"Can I ask just one more?" I pleaded as Layla accelerated much more quickly than I would have anticipated down the loud street. She didn't seem to be paying any attention to the road.
She sighed. "One," she agreed. Her pink lips were pressed together again.
"How did you know exactly which room to find me in? There were at least two men's lockers, the shower rooms, the gear room, the field, the office. How did you know?"
She looked away, almost ashamed again.
"I thought we were past this…" I reminded her. She almost smiled.
"Fine. I followed your scent." She looked over at me, gauging my reaction. I pondered that for a minute, decided to think about it more when I was home.
"And then you didn't answer one of my first questions…" I started. She looked frustrated.
"Which one?"
"How does it work? The sixth sense of yours? Whatever it is you can do? And does the rest of your family have that ability?" I should have felt silly, but I was past reality by now. Every mythical creature I'd ever heard of could very well be real, at this point.
"That's more than one… but no. I'm the only one that has that. And I can generally sense what a person is feeling, if they're really extremely emotional I might be able to pick up an exact thought. But that's only in extreme circumstances. I can't normally just read thoughts. It's more emotions. And usually I tune it out, or else everyone else's emotions would take over me. That is, besides you. Every once in a while I pick up a feeling, but never a distinct thought. You're more like static, white noise. And it kills me." She shook her head.
I thought about that a moment. "And you have no idea why that is?"
Layla responded "Nope. I think it may be because your mind, your system doesn't work the same way the rest of theirs do. But that's all I can think of," she smirked at me.
"Curious…" I didn't know what to say to that.
"But it's just a theory. Which happens to bring us back to you." She spoke slowly, enjoying it.
I sighed. Might as well be straightforward. But how to word it…
"I won't laugh," she promised, smirk still intact.
"I'm more afraid you'll be upset…"
"Is it that bad?"
"I'm not sure. Depends if it's true."
She waited. I was looking out the window, so I couldn't see her expression.
"Go ahead, Dan." Her voice was calm.
"Well, I got the idea from a friend. Who will remain nameless for the sake of that person. And I developed it… I did a lot of research… on mermaids. Sirens, more specifically." I didn't have to look at her face to see her tense up. Her knuckles went white on the steering wheel and her body went rigid.
"And that's what you think we are?" her tone didn't reveal anything. I rubbed my forehead nervously.
"Well, I don't know. But I decided, tonight actually, that it didn't matter." My tone was stronger than I thought I could manage.
"It didn't matter?" Her tone made me look up, I had finally broken through that terrible mask. Her face was incredulous, with more than a small amount of the anger I'd feared.
"No," the tone was gathering strength. "It doesn't matter to me what you are."
A hard, mocking edge entered her musical voice, making it very, very scary. "You don't care if I'm a monster?! If I'm not human?!"
"No." still no falter.
She was silent, staring straight ahead. Her face was bleak and cold.
"This was why I wanted to leave it alone."
"No," she said, but her tone had softened no more than her face. "I'd rather know what you're thinking- even if what you're thinking is idiotic and insane."
"So I'm wrong again?" I challenged, with edge in my voice now too.
"That's not what I'm referring to. 'It doesn't matter'!" she exclaimed, mocking me but not telling me I was wrong.
"I'm right?" I couldn't keep the shock from my voice.
"I thought it didn't matter!"
"It doesn't, but I am curious. I think I have a right to know." I was happy I hadn't lost it yet. I was just as firm and composed as Layla.
"What are you curious about?" her tone was hushed now.
"How old are you?"
"Depends what unit you're measuring with." She stalled.
"Human?" I was beyond frustrated.
"Seventeen." she answered promptly.
"Mermaid?" I begged.
"Much older." She admitted finally. At least she was being honest now. She stared across at me with watchful eyes, and I smiled a real smile at her. She frowned.
"Don't laugh, but how can you get wet without… turning?"
She laughed anyway, but with the sound it made I didn't mind. "Myth. Only ocean water."
"Do you turn into sea foam when you die?"
"Myth."
"Friends with all sea critters?"
"Myth."
