Mirabelle remains frozen. She is unable to comprehend what just happened to her, her life had just literally flashed before her eyes, and she realized.. she was a major looser with zero social life. Pathetic, in short. But that was going to change, hopefully.
Rikki stares at Mirabelle, and can't tell if she's surprised or amazed. There was another mermaid apart from she, Emma and Cleo, and she didn't know what to make of it.
' whoa, are you okay? ' she thinks to Mirabelle.
' what the hell... ' Mirabelle begins, obviously confused as to how she can hear Rikki, while they were underwater.
' yes, I know it's shocking, I'm talking to you.. or is it thinking at you? ' Rikki questions thoughtfully ' nevermind, are you alright? ' she thinks at her while swimming towards her looking a little concerned.
' um... Yeah, I am... I think.. ' Mirabelle responds and leans on the reef behind her.
She leans her head back and closes her eyes. The motion causes her hair to float and cover her face. She takes a deep breath to calm her nerves.
' that was knarly, how'd you do that? It looked kinda like lightning shot out of your hands ' Rikki asks in wonder, as she comes to rest beside her, her hair floating around her face.
' that happens when I'm really scared, which I obviously was at that time. I just hope the fish is okay, I didn't want to hurt him. ' Mirabelle explains still closing her eyes. She was still on edge.
' Im sure he's fine, traumatized for life, maybe, but fine nonetheless ' Rikki says easily, looking at the fish swim by.
They remain there in silence for a while, until Mirabelle speaks up.
' how is it possible that you can hear my thoughts, and I can hear yours? ' she turns to face Rikki, her face scrunches up in confusion.
' I don't know. I and Emma found out when we went swimming the other day. It was freaky then, and it's still freaky now. ' Rikki answers, as she turns to face Mirabelle, and sees her staring at her with a look she can't decipher. ' yes, Emma is a mermaid too. ' she adds for clarification.
' I know ' Mirabelle responds simply.
Rikki cocks her head with an eyebrow raised in surprise, or judgement, Mirabelle can't tell, so she goes to explain herself.
' I found out yesterday at Antoinette's party. I kinda saw everything that happened with Cleo. ' she says sheepishly, avoiding Rikki's hard stare.
' oh ' is all Rikki can think.
' I was going to talk to you at school today, but I didn't know what to say ' Mirabelle adds.
' is that why you kept staring at us at lunch? ' Rikki asks, thinking back to the incident In the cafeteria.
' yeah.. sorry about that, I guess I came off kinda like a creep huh.. ' Mirabelle thinks back with a shy smile on her face, as she smooths her hair back as it was coming to cloud her face again.
' kinda ' Rikki responds with a small smile too.
They are quiet for a while, then Mirabelle pipes up again.
' aren't you a little... I don't know... Wierded out by this? ' she thinks to Rikki, a little unsure of how to place her question.
' how so? ' Rikki thinks back confused.
' uh.. you know, me being a mermaid and all. Aren't you.. surprised? ' Mirabelle responds hesitantly, looking straight at Rikki.
' well, I'm still tryna process all of this. I mean, just three days ago, I thought I, Emma and Cleo were the only mermaids around. Finding out there's another is a lot to take in, and I guess I'm more relieved than anything else... ' Mirabelle cuts her off mid sentence.
' wait, wait... Three days? You've only be mermaids for three days?! ' she thinks to Rikki, her eyes wide in astonishment.
' yeah, why... How long have you been a mermaid? ' Rikki asks furrowing her eyebrows as Mirabelle looks like she's been electrocuted by her own self.
' oh, not that long, about eight... ' she trails off.
' weeks? ' Rikki fills in. Mirabelle shakes her head no.
' months? ' Rikki tries again, her eyes growing weary. Mirabelle again denies.
Rikki takes a deep breath, her eyes going wide. ' bloody barnacle.. years? ' she asks disbelievingly.
Mirabelle smiles sheepishly.
' well, shit. ' Rikki thinks, then leans back against the reef, looking straight ahead. She uses her left hand to push back a mass of blonde hair with red streaks, that was floating into her face.
' yeah.. ' Mirabelle thinks back and mimics her action.
