Miracles: Chapter 8 I was walking down the path when someone ran into me. "Hey! Watch it!" I say to him. "Sorry. I was just . . . having . . . trouble . . . seeing in . . . the dark." He said back. "Oh sorry. I'm just a little upset. So, what's your name? I'm Lelo. Like after the movie? Lelo and Stich? My dad's from Hawaii." "I'm Raydin. My dad's from Canada." He smiled so me. I took a closer look at him. He had blue hair and a tattoo from his hips to his neck. The tattoo was blue and green swirls and waves. And his eyes were a beautiful green. Like the sea of Hawaii. And he looked my age. Around fifteen. "So, Raydin. Where you from?" "I just said. Canada." "Then are you just visiting?" "Why? Are you coming to see a relative?" He shone his head. "What, then?" "Can you keep a secret, Lelo?" "Of course." "My dad had passed before. So I kinda ran away." "How?" "How what?" "How to both?" "I bought a plane ticket and flew down here and my dad died from. . ." I tilt my head and widen my eyes. "Cross your heart." I trace my finger in an X over my heart. "He jumped off a cliff and hit shallow water." "Is that how he died?" "No. After he was out of the hospital he shot himself." "Oh my God. Why?" He shook his head. "Your the third one to know. Otherwise it's just me and mom." "Without thinking I wrap my arms around him, one on his neck an the other around his waist. He looks surprised at my action but after a while he returned my hug and we just stood there a bit. His blue hair mixing with my brown. "I'm do sorry!" I pull away and put my hands on his shoulders. "Don't be." He said , shrugging his shoulders and looking at his feet. I couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

Miracles: Chapter 7 Sasha had removed her tail with some weird mermaid magic, and was walking toward Jasmine. Jasmine was backing away slowly. "Jasmine. It's okay. They won't hurt you." I said. "Are you sure?" "Of course." She stopped moving and started talking to Sasha. "Aviella! Come here." Aroura called to me. "Okay. Why?" "You said you would keep our secret. Why'd you tell her?!" "She is the most trustworthy person I know!" "But you broke your promise." "I'm sorry. Okay? I thought someone else should know. And I have no one else to tell." "Fine. No one?" "No one." "Okay. Good." I walk over to Jazzy and Sasha talking and and join the conversation. "...and so that's how we are on the earth." Sasha had said. I guessed that they were talking about how they were mermaids. "Cool! But I still don't understand." Jasmine said. "Okay, look. There was a group of people stranded on an island. They were starving and had no water. So they called upon their God and asked for help. The God said in return, 'Look to the sea.' They were confused at what he'd said. Then one person got it. 'We need to eat the seaweed! That's what he meant.' So the whole group walked to the water's edge and pulled up some seaweed and ate it. It had a bitter taste but it quenched their hunger and thirst. And with this they choose to praise the sea. So they prayed to the God and said 'make beautiful men and women swim and live in the sea, for we praise it for saving our lives by asking to grant it #life other then fish. Make these creatures half fish half human, oh mighty God of ours.' Get it now?" "A little bit. Yes." "Good. Oh! Aviella! Did you hear the story?" "Yep. And friends can call me Avi." I said to her "Friends!" Sasha said, "We're friends?" "Of course! Why wouldn't we be? Silly." "Are Aroura and Jasmine friends to?" "Yes and call me Jazzy." Jasmine said. Aroura had removed her tail and was walking towards us. "We are all friends?" "Yes Aroura!" Sasha said. "Group hug!" She pulled us all together in one big hug. Friends. I have three friends now. I thought to my self. Friends. I just laugh along with my new friends.

