We both stare at each other, wide eyed.

I can’t shift now. It’ll freak him out more if a butt naked man is suddenly the next thing he sees. So instead, I start retreating back into the water one flop at a time.

“Wait!” He calls after me.

I don’t wait.

“I won’t tell anyone! I promise!”

Yeah, right.

“I know about supernatural creatures already! I was just shocked for a second!”

That makes me freeze for only a brief moment before I realize that he very well could be lying. I have no reason to trust him. What if he’s like those Bigfoot enthusiasts?

I dive back into the water not sparing him another glance.

Unfortunate.

Maybe he’ll wake up tomorrow and think it was all a dream.

When I make it back home it’s six in the morning. The guy sat on the beach for the longest time, conveniently, right next to my clothes! I had to wait a little longer to make sure he was actually gone before shifting and changing.

Now I’m running on three hours of sleep and half a cup of ramen.

I hardly ever have an appetite. Food is always the last thing on my mind. In the morning I dread work, in the afternoon I’m dreading performing, and most definitely not in the evening where at any moment Harvey could pop up and send me to Reid.

I don’t remember the last time I had a full three meals like a normal person. I only eat when I feel myself running low on energy. Food is nothing but fuel for energy.

I haven’t heard from Reid but I saw only $1,000 dollars transferred into my account. Looks like he docked off an extra $1,500 for probably harming a client and not giving him what he wanted yesterday.

That leaves… $349,782 until I’m free. Plus I have to pay bills this month… should probably cut down on how long I take showers again. I grimaced at the thought of it.

A few months ago I decided to cut down on how many showers I take. I didn’t even want to sleep in my home when I was unclean and used. So, I went and slept right in the bathtub on no shower days. My back and neck got so sore that I wasn’t able to perform smoothly without moving like a robot that hadn’t been oiled in years. Reid started to get mad and dock my pay. So, it ended up backfiring in the end.

Scratch that idea. I’ll just cut out some of the ramen. I don’t even finish them most of the time. I can live off water on some days. Maybe I can also keep all the lights off and just live in darkness.

The music is already blasting as soon as I walk in. There’s a good fifty people here, most of them are immortal and have nothing better to do with their lives than spend money on expensive bottles of alcohol at nine in the morning.

I bartend and wait on customers during the day and then head off to my dressing room for two hours until I have to get on stage and sing. After that I either go home or spend time with Reid, depending on his mood.

The customers who are here during the day are mainly regulars and are already used to my lack of speech. I used to get yelled at a lot for being disrespectful but after a while people just accepted it.

In this club, you’re allowed to touch the waiters and staff, as long as you tip well. I don’t mind it. It’s normally just around my waist or ass and I prefer that over the other things that happen here. That’s the thing with magically hidden clubs. The law doesn’t exist down here and no one complains because they get paid well.

And after work I’ll either go home and shower or head straight to the beach.

My routine that hasn’t changed for five years,

has now suddenly changed.

Reid hasn't called for me in a while so I’ve been able to go to the beach at early hours in the morning, ditch my clothes on a rock and relish in the addicting feeling of comfort the ocean gives me.

Until something, or better someone, grabs my wrist and pulls me towards the surface of the water. It was an unexpected touch so it scares the shit out of me and I fight against whoever it is, letting out a pained yelp even though it doesn’t really hurt.

“Hey, hey. Relax! I didn’t mean to scare you,” a soothing voice speaks.

I get a good look at whoever it is, only to come face to face with the same hazel eyes as yesterday.

“Hey there,” he smiles, “fancy seeing you here again.”

I look between him and his hand that’s still attached to my wrist.

I want it off.

He notices and let’s me go, “sorry,” he chuckles nervously.

And that’s all I needed to swim away.

I thought this would just be a one time thing but no. This human has shown up every single day and has gotten in my way of swimming every time without fail.

On his stupid lilac surf board with the blue and pink koi fish painted on it.

In his stupid lilac swim trunks.

With his stupid perfect grin and wild black curly hair and bronze skin, shiny with sweat. And just overall good looks as if he just hopped out of a magazine.

Oh my god, are you complimenting him or insulting him? I can’t tell.

And the stupid way he says, “Hey there.” Every single time, like we’re friends, casually meeting up.

He’s currently in my way once again. Except, instead of a “hey there” he says “wait, please!”

And for some reason I listen.

“I really mean no harm. I’m sorry for annoying you everyday but I wanted to thank you for saving me. I really did know about the supernatural world before I met you. You see, I have a friend who’s a witch. She accidentally turned my cat into a frog so she kind of had to tell me what was up with that. Mr. Whiskers still croaks sometimes and it scares the shit out of me.” He visibly shivers.

I couldn’t help but snort at that.

He has a cat who croaks like a frog!

“It isn’t funny!” He feigns anger. I know it’s meant to be playful but my body acts on it’s own when it flinches at his raised voice.