They go silent once again.
' we have to tell Emma and Cleo. ' Rikki thinks to Mirabelle after a while.
Mirabelle turns to face her ' yeah. I know, but how do we go about it? I don't think they'll be as open minded as you are ' she thinks to Rikki, a little nervous at the thought meeting the others.
What if they didn't like her, and decided they didn't need a fourth member in their little group, she would be devastated. She couldn't bear the thought of being alone, not after finding out there were others like her. She was tired of being an outcast and if the others weren't receptive, she was going to keep working at it until they accepted her.
Rikki sighs, the action causing bubbles to form out of her mouth.
' yeah Cleo won't be much of a hassle, but Emma, she's a real bitch to new people, especially if she feels their trying to encroach on her circle. ' Rikki thinks with a slight smirk on her face. She turns to Mirabelle. ' don't worry tho, the trick is to be persistent and let her know you don't need her permission to hang out with us, cause honestly, you don't ' she adds.
' but I don't want her to feel like I'm forcing myself on you guys. I just want to finally hang out with people whom I don't feel out of place with... Atleast not completely. ' Mirabelle thinks looking down and absent mindedly picks at a coral on the reef.
' yeah, loose that sorry expression, it makes me wanna choke you ' Rikki says annoyed.
' if you want people to be your friend, or like you, stop giving them a reason to walk all over you. People walk with what they're given. If you seem like a pushover, they'll toss you around like a party on a grill, and ruin whatever self-esteem you have left. If you come off as overconfident, they'll never be real with you, you'll basically be surrounded by fakers who only want to exploit you. Just maintain a balanced approach and be yourself, no matter who you come across, that way they'll know what they're up against and fine tune themselves to be around you. Oh, and quit running from people, it makes it seem like you're the one at fault or you're afraid of them, it's just pathetic. ' Rikki finishes with a breath.
Mirabelle raises her head instantly at the last statement, and finds Rikki staring at her with a knowing expression.
' you're referring to Darren aren't you. ' she thinks back, knowing it best not to play a fool with Rikki.
' is that his name? ' Rikki responds smirking with an eyebrow raised.
' yeah.. but it's not what you're thinking, I wasn't running or hiding. I was just avoiding an other wise catastrophic encounter is all ' Mirabelle thinks blushing.
' look, I don't know what's going on between you and lover boy, but the run, the angrier he's gonna get. I don't know him, but I can tell him being angry is not good for anyone '
Mirabelle goes to say to something but Rikki holds her hands up stopping her
' yeah, I'm not interested, we have more matters to attend to. By now Emma and Cleo will be done with whatever after school activities, so we can go meet them. ' she thinks to Mirabelle and swims off at top speed towards the ocean bank leaving a load of bubbles in her wake, and crowding mirabelle's face.
When Mirabelle can finally see again, Rikki is nowhere in sight, and so she takes her cue and turbo swims in Rikki's direction. When she gets to land, behind the rocks, she sees Rikki already dry and waiting for her, with an impatient look on her face.
" Took you long enough, I thought you got lost or eating by that hammerhead " Rikki says.
" Come on out now, we have things to do " she adds.
Mirabelle looks at her with a small smile. So this is what it was like to have a friend, she could for sure get used to it. She climbs out and looks at Rikki's retreating form.
" Um... A little help here, I would to sun dry, but we're kind of on a time crunch" she says loud enough for Rikki to hear.
Rikki stops and turns around, she comes towards her with a bored expression.
" I feel y'all are becoming too dependent on my powers to get back to human form " she says as dries Mirabelle's tail.
" Thank you " Mirabelle says and stands up.
" Whatever, let's go " Rikki says with a sigh and a wave of her hand.
They both pick up their bicycles and ride off.
# # # #
Hola lovelyz 🥰
I have updated again, by popular demand.
Thank you all so much for the 4k reads, y'all are amazing!
Now, Rikki was pretty chill about the situation, I wonder how the others will be.. oh well, read the next chapter, to find out.
Please vote, and comment.
Song Suggestion: Pretty Savage by Blackpink ❤️
Till next time
Luwiza out ✌️