"What do you expect me to say?" she stared down into the water, not wanting to look into his eyes.
"I expect you to tell me you love me."
She did. But she couldn't say it. Not out loud. Not now. "You know this can't work between us. We're just too different."
He let out a small laugh. "That's an understatement. But that hasn't stopped us all summer." He reached out and traced his reflection in the pool.
"Exactly. It's a summer fling. You're going back to college. And I'm...," her voice trailed off. She looked up at him. "I am staying here. Forever. Do you want that? You know I can't leave. What does that mean to you? What does that mean for you? You can't expect to go away, get a college education and then come back to this island to stay for the rest of your life. If you did, there will be only two choices: either I get left behind regularly or, worse, permanently, or you resent me for keeping you from a real life, and you either leave or are miserable forever. Either way, we both lose."
"Selene, you can't be serious. I love you. Why would either of those happen? Why can't we just live happily ever after? It happens you know. Love can transcend all."
Selene threw her head back into the water, laughing hysterically. "Oh my god, what's wrong with you? Who do you think I am? Ariel? You are living in a fantasy world, Mike. I can't grow fucking legs and walk on land. You want a fairytale and that's never going to happen." She flipped over and put her hands on the side of the pool to pull herself out the water, her scales glistening in the sun. Reds, blues, purples and greens from the bottom of her throat down to her toes, all shimmering into an opalesque hue. "Listen, best case scenario is that, you graduate college and then we attempt to live out our lives here together. Taking in the sun, laughing, and making out. But eventually, you'll get lonely, because we'll get tired of making out as time goes on, and you'll get tired of sleeping alone. You can't deny it, because it's the truth."
He ran his hand through his hair and sat down at the edge, letting his feet dangle into the water. "Is that all you think we are to one another? Because I love you for more than being able to kiss you. Our love is beyond the only physical. We'll find other other ways to connect."
She placed a gentle hand on his knee. "Like how? Sex? Well, that's out." She threw her hands up in the air. "And we can't have children together. So there's no hope for a family. So what then? How will we connect, Mike? What else is there for us?" She saw how his face winced at her words. It hurt him, but he needed to hear it. He needed to be reasonable, to think like an adult.
When he didn't respond, she continued. "And college. If you're going to get an education, then how are you going to use it? Leave me for weeks at a time to work at a job and come here on weekends? You expect me to live like that?"
She saw tears dropping from his eyes.
"I didn't think you'd see it that way."
"Then are you going to give up college to live out your days on our island with me? Is that it? The only human for miles? I can use my arms to get me around the beach, but even that's limited. I have to go back into the water. Daily. For long periods of time. And the opposite is said for you. Neither of us can change our biology. You aren't Tom Hanks and I am not Daryl Hannah." She reached up and kissed his check and whispered, "And if you remember, even Tom Hanks gave up Daryl in the end. Because even he knew that we belong in the water, and humans belong on land."
Mike wiped his eyes, and smiled. "And if you remember, Tom Hanks survived for four years on an island completely alone. So if we're using movie logic, or even yet, Tom Hanks logic, then you're point is moot, and I could easily live here."
Selene smiled back. "I wouldn't call that easy."
"No, but the fact you are the only woman I know who knows Tom Hanks movies as well I do means something. And the fact you understand my lame jokes. And the fact you are my best friend. I am not some kind of lovestruck idiot. You being what you are isn't some kind of novelty for me. It's real. You are a woman to me, no matter your biology. Or even your, biological structure." He lowered himself into the water and took her face in her hands. "You are what matters. Having children isn't an issue for me."
She reached up to his hands. "But it is for me. Or it will be. Eventually."
"Then I will find a way. We'll work something out. I will spend my days giving you the world, Selene. You are already my world. I came here today to tell you something before you, unsuccessfully," he added with a roll of his eyes, "tried to break up with me."
Oh no. He wasn't getting the point. He was still refusing to let her go. "What is it?" she sighed.
"I am transferring all my classes to be online. I called my professors last week and I heard back today. I said I had a family emergency and I needed to take a year to stay at home, but keep up on my degree. And they agreed." He pulled back to swim around the lagoon. "And, I am changing majors. As you know, I was going to school to be a vet. Now I am changing my degree to marine microbiology. I finally feel that I know what I want to do with my life. And it's because of you, Selene. Even if you break up with me and never speak to me again, you've changed my life for the better. Being with you, here, on this island, you've shown me how to love the water and everything in it. How could I ever walk away from this? I love this island almost as much as I love you. Almost," he smirked.
She put her hands together and pulled them through the water to splash him with a wave. While she still thought he was being foolish, basing his entire future on her, she had to admit, what he was saying had made sense. Ever since he first got to her island three months ago at the end of May, Mike has become enthralled with everything on it. He had even once carried her to a place she could never go, just so they could check out the waterfall at the top of a large hill. Mike was right, this island was almost as much a part of him as she was. Her demeanor softened as she realized what he was really saying. He was saying there really was a way for the two of them to actually give this thing a shot. And then she realized that was what she wanted more than anything. "I love you too, Michael Herrera. Are you sure? Have you really thought this all through?"
He dove under the water and swam to her, jumping up directly in front of her at the last second. He planted a sloppy, wet kiss on her lips that to her tasted of salt and something distinctly Michael.
He pushed back with his feet to swim around again. "There has never been anything in my life I have been more sure of than this. Though, for a moment, I thought you were completely done with me. I thought it was going to get a little uncomfortable with me working here, on the island, and you not wanting to date me anymore. It was going to get kind of awkward," he made one of his signature goofy faces.
Selene giggled. "Do you want me to splash you again?"
He swam up to her and pulled her into his chest and wrapped his arms around her medium frame, pushing his face into her always wet hair. It smelled faintly of coconut. "I'm not joking. I really thought you were breaking up with me. It almost broke my heart. Especially when I had something so great to tell you."
Hearing this made her hug him tighter, her soft, feather-like scales rubbing against his slightly sunburned skin. Mike had spent days at a time in the sun with her and her family in the lagoon, not even once thinking about using sunscreen. Selene made a mental note to remind him to go back to the mainland to get a large supply of it, otherwise he'd end up with blisters like he had when he first got there. "I am so sorry. I was just trying to be an adult about this whole thing. I knew it would hurt you, and me, but it would had been worse in the long run. I just trying to protect us both." Now it was her turn to cry.
He squeezed her harder. "It's okay, it's all going to be okay now. Everything is working out."
Selene pulled back and gave him a worried look. "It will still be a challenge, don't pretend it won't. But at least now I know we have some sort of chance. But really, don't act like this is a fairytale, Michael. This will be hard work. For both of us, but mostly you. Don't ever forget that."
"Yes, dear." He pulled her back into his embrace.
Selene smiled. "Damn straight. I could get used to hearing that come out of your mouth."
He smiled and lifted her up to spin her around in the water. "Yes, dear. Yes, dear. Yes, dear."
Love was never easy for anyone, but Selene knew deep down in her heart, that this love was worth the work she knew they both would have to put into it.
"Race ya!" she smiled mischievously, as she dove into the water.
"That's not fair!" he yelled, but she could no longer hear him as she was already across the other side of the cove. He swam after her as fast as his human arms and legs would let him and knew that he would travel to the ends of the earth to follow wherever she went, as long as she would have him. Even if that only meant across the small island he would forever now call home.
