Okay so you guys don't have to listen to the song of the side (which I'm sure most of you don't anyways) but I actually love Spanish music. I'm half Spanish, I'm Mexican but I grew up around many different Spanish people. I love merengue, batchata, banda, and norteno etc. So I thought this song fit perfectly with this chapter because Raphael is Spanish! he's Dominican. 

Prince Royce is soo gorgeous! Have a total crush on him!

Anyways, onto the story!  

“So do I smell like a fish?”, Vanessa couldn't help but asked ask as she turned to look at Raphael who gave her an amused look. “Since I'm turning into a fish, you know some fish smell so. . .do I smell like bad fish all the time?”

“No.”, he said. “You actually smell like ocean breeze scent from Airwick my mother sprays around the house.”

“Oh.”, she said, blushing as she moved herself around against the rock.

“So are there are male mermaids out there? Like a merman?”, he asked and Vanessa shrugged.

“I don't think so, Adalyn seem to be very against men so I don't think so. She would have mention if there was though.”, she said. A wave came up to them and soaked her scale legs. She had been in the water for a long time, them both just sitting there talking. She was laughing allot because Raphael was funny.

He started leaning close to Vanessa and she sure it was easy to tell her face was burning red, “Is that enchanting glow on because I just want to kiss you so badly right now.”, he said and her eyes widen a little.

“I-I don't know. Turn off.”, she said and he sat where he was, blinking. She gave him a small smile, “I guess not.”, she said.

“I have always wanted to kiss a mermaid.”, he said, wrapping one of his hands around the back of her neck and quickly kissed her before she protested like she has been doing the past two hours because she was shy.

She closed her eyes after a moment and parted her lips a little to kiss him. She thought he had the nicest shaped lips ever. She always stared at them before, thinking they must be really kissable but never thought she would be able to try them out.

She brought one hand up to put on her shoulder as he kissed her. It was slow and innocent, but she was fine with that. She thought with the sound of the ocean in the background made everything seem so romantic.

She brought her other hand up as she turned to face him, pressing her lips against his firmly. She felt his hand that was behind her neck slid down her arm, giving her goose bumps, and when his hand touched her left thigh, she couldn't help but giggle. It tickled and she couldn't help it. It was like being tickled on her feet.

He pulled away a little, “These scales. . .they don't feel like normal scales on the fish.”, he said and she nodded. “It's like smooth sliver or something strong. It isn't slimy, but still silky.”

“You should feel what a dolphin feels like.”, she said. “And swim with them, it's amazing. They're so friendly and nice.”

“You swim with dolphin?”, he asked, chuckling. “And it's not a marine? You're so lucky, Vanessa.”

“Maybe you should have been the merman.”, she said. “You seem so passionate about the ocean.”

“It's why I want to be a fisherman, it's the closest thing I can have being near the water.”, he said. He reached up and touched a wet strain of her hair as he stared at her in the eyes, “I don't want this day to end.”

“You seem to know what to say to make a girl smile.”, she said. “I don't want to think about school or mermaids anymore. I want my legs back and go on a normal date. I never been on one, so I'm not sure what to do.”, she admitted.

“Well what's your dream date?”, he asked and she thought about it as she looked up at the sky. When she was thirteen and everyone was getting boyfriend and going to the movies, she wanted that but when she wasn't getting dates she just seem to stop caring.

What is her perfect date?

She was never one to want things and going out to eat seems so over used. No movies were out that she wanted to see and they already spent enough of their time at the beach.

“Just to be together.”, she said, looking at him. “I don't care what it is, but let do something.”

She pushed herself out of the water where the wave was coming up and waited behind a rock just in case someone comes back. Raphael sat next to her and she looked at her legs. She had a big lump in her throat since her thighs were now attached and she pulled her legs up, folding her legs behind her.

“You're a great girl, Vanessa.”, Raphael said and she looked at him confused. “No matter what they tell you to do, remember I'll always be here for you.”

“Raphael, I said I don't want to talk—”, he cut her off but pulling her into a kiss again. It was a more deep passionate one, the ones you see in movies where a girl just wished it was her. She sat there like an idiot for a few seconds before her arms came up and wrapped around his neck as she kissed him again.

She felt all warm inside and she couldn't help but smile a little.

Raphael groaned a little and she blushed, but suddenly he pulled away gasping. Her eyebrows came together and the first thing she did was panic when she saw him bring his hand up to his chest as he sucked in air and breathed it out hard over and over again.

“Raphael?”, she asked, touching him and he felt hot. She pulled away and brought that hand up to her mouth, “Oh, my God. What did I do?”, she asked as she panicked, watching him.

His hard breathing stopped being so labored into a more quieter one and he looked at her. She was about to break out crying before she did since she knew it was her fault. He looked red a little bit like he had a sunburn and Raphael was super tan, so she knew it was bad.

He then smiled, making her mouth drop, “What a kiss.”, he said and she hit him for scaring her.

. . .

“I didn't know that would happen, Raphael, I'm sorry.”, she said as he chugged the large water bottle down.

He stopped drinking for a moment to catch a few gulps of air, “It's alright, Vanessa, stop apologizing. I believe you wouldn't do that on purpose. Just needed some water, I feel better.”

“But you're sunburned a little to.”, she said. “I'm dangerous to be around.”

He chuckled, “Oh come on, you're being a little dramatic. I pulled away, I'm fine.” He then leaned down to kiss her, but she lowered it and looked away.

“I don't want to hurt you again.”, she said. He then reached up and she jerked away, but he grabbed her chin with one hand and kissed her. She put her hand on his chest and pushed him away a little, “Stop that.”, she said and he chuckled, leaning forward and kissed her. He tilt her chin up so her head went back a little as he kissed her.

