Raphael had to drive on the other side of town—the college side of town. It's mostly where all the people who attend the school to study business and other stuff. Guess it's more a school for partying since it's a big school in the state for people to go and party since it's right near the beach.

Raphael pulled up to a frat house and Vanessa straighten up in her seat, making a unsure face as she watched people going and out of the house. She suddenly wanted to tell Raphael to drive her back home so she could go hide under her blankets where she knew it was safe from not just water, but people.

“Relax.”, Raphael said, looking at the frat house then her again. “You're not jumping in a pool of sharks.”, he chuckled.

“It's just. . .I never been to a party so I'm a little nervous.”, she admitted.

“There's nothing to freak out about, Vanessa.”, he said. “All you have to worry about is how much fun your going to have. You do know what fun is?”, he asked jokingly. “Don't really yell me you don't have friends, Vanessa.”

“I have friends!”, she defended herself. “I just..only see them at school. I'm not very popular. Did you ever hear of my name last year? Your only over a bit year older then me.”

Raphael bit his bottom lip, “Well now you have a friend who wants to see after school. We always talk on the boardwalk.”

“More like me serving you ice cream only.”, she said. “You eat ice cream a lot, Raphael.”, she chuckled.

“I couldn't eat a lot of it when I was on the football team in high school.”, he said, chuckling making her heart swoon at the sound of it. His voice was like an angel and he didn't need some mermaid magic to make it sound like that. “Now come on, I wont let anyone make fun of you.”

“That's not what I'm scared of.”, she said.

“Then what is it?”, he asked, shrugging.

Her mouth opened a little and she quickly closed it. She didn't want to admit it was water she was scared of without him questioning and he didn't want her to think she was any more of a loser. It's not like she could really come out 'oh because I’m a mermaid, I have to stay clear of it' either.

Not thinking of a question fast, she shook her head and opened the truck door, jumping out. She fixed her flannel shirt because the top two buttons were open and she had her bathing suit under it. She wonders how long it's been like that, she hoped Raphael didn't notice, that would be so embarrassing.

She was walking over towards Raphael side and she kept forgetting she had to look up at him since he was over four feet taller. “I forgot to ask, do you even go to this school?”, she asked.

“No, I don't.”, he said as they walked over to the house. “My friends go here, I decided not to go to college at least right now. My father didn't like the idea, he wanted his son to go finish school but my dream is go out into the sea, become like my dad and uncle.”

“So your dream is to catch fish?”, she asked.

He chuckled, “Putting it that way makes it sound so lame, but it's more then catching fish. I love the ocean, just being out there makes me happy so I have to catch fish apart of that, I don't care.”

“Oh.”, she said, walking up the steps. “I never learned really how to swim, but my mom use to take me to the ocean in the shallow end. So I never been to interested in the ocean.”

“Where is your mom?”, he asked, making her freeze at the door. He stopped when he realized she did and turned to her, confused, “What? What's wrong?”

“My mom. . .she passed away when I was eight from cancer.”, she said awkwardly, rubbing her right arm.

“Oh, my god.”, he said. “I feel like an asshole now, I'm so sorry.”

She shrugged, “It's okay, it's not you knew. I'm over it—I mean, it was really hard in the beginning and it's why I never spoke a lot as a kid and couldn't make friends, so which is why I kind of don't now.”

He stepped towards her and put his hands on her shoulders, “Your a lot more stronger then I thought you were.”, he said and she looked at him confused. What did he mean by that? “How could anyone handle losing their mother and then vanishing into the sea then act as normal as you. It's kind of odd a little.”, he said, making her eyes widen a little. He shrugged and took his hands away, “I guess people just handle things differently.”

She forced herself to laughing but it just sounded as fake she made it, “Yeah.”, she said awkwardly as she stopped laughing.

She followed him then through the house and some people looked at her confused, wondering who she was probably. She shyly looked down at the ground, looking at Raphael feet so she knew where to go. He was making his way through the house and into the backyard.

Vanessa jumped when she heard a splash and she looked up to see a lot of people either in the pool or off to the side. She looked at the pool nervously and brought her arms up to cross them across the chest, biting her lower lip. She around the pool and made sure to be careful walking around the water that was splashed off to the side as she followed behind Raphael over towards some people.

“Vincent!”, Raphael said and the two guys hugged.

“Dude, your finally here! I thought you forgot.”, he said. The guy Vincent looked behind Raphael at Vanessa and she gave him a shy small smile, “And who's is this beauty?”, he asked, running his fingers through his dark hair.

“This is Vanessa,” Raphael said, taking a step back and put his arm around Vanessa. “She works on the boardwalk a few stores down from my uncle shop.”

“Oh.”, Vincent, giving her a smile which made her blush. Vincent was handsome, but so were a lot of the guys here. He switch a can of beer in his other hand and held out his left hand, “Vincent Marino, nice to meet you.”

