Author's Notes: I would like to thank Imagaco for helping with this chapter, all credit goes to them.
Thanks for reading and please review.
The Shallow End (Part 3)
(Back with Ford…)
"Please tell me you have a plan." Bud said, looking unsure.
"Of course, I have a plan." Ford said. After he failed to get his Grauntie Mabel to slip about her strange tattoo. Ford had done some recon and after his spill with Cooper he decided it was time to move on to Plan B. "Evasive Tactics!" He declared.
"Hu-uh good, now run that by me in English." Bud retorted.
"I'm going trick her into letting me get a better look at it. It's a symbol of some sort, I'm sure of it." Ford said eyeing his target.
Mabel was dangling her feet in the pool and talking with her friend Grenda. At the moment, Grauntie Mabel's hair was covering her shoulder. No doubt on purpose now that Ford had brought attention to it.
"Okay, just remember not to come off as a creep." Bud advised.
"I'm not a creep Bud." Ford argued. "This is for science!" He declared before marching off.
"Oh yeah totally not a creep." Bonnie teased from behind her brother. "And since when is it Bud?" She asked him. "You like being called Buddy. A real friend would know that!"
Buddy, or Bud rolled his eyes. "I don't hate one or the other." He answered honestly. "I went by Buddy cause it was better for the show. Why can't you just let it go? Granddaddy's feud with the Pines does not have to be ours. If you would just spend time with them, you would see. They aren't so bad."
"I spent time with the Sweaty one." Bonnie argued.
"His name is Stan!" Bud yelled. "And you were too busy trying to plot against him to know anything about him!"
"He's stupid, sweaty and gross." Bonnie said. "What else is there?"
"He's a strong friend who always has your back!" Bud yelled. "He's loyal, he knows what really matters and I wish he was my family instead of you!"
Bonnie flinched at his words, and Buddy thinks, maybe he went too far. "Fine enjoy your better family!" She screamed. "I don't need you I can do the show all by myself!" She marches off.
"Bonne wait, no I didn't…" Bud goes to chase after her but stops. He's always doing this, always giving in to her instead of standing firm in what he believes. Well, no more! His friends never let him down and he wasn't going to do them wrong, not now, not ever. He looks back over to Ford who has just now gotten up the courage to make his move.
Ford walks up to his Aunt. "Hi Aunt Mabel." He says.
She turns, her hair moving away from her shoulder. "Oh Hi Ford." She smiles. "Enjoying the sun?"
OH Yeah it's great out here." He lied. "Heavens! Is that poison oak on your shoulder? Let me scratch it for you." He reaches out to do just that.
Buddy winced at his poor acting skills, it was obvious he was up to something and Mabel picked up on it pretty well.
She smacks Ford's s hand away saying "Kid, if you're trying to see my tattoo, you're going to have to try harder than that."
"A-ha! I thought you said you didn't have a tattoo!" Ford challenged.
"She doesn't but you do." Grenda reaches for him with a marker.
"What do you mean I— AAAH!" Ford screamed as she grabbed him and wrote something on his forehead.
Buddy tries his best to hold in his laughter as Ford comes walking back over, the word "Goober" written on his forehead.
"Not a word." He growled.
"I believe in you, Goober!" Cooper's scream can be heard from across the pool. He and Heather are throwing water balloons at her brother and his friends.
"It's Ford!" Ford screamed. Of course, Cooper would be watching him like it was all one big show, and could he really see the word Goober all the way over at the Shallow end of the pool?
"You gonna let her get away with that, FORD?" Heather declared.
Ford straightens, his eyes narrowing as he marches back over to his Aunt.
Mabel turns as he does, and their eyes meet, for a moment there's a standoff, finally she says.
"You're never gonna see it, ever." She whispers.
"But you admit it's real?" Ford asked.
She nodded.
"So why can't I see it?" Ford asked.
"You know how you feel about your hands?" Mable asked.
