WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 43: More New Students

Chapter 43: More New Students

It was another day for school and Rhea was dressed and ready to leave the house. She would be going to school alone today and very early too.

Louie would be picking her up so they could get the invitation cards for his birthday coming up tomorrow which will be celebrated on Friday night. They had decided to move the birthday celebration by a day, so they could have enough time to prepare.

She got to the living room to meet her dad who was seated and reading a magazine. Celia was in the kitchen getting breakfast ready.

"Good morning, Dad," she greeted.

"Good morning, darling. How was your night?" her father answered.

"It was awesome, Dad."

Her father nodded. "Good to hear that."

"Is Celia in the kitchen?" Rhea asked though she knew Celia should be there.

"She is."

Rhea left the living room and went to the kitchen to meet Celia.

"Hi," Celia smiled. "I see you’re ready. I made some sandwiches for you and Louie. You can eat them in the car."

Rhea moved closer to Celia. "Thank you, Celia."

"I also made some fresh pineapple and orange juice. You can drink that too."

Rhea smiled. "You know you are the best right?"

Celia nodded. "Of course I do. And you, Rhea, are the best too... I already packed the sandwiches. I will get the juices." Celia moved closer to the refrigerator. "Which of them would Louie prefer? Orange or pineapple?"

Rhea moved closer to Celia. "Pineapple. He likes pineapple juice. Can I get both for mine? I want a cocktail."

Celia nodded. "Sure. You can."

"Is there anything you want me to do for you? Before I leave?" Rhea asked.

"You can help me set up the table while I pack your food."

"Sure," Rhea mumbled.

She brought out some plates, cutlery, cups, and glasses, and also some napkins to set up the table with. She also brought a few other things and began to take them to the dining table.

She was done in a few minutes arranging the table. Celia was also done packing Rhea and Louie’s food.

"Here you go," she handed the packed food to Rhea and then began to dish out her food and that of their father into bowls.

Rhea helped her take the bowls to the dining table after which she returned to the kitchen to take the packed food she had kept on the kitchen table.

Her phone began to ring. It was Louie calling.

"Hello, bestie," Louie greeted. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, I am. Are you outside my house already?"

"I am almost close."

"I will be waiting outside," Rhea answered.

The call ended and she returned to the living room to get her bag.

"I am leaving, Dad," she announced.

"Is Louie here already?" Her father asked.

"He is close. I will wait for him outside." Her father nodded. "Bye, Dad," she waved. "Bye, Celia."

She left her house and waited outside for Louie. She briefly looked at Alan and Reece’s apartment. Now she has no reason to hide away from them; Reece knows she stays close to them.

She tapped her feet on the floor slightly as she looked in both directions to see if Louie’s car was coming already.

"Are you heading out?" Someone asked.

Rhea could tell it was Reece. She wanted to ignore him but she knew he would not stop pissing her off until she spoke to him.

She turned to face him, faking a smile. "Yes, I am." She answered. "Do you have a problem with that?" She murmured silently.

"That is strange. Where are you going? School? I see you are dressed in your uniform but it’s not time for school yet. Are you going somewhere different?"

"I..."

Rhea heard a horn and she sighed. Finally, Louie is here. She doesn’t have to answer Reece’s question.

Louie waved at her. "Over here, Rhea."

Rhea waved back walking over to him. "I am coming."

"You haven’t answered my question," Reece yelled after her.

"I am not obligated to answer you. Am I?" Rhea replied and that made Reece frown.

"You..."

"Let her be," someone said and Reece turned.

"Alan? You can talk clearly again."

Alan nodded. "I felt the presence of the bluestone, a few days ago. It was intense."

Reece furrowed his brows. Where was he when that happened?

"Really?"

"Yes. It was the night you took a stroll."

Reece sighed. He had taken a stroll because he was bored.

"Where did you feel it from? How long do you think you will be able to talk?"

Alan pointed forward. "I felt it from..."

Reece blinked. "From Rhea’s apartment?"

"Yes. I think the stone is there."

Could Alan be correct about that?

