I don't know how I did it. I survived the first week of high school with people with less sense than a star-fish! I am so proud of my-self! Now I kinda feel bad about giving Max such a hard time about school, now I understand his pain AND I DON'T LIKE IT! But now I also understand why he looks forward to the weekend so much. I can't believe how excited I am about two little days, between school. But Dad did say if I lasted the whole week he would have a surprise for me, and he surprises are the best! Honestly if anyone knew how excited I was for Saturday, I would have to kill them just to keep it a secret. But when Saturday finally came, and the say for better lack of word was perfect! Dad let me stay up the night before helping him work on his new research, and let me sleep in the next morning! The thing that woke me up in the morning was no other than the smell of grilled salmon! Just the smell made my mouth water, and to top it all off Dad always cooked mine just off raw! In any other situation this might set off alarms, but even as a kid I liked my meat as raw! But Dad said I couldn't eat meat raw because it could have dangerous bacteria, and blah,blah,blah. But it helps that the salmon I almost raw, I can't stand the taste of cooked meat, it defeats the whole purpose of having meat! So while I was eating or devouring my just off raw salmon, Dad sat across from me with a goofy grin, the would only mean trouble.
" What?" I asked in a wary tone.
" Nothing". He said with an even bigger grin, I decided to ignore it, and keep eating, but he would not wipe that grin off his face, and finally I COULD NOT TAKE IT!
" Ok why are you smiling like that?!" I half hollered.
" BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BEST DAY EVER!" Dad said an in almost squeal, which really scared me. He must have seen it in my face, because he laughed and ruffled my hair, and told me to go get ready. I tried to figure out what he had planned but came up with nothing, finally when I came back down stairs, he told me to get in the car, but refused to tell me where we were going, not matter how much I begged or demanded. Finally I we just sat in silence, me trying to figure out what was going on, and Dad to busy revolving in his work to concentrate of small talk. Finally Dad said
"Ok Sharkboy we are here." I immediately look up to see this amazing place he has been waiting all week to show me, to look out the window and find that we are just at the end of the beach. I turn to my Dad with confusion written all over my face, he sees this smiles, and says.
" Just follow me". And without another word we exit the car, and walk down the beach, to find our self's facing a-bunch of boulders. Dad walks around the rocks that are honestly another five feet taller than his six foot two, but he just keeps walking until I see what he was trying to show me, I small opening in the boulders, and as Dad slips into the slender opening, he sticks his hand back out to help me in, so I take his hand, and step into the entrance, and immediately let go of his hand, only for him to grip it again, I don't understand why he does this, until I had a good look around. The boulders outside made a kind of cavern that was completely black, honestly to a human they could not even see the hands in front of this faces in here, but to me it was just mildly dark. Dad of- course not knowing that, takes my hand and weaves through the cavers descending deeper, and father into the caves, honesty it is amazing how he can navigate through here, fully knowing he can't see a thing. Finally at a swift turn I see light, and dad pulls me towards it. The light was coming from a cave, a cave that was like no other, in fact as the king of the ocean I would say it was the only one of its kind. The cave was a circle at the center was a small poll of water big enough to wade in, but not swim, that would lead out to the rest of the ocean. And the walls of the cave we made of bolder, and a deep sea blue crystal, giving it a underwater feel, and to top it all off, the cave ceiling was not even a ceiling, it was a direct opening to the sky, this cave was pure magic. So this was dads surprise and I love it!
" So what do you think?" Dad asked with a wide grin.
" This is amazing!" I said walking in a full circle trying to take it all in.
" Ya it's something else, I found this place one day, walking down the beach, wanted to see is if the boulders had any water pools in them, once I was in the entrance I got lost, and stumbled upon this place."
" It's perfect". I said and it was, time seemed to freeze when we here, Dad showed me around the cave, we waded in the water, and had a contest to see how could dive the deepest. I let him win to let him keep his ego, and my secret. But about my secret a underwater cavern, is this not the ideal place to tell him, just to get it all out? If I was going to be living with the guy he needed to know about half my life right? And it was only a matter of time before he found out. It was time to tell him.
