A Ride

All night I tossed and turned, mulling over Agnes' idea. The theory was sound. If anyone knew her way around a curse, it was a centuries old sea witch. But it seemed so simple. Well, the idea was simple. The execution was going to be anything but.

By the time the first rays of sunlight speared the horizon, I was out of bed and dressed for a day at school. The uniform I'd hated so much that first day now felt like a pair of wings- my ticket to another day out from under this roof and away from my father. It didn't matter that school wouldn't be much better. Most of the students were going to stare- either out of curiosity or watchfulness. No movement on my part would go unnoticed.

Dylan was sitting in his usual spot in the dining room. His handsome face was lit up by the morning light pouring through the window. Through glass still wet with dew, I saw a world of golden glory, just waking up to a rare day of clear skies and light breezes. How this Island loved to mock me.

"I'm so glad you're coming around, honey," Dylan said, setting his coffee mug on the table and eyeing me appreciatively as I snagged a fresh scone.

"The ever elusive Molly's handiwork no doubt?" I asked as I bit into the warm, dense baked good. Dylan offered up a jar of clotted cream, and I slathered it on. I might dislike the man, but I wouldn't turn down clotted cream.

"Maybe one day you'll meet her," he said with a wink.

He must think my decision to resume a somewhat normal schedule meant I'd forgiven him. And who was to blame him? Most of our fights never persisted beyond a few days. Most of our fights didn't revolve around turning into a fish for the rest of my life, either.

"If she exists. Look, I've got to go, but I wanted to ask you if my phone had a data plan. I tried to get on the internet earlier."

"Oh," Dylan said, dropping his gaze, "no. We thought it best to not offer that sort of temptation."

"Ah, right. Because I might message someone and tell them all about how I'm being held hostage until my seventeenth birthday. Mel would really love the bit about becoming a mermaid. She always wanted to be one when we were kids."

"Isla."

"I'm going."

"Remember to text."

"Of course." I mock saluted before barreling out the door.

Lungs expanded with sweet air, and I broke into a run. Let Dylan think I was up to something. I just needed to put this house behind me. The low rumble of an engine reached my ears, and by the time I made it to the end of the drive, the vehicle was in view- its driver a welcome sight.

"Well, well, well," I said, putting my hands on my hips as Kieran pulled to a stop in front of me. He flipped the visor on his helmet and winked. I just knew he was smirking too.

"Need a ride? I'm supposed to be picking up my-my friend, but she might not mind when I tell her someone so beautiful was in obvious distress."

"Oh," I said, putting my hand over my chest and widening my eyes, "sounds like you have a good friend. Sure, I'll take a ride. Beats walking all the way to school."

He tossed me a a helmet and shifted forward so I could slide on the seat behind him. Without prompting, I tightened my arms around him, splaying my fingers over his broad chest rather than locking them together. Beneath my hands, his heart sped up.

"When you said you were picking me up, I didn't imagine it would be on a bike. I thought you said your mom drove a car."

"She does," he answered, revving the engine, "but I've been restoring this for some time now. Figured it would be more practical for navigating the town later today."

"Sure you didn't just want a reason for me to have to hold on to you?"

He twisted around. "It worked, didn't it?"

He flipped the visor closed and took off. There wasn't much opportunity to talk. With nothing between me and the world, the roads felt more narrow, more winding. More liberating.

I removed one hand and raised it in the air, letting loose with a shrill whoop as we topped a hill. Kieran couldn't replicate my action, but the engine roared beneath me as we increased our speed. The wind tore at my clothes, biting at my skin, making my fingertips freeze. The grass along the road, green fading to yellow as the seasons changed, became a blur. So fast. Until it felt like we were moving and the world was standing still.

This.

This was one of a hundred things I would have to give up if we failed in our mission, and I wasn't ready to leave it all behind. Not without a fight.

The ride was over far too fast. Kieran killed the bike, and I didn't immediately climb off. Crushing him against me, I tried to banish the tears forming on my lashes, but when his hand went over mine, they fell freely.

Pulling off the helmet, I whispered in his ear, "Thank you. I needed that."

"For you, always."

It was reckless- arriving like this, holding one another so close where everyone could see. Not to mention, we'd destroyed the line we'd drawn that day in the coffee shop. It was gone, like words written in sand within reach of the ocean's waves. Neither of us had acknowledged when it happened, maybe because we couldn't pinpoint it. It was a hundred different moments, touches, and looks.

No, friendship couldn't describe this thing between us, but until my future was certain, no true label could be given.

"You two need to tone it down," Tara hissed when we slid into our desks. She looked just like the girl I met on the first day of school. Bright and poised. None of the magical mermaid from last night was left, and I found myself wishing she would appear.

"Lighten up," Kieran said, but I didn't miss the sadness pooling in his expression when he looked at Al's empty seat.

"This isn't a game," she continued, lowering her voice and leaning closer to us. "If people suspect you care about her too much, Kieran, they'll start watching us very closely. We need their trust."

"Wouldn't they want to know we had a way to break the curse?" I asked.

"Some, yeah," Tara replied, "but we don't know who is in Lorelei's pocket and who isn't. Even some of the women follow her."

"But our way would be so much better. For everyone."

"Isla," Kieran said, pausing as he searched for the right words, "most people on the Island are going to go with the devil they know. No one will risk angering Lorelei. Not when they believe the curse is close to ending. Tara's right. We've got to be careful. I may have to say things to people that will hurt if they get back to you."

"Things like?"

"Things like I'm only giving you attention to keep you occupied and happy until you turn seventeen."

My stomach knotted. I knew he didn't mean it, but some of those old fears didn't die easily. "It's fine. I trust you."

"You do?"

"Yes," I said, grinning like a fool at how happy my admission made him.

"You two are gross."

Niko plopped into Al's old seat. Like Tara, Niko was the same as always. Too tight tops and flashy makeup. And I understood then. This was their costume. Their false selves. They were every bit as imprisoned as I was.

"Thanks, Niko. I've seen you two suck face more than once on the bleachers so you've no room to talk," I snapped.

"Alright students. Glad to have everyone here today," Mr. Little, the English teacher said, his eyes lingering on me longer than usual.

"Hey, I've got a lead," Niko said as everyone opened their books.

I tensed. "Go on."

"There are three Merrow on the Island who were alive when Lorelei became a siren."

Not bothering to express my shock over the long lives of the Merrow, I demanded, "who are they?"

"Mrs. Rose."

"Makes sense," Tara said. "She's the eldest on the Island."

"Right. Think she was already in pretty up there in age back then," Kieran added.

Niko nodded. "The other two are a pair of sisters. Twins. Branna and Molly Goode."

"Molly!" I nearly shouted, drawing the attention of other students.

"You alright dear," Mr. Little asked. Last week he would've chewed me out for not paying attention in class. It would seem I was to be treated like glass.

"I'm fine," I said. "Just asking Niko what page we were on."

When he turned back to the board, Niko started talking again. "Molly keeps to herself. No one knows where she stays."

"Oh, I have an idea."