WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 55: A Prank by the Bluestone

Chapter 55: A Prank by the Bluestone

Celia dropped her bag on Rhea’s bed and moved close to Rhea with her phone in her hand. She took a few shots of Rhea and then switched to recording a video of her.

"I am about to record a video now. You just have to open your eyes slowly and look into the mirror."

Rhea nodded. She knows what Celia wants her to do. She can’t wait to get this done soon though.

"I am going to count three before I start recording. I also want you to count ten in your mind before you open your eyes. That will help me capture the moment properly."

Rhea groaned slightly. Can they get this done quickly.

"Did you understand, Rhea?" Celia asked.

She knew Rhea understood her but she wanted her to give a reply.

"I get you, Celia. Can we just go on now?"

Celia smiled. "Sure, we can. I will begin counting now."

Celia counted three and began to record. She counted ten in her mind too. She wanted to know if Rhea had counted the ten in her mind like she told her.

Celia finished counting her ten and Rhea’s eyes were still closed. Celia began to wonder why Rhea had decided not to open her eyes.

She was about to stop the record and called out Rhea’s name when Rhea opened her eyes.

Rhea stared at the mirror in front of her. She took her time to count from one to ten so Celia wouldn’t accuse her of opening her eyes too quickly and then ask her for a redo.

Looking at herself in her mirror, Rhea loved what she saw. Her lips curved into a smile. Celia could tell Rhea wasn’t faking it.

"This is beautiful," Rhea mumbled.

Celia had done a very simple makeup on her face yet her face radiated. Her hair was packed in a messy bun with a few seashell hair clips to compliment it.

"Do you love it?" Celia asked as she recorded.

"I love it!" Rhea said happily. "You did a great job."

Celia stopped the record and smiled. She had captured the beautiful moment she wanted.

She picked her bag up and put her phone in it. "Time to go to school," she announced.

Rhea ignored her. She kept staring at her face in the mirror. She loved what Celia had done to her face.

"Rhea?" Celia called and she turned slightly.

"What?"

"I know you love your face but we have to go to school. Louie is waiting downstairs for you, remember?"

Rhea sighed. She wants to admire her face for a longer time. But now she can’t.

She stood up. "Fine. Let’s go."

Celia was right after all. She shouldn’t keep Louie waiting.

Rhea picked her bag up and they left the room together.

"You haven’t shown me the video you made and also the pictures you took," Rhea said as they walked down the stairs.

"Those are mine. I am not showing them to you," Celia answered.

"They are my pictures and video, remember?"

"You never wanted them in the first place. They belong to me."

"I might not have wanted them before but I want them now."

Celia shook her head. "It doesn’t work that way."

"You don’t have to give them to me. Just show them to me."

"I am not doing that. And I am not changing my mind about it. Don’t waste your time trying to make me change it."

Rhea scoffed. Why is Celia being unreasonable?

"Those are my pictures and I want them now!" Rhea said almost in a yell.

She was getting angry now. Why will Celia not show her the pictures?

"I am not doing that," Celia replied as she hastened her steps.

Celia was down the stairs now. She turned to face Rhea. "You can go to hell! Aww, is someone mad now? Is someone mad?"

Celia was so determined to get Rhea angry and Rhea doesn’t understand why.

Celia tilted her head, flashed a wicked grin, and then slowly stuck out her tongue at Rhea.

Rhea’s eyes twitched. Why is Celia trying to piss her off?

She sucked in some air. She isn’t going to get angry. Never!

"You are so immature, Celia," Rhea answered.

Celia stuck out her tongue again and blew a loud raspberry. "Pttttt"

Rhea clutched her fist. She can no longer take this!

She dashed towards Celia. "Rhea?" Someone called and that brought Rhea to a stop.

It sounded so much like Celia’s voice; Rhea turned quickly. Behind her was Celia staring at her. Rhea furrowed her brows.

What is going on? Why are there two Celia in front of her?

Rhea pointed at the Celia in front of her, who was now grinning, and then at the one behind her, who was staring at her in a confused manner.

What is going on? Who is the real one?

"Rhea?" Celia, who was behind her, called out again. "Why are you quiet? Why did you not wait for me when I asked you to?" Her arms were folded now. "I told you I was going to use the bathroom. You left without telling me."

Rhea was very confused now. Is there something wrong with her? Could she be hallucinating?

"Celia?" She called out.

"Why are you calling my name instead of answering my question. Why did you leave?"

Rhea looked forward, and Celia, who was standing in front of her, had disappeared. Rhea suspected it might have something to do with the bluestone.

She groaned. She should have suspected something was about to happen when she saw it beaming.

She wanted to brush her hair backward in frustration but when she remembered how much time and effort Celia had used to get the hair styled, she decided against it. Instead, she tapped her feet on the floor.

"Are you okay?" Celia asked, walking towards her.

Why did she not suspect there was something wrong with the first Celia? The one she was walking down the stairs with.

Her sister is a very nice person who doesn’t try to piss her off over little things. But the other Celia has tried her best to get her angry.

What went wrong? Rhea wondered. Why can’t she remember Celia telling her she was going to use the bathroom? Rhea groaned. She can remember now.

When they left the room together, Celia told her she was going to use the bathroom, so she waited for her in the hallway, but Celia returned quickly. When she asked her why. Celia told her she had changed her mind.

Rhea groaned. She must have been tricked then by the bluestone. But how is she going to tell Celia that she was tricked by a stone? She can’t tell Celia about the stone yet.

Celia tapped her slightly. "Are you, okay?"

"I am fine. I am sorry I did not wait for you. I..."

Celia shook her head. "It’s nothing."

Rhea sighed. She needs to speak to Leslie about it. The bluestone is getting out of control.

Look," Celia pointed. "Louie is staring at you."

Rhea turned to see Louie staring at her. She did not notice him a while ago when she was coming down the stairs with the other Celia. She also forgot that her father told them he was waiting.

The bluestone did play a prank on her. Rhea thought. It is going to a long length just to toil with her emotion but she won’t let it.

"Hi, Louie," Rhea waved, as she moved closer to him.

Louie waved at her. "Hi. You look so... beautiful."

Rhea smiled shyly. "Thank you. And happy birthday to you."

"Happy birthday, Louie," Celia said.

Louie smiled. "Thank you, Celia."

Their father walked out of the kitchen. "Wow, is this my daughter?"

Rhea could tell her father was teasing her. She smiled.

"You look so beautiful and different," her father said.

"Thank you, Dad."

Celia stared at the wall clock. "It’s time to go. We can’t let Louie get detention on his birthday."

Rhea nodded in agreement. She can’t let that happen.

They said their goodbyes to their father and left the house with Louie. Outside the house were Reece and Alan. They were supposed to leave a while ago but Reece insisted that they wait a little.

"Don’t tell me you are waiting for that girl?" Alan asked.

Reece shook her head. "What girl? I am not waiting for..."

Alan scoffed. "I know you are. She is out now."

Reece turned to the direction of Rhea’s house. His eyes widened in shock. This was the first time he had seen Rhea dressed like this.

"Isn’t she beautiful?" Reece said, tapping Alan slightly.

Alan pushed his hand away. "You are confused. I am leaving. You will have to find your way to school."

Alan left Reece standing and entered the car. He was the first to see Rhea but he wasn’t moved by her beautiful face.

He doesn’t like her and he doesn’t plan to.

Reece, who had been staring at Rhea, finally moved close to her.

"Hi, Rhea," he mumbled. "Why do you look so beautiful today?"

Celia busted into laughter. Is this Reece’s way of asking Rhea out?