WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 89: Rhea’s Project Partner

Chapter 89: Rhea’s Project Partner

It was finally the day they were going to be paired for their projects in school and Rhea felt anxious about it. She had had a dream some hours ago, that someone had rushed into the class to inform her of whom she was paired with but the noise in the class was so loud that she couldn’t hear a thing from what the girl had said.

She left the class to check who was paired with her. She saw April being paired with Louie, Maia with Kristen, and Reece with Dahlia which was quite surprising to her. Just when her hand got to her name, someone called her and she turned.

She did not know who it was; she did not see anybody either. When she turned to look for her name again so she could check the name in front of hers, she heard Celia’s voice and she opened her eyes. That little dream made Rhea worried and she began to wonder who she would be paired with.

The dream wasn’t the only thing she was worried about. She was worried about Celia calling her name too. When she had woken up, she had looked around for Celia but she wasn’t in her room and she wasn’t outside her room either.

Rhea could not sleep after that. Even when she got ready for school, her mind kept drifting back to the dream she had. During breakfast, she picked on her food instead of eating. Celia noticed her countenance and asked her about it.

"I had a dream," Rhea told Celia. "It isn’t a bad one but it’s kind of confusing."

"Do you want to tell me about it?" Celia asked.

Rhea shook her head. "I don’t want to tell you about it now. Can we talk about it after school?"

Celia nodded. "Sure. But I hope you can change the look on your face. It will make others worried."

Rhea promised to try her best and not look worried. They left the house, ready to go to school. On their way, they met Reece and his new friend. Rhea looked around for Alan.

Isn’t he going to school today? Rhea wondered.

"Ready to go to school?" Reece asked.

"Yes, we are," Celia answered.

"We are also on our way to school," Recee answered. "Do you want to come with..."

"No, thanks," Rhea answered.

"Then see you in school," Reece answered.

He left in the car with his new friend and Celia pulled Rhea back slightly. "Who is that?"

"Reece’s friend?" Rhea answered.

"He is so cute," Celia answered. "But why is he going to school with Reece? What about his best friend? What is his name again...?"

"Alan?" Rhea answered.

"Yes, Alan. Why did he not go to school with him?"

"I don’t know," Rhea answered. "Can we go to school now?"

Rhea’s concern wasn’t about Reece going to school with his new friend instead of Alan. She just wants to get to school and see who she has been paired with.

"Is Rosa coming to pick us up?" She asked.

"We are using the bus... With Rosa too," Celia answered. "She should be here soon."

They waited for a little while for Rosa to show up.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting," Rosa said when she finally showed up.

"Come on, it’s nothing," Celia answered.

Rosa and Celia began to talk. After waiting for them to stop talking but they did not, Rhea clapped her hands drawing their attention.

She smiled. "Can we go now?"

"Sure," Rosa and Celia answered together.

They walked down the street, finding their way to the bus station. Rosa and Celia did not stop talking either; they seemed to have a lot of things to talk about. They got to the bus station and were lucky to meet the bus just in time.

They entered the bus and Rhea sat a few seats away from them. She needed her space so much and sitting with Rosa or Celia or even closer to them will not give her that.

Rhea brought out her headphones and began to listen to music. She closed her eyes feeling a bit tired; she did not get much sleep in the night.

Someone tapped her. "Rhea?"

Rhea opened her eyes. Rosa and Celia were staring at her.

"Did you fall asleep?" Celia asked.

"You did not sleep through the night. Did you?" Rosa asked.

Rhea returned her headphones and phone to her bag and stood up.

"Are we not going to leave the bus?" She asked.

"You haven’t answered my question," Celia answered.

Rhea rolled her eyes. Wasn’t it obvious she fell asleep?

"I have nothing to say," she answered and left them on the bus.

"Don’t you think Rhea is a bit off, this morning?" Rosa whispered.

They had also left the bus and were now walking behind Rhea.

"She had a dream," Celia answered. "I don’t know what it was about but that really affected her mood."

"Do you think she will be fine?" Rosa asked.

"She should," Celia answered.

"How about we go check on her?" Rosa asked.

Rhea had headed to her class already and they also were on their way to theirs.

Celia shook her head. "That will not be necessary. She will be fine."

Rhea got to the class and noticed the students had formed groups. They were talking in whispers; she could hardly hear a thing. They also seemed to be engrossed in their conversation; it made Rhea wonder what they could be talking about. Louie gestured to her to come closer.

"What?" Rhea whispered.

"It’s Alan," Louie answered.

Rhea furrowed her brows. Alan?

"He did not cover his face with his hair or have it dyed," Louie answered. "He looks so different with his hair up. Now I understand why he kept his face covered and his hair colored. Can you see everyone talking about him?"

Rhea turned so she could see Alan. She noticed Recee seated with his new friend. She blinked.

Wait! That... That is Alan?

"He can speak too," Louie added. "And guess what?... He has such a great voice."

Rhea furrowed her brows. How can Reece’s new friend be Alan? He has a different aura from Alan. He is nice, he doesn’t act weird and he is cute too. She shook her head. There must be a mistake somewhere.

"How did you know he is Alan?" Rhea asked.

"Reece called him by his name. I was shocked too."

Rhea turned again to look at Alan’s face. He looked at her too and she looked away quickly, her heart beating so fast.

Why is her heart beating so fast? Rhea wondered. It won’t be that she is scared of him. Is she?

"Do you think there is a reason he decided to show his face?" Louie asked.

Rhea shook her head. She doesn’t know.

Mr. Martins entered the class to speak to them and when he was done, he announced that their names and that of their partners had been placed on the notice board.

"Check your names and know your partners," he said.

After Mr. Martins left, some students rushed towards the notice board; Mr. Martins had used the one in their class and not the general one. Most of the students who had gone to check their names were disappointed. The person they had wanted wasn’t their partner. In a few minutes, there wasn’t anyone there.

Louie stood up. "You are not going to check your name?"

Of course, she wants to. Rhea thought. But... She is so scared right now.

She stood up and followed Louie to the board. April and Maia followed them too.

"Rhea, do you want to check your name first?" Louie asked.

Rhea nodded. She moved closer to the broad and began to check for names. Rhea did not check for her name first. She checked for her friends’ names. Just like she had seen in her dream, April was paired with Louie. Reece with Dahlia and Maia with Kristen.

Is her dream coming to pass? She wondered.

Rhea got to her name and just like the dream, someone called her name. It was Reece.

It seems her dream is coming to pass. Rhea thought. If it is, then Celia will call her name too.

"When you see my name, tell me," Recee said and Rhea nodded.

She turned to look for her name which she saw. Just when she wanted to see who her partner was, she heard her name again and this time it was Celia. She was standing by the door and waving.

Rhea sighed. Her dream did come to pass. Maybe now she understands why she did not see who called her the first time in her dream and also why she only heard Celia and did not see her too. Her dream isn’t just a dream, but a reality shown to her in the form of a dream.

Celia moved closer to them. "Hi."

They waved at her too. "Hi."

"You left your assignment in my bag, Rhea," Celia said, stretching the book to Rhea.

"Louie, can you take it for me?" Rhea said.

Louie took the book from Celia and then she left the class.

"Have you seen your name yet?" Reece asked.

Rhea shook her head. "I haven’t."

She turned back to check for her name and when she saw it, she traced it to the name in front of hers.

She blinked. A... Alan?