Ch 19
Duncan drove, Fitz showed him where to go. Since this boat was bigger, Duncan didn't beach it but anchored just off shore. He and Fitz blew up the inflatable raft to go to shore.
Bella elbowed Jackie, "Follow me." She ran and jumped over the side.
Jackie quickly got her tail out and on, and launched herself off the boat. Bella was coming back, then saw Jackie plunge in. She waved and turned around.
Jackie noticed there were many fish here, and sharks. A bigger shark came close. She punched it in the nose. The shark swam away. Bella led her into shallower water, maybe 15 feet deep. She went into a cave. Jackie followed to find an air pocket Bella surfaced in. Jackie surfaced beside her. The place was lit. Looking up, Jackie saw a circle of sky way up there.
"Wow, was this a volcano?" Jackie asked.
"A long time ago, it was. It's dormant now," Bella said.
Looking around at the rock formations, Jackie said, "This is cool! I can see parties being given here!"
Bella chuckled. "There's also a way in from the land, so we have to be careful who's invited."
"Yeah, don't want assholes showing up." Jackie agreed.
Bella laughed. She swam over to the edge and sat up on a ledge just under the water and leaned back against a rock. "Where you from?"
Jackie got up on the ledge and leaned back also. "When I was young, we lived in Palmdale. When I was in fifth grade, we moved to Texas. My parents still live there. Our house was right by a small lake." Grinning she said, "That's where my sister Joan became friends with an alligator. Mom was mad when she let it in the house. Joan and Louise got grounded for doing that."
"I bet," Bella said with a grin. "They are like crocs aren't they?"
"Yeah, same family tree. These gators were smart though. They recognized individuals. Allie Gator, that's what she got named. She was all but Joan's pet. If Allie Gator though Joan might be in trouble, Allie would push her in the water. One time, Joan was mowing the yard to try to get into Dad's good graces, and Allie attacked the lawnmower."
Bella laughed. "That's hard to imagine."
"You'd have to see it to believe it. Joan could all but ride Allie like a horse. By the dock , Allie would float on the water and we'd keep the fish away so the little gators could climb up on Allie's back and get fed by the other kids," Jackie said. Her face then dimmed, "It was like the best place ever, then we got hit by a nuke." she said in a little harder tone.
"Where was this?" Bella asked.
"Driftwood Texas. We had a great little town, then the PSR got a nuke and dropped it on top of us. They killed most of the town, but those of us who survived went after them and wiped the all out. we gave them as much mercy as they gave us, none at all. We find'em, we killed'em."
Bella was silent for a moment, then said, "I saw that on the news! That bomb was supposed to be only a rumor, but pictures of the mushroom cloud were taken. Some American news agencies and the president all said it was a hoax. You were there?"
Jackie nodded. "Friends, lovers, husbands, wives, everyone left lost a good portion of, if not their entire family. As first, we were very sad and healing survivors took all our time. Then we got very angry. Dad found out where the bomb came from and we went after them. We gave them no quarter at all. The other kids like me, went after the PSR soldiers wherever we found them. Dad and Moms looked at the bigger picture, those who were leading those scum bags. we didn't stop until they were all gone. We were all over the country, hunting them down and killing them."
"You fought a war," Bella said.
"That's what we Connors do," Jackie said. "Before someone screws with us, I hope their life insurance is paid up." Seeing Bella gape at her, Jackie added, "We re the soldiers who get rid of scum others can't touch. Just like Gramma, Dad and our Moms have been fighting pretty much their whole lives. Sometimes, I think it's never going to be over. Get rid of some bad guys, and more pop up."
"You have killed people?" Bella asked weakly.
"No one who didn't deserve it. Many who have," Jackie said flatly. "I just hope that's over for a while. I really like having the chance to have fun."
"What do you want to do for fun?' Bella asked.
Jackie grinned at her. "Come on, let's make like dolphins."
.
Duncan and Fitz got to the beach and dug a fire pit, got a fire going and got the grill over it.
Fitz looked over at the boat. "Did they try to swim over?"
