WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 61: Visiting the House of Seashells

Chapter 61: Visiting the House of Seashells

"What do you mean?" Myles asked.

"I mean do you like Celia?" Louie answered.

"Am I supposed to dislike her?" Myles asked.

"You know that is not what I meant," Louie said.

"Then what do you mean?" Myles rolled his eyes.

He knew what Louie was trying to say but with Rhea in the car with them, there is no way he will accept his special likeness for Celia.

Rhea watched them argue among themselves what Louie meant and she could not help but laugh.

"Can you just go on and open your gifts and stop stressing me out?" Myles said.

He could tell Louie wants him to accept liking Celia in front of Rhea but he won’t be doing that.

Why does he want to do that? What does he want to prove? Did he make a bet with Rhea?

"We are not done talking yet," Louie answered.

"And who is having a conversation with you?" Myles asked.

Louie frowned. "Am I not having a conversation with you?"

Myles ignored him. "Pass me some gift, Rhea," he said.

He was seated at the front with the driver.

Rhea picked up a few wrapped gifts and passed them to him. Myles began to open them, one after the other. Rhea picked up a few, too, and began to open them. Louie knew Myles wasn’t going to go on with the conversation with him.

He will have to find another chance to talk about it. He thought.

They were done opening the gifts soon. There were more love letters and flowers than other birthday gifts. Myles would not stop teasing Louie for that.

"Who receives love letters on their birthdays?" Myles teased. "I can see you do have a lot of admirers in your class."

Louie ignored Myles and decided to put the letters into his bag. He won’t be reading the letters in the car, or Myles will not stop teasing him about it. He would rather read them in his room when he is alone.

"I will tell you what the letters say," Louie whispered to Rhea, who nodded.

"You are not going to read the letters?" Myles asked.

"So you can laugh at me, right?" Louie shook his head. "I am not doing that."

"I won’t laugh. You have to believe me," Myles said.

Louie shook his head. "I am not going to believe you on that."

"Whatever," Myles mumbled.

Louie smiled. He said nothing to Myles or Rhea. Myles and Rhea said nothing, too. Rhea got tired of the silence and began to hum a song.

"Nice voice," Myles complimented.

Rhea smiled. "Thank you."

"I forgot to tell you, Rhea. Will ask after you," Louie said after a while of silence.

Rhea was surprised. It’s been a while since she last saw or spoke to him. She did not notice if he had always been in school or not. Not until Mr. Martins spoke about him.

"Where did you see him? How is he?"

"When I went out of the class this morning. He came to the Principal’s office with his dad. I think his dad is planning to leave our community for a bigger one," Louie answered.

Rhea sighed. Is she going to miss him? Of course, she doesn’t know. They do not have a close relationship. Maybe they would have if Sasha hadn’t been aggressive towards her. Too bad she dumped him for Alan who doesn’t like her.

"Just like Derek?" Rhea asked.

Louie nodded. "But I think he wants to stay back and finish up the session. He will be coming over for my birthday tomorrow, though."

"Are you both close now?" Rhea asked.

She remembers vividly that they aren’t.

"We are not. Though we are not distant either."

Rhea nodded. She doesn’t understand what Louie means though.

The car stopped in front of Rhea’s apartment and she stepped out. "See you in school tomorrow." She waved.

Louie and Mylea waved back, too, before the driver drove off. Rhea stood in front of the door, staring at nothing. She doesn’t know if her father is at home or if he has gone out already.

Rhea noticed a boy standing a distance away from her. He looked so much like Reece’s new friend.

Is he here to look for Reece?

The boy stared at her and Rhea looked away quickly.

"Rhea?" Someone called.

Rhea turned to see Reece. He was standing beside the boy now.

"Hi," Rhea waved.

"How was school today?" Reece said. "Were you bored? I am sure you were. Because I wasn’t present."

Rhea groaned. What is Reece saying?

"Did you see him?" Rhea asked instead. "I mean..."

"I did. Thanks for asking," Reece answered quickly.

He can’t let Alan know that Rhea is asking after him.

"Are you just coming back? School ended a while ago. Did you stop by a place?"

