"Alana, look at me," His voice sounded like he was hurt, "It's Tanner."

"I don't know who you are but stop following me and leave me alone."

"Please look at me, I'm not going to hurt you. I promise." He said and I open one eye and then the other.

The boy, Tanner, was the same boy from my dream. And he was real. "Will you let me explain how I know you?"

I hesitate and think it over, he did say he wouldn't hurt me and I want to figure out why I could see him in my dreams and hear his voice in my head, even though I never have met him, I nod and he begins as I listen intently.

"We were five at the time, my father had us visit to get our engagement aranged. Only, we didn't know it, we thought it was a friend thing. But a year after that you had to visit the elders because you were threatened by a king. Saying he would have your kingdom and destroy your line. But the elders weren't going to have it, so, they send your mother, the Queen of Waverly, and you, the Heiress Princess-"

"Wait." I interrupt him, "You expect me to believe that I'm some princess from a kingdom that doesn't even exist."

"It does," He insists, "You are the Water Nymph Princess of Waverly, the Elders must have put a memory spell on you. But you wouldn't recognize me unless the spell is disappearing."

"What if I do believe you that I'm some weird magical Mermaid princess thing," I say, "But why did my mother die seven years ago and why are you just coming to me now. Why do we have to be engaged?"

"The queen is dead?" Tanner inquires and I nod, "I am coming to you now to take you back to Waverly. And you are my Amoure."

"Isn't that French for love?" He nods, "So what is 'Amoure' to you? Is it some sort of soul mate."

"Yes," he says. "You can speak to me in your head just like I can do for you and you and I can sense when the other is in trouble."

"That makes more sense now." I mumble. "Can you see me in your dreams?" 

"No, but this is probably something you got from your mom."

"So wait, my father here really isn't my father, and my brother isn't either?"

"No." He shakes his head and I feel my heart pound in my chest, "If your brother is older he probably was adopted and your father isn't your father, they were just there to help you blend in."

"Well it didn't work." I mumble again.

"What do you mean?" He asks.

"I'm sorry," I say, "But I can't go with you. I'm busy." I turn and leave him in my room.

*

A week flew by so quickly my head spun. I was packed and ready to go to the event which was being held in Nevada this year. I had a friend who moved to Nevada a couple of years ago and she told me that even though it was in the hundreds, there is barely any humidity so it felt like eighty. I was looking forward to my time in Nevada and the best part, no waves to torment me.

When we got on the road, I slipped on my headphones and began reading Dancing With Shadows. I was really enjoying this novel, and I think it is on my top ten favorites. The trip was silent, we took three bathroom breaks on the six hour and twenty-five minute drive to Vya, Nevada.

The campus we were staying at was huge. Greenery lines every tall campus building, this was my first ever campus visit. And this campus was beautiful. As soon as Sage and I stepped out of the van, people starred. I ignored the urge to stare back and move to the back of the vehicle. I grab my bag and leg case, Sage grabs her bag while we wait for Monique's church can to come meet us.

After a few minutes of waiting in the sun, Monique's bus comes into view with a large silver trailer hooked to the back. The group of teens exit from the side and their leader gets out from the driver's seat. In the corner of my eye I see Tanner leaning up against a brick wall and I turn towards him. He smiles his pearly whites and I swallow the giant lump in my throat. What is it with him popping up everywhere?

Hello, my beautiful Amoure.

I blink, then reply angrier than I have ever been before, Why do you keep following me? Will you just leave me alone!

Then how would I protect you?

I don't need protecting. I say and Monique runs over to see Sage and I. We would all three be sharing a room. I was supposed to meet the campus's group of Physical Therapists. There was Robert, a man in his forties, Morgan, a woman who graduated from this college. Also another woman in her thirties, her name was Aiyana. The Rehabese (if that's even a word) are a total of fifty of us, all shared a dorm building. All so the physical therapists could stay all in one spot and everyone isn't spread everywhere. There wasn't many men in rehabilitation to my surprise.

We follow the crowd to our dorm building when we get to the elevators, Sage, Monique, and I, walk in with two more girls. I click the "floor five" button and another girl hits six. We wait as the elevator rises past floor after floor. The doors open when we get to our floor and my group exits the elevator.

Looking at our room keys, we search through door after door until we find ours. Monique unlocks the door and we all rush in. There was one set of a bunk bed and one regular bed by the window. The bunk bed was by the door and I called the bed by the window. We each laid out our stuff before we had to go down to dinner.

I'll see you at dinner.

I ignore the voice and sit in my newly made bed. I grab my phone from my bag and begin checking through my notifications. Maybe this will get my mind off how handsome Tanner is. Wait! NO! I did not mean to think that.

You think I'm handsome?

No, no, no, no, no, no! I told him that! My life is literally over!

Cat got your tongue? You know you can't ignore me forever. He says and I try to play it cool for my sake.