"Lovely singing voice?"
Another laugh. "That's a matter of opinion."
"What about sleeping?" Curiosity seeped into my voice.
She hesitated, then said in a peculiar voice "I can't sleep."
"At all?"
"Never," she said, her voice less than a whisper. She turned to look at me with a wistful expression. Her shockingly blue eyes held mine, and I lost my train of thought. I stared at her until she looked away.
"What about the most important issue," Her voice was hard again, and when she turned back to me her face had found the mask.
"I'm not sure I want to know," I said quietly, returning her stare.
"Oh, but you have to know," her voice was very harsh.
"What do you feed on?" I was whispering now, already knowing her response.
"Humans." She spat it at me and turned her head back to the road.
"There's no alternative…?" I asked desperately, almost silently.
"No, Daniel. There is no alternative." Her voice, hard, mocking, cut my insides. I couldn't speak. I had been thinking of ways to overlook that, but now, being so openly addressed, I had nothing.
"Not so easy now, is it?" her voice wavered, and I saw her eyes filling with blue again.
I could only think to say "Tell me more." Quietly.
Blue streamed down her face for the second time tonight. "Full moon requires at least one feeding to sustain life. It's done far out in the ocean. My family tries to be good. Many do it for sport, for game. But we try to be good. Mistakes can be made though… tonight for instance. Me, allowing myself to be alone with you." the blue was rolling down unceasingly now. I wanted so badly to wipe at them.
"This is a mistake?" I asked, sadness overwhelming my voice.
"A very dangerous one."
We were both silent. The blue rolling down her face slowed a little.
I resumed the conversation. "Why don't you hunt for sport?" I made sure to keep my tone gentle.
"I don't want to be a monster!" she looked over at me, hurt.
"Then that makes you better than most of your kind," I tried to point out a positive.
"Daniel, don't delude yourself. I'm a killer! A murderer, a beast. Right this moment you have no idea how difficult being in this car with you is!"
"But you're not hungry now," I stated.
"Why do you think that?"
"Well, it's another theory. I suspected the darker your eyes, the more you needed to hunt. Your eyes are the lightest I've ever seen them today. So… you've hunted very recently." It made me look at her differently. But I still couldn't muster up the fear.
"You are observant, aren't you?" she shook her head.
"Were you hunting this weekend? With Erin?" I tried to connect the dots.
"Yes… I didn't want to leave, but it was necessary. It's a bit easier to be around you when I'm not hungry."
"Why didn't you want to leave?"
"It makes me… anxious… to be away from you." Her eyes were gentle but intense, making my stomach flip. "I was worried about you the whole time. With good reason. And after what happened today, I'm surprised that you did make it through the weekend alive. And… about the party…" she paused, not knowing how to continue. I felt myself tense.
"I'm sorry for my comment. When I'm mad, or jealous, I tend to get bitchy. I said that because I do know you're not another asshole and I never guessed you'd be at that party, let alone glued to some other girl's mouth," It sounded like an apology… but I couldn't be sure. I accepted it anyway.
"No, I know I'm not a typical partier. But… that comment was uncalled for. And about her… what am I supposed to do now? What do we have here?" Maggie's face filled my mind.
Layla blew out a deep breath and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm still hoping you'll come to your senses and run while you can, to be quite honest."
"So… you're telling me to keep my relationship with her? I'm really getting mixed messages here," Layla or Maggie? Layla or Maggie?
"I'll leave that up to you, Dan." Her tone gave nothing away. I groaned to myself. She continued. "I'm not completely sure what we are either. But about that kiss, in the kitchen?" As if I could forget it. "That was incredibly stupid." Okay, not what I expected. "Not of you, though it was pretty stupid of you, but of me. I could have moved away fast enough but I didn't. You have no idea how difficult that was for me!" She glanced over at me, saw that I had no regrets, and shook her head.
"How was I supposed to know, at that time, that you had a strong desire to kill me? I mean really," I felt my smug grin and didn't try to suppress it. Layla had chosen, even though it was dangerous for both of us, to let me kiss her. That had to count for something.