Duncan said, "They jumped overboard before we were anchored. They are around here someplace."
Fitz looked out over the water and saw something jump high in the air before arching over to splash down. "Blimey! I just saw a bloody mermaid!" he cried.
Another one jumped, not as high and splashed down. "There's two of them!" he stated.
Duncan caught the next jump. Jackie jumped straight up in the air and did a flip to splash back down. Bella followed. Bella's flip wasn't smooth, she hit the water on her back. Duncan winced. Jackie popped up near her and helped a gasping Bella back to the shore.
"Lunch time!" Duncan called loudly.
Jackie turned to him and waved as she towed Bella with her.
Getting into the surf, Jackie pulled Bella up above the wave action, Duncan came over to them. "Bella, you all right?" he asked.
A few more attempts at breathing and Bella took a deeper breath and nodded.
"She got the wind knocked out of her," Jackie explained.
"I heard the slap when she hit the water," Duncan agreed. "Just stay here, I'll bring you some lunch when it's done."
Sitting up, Jackie asked, "First time you ever jumped like that?"
Bella nodded. "You made that look easy."
Jackie chuckled. "I've practice for years. I've hit the water every way except head first when I started. Don't feel bad."
Fitz came over to stare at them. "You're both mermaids?" he asked.
"No Fitz, you're imagining things," Jackie told him. "Fish tried to eat us but we not only got away, we brought them back with us!" she beamed.
"Duncan knows?" he asked.
"I imagine so, what's wrong with that?" Jackie asked.
"Can you ... cleaning yourself must be hard," Fitz noted.
"We shower together, he holds me up." Jackie said with a grin.
Bella laughed.
"Bloody amazing," Fitz said and wandered back to Duncan.
Jackie watched Fitz go back to the fire, then asked Bella, "Ever try tail walking? It's a challenge but you won't knock your breath out if you screw up."
"Yeah, show me how."
After a lunch of hot dogs and chips, Jackie explained how to tail walk. then they went back out and Bella tried it.
They had a fun day out on their private beach.
.
Duncan was not happy with Fitzcarin at all. If he wasn't friends with the man for the last 300 years, Duncan just might have taken his head for pulling this stunt. One good thing about coming here was he did see Jackie was having fun hanging out with Bella. He also found Bella was indeed part mermaid. Siting on the beach with Jackie, Bella dried off and her tail went away. Jackie was amazed by this and showed Bella she just took her tail off. Jackie then got Bella wet just so she could see Bella grow her tail back.
He wasn't listening to them on purpose, but heard Jackie state, "It doesn't matter what you are, only how you act!"
Bella did have a job to go to tomorrow, she was a professional singer. They planned to go watch her.
Packing up as the sun was getting low in the sky, they headed back for the marina. Duncan also ensured Fitz signed the boat over to Jackie. It was her money that had bought it. He also made Fitzcarin promise to watch over the island, and of course he could use Jackie's boat to do so.
Fitzcarin himself was pleased with the outcome. He'd kept his head and had made the island safe from developers like Bella wanted. He was her hero, so that pleased him. He even got to keep $50,000. Enough to tide him over for a while.
.
The next day, Duncan and Jackie went to the restaurant where Bella sang to have dinner. They went in and got a round table. Getting menus they noted the prices were a bit high, but the place was full. Another woman with long dark hair and a medium skin tone sat down with them and asked Jackie. "I heard you had a good time with Bella yesterday."
Thinking this was one of Bella's fans, Jackie said, "We did. We spend the day on Mako island swimming and having fun." with a grin she added, "And I found out Bella can't do flips in the air. she came down on her back and knocked her breath out. I got her to shore all right. Her tail stands she needs to work on too. I'm Jackie, this is Duncan. Who are you?"
"Cleo." the woman said, "And you can't go advertising to people about mermaids!" she added in a loud whisper.
"Why not?"
Cleo frowned at her. "Because it's dangerous! We had a scientist try to grab us and experiment on us! We don't want that to happen again!"
Duncan said, "Jackie, remember, this isn't Driftwood. Normal people don't take well to someone different."