Vanessa reached her hand out to shake his hand, but quickly pulled her hand back when she realized his hand was wet from the can. She bit her bottom lip, forced a smile, and nodded, “Yeah, same here.”

He chuckled, “How cute, where'd you find her Raphael? She's like my sister pet rabbit.”

Raphael just chuckled and took his arm away, “You want anything to drink, Vanessa?”, he asked.

“Oh, wait, before you go in.”, Vincent said, making a face. “Ava might show up later, so I would watch out.”

“She might what?”, Raphael asked, sounded a little mad. “Dude, I told you not to ask her to come. She's still pissed I broke up with her.”

“I can't help if my girlfriend is friends with her.”, he said.

Ava, Ava, I know that name, she thought. Ava Decker if she's right, was one of the popular girls from last year. She remembers now that did dated last year, but she hadn't known they broke up. Guess it would make since if Raphael had decided to take Vanessa and not his own girlfriend.

“Ava isn't crazy enough to through a big scene like that.”, Raphael said. “She isn't going to ruin my day.”

“Yeah, okay.”, he said.

{}

“Here.”, Raphael said, giving her a can of soda with a smile. She looked down at the drink wet can of coke soda he had gotten out from the ice cooler. She looked at the table where she saw some napkins and grabbed it. She carefully wrapped the napkin around the can which was still in his hand and he gave her a confused amused look.

She took it with a smile and opened it, “Thanks.”

She grabbed another napkin to dry off the top and opened the can. She brought it up to her mouth and took a sip. She had this weird taste in her mouth after she swallowed and she made a disgust face, bring her hand up to her mouth, “Oh my God, this is horrible.”, she said. It tasted like—she doesn't even know. All she knew it was gross.

“Really?”, he asked, taking the can and took a sip. He shrugged, “It taste fine to me.”

“It taste like someone put vinegar in it.”, she said.

He took another sip, “No it doesn't.”

She took the can back and took a sip, but this time she couldn't even swallow it and she got off the high chair, running over to the sink, spitting it out. She could feel the few people around looking at her and she knew it was probably a look like she was weird or something.

“Vanessa, there's nothing wrong with this can.”, Raphael said when she stopped spitting into the sink and turned it on the raise the sink. “Doesn't taste like vinegar or nothing.”

“Are you sure?”, she asked. “Doesn't taste like how it normally should.”

“Maybe I should just get you some water.”, he said, sitting the can down on the table and she nodded.

{}

“I'm a little embarrassed.”, Vanessa admitted a she looked up at Raphael. She was leaning against a wall and he was to.

“Don't be, I'm sure no one thought you were drunk or anything.”, he chuckled. “Maybe there was something wrong with it, I don't know. I thought it was kind of funny—not in a bad way.”, he quickly said. “Why don't we go swimming now?”

“No!”, she said maybe a little quickly. “I can't get in the water.”

His eyebrows furrowed together, “Why not?”

“Uh. . .”, she said. “I—I don't like chlorine, makes my skin feel dry.”

“Oh.”, he said. “Then why would you want to come?”

She bit her bottom lip and looked down at the floor, “I didn't, remember?”. Now she badly wanted to go home for feeling so dumb for coming to a pool party where of course Raphael wanted to be in. He couldn't have fun, he had to stick around her since she was his guest coming here with. He should just go hang out with his friends and she could just walk home.

“I didn't mean to make that sound rude as it came out.”, he said. “I just meant, if you didn't like chlorine, you could just have said that and we could have done something else.”

“It's your friends party though.”, she said, looking up at him. “You know Vincent more then me, why should it matter if you hang out with me.”

He looked at her for a second before making himself chuckling, “I don't know,” he said, looking away. “Nice to be around a new face.”, he said, looking down at her again.

“Oh.”, she said, blushing. She nervously brought her hand up to her other arm and couldn't help but smile at him. When he smiled, she couldn't help but smile back. He had a real nice smile. It's pretty, she thought then wanted to slap herself for thinking that.

Raphael suddenly reached up and pushed the strains of bangs coming out from her ponytail behind her ear, “A nice new face indeed.”, he said.

Oh God, is this really him or just a spell?, she thought, looking into his brown eyes since when he sound appear under the spell, his eyes would look dazed almost. Her eyes widen a little when she realize they didn't, they looked clear like he was really here.

Someone cleared their throat, making them both jerk and turn their heads to look at the girl in front of them. She had nice red hair, tan skin, and looked kind of annoyed. Vanessa quickly remembered the face and realized it was Ava.

“Hey, Raphael.”, she said, giving him a smile before dropping it to look at Vanessa. “Who's your friend?”

“Ava,”, Raphael said. “This is Vanessa.”

“Hi.”, Vanessa said.

“Hi.”, she said back. “I didn't know you were coming.”, she said to Raphael.

“This is my friend party, remember? Of course I would be coming.”, he said. “I'm just surprised you will be here.”

“I would never pass up a good party, you know that.”, she said, smiling.

“Of course I remember.”, he said, making her smile drop.