Ford deflated. "Yeah."
"Well, I feel that way about this." Mabel said.
"Oh…" Ford sat down to her right, Grenda gave her a reassuring pat from her left.
"Look the day it happened is easily the worse day of my life." Mabel said. "I'm just not ready to share…"
"I get it." Ford said. "I'm sorry Grauntie Mabel…" He felt like such a jerk.
"It's ok, you didn't know." Mabel said. "And who knows, maybe someday…" She trailed off.
"We're here, whenever you're ready…" Grenda promised here.
"Yeah, no rush." Ford assured her.
Mabel smiled. "Thanks guys."
Buddy found a smile slipping on his own face, only for it to fall moments later. Why couldn't his family have that?
Bonnie huffed from her seat, she was going to find a way to get her brother back, and destroy those Pines, if it was the last thing she ever did!
(Back with Stan…)
"You know I've been thinking." Stan said to Merlina.
"Thinking?" Merlina asked. They had stopped playing their game for a much-needed brake. Those merpeople had no idea what they were talking about. Merlina wasn't a sea cow, manatees were supposed to be slow and Merlina was anything but. By round three of Marco-Polo Stan was panting for breath.
"I was just thinking that maybe we could use some help." Stan suggested.
"Help?" Merlina looks fearful and unsure.
"Look I know you're sensitive about your appearance because people make fun of you, but my friends. We can help you get back a lot faster and safer together." Stan assured her.
Merlina looks thoughtful. "You promise they won't poke fun."
"I can't promise there won't be some initial shock. We humans are naturally known for our stupidity. We tend to speak before we think." Stan admitted. "But my friends always help those in need." He promised. "we already helped a baby Sapling find his way back to his people, so really this shouldn't be much different."
Merlina still looks unsure, but nods. "Okay, I trust you and if trusting your friends is what it takes for me to get home then so be it."
"You won't regret it." Stan vowed.
Suddenly they heard a whistle. Poolcheck rides by on the pool cart.
"Pool's closing! Everyone clear out!" He yelled. "No running!" He yells as several people run to get out of the pool and away from his loud whistle.
"Ford, tell Stan we're leaving, you can call the shack if you want a ride when you and your friends are done cleaning up."
Ford nods and looks to his brother.
Stan is in the shallow end, talking to the girl who he saw earlier, their eyes met and he mouths something he can't make out.
"Stan?" Ford looks worried and watches as the girl hides under her floatie chair, hidden in the water.
"Out! Do not touch!" Poolcheck yelled at Ria, who was reaching for the inflatable ducks. "Assistant Lifeguard!"
Heather rushes over. "Yes Sir?"
"I need you on watch duty long enough for me to go home and let my dog out." He tells her. "Can you do that."
"Yes sir." Heather says looking surprised.
"Then you are in charge." Poolcheck removed his prosthetic hand, letting the keys fall out of it allowing Heather to catch it. He then puts his hand back on before giving her his whistle, and Heather squeals as he walks away. "I've been promoted!"
"You're not going to get crazy strict now, are you?" Cooper asked.
"Only when he leaves me in charge." Heather assured him.
"Like now?" Cooper looks defeated. "The whole reason we got this job was to relax and have some time together."
"I know and we can." Heather assured him. "Look this job is really cool, and I'm starting to like it. But if we always goof off, getting fired could ruin everything."
"Okay, no shenanigans when you're in charge." Cooper said. "Promise."
Heather smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks Cooper, you're the best."
Cooper smiled as she walked away to start lock up, only to frown as he notices Stan is still in the pool.
"What is he doing?" Susan asked as she and Fids walked over.
"Not sure." Cooper says as Ford rushes over to his brother. "But something tells me we should go find out."
"Come on!" Fids says, feeling the tension rise. He can tell by the nervous look on Stan's face that something was wrong.