"Yeah, normal people suck at times," Jackie begrudgingly agreed.
Cleo offered, "We really do appreciate you buying Mako Island so it won't be developed, but you can't go telling people about real mermaids!"
"OK, I get it," Jackie said. She then grew a crooked grin. "Maybe I can help though. If people see me putting my tail on and going for a swim, then they'll think Bella and maybe you too, do the same thing?"
"What can I get you?" a voice loudly asked. The blonde stood by the table with her pad.
Duncan and Jackie ordered. The blonde looked at Cleo then walked away.
Cleo sat eyeing Jackie. Jackie asked, "Where can I go where lots of people see me getting ready to swim? It won't be so much of a huge thing to see a mermaid, and take the pressure off you, won't it?"
Cleo bit her lip in thought.
"Actually, that makes sense," Duncan offered. "And seeing Jackie had to put her tail on, they will know she's not a real mermaid, and will think that's all everyone does. They still might look for you but they will think you're just a girl who puts a tail on."
Cleo looked at nothing, then got up and went over to the bar.
Their food came and soon after, Bella got up on stage with a live band. The band played well and Bella's clear voice rang out. It was a good show. At the end of the song, Duncan and Jackie added to the applause.
Cleo came back to sit and ask Jackie to come to Sea World with her early in the morning, and bring her tail. Jackie agreed.
.
Jackie was there when Cleo arrived. Cleo unlocked the gate and led them in. "We're not open yet, I'll take you down to Ronnie's pen."
Coming to a small bridge that looked out over the large pond Ronnie the dolphin was in, Jackie doft her robe to show her bikini and sat down to put her tail on.
"You can change over there on the dock," Cleo told her.
"This is good," Jackie replied. She zipped her tail up then with the help of the rail she she got up then crouched down and Jackie jumped to catapult herself over the rail and into the water.
The water here was clear. She swam fast, Ronnie was on the bottom. She rocketed over him then turned to avoid the edge and swam to get a feel for how big this pool was. Turning back towards the middle, she saw Ronnie was up and headed towards her. Jackie swam up and made a jump. Ronnie followed. Ronnie did this for a while, following Jackie as she jumped an when she rose up to do a tail stand, Ronnie did also.
Jackie had a ball playing with Ronnie. Ronnie got ahead of her. OK, it was time for her to follow him. He swam fast, they went straight up, Jackie did also, right beside him. At the top of their jump in the air, Jackie flipped backwards, Ronnie flipped forwards. They hit the water at about the same time. Ronnie rolled, Jackie rolled. Ronnie snapped his tail up, throwing water, Jackie did too.
Three metallic thumps sounded. Ronnie headed for it, Jackie by his side. They surfaced beside the dock.
Cleo sat squatting, wearing latex gloves and fed Ronnie his breakfast.
Beaming a smile, Jackie told her, "This is a blast!"
Cleo chuckled. "The boss just came in, she'll be watching the monitors soon."
Looking at the dock, Jackie didn't see a safety rail on it. "When you're done feeding Ronnie, Back off the dock, I got an idea."
After Ronnie got his fish and Cleo stood up, Ronnie nosed Jackie.
"OK, let's go!" Jackie told him and went under to swim away, Ronnie right there with her.
Cleo watched them race around then do another jump, Jackie doing a flip before she splashed down. The next time they jumped, Jackie did her flip, so did Ronnie.
She was teaching him new tricks.
They did a tail stand, Jackie held Ronnie's flipper. They dove forward into the water together.
Someone was coming in a hard fast walk. Cleo looked to see it was her boss.
"WHO is that in the pool with Ronnie!" her boss demanded.
Cleo replied, "Her name is Jackie. Her and Ronnie have been playing the whole morning."
They did another vertical jump, both doing a slow flip in the air to splash back down.
"How ... does she do that?" the boss whispered.
"Is that a real mermaid?' her assistant asked in awe as Jackie and Ronnie raced by under water.
"We should ask," Cleo said and banged the food bucket on the edge of the dock again.
