How to be a Mermaid: A Falling in Deep Collection Novella by Erin Hayes Page A

the corner of the shower, unable to really process what was happening to me.
    “Tara?” Christine’s voice came on the other side of the door. “Tara, are you okay?”
    “I’m fine!” I cried. “I just...” I faltered. “Leave me alone!”
    “Let me in, please?” I was about to, until she asked, “What was that out there?”
    That only caused my chest to constrict painfully. I pulled up my legs closer in a fetal position. I was a freak, and everyone saw that. The audience might have gone crazy, but they didn’t know that what they saw was not a part of the usual performance. I couldn’t even try explaining what had happened out there. Only that I’d been saved by a merman and a sea witch had done something to help me heal and breathe underwater. Which was now causing me to transform into a mermaid. Or a merwalker, whatever that was.
    I wiped the tears from my eyes and stayed in the shower until the water went cold, although it no longer bothered me. And then I still stayed in it even longer, not wanting to face the reality of what was happening to me.
     

CHAPTER 5
     
    Eventually, I decided that I would have to leave the relative safety of the showers. With my hair still sopping wet, I wrapped a towel around my torso and went into the changing rooms, dreading what I would see.
    Other than Christine sitting on the couch and typing on her laptop, I didn’t see anyone else.
    She glanced up at me as I came in, raised an eyebrow, and then sat back, crossing her arms. “Do you mind telling me what that was today?” she asked. “Are you on drugs?”
    I stared at her open-mouthed. “N-no!” I spluttered, shocked she would even consider something like that.
    She was silent for a few moments before she closed her eyes and shook her head. “No, I don’t think that you’re type to do that kind of stuff. Just tell me, how did you...” she waved her hand, trying to describe our performance, “... do that?”
    I had no answer for her. I averted my eyes and stood there awkwardly, unable to decide on a single thing to say. How could I?
    My silence must have been too long, because Christine sighed and sat back, combing a finger through her hair. “I know it’s not my business unless you do want to talk about it. Still though. You did deviate from the performance today.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    Despite everything, she gave me a small smile. “You were...amazing though,” she said breathlessly. “I don’t know how you did it. You looked like a real mermaid. I couldn’t believe it. Neither could the audience. Pity you didn’t stick around at the end because everyone wanted to talk to the star of the show. Including Mr. Stevens, who talked to Neptune about having us back next year.”
    The tight feeling in my chest loosened a bit and I let out a breath.
    “So you aren’t angry?”
    “No.”
    “And Neptune’s not angry?”
    The corners of her lips quirked up. “He’s...curious. Grumpy. But that’s how he always is, you know that.”
    That muscle in my chest got a little looser still. “I won’t get fired?”
    She chuckled and shut her laptop. “Of course not. Everyone wants to meet the mermaid who can swim like, well, a mermaid.” She tapped the lid of the computer. “I’ve been answering emails from three local newspapers, some blogs, and more. You’re famous, Tara.”
    I crossed my arms in a self-conscious gesture, not wanting to be famous for being a freak. “I didn’t know I could swim like that,” I said. Ain’t that the truth.
    “Well, that was certainly a surprise. Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?” She frowned. “You seemed upset earlier.”
    “I was,” I admitted, though I didn’t want to expand upon that. “Where are Jordyn and Alaina?”
    “They went back to the hotel.” Christine yawned. “We’re all a bit tired. Especially since we were so worried about you last night.” I cast my eyes down, feeling guilty. “Good thing we only have tomorrow’s