They race over meeting Bud halfway.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"Something's up with Stan." Susan exclaimed as they reached him.
"Stanley for the last time you need to get out of the pool." Ford urged. "Grauntie Mabel is waiting to take you home."
"Stanford you guys got to listen to me." Stan said looking at all of them. "I can't leave."
"Why not?" Fids asked.
"My friend needs our help." Stan said.
"What friend?" Cooper asked.
"Some girl he met earlier." Ford snapped. "She's hiding under water and won't come out."
"She will." Stan corrected him. "Once you guys promise not to make fun of her."
"Stanley, we don't have time for this." Ford groaned.
"She needs our help bro." Stan said softly. "Okay she's alone and scared and she has no way home."
"Oh well, why didn't you say so." Susan said. "We can help with that."
"Really?" Merlina asked softly as she poked her head out.
"Of course." Ford said. "If you're lost we can get our Aunt to give you a ride to the station. They can find your family and get you home."
"NO! No Peoples." Merlina dived back down in the water.
"Ford you scared her!" Stan yelled.
"All I said was we can call-" Ford began.
"No you don't get it." Stan said. "Merlina can't be scene by anyone but us, it's…dangerous."
"Seriously what is this girls problem?" Cooper asked. "I promised Heather no shenanigans why she was in charge." He looks to Ford. "And you promised me you wouldn't ruin this job for us!"
Ford huffed. "Stan why can't we let anyone see Merlina?"
"Because…of her secret." Stan whispered looking around.
"Oh yeah you did mention she had a secret." Susan remembered.
"So, what is it?" Fids asked.
"First you guys have to promise not to be rude or laugh." Stan said.
"Seriously?" Cooper growled.
"She's sensitive." Stan explained.
Cooper sighed. "Fine, we promised right guys?" He asked the others.
"Right." They all agreed.
Stan nodded. "Okay Merlina, you can show them."
Merlina poked her head out once more. "Promise me…" She pleaded.
"I promise, it's safe." Stan assured her.
Merlina takes a deep breath, and lifts her tail out of the water.
"Oh…my…" Susan is stunned. "Are you a…. mermaid!" She exclaimed.
"Susan…Shhh!" Stan hissed.
"Sorry." Susan whispered. "Well…are you?" She asked.
Merlina dropped her tail, deflated, but before she answers Ford jumps in.
"Of course not, her tail is more like that of a Manatee." He said, pulling out the journal. "There are Mermaids in here, but I think it's safe to say Merlina is a hybrid of sorts. Is that right?"
"Yes." Merlina answers softly, she seems happy no one is pointing and laughing at her, but she still seems unsure.
"Fascinating!" Ford exclaims as he writes down some notes and draws a quick sketch.
"So this…I really don't bother you?" Merlina asked.
"Bother?" Fids said. "Your Amazing, I've never seen anything like it. Not even any of my dad's stories have covered such a marvel."
"Why would we be bothered by it?" Susan asked.
"The other merpeople make fun of her." Stan revealed. "They call her names and throw rocks at her."
"That's awful." Susan cried.
"It is." Merlina agreed. "And I am stuck in this pool, unable to return home."
"I was thinking that together, we can help her." Stan said.
"How would we transport her though?" Fids asked.
"We could use a cooler from the supplies." Susan suggested.
"And the shed has a golf cart." Ford remembered.
"Whoa, wait a minute." Cooper said.
"Cooper what's wrong?" Susan asked.
"Look I feel bad for you." He said to Merlina. "I do, and I want to help, but we can't take pool supplies. Heather really loves this job and if Poolcheck finds anything missing it could ruin everything."
"We can't wait to go get supplies from somewhere else man." Stan yelled. "The chlorine in this water is making her sicker by the minute."
"Look what if you stayed and kept Heather and Poolcheck busy?" Ford suggested. "We can sneak out the back and be done before they even know anything is missing. Will that work?"
