02 The Moon And The Tide - Marina's Tales (6 page)

“I’m really very tired right now, I’m going
to go take a nap.”

I went to my room and laid down, Ethan’s
angry face flashing through my mind. I remembered how he’d avoided
me after he found me seeking out Lorelei before– he’d looked even
more upset today. He could be really harsh when he felt threatened,
and it scared me. I started to cry, unable to stifle it. I was
tired from my day of surfing and I curled up around my pillow,
falling into an uneasy sleep. I woke to find it was dark outside,
and I looked in the mirror at my puffy eyes and frowned. I was
dreading school tomorrow.

My stomach growled, and I looked around my
little room, feeling trapped again. I didn’t want to come out and
have to talk to anyone. I could hear voices and laughter down the
hall, and the clanking sounds of someone cooking in the kitchen. I
felt alienated, like I didn’t belong anymore. I missed Evie and my
dad; fresh tears sprang from my eyes.

There was a gentle knock on the door and I
hurriedly wiped my cheeks.

“Yes?”

“Marina? Are you awake? Can I come in?” it
was Abby.

I sighed, “Yes.”

Abby sat on the bed next to me and looked at
me with worried eyes, “Honey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I felt like I was going to start
crying again.

“Cruz says you looked upset when you came in.
Is there something you want to talk about?”

“No Abby, I’m fine.”

“Marina, I want you to know how glad I am
that you’re here... things are so much better now we have you back.
I– I hope you still want to stay, I mean, I know babies can be hard
to live with...”

“Abby, you’re going to need me to clear out
of this room.”

“What?” she asked with a confused look, “Why
would you say that?”

“You’re going to need a room for the
baby.”

She looked at me like I was crazy, “Marina,
the baby will stay with me… in my room.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I said
reproachfully.

“Cruz stayed with me, so did you, and so will
this baby,” she put her hand to her belly.

“What about Dutch? Where are you going to put
him?” I asked.

Abby started laughing, “I know that we’re a
little bit unorthodox, but we decided to keep our separate places
until after you and Cruz and Ethan graduate. They’ll be college to
think about in the fall... we’ll just work things out as they
come.”

I felt a little better, for at least I knew I
could stay on if I wanted to.

Abby patted my knee, “Dinner’s ready, come
out and eat with us.”

“I’ll be out in a minute,” I said. I got up,
brushed my hair and made my way into the kitchen. I stopped in my
tracks, surprised.

Megan and Cruz were at the table, along with
Dutch and Ethan. They all looked up and smiled, except for Ethan.
He looked apprehensive.

“Hi Marina!” called Dutch cheerfully. I was
his favorite person next to Abby; he knew I had been willing to
trade my life for his and was so solicitous it bordered on
embarrassing.

“Hi Dutch,” I smiled at him as I took the
empty seat next to Ethan, careful not to touch him.

“Dutch made clam chowder for us tonight,”
said Abby as she dished everyone a bowlful. Cruz, Megan and I
exchanged a glance between us.

“Mom!” Cruz smirked, “You’re going to eat a
clam?”

“I’ve decided,” she said with a sniff, “to
eat
some
kinds of seafood.”

“As long as it doesn’t have a face,” said
Megan.

We all laughed, but Abby looked a little
flustered. She had been a strict vegan on principle. She must
really be in love, I thought.

The chowder was excellent, and everyone
praised Dutch. Abby was a notoriously bad cook, and if the rest of
Dutch’s cooking was as good as this, our culinary future had just
brightened considerably. Ethan didn’t say a word the whole meal and
I studiously avoided his eyes.

After dinner, Dutch and Abby left to go
cuddle on the couch as I rose to clear the table, telling Cruz and
Megan that I’d take care of the dishes. That left Ethan standing
awkwardly at the table as I busied myself at the sink.

I stacked the bowls and turned to find him
standing close behind me, “Marina–”

I looked up at his sad serious face and
couldn’t turn away.

“Can we please talk?” he asked, motioning
outside.

I nodded yes and he walked out the back door.
I followed him out to the dark gazebo.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you,” he said. It was
too dark to see his face but I could hear the remorse in his
strained voice, “Please forgive me. It’s just that– I was waiting
to see you all day...”

