Raphael spun Vanessa around and he didn't miss the big smile on her face, her soft giggling when he put his arm back around her waist, and she followed as he lead dancing.

She was getting more comforting dancing to batchata quicker than he thought. Though, turning into a mermaid has change Vanessa attitude. In a good way. She was a sweet shy girl who barley talked now, now her whole shell was breaking and she was more confident.

When the song was finish, a few of his relative clapped for Vanessa at her quick learning lesson. It was just the basic where allot of his cousins liked to show off, but it made him happy Vanessa even willing to try. It was clumsy at first, but she was getting there.

When everyone decided to eat, Raphael grew sick at the sight of the lobster tail. Vanessa patted his hand under the table and he forced her a smile. He literally had this sorrow feeling and haven't cried for anything since he was twelve and saw Titanic.

''Some new weird diet, Ralph?'' his cousin, Luc, asked as he cracked at the tail. Raphael jerked, but remained calm.

''Raphael just been weird all together.'' his dad said. ''Isn't that right, mijo?'' his dad asked. His father wasn't happy when Raphael decided to stop working at the shop. Raphael couldn't explain why in just over night he suddenly hated the sight of it other than he didn't want to be a fisherman anymore.

''Stop that, Jose.'' his mom said. ''Get over it, so Raphael doesn't want to work there anymore.''

''Well you need another job.'' his dad said.

''I'm looking.'' he said, lying. Actually, he was paying more closely to his cousin Luc who was breaking the shell and chomping on the more creature meat. A ball formed in his throat.

''You could have any job in Coasta Sirenas by just saying who your family is.'' he said and Raphael is true. His family own to fish shops, it's just the one of the boardwalk is more popular and his family is pretty well respected since Coasta Sirenas is known for a good fish population.

Though recently with some new visitors it's getting harder to get a catch. . .

*

''You shouldn't stress about it so much.'' Vanessa said. ''If you really want, you could make your father move about quitting.''

''It's the family business, Nessie, he expects me and my brothers to go to college or work at the shop. I'm not doing both. And I know I can, I just can't seem to get it right. I sing, but it barley work. I tried to get my mom to bake a cake, only got her to consider it until the spell broke.'' he said.

''It took me over a week until I could enchant the lyrics.'' she said. ''The first time I knew it would work was when you were in the shower at my house.''

''I knew that was you,'' he said and in the dark with a very dim street lamp, he saw her blush.

She pushed at his chest, ''Shut up! I had this feeling like I had to hum along.'' she said shyly as her nose scrunched.

He put his hand under her chin and kissed her cheek, ''Relax,'' he chuckled and her face soften. ''My family really likes you.''

''I think your dad blames me for you quitting.'' she said. ''He looked at me strangely. You don't think he suspects anything?''

''Of course not.'' he said. ''He probably just thinks I quit for you because for you, like I choose you over the family business, that I don't care anymore. He'll get it over it, it doesn't exactly mean he doesn't like you.''

''You think?'' she asked and he grinned.

''Trust me.'' he said, taking her hand and kissed the back of it. He started to pull her in for a kiss until the front door opened and she quickly pulled away before her dad seen.

''Oh, hey Raphael.'' her dad said friendly. ''Have a fun time Nessa?''

''I beat your dad at this fun game called Uno!" Adalyn cried excitedly as she jumped out, her blonde curls jumping along. ''Like six times!"

*

'Vanessa

''Your father is quite handsome.'' Adalyn surprised Vanessa by saying when she was pulling her hair up in a ponytail, getting ready for last four days of school before graduating which she had been just thinking about until Adalyn broke her thoughts by saying that. ''How old is he? Late thirties?''

Vanessa turned, ''Uh, 39.'' she said and Adalyn innocently looked down at her Vanessa bed, smiling and blushing. ''Oh no, Adalyn! You can't.''

Adalyn looked up and chuckled, ''Why not? It's not like he's older than me, I'm a hundred and nineteen. I haven't felt this feeling since I was a young girl, fourteen probably.'' she giggled. ''Like first love.''

