LEGEND OF THE MER (10 page)

“That’s amazing that you’
ve remained friends through the years.  Aren’t you worried that he might tell others about you?” Lana asked with concern.

“No, the islanders respect the mer and a few know of us and keep our secret.”

“Wow that must be nice.  My dad tells me that the islands are beautiful in t
he South Pacific and the water’
s warm,” she said imagining how wonderful it must be.

“Yes, it is beautiful and peaceful there.  We have a lot of freedom to swim unnoticed.  I would love to take you with me, when next we go
.
”
H
e smiled his widest grin.

“When will you be leaving?” Lana asked, ignoring his smile.

“We leave in the fall
.
”
H
e smiled widely once more.

“So soon?” Lana asked realizing that he must be reading her thoughts about how much she would miss him.

“Yes, but if you cannot go, I might choose to winter here,” he said sincerely.

“No, I coul
d never ask you to do that
and I’m sure that King Titan wouldn’t like it either.  Your people need you,” she answered with conviction.

“Then, perhaps your father will allow you a time to travel with the mer and see if it is your destiny,” said the Prince hoping that it could be so.

“I don’t know about that one
.
”
S
he rolled her eyes.

“He is very protective of you and wishes you to be safe.  I can understand his fears.  I would never allow you to be harmed,” he spoke the words so lovingly.

“I know, maybe my dad will let up in time
.”

“Yes, I think he shall
.
”

Lana and the Prince talked the hours away.  She only left the dock for a short trip to the house to get something to eat and when she returned, she laid down on the dock pretending to suntan.  She made sure that she lathered up with plenty of sun block.  Prince Titus stayed below the dock and they talked until the sun had set.

~~~

Lana had spent every
day of those two weeks after prom lying on the dock talking with the Prince.  She resorted to we
aring a straw hat, long sleeves
and pants to protect her from the sun.  When Prince Titus sensed her getting too hot, he would send a wave completely drenching her.  She loved it.  Lana’s father was never too far away.  They often saw him standing near the front door or walking along the beach nearby.  They didn’t mind, they came to expect it.

“Tomorrow is your graduation?” Prince Titus asked.

“Yeah, it’s finally here and I’m actually a little nervous
.
”

“What do you fear?  Is it that boy?”  Prince Titus asked with concern.

“No, I’ve avoided him enough.  I’ve even told my other friends that I was grounded so they’d stop asking me to go swimming with them.”

“If you wish to swim with them after graduation, I will not mind.”

“No, I really want to swim with you
.
”
Lana smiled.

“I am glad, perhaps I would have minded a little.  And, what is that word you say, cool!”  Prince Titus smiled brightly.

“Yeah, you’re getting the hang of it,” she
giggl
ed.

“Will I see you tomorrow?” he asked hopeful.

“I plan on
it;
I
think
my dad knows that.  I mean, I don’t mind taking a little time out after graduation for him, but I was hoping to go swimming with you in the afternoon.”

“Cool, I am really jazzed by that,” he said proud of himself.

“You
’
re turning into a typical teenage human,” she laughed.

“Perhaps not so typical,” he said as he fanned out his ears and moved them back and forth. 

He made Lana laugh so hard that she once again had tears in her eyes and she could hardly catch her breath.  “Stop that!  I can’t breathe!”

Then Prince Titus sent a wave over her once more and she tried splashing him back.  Just then, some joggers were coming up the beach and Prince Titus submerged.  Lana pretended to be writing in a journal that was now soaking wet.  The joggers ran past and the Prince only let the top of his head surface with his eyes barely above the water and he spoke to Lana in her mind, “Is it safe?”

Lana began laughing out loud again, he was so funny.  Then she pushed the top of his head under the water and he quickly came up and stopped right in front of her face.  He smiled a wide grin and Lana realized that he had just read her mind about wanting to kiss him.  He slowly put his lips to hers and gently kissed her.  They both smiled
to the other
from the tingling sensation that they felt.

“Okay Lana, I think it’s time you come in.  The sun set a half hour ago
!
” her father called from the house.

“I’m sorry
.
”
S
he smiled
slightly
to the Prince.

“I am not
.
”
H
e
gave
a wide grin
, then
jumped into the water and swam away.