Rhea shook her head. "I did not. I am going in. My dad..."

"I saw your dad leaving the house a while ago," Reece answered.

"Thank you for telling me that," Rhea answered and entered the house.

"Did you not promise to let her be?" Alan spoke up.

He has waited impatiently for Rhea to go in, so he could speak.

Reece nodded. "I did and I am doing that."

"By trying to start up a conversation she doesn’t want? Reece, I don’t know what is going on between you two and I don’t care. Don’t let it spoil our plans."

Reece nodded. He has no plan to spoil what they have been planning for a long time. The plan is one of the reasons he needs to be close to Rhea.

"Don’t worry, I won’t do that. Where are you heading?"

"I am taking a stroll. Have you thought about what to do with the land you bought?"

Reece shook his head. His reason for buying the land was to find the bluestone. He had felt its strong presence there but now that he knows who is with the stone, he hasn’t thought of what to do with it.

"I haven’t but I will think about it."

"And the location of the stone? Have you found it out yet?"

Reece shook his head. He won’t be telling Alan that he has found it.

"I haven’t."

Alan sighed. "I am leaving."

"Alan," Reece called. "You haven’t told me where you went during school hours."

Alan ignored him and went on with his walk. He won’t be telling Reece where he went. He is still angry at him for what happened in the class.

Reece watched Alan leave and he sighed.

He must be very angry. He thought.

Though Alan doesn’t show his emotion, he has known him for a long time; he knows when he is sad, angry, and happy.

He should make it up to him. He thought.

The door to Rhea’s apartment opened and Rhea walked out. She was now dressed in a baggy trouser and a black shirt.

"See who decides to dress in black today," Reece said. "Where are you going?"

"I am taking a stroll. Do you have a problem with that?" Rhea answered.

"Come on. I am just looking out for you."

"Thank you for that. Can I leave now?"

"You haven’t told me where you are going," Reece said.

"I am not obligated to tell you. Can you stop asking me?"

"I am coming with you," Reece answered.

Rhea looked around. She needed something that would help her change the conversation. She noticed the boy with Reece had left already.

She smiled. That is a good way to change the conversation.

She pointed. "Your friend... He left already?"

Reece smiled. Rhea doesn’t know that is Alan. Or she would not be asking after him.

"Are you trying to change the conversation or do you like him?" He asked.

Rhea groaned. "Can you be serious for once?"

"I am serious. Does it look like I am joking?"

Rhea sighed. "I don’t like him. I am just asking. Are you satisfied now?"

"He is going on a stroll. Why do you care though?"

Rhea shrugged. To change the conversation, of course.

"I am leaving," she mumbled.

"I am coming with you," Reece said.

"You don’t have to. I can take care of myself."

"I am not coming because of you. I want to take a stroll too."

"Fine," Rhea gave up.

"Left or right?" Reece asked.

"Left?"

"Are you going to..."

"I haven’t gone to look for my necklace yet. I might as well do that."

Reece nodded. "That is a good one."

They went to the House of Seashells together. Rhea knew Aquamarine wasn’t back yet. She has nothing to worry about.

They got to the House of Seashells and Rhea noticed there were new seashells on the pathway.

"Wow. Who did this?" Reece mumbled.

Rhea furrowed her brows. Could Aquamarine be back?

"Do you think there is someone else visiting this place?" Reece asked. "Or who would have done this?"

Rhea shrugged. "Maybe someone who loves this place."

"You mean someone like you?" Reece asked.

Rhea furrowed her brows. "What do..."

"I am just joking." Rhea rolled her eyes but said nothing. "Where did you lose your necklace? I want to join you in finding it."

"Over there," Rhea pointed.

Reece went in the direction Rhea pointed and began to search for the necklace while Rhea sat down to bask in the sun.

She never lost her necklace. She just wanted to have a good reason to come back here.

Reece stopped looking for the necklace and faced Rhea. "Why are you sitting down? Aren’t you going to look for your mother’s necklace?"

"I want to but I feel so tired right now. How about you help me do that?"

Since Reece won’t stop budging her, she can also make him find a necklace that is not missing.