Friendship And Hardship

[Chapter 5] - Longing To Be Other Things

"Okay, just because it's late doesn't mean the whole Octopod shuts down. We can still go on adventures and whatnot!" Kwazii exclaimed.
"Barnacles is going to kill us, but that'll be worth it," Parker said. "Did you know I can do all your flips and stuff?" she questioned, before quite literally showing off some front aerial.
"Not too bad, matey!"
"I've taught myself how to do them when I was on the island!"

"From what I've heard, you've had to teach yourself a lot of things on that island," he stated.
"I've had to teach myself so many things, it's not even funny." She glanced over at him. "Also, has anyone ever told you that for some reason you suddenly smell like lemons?"
"What?"
"Maybe that isn't you? It smells like lemons," Parker said, glancing around. "Or maybe it's some sort of uh... product? I smell lemons and I have no idea why."
"Um... Maybe it's coming from the kitchen or something? You never know what they're doing in there..." Kwazii replied.

"They're? Them? Who?" she asked, her attention now fully on Kwazii.
"You haven't met them yet? Didn't marshmallow bitch say he was going to introduce you to everyone you haven't seen?"
"Marshmallow bitch?! I'm using that now!"
"Hah! But anyways, you seriously haven't met them?" he asked.
"You won't tell me who 'they' are, come on!" Parker exclaimed.
"Let me show you!"

"Ya got to be careful, though. Don't want to scare anyone," Kwazii muttered, leaning against the outside kitchen wall.
"Are you ever going to tell me who I'm supposed to see or is that the surprise?" she asked. "The only thing that isn't the surprise is that it still smells like lemons."
"Good point."

The two peered into the kitchen, only to see a small figure standing up against the counter top. "I'm praying you have the same eyesight as me, because it was darker in there than the forests on the island are."
"If you're that confused, please don't ask me anything, go ask Shellington. He'll drop everything to talk to someone about the Vegimals," Kwazii stated.
"The Vegimals? Is that the name?"
"Well, there's more than one of them, hence the plural version, but yes."
"Ohh..." Parker glanced back inside of the kitchen, but nothing changed.

"If you won't knock, then I will," he said, softly knocking on the doorway. "Hey Tunip!"
"Hi Kwazii!" Tunip chirped in response.
"He said hi," she added, looking over at him. "Don't ask how I understood that. And, adding onto that, I know exactly what you were baking: lemon bars. That's why I was smelling lemons!"
"They're cooling off right now!"
"That explains why you were standing by the counter!"

"How do you understand what he's saying?" Kwazii asked.
"I'm bilingual," Parker answered.
"Oh, that's cool, love who you want to love."
"Dude... That's bisexual, I said I'm bilingual."

...

They stared at each other for what felt like ages. "Oh."
"I mean, I'm not saying I'm not either of them," she muttered, shrugging.
"Wait what?"

~

"I still don't get how you understood Tunip without having any experience whatsoever. That was your first time meeting him too!" he exclaimed.
"I pick up on languages very easily," she replied.
"Okay then, name all the languages you can speak and understand."
"English is my first language, I did grow up around Russian speaking people, I do know some Spanish, hmm... some French too. In fact, the island's name is French!" Parker answered.
"The island has a name? I thought you were the only one there? Were there people there before you?" Kwazii questioned.
"No, I named the island myself, I guess? It looked untouched, and I want to keep it that way. Some of the island's inhabitants like the idea of the tree house, which is good."
"That's nice," he mumbled.

~

"It's not as if I'm homesick. I do miss the island, and I hope it's doing good without me for now," Parker stated, tugging at her shirt.
"What could go wrong without anyone there?" Barnacles asked. They had to bunk together during her stay, and now it was time to shut down.
"Loads of things could go wrong, Barnacles, don't say that."
"Don't worry, please. The island is still in the best hands, yours. Everything is okay back there."
"Yeah, I hope it is."

Something didn't feel right. Especially to Parker. It was something about intuition.

No one believed her when she'd say it, but something wasn't right.

It took hours of thinking until she finally rolled over to see a half-asleep Barnacles next to her.

"Ils ont l'île," she muttered.
"Hm?"
"Nothing. Forget I said anything."

The feeling in her chest made everything hurt. Was something wrong with her? What was going on?

Ils ont l'île.

Homesick.

She was homesick.

Words: 802 Words
i can't be bothered to reread this because
a) its my last vacation day
b) im tired
c) thats it
sorry 4 the short chapter i have no ideas yet hhhhh