Chapter One

Atlantis. So called the lost city. Yeah, I live there. Yes, I'm a human. Yes, I have mermaid and merman friends. Yes, I know people who are sometimes mer but not always. No, I myself do not have a tail. How do I breathe? Magic. Yup, magical pearl necklace. Mine is blue, because I was born here. In the ocean.

***

Clearia sipped her rasberry whiz smoothie slowly. She could have been thinking, she could have been wondering, honestly I didn't know what was happening in her brain. I knew it was something though. "Seaast?" She asked after a moment. " When is the Pearl Fest?" I shrugged, slurping up the remains of my mango tango smoothie.

"Probably in two weeks, if I had to guess. Why?"

Clearia just shook her head. "Ding-a-ling!" The door to the Beat Cafe swung open. We looked up from our table in the corner. There were four boys...well, kind of. Four brothers...each with a tail swishing behind them. A merperson tail is actually quite powerful...sometimes. Jangder, Jeramonio, Jafin, and Jaden. They raced to the counter, propelling themselves forward with as much force as they could put out behind them. Three of them were stupid, caring about nothing more then girls, themselves, and bothering the youngest. Then there was Jaden. Sweet, kind, friendly. Unlike the others, Jaden is actually our friend. He made it to the counter last, patiently waiting in line for his turn. As the brothers headed to a table in the opposite corner, Jaden spotted us and swam over. Halfway to us he skidded and walked the rest of the way. Transformation isn't really exciting after age six. Little kids practice and watch all throughout playtime. It's kind of ridiculous. He handed Clearia a chocolate chip cookie, her favorite. Next, he gave me my peanut butter cookie. He wrenched a chair from under the table, plopping into it. "Here." I slid him a blueberry smoothie. Everyday after lessons we usually meet here at the Beat Cafe. Often in this exact table. Jaden's brothers like to follow us here, making fun of him. Glancing toward his brothers table, I shudder. They were glancing at us, I read their lips. I kicked Jaden in the shin.

"Their talking about us again." I mutter under my breath. Why won't those jerks just leave us alone. In fact, let me clarify. I am NOT Jaden's girlfriend, NOR is Clearia. We are his friend's. Yes, we will stand by him. No, we never let his brothers get the best of us. Jaden pulled out his shell phone, placing it on the table. He punched in a passcode, unlocking it. Manuvering through a set of display screens he "okayed" something and began to call each of his brothers to a party chat call. Clearia giggled. I smiled. "Beep! Beep! Beep!" Their shell phones sprang to life. As they answered them, their grins turned to horror. They shrieked like little girls, shell phones flying from their hands. Jaden is an expert through-phone-shocker.

"We better get out of here." Clearia murmured. She was noticing all to well that Jaden's brothers were recomposing themselves. And they were angry. So we did as Clearia had suggested. We ran.

Reviews

[kublakhan27]

Your storytelling voice is different from your poetic voice, which is a good thing...I'd say you certainly have a knack for sci-fi and fantasy but you're able to evoke those feelings in a story with everyday language and very "human" characters, while your poetic voice goes deep into the mystic...I'm not sure if that total sense but I'm not sure how else to explain it lol Great work in any event :)

[Phillitup]

Thank you very much! I appreciate that you like the difference between writing types, after all poetry and stories are very different from each other. Thanks again!

[kublakhan27]

You're very welcome^^ I'd say a writer that can carry two distinct voices for poetry and prose has it made...I know cuz I've tried yet I seem to be married exclusively to my poetic voice lol :P

[Phillitup]

:)

[angelface13]

Clearia...I like her;) It was pretty good! Watch out for grammatical errors though. I noticed a couple of things that sounded a bit weird. Overall...pretty good!

[angelface13]

No, I myself do not have a tail right? You wrote tale.

[Phillitup]

Thanks!

[angelface13]

No problem!!!