Chapter 3


A/N: So, this is going to be the last chapter of The First Time, and I hope it'll meet your satisfaction needs (though it'll probably suck)! Sorry for the wait (if you have been waiting), but I have been busy and have been stressing for a while. If I didn't love this story so hard, I probably would've worked on my WC story, which is supposed to be my number one priority... Oh well. I'm going to miss working on this story, but I'm going to try to make it as flawless as possible. Thank you for reading my story, and I hope you love it. I'm a Zyla shipper through and through (sorry Zevie shippers).


Zac's lips were inches away from Lyla's. His words rang in her head. I'm going to kiss you. Then, he did. It was wonderful and magical, and Lyla wondered if she was dreaming. She felt so free, and she was burning with passion and love. She had never felt that way before towards anyone. It wasn't just lust, but there was plenty of that. It was fleeting and powerful, and the kiss burned through Lyla's entire body. When they pulled back, and their eyes met, Lyla knew that she wasn't dreaming. Lyla's eyes were wide, and she was breathless as Zac gazed at her in a way that could only be described as love. Then, without warning, their lips met again in a fierce kiss. The first one had been soft and gentle yet fiery and intoxicating at the same time. Their second had grown in intensity and passion.

Lyla's brain had simply went numb. When they pulled back, Lyla froze. She didn't believe what had just happened. Correction, she couldn't believe it. It was too beyond her real world figure. Zac was still watching her with a soft expression on his face. Lyla looked up to meet his gaze. Lyla's heart was racing, and she wondered if he could tell. "Am I dreaming?" Lyla breathed.

"If you're dreaming, I'm dreaming the same dream," Zac murmured.

That's when Lyla came to her sense, and something called reality hit her in the face. She pulled away from him, eyes wide and chest heaving. He looked bewildered at her sudden movement, and guilt racked his face. It looked like reality was setting in for him, too. They couldn't do this. Tides! Lyla hissed. And I said that our relationship would remain platonic. "Lyla... I'm... I," Zac stammered. It looked as if he was going to say sorry, but he hadn't spoken the word. Yet.

"Sorry?" Lyla offered.

"Well..." Zac frowned. "Actually, no. I'm not sorry that I did that." He looked sheepish and guilty now, which added more to the cute boyishness he usually had radiating off of him. "I actually enjoyed it." Then, he pursed his lips, like he knew that he shouldn't have said that. That makes the two of us, Lyla mused. His expression changed from sheepish to guilty to confused.

That was when Lyla realized three things: One, Zac had said that he was going to kiss her, and he had. Two, he admitted that he had liked it. And three... oh, the impossible three, Lyla had kissed him back and she had enjoyed it. Tides, she was such a horrible mermaid. "Zac..." Lyla said weakly. Her heart was racing with adrenaline under his gaze. The gaze that Lyla had sank into for so long...

"Oh tides," Lyla said, groaning as she stumbled away from him. She stared at him. "You weren't supposed to do that." She groaned again. "I wasn't supposed to do that. I'm going to be in so much trouble." She watched his gaze, which was burning with churning emotions. She was sure that the same emotions were playing on her face. "You know... I'll see you around."

Lyla strode over to the door as fast as she could, but Zac's fingers circled around her wrist. His gaze was pleading, and once again, Lyla knew that if she stayed any longer, she wouldn't be able to refuse. Ugh! Her world was just so messed up right now! Why was Zac always the problem? Zac, the most impossible person ever. Lyla couldn't have been more stupid in falling for him, not that she could help it.

But... Zac was also... Zac. He was the one who understood her, the one who cared about her. Truly cared. She was his go-to-confidant, and he was the most important person in Lyla's world. They didn't need to talk to enjoy each other's company. Tides, they didn't even need to talk. They shared an understanding so deep that they could read each other without words.

If Lyla stayed... what would happen? But... if she left... No, that wouldn't change a thing. They would still eventually talk about it. She knew that he knew what was going on in her mind. If she stayed... she feared to think of what might happen... But, she also relished it. His fingers were still around her wrist. He was so close to her now, inches apart. She wanted him to kiss her—there was no doubt about that... But... that wasn't it. That wasn't what stopping her.