~~~

The next morning, Lana was in a frantic.  She couldn’t find the tassel for her cap and had nearly broken the zipper on her gown when she got it caught in her clothing.  She was running late and her father was already in the jeep waiting. 
Come on, come on, come
on Lan
a!
 
Finally, she found it and ran out the door.  She caught a glimpse of Tempest jumping
in the waves
and she knew that the Prince was wishing her well.

When they
arrived at the school
,
they
went into the gym where all the seniors sat in chairs on the gym floor.  The parents sat in the stands and her father gave her a kiss for luck and quickly found a seat.  Miss Perry waved a hello and asked if she could sit next to him and he gladly accepted the offer.

The ceremony was typically long and Lana found it hard to sit still. 
Man I wished they’d
hurry up
. 
Finally, her time came to accept her diploma.  When she walked across the front of the stage, she nearly tripped over a speaker wire and blushed as
she took her diploma from the P
rincipal’s hand. 
Yep, that figures
. 
She saw her father smiling across the room and Miss Perry seemed a little misty-eyed.  The entire class let out a yell and threw their caps into the air when it was announced that they had made it.

Lana’s father invited Miss Perry to join them for lunch at their home afterwards.  She actually brought a small graduation cake and a gift for Lana.  As they three sat at the table eating, Lana noticed the way her father was looking at Miss Perry and she began to concentrate to see if
she could read his thoughts
.  Oh my gosh
!
  She was shocked to find she could
and he looked up and smiled a wide grin at her.  Then Lana was just as shocked to realize that he could read her thoughts and she accidentally knocked over her glass of water. 

Miss Perry quickly got up and helped to clean the mess
and asked,
“Would anyone like some cake?”

“Yeah, I think we both would,” Lana’s father answered still smiling.

“Dad, how long have you been able to read my thoughts?” Lana asked him in her mind.

“Since before you were born kid, only I didn’t realize how good you had gotten at it,” he let his thoughts tell her.

“I can’t believe it!  You’ve heard my thoughts about Prince Titus?”

“Yeah, and his about you; why do you think I’ve stayed so near you both
.
”
H
e
grinned
.

“Dad, that’s not fair!” Lana
pouted
.

“Look Lana, you were just doing it with me
.
”
H
e raised both his brows.

“Am I missing something with you two?” Miss Perry asked.

Lana smiled a phony smile to her fa
ther a
nd then
she spoke to Miss Perry, “No, dad’s just being his usual self.”

“I’
m really proud of you kid, I know you want to go swimming with your new friend and it’s okay, just don’t go too far and please be back by sundown.  Tell him he better behave himself,” he sa
id out
loud, but in his mind she could tell that he was also going to enjoy some alone time with Miss Perry.

They each smiled to the other and Lana said,
“Thank you Miss Perry, I hate to run out on you, but I’ve had a date planned for two weeks now.”

“That’s alright Lana; we’ll get together another time.”

“I hope you’
ll stay awhile, I’d like to give you a tour of the lighthouse,” Lana’s father said to Miss Perry.

“You know, that would be wonderful.  I’ve always wanted to go and see the inside, I’ve just never taken the time
.
”
S
he smiled
at
him.

Lana headed out the door as quick as she could change and grab a towel.  She was so upset
;
I can’t believe that dad’
s heard a
ll
my
private thoughts and especial
ly those of
Prince Titus
!
  He’s right though, about my
listening to his own thoughts of
Miss Perry.  The
funny thing is; I hope they two do get together.  Miss Perry’
s the
closest thing I’ve
had to a
mother these past few years
.  Lana
got past the anger and replaced it with joy; it was awesome to think that the two people that meant so much to her might actually find some happiness for themselves.