Link Six (completed)

Chapter 25 - Connection

The flight back to England was more boring than usual in Gerald's opinion. Though he always spent the summer with his mother (when he wasn't at camp), he felt that something was missing for the whole ride. When they got back to the house, Gerald quickly realized what it was.

Throughout the whole summer, the other five like him were no more than a few miles away. But, now, there was a whole entire ocean between them. He couldn't feel the psychic bond he'd formed with those of them who had mental powers. It felt like a big chunk of him was missing. Furthermore, he realized that before he had met Leeanna, Colton, Rhea and Emma, he'd felt the same way he did now. The only difference was that back then he didn't know what he was missing, now he did.

"Gerry, honey?" His mom steps into the doorway of his room.

"Yes, mom?" Gerald answers, looking up from the book he was reading.

"How do you feel about a cruise?" His mom asks him.

"With who?" Gerald wants to know.

"Me, you, Howie and a few friends," His mother replies vaguely.

Gerald looks at his mom, wishing that he could read her mind like Leeanna could. But, he couldn't.

"Sounds fun, I guess. Where to?" Gerald wants to know.

"The Caribbean, I hear island cruises are the best," His mom explains.

"Cool," Gerald replies.

"Good, well then start packing because the cruise departs from Florida in a week," His mom says smiling.

"You've already booked the cruise?" Gerald cries incredulously.

"I do have connections you know," His mom replied.

Gerald shakes his head, but starts re-packing his suitcase. This time, with cruise clothing instead of camping gear.

After a few days of being home, they were boarding a plane and heading back to America.

Gerald and his mother would meet Howie at the airport and then spend the weekend in a hotel. The cruise ship would leave from Florida on Monday afternoon. As soon as the three of them got to the hotel, Gerald got a familiar feeling.

"Howie, do you feel that?" Gerald asks.

"Yeah, it feels like..." Howie starts.

"Howie! Gerald!" Someone cries ecstatically. They turn to see Emma running towards them. She hugs Howie, and then she hugs Gerald.

"Emma!" Gerald replies, and then he sees that behind her stand Leeanna, Colton, Rhea, Mr. & Mrs. Parkerson and Ms. Mayes.

"Surprise," Ms. Lawrence says. "They're coming on the cruise with us. I thought you two might enjoy it more that way."

"Thanks, Mom, you're the best!" Gerald cries, giving his mom a sideways hug.

"Thanks, honey," Ms. Lawrence hugs him back.

"Now, let's go check in," Mr. Parkerson says.

The party walks up to the desk.

"Hello, welcome to Hotel Nouveau! How many rooms will you need and for how many nights will you be staying?" The clerk asks.

"We will need three rooms and will be staying for three nights," Mr. Parkerson tells her.

"All right," The clerk plugs some stuff into her computer. "I managed to get you guys three rooms right next door to each other. Here are your room keys and have a nice stay. Feel free to use the pool or the work-out room."