"You're going to get me in trouble," she said, shoving him away. Then, she did something that hurt her so much. Hurt her more than it would ever hurt him. But he was with Evie, and Lyla would never go behind Evie's back with Zac. Sure, she didn't like Evie very much. Sure, Evie hated the ground she stood on... But still, Lyla could pretend that it never happened. Zac could still go on with Evie. Lyla could cut herself out of his life. It didn't matter that she was breaking inside. At least... at least he would be happy. Lyla looked into his eyes and yelled, "You are the worst thing that ever happened in my life!"

Then, she ran out.

Zac stood there, eyes wide.

Leaving him was the hardest thing to do. Watching him, with that heartbroken expression on his face, broke Lyla apart. She could feel her heart breaking, but she ran out of his house, away from him. She needed to get away. But at the same time, a part of her—more like every part of her—was telling her to run back to Zac. And leaving the boy she so desperately loved—still so desperately loved—well, that tore Lyla apart. So she left.

But she had also left her heart behind.


Every part of Zac was splintering as he watched Lyla go. It hurt him so much that she had rebuffed him... But, somehow, he knew that she didn't want to. He was tempted to run after her, but... he understood her. He knew that she wanted space, but it was agony for him. He could imagine it when their lips met. It wasn't like kissing with Evie. When he kissed Evie, it had been nice and innocent... But it didn't have the fiery passion and longing that burned within him when he kissed Lyla. He could feel the strength of his emotions threatening to rip him apart.

With Lyla... when they kissed, Zac could feel free, free of everything that was holding him back. It was so full of passion and longing and anger and everything else that they both had kept to themselves for so long. Something indescribable. She was different. Different from other girls... Was it because she was a mermaid? No, Zac didn't think so even if that was a viable option. No, it was because they shared such a perfect understanding with each other. He knew she could feel it. He could feel it, too.

You are the worst thing that ever happened in my life, she had said. It was like saying, I hate you. But he could picture the anguish in her eyes so clearly when she had said it. It was like saying that had broken a part of her inside. Zac's heart broke inside of him. She couldn't have been more clear about the rejection... yet, Zac felt that she thought differently. She had truly wanted to be with him. But there was one puzzling question that kept reentering his mind: why?

Zac got up and headed over to Ocean Cafe. First... he had to talk to Evie... to tell her that there could never be anything between them because his heart belonged elsewhere. Then... he needed to talk to Lyla. His heart fractured even more so at the thought of hurting Evie. Perhaps he didn't have romantic feelings for her anymore, but that didn't mean that he didn't care about her. He did care about her. Deeply. But she needed to understand that Zac couldn't let her stay trapped in their relationship when... when Zac didn't feel the same way as he did before.

He paused as he reached the door. Then, he opened it. He saw Evie tending to her store. Carly was by her side, and both girls were happily chatting. Zac stared at Evie. He saw a beautiful, sweet girl, but... his heart didn't race like it normally did. He didn't feel like going over to her and declaring his affection for her. He felt... nothing, really. A mild friendship but nothing romantic.

He was such a horrible person.

Not that he could call himself a person anymore.

She caught his gaze and smiled. Zac's face must've been doing something because Evie frowned. She said something to Carly before heading over to Zac. Zac could see all of the worry in her gaze and felt guilt churn through him. "Come on. Let's talk outside," he muttered, avoiding her gaze. She hesitated a heartbeat before following him outside.

"Zac?" She sounded genuinely puzzled.

"I'm sorry," he said. Hearing the despair in his voice made it that much worse. "I'm so sorry, but... Evie, I don't know how to tell you this, but I don't have feelings for you anymore. Not romantic, at least." Her eyes widened, as if she was taking in what he said. "You used to make me feel alive, but... it's not just me have personal issues and all, but I feel like you don't understand me anymore. We don't connect like we usually did."

"I can try," Evie argued.

So Lyla hadn't crossed her mind. Then, it was a matter of time before the pieces of the puzzle clicked inside her head. "No, you can't." He sighed. "I'm sorry, Evie, but... there's someone else who... who understands me. She doesn't even have to try. I... I never wanted to hurt you, but I have to follow my heart. And my heart is telling me that I can't be with you."