Cooper looks unsure, but nods. "Fine, but you better not loose anything you barrow for this rescue op." Cooper warned.
"Then our mission is a go people!" Ford declared, taking charge. "Susan, you get the cooler. Fids get the Golf cart. Cooper-"
"Yeah, I got distraction duty." Cooper said racing back over to Heather.
"How can I help?" Bud asked.
"Gather anything we might need, flashlight, water for the cooler, you name." Ford ordered.
"You got it!" Bud said as everyone raced off to get the needed supplies.
"See Merlina." Stan said. "Everything going to be just fine."
"Stanley…" Merlina smiled. "I can never thank you enough."
"No need." Stan said getting out. "Now I'm going let my Aunt know I'm staying and I'll be right back ok?"
Merlina nodded and Stan raced off.
Meanwhile, Heather was leading Mabel and Grenda out as Stan arrived.
"Stan there you are." Mabel exclaimed. "Are you going with us?"
"No, I'm gonna hang back." Stan told her "If that's fine."
"All right, are you kids fine getting home on your own?" Mabel asked.
"Oh yeah you ladies enjoy the rest of your day." Cooper said. "You deserve it."
Mabel smiled. "Alright, call if you need anything." Mabel said before they were out of sight.
"We will." Cooper and Stan called after them.
"Okay I was thinking we do inventory first." Heather said to Cooper.
"Or, we can pick up the trash." Cooper pointed at the scattered food wraps and water bottles. "And then we can take it out. Besides Poolcheck will probably want to do the inventory himself."
"Good call." Heather said. "What's everyone else up to?"
"Oh, they're cleaning out the pool." Cooper said quickly.
"All of them?" Heather asked looking skeptical.
"Oh yeah it's a big pool, and it'll be hard to clean it once it gets dark in about half an hour." Cooper rambled.
"Oh…yeah I guess that's smarter." Heather agreed. "Guess it's just us then hu?" She asked looking at all the trash.
"Yep." Cooper said forcing a smile.
Stan gave him a thumbs up as he raced back to the pool.
Everyone else is there with their needed supplies.
"You ready to go home?" Stan asked.
"Yes, more than anything." Merlina admitted.
"Than let us help you in." He pointed to the cooler which was full of water and hooked up to the back of the golf cart.
Merlina nodded and together, Ford, Stan, and Bud help her out of the pool as Fids and Susan hold the cooler in place.
It took some maneuvering but soon they had her inside.
"Alright, let's load up." Ford ordered.
Fids, Susan and Stan jump into the cart as Ford opens the back gate.
Stan dives the cart up to him.
"I'll try to keep Heather away from this gate, and keep it open as long as possible." Ford told his brother. "But you have to be back before she locks up back here."
"No problem." Stan said. "And Thanks bro."
"Anything for you." Ford vowed. "Brothers." He held out his knuckles.
Stan gave him a fist bump. "Brothers."
He floors it and they take off.
"Well, I'm afraid I have to get back." Bud told him.
"Okay, but what all did you pack them?"
"Just a flashlight and a megaphone." Bud answered.
"got it, see you later." Ford told him.
Bud nodded and started on home as Ford stands guard.
Meanwhile Stan drives the cart into the darkening night.
"Look, a sign for Gravity Falls Lake!" Fids said, pointing to the sign. Merlina peeked out from the cooler, watching the scene.
"It leads to the ocean." Susan exclaimed. "We can take her there."
Stan nodded and followed the signs to their new destination.
Back at the pool, Heather and Cooper are finished picking up trash and have started working on the bathrooms.
"Man, this is hard work." Cooper realized.
"I know isn't it great?" Heather asked.
"Not really." Cooper admitted. "Cleaning is not my thing."
"I know, I'm still grateful you decided to help." Heather said.
"Anything for you." Cooper told her, and he meant it. He'd do anything for her to be happy and he never wanted to see her anyway else.
