It is late at night, it is really dark since the moon is hidden behind thick clouds. A lady is holding a baby really close to her chest, whispering sweet nothing to the little human. She is trying to hold her tears ''Hurry up already!'' a man behing her shouts. She hesitates and the man push her around ''Do it or I will take care of it myself!'' The mother gasp, put her baby in a basket and gently let go of her in the small pond. She heard stories about this lagoon, saying there was mermaids and other sea creatures living in it. She looks at the water as the baby slowly drift away ''please take care of her since I couldn't... Her name is Sabrina.'' The man then forcefully grab her by the arm and pull her away. The mother look for as long as she can, trying to see if her baby is going to be safe. Before the car door close on her, she can swear she saw webbed hands gently grab the basket...

''Humans... always so carefree. Well you are in luck little one, The moon is no there for you, but the lagoon is!'' Small sparks of light rise from the water and starts to dance around the little child while the mermaid that grabbed the basket sings a slow lullaby...

*About 16 years later*

Sabrina is swimming near the surface of the water in this small cave. Her small cave. She spend most of her time in there, only going into the deep into the water for special occasion with the other mermaids and only going in the human word for ''home schooling'' stuffs for the most part. This really nice couple that discovered the lagoon when they were young promised to never tell anything about it and offered their help when the learned about the baby human that ended up in the lagoon. And even if everyone were really nice to her, she never felt like she belonged in any of those world. Not quite a mermaid since she couldn't really swim in deep water or sing like them. And only being able to be in the human world during day time, missing on almost all the parties and cool stuffs that other teenagers her age would do. So here she is, swimming in her little sanctuary of loneliness, waiting for the sun to rise and get ready to walk around in the human word. She was swimming on her back when she hears something. Foot steps,maybe? No, that's impossible, her cave is way too far in the middle of nowhere for anyone to find it. She dives under the water just in case and look at the entrance to see if someone or something walks in. And to her biggest surprise, a young man about her age slowly walk in. She tries to be as still as possible so he doesn't notice her, but she can feel her tail slowly changing back into human legs and she can feel her ability to breath under water fading away. 'Please just leave already' she silently pray in her head. But the boy sits righ tin the middle of the cave. And now she really needs to breath, she slowly reach for the surface, trying to not make a sound, but her lungs decides otherwise and she takes a deep breath in once her head breaks the surface.

Simon always loved to learn about monsters and other mythical creatures, making him the weirdo of the class since he was able to read. And one day, in the very back of the local library, he found a book abou tlocal myths and legends. Ever since, he would spend all his weekends searching for the so called magical lagoon. It is said that mermaids and other sea creatures roams in its water and he wanted to find it so he could talk to the mermaids. It is said that they can turn humans into mermaids too in really specific and complicated rituals. He was kind of an outcast and maybe being able to escape all his problems and being able to swim away from all of them brought joy to the little boy. Now that he was a grown teenager, he only kept going on his exploration for fun. To escape his reality for a few hours. But last night, he couldn't sleep, he felt like he needed to go and walk in this now really familiar forrest. He tried to fight the feeling but in the last bit of the night, a few hour before dawn, he decided to just go. And now there he is, in the middle of this small cave that he never noticed before. It's really quiet and cosy 'A perfect spot to read' he thinks to himself. He is about to grab the book he put in his backpack before leaving when he hears the water ripples and someone gasping for air. He looks up in shock to see a young girl swimming in the water.

They stares at each other for a few seconds, frozen in place, both on them not knowing what to do. Simon finally breaks the silence by saying ''It's pretty cold in here, are you not frozen in the water?'' It was the beginning of spring, yes the weather was getting warmer, but it was still really cold outside. Sabrina hides a bit more in the water, her mouth only barely out of it ''I'm use to it, I like to swim...'' She slowly swim closer to the cave ground but doesn't come out of the water. She stares at something in the back of the cave and Simon follow her gaze and that is when he notices the pile of clothes onthe ground. He can't help but blush a bit, looking away from both the clothes and the girl ''Oh... huh, sorry about that! Let me just...'' and without finishing his sentence, he stands up and grab some small branches that was littering around and lit up a small fire near the clothes ''So you don't freeze to death when you come out... Huh... Do you... need anything else?''

