Cleo, Emma, and Rikki sat at a table in the popular juice bar, the Juicenet, where all of the kids from school hung out. The girls had actually walked there straight from South Coast High School in order to talk about problems relating to Cleo's recent employment.
"I can do this job!"
Emma's arms were crossed and her eyes squinted at the other girl. "I told you we should have discussed this further, Cleo," Emma persisted.
The worries of Cleo's job had not left Emma's mind. She had a strong belief that working around hundreds of thousands of liters of water every day as a mermaid was a terribly horrible idea. Emma had tried to begin this lecture in school but Cleo got frustrated and told her to wait until after school at the Juicenet. She had neglected to speak to Emma for the rest of the school day.
Cleo seemed to debate about whether or not to say her next words, but after a moment, she said, "You're just scared, Emma," with a decisive tone.
Emma brows furrowed and she countered, "No, I'm not!"
Cleo explained how Emma was scared of her working at the Marine Park even though she had it under control and even scared to have her party. No matter which way you looked at it, Cleo was right. Even Rikki agreed that they should not let the implication of getting wet control their lives.
Emma looked defeated by the two girls' alliance, rolling her eyes as she picked up her phone and selected her mother's contact.
She let out a long sigh. "Hi mum, I need you to start texting the invitations," she announced with finality.
The other girls smiled.
"Yes, all the girls on the list," she paused, grinning slightly, "plus Rikki." She looked at the blonde haired girl and watched her smile brighten. Emma decided she would do anything she could to make Rikki smile like that at every chance she got from now on.
"Cleo's right," Emma said after ending the call with her mum, "if I don't have this party it's like I'm not even putting up a fight."
Just then, Zane Bennett brought the girls three drinks on a tray. Zane had a past of being a mischievous jerk, always tricking others.
"Three free frozen cones," Zane said, smirking.
Rikki and Emma looked skeptical but Cleo, being the most gullible of the group and a bit thirsty, immediately grabbed a glass. She took a drink before coughing at the disgusting drink.
"Prune Juice?" Emma asked.
Cleo only nodded in response as Zane and his friend Miriam cackled from across the juice bar.
—
The girls were to arrive at half past seven on Saturday, and since Cleo had to help her dad clean her house before the slumber party, Rikki had helped Emma set everything up.
Rikki filled up the drink station with sodas and sugary drinks as well as healthy juices at Emma's request. She explained that the girls on the swim team stayed away from processed food and sugar so they had to have extra options for them. Rikki appreciated that Emma was looking out for everyone coming to the party and meeting their needs. Emma put towels out in the living room where everyone would be hanging out just in case there was an accident involving water so that they would have a "quick-dry method" as she called it. Rikki sometimes thought it was annoying that Emma was so organized and prepared because it took the fun and spontaneity out of everything, but recently, it had grown on her and she admired Emma for it.
The girls finished their setting up early and decided to watch TV in Emma's room until the guests arrived. Emma grabbed the remote off of her nightstand and lifted the covers on her bed to sit beneath them. Rikki just watched, feeling nervous all of a sudden about the fact that she was alone with Emma in her bedroom. She suddenly didn't know what to say or do but, luckily, Emma interrupted her nervousness.
"Aren't you going to join me?" she asked in a soft voice.
Rikki instantly nodded harshly as if remembering something and slowly walked over to the queen sized bed. She lifted the covers and sat beside Emma who used the remote to turn on a random movie channel where Titanic was playing.
"Ooh! I love Leonardo Decaprio," Emma exclaimed as she saw the title of the movie.
Rikki shifted uncomfortably.
"Don't you?" Emma asked, landing her gaze on the girl to her right.
With a newfound prejudice against the actor, Rikki said, "Not particularly, he's not my type."
"So..." Emma paused to look up at the ceiling, "...what is your type?"
Rikki's eyebrows shot up and her glance swung to Emma who was wearing a self-satisfied smile. Her cheeks turned vehemently red, which almost never happened, and promptly, she felt sweat on the back of her neck.
Rikki tried to warn off the visible embarrassment by saying, "Wouldn't you like to know," but Emma wasn't so quick to be discouraged. She was fierce in her curiosity which Rikki had usually admired, but in this moment, despised. Rikki didn't really care whether or not Emma knew her type but the sudden uneasiness from the question threw her off. She didn't know why her face got hot, like what's so bad about your friend knowing your type?
"It's kind of hot under the blanket, is it not?" Rikki asked.
"Changing the subject!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
The two girls went on like this for ages with bright smiles at the childishness of the conversation. Rikki loved when Emma was so carefree and happy, laughing every other second.
They ended up underneath the comforter, Leonardo Decaprio completely forgotten, whispering every word they said.
"What hair color?" Emma whispered.
"Hmmm..." Rikki thought, gazing at the shadowy girl in front of her, faces inches apart, "I guess blonde."
Emma giggled ferociously.
"What!" Rikki whisper-shouted.
Emma regained her breath and said, "You're just describing Leonardo Decaprio!"
Rikki giggled along, realizing that every characteristic she had said belonged to the Titanic actor. Emma grabbed Rikki's arm to steady herself as her laughing got louder and Rikki paused for a moment, feeling the other girl's soft hands on her skin. Emma stopped abruptly as well.
"What?" Emma asked.
Rikki realized she was staring at Emma with a blank expression now.
"Nothing."
The girls' faces were still even closer together than before and Rikki was very aware of this, knowing that if she leaned in any more, their noses would be touching. They let the silence engulf them under the covers and neither moved a muscle. The feel of the room had shifted from playfulness and teenage girls laughing to a serious, almost intense tone. Rikki could feel her own heartbeat through her neck as it sped up and her hot face returned. She wondered what would happen if she did lean in just a little bit more.
"GIRLS!" Emma's mum shouted, "I'M HOME AND I'VE BOUGHT YOUR SNACKS!"
The two girls didn't flinch, they remained under the covers, still staring intently into one another's eyes. Rikki hoped the girl would stay forever, but, with an apologetic look, Emma removed the blanket from above them and shouted a reply to her mother, breaking free from the confusedly passionate moment.
Authors Note: CHAPTER 2!!!! I love this one so much!! I hope I'm doing an okay job and please give tips in the comments if you want. Next chapter coming soon, hope you're enjoying it!!
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Alone With You (Remma)
Fanfiction"Every little thing seemed to bear a resemblance to the girl, whether it be the pool water which matched the blue of her eyes, or the painting of red roses in Emma's house which reminded her of Rikki's soft lips. She could now conclusively describe...