" Dad" I started to say.
" Ya Sharkboy?" he asked looking so happy, I just couldn't find the right words, so my stomach did for me, giving a deep rumple. Dad laughed good naturedly, and said
" Come on I packed us a lunch it's back in the car". So I just shut my mouth, and walked back to the car with dad, thinking I really needed, a plan. As we were eating lunch, crab, sandwiches, people thing it sounds gross but it's actually a really great meal. During which I spilled my water on a piece of my sandwich and, now it was ruined, so ripped off that piece of bread and through it, not noticing where I was aiming, and the bread went and hit dad square in the face, he looked stunned for a minute, then said.
" Taylor what have I always told you about playing with your food". Dad said in a stern voice. I immediately put my head down, and mumbled out an apology, to hear Dad chuckling, I looked up to see him with a smile on his face, the guy was teasing me! Only lava-girl has ever teased me! Seeing the shocked look on my face, dad just laugh and tackled me! The guy tackled me! No one tackles the king of the ocean and gets away with it, so we ended up wrestling which ended up as a game of tag, which somehow ended up with us in the ocean, playing water tag. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard. But then I heard a voice.
" Help, please, please help me!" What was going to on? I thought and looked around the beach only to find people, relaxing and having a good time, no one on the beach was in danger, so, it must be a someone underwater. Just as that realization hit so did Dad, our water tag game momently forgotten. Dad quickly grabbed me in a mock throw, and was about to throw me into the water, when he felt me thrashing in his grip, realizing something was wrong he quickly put me down, and asked
" What is it Sharkboy?" I didn't know what to do, as king of the ocean he was my job to protect all ocean creatures and one needed help BADLY! But I couldn't just leave Dad, in fact he would probably follow he. A sharp scream reached my ears, and made the decision for me. I dove into the ocean, hearing Dad call my name after me, I swam deeper, and father into the ocean, making sure no human could reach were I was, and quickly pulled of the necklace, turning my body back into his original Sharkboy form. Following the screams I found something that truly pissed me off! A dolphin was trapped in a tuna net, and it's fin was slowly getting cut by the net. I quickly swam towards it, grabbing onto the net a cutting it with my teeth, freeing the dolphin, it squeaked its thanks, and I asked if it needed to go to the palace of medical attention. believe it or not, over the years I have spent in the ocean I am more trained, and educated about healing ocean life than a vet! The dolphin replied it would by find, just a scratch, thanked me again and proceed to swim off. Glad that the dolphin was ok, I saw back to shore, trying to think of an excuse for Dad, as to why I ran off. Once I got close enough to shore, I put the necklace back on returning to human form, and swam to the surface. When I got to the surface I heard a loud BANG! I was so shocked, that I jumped back into the water, it took a second for me to realize that that bang was actually just applause, all the people on the beach were capping, and cheering looking at something behind me. I looked behind me to see what had got everyone so crazy. To find that from the view of the beach, was a perfect angle of the ship I was just at recusing that dolphin. My secret was out everyone knew even Dad. For a brief moment I was so depressed that all I wanted to do was to dive down to the deepest part of the ocean and never come out, but I wondered if they all knew I was a Sharkboy, then why were they cheering. It look a second for me to realize that from the distance from the beach to the boat, all the people could see was my head, they could not make out my body! Wow was that a relief, I felt like I had been splashed with cool water, oh wait I had. I just as I realized that my secret was still a secret, Dad came barreling down in to the water gripping me in tight hug. But just as he hugged me, I felt a sharp, deep pain in my arm, I immediately cried out in pain. Dad quickly released me and looked at my right arm in shock. Seeing his expression I looked down at my arm to see that is was torn, scratched, and maimed. I tried to figure out what happened when I remembered that when I was cutting the net I accidentally got my arm caught in the net, without thinking my talons ripped my arm free, as a Sharkboy this would mean just a few scratches, as a human is was bleeding rapidly, parts of the skin peeling off. Dad gently picked up my arm, with one hand, and rapped the other around my waist, and proceeded to walk me up the beach. As soon as we reached the sand Dad screamed.
