Teenage Mermaid by Ellen Schreiber

go into shock if it was missing again. Even though it had happened before, it wasn’t any less scary now.
    At least this time I came prepared in the clothing department. I had strapped on three tops, and two skirts weighed down by a million shells. One top and one skirt safely made it through the transformation.
    Something seemed different about the time of day, however. The moon was much higher in the sky. Thatdamn gold dust! Madame Pearl had said it might make me sleepy.
    Earthkids were draped on the pier and clustered on the beach like stars in a midnight sky. Hundreds of kids talking, singing, dancing, running wild. How was I ever supposed to find Spencer in this crowd?
    I spotted a girl in dark clothes that I thought I recognized from Seaside High. “Have you seen Spencer?” I asked, tapping her on the shoulder.
    â€œSpencer who?” she answered, turning around. Only it wasn’t a girl in dark clothes, after all. It was a guy!
    â€œHave you seen Spencer?” I asked a clean-cut man.
    â€œIs that his name?” the man answered, relieved. “He’s been sitting over there with my wife. Totally whining, looking everywhere for you!”
    I eagerly followed the man. But sitting next to his girlfriend wasn’t my Earthlove. It was a dog!
    â€œHave you seen Spencer? He’s not an animal, he goes to Seaside High,” I asked a teenaged couple.
    â€œThey’re all animals at Seaside,” the girl answered, as her athletic boyfriend grabbed her. “Get off already,” the girl said playfully to her snuggling mate as they walked on. “Seaside has its own section,” she called back, pointing to the hill. “Most of the kids from school are up there—the snacks are free!”
    I gazed out into the sea of teenagers, and then tothe setting sun. Darkness was not far off. Even in broad daylight, I would have little chance of finding him. The approaching tide inched farther up the shore, tempting me to return.

Spencer
    I was pulling my empty Styrofoam cup apart, its former carbonated caramel-colored high-fructose contents forming acid in my already upset stomach. I was hanging on Seaside High’s front lawn, sitting on a bench, oblivious to the exciting festival around me.
    Brightly colored lanterns hung over Seaside’s entrance, between the trees and around the statues, with a spectacular view of the ocean below. Gutsy dancers bopped on the lawn around the flagpole. A makeshift tiki hut housed a snack bar, and speakers hung from the palm trees cranking out top-forty tunes from the master DJ on the pier as we awaited the annual fireworks.
    Fireworks. That’s how I felt about Lilly, exploding emotion, romantic reds, beloved blues, passionate purples bursting through a darkened world.
    But I feared the only thing was exploding was my heart.
    Chainsaw approached with Robin, who was decked out in a tight red dress and hipster boots. Radical for her, as she normally hid her body beneath dark cloaks from medieval times.
    â€œHere, eat this!” Chain said, tossing me a bag of chips. “You need some nourishment.”
    â€œYeah. You’re not attractive when you’re depressed,” Robin teased.
    â€œCan you believe the way she looks?” Chainsaw whispered, sitting next to her. “Like we had a total babe underneath our noses all along!”
    â€œYeah—we did.” I sighed.
    â€œIt’s going to be a stellar—” Chainsaw started. He stared past me, suddenly silent.
    â€œHave the fireworks started?” I asked, not wanting to look.
    â€œThey have for you!” he answered. “Dude, turn around!”
    â€œI’m too tired for one of your jokes,” I said.
    Chain grabbed my jaw and turned my head toward the tiki hut.
    It was Lilly—standing only a feet away. In all herbeauty, searching the crowd, in a red sequined halter top and a white flowing skirt with dangling seashells. She was sandy, and