| A Night of Discovery |
| Everyone had a blast at Klub Kookamunga. We danced. We drank. We had a good time! It was the most fun I'd had in a really long time. Seraphina fit right in and even though she didn't speak a word, all my compadres fell in love with her as I had. Right around closing time, the DJ plated one of our slow, sappy love songs. I held Seraphina close to me and sang along with I Need You Tonight, whispering the words into her ear, my warm breath hitting her neck. "I had a great time tonight," she said when the song began fading to a close. And even when the song ended entirely and an Eminem song blared through the speakers, I didn't let go of her. I never wanted to let her go. Klub Kookamunga closed its doors at two, but no one in our little party was ready to call it a night so we went back to the cabin to keep the party going for a while longer. We danced in the living room. The kitchen was the bar. We had a mini club of our own right here. I stood off to the side and watched Seraphina dance with Leighanne and Kristin, her face bright with laughter. I smiled at her enjoyment. Brian came up behind me a slapped my back. "How's it going, Carter?" he asked me. "I'm having one of the best days of my life," I answered. "Seraphina's nice," he said. I nodded. "You really like her, don't you?" he half-asked, half-stated. Once again, I nodded. "Too bad we're leaving in a week," he muttered. I stopped nodding. I hadn't thought about that. What am I going to do? The smile faded from my face and I took on a solemn, worried look. Seraphina noticed and sauntered over to me, the look on her face now one of concern. She leaned in close to me so no one would hear her speak. "What's wrong, Nick?" she asked in my ear. I shook my head. "Nothing, sweetheart. Nothing for you to worry about," I answered. I kissed her forehead. "Go. Have a good time," I said, turning her back toward the dance floor and smacking her butt lightly. She pulled me close to her. "Dance with me," she ordered. I sighed and allowed myself to be pulled to the center of the cabin. My mood lightened once again when I let go and began to dance. It was like old times. Us five Boys and our dates getting jiggy with it on the dance floor. After a while things slowed down and only Seraphina and I were still dancing. Kevin and Kristin cuddled on the porch, talking and watching the waves hit the shore. Brian and Leighanne had gone to bed. Howie and his date had gone for a walk on the beach. And AJ and his date were making out on the sofa. But none of that mattered to me. I had the girl of my dreams wrapped in my arms. I never wanted this night to end. But I knew it would. It was close to five when we finally shut the party down. I escorted Seraphina to my room where we laid in bed, talking and kissing. Just enjoying each other's presence. We could hear giggles from the room next door before the soft thumping of the bed hitting the wall. Kevin was getting some. I chuckled to myself when I heard loud grunts and moans seeping through the wall. The soft thumping of the bed hititng the wall grew louder and faster. Since Kevin was such a serious and romantic person, I figured he'd be the type of guy who "makes love." However, tonight it sounded as if he was doing the complete opposite. Seraphina looked at me with worried, frightened eyes. "What's he doing to her?" she asked with obvious concern and fear. "Nothing, baby. They're just having sex," I said, taking her hand in mine. "Sex?" Seraphina questioned. "Yeah. They're making love. Showing each other how much they care for one another," I explained. "How does one have sex?" she inquired. "You've never had sex?" I asked, somewhat shocked. Seraphina shook her head. I was surprised. Not that I thought Seraphina was a slut, but she was just so sexual. Always kissing me and caressing me. I just assumed she'd had sex before. "How do mermaids reproduce?" I probed curiously. "We press our palms together, like this," Seraphina began, placing her palms flat against mine. "Then we kiss," she continued, grazing her lips across my own. "And then we touch foreheads," she finished as our foreheads touched. "Then what happens?" I asked, our palms and foreheads still connected. "Then, six months later, we have a merbabe," she stated. "Mermaids are only fertile once every two years," she explained. "Do you have any merbabes?" I questioned. It wouldn't have diminished my feelings for her if she did, but I needed to know. "No. A mermaid doesn't have her first merbabe until her 23rd year," Seraphina answered. "What year are you?" I inquired. "Twenty-second," she replied. "My mother is already scouting out a suitable mate for me. I'm supposed to marry in four months so I'll have my first merbabe shortly after my 23rd. Mermaids can conceive for only two months every other year, about half-way through the year," she explained in detail. I gazed at her in awe. Here she was, a human, but yet still a mermaid with a completely different life from me. Merpeople don't have sex for pleasure. They're like animals. Procreation only. "Now tell me about your sex," Seraphina demanded playfully. She sat up on her knees like a child, giddy with excitement and the prospect of new knowledge. I didn't know how to go about explaining it. I had explained it to my brother Aaron, but he was a twelve year old boy, not a beautiful 22 year old mermaid. "Um...okay. Let's see. Uh...yeah." I was stalling and gathering my thoughts. "Nick. Please?" Seraphina looked at me with her ocean blue eyes, pleading for me to continue. "Okay. Men have penises and women have vaginas," I began. 'Dear God! I sound like a friggin' health video!' I thought to myself. "Each has a special design that conincides with the opposite to ensure pleasure and procreation," I continued. "Where do the penises go?" Seraphina asked. "Inside the woman's what-not. It's very stimulating and it's our way to show how much we love each other," I stated. I had never felt so embarrassed in all my life. I had a feeling my cheeks were as red as my boxer drawers. Seraphina gazed at me the same way I had gazed at her moments before. She licked her lips in thought and I could see questions, hundreds of questions, in her eyes. "Do you have a penis?" Seraphina questioned, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. I nodded. "Can I see it?" she inquired with such child-like innocence that I couldn't say no, so I nodded again. I climbed out of my bed and locked the door. Then I stood by the bed and dropped my boxers. Seraphina gazed at my goods with awe and wonderment. She reached out her finger and ran it along the shaft. "Don't do that right now. Some other time, sweetheart," I said, clutching her hand in mine. "It's funny looking," Seraphina commented, cocking her head to one side. "Well, they all pretty much look the same," I said, pulling my boxers back up. I reclaimed my place next to her on the bed and she cuddled up next to me, her cheek resting peacefully on my chest. Her breathing grew deep and methodical as the minutes passed. I stroked her arm with my thumb as I slowly drifted off to sleep. |