THE SPELL BROKE and just like that, she could see everything with fresh eyes. Her eyes widen in terror, lips urging to scream, and feet ready to run for the door. She wishes to leave but she can’t! Not in this red floorlength dress she had to haul her closet for and not in this luxurious candlelit dinner that her Tinder date will be paying for! “Is there something wrong, Jane?” The man across the white clothed table asks his date who is still frozen in terror from head to toe. He puts down his utensils that was busy spinning a slippery noodle to give his full attention to her as he noticed she stopped talking and had a scared expression on her face.

Was he a man? More like a catfish, a literal catfish with a human body! Her perfectly normal human date just turned into a man with a catfish for a head the second she blinked, what the freak happened?! The mentioned female, Jane, shakes off the fear riding her mind and body in order to provide an elegant response. “No, it’s nothing, Fred. I just-uh, need to go to the bathroom that’s all.” She rushes to stand and make a speedwalk getaway to the ladies room while pulling at the skirt of her dress, not even bothering to know his reaction. Hands are gripped to the sink so the shock from awhile ago doesn’t pull her down to the floor, although it is tempting as it is sparkly clean looking.

“Calm down heart, calm the fuck down. It’s probably just the orange lighting not doing his face justice and is making him look like a fish.” A palm is put above her chest and tries to logically reason that whatever she saw was not real. But was it really? His whiskers tingled, his plump seafish slurped the noodles wetily that the sauce (and bodily liquid) droplets hit her face (which she should wipe off now, remembering it happen), and the fins on his face flapped. They freaking flapped and could she really believe bad lighting was the cause for her date to look like a freshwater creature? Ofcourse not! “Oh my gosh, what am i gonna do? I’ll look mental if i say the guy turned to a fish mid-date.”

The bathroom door is pushed open and enters in a woman donning the black attire of the restuarant’s waiters. The unknown individual turns to switch the lock of the door before leaning against it. She has her eyes on Jane through the mirror who has yet to notice her as she goes on a anxious rampage on her dateless life in the asylum for crazy people, and the woman chuckles at the overeaction. “He didn’t turn into a catfish, he is a catfish.” Jane swiftly turns to look at the origin of the voice. “Who are you? Why are you here? How do you know that?” The familiar woman points to the bathroom stalls, signaling to her that they’re currently at a toilet place open for all people (that are female) to use. “Name’s Quinnie and I know because I’m a mermaid and we’re the only ones who can see catfishes for who they truly are. Humans only see their disguise and never their true appearances unless they ingest a potion to clear the spell cast on them, which I gave to you earlier when I poured you wine.” Quinnie moves closer until she reaches the sink.

“You should leave, a catfish will never make a good partner. They’ll leave you when they’ve impregnated you because you can’t live under water, I know this because I’m a product of one and I want to save another potential me from growing up fatherless so leave him.” The air between the two becomes empty of words as they keep their gazes on one another. Jane takes her time to let the newfound information about her catfish of a date and they’re possible future together sink in her mind. However, she takes too long and it was enough to agitate the worry of the creature waiting at their table.

A solid knock erupts from the front door and is followed by a masculine voice filled with concern. “Hey Jane, I’m just checking on you if you’re still there. You’ve been holed up in the ladies’ room for quite awhile now and I was thinking you bailed on me.” Jane and Quinnie each feel the panic rise up in their chest as they hear his voice. The humain claiming to be a mermaid mouths to the girl with a date to ‘answer him’ in order to not arouse suspicion. “I’m alright, Fred! I’ll be right back after a few makeup touches, you know how girls are!” She reassures him and the two girls can hear him sigh away his worry against the wooden entrance. “Okay, that’s great to hear! I really did think you left me for a minute there so good thing you didn’t but anyway, I’ll be waiting for you at our table!” The ends of Jane’s lips slightly turns upward, finding Fred’s worry of her disappearance cute. She converts her smile to a line as she sees the disgusted and judgemental stare of the mermaid in front of her, absolutely loathing Jane be a little smitten with the man outside. Jane is reminded that the man who knocked is not human, but a catfish. Sounds of footsteps leaving are heard so the two continue their interrupted conversation but before Quinnie could utter a word, the footsteps outside return quickly.

“Also I think I saw my ex-girlfriend enter as well so if she ever decides to talk to you, don’t believe anything she says, she’s a witch and likes to tell people she’s a mermaid. She has a lot of names so don’t believe anyone if their name is Natty, Eloise, Farah, or Quinnie.”