Chapter 6: Reunited
It was only the second day at university and Emma already felt homesick. The problem was, she didn’t have a home anymore. So she wasn’t sure what she was missing.
Her family had sold their old house before they went travelling, so she couldn’t possibly go back their. Her parents and brother were now living in Townsville, which was unfamiliar and nothing like home.
Emma suddenly realized what—or who—she was missing. Ash.
She and Ash had tried to make a long distance relationship work, but it only lasted a few months before they broke up. They kept in touch, but not as boyfriend and girlfriend. He was the only guy she really trusted. And she desperately needed someone to talk to.
Emma didn’t own a car, and a bus or taxi would take a lot of time and money. She wanted to see Ash now. Spontaneously, she got dressed quickly in a loose white dress and jogged down to the water. She knew it was more than 100 miles to her old town on the Gold Coast. Good thing mermaids could swim more than 100 miles per hour.
It took a very long time, but eventually Emma could see the old JuiceNet Café building from her spot in the water. She swam for exactly forty-nine minutes, at a speed not even the fastest boats could match, and wasn’t tired at all. She continued a mile or two down the coast to the horse stables, where Ash spent his mornings and afternoons working.
Luckily, a horse blanket had been left near shore. Emma pulled herself behind a fallen log and dried off with it. She straightened her dress and hair before finding Ash.
She found him in one of the stables, brushing a young colt. Emma knocked shyly on the edge of the stable.
Ash looked up to see her, and his mouth spread into a broad smile. Her answering smile was just as wide.
“Emma! You’re back!” he exclaimed, brushing his dark hair and looking surprised. He was tan after a long summer of working outdoors, and his hair was a bit longer than she’d last seen it. He looked good. Really good.
Ash left the colt’s side and hugged her tightly. “How are you? How’s uni?”
Emma remembered her first day and sighed. Should she tell Ash the truth, that she felt out of place? Or just pretend that everything was fine?
She didn’t need to tell him anything; Ash could read it in her face.
“What’s wrong?” He asked gently. “You don’t like Cairns?”
Emma shook her head, feeling like she was about to cry. “It’s really nice, I have a single dorm and all my friends are there…”
“Then what’s bothering you?” Ash rubbed her back up and down, sending tingles all throughout Emma’s body.
“It’s my friends.” She finally explained. “They have this new friend, and she’s also a mermaid. They don’t seem to care that I’ve been gone, they keep leaving me out and they don’t explain what happened while I was away!”
“A new mermaid?” he asked.
“Long story.” Emma said. “When we’re all in a group talking, it seems like Cleo, Rikki, and Bella—the new girl—only talk to each other. They don’t even look at me, it’s like I’m not there. And whenever they do talk to me, it feels forced. I don’t even know them anymore.”
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she wiped them away impatiently. Ash hugged her again, and a few more tears came out.
“I’m also so worried about starting school again. Everything was very relaxed while we were travelling, that’s going to take adjustments. And to top it all off, there’s a full moon tonight.” Emma complained. It felt good to get it all off her chest.
“I’m sure it will be fine.” Ash said quietly. He didn’t have to say much to comfort her.
“Enough about me.” Emma said, pulling away from him. “How are you?”
Ash shrugged. “I’m good.
“No, really, I want to know what you’ve been up to while I was gone.” She said, trying to sound enthusiastic.
“I’ve mostly been working, here or at the JuiceNet. Did you hear what happened to it?”
“I know Zane Bennett bought it and renamed it, but I don’t know what’s up there now.” Emma said.
“Wilfred won the lottery! Half a million dollars, and he bought a chain of cafés along the Gold Coast. They’re all pretty successful, and I’m managing the one here.” Ash sounded proud. Emma was really happy for both Wilfred and Ash.
“Maybe in the summer I could come back and work there again.” She suggested. “As long as the banana beat-box is still on the menu.” She teased.
“Actually…” Ash said awkwardly. “All the drinks have been renamed.”
Emma tried not to look disappointed. She hated change.
“I renamed it ‘Emma’s delight’.” Ash told her. Emma smiled and hugged him. Now that she was here, everything was alright. She didn’t have to worry about her friends, school, or the full moon. Everything would fall into place soon enough, with Ash by her side.