''No!" Vanessa said and Adalyn frowned. ''I mean, you can't. He thinks you’re my mom distant cousin. And you look about twenty.''

''Then make him think I'm someone else.'' she said, getting up and Vanessa scoffed. ''Oh please! I haven't liked a man since my fiancé and it would be nice to go on a date. I don't like guys in this generation and you're father is very mature and kind. He's a man, not a boy.''

''Adalyn!'' Vanessa said, to creeped out to finish. Adalyn seriously likes her dad? The thought made her shiver a little because it was just . . . weird! Adalyn is older, but she has the body of a young women! No, Vanessa can't and she can't let her dad do that. He has a perfect thing going with Anita, Adalyn shouldn't ruin that.

''Would it be so weird if I really were to marry your father? In my days, it wasn't so uncommon--''

''Whoa, Adalyn! No! Pause! Back up! Marry?'' Vanessa scoffed. ''You're really thinking of marriage with him?'' she asked and Adalyn shrugged.

''I'm still a virgin and I do believe you shouldn't lay with a man unless you're married--Vanessa?'' she questioned when Vanessa threw her arms up and turned away, grabbing her flannel shirt and bottom them. Vanessa was not going to hear this! Now she wants to sleep with her father?

Ew! she thought as she shivered and there was a beep outside, letting her know Raphael was outside.

*

When school was finally over, Vanessa was happy to run out. She had an accident spill with her water bottle and only grew a tail in the hallways before she met an empty janitor closet. She worried for the last eight days about it since she still haven't controlled when she like her tail to come if not. She actually like to take showers again instead of a small cramp tub.

Her boyfriend was park right in the parking lot and she grew a smile like always when she saw Raphael. She ran over to driver’s window, ''Hi!" she said cheerfully.

''I saw you in my rear view mirror.'' he said and she frowned at him.

She rolled her eyes and smiled, leaning in to kiss his cheek but darn her short height she only made it half way. She huffed out her nose and he leaned forward, letting her kiss his slightly stubble cheek.

She walked over to the passenger side and climbed in. She threw her bag down on the floor, took her shoes off, and let her feet hang it the window. Raphael made a little joke about her feet smelled and she gave him a look.

She turned and pressed her left foot against his arm, ''So my feet smell, but not my tail?"

''Right.'' he said and moved her feet, but she just pressed both her feet against him as she pressed her back against the door. He chuckled as he wrestled with her feet and she giggled. She knew she was still in the parking lot of her school and people could maybe hear them, but she didn't care. He leaned towards her and started tickling her until she was out of breath, begging him to stop as she giggled.

''Okay, okay!" she said and he stopped. ''Your feet aren't two great either and neither are your legs. You got thick dark hair.''

''Well not all of us can be blonde.'' he said and touched her blonde peach fuzz hair arm. Ever since she turned in the beginning she noticed how her body hair was less and less, but her hair on her head grew thick. Goosebumps went up her arms though as Raphael arms slid up and down her right arm.

He pulled away then, "So, the boardwalk?'' he asked and she nodded.

*

Vanessa peeked over the rock and saw Raphael a few feet away trying to look for her. She brought her hand up to her mouth and held back giggling. She quietly swam behind him which was getting easy. Swimming with a tail was becoming easy as walking on legs. She had a hard time moving out up and down every time but she got the hang of it now.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and he dropped the shell he had in his hands he was look at. It was a very big and pretty shell and lucky the water slowed its way down before it could crash.

He turned in his arms and his dark hair went in his face. She reached up and brushed his soft black hair back. She touched his golden scales arms and was amazed how beautiful it looked on his dark tan skin. Gold simply fit Raphael.

She pointed up at the surface and they swam to the top. Vanessa chuckled when got to the top since Raphael was stick down on his face and he brushed it back with his fingers.

''I swear, we're not near Coasta Sirenas, Vanessa.'' he said, looking around a little concern since land was around.

