(Note: Due to an earlier mixup, Derrick and Julie’s ages have been switched, making Julie the older sister at 15 and Derrick the younger brother at 14. This chapter will continue with this premise.)
“Hey, Miley,” Julie greeted. “Who’s this?”
“She’s my younger sister, Kimmy. I told her about meeting you and seeing your brother, and she just had to come along.” The mermaid gave a shrug. “She’s never seen a human male before.”
“Well, we can stop by his room window if you want to take a peek.”
The mermaids agreed.
Julie sat on the shore and started putting on her tail. Thankfully, the beach seemed deserted. Most of the visitors like herself and her family would most likely be down below the waves, enjoying the hotel facilities. It still amazed her that she was technically staying in a large manmade bubble. Nothing but pressurized walls and thick glass kept the water from rushing inside. She found the thought both disturbing and strangely exhilarating.
Soon, Julie was suited up, and Miley cast her spell. Then, the three headed off into the deep blue yonder. As they rounded the outside of the hotel, Julie once more marveled at the structure. It looked like something out of a scifi film. Built into the side of the island, the multi-story network of tubular hallways made up most of the building. Pod-like compartments stuck out from the tubes like fruit on a vine. These were the various living spaces and recreational areas. While circumventing the hotel, the mermaids made sure to keep clear of the numerous viewing spots so as not to be discovered.
Once in a while, a bright colored submersible or a group of scuba diving tourists glided past, but it was easy to avoid them.
Finally spying the three pods where her family had been lodged, she led the way to her brother’s window. Peering inside, she let out a startled squawk. There sat Derrick holding her extra tail! He seemed to be poking around at its interior and experimentally moving the tail about.
“That little thief!” Julie yelled, banging on the window to get her brother’s attention. Though the glass absorbed most of the pounding, Derrick finally detected the noise and glanced up. His sister’s angry words never made it through, but she drew her finger across her neck in the universal beheading gesture and mouthed, “You’re so dead!”
The boy’s face paled, but before he could form a reply, Julie was shoved aside by an eager Kimmy.
“Oo, it’s a boy! A human boy!” She shrieked, pressing her nose against the window. “Oh, he’s so cute!”
Despite her current outrage, Julie had to smirk at hearing her bratty brother being called cute. In the meantime, the younger mermaid and boy regarded each other with mutual curiosity. Kimmy motioned that she wanted to talk. Derrick nodded and rushed out of the room, mermaid tail in hand.
Without warning, Miley’s sister darted off back towards the beach, leaving the other two to race after her.