WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 73: Sasha’s Payback Time

Chapter 73: Sasha’s Payback Time

"Are you sure you have forgiven me?" Sasha asked.

"I have," Rhea answered. "Can I go now?"

Sasha stared at Will and he nodded. "Sure, you can go," Sasha answered.

"Sasha, don’t go yet. I still need to speak to you," Will said.

"Sure." Sasha nodded.

Rhea and Louie returned to the classroom while Sasha waited back to talk to Will.

"Did you see the look on her face?" Louie said when they got to their seats. "She was staring dangerously at you. Why did you accept her apology? They weren’t even sincere."

Rhea sighed. Of course, she knew that but she accepted it because of Will.

"I accepted it because of Will," Rhea answered.

Louie nodded. "What do you think he wants to say to her?"

Rhea shrugged. "I don’t know."

Louie sighed. Why does he feel like it has something to do with Rhea?

"Do you think it’s about..."

"Hello, class," Mr. Martins said.

He had just walked into the class. The students greeted him and he began his announcement.

"What were you trying to say?" Rhea whispered.

"Rhea Scott, what are you whispering to Louie about?" Mr. Martins asked.

Rhea shook her head. "Nothing... Sir..."

"Then listen to what I have to say," Mr. Martins said.

Rhea nodded. "Yes... Sir."

Mr. Martins went ahead with his announcement. He spoke for a few minutes and then went on to call the students’ attendance. Mr. Martins spoke to the students for a while before leaving the classroom. After he left, students began to leave the classroom.

"Hi, Rhea," someone said.

Rhea looked up to see who had called her name. It was the new girl. The one who came with April and Kristen.

"Hi," Rhea waved.

"Do you remember me?" She asked.

"You are the new girl," Rhea answered.

"My name is Poppy," she said and Rhea nodded.

"Nice to meet you, Poppy."

"Are you heading to class?" Poppy asked.

"Yes. Is there something you..."

Poppy shook her head. "No. I was thinking about going with you. If you do not mind."

Rhea furrowed her brows. Why is Poppy suddenly interested in going with her?

"Do you have something to tell me?"

Poppy shook her head. "No. You don’t have to if you do not want..."

Rhea smiled. "I just want to know if you want some privacy with me. You know I always walk with Louie."

"I just want to tag along," Poppy answered.

"That shouldn’t be a problem," Rhea said looking at Louie.

It was more of a question than a sentence though she did not make it obvious. She needed to get approval from Louie about Poppy going with them but she knew getting it directly would not be easy with Poppy around; she didn’t want to draw her attention to that.

Louie who knew what Rhea was trying to do, nodded and that made Rhea smile.

It’s a good thing Louie understood her.

"That is definitely not a problem," she said. "Do you need to get your bag?"

Poppy nodded. "Oh yes. I should go get my bag."

Poppy left and Rhea turned to face Louie. "How did you know what I meant?"

Louie shrugged. "The look in your eyes when you say it."

"It’s a good thing you understood me though. I can’t imagine what will happen if you do not understand me."

"Would you have said no?" Louie asked.

Rhea sighed. Maybe she would have.

"I probably would..."

"I am back," Poppy announced clutching her bag to her back.

Rhea nodded. "Welcome back, Poppy. Louie, are you ready to go? Do you need anything from your locker?"

"My Mathematics textbook," Louie answered.

Rhea chuckled. "I almost forgot that. I need to get mine too. Poppy, do you have yours with you?"

Poppy nodded. "I do."

"I am going to get mine too," someone said from behind.

It was Maia. She was standing with April.

"April has hers in her bag," Maia added.

"But that doesn’t stop me from coming with you," April answered.

"I know. Do you think Kristen’s textbook is with him?"

April rolled her eyes. "How am I supposed to know that if you don’t."

"Go ask him, April. I need to speak to Rhea," Maia answered.

"Fine," April mumbled before leaving.

After April left, Maia chuckled. She has nothing to say to Rhea. She just wants April to speak to Kristen instead of her.

"You don’t have anything to say to me. Do you?" Rhea asked.

"I don’t think she does," April whispered.

"I don’t," Maia answered.

"Girls, do I have to wait for you?" Louie asked.

"You don’t have to. But you can wait for Kristen though," Maia answered.

"I have my textbook with me," Kristen answered. He was now standing behind Maia. April was with him too. "But I can go with Louie though."

"That is a good idea," Maia said. "Let’s meet in class, or what do you girls think?"

"That would be a good idea," Rhea answered.

They all left the classroom together but Kristen and Louie headed in a different direction to get Louie’s textbook from his locker.

Rhea and Maia got their textbooks from their lockers when they got to the locker room and were ready to leave.

