WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 88: A New Term Begins

Chapter 88: A New Term Begins

It was the beginning of a new term and a time to finally resume school. Rhea stood in front of the mirror, already dressed in her uniform. She had packed her hair into a ponytail but wasn’t satisfied with it. She loosened the hairband on her hair and then tried to pack it into a messy bun.

This doesn’t look okay. Rhea thought.

She tried to pack it differently but she couldn’t. She decided to ask for help from Celia but the thought of Celia being in the kitchen, made her decide against it.

Can she use magic? Rhea wondered. But how? She doesn’t know how.

She decided to call Aquariel and ask for help. She flicked her fingers and Aquariel appeared.

"Aquariel?" She called.

"Yes, Aqua?" Aquariel answered.

"Can you help me pack my hair into a messy bun?"

"I can," Aquariel answered.

Aquariel helped Rhea pack her hair. "Done."

Rhea smiled. "Thank you. You can return now."

She flicked her fingers again and Aquariel returned to the necklace. Rhea stared at her hair in the mirror.

She loves it. Rhea smiled. This looks good.

Aquariel has been helpful lately. For the past few weeks, she has learned and grown more than Rhea had expected.

Rhea picked up her bag and headed downstairs. Their father had left for work already; he had come to tell her that a few minutes ago.

She went to the kitchen to meet Celia. Celia wasn’t in her kitchen. There wasn’t any sign of breakfast being made either.

Where could she be? Rhea wondered.

Rhea returned upstairs to check on Celia in her room. She got to Celia’s room and knocked on the door but there wasn’t any answer. She knocked again but there wasn’t any answer. Rhea tried to open the door but it was locked.

Why is it locked? She wondered. Where could Celia be?

Rhea brought out her phone and placed a call to Celia. Celia did not pick up. After calling Celia twice again, she became worried. She decided to call her father to tell him. Rhea placed a call to her father.

"Dad?" Rhea called. "I can’t see.."

"Rhea?" She heard and she turned.

It was Celia. "Celia? Where have you been?" She asked.

"I went to get something. Is there a problem?" Celia asked.

"Rhea?" Her father called. "Is everything alright?"

Rhea nodded. "Everything is fine, Dad. Thank you."

Rhea spoke to her father for a while before ending the call.

"Why do you look so worried?" Celia asked.

"I have been looking everywhere for you. Why did you not pick up your calls?"

"I left my phone in the house," Celia answered. "I am sorry."

Rhea sighed. "Fine... Are you ready to go to school? I see there is no breakfast."

Celia smiled. "Of course there is. I bought some hotdogs."

"Is that why you left the house?" Rhea asked.

Celia nodded. "Yes. Let’s go and eat. So we don’t go to school late."

Celia turned to leave but Rhea stopped her. "You won’t get your bag?"

"You did not see my bag in the living room?"

Rhea furrowed her brows. "Is it there?"

Celia nodded. "On the couch. Let’s go. Don’t let our food get cold."

They returned to the living room and Rhea dropped her bag on the couch. She joined Celia on the dining table and they began to eat.

"Your hair." Celia pointed. "You did not make that. Did you?"

Rhea shook her head. "I did not."

"Don’t tell me you used Aquariel again?" Celia asked.

Rhea chuckled. Of course, she did.

"I knew it," Celia mumbled. "Can you stop using her for such work?"

Rhea rolled her eyes. She shouldn’t have told Celia about Aquariel. She tends to support Aquariel more than she supports her. Aquariel loves her too.

Just a few weeks ago, Rhea had told Celia about Aquariel. She also let her see her.

"I only used her because you were not around and I could not make the hair myself," Rhea answered.

"You should have waited for me," Celia answered.

"Can we not talk about this?" Rhea asked. "We are going to be late."

They went on to eat their food and when they were done. They cleared up the table and went to take their bags before leaving the house. They met Reece outside the house.

He waved at them. "When did you get back, Rhea?"

"A week ago? Did you travel? I haven’t seen you in a week."

Reece nodded. He wasn’t home for a few days.