''No, it's fine, thanks for the fire!'' She answers gently. Simon nods, grabs his bag and walks out of the cave and go back home. He felt like she needed to be alone, just like him so he gave her space and didn't wait for her to come out too...

A few weeks passes and Simon almost forget about the small cave and everything that happened in there. He is currently at the mall, he just bought some new books about mythical sea creatures. He is staring at the cover of one of them instead of watching where he is going so,naturally, he bumps right into someone ''Oh, I'm so sorry!'' he apologises while grabbing his books that he dropped during the hit ''It's ok.'' A small and feminine voice replies. He shoots his head back up, he can swear he heard that voice before. Like a small melody with every words that were spoken. By the time he finally remember, the girl has already passed by him, walking away and about to fade into the crowd. He jumps on his feet and runs behind her ''Wait!'' he can hear himself shout, since when does he have that much confidence ''Please, wait for a second!'' The girl finally turn around, realising that he is talking to her. He catches up to her and spend a moment to catch his breathing ''Are you... the girl from the cave? The one that was swimming in freaking cold water?'' he asks. She laugh a little and he can't help but to smile at the sound of it ''Yeah... yeah, it was me! I bet you had a hard time recognising me with my clothes on, right?'' She jokes around. Simon can feel his cheek heating up a bit. He rubs the back of his neck and mumbles something that really didn't mean anything. They are both wearing the same type of clothing. This kind of wannabe goth, but not confident enough to go all the way into it. And that is the ice breaker thatt hey went with to start a conversation. Sabrina then notices the books Simon is holding ''You like sea creatures?'' She asks.

''Yes! I love everything about them and all other mythical monsters! I can tell you everything about all the creatures!''

Sabrina laughs again, says that she would love to hear about it and that freeze Simon in his track. He is now a few steps behind and she turns around when she see that he is not walking anymore ''You... really want me to talk about all of those... 'boring' stuff?'' he asks, full of hope. She looks at him with this confused look ''Boring? Who said it was boring stuffs?''

''Everyone...''

''Well then I guess we are both nobodies, because it is a really fun and interesting topic to talk about!'' Simon smiles so widely that his cheeks stars to hurt a little, but he doesn'tcare. Finally someone that is just like him! They promise each other to meet at this small coffee shop the next day to talk to their heart content about the seas and everything.

They meet the next day after school. Simon asks where she spends her time during school time because he is pretty sure he never saw her around. Sabrina explains that she is home schooled so that is why he never saw her around school before. They talk about this and that for a few hours, drinking their hot chocolate and eating some sandwich that the coffee shop offer. They are both delighted by the knowledge of the others about everything surrounding the ocean and what lives under the darkness of the deep water. The evening pass without both the teens noticing until Sabrina's phone goes off. She jumps in surprise and says in a hurry ''I have to go now! It was really funthanksbye!''and she rush out of the coffee shop and disappear in the flow of people walking in the street. Simon sits still in his chair, did he do something wrong? They were having fun and she litterally ran out of the shop in a instant. He then decide to send her a small text before leave for his house I really enjoyed our conversation. I hope we will be able to talk again soon... He stares at his small phrase for quite a bit, wondering if it's okay. Is it too casual? Not friendly enough? He shakes his head, press send and slowly walk away to go back home, it's getting dark already and he doesn't like to walk alone when it's dark outside.

The next morning he gets a message back from Sabrina. She tells him that she is sorry for the other day, she really needed to go. To apologie for that, she wants to invite him for something. She just won this contest that was going on at their local pool ''A day in a life of a mermaid''. She could invite a friend and she immediatly thought of him since he really enjoy sea creatures too ''You will get the chance to become one for a day!'' she tells him. Simon is really excited about this. A mermaid! Or a merman to be more specific. This will be so much fun! And he will get to spend more time with Sabrina. She is the closest he ever got to have an actual friend! It felt great.

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When the day finally comes, they both meet at the pool, ready to get their transformation. She choose a really long and thin green and white tail and jumps in the water. She got into the tail so easily... And there he is, still struggling with his big and comfy black and pink one. When he finally manage to put the tail on, he falls more than he jumps into the water, both the instructor and Sabrina helping him to get back above the surface. Sabrina is able to swim like a fish with her tail and Simon is really impressed by that. He didn't think it would be that difficult to swim around with it. He slowly but surely gets the hang of it. When she swims back close to him he can't help but tease ''You really are a mermaid, aren't you?''

