“With that makeup on, you look twenty-five.” Her eyes, green like mine, fill with tears, but she smiles like she’s trying to hide them. “You look just like your mother.”

Before she can erupt into sobs, I wrap my arms around her and squeeze. Even though it makes her sad sometimes to have me around because I remind her of Mom, I think we’re both glad to have a new way of connecting with her. For Aunt Rachel, I’m the living heritage of her sister. For me, my aunt is the scrapbook of Mom’s life.

We stand there for a few minutes until I hear a horn outside.

“That’s Shannen,” I say, stepping back. “I have to go.”

“Have fun tonight, Lily.”

“I will,” I say with a smile. “Tonight’s going to be special, I just know it.”

Her brow wrinkles into a concerned frown. “You’re not going to do anything reckless, are you?” Her eyes search my face. “You have to be careful. You’re not like other girls.”

Don’t I know it.

The horn sounds again.

“I promise.” I say. “Nothing reckless.” Although our definitions of reckless might not match up perfectly.

Before she can say more, I press a quick kiss to her cheek and dash out the door. “I’ll check in when I get home.”

Prithi meows in protest of my departure.

Honk, honk.

“Don’t rush into anything,” Aunt Rachel calls as I hop down the front steps.

Don’t rush into anything? I laugh, hurrying down the sidewalk. I’ve been waiting three years for this night. That’s taking it slow for a sea slug.

“Nice costume,” Shannen calls out as I approach her car. Through the passenger window I can see she’s dressed as—you guessed it—a mermaid. “Where’d you get it?”

“Actually, I—”

“From me.”

My entire body tenses.

Speaking of sea slugs.

I should have known he wouldn’t let a chance to humiliate me go by. I spin around in the direction of his voice. In the setting sunlight, I don’t see him at first. Then he shifts and I see him leaning against his front porch, just a few feet away, that cocky, one-sided smile making him look like an arrogant blowfish. Which he is.

But Shannen and Peri and I all agreed that I should let him help me—whatever that means.

“Yes,” I bite out. “From Quince.”

“You make a pretty pirate wench, princess.”

I open my mouth to retort, but then I realize…that might have been a compliment. At least the closest to one Quince has ever gotten.

The polite thing to do would be to thank him.

I turn and yank open the car door.

“You know,” he says, his voice velvety soft, “you could go to the dance with me. Jealousy would grab Benson’s attention.”

I am so stunned by his suggestion that I don’t even correct Brody’s name. I am frozen, hand on the door handle. Then I feel warmth at my back, and I know he’s standing right behind me.

My skin prickles.

Tonight he still smells of mint toothpaste, but instead of leather the other scent is something…earthy. Like Aunt Rachel’s garden after a rain.

“Um, no,” I stammer. “No thanks. I’ll stick with the original plan.”

I feel something brush the back of my neck.

“Your loss, princess,” he whispers in my ear.

The warmth disappears, and I know he’s gone. My body erupts in goose bumps at the sudden chill. Without turning to look, I open the door and slip into the passenger seat.

“Let’s go.” My voice sounds breathless.

When Shannen doesn’t start the car right away, I look up. She is staring at me. Did something happen to my makeup? I’ve actually managed—with Aunt Rachel’s help—to successfully apply some mascara. But maybe it smudged during pictures or something. I flip down the visor to do a spot check. Nope, everything still in place. Maybe she’s just not used to seeing me with face paint—

“What,” she asks, “was that?”

Oh. That. Since I don’t know what that was, I can’t exactly answer. I think Quince just enjoys toying with my sanity. He’s pretty much beyond comprehension.

“Nothing,” I assure her. “He just wanted to make me nervous.”

She stares at me a few seconds longer before shrugging and pulling out into the street. She knows Quince defies explanation.

All the way to school, my insides quiver and churn like rough seas in a squall. I don’t know if I’m going to make it through the night. Then, as we pull into the parking lot, I see Brody get out of his Camaro dressed—just like Quince told me—as a pirate. For the first time in three years, seeing him actually settles my nerves instead of agitating them.

That’s when I know everything will be okay. Brody is my mermate, and tonight is the beginning of our future. Nothing is going to stand in my way.

7

The library is dark and empty when I slip through the glass double doors at nine fifteen. I know I’m early, but I want a little time to calm down, to prepare myself. For the last hour, I’ve been dancing and talking with friends, trying to have a good time despite my looming appointment. In just fifteen minutes I’m going to confess my feelings to the boy I’ve been seriously in love with for what seems like forever.

A girl needs a little time to reflect.

For three years, I’ve watched Brody from afar. Loved him even as he looked right past me for the most part. Occasionally I wonder why, exactly, I love him so much. I mean, we’ve never even shared a meaningful conversation that didn’t revolve around swimming or news team.