"Stop smiling! It was terrible!" she was trying to keep her face blank, but I could see the corners of her mouth tugging into a smile. After a minute or two though, the moment passed. Her face was back to unhappy. I would do anything to bring the smile back.
"Ah," she groaned to herself. "This is wrong."
"Did I say something?" I was confused.
"It was one thing when it was just me being miserable trying to stay away from you, but a totally different matter for you to be so involved." Her eyes were full of anguish, but I couldn't take back my feelings for her. Her words, usually deliberate, came out in a messy rush. "Daniel I don't want you getting close to me. I don't want to hear that you have feelings for me. It's wrong. It's incredibly dangerous. I am not someone you should associate with, in any way. Do you hear me? I am dangerous! Please, Dan. Please grasp that!" She was staring into my eyes in the last few words, and I could tell she was being completely honest. But for the life of me, I couldn't make myself fear. I couldn't. I felt a connection with this girl, this monster, this whatever, and I couldn't make myself afraid of her. It was incredibly stupid of me, both of us knew that, but I couldn't change it now.
"I do grasp that."
"Then what are you doing here?!" she snapped.
"I told you. It doesn't matter to me what you are. It's too late for me to change-"
She cut me off. "Never say that!" I was silent. More than anything, I was angry. Furious. She wasn't the only one in a tight spot and she could at least hear me out. I couldn't just forget her now, even if I kept up my relationship with Maggie. I wasn't the normal asshole guy and she wasn't the normal slutty girl. I started to imagine what we would be like together… then stopped. No use in getting my hopes up. I would only get hurt more in the end anyway.
"What are you thinking?" her voice was still sharp.
"None of your damned business." I retorted. She suddenly cared?
She groaned again. "I'm sorry." Her voice was regretful, but I was still pissed. She looked over at me but I kept my eyes looking out the window.
"How can you even think about having a relationship with me? I'm a murderer…" she was genuinely wondering. She had a point, a point that I would think over later, but I didn't feel like responding now.
"Will I see you tomorrow?" I kept the anger in my voice, more as a point than anything.
"Yes, I have a paper due." She gave a tired smile. "I'll save you a seat at lunch, if you want." She almost whispered the last part. It was absolutely ridiculous with the past twenty four hours how much that little promise meant to me.
We were in front of my house. I didn't want to get out. I didn't want this night to be over, and I didn't want Layla to vanish in a puff of smoke like I had been waiting to happen since I first met her. Neither of us moved.
"Do you promise to be there tomorrow?" I asked quietly.
"I promise." She answered, just as quietly. I considered that for a moment, and then nodded slowly. I pulled the handle and pushed the door open. By the time I was out, holding my bag, Layla had also gotten out and walked around the car to my door. She looked up at me and smiled sadly. I sighed.
"Can I hug you?" I hesitated. Her mouth widened to a real smile now.
"Sure."
I dropped my bag and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into me slowly; slowly enough, I hoped, so that it wasn't very hard for her. She circled her arms around my waist and leaned into me, resting her forehead against my neck. I closed my eyes and breathed out. Her heavenly scent surrounded me. When I opened them I looked down to her. She inhaled deeply, taking me in I supposed. When she opened her eyes and looked back up at me, her irises were visibly darker. It made my heart beat faster, but I wasn't scared. I let go and she pulled away.
"Goodnight, Daniel." Layla said softly. I loved the way she said my name.
"Goodnight, Layla." I smiled. I picked up my bag, turned up my walkway and went inside; my last glimpse of her was Layla standing next to her beautiful car, putting it to shame.
In a daze I tripped up the steps and found my room. I dropped my bag and stripped, deciding a hop in the shower would probably do me good.
The water was too hot, burning my skin, I realized halfway through. When I got out I was freezing, but I didn't care. I toweled off, put some boxers on, and crashed onto my bed. I turned my light out and let my thoughts take over.
About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Layla was a mermaid. Second, there was a part of her, and I didn't know how dominant that part may be, that would love nothing more than to make me her next meal. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with her.
Basically, I was screwed.