"Do you really think that?"

"Yes. I also felt it around her yesterday in school. You did not?"

Reece shook his head. He did not. Maybe he was too busy pissing her off that he did not feel it. Or maybe the presence of the bluestone is the reason he felt so comfortable with her.

"What are we going to do? We need that bluestone for you," Reece said.

Alan shrugged. "We don’t know if Rhea is the one in possession of the bluestone or someone else. Until we find out who holds the stone, we can’t let her suspect a thing. So Reece, let her be."

Reece sighed. He really should let her be.

He nodded. "I will do that."

"How about Maia? Any information about her?"

Reece shook his head. "She seems to be mysterious. She showed up in this community a few weeks ago with her mother. No one knew where they came from."

"Do you think she is a mermaid? She has their scent."

Reece shrugged. "I can’t say. But I will find out. Are you ready? We should head to school. I have a feeling something big is about to happen."

Alan only nodded but said nothing. He doesn’t know how long he will be able to talk. He needed to save his voice until the location of the bluestone was confirmed.

They entered their car and drove off to school. Reece walked into the class; Alan had stopped by the Principal’s office. A few students were already in the class when Reece entered. He looked around and noticed Louie and Rhea were not in class yet; it made him wonder where they had gone too. He could see Maia seated in her seat. He walked up to her.

"Hi, Maia," he greeted.

"Hi," Maia greeted him briefly.

She wasn’t going to get entangled with him because Rhea didn’t want that. Reece noticed Maia wasn’t in for a conversation with him, so he sat down on his seat and brought out his headphones to listen to music.

A few minutes later, Rhea and Louie walked into the class talking about their experience on their way to school. They went to sit down on their seats.

"Should we share the invitations now or wait until lunch break?" Louie asked.

"I think we should start sharing them now. We already have a list of people we will be inviting. If we start now, we can finish early."

Louie nodded in agreement. Rhea is right.

"Let’s sort out the invitations so we can start sharing them," Rhea said and they began.

"Rhea," Louie called, after a while. "You are not going to put on uniform tomorrow, are you?"

"I am. Is..."

"It’s my birthday tomorrow. You are my best friend."

Rhea sighed. She was used to putting on uniform, though it had never been a must for them to wear one; most of the students get dressed in casual clothes. She just feels comfortable in it.

"Louie..." She sighed. "I will try my best not to wear one."

Louie sighed. He doesn’t want to force Rhea.

"I am not forcing you not to wear your uniform tomorrow. If you feel comfortable in it. You can..."

Rhea smiled. She should be able to compromise on some things for her best friend. It wasn’t like not wearing a uniform would harm her.

"You are not forcing me, Louie. I want to do it," she answered. "I want to give it a try."

Louie nodded but said nothing.

"We can start sharing them now. Most of the students are in class," Rhea said.

"Come with me," Louie said standing up.

Rhea picked up the invitation cards and followed Louie to the front of the class.

"Hello, class," Louie said and there was silence.

Rhea could not help but admire Louie for that.

He gets people’s attention without stress and he also faces the crowd without fear.

His father did a great job with that. Rhea thought.

Louie went ahead to announce to the class that the following day would be his birthday which he would be celebrating with his classmates. Most of the classmates were happy about it; Dahlia was one of them.

He announced that the after party would be celebrated in a grand style with family and friends and also a few of his classmates, who he would be handing over invitation cards, and that would be on Friday night.

Most of the students were happy about it, but those who knew they would not be invited were sad.

"Rhea, you can start now."

Rhea began to give out the cards to those invited. Alan and Reece were there too and Maia. Sasha and Dahlia were invited too.

It was a surprise to everyone and they were curious to know why they were invited.

But of course, there was a reason. Louie and Rhea had a reason for inviting them, which would be known on D-day.

They were done sharing the invitation, and they returned to their seats. Most of the students invited began to talk about what to wear to the party.

Mr. Martins walked into the class a few minutes later, with three new students.

"They are going to be your new classmates," he announced and Rhea blinked.

Why are there new students again? What is going on here?