WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 70: Spending Time with Maia and April

Chapter 70: Spending Time with Maia and April

Leslie tried to connect the dots between the pink cloud and Aqua’s visit.

There must be a connection. She thought.

After much thought, she still could not connect them, so she decided she would check the books her mother had left for her.

Maybe there would be an answer.

"I think there is a connection between Aqua’s visit and the pink cloud but I can’t say what it is. You can ask Aquamarine about it," Leslie suggested. "We need to know the connection and if she has anything to do with the illusion you are having."

Rhea only stared at Leslie. She doesn’t really understand why they need to know the connection and how it will help her.

She nodded. "I will speak to Aquamarine about it."

Leslie stared at the clock. They have been talking for over an hour now.

"Do you have any more questions for me?" Leslie asked and Rhea shook her head.

She doesn’t have any questions.

"I don’t have any questions for you either. You must be bored speaking to me," Leslie said. "Maia should be back soon."

Rhea shook her head. She isn’t bored talking to Leslie. She is even worried she might not be comfortable talking to Maia since it has been a while.

She has been so busy dealing with the stone and who she is that she neglected her friends.

"It’s past noon already and time for lunch." Leslie stood up. "I am going to make lunch. Do you want to come with me or wait for Maia’s return?"

Rhea stood up. "I will go with you."

Leslie gestured to her to come with her and Rhea did.

"What would you like for lunch?" Leslie asked.

Rhea wasn’t hungry, but she didn’t want to say that to Leslie. She doesn’t want Leslie to think that she is not comfortable with her. She also will not be going home soon until her father comes to pick her up. She doesn’t know when.

She can as well grab a bite before he comes.

"Anything will do," Rhea answered.

Leslie shook her head. "You are my guest. I should cook what you are comfortable with."

After thinking for a while, Rhea settled for something simple but Leslie decided she was going to add some side dishes.

"You can sit over there," Leslie said.

"I can help you wash the veggies," Rhea said and Leslie nodded.

"If you want to. Let me get them."

Leslie brought out the vegetables she would be needing and handed them over to Rhea who began to wash them. The tap did not stop rushing this time and that relieved Rhea’s worries. A few minutes into the cooking, Maia returned home with April.

"Hi, Rhea," April waved at Rhea.

"Hi," Rhea waved back.

"What are you cooking, mom?" Maia asked.

"Something special. I am making them specially for Rhea" Leslie answered. "I am sure April’s mom has fed you for the afternoon. I will think about giving you a little out of them though."

Maia smiled. "Thank you, mummy."

"Maia, April, now that you both are back, you should go to Maia’s room with Rhea. You guys must have a lot to say."

Rhea sighed. She really does wish she didn’t have to go with them. She doesn’t know what to say to them.

"You can take some cookies and milk with you," Leslie said. "Maia, ask Rhea what flavor she wants."

"Any flavor is okay," Rhea answered quickly.

"I want chocolate flavor," April answered.

"I will take some cookies with milk flavor," Maia said, staring at Rhea.

"Chocolate flavor is fine," Rhea answered.

She could tell they called out the flavor so she could pick.

Maia took out some packs of chocolate and milk flavored cookies while April brought out some bottles of milk from the refrigerator. She picked three glass cups and placed them on a tray with the bottles of milk.

Rhea stood up from the stool she was seated on. "Is there anything you want me to help you with?"

Maia shook her head. "No. Just come with us."

Rhea followed Maia and April out of the kitchen, and they went to Maia’s room.

"Welcome to my small world," Maia announced.

Maia’s room was decorated with seashells. She has mermaid wallpapers, bedsheets, pillowcases, and many more.

Typical of a mermaid. Rhea thought.

She loved it though, and wished she could decorate her room this way without alerting Celia or her father.

"Do you like it?" Maia asked.

Rhea nodded. She loves it.

"It’s beautiful," she mumbled.

"April thinks it’s lame," Maia said.

"I never said that," April answered.

"What did you say?" Maia asked.

"The designs are too much. Anyone who sees it would think you have a connection with the sea. You are just obsessed with it."