He pulled away a moment later, “See, I'm fine.”

“Then why'd did I practically steamed the life out of you before?”, she asked.

He grinned, “Gotta be careful on passionate kissing—your dad would like that I'm sure.”, he said and her face heated up and she hit him, but smiled a little.

“Raphael!”, we heard someone call him from down the boardwalk and they turned to see his uncle walking towards them. When he was in front of them, he looked at Raphael up and down, raised an eyebrow, and asked, “Since when do you sunburn?”

“Uhh. . .I know I'm late but lost track of time.”, Raphael said. “Sorry, wont happen again.”

“Well we already had to call brother Luke back at the shop so you're off today. Don't think you're still getting paid though.”, he said. His uncle looked at me though, “Are you coming over tonight?”, he asked.

I looked at Raphael confused and he cleared his throat, “It's a little family get together tonight at my house. My family coming over to eat, play a little music, and just hang out.”

“Oh.”, she said then felt bad for bothering Raphael about wanting to spend all day with him when it was clear he should be with his family instead. “I don't thi—”

“I was planning on being out.”, Raphael said to his uncle. “It's not like I'm really missing anything.”

“Bring her.”, Raphael uncle said, pointing at her. “The family would just love to meet your new girlfriend.”, he grinned at Raphael.

Raphael raised an eyebrow, “How do you know she's my girlfriend?”

“Or please, you would have gotten back together with Ava a long time ago but you're very friendly with her. Even, you talk about her allot more then you think and you're not denying it.”, he said and looked at me. “Very cute—almost like a character from a Disney movie.”

“O-oh, thank you.”, she said, her neck and face heating up from the complaint.

“Bring her or you'll hear your mother for not bring her because you know she'll want to meet her.”, he said, walking away from them.

“Sorry about him.”, Raphael said, scratching behind his head. “He's big on romance stuff.”

“It's okay.”, she said, chuckling a little.

“And don't worry, we don't have to go to my house later. We have those things allot and I'm really not missing anything.”, he said.

She thought about it and thought—that's a perfect date. She could meet his family because there will never be another chance to get that close to him. “No, I want to—if that's okay.”

“Really?”, he asked, chuckling at her. “You want to meet my family?”

She shrugged, “Is that's wrong? A problem?”

He shook his head, “No, no. I warn you, my family pretty crazy. We're Spanish, so we're really close.”

“It's just me and my dad, I would like to see what a big family looks like.”, she said.

. . .

When a few hours passed, Vanessa looked into her mirror and checked to see if anything was wrong. She had on normal blue jean shorts and a white blouse that had a tan brown belt around her waist. She had on normal brown strappy sandals and her hair was pulled back into a nice bun that had a few curly strings hanging out. No makeup was needed and she had small hope earrings in.

She looked—pretty. She never said that about herself but she had to admit she actually looked nice for once.

There was a beep outside and she knew it was Raphael. She smiled excitedly and went over to her door, leaving her bedroom. She happily walked down the stairs but when she was half way down, her dad was coming through the door—and he did not look happy.

She frowned when she got to the end, “Dad, what's wrong?”

“Vanessa. . .did you leave school this morning? Your school called me during work and you didn't pick up the house phone when I called.”, he asked and she quickly got scared for ditching school. She stood there—with no words because she knew she was in trouble. She waited for her dad to yell at her and ground her, telling her to go back upstairs since she wasn't going anywhere. When she didn't speak, he put his hands on his waist, “And where are you going?”

“Ra-Raphael invited me over to his house tonight because it's some small party his family having.”, she said, her voice small and innocent sounding.

“I think we should talk.”, he said and she almost to quickly said 'okay but then she remember Raphael was outside and today is his day. Possibly her only day with him.

“No.”, she said and his eyes widen.

“Excuse me?”, he asked.

She started walking around him, “I'm going over to his house. I'm sorry dad.”, she said as she went over to the door.

“Vanessa?”, he said, sounding shocked clearly. “You're not going anywhere so if you walk out that do—“ she didn't let him finish before slamming the door behind him and she quickly filled with guilt, but she felt like she was also doing the right thing.

. . .

Vanessa was completely nervous as she walked up to Raphael door and she could hear people and music behind the door. She was never a social person and she was wondering what the hell she was thinking. She was socially awkward and she could feel her tongue get thick in her mouth when the door opened.

“So you can fight off mermaids for me, but you get scared to meet my family?”, Raphael asked, chuckling as he put his hands behind her back and pushed her in lightly.

Spanish music was playing and people around were talking and laughing. Raphael house was big, so kids were running around playing and when they got in the kitchen, girls and older ladies were gossiping, and saw saw some men outside in the backyard.

“Oh, he's back!”, a lady said excitedly as she came over to them and Vanessa guessed she was Raphael mom. “Oh you're so beautiful.”, she said, hugging Vanessa.

“Oh, thank you.”, she said when the lady pulled away. “It's so nice to meet you, Mrs Sanchez.”

“God, never call me that.”, she chuckled. “Call me Yesenia, I am to be your future mother-in-law anyways.”

“Whoa! Ma!”, Raphael said as he chuckled humorlessly and nervous at what his mom said. “Don't you think you're a little to ahead of the future?”

“So?”, she shrugged. “This girl is beautiful, you're a fool if you let her go Raphael.”

“But lets not scare her off, right?”, he asked and she glared at him, calling him something in Spanish and he rolled his eyes.

She sighed and smiled at me, “It's so great that you're hear, now I wont have to beg Raphael to bring you over for weeks before he finally does.”

“He didn't want to bring me, but I insisted.”, she said and Yesenia smile grew into a grin.

“I like her, Raphael.”, she said, holding her index finger out to her. “Come on, I hope your hungry.”