Both returned to the dock. Jackie popped her head up with Ronnie. "Do I get fed this time?' Jackie asked and giggled.
"Sorry, I'm out of fish," Cleo said with a smirk.
"Young lady, WHAT are you doing here?" the boss asked in a hard tone.
"Playing with Ronnie. What are you doing here?" Jackie replied.
"I am the manger of Sea World! How did you get in here?"
Jackie pointed and said, "I jumped over the bridge. I take it you had to walk?"
"That's impossible!" the Boss stated.
"Only for you," Jackie said. "I'd jump out and show you, but I'm afraid Ronnie would try to follow me."
The assistant put a hand on the boss's arm. "If she's willing, she could be a great surprise addition to the show."
"Really?" Jackie asked, beaming a smile.
The Boss frowned then said, "I suppose we can give it a one time try."
Jackie turned to Ronnie. "What do you think, the Ronnie and Jackie show?"
Ronnie made his noises and nodded his head.
"We should practice then," Jackie said.
.
Duncan had come to see a Sea World show because he knew Jackie was here some place. It was a fun show. First they had Sea Lions do some tricks on the edge of the big pool, then three Dolphins came out and did a show.
The announcer, Cleo, then said, "We ll know the sea holds mysteries! Only ten percent of the oceans have been explorer. Today we have a visitor from some place on or by North America. We bring you, the Ronnie and Jackie show!" She lifted an arm high.
Two shapes came out into the pool from and underwater tunnel. They sped along near the bottom side by side. When they erupted from the water in a high jump, people expected to see the Dolphin. They didn't expect to see Jackie as the pair did a flip in the air to splash back down.
At first it was dead silence, then the crowd stood up and erupted in a roar of applause and cheers. In front of the crowd, Jackie came up to stand on her tail. Ronnie came up to tail stand beside her, both churning water. Jackie held Ronnie's flipper, then they both dove back in.
The crowd was on the edge of their seats.
Duncan grinned. "She really likes to show off," he said in a chuckle.
The young man beside him asked, "You know her?"
Duncan nodded. "Aye, Jackie Connor, and she likes to be the attention hound."
One of the helpers in the back threw a bright yellow ball into the pool. Jackie shot up to grab it before it hit the water. She turned. Ronnie stuck his head up out of the water ten meters away. Jackie threw it to him, he caught it and threw it back.
"She shouldn't be doing that, she's exposing herself!" the young blonde man insisted.
Ronnie caught the ball again then threw it to the side, They went back under. Coming up again to tail stand face to face, Jackie held Ronnie's flippers and they circled each other like they were dancing, then dove back in backwards.
People were applauding so hard Duncan was sure they'd hurt their hands. The young man beside him looked worried.
"Relax, Mate, you'll see soon," Duncan told him. He hoped.
On the next long jump, Jackie was over Ronnie, holding onto his dorsal fin. She belted out a "Ye haa!" before they splashed down.
Jackie then jump up right at the edge where the crowd was. She caught the edge of the pool and stopped in a hand stand. "Help! I'm upside down!" she cried.
Ronnie came up and tapped her with his nose. She fell flat onto the walkway. Sitting up to face the crowd, she announced, "Well, I'm not upside down any more!"
The crowd laughed.
"You should go get checked out. You hit the ground hard," Cleo admonished.
"Yeah, OK." Jackie took her tail off (ensuring her bikini bottoms were all the way on) and stood up to toss her tail over her shoulder.
Ronnie surfaced at the edge to make some noises and spit water at Jackie.
"I'll be back soon, OK?" she told him and held out a hand. There by the mike Cleo had, Jackie said, "I've been doing this since I was little. It takes years of practice and many many hours in the water to be able to swim like a Dolphin. This tail I had specially made for power and speed. You also need to be very fit to power it. Keep that in mind of you decide to try it."
Ronnie spit water at her again.
She looked back at him. "OK,OK, I'm coming!" She sat down slipped back into her tail, waved to the crowd then dove in. Ronnie headed for the tunnel, Jackie followed.
