Brendon's POV
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I sit up a little the best I can, with my tail it's a bit difficult but I manage.

I reach up and continue playing with the man's hair, giggling softly as I tug at it a little, liking the way it feels.

"It's wet, but p-pretty soft.." I say, and then I reach my hand up and I feel my own hair, pouting as I only feel that it's wet and not soft like his.

"Mines not soft like y-yours, why not?" I ask him, and he just smiles and chuckles as he looks at me still feeling my own hair.

"Well probably because you're in the water all day, my hair has started to dry since I'm in the sun and I'm not always in the water," he replies, and I feel him rub the scales on my wrist, though I don't really mind.

The scales of my tail suddenly reflect against the sand because of the sun and I look at it, giggling a little as I move my tail, making the reflection move.

I go back to watching him rub my scales but then I look up at him, whimpering a little quietly.

"I d-don't wanna h-hurt you, they're sharp.." I say, and I start to pull my wrist away from him but he just gently shakes his head, pulling my wrist back to him gently.

"It's okay, you won't hurt me. If I do get hurt then it's my fault," he replies, smiling at me, and I get that fluttery feeling in my chest again, as I splash the water with my tail again gently, causing little ripples of water to swarm around it.

"O-Okay.. if you're sure," I say, giggling a little.

I turn my head slightly to look around the empty beach, cocking my head a little as I look up closer to where all the people stay. I see giant things that look almost like boxes.

"What're tho-those things?" I question, pointing up to the huge thing which is most likely where he came from.

He turns his head to see what I'm talking about and he just laughs softly.

"That's a house, where people stay," he replies, and I nod gently, not really understanding, but not wanting to bother him with so many questions.

"Are you g-gonna have t-to leave?" I ask, not wanting the man before me to leave the beach. Who knows if he would come back or not and if he didn't, then I'd never see him again.

I guess the rest of the merfolk were wrong about people, or at least this person at least. He's so nice! And he called me beautiful! No one has ever done that before!

And he let me have his ring! It's still so 'beautiful'.. and I think it's super fun to play with!

I look up at him as I wait for an answer but only for a few seconds, knowing that if he said no I would get upset so I don't want to look at him. I still have a pout on my lips as I look down at the sand, hanging my head a little and whimpering softly.

He was the only true friend I had at the moment. Or at least I hope we're friends, but then I don't understand why my cheeks go red and I get all fuzzy inside when he looks at me a certain way.
Would that just be super close friends?

I really hope he doesn't have to leave, he's so fun to talk to.. and he's the first person who hasn't judged me, or even tried to hurt me.

I really, really like him.

Dallon's POV
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You wouldn't think that one question could make a million different thoughts go through your mind, but it did.

"Are you g-gonna have t-to leave?" He asked me softly, looking at me with those big brown eyes of his.

I wanted to say no with all my heart, but I knew I would have to go back to Ryan. I needed some pain killers, water, and sleep. But then again, laying here with the most beautiful person I had ever met was fine with me.

He was the most innocent and adorable person ever. His smile could melt your heart in a second, and his questions about things that I didn't give a second thought to were completely new to him.

I rested my forehead against his, making him gasp suddenly. "As much as I hate it, I'm gonna have to leave."

He let out a whimper, reaching for my hand. "N-No..."

"I know, but I promise I'll come back every single day." I said.

He stared at me. "Y-You...you w-will?"

I nodded. "Every single day."

He smiled at me, looking at the sand. A blush was creeping up his cheeks again, which made my heart flutter in my chest. No person had ever done this to me before, not even Lacey.

"Y-you're my f-friend, right?" He asked softly, his tail hitting the water, ripples going everywhere. The red glow of his scales against the sunlight made sparkles on the sand and in the water.

"Of course I am." I said, brushing his hair out of his face.

He grinned. "Y-You're my f-first h-human friend!"

"You're my first merman friend!" I said, laughing. I went back to rubbing the scales on his wrist, but this time I got poked bad.

"Oh no!" He exclaimed, holding my hand tightly. "I'm s-so sorry! I...I k-knew I was g-gonna h-hurt you!"

"It's okay." I said.

Tears fell from his eyes. "I-I.. I h-hurt you..."

"No, sweetheart, you're fine." I said softly. "It was my fault, I still love your scales." I held both his hands, touching the scales gently.

"O-okay." He said, sniffling.

I gently pulled him back on top of me, as the sun began to go down. I knew I would have to go back to Ryan's house, but I didn't want to leave. If it were my choice, I would stay with him right here for forever.

It began to get darker and darker, so I moved closer to him. "I hate this, but I have to leave."

"N-no, please d-don't go.." He whimpered, holding onto me.

"I know, but tomorrow morning, bright and early I'll come, okay?"

"O-Okay.." He said.

We both sat up, not letting go of each other.

"A-Are you g-gonna be o-okay?" He asked. "Can y-you get home?"

"I'll manage." I said simply. "Be safe."

He nodded, letting go of my hand. "W-What's your name?"

I smiled. "Dallon."

"T-That's pretty." He said. "I'm B-Brendon."

"I'll see you tomorrow, Brendon." I said.

He nodded, slipping back into the water. "B-Bye-bye."

"Bye." I said, not bearing to look at him any longer.

He went fully underwater, and I saw him do a flip just to show off for me. I smiled, as I walked back to Ryan's house.

"DUDE!" Ryan exclaimed. "There you are! I was worried sick!"

"Thanks, but I was fine." I said.

"Are you sure?"

"Rip current, I was fine."

"Rip current! Dude, you could've died!" Ryan exclaimed.

"But I didn't." I said simply. "I'm gonna go take a shower, take some pills, and sleep."

"It's eight."

"I know, I'm getting up early." I said.

Ryan shrugged. "Okay, cool with me."

I got in the shower, smiling as I thought about Brendon, the person that had saved my life, and become my new closest friend. The most innocent and beautiful person I had ever met was my friend, plus he was a merman. So points for that.

I felt something hurting my hand, and I looked down to see what it was. One of Brendon's tiny scales was stuck in my finger.

I chuckled to myself, as I took it out. I had something to remember him by, and it had been lodged in my skin.

How cliché.

I went straight to sleep, the sound of the ocean and smell of Brendon's salty sea hair making me feel safe and comfortable. I guess from now on the merman I met was going to be the first thing on my mind for everything.