Just For You

The Best Times of Life

"But Jess, I don't think this is a very good idea!" moaned Connie as her best friend, Jessica Moss, pulled Connie steadily forward. "I've never been swimming before and the lakes rather deep...."

Connie stared mistrustfully into the water, earning her a disapproving frown from Jess. The clear, pristine waters lapped gently at the weeds, pulling and pushing at them in a never ending cycle.

"Connie, don't worry! Both me and Arran are here and between the two of us, we wont let anything happen to you," Jessica insisted with an exasperated insistence colouring her voice.

"Well if you say so," Connie said with a sigh of surrender. The weekend had just started and the two girls had decided that they were going to spend some one on one time with each other. They had seen each other a few times over the year, mostly at society meetings or in a group of friends but never just individually. Jessica was missing her friend terribly and decided that she was going to clear her busy schedule and spend the day with Connie. She was also hoping that Connie would open up to her a little and reveal what happened in the refinery one year ago.

"Wow this a beautiful spot!" exclaimed Connie as she gazed about at the tall trees that hid the small sparkling lake from view. The water looked enticing and peaceful, the perfect spot. It had been a year since the incident with Kullervo and Connie was now finally getting used to her regular life, which wasn't very regular at all. She had never told the world what the changes that had become her were, just that they were personal. "But where's Arran? I haven't seen him at all today."

"Oh he's just grabbing a bite to eat, I'm sure he will be with us soon," said Jess as she began to inch her way into the water, "come on Connie, join me, the water is nice and warm." Connie started forward and slowly began to submerge in the water. Jessica began floating lazy circles in the water as she inspected her friend. "So Connie how have you been? It's been to long since we've had any time together."

"Oh nothing much, George is growing like a weed and Aunt Evelyn and Mac are pulling at their hair trying to predict what companion species he might be." No matter how hard she tried, Connie just couldn't start calling Mack, uncle." Can you believe that it's been a exactly a year since... Kullervo's battle?" A year since I fought Kullervo and won, thought Connie as she sadly reminisced about the deaths of the society members in the bleak battle. "I can't let anyone know about my change, if they did, people would see me as a murderer and a freak. People would see me as Kullervo."

"Connie snap out of it! You've been staring out into space for a while now," Jessica said, "did you hear a word that I said?

"Ummm no, sorry" Connie muttered, slightly embarrassed, "I was lost in thought"

"Was it about Col?" Jessica smirked and laughed as she said, "That would explain that dazed look on your face!"

"No!! I was just......" Connie's voice died away.

That's what I thought, Jessica said with a smug smile.

"Well what about you and Arran! Connie countered, "What have you two been doing lately? Now it was Connie's turn to look smug while Jessica began to blush.

"Well... you know... Arran and I just hung out and talked about stuff." Jessica said vaguely.

"Stuff? What kind of stuff," said Connie with a grin, "you don't have a crush on him do you?"

"N...No! Of course not, he's just my companion." Jessica insisted. Connie's grin grew bigger and bigger as she listened to her friend deny her obvious attraction to her Selkie. "Connie, you haven't answered my question yet, are you and Col dating? Is that what you two were talking about in the woods?

"Well...err...Col wanted to talk to me about...um...How he felt about me."

Jessica let out a loud squeal of delight, "Oh my god really! Gosh it took him long enough too. So does that mean you two are dating? Are you both going to spend your time together over the summer break? Does anyone else know? How long have you two been crushing on each other?" Connie was still blushing as Jessica let out her barrage of questions, but now there was a big, goofy smile on her face and it seemed almost as if she had lit up with happiness.

"Yes really; we are going somewhere tomorrow but he is keeping it a surprise; no, your the only person who I've told so far; and I've liked Col for two years now." Connie finally finished answering.

"I still can't believe he likes me though, I mean with the mop of black hair and the mismatched eyes, I'm not really the biggest catch of the day." Connie said sadly. She was less sure of herself after the refinery incident, and more wary of people in general.

"Of course you are!" Jessica exclaimed, "Not only are you beautiful, but you have a wonderful personality, Col's lucky to have you."

"Thanks Jess," Connie said with a happy smile on her face.

"Sure, what are friends for?" Connie and Jess spent another hour swimming contentedly, talking about summer plans and gushing about the latest gossip.

"Connie, I wanted to ask you...what happened to you that night at the refinery? You've been more quiet and withdrawn since then. I'm concerned for you." Jessica hesitantly asked her friend. She didn't want to probe, but sometimes, it felt like Connie was a totally different person.

"Don't worry Jess, I'm fine."

"But your-" Just then, Connie began to sense something beneath her feet. Ripples began to spread across the lake beneath them and bubbles emerged from the water. Then, with a whoosh, Arran burst out of the water beneath their feet and landed in the water beside them. The selkie's skin had a bright sheen and his face was turned to Connie, his eyes sparkling and his whiskers quivering. Then with a grin, Arran changed into his human form and began to float contentedly in the water. "Hey Connie, nice day for a swim isn't it?" Arron said with a wide smile, "I was beginning to think that you didn't like swimming.

"Of course I like swimming," Connie insisted hurriedly. Connie gazed at her friends and her surroundings and let out a contented smile. Finally at piece from Kullervo, she had nothing left to threaten her.

"So how are you and Col?" gloated Arran, "I finished eating right when you said how much you looove him." Arran's smirk grew bigger and bigger as Connie's blush grew.

"Arran you sneaky fish, don't you know its wrong to eavesdrop!" Jessica exclaimed with mock anger in her voice. Jess laughed at Arran's embarrassed face and began to splash him with water. Before any of them knew what was going on, they were splashing each other in an all out water war. As the splash fight wound down, Connie looked into the sky and noticed that the sun was starting to set.

"Sorry guys but I better head back now, its almost supper time. We definitely have to spend more time together," Connie said, realizing just how much she had missed her friends.

"Talk to you later Jess, Bye Arran."

"Bye Connie! You have to tell me all about your date tomorrow!" Arran gave a distinct snicker as he heard Jessica yell this, and she instantly turned to him to give him another splash.

Connie ran back up the path, giggling at the faint sound of yelling and splashing coming from behind her. She was feeling much better to have a friend like Jess, as she ran back up the path, on her way home.

"What would I do without Jessica." Connie happily thought to herself. Finally, life was turning out just the way she wanted out to. And she was going to make sure it stayed that way.

This is the re-write of chapter 1 for all of you who didn't know, there aren't to many changes, just a few minor ones. I hope you like it!