H2O: Just Add A New Tail

The Arrival

Bella and I just continued to stare at each other. Neither of us said anything. That's when, at the same time, we both screamed in joy. "Jay, it's really you!" she said as she leaped into my arms.

"Bella! What're you doing here?" I asked with a smile as we pulled away from each other.

"I just moved here!" she replied.

"No kidding," I laughed.

"What about you? Are you here on vacation or something?"

"Nope, I actually moved here almost a year ago."

"No way!" Bella screamed in happiness. "How are the guys back in the states?"

"They're exactly as you left them," I smirked. "And Alex is actually down here. He came to visit me."

"Then I'll have to find him!" she smiled. We spent the next few minutes catching up. "So, do you have any friends here?"

"Yeah," I smiled. "They have become my best friends since moving here." Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Rikki. "What's up Rikki?" I asked.

"Meet us at the JuiceNet," she said. "We wanna celebrate our mermaidness. You know, because we thought we lost it."

"Yeah, sounds good. Be there in a few!" I then hung up and shoved my phone back into my pocket.

"Who's Rikki?" Bella asked curiously.

"She's a good friend of mine," I smiled. "I'm actually meeting up with her and my other friends at a place called the JuiceNet. It's where we usually hang out. You wanna come?"

"Sure, I'd love to meet them!" Bella grinned. "I mean, if they're your friends, then they must be pretty cool!"

"You have no idea," I chuckled. While waking to the cafe, Bella and I continued talking. "So, I see you still have that necklace I gave you," I smiled.

"Of course I do!" Bella laughed. "Along with my crystal necklace of course." Bella then pulled out her other necklace from under her shirt. It was a blue crystal. She told me that she had found it when she lived in Ireland. She rarely ever takes it off.

We then arrived at the cafe. As we walked in, I saw the gang sitting together at our usual booth. "There they are," I said while pointing over to them. Lauren saw me, then ran up to me and kissed me.

"Took you long enough," she smiled.

"You know how I always love to be fashionably late," I smirked. "Guys," I said. "Meet Bella."

"Wait a minute," Rikki said. "The Bella? As in the same Bella you told us about?"

"The very same," I smiled. "Bella, I'd like you to meet Cleo, Rikki, Emma, and Lewis," I said while pointing to each person. They all waved. "And this," I said while throwing my arm over Lauren's shoulder. "Is Lauren. My girlfriend." I don't know if it was me, but as soon as I mentioned who Lauren was, Bella's face fell a little. I just brushed it off.

"Hi, nice to meet you," Lauren said politely.

"Likewise," Bella replied shyly.

"Well, c'mon sit down!" Cleo smiled warmly. "We were just about to order our drinks. Wanna stay with us?"

"That would be great," Bella smiled in thanks as she sat down. We all ordered our drinks. Bella ordered a Cranberry Booster. Minutes later, our drinks came. I noticed how the group instantly warmed up to Bella, although Lauren was a little skeptical. I suddenly thought of something.

"Hey Bella, I was wondering, how come you never contacted us? We all really wanted to see how you were doing." Before she could answer, Rikki accidentally knocked her drink over. It spilled all over me. We stared at each other for a split second, and then I bolted outside. I took a glance around and dove into the water. I sped off to the one known sanctuary to me and the girls.