I was hungry. Well, more like starving. But I didn't want to interrupt our time at the aquarium. We had just left the turtle sanctuary and were heading towards a door that had a cartoon dolphin painted on it. The turtles had been so cute, but I felt a pang of sadness seeing their injuries and scars. One of the turtle’s plaques said that he was too injured and adapted to human care to ever be released back into the wild. I felt for him, being separated from his family and the world he knew.
Noticing the unshed tears in my eyes, Jason had placed his hand on the small of my back and hurried me through the sanctuary, waving to a few of the doctors who were working with a turtle who had a huge gash in its shell.
I gripped the plush turtle that Hip had gotten for me closer to my chest as we walked through the dolphin doors. Once inside, I halted, wondering how we had transported to Florida, but then realized that the giant room was only made to look like we were outside. Vaulted glass ceilings kept out the cold while the walls and floor were painted to look like we were on a tropical island. Right past the doors was a ramp that led down to a sandy area and a massive pool that was blocked off by a short wall.
I could see a trainer standing on a platform in the middle of the pool, working with the dolphins.
Coming down the ramp I watched, fascinated, as the woman got the dolphins to jump high in the air and through a hoop. She had a mic on and was talking through speakers to tell the people in the room about the dolphins they had in their care. She was putting on a show, making jokes and talking with the dolphins as if they could understand her.
When the four of us approached the short wall, the two dolphins—which had been watching the trainer as she held a small fish in her hands—turned and looked in our direction. With trills and clicks, they left the woman on the platform and swam towards us.
Since reaching the aquarium, I had felt this odd little buzzing in the back of my head. I had thought it was a tension migraine since it would fluctuate as we walked through the building. Yet, as these dolphins approached us, that little buzzing turned into soft static that seemed to bounce through my skull, only growing louder as they came closer.
I winced and pressed the palms of my hands into my ears, hoping to block out the noise.
“Are you okay, Atalanta?”
My eyes snapped to Theseus who was staring down at me with concern. I tried to think of how to describe what I was feeling when the dolphins reached us. They clicked and wiggled around excitedly, pulling our attention.
“Uhhh,” The trainer spluttered before catching herself and falling back into her performance. “It seems Donny and Nila have taken interest in some of you! Dolphins, like most animals, have a great sense of people. If you hold your palm out, they might even let you pet them.”
The people around us crowded closer, a few children bouncing on their toes, hoping to get a chance to pet the dolphins.
My brows furrowed as I stared at them, that static in my brain still raging. Was it them? Was this some sort of Merperson thing?
I looked at Jason and Hip. “Can you two hear that?”
They looked at each other and then back at me, shaking their heads.
My eyes slid to Theseus, who was still staring at me with concern. “Do you feel anything?”
He shook his head slowly, reaching out to put his hand on my shoulder. “What are you hearing?”
So it wasn’t some weird Mer thing. Maybe I was overthinking things and it was a migraine after all. It had been a long time since breakfast. I was probably just suffering from low blood sugar or something. Or maybe I was crazy.
“It’s nothing. My head feels weird, I think I need to eat.” I glanced back at the small crowd of people and the dolphins. “Let’s get out of here.”
Theseus didn’t look convinced, and now Jason and Hip shared that same concerned expression.
I gave them my best smile and walked away from the dolphin pool, exiting the room. I tried to ignore how the sensation faded the further I got from the dolphins. Maybe it was a fluke. Some sort of newly made Mer thing. I’d ask Ajax about it later, and if it happened again, I would tell the other guys about it.
“Do you want to eat at the cafe here, or go somewhere else?”
“The food here is probably overpriced and not that good. Are there any good places around here that you guys know of?”
“I think there’s a Chili’s nearby.” Jason suggested.
“They’ve gone downhill in the last several years.” Hip said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Pick something else.”
Jason sighed and pulled out his phone to look for places to eat. “Fridays?”
“Nah.”
“Ruby Tuesday’s?”
“Nope.”
Jason scowled at him. “Well, then, why don’t you pick?”
Hip shrugged. “I’ve never been in this area.”
Jason tilted his head, brow furrowing. “I thought you came up here for the local market?”
Hip looked taken aback as if he was confused how Jason knew about this market. I, too, was curious. What market?
“That’s the next town over…” Hip hesitated before saying, “Um, there is a place I know of over there, if you guys are up for the drive.”
I nodded, curious to see what type of food Hip liked. We agreed and made our way to the car. I was thankful not to see Jason’s uncle again. I did spy Jason’s parents, who were busy with one of the student booths, and the girl from the gift shop booth. She smiled widely at Hip as we passed, but when her eyes landed on me, that smile turned into a glare. She was not happy that I got Salt.
Too bad. He was mine.
I took Hip’s hand and grinned back at the girl triumphantly. This one was mine, too.
Hip glanced down at our conjoined hands, over at the girl, and then chuckled softly.
He gripped my hand tighter, pulling me closer. “Don’t worry, Kitten. I’m all yours.”
“Stop calling me Kitten.”
“Okay, Speedy.”
I grumbled, which only made him laugh.
Thirty minutes later, Theseus pulled into a parking lot that Hip had directed him too. It was a small plaza with a Walgreens, a liquor store, and at the end was a small place called Griasol.
Hip lead us to Griasol, which turned out to be a restaurant. It was tiny, with no more than three booths and a four person table. Next to a large counter with a register was a case filled with baked goods. My stomach growled as I practically drooled over them.
“Buenos días, Tía. Tiene algo de buena cocina?” Hip called into the empty restaurant.
My eyebrows shot up. Hip spoke Spanish?
A short, plump woman came shuffling out from an opening behind the counter that I assumed led to the kitchen. When she spotted Hip, her face grew warm and welcoming. “Hijo mío. ¿cómo estás? ¿Son tus amigos?” She gasped when her eyes landed on me. “¿es tu novia? ¿Qué le pasó?”
Hip nodded. “Sí, estos son mis amigos, y ella se metió en un accidente.”
She came rushing around the counter and gave me a big hug. “Don’t worry, sweet girl. I’ll fix you up some good food. You’ll feel much better.”
I blinked. What had Hip said to her? All I caught was the word accident. I wish I spoke Spanish.
“Um. Thank you?”
“No worries, little one. We will fill that belly. You are too skinny.” She looked at Jason and Theseus who stood in the door behind me. “My, you two are handsome. Tramposo, you be sure not to lose her to them.”
Hip actually blushed. “Tía.”
“Don't Tía me. Now, why don’t you go sit and I’ll bring you the special?”
Hip huffed and walked over to the last booth, gesturing for us to sit down. I made eye contact with Jason and Theseus, their curious expressions matching my own. We cautiously moved further into the restaurant and sat down on the inside with Hip next to me, while Jason and Theseus sat across from us.