''Only half of one actually'' She respond, half laughing.

''Wha-'' But he doesn't get to finish since Sabrina splash her tail at him, and he try as best as he can to dodge the big wave that comes at him ''Oh, you wanna play that game, don't you!'' he asks while pushing his tail in front of him. He push his tail of the water but only manage to make a really small water, the water doesn't even reach Sabrina. He let out a big and over dramatic ''UURRGGH!!!'' and the instructor tells them that their time is over now. They are both a bit disapointed that it's already over, but they get out of the pool and give the tails back and get ready to leave.

They spend most of their weekends together now, spending the day together doing everything and nothing. But Sabrina would always leave not really long before the sunset. She said something about really strict parents, that they wouldn't let her be outside when it's dark, but something seemed off to Simon. Like she was genuily scared of the dusk. He stopped asking about it when he noticed how unconfortable she seemed to be when he was bringing the subject up. And now that it's finally summer time, they are almost always together. No more school and the days are much longer now. They are currently chilling at the park, playing around on the swings. Sabrina looks up at the sky and says ''Today's the summe rsoltice. It's my favorite day!''

''Because it's the first day of summer?''

''Because it's the longest day of the year...'' Simon looks at her friend with his head tilted to the side. She shakes her head and change the subject, so he decides to not insist about it and move on like she does. Before she leaves for the night he builds up the courage to ask ''Hey, my parents are out of town for the weekend and I was wondering if maybe... you would like to... spend the weekend with me? We could like, watch movies and things like that?''

''The whole weekend?'' She asks nervously. Simon's eyes widen a bit seeing how scared her friend seems to be so he says in a hurry ''Well it doesn't have to be the whole weekend... Maybe only one day? An afternoon? Whatever seems best for you? I'm sorry I didn't want to make you unconfortable. It's just that... I thought it would be fun... to have like... a sleepover or something?''

Sabrina smiles and tells him that she would really like that, but she will be busy on sunday, so she can only stay for the day on Saturday. They decide at what time she should come at his house and go on their way for the night. Simon rushing to his room and jumping on his bed out in excitment. He looks around his room and starts to clean around a bit. Her mother walks by and only gives him this knowing smile that he really hate but love at the same time. He makes an ugly face back and goes back to his cleaning. Meanwhile, in the small cave in the middle of the wood, Sabrina jumps in the lagoon as her legs transform back into a tail. She swim around in circle, making some loops and tricks. The other mermaids notice and rush to her, asking hundreds of questions at the same time. Sabrina laughs and tell them everything that happened so far...

It's about ten the next morning and Sabrina knocks at the door. Simon quickly comes to open it, really happy to see his friend. She comes in and her eyes open wide at the sight of all the pillows and blankets all scattered in the living room floor. Simon scratch the back of his neck and say ''Yeah, maybe it's a bit too silly, but I thought we could make a pillow fort to watch movies in...''

''A... pillow... fort?'' Sabrina asks.

''Too childish, it's fine we can-''

''What's a pillow fort?''

Simon looks at her with a really overly dramatic shocked face ''You never made a pillow fort before?'' Sabrina only shrug her shoulders, it's not like she had pillows under the water, but she keep that thought to herself. Simon proceed to explain everything about the best way to make a pillow fort. They spend the whole rest of the morning building the most amazing fort ever! They even manage to put on some old christmas lights in it. Once they are done, they go in the kitchen to cook a small lunch and take all the snacks to put them in the fort.

None of them see the time passing by and they are on their maybe third movie of the day. They both fall asleep in the middle of the movie, both snuggling under the blanket when Sabrina gets woken up by this way too familiar tingling sensation in her legs. She is way too far from the lagoon to go back in time. She freaks out and rush to the bathroom while making sure to not wake her friend up, still sleeping beside her. She locks the door and have just enough time to sit in the bathtub before she transforms back into a mermaid. She sigh loudly 'Atleast he has a bath' she thinks to herself. She turns on the water a bit to let the tub fill up slowly, trying to not be too loud. Why didn't her alarm went off? She reach for her pants pocket and grabs her phone. No more battery. Great. Awesome. All the days in her entire life, it had to be this day that she forgets to charge her phone! Of course! Once the bath is full enough, she stops the water and try to go back to sleep. Atleast it's a big tub and it's confortable. She closes her eyes and try to not over think everything. Better said than done.

