Teenage Mermaid Read Online Free PDF Page A

redhead giggled, intrigued by this new pick-up line.
    â€œAnd you were wondering whether it was me or my friend?” she asked, taking a swig of Evian.
    â€œExactly,” Chain said. “You see, Spencer was a breath away from death and his vision was understandably blurry. The only way he can identify his lifesaver is if she performs mouth-to-mouth again.”
    The girl laughed wildly. “Did you ever hear that one before?” she said to her friend. “I told you Californians were wild!”
    The redhead looked me over as if I were a giant ice cream cone, contemplating if I were worth the calories.
    â€œLet’s go,” I said, nudging Chainsaw.
    â€œWell, what’s the reward?” she suddenly asked. “I mean if I’m the one—”
    â€œThis necklace,” Chainsaw added, pointing to the heart dangling from my neck.
    â€œAre you crazy?” I whispered, glaring.
    â€œThat’s an antique, isn’t it?” she said, eyeing thesparkling heart. She smiled at me and rose to her feet.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” her friend asked, taking off her headphones and sitting up.
    â€œWe came to California to have fun, didn’t we?” the redhead asked, adjusting her blue bikini bottom. “Stuff like this never happens in Wisconsin!”
    She stood face to face with me. I wasn’t sure if she was going to kiss me or laugh at me. Her red lipstick was faded from the sun and her sweet chubby cheeks were shiny from sunscreen. Three days ago I would have jumped at the chance to kiss an attractive older girl. I would have even kissed Arnold Schwarzenegger in a blue bikini. But that life-saving kiss had changed me. The flirty tourist smiled, giggled, and stared into my eyes, ignoring her friend, who was shaking her head.
    What was happening? Girls never fall for this stuff!
    â€œOkay, pretend you’re drowning,” she giggled, leaning in.
    And I did something I never in my testosterone-driven years thought I’d do. I extended my arm to her shoulders, blocking her from kissing me.
    â€œAre you crazy?” Chainsaw screamed.
    â€œI’m sorry, you’re not her,” I apologized, and walked away.
    Chain stepped in. “You can save me!” he pleaded, leaning in to her.
    â€œSorry,” she quipped, pointing to his braces, “I’m not into heavy metal!”
    â€œAre you out of your mind?” Chain panted, catching up to me.
    â€œYou don’t get it. This isn’t about scoring!” I said, turning around. “Promise me you’ll really help me find her!”
    â€œOkay, okay. If you promise me one thing.”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œNext time I get to be the one who was rescued!”
    Â 
    I leaned against the railing on the pier, frustrated and exhausted, staring at the waves crashing against the rocks.
    â€œDude, like if she’s that beautiful,” Chainsaw said, “she’s gotta have a major boyfriend. Probably three of them.”
    â€œThanks for the support.”
    â€œI’m trying to protect you.”
    â€œProtect me from what?”
    â€œMaybe there’s a reason you haven’t seen this dream girl. She could be married. She could have escaped from prison.”
    â€œYou just can’t believe a beautiful girl would like me!”
    â€œOf course I believe it, man! You’re a surfer stud! That buff babe was ready to smack your lips and shedidn’t even know you, the true you. The you that’ll turn in early because you have to surf the next day. The you that reads Romeo and Juliet because you want to. The you that’ll hang out with scum like me!”
    I couldn’t help but smile. Chainsaw seemed to be out for himself, but in the end he was always there for me. “I just want this dream girl to be major league. I don’t want to lose you to a flaky heartbreaker,” he said.
    â€œYou won’t lose me,” I replied, playfully punching him in