"I'm sorry, guys. I can't hang out today." Emma informed Cleo and Rikki the moment they stepped through her front door.
"Now what would make you think that we wanted to hang out with you today?" Rikki asked. Emma rolled her eyes.
"What are you doing today?" Cleo asked, ignoring Rikki's remarks.
"I have family coming in from New York. My aunt and cousin are going to be staying with us for a while. We have to go pick them up."
"So?"
"So I haven't seen them in years. My parents are really excited. Apparently my aunt got married." Emma answered, annoyed with Rikki's insensitivity.
"Well that must be nice then! You get to see them!" Cleo pointed out.
"I just hope my cousin doesn't ask for a swim race..." Emma announced. "We used to race a lot when we were kids, when he would visit, and I would always beat him."
"But you're a mermaid!" Cleo protested.
"No. She's a werewolf. Haven't you seen what happens to her on a full moon?" Rikki joked.
"I don't have time for games, Rikki. We're going now. Maybe I can go to Mako tonight while they recover from lag. I'll text you the details." Emma explained. Cleo and Rikki shook their heads.
"No way. We're going with you." Cleo insisted.
And so after gathering a few things, Emma and her family, plus Cleo and Rikki, drove down to the shipyard. Emma wasn't too thrilled in general-in fact she was feeling nothing but dread-so she wasn't very talkative to Cleo, Rikki, or her family.
"Who takes a ship from New York to Gold Coast?" Rikki asked skeptically. She, dragged herself behind Emma, Cleo, and Emma's family as they walked in the docks full of ships. "I mean, is this even possible?"
"It sounds like a long trip." Cleo added.
"My grandparents on my mother's side passed away in a plane crash." Emma explained. "My aunt will never fly now. And my mum is a bit of a nervous wreck when she has to go on one."
"Oh, I think I see Sally!" Emma's mom, Lisa, squealed, increasing her pace. "And that must be her new husband! And little Percy! But not so little anymore…"
Emma rolled her eyes.
"What's wrong, Emma? Do you not like your cousin?" Cleo questioned.
"It's been so long since I last saw him. He used to get on my nerves a lot when we were little. He was just so...messy." Emma winced at the memories she shared with Percy. She sighed.
"Oh, no. What will we ever do with a messy boy?" Rikki mocked a terrified expression. Emma scowled.
"Don't worry, Emma. I understand how cousins can be." Cleo assured. "I doubt your cousin will put a pelican in your bathroom, though."
"Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if he tried something like that. He's really not...bright."
"C'mon, Annabeth. You gotta admit, that was awesome." Percy said as he walked with Annabeth, Sally, and Paul down the concrete docks, all of them carrying a suitcase.
"I got seasick, Percy. Like how Hazel is." Annabeth grumbled.
"You know, I think you're just jealous that your dad isn't the sea god."
"Yeah, yeah, Seaweed Brain."
"Sally!" An Australian accented voice called.
"Lisa!" Sally returned, breaking into a run. She ran into the arms of Lisa, the two women laughing and hugging happily. The two families eventually caught up at a much slower pace. Immediately, Neil and Paul introduced themselves and shook hands. When Lisa and Sally broke away, Lisa met Paul and gave a quick hug while Sally reunited with Neil. And all while this was going on, Emma, Cleo, Rikki, Elliott, Percy, and Annabeth hung back. Cleo looked behind her, finding the edge of the dock with water lapping up against the wall.
"It's been ages!" Lisa exclaimed.
"Things just kept coming up. I could never get out here…" Sally said.
"No, no! I could never get myself out there! I've been so busy with work and so has Neil and Emma was going from competition to competition-"
"Emma!" Sally rushed over to where Emma stood with Cleo and Rikki. Sally threw her arms around Emma, squeezing her tightly. Emma winced at the tight hug, but nonetheless returned it.
"It's nice to see you again, Aunt Sally." Emma politely spoke. Sally released Emma, but placed her hands on the blonde's shoulders.
"You're all grown up! I can't believe it! And Elliot!" Sally spun around to the small boy and also gave him a quick hug. "You were a toddler when I saw you last!"
"You're my mum's sister, aren't you? Aunt Sally?" Elliot asked. Sally nodded. She looked at all the faces surrounding her, before spotting the two fresh ones standing near the edge.
"These are my friends." Emma stepped forward. "Cleo and Rikki. They came to help with all the suitcases."
"Oh, how sweet!"
"Well, actually-"
"Shhh!" Cleo cut Rikki off from a snide remark. Rikki smirked a little to herself.
"And you remember Percy, right?" Sally pulled him by the arm forward to the girls.
"Of course. How could I forget the tantrums he threw after every race he lost?" Emma teased. Annabeth chuckled.
"Which, were in fact, rare instances." Percy shot back.
"Oh, good! Nothing's changed!" Sally injected cheerfully. "And this is Percy's girlfriend, Annabeth."
"Nice to meet you, Annabeth. I'm Emma." Emma extended a hand, which Annabeth shook politely.
"Likewise, Emma."
"Well, no use chitchatting around all this fish." Lisa chimed up. Emma, Cleo, and Rikki whipped their heads to her the instant the words left her mouth. "Let's head home, shall we?"
As the group began to move, feet and suitcases shuffled. Rikki stood firmly with her arms crossed, refusing to carry anything. Rikki stepped back to avoid everything, actually. Unfortunately, she stepped back onto nothing, and her whole body tumbled back into the water with a splash.
"Rikki, can you…" Emma trailed off when she realized Rikki was no where to be found. Emma turned to look at Cleo, who shrugged in response to the silent question. Emma slipped over to the edge of the dock and peered into the ocean only to spot an orange fish tail disappearing under the surface. Emma scowled at the sight and returned to the group.
"I heard you used to race my sister?" Elliot asked Percy as the group walked.
"Yeah. When we were little." Percy replied.
"Are you going to race her again?" Elliot asked.
"I hope so. I have gotten faster." Percy wiggled his eyebrows at Annabeth, who rolled her eyes.
"Emma's super fast. And so is Rikki. She saved my life because of it!"
"Where is Rikki, by the way? Wasn't she just with us?" Annabeth interrupted. Emma and Cleo quickly exchanged looks.
"She just had to go to the bathroom." Cleo answered. "She couldn't hold it." Percy snorted. Annabeth nudged him in the ribs, but the expression on her face wasn't too convinced about the story.