Page 1 of Mermaid's Song (Dark Sea Academy 1)

Chapter 1

The wailing won’t stop. It’s growing louder by the moment.

I grope at the things on my nightstand, knock a few items to the floor. When I finally find my phone, I manage to silence the shrill alarm.

Fatigue squeezes me. Did I get any sleep? I’ll have to open my eyes to find out.

Seven-thirty.

No! I overslept. Why today? I fling off my covers then scramble out of bed, almost crashing to the floor because of the tangled blankets. Halfway across my room, I trip over a shoe. Then my backpack. Nearly slam face-first into the corner of my desk.

Mom’s right. I really should pick up this mess I call a bedroom.

This isn’t how I want to start today. There’s too much on my calendar to be running behind so early. Big track meet. Spanish test. Something else. Can’t remember what, though. The history project? No, that’s not it. Oh, right. College applications. I have to get those tedious things submitted.

My phone trills an upbeat tone.

A text this early? Only my best friend would reach out at this hour. I glance at the screen. Yep, it’s Ivy. I read her message on my way to the bathroom.

Ivy: Marra!! Emma says Roman likes YOU!

The proclamation is followed by a bunch of hearts and kissing emojis.

I nearly drop the phone into the toilet. Roman Lewis likes me? The hottest guy in school? She has to have gotten her signals crossed. Like a bad game of Phone we used to play as kids—when someone purposely changes the message as it travels around the line. Admittedly, it was usually me.

Not this time. Someone is messing with me now. My heart races faster than my mind as I wash my face. No way Roman likes me. It’s a cruel joke. There are tons of prettier girls to pick from. More popular ones. Sure, I’m the school’s best runner. The trophies along my walls prove as much.

But nobody cares about track.

My phone rings.

Don’t be Roman.

It’s Ivy.

Relief washes through me. I accept the call.

“Marra! You saw my message. Why didn’t you reply? Can you believe this?”

I take a deep breath on the way to my room then dig though my closet for something to wear. Something cute, just in case she’s right about Roman.

Even though she’s not.

“Hello? Earth to Marra.” If Ivy were here, she’d be waving her hands in front of my face. Thankfully, she isn’t.

“Where did you hear that rumor?” I hold up a lacy teal top that brings out my eyes.

“Straight from Roman’s best friend’s sister.”

I hold back a groan. Definitely a bad game of Phone. “Doesn’t sound promising. I’m not going to hold my breath.”

I choose the shortest skirt allowed by the school dress code. I hate wearing skirts.

“It’s Roman Lewis!” Ivy squeals. “He likes you.”

“Doubtful. And besides, I have important things to think about today. Like that track meet and filling out the rest of my college applications. I hardly have time to think about him.” I put my phone on speaker to get dressed.

“Don’t remind me. The things are driving me crazy. You still applying for Princeton?”

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