I can and I will. 

I hate this annoying message bond thing.

We'll see about that Alana.

I could feel him smiling, which was really weird, and I tried to concentrate on my phone screen. It was impossible, I can't think straight.

"Alana, we're going to head down to the cafeteria, you coming?" Monique informs me.

"Yeah." I mumble and stand.

We walk out all three in a line.

*

As soon as we entered the cafeteria I was glad, my stomach was eating itself. The bad thing about coming down here was Tanner. I definitely didn't need him as a distraction. I tried not to think about him as I walked through the line. Grabbing a paper plate I fill it with chicken, Mac n' Cheese, and green beans. I was about to go grab a glass on Mountain Dew when someone taps my shoulder. Electricity shoots down my arm And I turn, meeting Tanner's blue-green eyes. I freeze as my throat begins to swell up. Not knowing what else to do, I forget my drink and walk over to where Sage and Monique are sitting.

"Who was that boy?" Monique asked as I set my plate down.

"What?"

"The boy." She said, "Probably our age. Black hair. Cute."

"Oh um. I'm not sure." I say as my throat stops me from saying more. Monique eyes me like I may know something then shrugs.

Have trouble speaking princess?

Shut up! I yell back in my head.

Sitting down, I begin to eat. Then the conversation starts about how we would be a cute couple; Tanner and I. Are they serious! I just met him! 

*

After sitting through a sermon and mumbling the songs in worship I didn't know, I was completely and utterly exhausted. I didn't think I got anything out of it because Tanner wouldn't talking to me, in my head of course; it was impossible to ignore him.

How are you, Princess?

Will you stop calling me that! It's Alana, not princess.

Fine...You are no fun.

I unattached my prosthetic from my leg and peaked the sock off. But what I saw made me jump. Patches of my skin was missing, and replacing them was small delicate looking scales. I placed my hand on my mouth to middle my scream. I reached down to rip the scales off nut my leg begin to bleed. Great job Alana. Then the bleeding stopped. What is going on with me? Tanner must have felt my pain because he asked me if I was okay, but I didn't answer his question. I was to distracted to answer so I said:

Why are there scales on my skin?

You should have let me explain that when I first saw you. His tone was a little sarcastic.

Well sorry, I was to freaked out to let you continue.

Fair enough. A Water Nymph looks like humans. We have webbed toes and feet in the ocean and grow scales on patches of our skin in or outside of the water. We have gills so we can breath underwater, for men it is on their collar bone, for women it is located behind their ears just at their hair line.

I reached up and touched there, sure enough I felt slits. This is real. It isn't a dream. He's telling the truth. Maybe I really am who he says I am.

How can I swim if I only have half of one leg?

I'm sure the Elders can fix your leg.

But what if they can't?

Then you'll need assistance or learn how to swim with one leg.

Okay...

He was silent for a while and just when I was about to go to bed he spoke again.

Do you think there could ever be the possibility of us being together?

I don't know. Maybe if we get to know each other.

Do you want to start?

What?

Tomorrow, do you want to go on a date?

I'm at an event, I can't just go on a date. I'm hear to learn about God.

God? Who's that?

That's one of the questions I'm trying to figure out myself.

How about you let me take you on one date after the event is over?

Fine, I find myself saying, One date.

I strip myself of my clothes and change into my pajamas. Crawling under the covers of my bed, I let my dreams take me away. But all I'm left with is darkness.

*

The next morning, I woke up to Sage singing to a radio. I tried covering my ears with my pillow but it was hopeless. Finally, I say up and grabbed my leg off the floor. I carelessly forgot to stick it back in its case, but it still worked so that's good. The scales on my legs have grown and I was weary of Sage seeing them. So I quickly changed into a short sleeved shirt and Capri pants. Next I walked over to the mirror and applied my makeup, I only put on a little bit of foundation and powder and two swipes of mascara. I was pretty without it, like other girls. You don't need to wear makeup to be pretty. But that's what everyone is telling everyone, you have to wear this you have to do that. You are you. You are pretty you are perfect just the way you are.

I threw my feet in sneakers and was out the door before anyone said anything. I was in a good mood today.

Breakfast went by I'm a rush, I ate my food and was outside before you could blink. I had asked Tanner to meet me at the pond in front of the Rec center so we could talk. No, this is not a date. I just want to know more about where I come from.

Trees lined the shore as I came closer to the pond, I say at a park bench looking at a group of brown ducks swimming in top of the water. I was completely zoned in that when I heard Tanner's voice it made me jump.

"Hey?"

"What? Sorry." I apologize.

"It's okay, what did you want to talk about?"

"I want to know more about my kingdom." I state, "Waverly, was it?" His face went from cool to dark in an instant, then to worry, "What's wrong?"

"Something has happened."

"What?" I was thoroughly confused.