Almost as soon as he finished saying that, Evie said, "It's Lyla, isn't it?" She sounded mad. Her tone was almost accusatory. No, Zac couldn't downplay this anymore. "It's always been her," Evie said bitterly, not looking at him. "She understands you without trying. You know what? I saw it. I saw it all along. No matter how many times you kept denying it... it was always there. Always. But I ignored what my heart and my eyes told me... So I guess the joke's on me, right? My. Fault."

"Evie—"

"You know, I'm not surprised," she said, gaze dark and penetrating. "But I figured things would turn out okay. I didn't think you'd really do anything... But it was there. So many times. And I believed all of the lies." Finally, she whirled around to glare at him. "I loved you! I loved you! And you destroyed me! You took my heart, and you ripped it apart with your love for Lyla! I. Loved. You. And you used me. As a distraction for the girl you really wanted."

"Evie, that's not true."

"Oh, isn't it?" she demanded. "I knew you were head over toes for her!" Zac winced at the comment, particularly because he was a merman. "And you... I was foolish. It was my fault." Tears streaked down Evie's face. "Because I truly loved you, but you were so gone for her. After she arrived. You never used to keep secrets. You used to always confide in me. What changed?"

"I'm not the same guy who fell for you, Evie," Zac said, pained.

"Then I suppose you want to go to her. So you can use her until the next girl comes along in your web."

"Evie, it's not like that, and you know it!" Zac yelled. "This isn't about you! This is about me. I love her, alright? I said it! Are you happy? Because this time, this isn't about you, Evie. This is about me and Lyla and whether or not she'll take a chance on me! I've never felt the way I've feel for her before! Ever! She makes me feel alive! Don't you want me to be happy? If you really cared, you would want that!"

"You can't expect me to want my boyfriend to chase after some stalker?"

"Lyla's not a stalker!" Zac spat out. "She actually cares about me!" He continued bitterly, "It's not fair of me keeping you trapped in this relationship when I only feel friendship for you anymore! Get over yourself, Evie! I think you've mustered enough self-pity to create another ocean! But I do care about you! I don't care if you don't accept my relationship with Lyla! I love her, and that's all that matters!"

Tears streaked down Evie's face, and she ran back inside Ocean Cafe. She was probably seeking the comfort of Carly now. Zac stared despairingly into the sky. He had failed. He had wrestled with his temper and failed. Utterly failed. Evie probably hated him more than she hated Lyla. Then I suppose you want to go to her. So you can use her until the next girl comes along in your web. Those words stung, but Evie was wrong. Zac's feelings for Lyla were strong, stronger than anything else he had ever experienced. And he didn't need to keep secrets from her. She was a mermaid. She would understand. Evie was a land girl, and Evie could move on.

Zac loved Lyla too much to just pretend that he loved Evie romantically and loved Lyla as a friend. He loved Evie too much to keep her trapped in a relationship. His feelings for Lyla... They were so overwhelming... but in the best way. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him. Zac dove into the calm waters and swam to Rita's. He needed to talk to Lyla. He propelled himself upward onto land and waited painstakingly to dry his powerful tail.

As soon as his legs replaced his tail, Zac pelted towards Rita's door. He knocked, and the door opened. It was Rita. She smiled at him. "Zac, welcome," she greeted. She opened the door more. "Come on in. The others are in my grotto." At his questioning look, Rita smiled. "Follow me, Zac."

She led him to a room that held bookshelves. She pulled a book entitled Mako Mermaids out a little, and the bookcases shifted to reveal a room. Intrigued, Zac followed Rita as she led him deeper into the grotto. Zac found his heart racing as he saw Lyla levitating objects around the room. She was flanked by Sirena and Nixie, who were levitating objects around the room as well.

"Girls, we have a guest," Rita said.

The three mermaids turned towards Zac. Sirena frowned a little, seeming unsure. Nixie looked bored and furious. And Lyla... she glanced at Zac once before looking away. Her gaze was a mix of anguish and guilt, which soon disappeared as her features settled with a blank look. A look that would reveal nothing. But Zac had seen her anguish. Then, Zac consciously became aware of everyone's gaze—except Lyla's—trained on him. They saw him staring at Lyla with that look of anguish on his face. Zac frowned as he watched Nixie glare at Lyla accusingly. Wait...

