popsicles and past summers.

Pete didn’t know how long he was in the lake for. All he know is that for at least half of his life, he’d been resting on the lake floor, lazing about and watching the minnows swim before his eyes. Every year on his birthday, someone would come and leave a wreath of water lilies with a ribbon attached with the words Happy Birthday Pete in gold print. He’d had at least 12 of the ribbons. Twelve birthdays have passed, he thought. He sighed and pushed off the lake floor, reaching up to take the wreath in his slightly webbed hands. Pulling the ribbon off, he looked around and took the sunspots through the clouds as a sign that the day was here. He’d get the wreath later, but for now, people would be arriving soon, as it was the beginning of summer and the warm air dried his hair and skin a little more than it should. He swam off to play with the minnows.
****
June 5th was one of the hottest days of the year, or Frank thought so at least. Whatever Frank said, Gerard agreed with, Ray nodded, and Mikey just didn’t care. Gerard had suggested coming to the lake today as soon as they were all awake enough to grab coffee and be in the same room. At this point, Mikey was situated under a tree with a book and his sunglasses. Mikey truly didn’t mind coming here, it was more of a safe haven than anything else. No one in Belleville truly knew how to get here, so not many people would be there to steal their stuff. The sun was just barely shining when they got there, enough to make the water reflective, and Mikey could’ve sworn he saw something in the water. Or someone. he’d thought afterwards, standing up and getting closer to the water. He dipped his toe in before reeling it back quickly, the water not yet warm from the sun. Gerard, Frank, and Ray all pushed past him and jumped straight into the water, yelping and rolling back onto the shore. Mikey rolled his eyes. He can still see something in the water, so he wades out ignoring Gerard’s calls. Mikey knows he can’t swim well, but he wants to see what it is. He ignores the cold and he’s about waist deep when he sees a wreath of lilies. He’s about to pull it to him when something extremely fast swims by and grabs it. I knew it. Mikey curses, running as fast he can back to shore. Gerard asks why he’s breathing hard, but Mikey can’t answer. They go home early that day.
****
Pete knew right away he’d made a mistake. He should’ve let the boy take the wreath. But the wreath was special and his. His. The flowers were the only thing that he didn’t share with the underwater world. He clutched them in his hands, placing them in a bucket and under a dam that a beaver had built 5 summers ago. When his bucket is safely secured, Pete realizes that the people left. Maybe they won’t come back. he quietly wishes, as the sun is at its brightest. It looks like no one else will be coming today, so Pete flips his green, shimmery tail out of the water and sunbathes until the sun sets. He dives back into the water and spends the night hunting for food. On the other side of the city, Mikey lays in bed thinking about possibilities. What had he possibly seen that big? That wasn’t a fish, it wasn’t exactly human either. It moved insanely fast to be human. It’s green scales flashed enough light to blind him, which made him lose track in his head again. He sighed and rolled over, vowing to go back the next day. When he closed his eyes, all he could dream of were mermaid tails and the sea. Mikey doesn't see the downside to his dream.

Notes

hi! you might've read this from my old account icediero on my AO3. please, feel free to comment/rate/subscribe and i'll be updating this perhaps every two days? depends on the comments and votes.

thanks!

xojo