Mako Mermaids: Rita Santos' Daughter

Chapter 32

Caitlan's POV:

David text me to meet him at the cafe, before they opened and before Carly and Evie showed up to work. Thankfully I was awake early as I fancied a morning swim.

"Hey, what's up?" I asked. "So, I kind of like Sirena. I'm thinking of holding singing auditions for an open mic night. I want to just ask her to be the singer, but obviously I can't just give it to her". David stuttered. "So you basically want an excuse to spend more time with her?" I pointed out. "Go for it, my lips are sealed by the way" I smiled and David brought me in a hug.

When I got back, Lyla and Nixie were sat waiting for mum in the Grotto. "Hey." I smiled and sat with them. Mum then came in with some lemons. I knew exactly what today's lesson was. "Why are you giving us lemons?" Lyla asked. "Is it because mermaid school is over and we're using them to squeeze over fresh oysters instead?" Nixie suggested. "Just put them in front of you and watch what me and Caitlan does." Mum smiled. We both got a lemon, made an L shape with our thumb and index finger on our right hand and made a pinching motion and changed the volume of the lemon. Lyla was impressed, Nixie? Not so much. "I'm sorry, what could this possibly help us with? Except maybe squashing a jellyfish or squeezing open a clam? I don't understand" Nixie remarked. "Unless an underwater cave collapsed on you, or you came face to face with a killer whale, then you might find it extremely useful." Mum shrugged. "By the way, Caitlan here was eight when she mastered this" Mum proudly added, I think to try to motivate Nixie to try harder. "Okay, Lyla - you're first" I smiled. Mum told her what to do with her hand, and she changed the volume of the lemon really well. "Great" me and mum said together. "Nixie, your turn" I smiled. "If this is so important, why is Sirena not here?" Nixie asked. I kept quiet, as I knew. "She has been missing a few classes lately" mum pointed out. "She'll be at the cafe" Lyla said. "Yeah, hanging out with that land boy who works there" Nixie rolled her eyes. "David?" Mum asked surprised. "She's been doing that a lot lately" Lyla sighed. Mum looked at me, she knew that I knew. Sirena then came rushing in, grabbed some music sheets, said that she'll catch up later and ran out. Mum shrugged.

Lyla and Nixie left the Grotto. Mum then looked at me. "Something you wanna say, sweetheart?" She smiled slightly. "I promised David I wouldn't say anything. Him and Sirena are smitten with one another, I can see it. He wanted an excuse to spend more time with Sirena so he's holding auditions for an open mic night, even though he wants to just give the singing spot to Sirena" I told mum. "You're quite the matchmaker aren't you" mum laughed and brought me into a hug. "Are you going to the auditions?" Mum asked. "Yeah, in a bit though. I'm not going to audition because I want Sirena to get it. But I want to show my support. I wanna spend time with my favourite person for a while first" I smiled and kissed mum's cheek. Mum chuckled and wrapped her arm around me.

I was about to head to the cafe, but Sirena came running in, crying her heart out. She said her voice went high pitched and deafening when she auditioned. I put my arms around her and she sobbed into my shoulder. Mum went to make a potion to help her throat. "Here, sip it slowly. It's seaweed from the Galápagos Islands and soft coral from the waters around Fiji" mum said as she handed the bowl to Sirena. "You'll have your voice back in no time" I whispered. "Do you feel like telling us how this happened?" Mum asked, but Sirena rested her head on my shoulder and continued to cry.

Lyla and Nixie then came in. Why do I have a feeling they have something to do with this? They tried talking to Sirena but she just ignored them. "We're your friends. We didn't want you to make a terrible mistake" Nixie said quietly. "Friends?! You think this is what friends do? You embarrassed me in front of all of those people" Sirena snapped. Yep, I'm guessing they used the Volume Reduction to mess up Sirena's vocal cords and audition.  "We didn't wanna do that, you just wouldn't listen to us about David" Nixie tried justifying. "Being with him would wreck your life." Lyla said. "You just did that" Sirena remarked. "Sirena, Rita left the pod for a land boy." Nixie said. "We didn't want you to make the same mistake" Lyla added. "Wow, thanks!" I snapped and felt myself get teary and I left the Grotto. "No, Cait" both mum and Nixie said simultaneously, trying to get me to stay, but I ran out into the living room. Ouch that hurt.

There was a knock at the door. I wiped my tears and answered. It was Zac. "Hey Cait- you alright?" He asked. "Hm? Oh yeah I'm fine. What's up?" I sniffled. "The mermaids ruined my anniversary gift for Evie, reckon you can fix it?" He asked holding a box full of glass. "I can certainly try." I smiled.

Me and Zac sat in the living room, I used my magic to fix the gift, it was a glass dolphin figurine. "Wow! That looks as good as new" Zac said stunned. "Well I have had my whole life of using magic" I laughed tearfully. "Wanna talk about why you're in a crying state?" Zac asked. I told him about what went on in the Grotto, but I didn't tell him about the Grotto. "Cait, it doesn't take a dummy to notice that you aren't a mistake in your mum's eyes, you're the best thing in her life" he pulled me into a bone crushing hug, which we laughed. I heard footsteps, mum was stood behind the sofa, tears in her eyes. "I best be getting off, thanks Cait" Zac thanked me and left.

"Zac's right sweetheart. I don't regret leaving the pod at all. One mistake was probably that I left Veridia behind, but you're not a mistake - you are the best thing that happened to me. Never ever think different" mum wiped my tears away and I wiped hers.

We sat cuddled up on the couch basically all day. Lyla, Nixie and Sirena then walked in. "We're sorry we upset you earlier." Nixie apologised. "It's alright, I know you didn't mean to." I smiled. "Are you coming to the show?" Sirena asked happily. "Wouldn't miss it, mum you coming?" I asked. "Why not. Sounds fun!" Mum said.

The five of us went to the cafe. Sirena sang with David, and me, mum, Nixie and Lyla sat at a table. Evie, Zac, Cam and Carly smiled and waved at me, which I returned. "Cait, come sing with us!" Sirena said into the mic, the entire room cheered. David cocked his head to basically tell me to get on stage. I went up and sang a song with them, then let them have the spotlight the rest of the night.

After the open mic night, the girls headed back to Mako for the night, and me and mum headed to bed. I'm glad that everyone has made up, and I hope Lyla and Nixie have learnt their lessons not to neglect their powers.

That's this chapter guys! Hope y'all like it