Cleo announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, Jackie and Ronnie!" It was the best applause she'd ever seen here. Never had she seen a standing ovation.
.
At the dock in Ronnie's pool, Jackie was taking her tail off again when a small crowd came down to see her. At the lead was the Manager. Jackie got her tail off. Cleo handed her her light robe.
The manager announced, "That was a very good show. You impressed everyone. I will allow $200 dollars a show, two shows a day. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays."
Jackie replied, "Thank you, but I have to talk to Duncan before I can accept."
"Very well, inform me of your decision as soon as you can." the manager stated and walked away.
Seeing Bella, Jackie asked, "Think that will do it?"
"I think so," Bella said with a grin.
One of the animal trainers came up and asked, "How do you swim like that? If you hadn't shown everyone, we were all convinced you are a mermaid."
Jackie grinned a him. "How do you know I'm not?"
"You've got a fake tail."
"OK, then I'm not. Whatever you say."
"But, humans can't swim that fast or do high jumps!" he cried.
Jackie waved a finger at him and sang :
Next time you're found
With your chin on the ground
There a lot to be learned
So look around
Just what makes that little old ant
Think he'll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant can't
Move a rubber tree plant
But he's got high hopes
He's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie
In the sky hopes
So any time you're gettin' low
'Stead of lettin' go
Just remember that ant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree
Oops, there goes another rubber tree
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
He stared at her. Jackie patted him on the shoulder and walked around him. Standing together with Bella was Cleo and the waitress from the restaurant her and Duncan had gone to. "Hey guys. Cleo, Thanks for the help," Jackie said.
"So how do you swim like that?"' The waitress asked. She quickly held a hand up and added, "And no more songs, please."
Jackie grinned. "It must be a can of magic," she replied. She went to walk on and the girls grouped around her.
"You know people will be looking for Mermaids now!" the waitress hissed.
"So what?" Jackie retorted. "I showed everyone there I'm just a girl with a prosthetic tail that can swim very well. If they do see Bella, or anyone swimming, they will conclude the same. Yeah, I'm sure guys will watch, but now you have an excuse. They will want to see you swimming, but won't think it's anything odd."
"Rikki, she has a good point," Bella offered.
"If we get water spilled on us ?" Rikki asked. "Say inside someplace?"
"That has always been a danger," Cleo told her.
Rikki ginned at Jackie and said, "I think Jackie here needs to be in the moon pool in three days."
"During the full moon? Why?" Cleo asked.
"So she knows what we have to deal with," Rikki said with a crooked grin.
"Jackie, don't," Bella warned.
"Moon pool?" Jackie asked, looking at Bella.
"That pool inside the volcano I showed you," Bella said. "You can already swim as good as the rest of us, you don't need to go there on a full moon. In fact stay away from it then."
Jackie pondered why that pool might be different when the moon was out and full. Heading to find Duncan, she found a crowd of people all telling her how awesome she was, out there doing tricks with Dolphins. Many girls wanted fish tails also, and some boys also wanted to learn how to swim like that. While the crowd gathered around her, Bella, Cleo and Rikki faded back and away. They were gone by the time cameras came out and everyone wanted a picture with her.
With many people asking questions and with a crowd around her, It was hard to find Duncan. She finally did. He stood leaning on a rail, arms crossed over his chest, eyeing her.
"A little too much?" he asked.
Jackie winced. "I had to do it."
He looked over the rail and said, "Water's right there. Go right and then left when you hit the ocean. I don't want a gaggle following us."
"Hokay," Jackie said with a sigh.
Duncan held her robe when she took it off. She then sat and put her tail on. Duncan helped her up. She vaulted the rail and with a splash, she was gone. Duncan wandered off as everyone else crowded on the rail to see where Jackie had gone.
.
Having a talk at the hotel, Duncan and Jackie agreed to stay for a week to get people used to seeing a girl in a mermaid tail. In the morning, Jackie went back to Sea World to find the manager and tell her she would do shows for the week, but then she and Duncan had to go home. She also got a check for the show she had already performed.
Leaving the 'office' area, Jackie an into Cleo and a blonde young man.
