Get a grip Reid. I told myself.  Why does he have to be so attractive to me? Should I touch myself? Would that make these feelings go away?   I just dunno. Maybe I need a coffee.  Strange he hasn’t tried to hit on me yet. Part of me missed it for some reason.  Wait a minute, I like him flirting with me???  I didn’t  expect him to stop so abruptly.. Maybe he’s not a playboy. I closed the door quickly “get dressed soon i need to buy salt now and you’re coming with me.”

It didn’t take long; he soon stepped out. Even in my clothes he looks so hot. I've been trying korean street fashion like I’ve seen in manhwas much better then jeans and a t-shirt.  He had a  brown top with a collar and dark chocolate brown pants. I found a tan trench coat for him to wear out. He simply took it and followed me out the door. “You can’t just walk around without shoes. Give me a second I found an extra pair of shoes and socks.”

It didn't take long we headed out. It began to rain.  Wearing dry clothes felt amazing.  Once we entered the store I turned to him. “Since you used all the salt I have for cooking, you just need to find it.”

He nodded.  15 minutes passed, then more. He should be back by now.  After some searching I found him in the candy aisle looking at a box of chocolate. 

“Is this salt?” He asked.

“No, that's a box of chocolates.” 

“I see, I don’t know how to read.”

“You don’t spend much time on land do you?”

“No. Would you care to teach me?”

I expected him to say something flirty back but he didn’t. I strangely felt…disappointed why? Of course flirting all the time would be annoying but-stop it right now Reid!  Now’s not the time to get crushes, you're only helping him out, not hoping to date.  “Sure.” I led him to the aisle with salt and other things. I held up the box of salt. “This is the same box you used up, here’s the first letter an S the second is A, third is a L, and T. That’s how you spell salt make sense?”

“It does, yes.”

We checked out.  A sudden craving for a mocha hit me. It’s been a horrible day. I deserve a treat. I bet he’s never had one and it wouldn't hurt to let him try one. On the drive to the café he was silent, occasionally casting glances at me. 

“Welcome to the cafe, what can I get you?” Asail’s familiar face greeted me. She has soft brown skin black silky hair and Doe eyes. Also my best friend. 

“A couple of mocha milkshakes  please.”

“How’ve you been Reid?”  Asali asked. 

“I’m alright.   I think my therapist is homophobic.” I said. I made sure she doesn’t know about me almost drowning.

“What happened?”

“She keeps saying when I talk about my relationship struggles one day I’ll find a nice girl when I’ve told her multiple times that I’m gay.  Then she told me her son was dating guys because he thought he was bi but ended up just being straight and wound up with a girlfriend.”

“ Find a new one. And Let’s hang out after my shift tommorow I’ll treat you to dinner.” She looked over at the merman guy who was picking up bags of coffee and sniffing it.  “Are you on a date?”  Asali raised her pierced eyebrow. 

“No, he’s a new friend I’m providing a place for him to stay temporarily. “

“And you’re not dating him?! That’s one hot slice of man right there and you’re not hitting on him?! Get him before some other guy snags him.”  Asali  whispered yelled.

I redned remembering his flirting.  “See you at 6:45 p.m. tomorrow?”

She nodded. “Yout drinks should be ready soon.”

I walked over and tapped the merman. “We’re gonna wait here okay?” I gestured near where the drinks of other customers sat ready to be taken.  He nodded not saying anything. I sighed no flirting again…Is he really caring about what I say? I regret saying that now.  We waited for the drinks soon enough my name was called out. “Come the drinks  are ready.” 

“You look great today” He said to Asali.

I felt a twinge of something unpleasant in my heart hearing him say that.  I huffed and took my drink and started walking to my car. I got in and sighed. Why am I getting worked over a random stranger?  A minute later he entered.  He stared at the drink not touching it. “Something wrong?”  I asked.

“How do you consume this?”

His cluelessness is kinda cute. “You suck on the straw.”  

He took it out and sucked on it. I grabbed his hand and put the straw  in the drink. His eyes lit up as he drank.  “This tastes amazing. We don’t really have drinks in thr ocean.”

I looked at his hands, incredibly pale from never being in the sun, smooth looking too. I wanna hold his hand still badly and just pretend we’re a couple. I picked up mine and sipped quietly. It started to rain again, the sky also getting darker as it approached evening. I looked down to see my hand covering his. I flushed and tried to yank my hand back but he held firm.