Lexi's here. And Lexi's what I want.

     I'm still wondering why my tail came back, why that all happened. But I shouldn't worry about that. I want to live on land while I still can.

     Still coughing softy, I stand up. The sky is now a navy blue, dotted with stars. A chilly breeze wafts through the air, gently lifting my hair off of my shoulders. I turn around and walk towards the town. For now, I should probably find a place to sleep. 

~the next morning~ 

     I ended up sleeping at another hotel, once again having to talk my way into getting a room. That morning, the sun wakes me, it's angelic rays reaching into the window and cloaking the room in light. I quickly get out of bed and get dressed before heading down to the coffee shop I went to the other day.

     "Hi! Welcome back!" The barista greets me with a smile. "Gingerbread mocha?"

     "Yes, please," I respond. "Coming right up," he says, his grin never leaving his face. I sit down at the window seat that I found last time. I wonder if she'll be here...

     Just as I'm thinking this, the bells on the door jingle and Lexi walks in. And I'm reminded all over again just why I want to stay here on land. She's so beautiful. 

     "I have a small gingerbread mocha," the barista calls, and I walk up to the counter. 

"Hey there!" Lexi says when she sees me. Her smile could light up the entire room. I almost forget to take my mocha because I'm so lost in her eyes. "How are you?"

     "I'm good," I say as she orders her drink and we sit down together. "How...how are you?"

     "I'm good!" she responds. If she was texting, there would have been a smiley face at the end of that sentence. Maybe I'm saying that because the author was gonna add a smiley face but then realized that this is a real conversation and that doesn't work that way. 

    "So, um..." I say when she returns from getting her drink. "I was wondering....would you want to walk around the island with me for a while later today? I kind of need a friend to hang out with." Saying the word 'friend' was heart-wrenching.

     "Sure! I'd love that," she says and we both smile.