“Can I talk to you alone for a moment? I have to tell you something.”, she said.

“I can't, that would be rude to Vanessa.”, he said, giving her a look as he nodded. “Right?”

“Uh. . .”, Vanessa said, still a little surprise with how Raphael had looked at her without being under her glow spell and seeing his ex girlfriend.

“See, she doesn't mind.”, Ava said. “It'll only be a moment, promise.”

Raphael didn't say anything for a second then sighed, “Okay, yeah, sure.”, he said and he walked next to Ava as they went into the kitchen.

Stupid, stupid Vanessa, he wanted to avoid her and you didn't help, she thought as she groaned at herself. She placed her back on the wall and leaned against it, wanting to hit herself.

Two frat guys walked passed her and one of them winked at her. Her face heated up and she stood up, clearing her throat as she looked at the floor. She swears guys have been giving her so much attention lately and she thought would enjoy getting a little, but she didn't. It just felt strange, she's not use to it.

Maybe it's because the only attention she really wants is Raphael.

She's knows she's stuck in the 'friendzone' right now. Is it right to say a girl can be in the friendzone to? She only ever heard of guys being in it. Oh well, she thought since she knew that's what it was.

She walked down the hallway towards the kitchen and paused when she heard Ava's voice, “I can't believe you brought someone else here with you. It made me look stupid.”

“I can bring whoever I want with me.”, he said, his voice sounded annoyed. “We broke up a month ago, Ava, get over it. What happened to Josh?”, he asked. “Mmm?”

“I only used him to get you jealous but it's like your made of glass.”, she said, clearly annoyed to. “Who is she? Your girlfriend? I never seen her before.”

“No, she isn't my girlfriend.”, he said, his voice hard making Vanessa jerk a little. “But she is my friend, you don't need to worry about it.”

She scuffed, “You two seem pretty friendly, Raphael. She looks totally stuck up, what's with the pissed off look she gave me?”, she said, which made Vanessa ball her hands up in a fist, getting a little annoyed with the girl for saying she was stuck up. Vanessa was far from stuck up and she hadn't gave her any look.

“You don't know anything about her, it's just how she looks a little. A lot had happened to her lately, so leave her alone.”, he said.

“Wait, hold up!”, she said. “I'm not going to let that chick be my competition, don't throw three years out the window, Raphael.”

“Ava, stop.”, he said, his voice not sounded hard anymore. “Don't say that, don't do that.”, he said, sounding almost. . .guilty?

“We've been through so much together, Raphael? I know everything about you, how much does she know about you, huh?”, she asked, her voice sounded sincere. “I miss you, please.”

“Ava, I—your the one that cheated on me.”, he said.

“Josh is nothing to me, I was just feeling lonely because you were being distant, spending all your time at the shop.”, she said and Vanessa closed her eyes tightly, trying not to imagine her pretty tan arms around him, hugging him and his arms were around her.

It made her jealous that he he wanted Ava and not her. It upset her so much and she just felt so stupid at the moment. Of course he wouldn't ever want her. It was a stupid fantasy, he would only ever want her if he was under the enchants spell so it wouldn't be true feelings.

“No, I can't do this.”, she heard Raphael said before she heard exploding sound and tons of people crying out in shock.

A gasp escaped Vanessa mouth as she stepped forward to look into the kitchen where there was a mess everywhere. Water was dripping off the walls and there was a poodles everywhere of soda and water. Every can, bottle, and anything that had liquid seems to look like it just—exploded! She doesn't understand what happened.

Raphael looked at Vanessa with so much shock and he was drenched in water, looking as confused as she did.

“Ugh!”, Ava groaned who had didn't colors from soda all over her white dress. She walked over towards Vanessa and knocked her shoulder into Vanessa's.

“Ow!”, Vanessa said, couldn't help it since it did hurt. Vanessa touched her shoulder where she felt it was wet. Her eyes widen and she panics.

She turned her head up the stairs where she had gone up to use the bathroom. Not giving it a second thought, she ran over towards the stair and quickly up them. All she thought was counting down from ten, Seven, six, fine, four

“Vanessa, wait!”, she heard Raphael but she didn't stop for him as she got to the door.

Three to one--”Ahh!”, she cried out when she closed the door and she felt to the floor. Her feet were now flippers and she her clothes were gone magically to somewhere she doesn't even know where.

She had made it to the bathroom before anyone could see her.

“Vanessa?', there was knock at the door and she panicked again.

She reached her hand out, not sure what she was really reaching out for, “No! Don't!”

“What?”, he asked. “I'm coming in--”

“No!”, she cried out and when the door started to open, her eyes mouth and her hand stiffen. The door suddenly slammed shut and she heard a strong breeze like noise.

“What the”, Raphael cried. “Vanessa!”

She didn't respond since she was in to much shock at the fact that she just forced the door shut on Raphael without even touching it. Her eyes were only pressing out of her face since she was freaking out to much in her own mind.

Adalyn never mentioned any powers, she thought.