" Someone call an ambulance". What did he just say, ambulance? No ambulance, meant hospital, which means doctor, which means form one pocking around with my DNA!
" Ah Dad I don't think that necessary." I said in a sheepish tone.
" Hush." He said as I saw the life guard of the beach racing towards us with a phone in one hand, and a water, and towel in the other. Ok where was this guy when the dolphin was in the net? And would these people just leave me alone, honestly it seemed everyone on the beach was crowding us. The life guard came up to my me and said in a ' I so important voice'.
" Ok kid lay down we need to clean your arm." As if I was listening to one thing this guy said.
" Look it's just a couple of scratches, doesn't even hurt, I'm find, and I'm going home".
" Taylor listen to what he is saying." I stared open mouthed at Dad, did he really just say that? He he had said it, and with his papa-shark glare. Great just great, so I sat down on the on the towel the life guard had laid down as Dad picked up my arm for the life guard to examine. All the guy did was put some water it and, rap it. I COULD HAVE DONE THAT! And to top it all off the guy starts to talk to me.
" What you did out there was really great kid". He said with a cheesy smile, I knew the guy was trying to be nice, but I had, had enough!
" Ok two things one, all I did was the right thing, two NEVER CALL ME KID" I said in a low 'I am the king of the ocean, and can make out fish food' voice. Which seemed to work just find, as the guy shut up, and told my dad.
" I can't do anymore unit the paramedics get here". As he was saying this I could hear the sounds of sirens. Oh no, I turned to see that the ambulance has arrived and that they were bringing out a stretcher, oh no, no, no, no. There is no way in this world, or the planet Drool I am getting on that thing! As the EMT's start to talk towards me I stand up, and start walking towards them, realizing I would have to go to the hospital, but I was doing it on my terms. When I got with in arms reach of them they reach out to grab me! I immediately jerked away.
" It's ok we just want to carry you to the ambulance". One of the EMT's said, in a really slow, sickly sweet voice, I think you have to be mentally sane to work as a EMT but honestly, the guy was either not sane, or thought I was insane, so I decided to show him how I was perfectly mentally stable I was.
" IT'S MY ARM THAT'S HURT NOT MY LEG'S OR HEAD!" I said in a sharp clear, deathly tone. The first EMT looked shocked while the other just rolled his eyes, gave a small chuckle.
" You will have to excuse James he's new, and has a lot to learn". Said the second EMT in a sarcastic tone, facing his partner.
" Anyway I'm Paul, and if want to walk that's just fine". I think I'm going to like Paul, anyone how uses sarcasm, and lets me do what I want, can't be all that bad. So the dad, Paul, and a pouting James, and I walk to the ambulance, the EMT's re-load the stretcher into the ambulance, and tell me to get in. I cannot believe how humiliating this is. I climb into the stretcher with James asking behind me if I needed help in. Does this guy realize it only takes one hand to strangle someone? I climb inside the ambulance without strangling James, Dad right behind me. Paul tells James that he is the better driver, and should be the one to drive. In reality I knew he saw I could not stand the guy, so he got him out of the way. Again really liking Paul. On the ride to the hospital Paul checked out my arm assessing what the doctors would do once we got to the hospital. While Dad sat next to me on the stretcher, his arms around me in a sideways hug, rubbing my back, and head. Normally I would be horrified for anyone to see this kind of behavior, from me. But dad seemed to be really freaking out, to me this looked like a small scratch, we sharks have high pain tolerances, so to me this barley registered. To him this looked like his kid arm was completely maimed. So I could understand his slight freak out, and Paul had obviously been an EMT I long time, so he was used to seeing all the family cuddling. Once we reached the hospital that's were all the real fun began. I hoped out of the ambulance. With Paul informing me that I would have to get in the stretcher. I looked at him, and he just responded by saying.