Sasha walked into the locker room but said nothing to them. She headed to her locker and opened it.

"Sorry," she mumbled, turning to face them. "We are having Mathematics now right?"

Rhea, April, and Maia said nothing to her.

"Yes we are," Poppy answered.

"Oh thank you. Do you know what we have next after that?"

Poppy turned to face Rhea. "Do you?"

Rhea nodded. "Creative Arts."

"And we need to come back to get some things from our locker?" Sasha asked.

Poppy nodded. "I think so."

Sasha smiled. "Thank you, Poppy."

"You’re welcome, Sasha," Poppy answered.

"Can we leave now?" Rhea asked.

"Yes, please. Kristen and Louie would be waiting," Maia answered.

They left the locker room leaving Sasha. Rhea looked back at Sasha. She suspected Sasha had a plan but she didn’t know what it was

"Rhea?" Maia called. "What are you waiting for?"

"Nothing," Rhea shook her head. "I am coming."

Rhea hastened her step to join the rest and they headed to the Mathematics class together.

"Finally," Kristen said when they walked into the classroom. He was standing beside the door. "I thought you girls were not coming."

"But we are here," Maia said with a smile. "Did you keep seats for us?"

"We did." He pointed. "It’s over there. Come with me."

Rhea, April, Poppy, and Maia followed Kristen to the seats he had kept for them.

Maia and April sat with Kristen and Rhea and Poppy sat with Louie. A few other students walked in and class began. As the class began, Rhea kept staring at the door. She wanted to know if Sasha would attend the class. She did but she was late.

"Why are you just coming now?" Mr. Spooner, the Mathematics teacher asked.

"I am sorry Mr. Spooner. I went to the clinic," Sasha answered.

"Come in," Mr. Spooner gestured to Sasha.

Sasha walked into the class. She got to where Rhea was seated and smirked. Rhea blinked.

Why did Sasha smirk at her? She wondered.

"Did you see her smirk at me?" Rhea asked Louie.

Louie shook his head. "I did not. Did she?"

"Did you, Poppy?" Rhea asked. Poppy shook her head saying nothing.

Rhea realized she might be the only one who saw Sasha smirk.

She sighed. Did she see it wrongly? She wondered. She shook her head. She doesn’t think so.

"Rhea," Louie called. "You are not writing."

Rhea sighed. She was lost in thought.

"I will," she mumbled.

For the rest of class, Rhea’s mind was divided. She could tell Sasha had a reason for smirking at her but she could not say why.

The class finally ended and it was time to return to the locker room to get the material for their next class.

"What class do you have, Rhea?" Poppy asked.

"Music," Rhea answered. "What about you?"

"Art," Poppy answered. "Do any of your friends do Art?"

"No," Rhea shook her head. "Louie is into sports. April and Maia also attend Music class."

"Then I have to go," Poppy said.

"I am also an Art student," Sasha said from behind. "Do you want to come with me?"

Rhea shook her head. She hopes Poppy will not make friends with Sasha.

"Can I?" Poppy eyes brightened up.

Rhea furrowed her brows. Does Poppy not know that Sasha is a bully? And everyone tries to avoid her?

"Poppy, you..."

"You can," Sasha answered, shutting Rhea up. "Come with me."

"Bye, Rhea," Poppy waved.

She waved at Maia and the rest too and then left with Sasha.

"Do you think Sasha is trying to make friends with Poppy?" Louie asked.

"I think she does. Do you think she wants to use her to replace Dahlia and Maya?" Rhea asked.

Louie shook his head. "I don’t think so. I think she wants to add Poppy to her list of puppets."

Rhea sighed. If Poppy makes friends with Sasha, then she can’t be friends with them.

"Louie you are into sport, right?" Maia asked and Louie nodded.

"Yes."

"Kristen too. He will go with you," Maia answered.

"See you girls later then," Louie said.

Kristen and Louie left the class together. Rhea, Maia, and April headed to the locker room to get their music books. They got to the locker room and Rhea headed to her locker.

She opened it up and some fruits fell.

"What is that?" Maia said walking closer to Rhea.

There were so many rotten fruits left in the locker. Their smell filled the room and Rhea moved backward in disgust.

The rotten fruits weren’t the only things in the locker. There was a doll too, covered in red. Rhea wasn’t sure if it was blood or paint.

"Did you see what is written on it?" Maia said, closing her nose.

"No, I don’t," April answered, her nose covered.

"Die," Rhea answered. "This must be Sasha’s handwork."

"Do you think she meant it?" April asked.

Maia shook her head. "I don’t think she does."

Rhea sighed. She doesn’t think so too.

"But what if she does?" Sapphire asked and Rhea’s heart skipped a bit.

What if she is?!