"I need to go check on Marina," I said as Lizzie pulled me from the dance floor and outside. My anger with Landon seemed to beat in time with my heart. Every cell in my body was consumed with rage.

"Later," Lizzie said as we walked into the woods surrounding the school. "You're a ticking time bomb. We need to take care of that first."

Lizzie talked me into screaming my frustration out in the middle of the woods. I felt an enormous release, and the tightness in my chest from fighting with Landon dissipated.

"I really should check on Marina now," I reminded Lizzie as we approached the school.

"Fine, but we need to get you ready for the interviews," Lizzie acquiesced. "So keep it quick."

On my way upstairs, we had encountered a statue that looked too much like MG's mom. Dr. Saltzman had concluded that we might be dealing with another monster. I headed up to my room, nervous as I thought about the competition, Landon's tension with Roman, and the mermaid in my room.

"One thing at a time," I reminded myself with a deep breath at the door of my room. I opened it, and found Rafael lounging on my bed with Marina.

"Hey, Hope," he said, standing quickly.

"Hey," I greeted wryly. He blushed as I entered my room and shut the door. "Sorry to interrupt. I just came to check on Marina."

"Oh, is that her name?" Raf asked.

"Yeah," I explained. "She told me earlier."

"She spoke to you?"

"Not really," I said. I walked over and sat beside her on the bed. "She communicates differently. Or at least she does underwater." Marina offered me a dimpled grin. "Are you feeling okay?" I asked her. She nodded. I looked her over and touched her long, knotted red hair. "Raf, hand me that hairbrush."

I pulled the brush gently through her long red curls. Unfortunately, they had dried into a frizz ball while I was out. Marina was still as I worked the brush through. When there were no more knots in her hair, I put it in a loose braid and tied it off with elastic.

"There," I said. I looked around, sure I was forgetting something. That was when Lizzie burst in with notecards stacked neatly on top of a large box.

"Here we are," she said. She glanced at the mermaid and set the box down. She promptly began discussing the Q&A portion of the pageant. Rafael looked at her for a short moment before he headed for the door. He glanced back.

"I'm going to see if I can find something for Marina to eat," he explained. He smiled tentatively at her. "I'll be back soon." Marina watched him go before turning her attention back to Lizzie. Lizzie droned on, and as I flipped through her notecards, I was quickly irritated.

"Why are all of my answers about death or grief?" I asked.

"You have a lot in common with Dana's mom," Lizzie explained. As she talked on, I listened half-heartedly while watching Marina. She had scooted to the edge of my bed and was examining the photos on my bedside table.

"It's my family," I explained to her as Lizzie took a beat to unwrap the box.

"Here's your dress for tonight," she grinned. "It was my mother's. We can alter it to fit you."

"It's gorgeous," I breathed as I ran my fingers over the jeweled bodice.

Rafael slipped in with a large plate and sat beside Marina on the bed. There were fish sticks and french fries, and I guessed the cooks were busy with the pageant and Raf had heated the plate himself in the microwave. Marina looked at it, then Raf.

"It's food," he explained. He grabbed a french fry and ate it. Marina gave him a doubtful look. "No, really. Hope eats it too," he assured her. Raf offered me the plate and I gamely took a fish stick and ate it. Satisfied somewhat by my partaking, Marina grabbed a fish stick and nibbled on the end. She made a face that clearly expressed her distaste, but continued to eat.

"Alright, time to get dressed," Lizzie reminded me. I sighed and Raf left the plate with Marina to wait in the hall while I got the dress on. Marina watched, her eyes curious and focused, as Lizzie helped me. When I was ready, I looked over at her and the half eaten fish stick.

"Well, I have to go finish this thing," I explained. "I'll probably be a while. Raf will keep you company, and I'll come back as soon as I can."

Marina smiled at me, and Lizzie swept me from the room.

I couldn't stop crying. I cried on Lizzie, and then made my way upstairs as soon as it was considered polite. When I burst into my room, Raf stirred from his spot on the chair and Marina looked at me from the bed, face concerned.

"Get out," I said. "Raf. Please get out!"

"Hope," he tried.

"Get out!" I said more forcefully. He left and I shut the door behind him and locked it. I reached for the zipper on the dress, desperate to be out of it. My father had chosen the dress. He had given it to Caroline.

My thoughts swirled until I felt cool hands on top of mine. Marina pushed my hands aside and slowly lowered the zipper for me. I let the dress fall to the floor, and placed it gently back inside its box before I kicked it in the corner, distraught. I pulled on a pair of my pajamas and sunk beside Marina on the bed. My eyes burned and were puffy. They felt heavy and swollen. I wanted Marina out too, but couldn't find it in myself to make her leave, so I allowed her to stay as I climbed under the covers and continued to sob.

Her gentle hand rubbed my shoulder, then my back, but she didn't force me to turn over and put my head to hers so she could communicate with me. She just waited quietly.

When I finally cried myself out and turned over, I found Marina watching me and waiting. A lone tear leaked from her eye, and she wiped it and touched my eyes with it.

The swelling went down immediately, and my eyes didn't hurt. Mystified, I waited for an explanation. Instead, Marina reached over me and turned the light off, then turned on her back and closed her eyes. She was right of course; there would be time for answers in the morning.