Rowan's POV
Going to the beach on the day of a full moon was risky for Rylan but he had promised me a relaxing day together as an apology and in my opinion, there was nothing more relaxing than going for a swim. One thing about Rylan is that he doesn't break his promises even if they are dangerous for him. I love that about him.
The second my feet hit the hot sand and my nose caught the scent of the salty sea breeze, it was as if a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. I could feel my pores being cleansed and the aches in my muscles releasing.
Next to me, Rylan noticed the delighted look on my face and returned a warm smile.
Hurriedly, I kicked off the pair of cobalt blue thongs I had brought and began to sprint towards the water, turning back to beckon Rylan towards me.
"Come on, hurry up!" I shouted as he chased after me, sending sand spraying up as he ran.
Before I had even reached the water, I felt the light, salty droplets from the rolling waves splash onto my skin and my transformation began. I used my remaining momentum to leap into the water before my body took on its true form in a shimmering cloud of ruby bubbles.
I used to be very self-conscious and worried about my look in merman form. But from the moment I met Rylan, he helped me to accept myself and my extraordinary complexion.
Rylan and I met when we were 11. I had just moved down to Melbourne from Queensland due to my parents having job offers down here. Rylan was the only person to speak to me on my first day at highschool. Probably because at the time he could smell that special smell explicitly held by a wolf for their mate. He later told me that I always smelled like the beach but also like the smell of bonfire smoke.
Ravan's POV
After I had changed out of my salty and sand filled bathers, I walked Gael home. I made the executive decision to avoid people in general for the rest of the day while I figured shit out.
I pulled out the new Succulent lego set I got from KMART that I was yet to start and set myself up on my bedroom floor, swaddled in my bubblegum coloured weighted blanket.
Surrounded by warmth, with my hands occupied by the fiddly plastic pieces I let my mind wander back to what I remembered of last night but mostly Gael's recounting of the events. I certainly didn't feel any different, but then again, I wasn't sure if I was supposed to.
Questions swirled in my mind but in the eye of the storm was a calm circle of memory; Rowan's mismatched eyes turned to gemstones under the party's flashing lights. They met mine, I knew what I had wanted and what I still want.
Timeskip to school the next day
I caught the early bus to school after informing Gael of my decision. His squeal of excitement had burst my eardrums through the phone.
Inside the school gates, I tried to look as inconspicuous as possible as I waited.
Soon, I caught sight of the familiar and dreaded heads of white and brown hair making their way towards the locker room.
Quickly, I tore out my airpods, cutting Ariana Grande off mid-note as I launched myself into their path to intercept them. Rowan jumped backwards with a cry of surprise, and Rylan's arm shot out to protect him.
"Hey," I started breathlessly, feeling an anticipatory blush rising in my cheeks. "Rowan, can I borrow you for a moment?"
Both boys exchanged looks before turning back to me. I could hear Rylan gritting his teeth and he spat out a strangled "No."
With my hands on my hips, I rolled my eyes, already tired of his bullshit.
"Quit the possessive act, Rylan. Rowan, I need to talk to you," I said, putting my hand on his arm.
Rowan went red with embarrassment. Rylan went red with fury. He opened his mouth to protest, but, for the first time ever, Rowan raised his hand slightly and cut him off.
"I'm... I'll just be gone for a minute," Rowan said sheepishly. With my hand still on his arm, he pulled me away from Rylan and towards a more private area.
Gathering up my courage, I sucked in a deep breath and took my hand away from his arm to address him properly.
"So," I started, already feeling my face heating up. "The other night I was... very drunk, and I may have done some things that were... not smart, but... I don't regret them."
Rowan raised his eyebrows but gave me a comforting smile, the morning light reflecting in a rainbow off of his red and blue irises.
His handsomeness gave me a burst of courage and the rest of my planned speech dissolved like ink in water as I blurted out my feelings in a breathless rush. "Ithinkyou'rereallyprettyandIkindawannahookupagainsoIwaswonderingifyouwantedtoaswell??"
There were a few distinct seconds of exceptionally awkward silence between the two of us in which I regretted all of my life decisions.
Rowan broke it with a single syllable. "What?"
Confused, I repeated him dumbly. "What?" We both stared at each other dumbfounded.
"... I... don't remember doing... that..." Rowan said slowly, "I'm pretty sure Rylan just walked you home."
Impossibly, my face got even redder. Stupid Gael! I was going to murder him! I was about to make an excuse to rush off and die of embarrassment somewhere less public, but, to my surprise, Rowan continued.
"Although, I think that you're really pretty as well," he offered me a sheepish smile, "and I was thinking maybe we could... go out sometime. Together, that is."
My heart was exploding with happiness.
"Yes!" I exclaimed, "I know a really good cafe, we could go out for lunch sometime!"
Rowan's eyes sparkled. "That sounds good to me, text me later," he said, just as the bell rang for Homeroom.
As we both walked off in different directions, I turned around to catch Rowan smiling to himself. With a triumphant smirk, I stuck my tongue out at Rylan, who was glaring daggers directly at me. I watched him turn away and put a possessive arm over Rowan's shoulder but couldn't bring myself to care.
Rowan and I were going on a date!