My hurt feelings dissipated, and I went over
and gave him a hug. He sighed raggedly, as if he had been holding
his breath. He clung on to me tightly.

“It’s okay,” I said, stroking his back. I was
always surprised at his intensity.

“I love you,” he whispered, “I just can’t
stand the thought of them taking you again.” He wound his hands in
my hair and kissed me passionately, as though he were trying to
draw me into him. I pulled away, panting for a breath, and he
buried his face in my neck.

“Ethan,” I said, stroking his back
soothingly, “Lorelei won’t do anything to me... she’s part of me...
she’s part of my family.”

He stiffened and pulled me even harder into
him, “I don’t like it. Promise me you’ll stay away from her.” He
started kissing my neck, running his lips between my shoulder and
ear. He was making me dizzy, but he wasn’t going to change my
mind.

“No,” I said, “I won’t.”

He sagged in my arms like a punctured
balloon.

I took his face in my hands and kissed him
softly, “I love you, and you’re part of my family too,” I kissed
him again, “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Arghh!” he growled, “You’re gonna drive me
crazy.” He wrapped his arms around me and I laid my head against
his chest. We stood there for a few minutes, locked in a stalemate.
As far as I was concerned we were going to have to agree to
disagree.

“Hey,” I said, “Your dad is married to my
aunt. I think that makes us cousins.” He chuckled, and the mood
lightened a bit.

“Are you two out there?” Abby called, “Dutch
needs to get going.”

“We’ll be right in,” I called back, just
before he leaned down to kiss me again.

I passed by Cruz’s room and Megan called out
to me. They were relaxed, talking and listening to music. I wanted
to feel that way too… Why did things always have to be so hard
lately? I looked in, deciding to hang out for a little while. I
plopped down on the bed to join them.

“Where’s your boyfriend?” Cruz asked.

“He’s not my boyfriend, he’s my cousin,” I
replied sarcastically.

“Eew– kissing cousins!” squealed Megan. I
picked up a pillow and pummeled her upside the head. We rolled
around, giggling and batting each other with pillows for a while. I
was reminded of the sea lions goofing around in the surf and the
image made me laugh even harder.

We settled down and talked awhile, listening
as Cruz fretted about going back to school the next morning. There
were only two more weeks of classes to go before the long holiday
break, but Cruz and I had some lost time to make up. It was getting
late when Megan got up to go.

“Cruz–” said Megan solemnly, turning back to
face him.

“Yeah?”

“Just remember...”

“What?”

“You’re not losing a mom,” she grinned,
“you’re gaining a cook.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Shayla

School was weird that week. Most of the kids
ignored us like we’d never left, but the faculty was solicitous,
seriously impressed by my father’s achievements. Cruz and I were
asked to deliver a speech to our science and history class about
our experience in Oslo. Cruz was mortified about public speaking,
but he was a hit. Our classmates found his colorful description of
the ceremonies and celebrities far more entertaining than my dry
discussions about crop research.

The surfer crowd always seemed to whisper and
stare whenever I passed by so I took care to avoid them. I spent
most of the day in classes alongside Cruz, or sitting and talking
with Megan at lunchtime.

Even though I missed him, I preferred it when
Ethan stayed away from me at school. When we were together we had a
hard time keeping our bodies apart, and it made everyone around us
uncomfortable. There was something extraordinary about the powerful
attraction I had to Ethan; I knew he felt it too. It was bigger
than the both of us, and sometimes I felt like a little kid playing
with fire.

“Walk you to class?” said Ethan, sneaking up
behind me as I stood at my locker. I turned around and we stepped
into each other, sighing with relief as we embraced.

“I’m going to miss this time of the day,” he
said, winding his hands in my hair, “What will I have to look
forward to now?”

Art was the only class we had together, and
he wouldn’t be able to take it with me in the next semester. I’d
miss his calming presence by my side; despite everything that had
been happening, I always felt better when he was nearby. He would
sit as close to me as possible, much to the dismay of Heather and
Jamie, two of the many girls that would seriously like to see me
disappear and never return.