Miracles: Chapter 6 In the car, I cranked the radio on my favorite station. As the music played, I looked out the window to see when we got to Jazzy's. 'Bout ten-to-fifteen minutes later we pulled into her driveway. Jasmine and her mom, Malissa Veener, were waiting by the house for us to arrive. I got out of the car and kissed mom goodbye through the open window. Then I ran up and hugged Jasmine. "I'm so happy! I haven't seen you in so long!" Jazzy said. "I know!" I said breaking the hug. "What are we gonna do today?" "We can go swimming?" "Perfect." We went to get changes and then biked to the beach. (Yes I brought my bike.) When we got to the beach, I whistle. "Avi, what was that for?" Jazzy asked. "I'm calling people. My friends. But you have to keep their secret. Promise?" "Promise." "The blond one is Sasha and the dark brown haired one is Aroura." "Sasha and Aroura. Got it." "Good 'cause here they come." I could see the surprise on Jasmine's face as they pulled them selves up on the rocks showing their tails. "A-aviella? Who's that?" Sasha asked. "Don't worry guys. She'll keep your secret." "How do you know?" "She promised." Aroura was staring down Jasmine like, she was gonna eat her. "Hey, Jazzy. Why don't you come out?" I asked. "O-okay." She inched her way out from behind the tree and just stared at the two mermaids sitting on the rocks. All she did was tinily wave hello.

Miracles: Chapter 5 Back in the house I was trying to sort out the information I was just given. So, Aroura and Sasha were mermaids. Okay, got it. What weird thing am I gonna learn next? That me and Jasmine were mermaids too? Yeah right. As I'm thinking about things I go into the bathroom to start my shower. I pull my swim-suit off and jump in. I turn off the water and wrap a towel around myself. I put on a light green tank top and denim shorts. As I brush out my hair, I pick up my cell phone to call Jasmine. "Hello?" Her mom picked up the phone. "Hi Mrs. Veeler. Is Jasmine there?" I say. "Yes she is. Let me grab her for you." "Okay." There was a short silence then Jasmine's voice. "Hello? Who's this?" "Hey! It's Avi." "Avi! What's up?" "Nothing. Are you free today? Maybe we could hang out?" "Maybe. I'll ask. Hang on a minute." She set the phone down and ran off to ask her mom. She came back a bit later. "So what did your mom say?" "She said we could hang. But where and when? She needs the deats." "Well, my mom is at work, so we'll have to see when she gets home. So I can call her on my cell? She's on speed dial so it'll take even shoter time!" "Sounds great! Talk in a minute? And call my cell. Okay?" "Okay. Talk to you soon! Bye!" "Bye." I press the hang up button on my phone then go to keypad and press Mom's speed dial number (which was 1) and put the phone on my ear. "Hi, Avi. Why are you calling?" She asked. "Because I called Jazzy and we wanna hang out today. Is that ok?" "Sure, honey. But where would you want to go? There or here?" "We'll what works better?" "I'm busy this afternoon so probably not here. Check if that's ok with Malissa." "Okay." "And if that's okay see if she needs me to drive you there or pick up Jasmine." "Thanks, Mom. I'll call her right back." "See you later Avi!" "Yep." I hang up and dial Jazzy's cell number. She picked up. "So what did your mom say?" "I can hang. My house or yours? Mom said it would work better at your house." "Okay. Let me ask." I quietly hear Jasmine saying, "Mom? Can Aviella come over?" "She said yes." Jazzy said. "Should my mom drive me over?" "Sure. That'd be great! I'll see you soon!" "Yep. As soon as my mom gets home." "Bye!" "Bye." Mom walked in a couple minutes later caring groceries. She set them on the counter and looked at me. "So what'd you find out?" "Can you drive me over?" "Of course. Lets go!"

Miracles: Chapter 4 "W-who are you?" I ask the women, nervously. The one with dark brown hair replied. "I am Aroura and this is Sahsa." "What's your name?" The blond one, Sasha, said. "A-aviella." I told them. "Can you get me home?" "Yep! Where you need to go?" Sasha said. "Where I started following you guys. And how fast can you get me there?" "Fast." Aroura said. "Let's go!" I said. Sasha stood up and dove back into the ocean and popped back up. "Coming?" She asked to Aroura. "Yep." She dove in and came back up and gestured for me to come in. "Are you kidding? I have to get back in?" I asked. "If you want to get home." Sasha said. "Fine." So in I go. They each grab one of my as and pull me forward at extreme speed. We were home before I knew it. "How do you swim so fast?" Aroura looked at Sasha and nodded. "Can you keep a secret, Aviella?" She asked. All I do is nod. "Good," she continued. " we're mermaids. See?" She and Sasha pulled themselves up on the beach and showed me their tails. Aroura's was orange and Sasha's was blue-green. "Woah. I thought you were just a myth." I said. "Nope. We're real." Sasha replied.