I can feel a part of my mind raise its guard.

He notices. I can tell he does but he doesn’t question it.

His voice softens considerably when he says, “your scales are beautiful. I’ve never seen such a pretty color like that- well I’ve never really met any water shifters either but I’m sure your scales are the nicest either way.”

I just blink at him. Was that- a compliment?

Isn’t that nice?

“You must be a siren though. They’re the only water shifters with the cute little webbed ear things,” he pointed out.

He knows. I got very uneasy at the fact that he could tell I was a siren and it must have shown on my face because he put his hands up in a surrender kind of motion, “I promise I’m not going to tell anyone,” he smiles. “I’m West by the way, West Klein. Don’t know if you already knew that.”

I shook my head.

“What about you?”

I didn’t answer. I don’t want him to hear my voice. He’s got a sort of innocence and shiny glow to him that I don’t want to taint with something as vile and disgusting as my voice.

I shook my head again.

“No worries,” he smiled. “I’ll just give you a nickname…how about… Blue? Like your scales and eyes.”

Blue. I liked Blue. My real name has been used in ways I no longer want to remember. I used to love when Papa would call me Sammy. Now the only person who calls me that is Reid.

Blue is good.

I smile lightly and nod my head.

“Blue it is then.”

🌊🌊🌊

After work the next day, I find myself feeling excited to go to the beach. I take my time scanning the dark waters ahead of me, hoping to spot a flash of lilac in the moonlight. I frown at the endless blue of the waves.

Whatever, I wasn’t expecting us to be friends or anything anyway. He just wanted my attention so he could thank me for saving his life because he felt obligated to do it. No one actually wants to talk to you for no reason, Samuel.

Still, even after I’ve dove into the water, I find myself peering up to the surface every once in a while. Searching still.

I almost start to lose complete hope when I see a surf board shaped shadow up ahead. I peer up to the surface and see those cute little koi fish paintings and of course, lilac.

I don’t even try to act nonchalant as I immediately dart up toward the surface spooking West in the process.

“Woah! Did not see you coming.” He laughed.

I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment at my haste to see him again.

“Hey there, Blue.” West smiled softly.

I was blushing for a whole other reason now as I shyly lifted a hand out of the water and waved at him, letting my wet hair fall in my face to create a barrier of safety from his stare.

West tilted his head, “you don’t really like talking do you?”

I shook my head “no” firmly. If he’d asked me to talk I probably would but I wouldn’t like it. I’d only do it to please him. He won’t come back if I don’t please him.

“No worries, Blue.” West shrugged. “Do you live here? In the ocean.” West asked curiously.

I shook my head, no.

“You live in Riverstone though, right?”

I nodded, yes.

West smiled, “I love it out here. I live in the city normally but I come here to find some peace and quiet sometimes.”

Peace and quiet is the last words I would use to describe my version of Riverstone.

West continued, “I’m supposed to be practicing surfing but my first night I almost drowned and now everyday I’ve just been coming here looking for you.”

I scowled at him. He didn’t even know how to surf and he decided at night was the best time to learn?

West laughed sheepishly, “oh gosh. What's that face for?”

I glared at him and pointed at the moon making West look up at it for a second before he looked back at me and I could tell he didn’t get it. I sighed in defeat. Oh well, at least I’m here. I’ll protect him from drowning and the sharks.

I looked out at the waves and saw a big one starting to swell. I pointed at it and West nodded, clumsily paddling toward it, I followed next to him as he got closer and closer, the wave swelled more and more. I ducked underwater when he was right on it, I saw his blurry form go to stand before he completely lost his balance and was swept off his feet into the water. He wasn’t surprised to see me this time and instead of screaming in my face he grinned before his muscled arms and legs propelled up toward his abandoned board.

I followed close behind him and we resurfaced together.

West pushed himself back onto his board and shook his hair, making droplets fly everywhere.

“I don’t think I’m very good at this,” West said with a small smile.

I snorted at that, which put a pout on West’s face.

Panic surged through me and I almost blurted out an apology. Ready to beg for him to forgive me but then he burst out into laughter.

“Man, I even got a siren criticizing my surfing skills. I should be taking lessons, huh?”

I sighed in relief and nodded.

“And then after I can come here and show you what I learned.” West grinned at me and winked.

I nodded shyly, ducking the lower half of my face in the water to hide my small smile.

I can’t remember the last time I had a conversation with someone and I didn’t have to play mind games, or feel fear, or be sexualized.

It’s weird.

West sighed, “it’s getting late, Blue. I should head back. Don’t stay out too late.”

I nodded again and waved goodbye.

I watched as he paddled back to the sandy beach, he looked back out at the ocean one last time before he took off walking in the opposite direction I normally went before he disappeared behind a corner.

I took that as my queue to head back as well.