WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 60: Louie’s Assumptions

Chapter 60: Louie’s Assumptions

During the lunch break, Reece left the school in search of Alan. No one knew where Alan was and that got Reece very worried. Rhea was worried too.

"Do you think Alan is fine?" She kept asking Louie.

Louie assured her that Alan would be fine.

"Maybe he had some engagements," Louie said.

"But he should have told Reece about it. Don’t you think? I think something is wrong," Rhea insisted.

"Maybe there is. But I can assure you that he is fine."

Rhea wasn’t convinced by what Louie just told her; she was still worried. She doesn’t know why though. Louie could see the worry in Rhea’s face and he began to wonder why Rhea was this worried.

Is something going on between her and Reece? Louie furrowed his brows. Or is Alan her love interest and not Reece?

"When do you become so concerned about him?" Louie asked.

Rhea sighed. She doesn’t know why she is so worried about him. Maybe that is because he is Reece’s friend.

She shrugged. "I don’t know. I am just worried something might have happened to him."

Louie does not want to believe that Alan is Rhea’s love interest; Rhea never shows a sign that she likes him. So he asked a different question.

"Are you worried that it will affect Reece if...."

Rhea shook her head quickly. She has not thought about that.

"I..."

She sighed. What is she supposed to say to Louie now?

"Are we still taking your gifts to the car?" She asked instead.

Louie nodded. "Yes but... Someone else will do that."

"Who?"

"My driver."

Rhea sighed. That is fine.

Celia and Rosa showed up to give Louie his birthday present.

"Hi, Louie. Hi, Rhea," Celia and Rosa greeted.

Rhea only waved at them with a smile but said nothing.

"Hi, Celia. Hi, Rosa," Louie greeted.

"Happy birthday, Louie," Celia said.

"Wishing you many more years," Rosa added.

They handed their gifts to Louie and left. They had other engagements.

"We are coming for our cakes, later," Celia said before they left.

Louie assured them that their cakes were kept. He would have come with the cakes if he knew he would see them.

After Celia and Rosa left, silence lingered between Louie and Rhea. And for the rest of the lunch break, Rhea was quiet. She had a lot of things going on in her mind, most of which had nothing to do with Reece and Alan, but she was still worried about them, though.

The lunch break ended and they returned to their class. They had a few more classes and school was over for the day.

"Do you still want to help me unwrap my gifts?" Louie asked.

"Of course. Do you think I will change my mind?"

Louie nodded. Rhea had been absentminded throughout their classes today. She wouldn’t stop staring at the wall clock too. Louie presumed Rhea might want to go home early today.

Maybe she wants to visit Reece and ask after Alan. he had thought so many times and that is the reason he asked the question.

"I thought you might want to go home early," Louie answered.

"Why will you think that?"

"You have been worried about Reece and Alan. You might want to visit them in the house."

Rhea furrowed her brows. Why would she want to do that?

"I am not doing that. I know I was worried about them. But that doesn’t mean I will visit their home."

Louie sighed. Maybe he has misunderstood her.

"I am sorry. I was just worried about you. I thought..."

"You should have asked me," Rhea answered. "When you have your doubts, ask me questions."

Rhea’s voice was louder than it would have been. She was a bit angry at Louie for not speaking to her first. Instead, he assumed what she wanted.

"I am so sorry," Louie apologized.

Rhea is right. He should have asked. He shouldn’t have assumed that because she was worried about Reece and Alan, she would want to visit their home.

"I am sorry, I assumed without asking you."

"Do you think I will break my promise to you just for Reece?" Rhea asked.

"I am sorry," Louie kept apologizing.

He is at fault and he knows that.

Though he did not expect Rhea to flare up like she did.

She used to be very calm.

Rhea sighed. Her relationship with Louie is taking a bad turn, not a good one. And she doesn’t like it. They are beginning to doubt each other.

It wasn’t like this before. What went wrong?

"I am sorry too," she mumbled. "I am sorry I spoke to you that way."

She shouldn’t have spoken to Louie that way. She wouldn’t have gotten that angry if she wasn’t merging with the bluestone.