" Hospital policy, all patients have to be on stretchers to avoid complications"
" What complications!" I started to say but I was cut short when dad grabbed my shoulders, and turned me to face him. Crap he had is papa-shark look again; I am really growing to hate that look. So got on to the stretcher, and pushed the raising button so that I was in a sitting position, and Paul pushed me in to the hospital. As soon as we got in to the building people starting whispering and pointing.
" Is that Adam Conner's kid?". "Wonder what happened to him?" "Wonder how I will get if I send this pic to the media?" Ok that last one scared the living out of me, the media, they would eat this alive, pick out every little bit of it, and expose it to the whole world! The council would rip me apart for making a scene. Without a second thought I hopped off the stretcher grabbed the guy's smart-phone and toke out its memory card, dropped it on the floor and proceeded to step on it. I looked up to see the guy no older than 16, but with the brain of a five year old, stare at me open mouthed.
" Don't even think about it." I growled. I felt someone come up behind me, and wrap an arm around my waist, I immediately struggled to get the free, but I was in a vise like grip, then I heard a soothing voice in my ear.
" Calm down Sharkboy just ignore them, and get back on the stretcher so the doctor can see you." I realized it was Dad who had me, and was sending that idiot with the smart-phone an extreme papa-shark glare, wow I almost feel sorry for the guy almost. Dad walked me back to the stretcher and then Paul proceed to wheel me to a medium sized medical room. Looking around I saw it looked just like the ones I had seen in one of those horror movies Max showed me. Right down to the pointy instruments. Why would anyone let alone a doctor just have their equipment laying around for anyone to grab, honestly it just was not safe, and was slightly terrifying, not that I would ever emit that. Once we were in the room Paul said his good byes and wishes me a quick recovery. Hello I'm a Sharkboy by the end of the week there won't even be a scar! As soon as Paul left the nurse came in, not really taking much care in her work, just following mandatory procedure. It was kinda un-nerving but if it got me out of here faster who cared? Apparently Dad seemed to, as he moved closer to me on the hospital bed, putting an arm around my shoulder, watching every move the nurse made, questioning her at every turn. Anyone with half a brain could see how much dad's questions were bugging her. But after she had done her job of taking my temperature, blood pressure, weight, height, and all dad whispered in my ear.
" I HATE when people don't pay attention to their job's that's really when they mess up, and if a nurse messes up, someone could end up dead." Ok now I see where he is going with this, and I get his meaning she should have been paying more attention, and I'm sure after Dad's ever ending questions she will now. The nurse left with a tired, fake smile, saying the doctor would be in shortly. Max had told me after being in the doctor's office all the time for routine check up's , all nurses say shortly, yet what they really mean is, ' when the doctor has time'. Which could mean five minutes, or an hour. I guess I must of gotten lucky because we only had to wait three minutes lucky me. The doctor came in with a wide cheesy smile, gabbed the chair next to the hospital bed, and sat down saying
" When I heard that Adam Conner kid had saved a dolphin had to see it for myself." Does anyone on this planet have a brain? I was full on using my ' I'm the king of the ocean' glare at the doctor, while I come feel Dad doing the same with his papa-shark glare.
" Ok, lets check that arm out." The doctor said obviously awkward. He gently grabbed my arm turning it over, prodding it gently, I could almost see the gears turning in his head. Finally he said.
" You will be just fine, all this needs is some disinfecting ointment, and rapping with a few stiches." The doctor said trying to cover up that last part.
" WHAT!" I said " STICHES?"