Rhea rolled her eyes. Of course, they both have connections with the sea. They might try to hide it but she already knows.

Maia laughed. "Says the person who typically sleeps in a seashell."

"I do not sleep in a seashell," April answered.

"But your bed looks like one," Maia answered.

Rhea watched them talk, and she wished for their kind of friendship.

Would she ever have a female friend or maybe friends like April and Maia? She wondered. A friend she will be so comfortable with.

She already has Louie as her best friend but he is not a female.

"Rhea," Maia called and Rhea stared at her. "We are so sorry. We got lost talking about ourselves not minding that you are here."

Rhea shook her head. They don’t need to be sorry. After all, they are closer to themselves than they are to her. It’s normal for them to get along with each other than they will with her.

"It’s nothing."

"Do you have anything you want to talk about?" April asked. "Any topic of interest."

Rhea shook her head. She doesn’t have any. She just wants to watch them express their friendship. That is enough.

"Should we watch a movie?" Maia suggested. "There is this movie that just came out. It’s about mermaids."

April shook her head. "Not everyone is obsessed with mermaids like you are. Rhea won’t..."

"I want to watch it," Rhea answered.

She would love to see how mermaids are being described in movies. So that when she finally sees her mermaid self, she can compare them.

Maia smiled. "Rhea wants to watch it. Do you have a problem with that?"

April scoffed. "You must be very happy about it."

"Am I supposed to be sad?"

April rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

Maia smiled but said nothing. She got her phone and projected the movie on the wall. They all sat down on the couch, with cookies and a glass of milk in their hands as they watched the movie.

They were just an hour into the movie when Leslie came to call them for lunch.

"We will come back to watch the movie," Maia said.

They left the room and went to the dining table to eat. After eating they returned to Maia’s room to watch the movie.

They finished up after an hour, and April suggested that they play some games, which everyone agreed to. They played for an hour but soon got bored.

"Do you want to take a stroll, Rhea?" Maia asked. "We can stop by April’s house."

April and Rhea agreed to it. They left the house, after speaking to Leslie about it.

"You girls should not stay out long. You know Rhea needs to go back home soon."

"We won’t, Mom," Maia answered.

"Have fun, Rhea," Leslie said.

"I will. Thank you," Reha answered.

Rhea, April, and Maia left the house while Leslie returned to her room to take a nap.

"Should we go left or right?" April asked.

They were standing outside the door.

"Left," Maia said. "Let’s go to the sea."

April shook her head. "We are not..."

"I would love to go to the sea," Rhea answered quickly.

She has been wondering what other places where the sea passes through look like.

Do they also have abandoned land like her place has?

April sighed. "If Rhea wants to... Then we should."

They followed the left direction, heading to the sea. As they walked down, April and Maia pointed to some houses where their classmates were staying.

Rhea saw a boy standing by one of the houses. His face looked so familiar.

"Isn’t that Will from our class?" April asked. "He stays here?"

Maia nodded. "He does."

"I haven’t seen him here before," April answered.

"He just moved to this place, yesterday. I heard his parents went to the city, but he wasn’t willing to leave yet, so he moved in with his aunt."

Rhea muttered an oh. She remembered Louie telling her about Will’s parents moving like Darian’s parents. Will saw them and waved at them.

"He is waving," April said. "Are any of you close to him? Because I am not."

Maia shook her head. "I am not, either."

"I am," Rhea answered. "Not too close though."

"I guess he is waving at you," Maia answered.

Rhea waved back at him and he smiled. Rhea took a deep breath.

"I think he likes you," April said.

"Why would you say that?" Maia asked.

"Can’t you see he is still staring at her?" April answered.

Maia furrowed her brows. "Does that have anything to do with liking someone?"

"He isn’t just staring at her. He is looking at her differently," April answered.

Rhea rolled her eyes. Will doesn’t like her. He likes Sasha. He only uses her to get Sasha angry.

Maia’s phone began to ring. It was her mom.

"Hello, mom."

"You girls should return home. Rhea’s father is here to pick her up."

Maia ended the call and faced Rhea. "We can’t go to the sea today. Maybe another time. Your dad is here to pick you up."