''I know where I'm going.'' she said, though it was a little bit of a lie. She looked up at sunny sky and it warmed her face as she closed her eyes. ''Even if we get lost, we'll find land somewhere and ask for directions.'' she said as she moved to float on the water, her blue gold tail getting warmed along by the sun.

She felt Raphael hands brush through her hair and she opened her eyes, seeing his dimple smile looking down at the opposite way since he was at the top of her head, ''Oh sure, go up to a random boat and ask which town we're in.''

'We could live in the water if we wanted to.'' she said, bringing her hands up and touched his cheeks. ''No worrying about wrinkling up either.''

He chuckled, "I'm sure the sand will be a comfy bed.'' he sarcastically said as he ran his fingers threw her scalp and it felt so good.

''It's what I would be doing if I didn't have you.'' she said. ''Spending my day on shore, but at night return to the sea and be Queen Severina minions.''

''You belong with me.'' he said and she smiled. ''We'll take care of each other.''

''You could take the easy way out, though.'' she reminded him where he has a choice if he really wants to be a merman or keep his legs.

''I choose you.'' he said, kissing her.

*

"I told you we'll find land.'' Vanessa said when they finally saw a beach. It wasn't Coasta Sirenas, she didn't recognize the area. But it was getting pretty dark and there was a boardwalk. Raphael could hide under the bridge while she goes see where they're at. Thank God since it looks like it was going to rain.

''I'm just going to say okay since you're pretty.'' he said and she chuckled, racing him towards the beach. They made sure to be in the dark part where no one could see them since people were starting to come for vacation.

Vanessa crawled out and shook her tail, waving her legs back and she was back in her swim suit while Raphael was forced to stay in his merman body since he's still a fledging mer-folk.

''I shouldn't be long.'' she said as she kissed his cheek and left.

She went up to the boardwalk and quickly bumped into someone. She gasped when she saw the water bottle in his hand and jumped back, ''Whoa, calm down.'' he said.

'"Sorry,'' she said. ''Just . . . uh. What beach is this?"

''This beach?" he asked and she nodded. ''Outsider, huh?" he grinned. ''Lockhart isn't really that big anyways.''

''Lockhart?'' she asked and he nodded. Lockhart was only an hour west of Coasta Sirenas--that mean her and Raphael been going around I'm circles! She almost slapped herself, she was always bad with directions.

''So where are you from?'' he asked, smiling charmingly at her. ''I'm James Ericson.'' he asked as he held out her hand.

She looked at it for a second before putting her hand in his, ''Vanessa Porter, I'm from Coasta Sirenas.'' she said. James had slightly blonde curling hair and looked like a regular beach surfer with green eyes.

''Really? What are you doing here? Lockhart is only really known for its sailing.'' he said.

''Oh, uh, I'm just visiting some friends but I'm not familiar with the scene.'' she said, ready to say goodbye but he pressed.

''Well hey, I'm about to go take my dad yacht out. Want to join me?" he asked. ''I certainly can't let a pretty girl like you're self just disappear from my life.''

Her face heated up and realized her glamour charm must be on, ''Sorry, James, but I can't. I have to go meet my boyfriend somewhere. Even, it looks like it's about to storm. You shouldn't go out there.''

''I'll be fine, it's supposed to drizzling a little. Are you sure? It's really fun.'' he said, grinning.

She forced James a smile, ''Thanks, but no. Bye,'' she said and turned, running back to Raphael. He looked bored when she made it to him and she sat next to him, ''We're in Lockhart.''

''No kidding.'' he said, ''I realized when I saw those mountains back there. We go west--and I'll be doing the directions.'' he said and she gave him a look.

There was lighten across the sky and they both looked up, soon hearing thunder. She couldn't help but think of James who was idiotically going out in this upcoming storm.

''I could really eat a whole watermelon.'' Raphael said and she chuckled. Since mermaids don't eat meat really, we mostly eats veggies and fruit.