"Adrien, I hate to rush off, but I have to go home,"  Marinette says.

       "Home, but you just got here!" Adrien says with a scowl across his face.

     "It is okay, I will come back tonight.  I just have to leave so my mother and sisters will not find out I sneaked out of the house." Marinette says.

      "Ok," Adrien says. He reaches up and places a hand on her chin. He thinks her skin feels smooth. He wonders what would it be like to hold her and kiss her. He shakes his head.

     "See, you later!" Adrien says.

     "See you later, Adrien!"  Marinette says. She runs. 

    Adrien sighs as he watches her walk away. He thinks, she left already. He feels like he might burst from the irony of it all. He likes her even though she is a "land person."  He can not wait to see her tonight. He grins.

       Marinette arrives at home all out of breath. She goes to her room, closes and locks the door. She enters the bathroom hangs up the wet cover-up, removes the swimsuit, showers, dries off changes into her spare swimsuit and slips a t-shirt and tank top over it.  She dries her hair.

      Marinette thinks, thank goodness they do not know I left earlier. She shakes her head when she thinks about her first encounter with Adrien. Somehow, she thinks his story about being new in town does not add up.

     Marinette's mother and siblings arrive home a few minutes later.  Her mom puts a few things on the kitchen counter.  Then, calls out, "Marinette are you alright in there?"
     

     Marinette does not answer and pretends to read a book.

      "Marinette are you even here?" Kagami asks.

      "Yes, did you need something?" Marinette asks. She pokes her head around the corner with the book still in her hands.

      "Hi, sis, I bet it was total bore while were away, right?"  Mirelle asks.

         "Yes, it was so lame."  Marinette lies. She thinks great now I wish mother had not forbidden me to go to the beach. She misses her new friend already.

   Adrien sighs. He thinks, why does she have to be so pretty?  He thinks I suppose I could have a secret friendship with her than when she least expects it I could kill her and hide her body in the sand. He shakes his head knowing very well he can not kill her.

    He thinks, how will find her. Then, he remembers she said she would be back later. He smiles at the thought.

    Later that night as Marinette's sisters and mother sleep, Marinette gets out of bed. She slows steps into a pair of flip flops, grabs up a spare towel, makes her bed look like she inside it, and sneaks outside the window. She is glad she can be super quiet. She closes the window and hurries away to the beach. 

      Marinette arrives a few minutes later to a mostly empty beachfront. She sets her towel down, removes the shoes, tank top, and shirt.

     "Hi, M-Marinette!" Adrien stutters. He thinks, is it my mind or does she look prettier in this outfit than the previous one. 

      "Hi, Adrien!" Marinette says.

    "It is good to see you again," Adrien says. He hopes his aunt and uncle will not notice he is gone.  

      "I am glad to see you again too, Adrien,"  Marinette says.

     "Why do you have to sneak out?" Adrien asks.

    "My mother thinks the beach is dangerous. She thinks mermaids and merman exist.  She also  It is utter nonsense, right?"  She says.

      "Oh, it is a shame the beach is not that bad. At least I do not think so," He says.

      "My mother thinks the merpeople hate us and will try to kill me.   You do not believe that do you?"  Marinette asks.

     Adrien thinks I can never tell her I am merman or she will hate me.  "Well, I have no reason to think so."

   Adrien's POV:
  She is attractive.  He thinks, No this can not happen.  She is a human and I a merman. I must not fall for her.

   "I think the whole thing is silly.  Mermaids and mermen are just myths." Marinette says.

      Adrien looks at her in surprise. He thinks either she is not smart or she is brave. 

     Adrien's  POV:  
  She needs my protection because if anyone else finds out she is here, then they will try to kill her.

     "Why are there not any boys here with you?" Adrien asks. He thinks, ugh!  Why did I just say this when I do not want any boys to be with her.

    "Well, no my father died when I was little.  My siblings are sisters, no brothers, and no cousins.  It is just my mom, sisters and I."  Marinette says.

      "Oh, I see!"  Adrien thinks I must not stand to close to her or I will kiss her. He blushes.

    "Marinette can  I be your guardian?"  Adrien asks. He thinks, no this is a bad idea.

    "Thanks, but that is not necessary.  We can be friends though." Marinette says.

  "Yeah okay," Adrien says. He thinks I think I am in heart trouble. 

   "What are those funny things on your feet?" Adrien asks.

   "These, are there just some silly flip flops mom bought me for my birthday last year," Marinette says.

     "How old are you?"  Adrien asks.

    "I am not going to tell you. At least not today, A-Adrien, but I am glad to have seen you again." She says.

      Adrien thinks, what would she do if I kissed her would she exchange Slavia with me or run away?

     "Adrien, are you alright?" She asks.

    "Y-yes, I am fine," Adrien says.

      "I know we just met earlier today, but I can tell we will be great friends," Marinette says.

       Adrien's  POV:
   She seems happy to call me her friend. She does not know it crushes me. She does not know I not who she thinks I am or rather what she thinks I am. She would freak or faint if she knew the truth.

    Marinette's  POV:
     He is cute.  No, he is handsome. He so hot. 

    Marinette stands up and walks along the sandy shore. Adrien walks beside her. He stares at her as she looks out at the water.  He thinks, ugh, why could she not have been a mermaid?

     She yawns, turns around, grabs up her towel, puts the shorts, t-shirt back on, turns around to face him.

    "Adrien, I will see you tomorrow." She smiles.

    Adrien wants to call out, do not go!  He wishes he could get her to stay.  He sees her go again and sighs. He won't admit but he is smitten with the human girl.

      After she is long out of sight, Adrien pulls the shell out of his jacket and blows it again. Sure enough, the legs disappear and a fin appears. He hobbles on it back to the water.  Now, he swims away to his home with thoughts of the beautiful girl Marinette.

   Adrien's POV:
  He wishes the girl could be his. He knows it is forbidden, but he does not care. He is sure this means he is in love with a human. He thinks, she can not ever know or I will lose her.

     He thinks, how do I know I can trust her?  He remembers how she told him about how she sneaks out to the beach and thinks, she likes the water like me. He knows it, he can trust her.

   Marinette's  POV:
  She sneaks back home, into her room and back to bed. She is glad she did not wake up anyone. She gets up, closes the window, locks it and sighs. She thinks how is it I have him on my mind when I barely met him?  She blushes.