Your Secret's Safe With Me: A HSMTMTS AU

Chapter 23: Get Off My Tail

*March 25th*

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E.J's POV:

It's only been a week or so since the hurricane hit and there's still no sign of Ri.

Everyone's been recovering and cleaning up the mess that Hurricane Angela made except for me.

I've been out of it.

I can't stop thinking about my dad and his new woman.

And the fact that Ashlyn has a girlfriend and she didn't even tell me.

Everyone seems so busy doing their own thing even Jet and Maddox who got back a few days ago.

Jet seems unreasonably happy and excited about the hurricane cleanup.

And Maddox hasn't said a word to me since she started coming over to see Ashlyn who lives across the way from me.

I guess that everyone forgot about my boyfriend.

"E.J., are you going to go down to Salt Lake Slices and help us clean up the restaurant and sort out food donations? You can't just sit here and think all day. You've been doing that for the last week," I look up and see Gi and Ni wearing matching outfits with matching Converse, talking to me

Everyone's been trying to get on my good side since Ri's disappearance.

Nothing has worked.

Not even Miss Jenn's offer for me to help her at school with the theatre department reconstruction and organization.

"I don't think so. Ash and Maddie, and Seb and Carlos went down there. Have fun girls," I sigh and look out my window for I'm not sure what.

I don't know how to find Ricky.

How do you find a merman portal to Mako Island?

I don't even know where he is.

At this point, he could be in the Atlantic Ocean dead.

"Come on, Eeeeeej. Val is going to be there and I know that you like her. You can spark up a conversation about the musical. Miss Jenn said that the musical is still happening. She has high hopes," I feel Gi grab my hand to get my attention and can hear Nini's whimpers.

"For the record, I don't like her like that. She's a good friend. And how are we going to do the musical without Ricky? HE IS IN THE MUSICAL!" I get up angrily and stare at the two girls who look unhappy at my reaction.

At that moment, I watch Nini almost topple over and trip on the carpet.

I forgot that her energy and balance aren't back yet.

Gi said that she still feels tired and weak.

It's like she doesn't want to use her powers because she's afraid of someone or something.

"Sorry for startling you. I am just upset that everyone forgot about Ri. I don't know if you two love each other or are platonic friends but you know how special your connection is. Mine and Ri's are special too. It seems like everyone forgot how big of an impact he had on my mental health and relationship with everyone else. Does no one in the merperson world have access to information on his whereabouts? What if he's dead or injured? Have you guys even tried looking for him? Everyone's been on my back about helping out and talking to my friends again. Ricky is more than just friend, he's my boyfriend," I tell the two girls who look like they are about to cry, and then start pacing around my empty living room.

Another one of my bad habits is pacing around.

Runs in the Caswell family.

"Well, what are you two going to do about it? You two are mermaids, can't you use your powers to find him or contact someone at Mako? Can't you find him yourself? I can't swim like you two can," I state while the girls stay silent.

"Eej, we're trying our best. Nini is still recovering. Our powers aren't back yet. We can't control what's going on either. I know that you're upset about Ri. He's like a brother or a confidant to me. He's been with Nini and I for a while. We've experienced everything from neglect to PTSD to abandonment together. Have you ever thought about us? We're hurting too, and we want answers. We want our friend back too," I look up at Gina and realize that she's right.

I'm basically asking Ricky's family to look for him when they are hurting and recovering from Hurricane Angela too.

"C'mon Nix, let's go see if Seb and Big Red have made an improvement with the food supply donations. I'm craving some shrimp anyway. Maybe I can find some for us, since the ocean isn't safe right now," I hear Gi whisper to her friend and watch her leave my house without a word.

I deserved that.

I've been an awful friend since Ricky left.

I need to get better at caring about other people besides Ri and me.

I just want everyone to get off of my back about being this courageous hero and helper.

Doesn't anyone remember Ricky?

Wait, Ri said that he was looking for Maddox and Jet who were heading to Mako.

Maybe they know something.

I don't think my dad will mind if I take one of the cars out for this occasion, besides I am going to be helping the community with food donations.

Without hesitation, I grab one of the keys from the garage that is on the secret shelf that my dad built and drive down to Salt Lake Slicez where almost everyone is helping out with storm donations.

Here goes nothing.

All I need to do is get on Jet or Maddox's good side and see what they know about Ricky's disappearance.

"E.J., we need an extra hand with carrying pizza boxes down to Mr. Redonovich's truck, down the corner on the left." I immediately hear Maddox's voice and see her holding onto a clipboard while walking around giving people directions.

"Wait, can I talk to you for a moment?" I stop her while she starts to write my name on her clipboard.

"Yeah, what do you need?" I watch her bite the top of her pencil anxiously as we stand around a group of people sorting out clothing donations.

"Can we talk in private, maybe over there?" I point to a wall where no one is standing.

"Make it quick, I need to make sure that there are enough volunteers inside cleaning the kitchen and the windows that have debris and dirt on them," I watch her focus go elsewhere as if she's focusing on something else and follow to the corner I pointed to.

Once I confirm that we are completely alone and in privacy, I whisper to her what I've been meaning to say since she got back with her brother:

"What do you know about Ricky's disappearance? Please tell me that you saw him at Mako or at least knew that he was coming to talk to you about the full moon,"

"N...o...thing. I can't talk about this here, shhh." I watch her place her finger on top of mine as she stands on tippy toes to reach my level.

So, she does know something and hasn't told anyone.

Merpeople secrets.

"Then let's go somewhere else and talk about it. Come on, tell me something. Everyone's been ignoring the fact that my boyfriend is MIA. He could be hurt or alone or even worse dead." I start panicking and shove her against the wall we're standing by.

"Owww! My back. Get off my tail, E.J. I am not telling you anything. Think about somebody else for once! I tried to help Ricky but I was too weak. Okay, for once, have you ever thought that maybe merpeople don't have all the answers you want? I'm trying to figure things out myself. My sexuality, and relationship on land. Okay, this whole Mako Island thing wasn't my idea. It was my brother who wanted to run off on vacation. Go pester him. I didn't even want to be one of them in the first place," I listen to her whisper to me then let go of her petite body. And watch her walk off with tears in her eyes as she heads straight towards the pantry where my cousin is sorting out cleaning supplies.

If no one in the merpeople world is going to give me answers, then I will have to find them myself.