We walked past Ethan’s friends and they all
clammed up and stared. It was starting to get irritating.

“What
is
their problem with me?” I
asked Ethan.

He shrugged, “I think they’re in awe of you.
I’ve been hearing all week about how they saw you go full on
surfing. They say you tamed the sea lions too!” he laughed a
little.

“Sea lions?” I said with a nervous laugh.

I realized they’d seen everything. My first
impulse was to keep it all to myself, because he got stressed out
just thinking about me surfing with Lorelei. I decided I should
probably say something.

“Uhm…Ethan…” I took his hand.

“Don’t worry about it. I think Long’s been
talking to them,” he said dismissively.

That made sense. Long was Lue Khang’s
grandson, and he was aware of my peculiar affinity for the sea. His
grandfather was the only person I’d encountered in Aptos that had
always seemed to be aware of the mermaid’s presence, considering
them a part of the natural world. Long didn’t share his
grandfather’s Hmong beliefs, and was nervous around me, thinking I
used supernatural powers to somehow control Ethan.

“Shayla said she’d go surfing with me
sometime.”

“Really?” he said, eyebrows raised.

“Yes,” I replied, annoyed, expecting him to
ask me not to go.

He sounded like he was thinking out loud,
“That’s not such a bad idea, she’s a strong surfer, and she could
look out for you.”

“Stop that!” I said, offended, “I can look
out for myself.”

“I’m just worried. I mean, a few months ago
you couldn’t even swim...”

I laughed so suddenly I almost choked. A few
weeks ago I had spent a night swimming more powerfully and agilely
than any human that had ever lived. Even now, I was advancing in
leaps and bounds, becoming one with the ocean, learning so fast it
was unusual. Inhuman, I thought, just like me.

Ethan’s concerns were starting to chafe. At
best, he was being overprotective, like my father; at worst, I
sensed he wanted to control me.

After class he walked me over to the
Mercedes, kissing me as I leaned against the door. This was the
best part of my day, and I snuggled up against him in the cool
afternoon air. It was a crisp, clear December day, between
rainstorms, and there was a feeling of energy in the air. The waves
promised to be good; I could feel it in my spine when the surf was
up. My spine was tingling.

“Hey,” I said, suddenly excited, “How about
going surfing right now?”

“You know I have to work,” he said, “Wait
’till Saturday.” I bristled at the commanding tone he took.

“Fine, Saturday,” I sighed.

Driving home, I spotted Shayla, walking alone
on the freeway overpass. I pulled over.

“You want a ride?”

She looked up, hesitant, “OK.”

“Where do you live?” I asked as we drove
through town.

“You can just drop me off up here,” She
motioned towards the entrance to a trailer park not too far from
our little street. The place was ancient, dilapidated, and like
Abby’s little neighborhood it predated all the new developments
that encircled it. Looking in, you could see an assortment of small
trailers, most of which were surrounded by wine barrel planters and
plastic chairs. I pulled over.

“You know, there are some really big waves
happening right now,” I said hopefully.

She looked at me and smiled, “Seriously?”

“Yeah!” I said enthusiastically.

“I’ll go get my stuff.” She bolted out of the
car and raced into the park and out of sight. A few minutes later
she returned with her board and bag. I got out and helped her wedge
it into the back of the convertible. I drove to Abby’s and I ran in
the house just as hurriedly.

“Where are you headed in such a rush?” asked
Cruz as I whizzed by.

“Surfing! See you later!” I called over my
shoulder.

I pulled out of the driveway and turned to
Shayla, “Where to?”

She looked at me, sizing me up, “I know a
place nobody from school goes.”

“That,” I said firmly, “would be a definite
plus.”

She directed me to drive up the coast past
Santa Cruz. We pulled into a small lot that looked out over an
ocean point with a steep path to a rocky beach below. Evie’s
shining Mercedes looked seriously out of place among all the beat
up vans and old cars with roof racks.

Shayla turned to me, “These homeboys don’t
like strangers surfing on their territory. But they’re a lot easier
on chicks. I met this dude last week at the boardwalk and he told
me I could come out to thrash a few with them.”