101 Ways to Ruin a Mermaid's Life

Story 21: Cleo (Songs- Her Diamonds-Rod Thomas, Turn Right-Jonas Brothers)

Tears of an Angel (Zane's POV)

This day was perfect, sun, beach, and nothing to do. Of course, I'd been having this kind of free time lately, all because I broke up with Rikki. I never knew how much time I put towards her. And why couldn't I spend ten minutes without thinking about her. Enjoying this day was going to be harder than I expected. But I kept walking down the beach, hoping something would just pop out at me and distract me from Rikki. And I got that distraction as I made my way back towards my house.

As I turned the corner that separated the public beach and the smaller one near my house, I heard something, like a girl crying. I walked a bit further, hoping that cheering up some cute girl would get my mind off Rikki. As I got closer I could see her hunched over, far from the water. Her brunette hair was dry and hanging lose around her shoulders and down her back. She had no shoes and wore a light blue top. Then as I got closer, I saw part of her face.

"Cleo," I asked in surprise.

It was obvious she had not heard me, because she jumped at the sound of my voice. Her brown eyes were filled with tears and she was shaking. I didn't quite know what to do anymore. So I moved closer and sat down next to her, hoping I could still help.

"What's wrong?" I asked, trying to get her to talk.

But it was a failed attempt because she turned her head away from me and stayed silent. She stayed like that for about a minute as I sat there, waiting for an answer. Finally she said softly, "He broke up with me."

"Lewis broke up with you," I repeated, more surprised. "Why?"

"I guess everyone was right," She said softly, whipping tears from her eyes. "That long distance relationships just don't work. But it still hurts."

She had hidden her head in her lap again and whispered in a muffled voice, "He met someone else."

We sat silent for a while listening to the waves hit the shore. Cleo's crying had subsided, but I could tell she was never going to get over this. I kept my gaze to the sea when I said, "Lewis is an idiot to dump such a sweet, caring, powerful, girl like you."

Cleo looked at me. Her brown eyes met mine in a way I don't think they ever had before. I noticed how deep they were, how full of an innocents that was destroyed by a life that was too hard for words, and then still so full of hope. She cheeks were stained with tears, a sadness I knew no one could take away, but I was about to try.

"Look at yourself," I said whipping a strand of hair out of her face. "I don't know who couldn't love a face like this."

She laughed showing off a smile only she could pull off.

Cleo looked back to the ocean. I did too. I watched the waves come in and go out, listening to the simple sound that calms so many. I looked further, to a calm spot, where I had seen four girls live a life so unexplainable, so remarkable, I couldn't see one reason anyone would give something like that up.

I looked back to Cleo. She was still focused on the water, her world. I had heard her and the others talk about how it was part my fault they were out there, and in a way, that was true. It was my fault Cleo was out there. I pushed her out. But if I didn't, I knew she would not be who she was today.

She turned back to me and said softly, "It wasn't going to work was it? I was the only one to not see it."

I didn't really know what to say, so I said what was in my mind. "Cleo, you are one of the prettiest girls I have ever met, and if any guy want to give that up, than he is blind. I know I wouldn't, even if I was on the moon."

Then, I could have been wrong but, I thought I saw Cleo blush. Her gaze moved back to the ocean and waves. It didn't move as she whispered, "Thanks."

Then, we just sat there. There was no sound but the waves hitting the shore. There wasn't anything weird about the long moment between us. It was actually… kinda nice. We were close, closer than we had ever been since we were kids, and I didn't feel like hurting or tormenting her in anyway.

I moved my hand through the sand, hitting hers then pulling away. She looked to me, her brown eyes so full of love. Before I knew what was happening, we were moving closer to each other. Our lips were only inches apart. Then they hit each other, and we were kissing, a kiss that did not last long. Cleo pulled away within two secants and stood up.

"I have to go," She said looking me in the eyes. Then she started towards the water, but before she went in she turned back and said, "Thanks for being here."

Then she was gone, into the waves as I had seen her and her friends do many times before. But something about this time felt different. I didn't want her to go, but I let her. And one day I would figure out why, but now was not the time.

I started up to my house, looking at the beautiful day and the shinning water. There was something different about it, something I hadn't noticed when I first came out this morning. I felt different, and somehow, I knew, it was because of Cleo.

Ok, I think I might stop doing the not so Pop quizzes for this story because I'm posting to fast and some people don't even do them. Still review please, and if I see there are less reviews because I took it away (or if I know it will take me longer to post a chapter) I will put it back up. Keep reading and reviewing and the next story should be out soon.