" You're going to need a few, there are a few gashes on your arm, but this one." The doctor said pointing to the middle of my for-arm where there was a deep long gash. " Needs a few stitches to heal properly." I was to shocked to speak, I was getting stiches, the king of the ocean, who has the ultimate pain tolerance, is getting stiches over a little tuna net. Oh this cannot be happening. But it was and Dad was taking it a lot harder than I was.
" It's ok Sharkboy, it's ok, you're going to be just fine". Dad thought I was traumatized? Guess again.
" Dad" I said in a forced soothing voice. " I feel fine, I am perfectly fine."
" Ah no you're not." Said the doctor in a sarcastic voice. Ok who did this guy think he was?
" I sorry doctor….."
" Richard, Richard Logan".
" Ok then doctor Logan, my arm is just a-little cut up, I get a few stiches go home, and everything is all good." I said I forced calm voice, trying to show him that he needed to shut up! I think he got the message as he shut his mouth, and went and got the stuff he needed. While the Doctor Logan was getting his equipment Dad was rubbing my back and saying that when we got home he would made sushi, and we could watch all the bad ocean movies I wanted. I knew Dad was trying to make me feel better about this whole situation, which I loved, but I just wanted to get this over with. Once doctor Logan had gotten all his equipment, he lead it out on the medical table beside the hospital bed, and laying among the instruments was a long, thick, sharp needle.
" Ah, what's for". I asked pointing to the shot.
" Oh that's to numb the pain." Ok let me get this straight this quack is going to stick a giant needle into my injured arm, to numb the pain?
" I don't that necessary". I said in a somewhat sharky tone.
" Sharkboy it will be fine just a small pinch and then you won't feel a thing." Why was that the same thing all the people in those horror movies say right before they get killed?
" Look I have a really high pain tolerance, so if you could just stich me." I said now in a more irritated voice.
" Look, I have to give you this vaccination, it numbs the pain, and is an disinfectant."
" Can't I just have the ointment".
" If really have reach a high pain tolerance, show it to us." The doctor said taking the shot, raising it up, flicking it with his finger. Un-consciously I cowered closer to Dad, hoping he would get me out of this, no such luck.
" just relax Sharkboy, it will be over before you know it". That was the last straw! Jumped up from the bed trying to make a mad get away. But epically failed with dad's arms circled around me, pulling me back down to the hospital bed. Dad pulling me down onto the bed wrapping his arms around my waist and around my good arm. And with his other arm grabbed hold of my injured arm in a vice grip. I bucked and twisted to no avail .I tried kicking to give me some leverage but dad only used his own leg to trap my feet, I was down for it was official. That did not stop me from trying to get loose. I still struggled unit I heard a sharp
" TAYLOR" I turned my neck around to see dad's face covered in sweat and worry.
" Calm down, I got you, take a breath and keep looking at me". I followed his instructions, taking in a deep breath, and keeping my eyes on his face. Without warning I felt the cool point of the needle penetrate my mare my skin. I was right, that thing hurt like nothing else I could feel the cool anastasia run up my arm, it was a tingling feeling that I absolutely despised. I thrashed and tried to break loose, to do anything, but to no avail. All I could get was.
" I got you Sharkboy, I got you, I'll end soon". Dad was trying to calm me down but I was already in a shark-frenzy growling, snarling, thrashing, even biting anything to get free, but the only thing dad did was take my jaw in his hands to keep me from biting,
and wrap a hand loving around my check, placing my head just under his chin. Keeping his hand there, he traced my face, over my cheeks, eyes, brow, and over my hair. I eventually calmed down enough to find that the doctor had already stitched my arm, and was now rapping my arm in gaz. He was speaking to my Dad about the care my arm would need once we got home. Dad responded to his explanation in a gentle mentally tone, yet never taking his eyes off me. Just kept tracing my face over and over, and for some reason I was calm, no frenzy, no hostility, just calm, a feeling of safety even! A feeling that was foreign but not un-welcomed. In this moment I knew that dad would not care if I was half shark he would just care that I was ok, in that moment I knew I had to tell dad, and I knew he still would love me.