"I need to talk to you," Zac said. He didn't say her name, but it was blatant as to who he was talking to. He watched her beseechingly, and she finally met his gaze. Zac was astonished at the pain and guilt that racked her gaze. She had an almost haunted look in her beautiful blue eyes. "Please," he pleaded plaintively. Watching the girl he loved hurt... it tore Zac apart.

"Lyla," Rita said quietly, "is there something you would like to tell us?"

"No, Rita," Lyla said, clenching her fists.

"Can I please talk to Lyla alone?" Zac asked Rita.

She watched his expression carefully. "I suppose so. Don't take too long."

Zac extended his hand out to Lyla's, but she didn't take it. She just moved past him abruptly and shot him a look that said something like, I'm a goner. He watched her, hurt, but followed her anyways. They stepped out of the grotto, and Zac glanced at her dejectedly. "Lyla, you need to tell me what's going on?" His hand reached for hers, and he squeezed. "Please."

"They know," Lyla choked out. "They told me... to stay away from you. That I wasn't supposed to..." Lyla looked frustrated. "And it's not just that, Zac. I'm not going to force you to break up with Evie for me," she hissed. "Besides, you and I don't belong together. We're from different worlds. This would've never worked out." The look in her gaze broke Zac's heart.

"You didn't force me to break up with Evie," he said.

"You broke up with her?" Lyla exclaimed incredulously. "You broke up with Evie?"

"Why did you lie to me?" he whispered frantically.

"I had to," Lyla forced out, eyes bright with unshed tears.

"Then tell me the truth: how do you feel about me?"

Lyla hesitated, but her gaze was certain. "I love you," she whispered.

And just like that, Zac's hurt faded away. Her words played in his head: I love you. She loved him. Zac felt his heart mending. He touched Lyla's face, and she flinched at his touch. But she didn't pull away. "Then why did you reject me?" he whispered. She was inches apart, and Zac wanted to do nothing more but kiss her. But no, he needed this answer.

"When... when the pod finally comes back," Lyla choked out, "I'll have to leave you. And... if I let you get close... it would be too hard to leave. And not just for me. For the both of us. I couldn't do that to you." The anguish was evident in her blue eyes. "Because I would rather hurt than watch you hurt more."

"But you know that being away from you hurt me."

"I wanted you to have a chance to move on," Lyla whispered. "You could've loved Evie. Truly loved her. But you confided in me, and you and Evie drifted away. You could've loved her, Zac." Zac sensed the truth in her words. She shook her head, gaze clouded. "We can't happen. I'm so sorry, Zac." Tears trailed down her face, and if possible, it made her look even more beautiful. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be," he whispered. He pulled her closer to him. "I need you," he breathed.

"You can forget about me," she whispered, anguish shining out of her eyes.

"I could never forget about you."

Tension notwithstanding, Lyla broke at those words. She pressed her lips against Zac, and Zac's fingers got tangled in her long hair as the kiss spread through him. It was full of passion and longing and everything else. He loved her, and he knew that she loved him, too. It didn't matter what the others thought. They would obviously have a verdict, but Zac was past caring. He sank into that kiss, and when they pulled apart, Zac still felt the adrenaline pump through his veins.

"Your pod won't come back unless I lose my tail," Zac said quietly. Then, he met her gaze pleadingly. His dark gaze locked onto her luminous one. He was sure that the emotions in her eyes were playing on his face. Countless emotions pounded within Zac's heart. "What's the point of anything—of lifeif I end up losing you?"

She took a deep breath. "You are strong."

He trembled, and a wry smile cross his features. "There are different definitions of the word 'strong,' Lyla."

"I know," she said gently. She smiled, but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes. After a long heartbeat of intimate silence, Lyla said, "If I let myself love you... it'll be that much harder to leave you. This is wrong enough as it is, Zac. And it's my fault." She shook her head, gaze filled with sorrow. "I'm so sorry." Her voice was scarcely a whisper.