Simon wakes up alone in the pillow fort. It's still dark outside, but a quick look at the clock tells him that it's really early on sunday morning. He can't help but let out a big sigh. He fell asleep and couldn't say goodbye to Sabrina. She probably left and didn't want to wake him up. He did say that h ehad trouble sleeping so, it's understandable, but it still hurts him a little that she didn't say bye. He shakes the sleep out of his eyes and head to the bathroom, only to bump really hard into the bathroom's door ''Ouch!''He then hears a small gasps and water splashing. He stares at the door for a few seconds and then asks ''Sab? What are you doing in there?''

''Huh... drugs!''

''Nice reference, but really, are you okay?''

''Yes? Hum... what time is it?''

''Too early... Are you sure you are fine? You know you can talk to me right?''

Silence on the other side of the door. Sabrina is freaking out. She doesn't want him to think she is a monster. He is the first real friend she ever had. But at the same time, he is going to find out one day or another... She can hear him shift on the other side of the door. He is saying sweet nothing to her, like he always does when he feels that she is anxious or stressed out. It always help her to get better. He mumbles about this and that for a few minutes until Sabrina finally speak up ''You... you can come in, but you will have to find a way to unlock the door because I can't do it right now.''

''Okay, give me a second here!'' Simon rush to his door to get his small lock picking kit. All kind of thoughts spiralling in his mind. Whyc an't she unlock the door herself? This she get hurt? What is going on?

He stuggles for a bit, but finally unlock the door and says while opening the door ''See, it's not only my DnD character that can do it!'' He stops in his track and look away at the sight of her friend sitting in the bathtub ''Oh sorry about that!''

''It's fine, I still have my shirt on.'' Sabrina says, while laughing a bit.

Simon shyly looks at her friend and slowly walk to her, only to freeze again when he sees the majestic greenish fish tail. They both stare at each other in this awkward silence until sabrina blurts out ''Surprise?''

''Are you a.... a...''

''Mermaid? Kind of... only at night... Long story really.''

Simon carefully kneel down in front of the bath ''woooow! That is so... cool!''

Sabrina burst out laughing, a really loud and nervous laugh ''You don't think I'm a monster?''

''You are beautiful!'' he says, blushing a bit. She does too and notice how his hands are rubbing side of the tub so she tells him ''You can touch it if you want.''

''Really?'' She nods and he slowly reach for the side of the tail and really gently brush one of his finger along it ''Not as slimy as I thought it would be!'' She gasp loudly and splash water on his face with her hands, making him all soaking wet ''Oh... my... god! How did you manage to throw the whole tub over my face!!?''

''Webbed hands are really useful for that!'' His eyes widen and he takes her hand in his and stares at it for a while ''Woooooww!'' He can feel a small bit of confidence rising in him, so he grab on to it and gently pull her hand up to his lips, giving her more than enough time to take it away if she feels the need to. When he sees that she doesn't, he put a small and loving kiss on the top of her hand. And has he pull away, he sees her webbed hand shining and transforming back to human hand, he takes a quick look at the tail, only to see human legs too. He quickly look away and blurt out ''Oh god...What... what did I do? I'm sorry!''

Sabrina burst out laughing again, genuine happy laugh this time ''You did nothing silly, I am not cursed that only a true love kiss can cure! And beside, it's supposed to be a knight in shining armor that lift the curse, not a... wannabe edgy boy!''

''Well I can get into cosplay and we can try again if you want?'' She push him around and he falls on his butt, both of them laughing. Sabrina then shouts ''Now go and get me some clothes so I can get out of here. The water in freaking cold!''

''Oh, right, of course!'' He stands back up, and run to his room to get her some clothes. He walk back in and put the clothes on the counter before walking back out again, closing the door behind him. He then goes back to his room to get some clothes for himself too. He thinks again about what she told him and he asks once she is out of the bathroom ''Is that why you would always run away at the end of the day?''

She only nods.

''What, how, why? When?''

''Breakfast first, I'm hungry!''

He complains a bit but ends up following her to the kitchen, they both sit a the table, and he listen really carefully to her story...