Today, the screams are frantic. Worried. Like somebody is going to get hurt, or, if I was on a lifeguard shift, like they think someone might drown. I look up from my spot at the end of the lane and see Coach’s feet barreling toward the bleachers. This can’t be good.

I pull myself out of the water. A dozen people are gathered around a swirl of motion. I see fists flying, flashes of orange and black slashing the air, people fighting. With the help of Kavya, Omar, and Alex, the fighters are pulled apart. One in all black, Dominic, being held back. The other, an orange blur, smeared with red. Ross, trying with all their might to get out of Kavya and Coach’s grip. Blood is bright against their cheek and pouring out of their nose.

What the fuck is going on?

I run over as fast as I can, practically losing my balance as my bare feet hit the rough, ridged metal of the bleachers.

“Stop!” Kavya yells. “Ross, get ahold of yourself! You’re not a cage fighter!”

“He punched me in the face!” Ross screams.

“You deserved it!” Dominic shouts back, licking his split lip.

Ross surges against Coach’s arms, looking completely out of their mind. I never thought Ross could get like this. They’re the lover, albeit a sarcastic one, but they pride themself on never wanting to hurt a soul, on being a protector of the seas.

“What has gotten into you?” I ask.

Ross stops struggling, turning to me with a wild look in their eyes that softens when they meet mine.

“He started it,” Ross says simply.

“You dumped a drink on his head,” Kavya says. “Not that that’s an excuse for him trying to beat the shit out of you, but still.”

“It was an accident!” Ross trails off, then takes the hand that Kavya has finally let go of to touch their nose and feel the wet swath of blood glistening on their upper lip. They suck in a breath when their fingers tap their purpling face. “I’ve never been hit before.” They pull their fingers away and stare at the blood on them. They look more fascinated than hurt. Already the blood has stopped trickling down their nose, and I wonder if this is the first time a mer’s Healing magic has been triggered by jealous ex-boyfriends.

Then, fast and spiteful, like they want their words to pack as much of a punch as Dominic’s fist, Ross declares, “Dominic just can’t handle that you’d rather be with me than him!”