And it's my fault, she had said. Evie had said something similar when Zac had talked to her. Zac turned defiantly at Lyla. "You are the most important person in my world." His voice cracked as he continued. "How can I lose you?" She pulled herself out of his grasp. He stared pleadingly at her. "You said you loved me."

"I do. And that's why I'm doing this."

She ran out of the room... but in doing so, she had taken Zac's heart along with her. She left, and he stared after her. He watched as her silhouette faded, and he felt tears prick in his eyes. I do. And that's why I'm doing this. Zac's heart broke as he thought of her...

... and he wondered if he would ever see her again.


"Did you see that?" Nixie demanded accusingly at the others. She gaped at Rita's awestruck expression and Sirena's uncertain one. Nixie had expected shock, anger, incredulity... Not... not whatever this was. She blanched and gritted her teeth. She didn't bother to hide her annoyance. Zac and Lyla still weren't done talking. "They're talking forever."

"Did you see the way they looked at each other?" Sirena breathed. "I've never seen anything like it."

"Oh please," Nixie scoffed.

"No, Sirena's right," Rita murmured. "I've never seen anything like it." She shook her head. "We can't blame Lyla. You can't choose who you fall in love with... and we can't blame her at all... because Zac had fallen for her, too." Rita sighed. "All of this time... he loved her, too."

"She's such a liar," Nixie muttered.

"Nixie..." Sirena started, but she trailed off.

"Well, Nixie, why don't you go check on them?" Rita said.

Jerk.

"After all," Rita continued, "since you seem to feel for them so passionately."

Jerk. Feel for them passionately? You're joking, right? Of course, Nixie did feel for them passionately. Them, together? Yes, to answer your question, Nixie did feel something. And it was hate. Pure, black hatred. But, of course, since they were both traitors they might as well belong together, right? Nixie sighed and gritted her teeth, trying to force herself to stay neutral. "Of course, Rita. Anything you want, Rita," she said flatly, stalking out of the room.

Nixie headed out of the grotto and—

"Who stands in the middle of the doorway?" Nixie yelled as she collided with Zac.

His eyes widened in bewilderment. "I-I... sorry."

Nixie frowned disapprovingly. Her frown deepened as she realized that Zac was alone. She sighed and crossed her arms. "Zac, where's Lyla?" Then, she sighed as she rethought her words. "Actually, what did you do now?"

"I didn't do anything!" Zac exclaimed defiantly. Nixie felt an unusual trickle of pity for him as she saw the deep sadness and longing in his dark gaze. "I..." He sagged against the wall, and Nixie's eyes widened as she saw tears slowly trailing down his face. "It's complicated..."

Nixie threw her hands up in the air indignantly. "Everything about this situation is complicated! You're as much use as brain coral, aren't you?"

"Huh?"

"Never mind," Nixie muttered.

Zac got up, bewildered. He shook his head. "I'm going to find Lyla."

"Does she want to be found?"

More silence.

Then, Zac said, "Yes." His voice was hoarse and muffled with grief and pain.

Nixie watched Zac leave. She had seen the look in his eyes.

It was the same way Sirena looked at David.


Lyla watched the waves recede across the shore. She was at the beach... where she had first seen Zac. He had saved a little girl that day. It seemed a whole lifetime ago. Lyla was a long ways away from the shores, careful not to let the infinite blue touch her. Today, she didn't desire the comfort of the ocean. She wanted to forget about Zac... yet, she didn't.

Lyla hugged her legs as she heard a bird cawing. She cocked her head and sighed. The horrible churning emotions in her chest were overwhelming. She wondered if Zac felt like this. She wondered if he understood. Of course he does, she thought. He always understands... though that can be both infuriating and comforting at the same time.

"Hey, stranger."

Lyla turned to see Zac, much to her displeasure. But... some part of her admired the way his t-shirt hugged his body and the way the light played so carefully in his dark eyes so gold danced in Zac's dark eyes. She smiled a little. That smile immediately faded as she saw the turmoil in his gaze. She took a deep breath. "Why are you here?" Tides, why was her voice shaking?