Neither did Ford, as much as wanted to be where Cooper was now he too wanted Heather to be happy. And she was happy as being friends, so he supported Cooper. "Come on Stan, they're almost done!"
Meanwhile, Stan has found the lake and brings the cart to a screeching halt.
"Stan too fast! Too Fast!" Fids yelled.
The cooler topples off the cart, dumping Merlina and her water.
Merlina gasps "Water! Agua! Yo necesito!"
"Oh no!" Everyone races over her.
"Merlina I'm so sorry!" Stan yelled. "What do we do?"
"Susan you know CPR." Fids said. "Help her."
"Merpeople don't breathe air!" Susan cried.
"Then give Her reverse CPR! Doi!" Stan said as if it was obvious.
"Oh, okay." Susan runs to the pool cart and grabs a bottle of water. she runs back and leans over Merlina and prepares herself. She then squirts water into her mouth and starts resuscitating Merlina through mouth-to-mouth.
Susan comes up for air. "This…is a lot harder than…CPR" She cries.
"You're doing great Susan." Fids tells her. "Right Stan."
Stan takes a photo and laughs.
"Stan!" Fids yells.
"I'm just saving it." Stan said. "For…later."
"Unbelievable." Fids hit him upside the head as Merlina comes around and pushes Susan away.
"Thank you for saving me." She says. "But why didn't you just roll me into the lake?" She gestures to the lake which is only a foot away.
Susan smacks her forehead.
"Come on let's get her in." Fids said and soon with a little help Merlina is in the water.
Merlina makes dolphin sounds, then coughs. My voice is so weak." She rasped.
"Wow I guess that pool water really did do a number on you." Fids said.
"But how will I get my family to hear my call from the mighty depths of the ocean?" Merlina cried.
"I've got it. BRB." Susan says and grabs a megaphone from the golf cart "Problem solved!"
"Susan, that's pool supplies. We promised Cooper." Fids whispered.
"Fids she needs this." Stan argued. "Besides I may never see her again, this may never work out between us. But even if our relationship is destined to fail I'd still do anything for her. I have to do right by her, I promised."
Fids sighed but allows Susan to give Merlina the megaphone.
"Thank you, friends." Merlina says as she takes it. "Now I can return home to my family."
"Be careful." Stan tells her.
"I will and somehow I will let you know I made it okay." Merlina promised him.
"I guess this is it then…" Stan said.
"Not quite. This is!" Merlina leaps up and kisses Stan.
Stan goes tomato red as they pull away.
"Goodbye Stan." Merlina says.
"Goodbye." Stan says as she starts to swim towards the ocean.
"You did the right thing." Fids told him.
"We all did." Susan agreed.
"Oh, wait, wait! One last thing!" Stan runs over to Merlina who is about to swim by some rocks. And just as she jumps over them and Stan, he punches his fist in the air. "Yes! I've always wanted to do that."
"We should head back." Fids suggested, and they all pile in the cart and drive back to the pool.
Back at the pool the bathrooms are spotless, and the trash has been taken out to the dumpsters.
"Well, I guess all that's left is to lock up the back gate." She said heading that way.
"Heather, wait!" Cooper runs after her, only to see that Ford is already locking up.
"I got it Heather." Ford said.
"And we're finished restocking the shelves over in our area." Fids said as he Stan and Susan came up behind Cooper.
Nice work guys, Poolcheck is going to be so impressed." Heather said happily.
"Well…" Stan looks guilty. "It's not all good news."
"What'd you mean." Heather asked.
"We misplaced the megaphone." Susan revealed.
"Guys? How can you lose a megaphone?" Heather cried.
"They didn't." Cooper said.
"Cooper?" Heather asked.
"Look Stan's new friend needed our help, and I didn't want to ruin your first day, so we took some stuff without telling you to help her out." Cooper explained.
"It wasn't just Cooper, we decided this." Fids said. "As a group."