"Went on a trip," He answered. "How was your visit to Leslie’s place?"

"It was fine," Rhea answered.

"Celia, how are you doing?" Reece asked.

"I thought you weren’t going to say hi to me," Celia answered. "I am fine."

"Good to hear that. Are you girls ready to go to school?" Reece asked.

Rhea nodded. "We are. Are you going to school now?"

Reece nodded. "Is Louie coming to pick you up? You can go with me if you don’t mind."

"He is not," Rhea answered. "You don’t have to worry though. We will use the bus."

"Rhea, why don’t you go with him?" Celia whispered. "I am going to meet Rosa."

"But I don’t want to go with him," Rhea whispered back.

"You should," Celia answered. "I think he might have something to say to you."

Rhea sighed. Fine.

"I will go with you," she answered.

"Reece, I won’t be coming with you. I am going with Rosa," Celia answered.

"That won’t be a problem," Reece answered. "See you in school."

Celia left and Rhea followed Reece to the car.

"Rhea," Reece called. "There is something I want to tell you."

"What?" Rhea asked.

"Alan. He is in the car."

Rhea groaned. Is she going to ride in the car with Alan?

"Reece, I think I will go to the bus station instead," she answered.

"Are you scared of Alan?" Rhea shook her head and Reece smiled. "I think you are."

"I said I am not," Rhea answered.

"Then you should come with me," Reece said.

"Fine."

Rhea decided to follow Reece to the car. They got to the car and Reece opened the door for her. Rhea entered the car and sat down.

"Hi," Rhea mumbled.

Alan who was seated in the back seat, ignored Rhea and left the car.

"Alan, why are you not..."

Alan ignored Reece and went to sit in the front seat.

Rhea sighed. Whatever.

Reece entered the car and sat down. "You can drive," Reece said and the driver drove off.

There was silence in the car. Rhea brought out her phone and began to press it but soon got bored with it.

She doesn’t know why but she could tell eyes were looking at her. She stared at Reece; he was pressing his phone too.

Could it be Alan looking at her? She wondered but shook off the thought. Why would he do that? He doesn’t even like her. She tried to steal a glance at him but decided against it. That is not a good idea.

"Rhea?" Reece called and she turned to face him. "Can I have your number?"

"Is there a problem?" Rhea asked.

"Not really," Reece answered. "Can I have it?"

"Sure," Rhea mumbled. "Let me have your phone."

Rhea pressed her number on Reece’s phone and handed it back to him. Reece called Rhea’s number and her phone began to ring.

"I will save your number," Rhea said.

She saved Reece’s number and returned her phone to her bag. She looked out through the window. The drive was a bit too slow for Rhea.

Maybe that is because Alan is in the car.

"I sent you a message. Check it," Reece whispered.

Rhea brought out her phone to check the message Recee sent. He was asking if she had completely merged with the stone. He could feel that she was different now.

Rhea nodded. She has.

She sent a message back to Reece informing him that she had.

"Congratulations," Reece mumbled.

"Thank you," Rhea answered.

Silence returned to the car with everyone lost in their thoughts. Rhea looked through the window again. She could see that they were getting closer to the school now. She breathed a sigh of relief.

The car finally stopped in front of the school and she stepped out. Reece and Alan remained in the car.

"I am leaving," Rhea said to Reece.

"See you in class." Reece waved. After Rhea left for the class, Reece spoke up. "What do you want to say?"

He knew Alan had something to say to him. Alan said nothing. He wasn’t sure of how to tell it to Reece.

"The girl," he mumbled. "Don’t you think something is different about her?"

Reece furrowed his brows. Alan noticed that too? Of course, he will. But he won’t be accepting that though.

"You think she does?" Reece asked.

"You don’t know?"

Reece shrugged. "I did not notice."

Alan frowned. He could tell that Reece was lying about it.

But why is Reece so close to her if he is not in love with her? There must be something about her that draws him to her. Could it have something to do with the light from the bluestone?

"The light from the bluestone," he began. "Did you get it from her?"

Reece blinked. What?