"I wanted to see you." He sat next to her and squeezed her hand. Lyla wondered if the gesture was to comfort her or him and finally decided that he was trying to comfort the both of them. She squeezed back, and she could see his eyes glow with pleasure and joy. Did he really love her that much? He took a deep breath, and Lyla dared a glance at him. It was a mistake. She was momentarily dazzled by his eyes. Gold flecks seemed to thread his gaze. "We need to talk."

"That's why we're here," Lyla teased, shoving him playfully. "Alone."

He smiled at that, seeming relieved. "Well, you need someone to keep you on your tail," he teased.

"Yeah right," she retorted, but her tone was lighthearted. As was her mood.

He sighed, optimistic mood over. "We really do need to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about," Lyla argued.

"Why are you being so difficult?"

She froze at that. "Maybe... maybe it's because I won't like the outcome." She shook her head darkly. "Zac, you know this as well as well as I do. Us... We were never going to work out. It just ends up with a lot of heartbreak. Nothing good ever comes out of a forbidden love."

"That's not true," he argued.

"Isn't it?" She shot him a pointed look.

He fell silent at her words. "Lyla..."

"Yes?"

"I didn't think you could be afraid."

"I'm afraid of a lot of things, Zac," Lyla said with a pained look on her face. She sighed. "I was afraid of the trident. I was afraid it would hurt you. I was afraid that our friendship would be destroyed when I told you that I was a mermaid. I'm scared of a lot of things. It's what makes me human. It's what makes us all human."

"But you're not human," he pointed out.

"Exactly."

Lyla looked away from Zac, heart clouded with emotions. It seemed like torture, to be so close to him but not able to do anything at all. She let out the breath she hadn't realized that she had been holding as she looked at Zac. His gaze was trained right on her, and though Lyla wanted to look away, she couldn't. Lyla's heart was pounding so hard that she could've sworn that Zac could hear it. Stupid alluring eyes. But she didn't want to break the silence with words.

Zac stood up and extended a hand towards her. "Come on."

Lyla took his hand and got up. He pulled her against him, slinging an arm around her shoulder. They both glanced at the brilliant vast ocean stretched out in front of them. "It's very beautiful," Lyla murmured, nodding at the sea. She admired the way the light from the sun complemented the waters. Vast and infinite. Powerful yet gentle.

"Yeah," Zac said, but he wasn't looking at the ocean. His dark gaze was trained on Lyla's, and she blushed. "Very beautiful indeed," he murmured.

Sighing contentedly, Lyla slung her arms around his neck. She felt him place his hands thrillingly on her waist. They were just standing there... It was something Lyla had never experienced before. It felt strange... but comforting at the same time. "What are we doing?" she whispered.

"Not dancing," he breathed.

Lyla blushed, embarrassed. Not dancing. Somehow, the moment still seemed romantic. She tilted her head upwards to look at him better. He leaned a little lower and pressed his lips against hers. All of the nerves in Lyla's body locked up as they kissed. It was soft and sweet, but there was no denying the power and intensity and lust in it. And then, somehow, Lyla knew that she wasn't meant to be apart from Zac. They were meant to be together. They fit together perfectly like a puzzle. They were complete together. It didn't matter what the others thought. Only they mattered.

"What's going to happen to us?" he asked her, still holding her.

"I don't know."

Somehow, Lyla figured things would turn out okay. Somehow. She didn't know what was going to happen, but she would be prepared. No, they would be ready. Because she wasn't alone. And he wasn't about to leave her. But whatever was going to happen... well, that would be another day, right? And Lyla didn't need to know what to expect.

But they would do it together.

Just like the first time.


A/N: I'm so disappointed in myself. The ending sucks so much, and I could've—should've—rewritten it much better. It should've went differently. I reread it, and it filled me with an unfinished feeling. Oh well. At least, the last two sentences sound better. Such a weak ending... But I had to end it somewhere, right? Anyway, I hope you enjoyed that three-shot of Lyla/Zac because I certainly loved writing it! I think I was holding myself back when writing this, but... what's done is done, right? Tell me what you think about it: like it? Love it? Hate it? (If you hated it, at least appreciate that I put in the time and effort in the story.) Anyway, reviews are appreciated (criticism and praise) though not necessary. ;)