"Well?" Cleo asked with a grin.
"I talked about it with Duncan, and we decided to stay a week, so I'll do a few more shows before we go home. Who's your friend?"
Cleo put an arm around him. "This is Lewis. Lewis, this is Jackie, the mermaid you saw at the last show."
"Hi," Lewis offered. "Do you ever swim without a tail?"
"Can't. I sink like a rock," Jackie told him. "My tail is the only thing that keeps me off the bottom." Seeing him frown, she added, "I'm heavier than I look."
"So you take your tail with you whenever you get on a boat just in case?" Lewis asked.
Jackie nodded. "Yeah, the crew on my boat back home got me a tail just for emergencies."
"Crew? You're boat's big enough to have a crew?" Cleo asked.
"It's about the same size as the new one here. The guys who helped rebuild it wanted to be the crew," Jackie explained.
"You came here to do shows and make money?" Lewis asked.
Jackie let out a snort. "I'd have to stay and do shows for many years to make back what I spend to buy Mako island."
"You bought Mako island?" Lewis asked, eyeing her.
"Well, me and Duncan. We each put up fifty million. Then we get here and find out the guy who wanted us to contribute, didn't have any money, and the island was only 91 million. He was planning to keep the rest for himself. Duncan took his new boat away and had him sign it over to me. It was my money that bought it," Jackie explained. "It's only the fact they have been friends for a long time that Duncan didn't kill him, or let me kill him."
"What are you going to do with Mako Island?" Lewis asked.
"Nothing. Except keep anyone from building on it. I've been to that island, and it is a special place." Jackie told him.
"It is," Lewis agreed with a smile.
"Anyone up for a trip out there?" Jackie asked.
"We have to work today," Cleo said.
"When you you get out?" Jackie asked, "I can have the boat ready to go."
Cleo pointed and said, "Sea World has a dock out here. Meet us at say, six?"
Jackie nodded. "Think Bella and Rikki might want to come?"
"Let me call them," Cleo said and got her phone out.
While Cleo called her fiends, Jackie called Duncan. He was hanging out with Fitz, and agreed to a 'camp' dinner out on Mako island. In a short time, they had a party planned.
.
Lewis came to the dock where Jackie's boat was. He knew the area, so he became the navigator. He pointed Duncan right to the Sea World dock where they picked up Cleo. The next stop was Rikki's. On the way, Lewis explained it used to be just a 'juice bar', but Rikki's boyfriend, Zane, had expanded it into a full restaurant.
Thanks to Lewis guiding them, they arrived at Rikki's not long past six. Since the restaurant was built partly over the water, Duncan eased right up to the railing to touch the front port side to the railing on the walkway.
Jackie was on the front to help people aboard. Bella climbed on, then Rikki. Rikki introduced Zane. Jackie got him on board. Another guy scrambled up onto the boat. Jackie got in front of him.
"Who are you?" she asked.
He looked down on her and snorted, "What's it to you?" He want to move around her.
Jackie grabbed his shirt and hauled him back in front of her. "I own this boat. Who are you?"
"If you don't knock it off, you'll be..."
In the middle of his rant, Jackie picked him up and threw him off the boat. "No assholes!" she barked.
Landing to fall on the walkway, he got up and pointing his finger announced, "You're looking to get your ass beat!"
"We'll fight later, I'm busy," Jackie replied and motioned Duncan to back up.
As they backed away, 'Nate' got chided on having a girl kick his ass.
Leaving the shore behind, they motored out on their way.
Zane came up to Jackie and said, "Nate's not going to take that well, You need to stay away from him."
Jackie raised an eyebrow. "Thinks he's a tough guy, does he?"
"He is," Zane said firmly. "He's studies martial arts. He also doesn't like being intimidated."
"Sucks to be him then," Jackie said. "He wants to fight me, he'll get very intimidated."
"I'm serious!" Zane stated.
"So am I," Jackie retorted. "Let him know his medical insurance needs to be up to date before he tries to tangle with me."
Zane let out a huff and walked back over to Rikki.
