This was supposed to be a nice vacation...
...So...
What went wrong...?
Three college students were simply going on vacation to an island paradise for Spring Break. Nobody could truly believe Zack's luck when he drew the Grand Prize ticket in the raffle. Since there were two other tickets among the prize, he decided to bring his two friends along for the ride. While Zack seemed unenthused, Ripley was excited for him and for herself.
After a long and uncomfortable ride in the airplane, the trio of friends finally reached the island paradise of Makai Island. The trio of friends spent their two days of the break having as much fun as they can, which included swimming along the shores of the island, snorkeling, shopping, hiking, and learning about the culture of Makai Island. Okay, with the last one, Ripley was the most enthused.
Ripley is a curious girl who is particularly bookish and loves nothing more than to learn new things about other cultures. She also has a passion for the ocean and is currently studying to become a marine biologist in the future.
Zack is a man of few words, and he too is studying to become a marine biologist. He may seem aloof, quiet, and blunt, but he is a fiercely loyal person to his friends. There are times when it seems as though the young man has more brawn and heart then brains. Other than swimming in the ocean, he is much more interested in learning about the local cuisine of Makai Island and seeing if he could replicate the recipes back home.
Ever since Ripley and Zack entered college, Ripley has had a crush on Zack. And she planned to tell him during this vacation....
However, tonight...on the third night...nobody expected the vacation to go wrong, in an unexpected way...
The three of them went to a small local bar and restaurant that not many went to. But it was said that the food was good and there were good options for drinks there...
Ripley raised her glass and called "A toast to an awesome vacation!"
"Hear hear!" Zack answered as he clinked his glass with Ripley's and his friend's glasses, before the both of them drank theirs. The three of them casually chat, until the third friend decides to head to the bathroom. While he was away, Ripley took her chance. She looked to Zack, and she starts,
"Hey...Zack? There's...something I want to tell you,"
Zack raised an eyebrow and asked "Oh? What's up, Rip?"
She loved that nickname, but she managed to not let it distract her, and she continued, "Here's the thing...I-uh...Ev-Ever since the beginning of college, I've always felt like my heart is just going to beat out of my chest whenever I'm around you, and...uh..."
As Zack was staring at her, she felt that it was better to just blurt it out, "I...I really like you! And, uh..."
Before she could continue, Zack sighed. He muttered "Oh man..."
He then told her, "Hey...Rip? I hate to break this to you, but...I don't feel the same,"
Ripley felt like her world just shattered into a million little pieces. He continued, "I might not feel anything...romantic with you, but...we can still be friends, okay?"
Ripley nodded dumbly and answered "Yeah. OK. I get it," She then apologized, "So-Sorry, I guess...I made things a bit weird between us, didn't I?" Zack shook his head and answered "No. No, you didn't. Sorry,"
Nothing else was said. It was awkward silence between the two of them. When the third friend returned, the both of them would try and distract themselves from the awkwardness with casual conversation. But it was clear that the air between them was still tense.
Zack soon decided to head back to the hotel, while Ripley said that she would head back later. She would be the last to leave the bar, and her two friends would be none the wiser to her fate.
After Zack and the third friend leave, the shadowed figure would make their move.
Ripley had only stepped away from her sixth or seventh beer for about five seconds. It was only after that first sip afterwards, that she felt so...light and bubbly in her chest. There was almost no one here, except for the shadowed figure and one elderly man at a table. The bartender was away.
She giggled as she rested her head on the bar, "Oh man...Hehehe...I think I'm...totally trashed," She hiccuped and...oh yeah, she's really trashed! She just saw bubbles come forth from her mouth after that hiccup. She had to have hallucinated that. She then stood up from the bar and she had to catch herself from falling with the bar and the chair's backrest. She tried to steady herself, only to find that is a difficult task for her right now.
The shadowed figure came up to her, and told her, "Let me help you back, Miss,"
Ripley giggled and slurred, "Thank you...You're so nice, Zack. I'm...*hic* glad you came back..."
Unfortunately, the shadowed figure was not Zack.
The figure lured Ripley away and she had no idea where they were going, other than that they were supposed to be going back to the hotel.
She focused on her legs. She tried to get them to work properly, but they felt so wobbly and almost numb...like they were starting to fall asleep on her. Despite that, she still felt light and bubbly, still laughing and giggling as the two made their way out of the bar and outside. She was occasionally hiccuping bubbles along the way. She couldn't help but comment, "Man, Zack. I'm so trashed...I think I see bubbles...coming outta my mouth..."
Her vision fades in and out of darkness, but she does come to realize that she and 'Zack' were near the ocean. Then there was a bright light...two bright lights coming towards her and 'Zack'. She then feels the wind rush...and then she hears a splash and gurgling.
...Was she underwater right now? She questioned silently as she watched bubbles float from her own mouth and towards above. She couldn't be...She was dreaming right? She felt cold, but she also felt warm, and she didn't feel like she was drowning...Soon her consciousness fades and she sees nothing but darkness.
The next morning will be just another ordinary morning for one mermaid, until she reaches a grotto, thought to be a secret place that only she knew of. When she goes there, she'll find another mermaid there...asleep in the shadows, sheltered from the bright light of the sun that shines its way through the waters of the ocean. The sleeping mermaid is wearing a white dress that would have reached the knees...if the mermaid was a human. Other than the dress, she would look like any other mermaid.
The next morning will seem just another peaceful morning for Zack and his friend. After getting up and getting ready for the day, he asked his roommate, the third friend, "Hey, can you go wake Ripley up? I'll go get us a table for breakfast," 
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