"We understand if you're mad." Ford said. "We can buy him a new Megaphone with our pay from the Shack."
"Mad?" Heather snapped. "Guys I don't care about a megaphone; I care that you left me in the dark." She looks hurt. "Did you think that maybe I could have helped?"
"Heather I'm sorry." Cooper said.
"I know." Heather said as Mr. Poolcheck walked into the pool yard. "But Sorry might not fix this." She runs over to Poolcheck.
"How'd your first lock up go?" He asked her.
"I'm sorry sir, we looked everywhere but it seems someone must have snagged the Megaphone when we weren't looking." Heather said.
"Missing pool property?" Mr. Poolcheck asked.
Heather nodded, looking down, too afraid to meet his eye.
Mr. Poolcheck looks around and nods. "Everything else seems to be in order though. Not bad for a first night." He admitted.
Heather perked up. "Really?"
"Oh yeah, you know I lost my hand my first night." He laughed for a little too long and then added. "But with any job unfortunate things will happen. Now this megaphone is a key inventory item, so it's unfortunate it's lost, but things like this can be replaced. What matters is we learn from this moving forward; Do you understand Heather?"
"Yes Sir." She said.
"Then you go debrief the rest of the team, and good job I see a great future ahead for someone like you." Mr. Poolcheck said before he turned to walk away.
Heather slowly walked over to her friends.
"How bad was it?" Ford dared to ask.
"Not bad, he actually took it pretty well." Heather said.
"So, you get to keep your job?" Cooper asked.
"We all do." Heather said.
"Oh, Heather that's great." Susan said.
"I'm really sorry, to both of you." Ford said to Heather and Cooper.
"We all are." Stan agreed.
"What matters is we learn moving forward." Heather said. "Cooper, what did we learn?" She asked giving him a playful look.
"No keeping secrets from my girlfriend." Cooper said.
"And Ford!" Heather turns to him.
"No making promises you can't keep." Ford said.
"And?" Heather asked.
"Stop excluding you from adventures." Ford added. "And we will."
"You better! It's really uncool guys." Heather pouted.
Ford looked to Cooper. "We good?"
"Depends, gonna break anymore promises?" Cooper growled.
"No, I'll do my best to be a man of my word starting right now." Ford promised.
"What the heck is all of this now!" Mr. Poolcheck screamed as he came out of the shed. "Who put up creepy photos of an old lady in my shed?"
"Ford!" Cooper yelled.
"And I'm running." Ford said taking off.
"You are dead Pines!" Cooper vowed and gave case!
"Cooper!" Heather runs after him. "Guys!"
Soon the whole gang is trying to catch Cooper, who is trying to get Ford!
It takes a long time to for either of them to catch their target.
(The Next Day…)
Stan sighed sadly, sitting on the edge of the pool as Ford walks over.
"Hey bro." He says sitting next to him.
"Hey, Cooper done trying to kill you?" Stan asked.
"Yeah, we're cool now." Ford said showing his bruised shoulder. "I let him get one good punch in, and now we're even." He pauses. "What about you? You going to be okay?"
"Sixer, I finally met a girl who likes me, who didn't fake it like Bonnie, and she turns out to be a Mermanatee. I know we helped her, and we kissed, but we come from two different worlds." Stan explained. "It may never work out and I guess I'm still kind of upset."
"Your just upset cause you haven't heard from her yet." Ford assured him. "Things will work out, you'll see, she'll keep her promise."
Suddenly a bottle pops out from the vents.
"What the…?" Stan reaches for one and pens it to find a letter. "It's From Merlina!" He exclaims as he reads it.
Dear Stan,
I am home with my family and I am very happy
Our first kiss will always hold a place in my heart. Technically hearts. As merpeople have, like, 17 hearts. Horrifying but true! More bottles on the way!
More bottles appear and Stan laughs, maybe Ford was right. Maybe everything would work itself out in the end.
-To Be Continued