"Are you blaming me now?" Sapphire asked.

Who is she supposed to blame, if not Sapphire? Rhea wondered.

"You can’t keep blaming me. I wasn’t the one who asked you to keep it a secret from your friend. I wasn’t the one who made you avoid him just because you found out he is a wizard. I..."

Rhea groaned. "Can you just shut up!"

She said that out loud but Louie did not hear her. Or maybe he did but decided to ignore it.

Rhea stared at Louie who was staring at her but wasn’t saying anything.

"I am so sorry," she mumbled again.

"It’s fine. You don’t have to be sorry. I am the one who should be."

Rhea shook her head. Louie shouldn’t take the blame alone. They are both at fault here.

"You are sorry and I am sorry," Louie added quickly. "I think that should be okay."

Rhea nodded with a smile. "Let’s go get your gifts opened." They left the class together. "I should tell Celia I will not be going home now."

"That will not be necessary. We can open the gifts on our way to your place," Louie answered. Louie remembered he promised to give Celia and Rosa some cakes. "I owe them some cakes. I think we should grab the cakes from the car and hand them over."

They went to the car together to get the cakes before going to Celia and Rosa’s class. When they got there, they met only a few students in the class. Celia and Rosa weren’t in. Myles wasn’t either.

"Have you seen Celia and Rosa?" Rhea asked one of the students after greeting her.

"They just left. You did not see them on your way here?" The girl answered.

Rhea shook her head. "I did not."

"What about Myles? Did he leave already?" Louie asked.

"He left with Rosa and Celia. I think he is going to give a gift to his cousin. Rosa and Celia must have followed him to get their cakes. I heard them talking about it."

Did they head to her class? Rhea wondered.

"Do you think they went to our class?" Louie asked.

Rhea nodded. "I think so."

"We should go back or we are going to miss them," Louie answered. He faced the girl. "Thank you."

They left Celia and Rosa’s class and went back to theirs. On their way, they met with Celia, Rosa, and Myles.

"Look," Myles pointed. "Look at those we have been looking for."

"Where have you both been?" Celia asked.

"We’ve looked everywhere for you," Rosa added.

"We went to the parking lot to get some things from Louie’s car, and then we headed to your class, but you weren’t there," Rhea replied.

"We went to your class to look for you," Myles said.

"Why were you looking for us?" Louie asked.

"To give you your birthday gift," Myles answered. "Happy birthday, Louie."

Louie rolled his eyes slightly. Someone finally remembered his birthday.

"Thank you, Myles. But don’t you think it’s coming a little too late?"

Myles nodded. "I know it is. And I am sorry. I thought I would be able to make it to your class before now, but I got too busy. I am sorry. I will make it up to you."

"How do you plan to do that?" Louie asked.

"Do you have any requests in mind?" Myles asked.

"Can I make any requests?"

"You can. But..."

Louie smiled. "Do not worry. I won’t ask for much."

Myles nodded. "Then I will grant it."

Rhea handed over the cakes to Celia, Rosa, and Myles.

"I am going with Louie," she said. "You are going home with Rosa right?"

Celia nodded. "Yes. I have a project to do with her. I will be home a little late. You can meet me at Rosa’s place if you feel bored."

Rhea shook her head. She doesn’t want to go to Rosa’s place.

She plans to visit the House of Seashells. It’s been a while since she last went there.

Reece doesn’t have to know that she went there. She thought.

"Do not worry. I won’t get bored."

"Then we will take our leave," Celia said. "And if you change your mind, you can always join me at Rosa’s place."

Rhea nodded. She doesn’t think she will be changing her mind though.

Celia and Rosa left, and Myles joined Rhea and Louie in the car. He would be stopping by Louie’s house to greet his uncle and aunt. He will also be staying there for Louie’s party tomorrow.

"You are coming tomorrow right?" Myles asked.

"I won’t miss that for anything," Rhea answered.

"Is Celia coming?" Myles asked. "I mean Celia and Rosa."

"Do you like Celia?" Louie asked, and Myles furrowed his brows.

What?