkie? Wait, and I bet you want me to find your seal coat to right?"
"Your not getting anywhere making fun like that. And if I find my seal coat, I must return to the water." Mello looked worried for a moment before his cold glare returned when Matt laughed again.
"Alright. Whatever." Matt whipped a fake tear from his eye and smirked at Mello." I'll be back soon. Don't hurt yourself. Feel free to run away if you desire." Matt chuckled again and walked out the door leaving it open behind him.
Matt crawled into his truck and started the engine. The old luger gave a spurt of exhaust before rumbling to life. He had to go pick up his brother and take him to the doctor. The road caused the truck to jump over the potholes and bounce into the crevasses.
Near's school was expensive. It was hurting his family to send him there. It caused matt to have to drop out of his. But he could be a fisher man, when Near's only hope was to get an education and become something because of it. His sickness weakened him and took away any opportunity of a manual laborer. Lucky the boy was smart. Matt had been smart too, which was why he was hardly suffering by dropping. Most boys his age had already anyway.
The albino was sitting in his wheelchair outside the family home, waiting for his brother.
"I'm sorry I'm late Near." Matt called from the driver side as he helped him into the car and placed his chair in the back.
"It's fine. Near's not going to be late yet if Matt hurries." Matt sighed at his brothers use of third person. His parents had been fighting again. Or perhaps they were both drunk. Near only slipped into this when something of the like had happened.
"Alright."
