Ash was confused. Currently he was working in the Juice Net and wiping the counter while listening to his girlfriend. Well, trying to, at least.
He just couldn't focus on her at the moment. He wondered why.
"Hey Emma!" Cleo greeted as she and the remaining mermaids walked up to them. "Hey guys, what are you up to?"
He barely listened to them. Instead, he leaned on why he couldn't focus on Emma these days.
He could never seem to focus to her. His thoughts always seemed to drift when her voice reached his ears. She wasn't boring. She was smart and level headed, and independent.
Yeah, that's right. She wasn't anywhere near that definition. But why did he feel that way when around her?
Suddenly, his rag passed over a bump on the table. A really big bump.
He looked down and startled when he saw drops of water on Rikki's hand, and his right beside it, wet rag clenched in it.
She looked up at him, fear in her eyes. He grabbed her arm and rushed to the freezer.
He watched in amazement as her legs formed into a tail of gold. But his astonishment was short lived when she crashed on the floor.
Ash quickly ran over to Rikki and helped her sit up.
"Sorry about that." He breathed. "It's okay." She looked down and used her powers to turn her tail into legs again.
There it was again. Why was Rikki always avoiding eye contact with him? Other than no eye contact she kept straight avoiding him. Except when the group hung out, but she wouldn't talk to him. Did he do something to upset her?
"Rikki?" He gently said. "Hm?" "Are you angry with me?" Her head snapped up. "N-No of course not!" Her cheeks flamed, and she looked down again.
"Then why do you avoid eye contact and my presence all together?" He said gently, a hint of hurt in his voice.
Rikki was silent.
Rikki's POV
How am I supposed to tell you that whenever I'm near you, I feel like vomiting? Not in a bad way, the warmness in my stomach is out of love, but when I think of Emma, I want to vomit.
I want to confess to Ash right now, but Emma was my best friend. Ash was so close to my secret, but I didn't want him to think I hated him.
Tears collapsed from my eyes out of frustration.
I felt myself being pulled onto his lap. His arms wrapped around my body and cradled me.
No, don't comfort me. But I let him.
Somehow, he made me feel calm. That made me cry even harder.
Zane is supposed to make me feel calm, not Ash.
Zane is supposed to show concern for me, not Ash.
Zane is supposed to see me cry, not Ash.
And yet...
The door to the freezer burst open, but I paid it no attention. I was too busy in despair. I unconsciously made out a few words such as Rikki and what's wrong.
I lifted myself off of Ash and wiped my eyes. "I'm just fine." My voice chocked out and made my way to the door.
"Oh Rikki!" Cleo hugged me from behind. "Don't worry, we're here for you!" "Of course you can tell us anything!" Bella also hugged me. "Please Rikki?" At the sight of Emma my tears exploded again.
"J-Just leave me alone!" I broke free of my friends and exited the freezer, then ran out the Juice Net.
I ignored their pleas as I took to the dock and plunged into the ocean...