"You know, Nate is pretty tough," Bella told Jackie.
Jackie smile at her. "I'm tougher."
.
They got to Mako Island and Cleo showed Duncan a good place to 'dock' on some low rocks at the water's edge. A few bumpers and they tied up. they got people and supplies off, Jackie helped hunt for firewood as Duncan and Zane dug a fire pit in the sand on the nearby beach. Once they had it piled with wood, Duncan asked Fitz for a match.
Fitz dug in his pockets, the shrugged. "Aint got one mate."
"Uugh, let me," Jackie said. She brought her plasma cannon out in her left arm and shot the pit. Fire burst up and burned brightly. Everyone stared at her.
Duncan pinched his nose. "Jackie, you shouldn't have done that."
"We got a fire now, don't we?" she asked.
Lewis came over to scrutinize her arm. "What was that?"
Jackie changed her arm back into her canon to show him. "It's a plasma canon. If I got a big problem, this will wipe it away," she beamed.
"Wow. How'd you get it?"
"I was born with it. Mom Delilah has two, I was only born with one," Jackie explained.
"But ... how?" he asked "Can I touch it?"
Jackie giggled and held it up. "Sure," She explained it was made with liquid metal in the end of her arm. She changed it back into hand, then a short sword, then a hand again. She grinned at his wide-eyed amazement.
Watching Lewis scrutinizing Jackie's arm-weapon, Zane knew he'd better talk to Nate and let him know to not ever mess with Jackie.
It was still light enough that the girls took a swim and brought back a couple fish to add to the dinner. Not having to worry about anyone seeing their tails, they butt scooted up around the fire. Jackie kept her tail on so she had a reason to lean up against Duncan.
They had a nice time, and when it got dark, Duncan turned the boat's lights on, they packed up and returned to the mainland. Lewis navigating, of course.
.
The next day, Jackie had her two shows to do, at 9AM and 4PM. Ronnie was eager as ever to swim with her. Again, each crowd was thrilled with their performance. Jackie noted that in the second show, the seating was packed, no empty spaces at all. After the shows, Jackie went down to Rikki's to get a fruity drink. She'd never had papaya/ mango before, so she tried that. It wasn't bad at all. Tasty and not real strong.
We're screwed!" Nate blasted out as he came in. He then stopped and motioned to Jackie, "And miss get-off-my-boat is here too!"
Zane asked, "What's the problem, Nate?"
"Josh, my guitarist broke his hand Motocross riding," Nate complained. "Where am I going to find a guitarist to replace him on short notice?"
"Do you know Sweet Child of Mine by Guns and Roses?" Jackie asked.
Nate scrunched his face up. "Oh I suppose you can play the guitar portion of that?"
Jackie looked at Zane and pointed to the stage. "May I?"
"Go ahead," Zane replied motioning her on.
Jackie left her drink on the bar and went over to plug in the electric guitar. First she picked at each string, adjusted it a bit, then picked it again. "This thing is out of tune," she explained. After she tuned each string, then she played the opening rift to Sweet child of mine. Even Nate's jaw dropped open a little as he heard her smooth but frantic playing. She sang some of the song then stopped to ask, "What about November rain? I like the ending part the best." she then played the last guitar solo.
Rikki giggled. "Wow, she rocks!"
"WHERE did you learn to play like that?" Nate asked in an accusing tone.
"Mom Delilah taught me, and I got to play in a few concerts," Jackie replied. "When was the last time you played in front of a crowd of hundreds?"
Nate's face turned red.
Bella came in and eyed what was going on. "Hey, Jackie can play the guitar?"
"Oh yeah, she can play all right," Rikki said with a big grin.
Zane asked, "Bella, can you sing Sweet Child of Mine?"
"Yes, it's a classic," Bella replied.
"Nate, how about you, can you do the keyboard for it?" Zane asked.
Nate announced, "Of course I can!"
"Great!" Zane said. "So tonight, we have a classic's night! We need at least four songs guys. Nate, Bella, Jackie, as soon as the drummer gets here, work out what you're going to do."
.