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school, right? I’m just having a good time. The whole point of being young and living in the human world is so I can experience life before I wither and die.” She smiles and lets innuendo seep into her voice, “Clay is a fun guy to have those experiences with.”
    I sit in stunned silence. I’m not a sheltered idiot; I know that dating around is normal. I don’t think the first boy I start a relationship with will be my one and only. I’m not Em. But isn’t it a waste of time to put in so much energy—to risk heartbreak—for something that could never last? That’s what I’ve always told myself, and that’s why I’ve followed my parents’ rules against dating humans.
    I’m still thinking about it long after Melusine, her father, and all the other guests leave. I’m lying on the sea sponge bed in my downstairs bedroom, unable to turn off my thoughts. Maybe I’m wrong to take my parents’ rules so seriously. The twins don’t. Oh, they agree about not dating humans—all the guys they’ve ever been serious about have had tails. But they’ve each had human hookups at parties, and our parents have never known the difference. It was just never something I could picture myself trying. My parents have sacrificed so much to save us from the undersea wars and forge this life for us here. I don’t think they deserve to be lied to.
    Have I made a mistake? Sure, Melusine can’t have a future with Clay, but she’s spent the last three weeks hanging out with him, laughing with him, kissing him. I could have done that. I could have gotten in a few glorious weeks of kissing Clay. What would it be like to be able to hold onto those strong arms, stare into those deep hazel eyes, kiss that full, smirky mouth? I could have had that. But even as I let myself enjoy the oh so sweet idea, I know it wouldn’t have been worth it. A few weeks with Clay and I’d have fallen—hard.
    I should be happy his relationship with Melusine can’t last, but instead I’m worried that she doesn’t seem to care about his feelings. I don’t want to see him get hurt. I snuggle deeper into my sea sponge, letting the layer of salt water cover me like a blanket. Clay’s a person, not a piece of eye candy. Or lip candy … yum. I lose myself in the fantasy, and my sleepy mind floats away. I might not be able to be with Clay in real life, but at least I can dream about him.

Chapter Four

     
     
    You know how sometimes when you go to sleep with your head full of worries, you wake up with a fresh perspective and realize in the light of day that your overly tired brain was overreacting? This is not one of those mornings. The moment my eyes pop open, thoughts of Melusine and Clay consume me—and now, I’m officially angry.
    By the time I walk up to the kitchen for breakfast, my temper boils right under the surface. Amy has already swum off to school using the tunnels, like she does every morning. It’s just Em, the twins, and my parents at the breakfast table as I slump into a chair.
    “What’s swum up your butt?” Lapis asks.
    “Language,” my mother scolds from across the table.
    “Nothing,” I grumble as I grab a sprouted bagel. Like most Mer, I don’t do well with processed foods, but whole grains are safe. Usually, one of these bagels topped with as much salmon as I can pile on is my favorite breakfast; today I don’t have much of an appetite.
    Lapis turns her attention to Em. “So, you talk to Leo last night?”
    “Yes … we talked,” Em says, barely forcing out the words.
    “What did you—”
    “Just drop it. Please.” Em looks down and pokes at her salmon with her fork.
    Concern paints my mother’s face.
    My father claps his hands once, breaking the somber mood. “I thought the party last night went just swimmingly. Pun intended!”
    “We certainly had fun,” Lazuli comments. The sly look she shares with Lapis proves the two of them definitely got up to something.
    “You girls must all be excited to go to school