Page 1 of Mermaid For You

Chapter One

AVA

The perfect way to start every morning is with a cold cup of coffee and a steaming pile of dog shit. To make it even more fantastic is to carry the aroma into class with you, then sit there in humiliation as everyone continues to sniff, wrinkle their nose, and proceed to look around to see where the horrid smell is coming from. All the while, you sit there knowing you’re the guilty party.

Where’s the smell coming from? What’s that smell? Oh my God, what is that?

It’s me. I’m the culprit. I have dog doo-doo on the bottom of my shoe. I didn’t have time to go back to my dorm and change, and apparently, I didn’t do a great job of trying to wipe it off in the grass or playing in a muddy puddle to rinse it off. Nope. It’s holding on strong. And I do mean strong.

I’m seriously having a shitty day. All I have to do now is get through the next forty minutes of this class, and then I can change my shoes. I wanted to skip, but it’s the end of semester, and I’ve never been late for or missed a class in any of the four years I’ve been at this university. But now I’m starting to think if there was ever a reason or cause, today was it and I should’ve taken it.

My forehead smacks my desk when the love of my life calls out, “Somebody stepped in shit.” Not only is he beautiful, but he has a keen sense of smell. “Mr. Hopper, I’m not going to be able to focus with my nose hairs burning.”

If my soul mate Blake Doozer discovers that I’m the one causing his precious nose hairs to curl… that’s it. My life will be over. Okay, maybe not over, but it’d be a little more sad. I’ve been shamelessly drooling over Blake since the beginning of last year. When I walked into this class and saw that my odds of finally getting his attention had finally improved, it was one of the happiest moments of my college career. I never believed in love at first sight or any of that nonsense until my eyes locked on his big honey-colored ones. Of course, ninety percent of the campus is also hoping to snag his attention.

As the star quarterback of our university’s football team, with Hollywood good looks, he’s already been recruited for professional football. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll be on a cereal box in no time. And in advertisements for sports gear. And in toothpaste commercials, complete with the ding as a twinkle appears at the corner of his smile.

Little does he know that his future also includes me. Not that I’m a stalker or a crazed fan or anything. I just know that we’re meant to be together. There’s a slight snag with him being unaware of my existence, but I don’t like to dwell on the negative or get hung up on minor details. Unfortunately, this has been a one-sided love affair, and I only have a few days before graduation, and then I’ll have lost my chance with him.

If today is the day we finally connect, and it’s only because of this foul odor… No. I must maintain a positive attitude.Then again, it could make for a fun story to tell the kids one day. Right?

“Hey, it smells strongest over here.” Westin Rhodes, Blake’s annoying friend, calls out as he walks toward my side of the room.

Go away. Go away. Please don’t?—

“Oh yeah. It’s over here.” Sweet heavens, no. That’s Blake’s voice. “Y’all need to check your shoes.”

“Or take a bath!” Westin a walking stereotype of a frat boy and jock. He’s big, mean, and I’m ninety percent certain he’s crushed one too many beer cans against his forehead. If he had a completely different personality, he’d be attractive.

“That’s enough,” Mr. Hopper’s voice cuts in.“Take your seats.”

I feel their presence next to my desk as I press my forehead harder against the wood. Thankfully, I wore my hair down today, so I can use it as a curtain to hide my face behind. My cheeks are burning hot.

Is the smell getting stronger? Oh my gosh… I think it is! How? How is it becoming more potent and rank?

“Class.” Mr. Hopper’s voice doesn’t raise but definitely takes an edge. “Be seated or be dismissed immediately.”

When they finally return to their seats, I slowly raise my head and focus on the professor, who’s beginning our class lecture. However, it’s not long before whispers begin. Trying to be discreet, I turn my head enough for my eyes to cut to see Westin and Blake whispering and looking directly at me.

My heart is hammering in my chest, and I’m on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. Sweat gathers at my temples as the stench suffocates me.

Mr. Hopper must notice his class is distracted so he decides to end the class early.“Read the entire chapter, and I want an essay summarizing it and your thoughts. A thousand words due by midnight.”

The class groans. Great. Not only did I distract the entire class with a gag-inducing odor, but now I’ve garnered them unwarranted homework.

“See you next class.” He calmly closes his laptop and then slides it into his leather satchel.

Seeing as class has ended, I don’t waste any time in grabbing my bag and sliding out of my chair. I hurry toward the classroom door when my, still-wet shoes slide and I lose my balance. Mr. Hopper reaches out to catch me, but he’s not fast enough. My hip stings as it slams against the hard floor, but it doesn’t hurt as much as my pride. I’ve never been so humiliated.

“Well, we found the source!”

Correction. Now I’ve never been so humiliated. Westin’s declaration is the cherry on top to my mortifying day.

He looks down at me and smirks. “Didn’tyou smell that, or is this a smell you’re used to?”

Mr. Hopper claps his hands. “That’s enough! Out. Everyone. Before I double the word count.”

Snickers and muffled words pass by me as I debate if I should even bother standing up. A few people woof at me, and a large hand appears before my face.

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