John pov~

I waved goodbye to the Fish Guy and he grinned, leaping off like a dolphin. I made my way out of the water and frowned at my soaking clothes. I couldn't sit in my car dripping wet, but it's not like the moon is going to make the water evaporate. It's not a windy day either, which isn't shocking, because it's been a really clear fall. Not sunny exactly, but not rainy or particularly windy either.

I leaned against my car and sighed, opening the door and climbing inside. I turned on the AC and drove home at a decent speed. I parked my car and got out, ringing out the hem of my shirt and scowling at the puddle. At least it's just water, my car should be fine. I headed into the building and got in the elevator, yawning and leaning against my arm, which I propped against the mirror that appears to be mandatory in elevators.

But of course, someone had to come in tonight. They got in on the first floor. They pressed the button for floor 4. I was going most of the trip with this person, exhausted and soaking wet. They shot me a weird look and I raised an eyebrow at them, too tired to even bother trying to reasonably explain why I was dripping salt water on the floor of the elevator.

"Went for a late night swim?" They asked after a moment, clearly still perplexed.

"You could say that." I shrugged, watching the numbers soar past as the machine rose upwards.

The door opened in the 4th floor and my fellow elevator-rider smiled awkwardly at me.

"Well, good bye." They said stepping out.

I sighed and leaned backwards, waiting for a few seconds before the door opened again on the 5th and I walked down the hall and up the stairs to my apartment, shivering as the night air collided with my soggy clothes. I unlocked the door to my house and locked it again. Then I tugged off my clothes and shoes and tossed my keys aside, heading to the bathroom. I was about to step in the tub and turn on the shower, when I realized it was still full. I looked at the water and saw it was pretty dirty. I mean, putting a Fish Guy in a tub for a pretty long period of time was obviously going to dirty the water. I reached my hand in the pull the plug, when my hand brushed against something that wasn't part of my bathtub. I grabbed at it and pulled my hand out.

A flash of green shine from my hand and I noticed it was a scale. I held it up, already assuming it was one of Alexander's scales.

It was, indeed, one of Alexander's scales.

The slightly rough surface was a beautiful emerald green and gleamed when I tilted it in different ways. I set it on the counter and stared at the water. Were there others? If there were others, and they went down the drain, would it clog the drain? Would I be able to get them out? What if I wasn't able to get them out, so I called a plumber, but the plumber asked what they were? What would I say? Would the plumber take the scales? What if they did take the scales and brought it to some of my school or something and someone studied it? What if they found out where it was from? And went to go hunt Alexander and all his Fish People friends? He'd never trust me again! He'd think I told everyone about him! And it would all be my fault!

I looked at the scale and took a long, steady breath. I reached my hand under the water and flattened my palm just a bit over the bottom of the tub, feeling for any other scales. I realized that that plan wasn't working, so I pulled my hand out and grabbed my phone, lighting the flashlight and pointing it towards the tub. I noticed some little flashes of green in the water and so I reached down to grab them. I fished out another three and set them next to the first one. I flashed my light at the water again and ran my hand through it, seeing if any scales would wash up. One did, and I snatched it, plopping it on the small pile. I carefully pulled the plug and watched the water swirl down the drain, flashing the light straight at it. I saw no scales so I assumed it was fine.

I stared at the now empty tub and climbed in, setting my phone aside and turning the shower on and letting the water run over me. I stood there for a moment, my body slowly warming up, then I decided to wash the salt and sand out of my hair.

—~•~—

I stared at the scales in my cup in wonder, watching the light gleam off the green surfaces. I'd cleaned them off and put them in clean water. I took a picture and sent it to Lafayette, informing them that Fish Guys apparently shed their scales. They didn't respond, no surprise there. I put the glass of clean water with the scales in it on the kitchen counter and curled up under my blanket, trying to get as much sleep as I could before I had to wake up for school.

I am so sorry but I'm discontinuing this story.
I just don't know how to continue and all the chapters so far were prewritten.
I'm sorry.

With love,
Starii 🌼