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Disclaimer: I do not own Mako Mermaids or any of its ideas/characters. I do own the plate of sushi that I had for lunch today (until I ate it...). All OCs are my own creation.


Chapter 8: Finally Free

Dillon held my hand all the way down the stairs and led me to his car that was parked in the driveway. While I was confident in how I looked, I was not confident in my ability to walk all the way down the stairs in four inch heels. Needless to say, I was thankful for his support.

"You look beautiful, by the way." He said as we walked across that street. "That color looks great on you."

"Thank you." I replied, trying not to let him see me blush.

He opened the door to the passenger seat and helped me into the car.

"I am so excited to try out this restaurant." He said as he got behind the wheel.

"Me, too." I said, buckling my seat-belt. "I have never been before."

"Really?" He asked as he turned the ignition.

"Yeah," I replied. "It only opened about a year ago, but ever since it opened it has been called the best sushi place at the beach."

"That's what I heard," he said as he pulled the car out of the driveway. "I love sushi so this was the first place I wanted to try as soon as I moved here."

We talked about our interests and hobbies all the way to the restaurant. He was impressed that I was a nursing major and on my school's club track team. I was impressed that he learned how to surf at age four and likes to sing in his free time.

We finally pulled into the parking lot of Māmeido Sushi after about a ten minute drive along the beach. The best part about our beach town is that you can almost always see the ocean while driving along the main road.

Dillon helped me out of the car and walked with me to the front door of the restaurant. He had made reservations ahead of time so we were able to be seated immediately. Our booth was right next to a beautiful fish tank that stretched the entire length of the wall. The aquarium was filled with angel fish, clown fish, and even puffer fish. It was almost hypnotizing to look at.

"So where are you from, Merissa?" Dillon asked, taking a sip of the water that the waiter must have placed on the table.

"I've lived here my whole life." I replied, still admiring the aquarium. "My mom and dad moved here from Australia before I was born. They built the house that I live in now with my aunt and uncle."

"Why did they move?" Dillon asked.

"They said that they wanted new beginnings and a new adventure." I replied, taking my gaze away from the fish to look back at Dillon. "My aunt and uncle moved over soon after. My aunt lived in Canada before coming to Australia but my uncle was born there. They lived in Virginia before coming down to live with me here."

"That's interesting." Dillon replied with a pensive look on his face.

"Where are you from?" I asked, returning my gaze to the water beside me.

"I'm from Tampa Bay, Florida." He replied, joining me in looking at the aquarium. "I've lived there all my life."

"Why did you leave?" I asked, returning my gaze to him.

"I was home-schooled by my parents until last year." He said, still looking at the aquarium. "Instead of going to college I decided to try and make a life for myself. Things were falling apart at home so I thought that now would be a good time to let go. I saw that my current house was being rented out for cheap so I jumped at the opportunity. As long as I am near the beach I'm happy."

"That's nice." I said.

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your parents? Why don't they live with you?" Dillon asked, turning from the aquarium and locking eyes with me.

I felt my mouth go dry. I haven't told the story of my parents' deaths in over a year. I felt my hands start to shake and I felt my face grow hot and red from shame and fear. I didn't want to lose Dillon in the same way I had lost so many other friends. I cared about him too much.

I slowly took a sip of water and began to tell my story.

"It was right before my senior year of high school," I started in a shaky voice. "My father was a lifeguard and my mother owned a consignment store. Life was perfect. One day, my dad went on a call to save a boy stuck in a rip tide. The boy was saved but my father was never seen again."

I started to choke on the last sentence. Dillon reach over the table and squeezed my hand as a message of silent encouragement.

"My mom wasn't the same after my dad was declared unrecoverable. They were so in love. They met in elementary school and were inseparable since then. They started to date in high school and he proposed a year after graduation. After getting married, they moved to North Carolina. They had done everything together."

It started to feel like my throat was closing up. I took another shaky sip of water and continued speaking.

"After a few months my mom started to get really sick, she was tired all the time and wouldn't get out of bed. She tried to go to work one day and ended up collapsing on the floor. My friend Julia and I rushed her to the hospital where she died a day later. She had a weak heart. It was a congenital condition that was passed down from her mother who also died when my mom was young. The stress and grief was just too much for her."

I started to feel my palms grow clammy. I paused to catch my breath again, but Dillon interrupted me before I could continue.

"You don't have to tell me any more if you don't want to." He said, looking me in the eyes with a sympathetic softness.

"It's OK," I said, taking another deep breath. "I can do this."

He squeezed my hand one more time as I continued.

"I lost a lot of friends during my senior year. A lot of people were expressed their condolences, but it was almost like people were afraid of me. They didn't know what to say. I turned into a hollow shell of what I once was. I quit track, my grades started to slip, and I refused to ever set foot in the ocean. Going to college a year later made things easier. I had all new friends who didn't know about my past and I didn't tell them. I started to love myself again."

"How are you now?" He asked.

"I'm OK. I'm coping and learning how to take care of myself. I'm glad my aunt and uncle are here, but I obviously miss my mom and dad."

"I'm glad that you talked to me." He said, smiling.

"I am, too." I replied, exhaling a sign of relief. I felt like the world had been lifted off my shoulders and I was finally free to be myself around Dillon.

We placed our orders soon after. We both ordered the raw tuna rolls with extra tuna on the side.

"Now," I said, as the waiter placed our plates in front of us, "since I opened up to you, what is going on at home? If you don't mind me asking, of course."

"No," he said, breaking apart his chopsticks. "It's OK. I can tell you."

"The part of town that we lived in was pretty rough." He started, quickly popping a piece of sushi in his mouth.

"There was a lot of violence. My parents never really felt safe living there but we didn't really have a choice. We just didn't have any way to move. My parents always told me that if there was any way for me to get out then I should. Well, opportunities come along and things happen and now I'm here."

"What kinds of opportunities?" I asked.

"Let's just say I know a few guys and they helped me move. They promised to take care of my parents if I helped them and some other people with something." He replied, keeping his eyes focused on his plate.

"It wasn't a gang, was it?" I asked, suddenly very concerned for his personal safety.

"Oh no, it wasn't a gang!" He said, laughing. "It was a few long-time family friends. They are really good guys, maybe you will even meet them someday."

We finished dinner and rode home while telling old stories about our families and friends. Dillon was incredibly considerate and fun to be around. I found myself falling for him more and more.

After pulling into his driveway and putting the car in park, Dillon turned to look at me.

"I had a wonderful time tonight, Merissa." He said, looking into my eyes.

"Me, too." I said, suddenly feeling my face grow hot.

"Thank you for opening up to me about your past." He said, grabbing my hand. "I know that it wasn't easy for you, but I want you to know that you can trust me."

"I definitely trust you." I said, as he leaned in even closer.

"Good."

After whispering that last word he gently grabbed the back of my head and pulled me into a kiss.

I felt all of the tension and fear and anxiety I had been holding on to for so long melt away in that moment. I placed my fingers on the back of his neck and kissed him again.

"Do you want to go for a walk on the beach?" He asked as we came up for air.

"I would love that."


As always, thank you for reading! This chapter was so fun to write and so sweet. 10 points if you looked up what the name of the sushi restaurant means... Things are about to go down in the next chapter, so stay tuned for more!

-Crispin Robb