After five years of online camaraderie, Eric, Matt, Dallas, and James finally decided to meet in person. They chose a beach house as their meeting spot, a place where they could relax and enjoy each other's company.

They spent the day laughing, reminiscing about their online adventures, and planning new ones. As the sun began to set, Dallas suggested a beachside bonfire. Everyone agreed, and they started gathering wood.

While the rest were busy, James decided to dip his feet into the water. He didn't notice when a wave splashed against him, soaking his clothes. Suddenly, he felt an odd sensation.

As his friends looked on in shock, James' body transformed. His legs fused together, forming a shimmering tail. His skin took on a bluish hue, and he gasped as gills formed on his neck.

Shocked, Eric, Matt, and Dallas rushed over to him. James, now a full merman, tried to reassure them. He explained that he'd always been a merman but never told them because he was afraid of their reactions.

The revelation was a lot to take in, but the bond between the four friends was unshakeable. They listened to James' story, even helping him back into the water when he started to struggle on land.

As the night wore on, they sat by the fire, talking and joking as if nothing had changed. After all, James was still their friend, merman or not.

By the end of the night, they'd all accepted James' secret. They promised to keep it safe, looking forward to more adventures together, both online and in the real world.