H2O Just Add Water: Emma's Return

Emma meets Bella

Emma arrived at the moon pool, her heart racing from the idea of seeing her friends again. As her head emerged from the water her eyes fixed on 3 mermaids, ok that's norm- wait 3 mermaids? Who was the third? Emma focused on the third mermaid there.
"Emma!" Cleo swam towards Emma to give her a big hug.
"Nice to see you again" Said Rikki.
Emma smiled as her eyes suddenly fixed on a beautiful honey blonde girl with shining cyan eyes.
"Emma, meet Bella. Bella meet Emma" Cleo squealed in an excited tone as she flashed a warm smile. She gestured towards the extremely attractive mermaid in front of Emma. Emma couldn't help but feel a tad intimidated.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you Emma. Rikki and Cleo have told me so much about you" Bella said as she swam towards her, extending her hand.
Emma took her hand and shook it silently.
"Bella here has been a mermaid since she was 9 years old! She transformed into a mermaid in a moon pool, in Ireland!" Said Cleo in an excited tone. "Can you imagine how hard it must have been to go through all that alone?"
"Yeah, I definitely wasn't alone during my trip around the world" Said Emma with a slightly ironic and sad tone.
"So..." Said Emma deciding to ignore the whole Bella thing. "How was your graduation?" "Did Rikki graduate?" Emma joked and Rikki slightly laughed.
"Well I'll have you know I did" Said Rikki.
"And I was the best science student!" Cleo exclaimed, knowing Emma would be so happy for her.
"Really?" Emma said in an excited tone. "I knew all those years of trying to convince you to love science would pay off" Emma laughed.
Bella couldn't help but feel a bit out of place. She knew this was kind of inevitable. Emma had known the girls for way longer than she had. But she knew she needed to become Emma's friend as well. She was a fellow mermaid after all.
"I graduated too" Said Bella awkwardly.
"That's great" Emma said in an awkward smile.
"So how was your graduation Emma?" Bella asked a bit uncomfortably, trying to make conversation.
"Yeah, did you graduate in the fabulous London perhaps?" Joked Rikki.
"Actually Barcelona. I got to learn a lot of Spanish there. I had to go through so many schools. I was so exhausted. I'm just glad to be back here for summer break." Said Emma "Speaking of which, any plans for college girls?" Emma asked.
"Well I'm planning to leave the Gold Coast to continue with science you know?" Said Cleo.
"I'm not sure. I have time though" Said Rikki.
Bella felt really out of place, after all she knew the girls hadn't seen each other in so long. But she didn't wanna stay silent.
"I'm planning to go to college with Will" Bella immediately realized her mistake. Emma didn't know who Will was.
"Will?" Asked Emma while looking at Rikki and Cleo.
"He's Bella's boyfriend" Said Cleo.
"So he knows you're a...?" Asked Emma.
"Yeah" Said Bella in a quiet tone.
"Well, it's ok after all we've all told our boyfriends the secret" Rikki answered, almost as if she knew Emma was gonna immediately disapprove.
The girls continued chatting, however Emma and Bella had no idea they were both feeling equally awkward.
Emma felt awkward that the girls had "replaced" her with another, more beautiful, kinder mermaid. But of course as the "mature" one of the group she didn't wanna say anything.
And Bella felt extremely out of place with Rikki and Cleo's original mermaid friend showing up for the first time in 9 months. They had all this history and bonding. What could she do?

A few hours later, Emma was back home when she received a call from Cleo.
"Hey Emma" She heard from her phone.
"Hi Cleo" Emma answered.
"Look I know you were a little weirded out by Bella. So since Bella is out swimming with Will, I thought you, me and Rikki could go out on a bit of a shopping spree. You know like the we used to?" Said Cleo in an excited tone.
"I'll be there!" Said Emma.
Even though Emma knew Bella was a lovely girl. She hadn't seen the girls in so long, a little bit of time with just the two of them was just what the doctor ordered. After that she would definitely make the effort to become Bella's friend.

Emma excitedly put on Cleo's blue locket. How exciting would it be to finally return it to her? Maybe the girls shouldn't wear their lockers around Bella, maybe she would feel left out. After all, the lockets was their special thing.
"Mom I'm going shopping with the girls!" Exclaimed Emma as she once again left the house.