Jeremy pov

I wasn't sure what to do about this man. If I'm being honest with myself, what could I actually do for him? I can't leave the water, I don't have legs. If I did have legs I'd help.

I wish I was human. If I was given any chance to become human, I'd take that chance. I don't want to have to go back to my father. He's cruel and I know he will just beat me harder. I don't want to go back to him.

I couldn't do anything but just sit back and wait, so that's what I did.

Scott pov

I woke up slowly and ran my fingers through my hair. I looked around and realized I had passed out in Mike's bathroom. I crawled back out of the doorway and stood up.

There couldn't have been a mermaid in the tub. Mermaids aren't real. There's no way. I must have just imagined it...

I heard a splash that broke my thought and made me freeze. I peeked into the doorway and saw the same mermaid as before.

"Oh my god..." I whispered, more to myself than him because of shock.

"H-Hi..." He stuttered softly.

Once I had regained myself I slowly walked in. He looked harmless, and actually kind of, sweet.

"Uh, hi..." I replied slowly, sitting down in front of the tub.

He leaned against the wall of the tub and looked at me with his bright green eyes.

"My name's Scott, I'm one of Mike's friends." I explained so things would be a little less awkward.

"I-I'm J-Jeremy... M-Mike s-saved me f-from the b-beach..." He explained, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Oh, you're the boy Mike said he was taking to the hospital..." I thought out loud, piecing together the information I had learned.

He nodded and sighed, looking at his tail, which caught my eye as well. I was still in a small amount of shock that I was talking to a mermaid.

"Are you gonna be okay? Your tail looks, um, broken..." I asked, being worried for Jeremy.

"Y-Yeah, I-I'll be f-fine... I h-heal f-fast..."

I nodded and looked at the time. Mike would be back from his shift soon, which would give me the opportunity to talk to him about this situation.

"I just stopped by to drop off Mike's jacket..." I admitted.

As if right on cue, Mike walked through the front door.

"I'm gonna go talk to Mike for a second." I said while getting up and walking out.

I pulled Mike from the doorway and into his bedroom so Jeremy wouldn't hear quite as much.

"Mike, are you crazy?! There's a mermaid in your bathtub!" I said a little louder than I meant to.

"What are you even doing here?" He asked.

"I was returning your jacket, which you forgot at the beach, and then I find Jeremy. What the hell are you doing?" I explained to him.

"I'm trying to help him! I couldn't just leave him there! His tail is broken and he was stuck under a rock! What was I supposed to do?!" Mike argued.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. Mike had made valid points, but it's not like he could just keep Jeremy here forever either.

"Look, I'll figure out what to do when the time comes, but as of now I made him a promise. His father's abusive and I promised to keep him safe, and I'm going to do that for as long as I can." He said, crossing his arms.

Shit, I think Mike fell in love with a mermaid...