Second part after The Mermaid Kingdom:
I blush and turn away. "S-see you tomorrow Chelsea... "
She pats my head and smiles before walking away. I watch her walk into the distance. She's probably going back to her kingdom. I turned my back to open the door to my house only to find mom glaring at me.
"Ruby Gillman, where have you been!?"
"I... I went swimming after school and lost track of time."
Well, I did go swimming so there was a bit of truth in there.
"Do you have any idea what time it is!"
"Um... No. "
"It's nearly midnight! I am not impressed at all. You're grounded for the rest of the week and forbidden to go swimming without me with you."
I frowned. "Fine." I snapped, walking up to my room and slamming the door behind me. What did I expect anyway? I heard mom and dad talking downstairs, Sam was asleep in his room. Maybe I could sneak out? But where would I go. I suddenly felt drained of all my energy. My eyes started to close. Maybe I'll have a really good dream. About Chelsea...
I woke up feeling dizzy. The entire world felt like it was spinning. I didn't dream about Chelsea last night and barely got any sleep. As soon as I closed my eyes I had woken up again.
I tried to get out of bed but my limbs seemed to be weighing me down. So instead I relaxed and looked outside my window. Before I knew it, my eyes were beginning to close again and I had fallen into a deep sleep.
Again, no dream. My head hurts. Everything's spinning. I don't know how long I've been asleep for. I try to get up once again and I hear an impatient knock on my door and my mom's voice.
"Ruby, it's time to get up, you'll be late for school!"
I groaned. Neither of us had forgotten our fight last night so the atmosphere was tense with awkward silence. Neither of us knowing what to say, I quietly left the house. I still felt no improvement as I staggered into math class.
Usually maths is my favourite lesson but I just couldn't seem to concentrate today. I just wanted to sleep. I wondered where Chelsea was. Probation in the ocean, free from any adults to control her life. Maybe I'd meet her in the bathroom again.
Once it was break time, I started to feel even worse. I had barely eaten anything during lunch as I had no appetite at all, and I felt so weak, like everything was weighing me down, not to mention the burning feeling in my head.
Then, I realised that I had forgotten Connor's tutoring session yesterday. I still don't even know if he's in school. I sighed. He's gonna think I stood him up and I don't know how I'll explain to him that I got distracted. Because of a certain mermaid...
I opened the door to the bathroom.
"Hi there Rubyboo~"
Chelsea was leaning against the wall.
"Chelsea... I'm... So... Tired..."
I reached out to her, but had no strength to keep myself up right anymore. Just as I was sure I would fall flat on my face, she swiftly caught me. Without thinking, I learned against her chest, listening to her heartbeat. I can barely breathe.
"Rubyboo, are you okay?" Chelsea asked. I could hear the worry in her voice.
"I... Just wasn't... Feeling well this... Morning..."
She pats my head. "I think you should go home. "
"I had a fight with... With my mom and... And..."
"Shhh~ it's ok I'll walk you home."
I pulled away and tried to stand up. "N-no!"
Chelsea sighed and looked at me with concern. Suddenly she scooped me up in her arms. "Such a cutie~" she cooed. "I am taking you home and there is no way you can talk me out of it!"
I sighed in defeat and just lay my head against her while she gently stroked my hair.
"A - are we going to jump out the window again... " I asked, closing my eyes.
"Yep!"
Timeskip:
She patted my head. "You'll be okay, Rubyboo~ I'll come visit you later. "
"Mhmm,"
She sets me down at my door and hug her. It feels a little embarrassing as Chelsea's nearly two heads taller than me. "I... I'll see you l-later..."
She waved goodbye and I slowly opened the door and regretfully closed it behind me.
"Mom, are you here?"
"Hi honey. Shouldn't you be at school?" She answered from the kitchen. I frowned, and immediately winced as I felt spiderwebs of pain across my vision.
"M... Mom... " Her voice must be coming from the kitchen. As soon as I got there I learned my head against the table. "I... I don't feel so good... Mom, I'm so sorry about l-last night..."
"It's ok... I've got you... "
She lifts me and walks me to my room and lays me down on my bed. "I'm sorry too... Try to get some rest, okay?"
I nod and close my eyes after I hear her close the door.
I don't know how long I slept for, but when I woke up I heard Sam talking to mom.
"Where did Ruby go?"
"Oh, your sister isn't feeling well."
"Awww." He sighed and I heard mom and dad talk for a while. That was when I decided I'd get out of bed. I slowly opened the door of my bedroom and made my way downstairs.
I saw mum cooking breakfast and dad examining one of his bottled shipwrecks. "Hmm... Still needs some more work." He sighed under his breath.
I sat down next to him on the couch and lay on his shoulder. I hadn't seen dad in three days and I missed him a lot.
"Oh, hi Ruby! Feeling better?"
I nod but don't move.
"How has school been?"
"Good... "
He patted my head and I closed my eyes.
"Hey big sis, guess what? I won my volleyball match yesterday!"
"Congrats Sam, " I replied, opening one eye.
"Hey mom, can we go to the beach tomorrow?"
"I'm not sure... " I heard her reply from the kitchen.
"Please?"
"Okay... But only if your sister is feeling better."
The end! 🥳🥳
Obviously the next part is called 'Beach Day'💅
Thanks to everyone who waited on my slow updates 🤭
