The more time they spend together in Riley's home, the more Jesse finds herself thinking about the coming night. Her eyes are even drifting towards his manhood more than she'd like. It distracts her to the point that she forgets the previous concern over her own nudity.
"Erm.... uh... Riley... do you mind if I go out for a bit of fresh... water? asks Jesse.
"Sure... Just be sure to be back before it gets dark. It gets pretty hard to find your way back without the sun. I'll see you later then." says Riley with a curious smile.
Jesse smiles back uneasily before hurrying out the portal. The thought of spending the night with Riley still upsets her. She doesn't want to make the wrong move and feel like an outcast among everyone. Right now, she has only one other person in the whole world to tell her problems to, Nikos. She hurries as fast as she can to where she remembers that secluded beach is. She finds that beach after half an hour of swimming in one direction. She also sees the lone hut standing on that beach. Eager to talk to Nikos immediately, she shouts his name from the water. Inside the hut, she hears something drop before the door is violently forced open. Nikos runs out towards the voice that he heard. Upon seeing the familiar mermaid in the water, his run slows down to a casual walk. Jesse pouts at him seeing the irritating smile on his face.
"Back so soon, Jesse? I was expecting you to come back at one of two times since we last saw each other: today, which is the day after your transformation, or someday, which would be months or years from now." says Nikos.
"What do you mean?" asks Jesse.
"Well, coming back today, I thought you'd find that the merman you loved was not as you thought he was or something superficial like that. If you came back a long time from now, it would mean that you've grown tired and weary of life under the sea." replies Nikos.
"Oh. I see..." says Jesse, upset at Nikos' pessimism.
"So... Am I right about today?" he asks.
"Actually, no. I came here for some advice about something mermaid-related." says Jesse.
"What? Why?" asks Nikos, surprised. "Do I look like I know mermaids inside-out? I have legs if you didn't notice the first time we met."
"You knew enough to help me transform into one." responds Jesse. "You've done this before, haven't you?"
"Sure I have. You're not the first person to come to me." says Nikos. "If it's a big problem, you can ask Poseidon for advice."
"It's nothing big. I just think it's... a personal problem." says Jesse.
"Well?" asks Nikos, staring at her intently.
"It's about the whole nudity thing. The merman I like, Riley, welcomed me into his home and I most likely have to share the same hammock with him. I am more than sure he does not expect anything from me during the night but I can't stop thinking about the possibilities." confesses Jesse.
"Well, being naked together and touching would be tempting. Just close your mind to it like he probably does." says Nikos.
"Is that what he's doing?" wonders Jesse out loud.
"I'd expect so. He probably did so at first when he found out the power of a mermaid. I guess that merpeople just get used to being exposed to each other since it's just part of daily life." says Nikos.
"Then why can't I shake off the feelings and thoughts about taking him for my own?" asks Jesse, frustrated.
"Listen. When is the only time when humans feel the need to shed their clothing completely in front of one another?" asks Nikos.
"I can only think of sex off the top of my head."
"Exactly. You're clothed all the other times around others. You also grew up in a world that emphasizes sex and sexuality. Since sex is the only time you see a man unobscured, you think of sex when you saw that merman exposed. Still, that's only part of your little problem. Let me ask you another thing: what did you think of all the merpeople you saw in that village?"
"They were breathtaking. I couldn't believe anyone could be that perfect-looking."
"True. However, you don't see many people who look that amazing concentrated in one place. I think I'd get bored of seeing pretty mermaids left and right all my life. The thing is, despite the outer beauty, their inner beauty has quite a range. Some merpeople can be pretty evil, some merpeople can be called saint-like, while the rest fall between those two extremes, just like humans."
"What are you trying to tell me, Nikos?"
"Look beyond their good looks. You really shouldn't be surprised."
"If looks don't matter, why do they look the way they do?" asks Jesse.
"It's a stupid reason, I think. They were born that way."
"Ex- Excuse me?"
"It's not really important. Anyway, I have some things to take care of. See you later." says Nikos as he turns around to go back to his hut.
"Hey! Wait! You're just evading the question!" exclaims Jesse. She then pauses for a second. "You jerk! You just want me to come back again!"
Nikos stops in his tracks. He turns his head slowly towards Jesse. She flinches upon looking at the furious expression on his face. Suddenly, Nikos smirks and says, "Maybe?". The man turns once more and disappears into his isolated hut.
Jesse just sits there as the waves crash around her. Her mouth opens, but nothing comes out. The mermaid barely whispers "Idiot!" before diving below the water. She thinks about the conversation she just had. Nikos didn't make her feel any less nervous about the night she would spend with Riley. She tries to look for things in the water to keep her mind off of the merman, but there's nothing but water and sand all around her. She keeps swimming in one direction even as it gets darker. She can feel herself getting closer to Riley. To her delight, she soon sees the familiar chasm in the sea floor.
Just after Jesse swam out of the room, Riley wonders what to do for the rest of the time being. Before he even has the chance to make up his mind, Lily enters the place. She looks around before opening her mouth.
"What happened to Jesse? I thought she'd be with you. Especially with that look she gave you when she first laid eyes upon you." says Lily.
"I don't think she's used to staying inside too long. She just went out to stretch her fins." responds Riley. "And yeah, I saw that look she gave me. It was an interesting look, like she's never seen a merman before."
"What do you think of her?" asks Lily. "I saw where her eyes were going. Do you think she'll be trouble for you tonight?"
"I... I hope not. I hardly know her enough. If she is expecting something, I doubt I can refuse." says Riley.
"You're too nice, Riley," says Lily with a frown. "I'd at least say no a couple times to see if they're really interested in me. Though, I guess I do like that you're nice. It'd be a pity if we were both naughty."
Riley looks back at her in surprise at what has just been said to him. She moves quickly towards him, and he feels Lily peck him on the cheek. She surprises him again by embracing him tightly with his face pressed against her chest. Riley blushes at this show of affection, scarcely aware of the soft flesh pressed against his cheeks.
"Riley, don't let her or any other mermaid break your heart. If that happens, tell me. So that she will regret it." says Lily.
Riley tilts his head up and meets his sister's eyes. Despite the slightly disturbing words that came from her mouth, he knows she just wants him to be careful.