Chapter 7—Girl Talk
“Where’s Emma?” Bella asked, looking around their table at the café. Funny, they’d only been at university for a few days and they already had a table considered theirs.
“I texted her…maybe she slept in late.” Cleo said, checking her phone for messages.
Rikki laughed. “Emma? Sleeping in? She probably got up at 6 am and went to the library to study.”
“But classes haven’t started yet.” Bella pointed out, confused. Was this an inside joke or something? Bella didn’t like to feel left out.
“Emma’s an overachiever times ten.” Cleo explained.
“Oh.” Bella said, feeling stupid.
Bella went to get drinks while they waited for Emma. A coconut water for Rikki, a strawberry smoothie for Cleo, and fresh orange juice for herself. She didn’t know what Emma liked so she didn’t order anything for her. When she got there she could order something.
After another round of drinks, the girls were tired of waiting.
“Let’s just talk about it.” Cleo said.
“Yeah, what are we going to do about Charlotte?” Rikki asked.
Cleo was about to say something, but Bella really had to interrupt her. “Charlotte seemed nice…why is she such a problem?”
Rikki rolled her eyes and exchanged a glance with Cleo.
“Just because Charlottes powers got taken away doesn’t mean her memory was erased. She still knows that we are mermaids, and she’s probably angry that we got to keep our powers.” Rikki explained.
“Or maybe she wants a clean start. Maybe she’s sorry about what she did and wants to apologize to you guys.” Bella suggested, always looking for the better part of people. “At least hear her out.”
“I guess we could do that.” Cleo said grudgingly. “But she’s not going anywhere near us tonight. It’s the full moon.”
“You know it doesn’t affect us anymore.” Rikki scoffed. “As long as there are no more water tentacles, we’re safe.”
“I don’t know…you never know how the moon lagoon will affect us. We could get moonstruck, or there could be…water octopuses!”
Bella and Rikki laughed at Cleo’s worries. Cleo glared at them but started laughing, too.
Bella eventually spoke confidently. “Unless there are water octopuses, I don’t think we have anything to worry about.”
