Chapter 4

I woke up, I was back at the room. I rolled to the side and I fell off my bed. "Ow," I said. I stood up and exit my room. I saw Ash sitting on the couch. "Huh? Why are you still here? Aren't you suppose to go out?" I asked. "Not today. We all are taking a break," Ash said. "Anyways we're going to Serpent Beach today. I'm sure you're going,". "Oh cool! Of course, I'm going," I said with a big smile across my face.

"What are you going to wear?" I asked.

"This," Ash said. She was wearing a black singlet with black shorts.

"Oh. When are we going?"

"They said about nine in the morning,"

I looked at the wall clock and it was eight forty-five. I moved as fast as lightning and got ready. I grabbed a white short-sleeved shirt and my black inner-wear. I zipped to the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

After a few minutes, I got out of the bathroom. Ash looked at me. "You sure you're wearing that?" Ash asked. I nodded. "Well, you could wear better but that seems okay," she said. She opened the door and we went out.

"What do you mean I could wear better?" I asked.

"Well, you're exposing many parts of your body," Ash replied.

"What's wrong with that?"

"Don't blame me if every guy starts staring at you,"

"At least I'm wearing something inside,"

"Once that white shirt is wet, it's gonna show your innerwear,"

"Uh…..okay….that's making me insecure,"

"Can't go back now. We're nearly there,"

Ash does have a point there but I'm sure I'm the youngest one there like Willo. I'm just a sixteen year old. I shook my head. "I'm sure things won't go too far," I said.

We arrived at the beach. It was breath-taking. White sand, blue sea. "Wow, never seen a beach this clean," I said. I saw Ying in her swimsuit. I walked towards her to say hello. "Hey there, Emily. How was your day?" Ying asked.

"It was nice. How about you?" I asked.

"I'm glad you ask. It's lovely so far," Ying replied.

"Isn't the view breath-taking?"

"It's sure is. This must be your first time here,"

"Yeah. It is. I never have seen a beach this clean,"

"What do you mean?"

"I've seen beaches filled with garbage,"

"Oh my. Didn't they take care of the sea?"

"Not really. The people there seem not to care,"

"What happened to the marine life?"

"Most of it died by the toxics people throw into the sea,"

"I can't believe someone would do that!"

"Neither do I,"

I saw Skye in her swimsuit walking here. She kind of exposed nearly everything. I couldn't believe someone would wear that kind of swimsuits. "Oh look! There's Cassie," Ying said pointing to a girl with a bird. Ying waved at Cassie. "Oh hey, Ying!" said Cassie. She was wearing sunglasses and tied her orange hair into a ponytail. "Cassie, this is Emily," said Ying.

"Um...Hi Cassie," I said.

"Hey, did you meet Fernando?" Cassie asked.

"Yeah, I did, kind of,"

"What did you think about him?"

"I don't know, he seems nice,"

"Did he talked about me?"

"We didn't have a chance to talk,"

"If he asks about me, just change the subject,"

"Alright, I'll keep that in mind,"

After a while lots of people came, most I don't even know. I was sitting on a beach chair under an umbrella while looking around. I saw Fernando flexing in front of Cassie. Cassie just walked away. Most of the guys there and staring at Skye's swimsuit. Kinessa was making fun of Lex's butt because it was square-shaped ( It was ). Maeve was holding Sha Lin's bow and running while Sha Lin is chasing her. "Hey, champ," Kinessa said. "Hey," I replied.

"Aren't you going into the water?" Kinessa asked.

"Not now," I replied.

"Why not?"

"I'll be going in the water in a sec,"

"Oh come on. Why not now?"

"I'll be in a sec,"

"I'll help you with that,"

Kinessa called Fernando. She pointed at me and to the sea. I didn't get the message for a second. "You ready to get into the water?" Kinessa asked. "Huh?" I said. Then, I realise. I think Fernando was going to lift me and throw me into the water. I stood up. "Not until you catch me first," I said and started running. I'm not a fast runner but it was worth trying to run. I looked behind and Fernando was behind me. I was giggling and running until I got lifted. "Hey let me go," I said while laughing. He threw me into the sea. Luckily, I learn how to swim. I swam up to the surface. I was laughing. "Hey, Kinessa! It's your turn to dive in," I said. I pointed to Kinessa and the sea. Fernando chased Kinessa also. After a few seconds, she got thrown to the sea too. Kinessa swam to the surface. We both looked at each other and laughed.

I was swimming in the sea. I haven't swum in the sea for years. It was very relaxing even though the water is extremely salty. Ash was right. I could see my inner wear if my shirt is wet. I didn't get tired of swimming but I'm sure it's going to hurt in the morning. I saw them chasing Maeve. I think they want to throw Maeve into the water. Is Maeve a cat? Is she a cat in a human form? I thought.

I felt something wrapped around my foot. I tried swimming but something was tangled around it. I looked to my foot and it was seaweed or kelp. I tried to untangle it but I couldn't. I tried to stay calm but I couldn't help myself panicking. I looked to my side and there was a huge wave coming right at me. I know screaming is a bad idea but I couldn't help myself. I shrieked as loud as I can. I held my breath and I dived in. I covered my face while I was underwater.

Suddenly, I felt I got lifted. "You can open your eyes now, senorita," someone said. I put away my hands out of my face and I saw Fernando, holding me. "Uh um, t-thanks," I said. I felt my face heating up ( hopefully it's because of the sun ).

He placed me down by the shore. "You alright, senorita?" he asked. I nodded. He winked and walked away. "Are you blushing?" Kinessa said. I looked at Kinessa by my side. "No! I-I'm not blushing! It's the sun," I said. Kinessa laughed. "Look at him," Kinessa pushed my head to the front and there he was. "N-No!" I said. I covered my eyes. Kinessa laughed even harder. "Is your heart beating?" Skye asked. "Stop it, you guys!" I said. They both laughed. I looked at them. I stood up. "Very funny guys," I said.

"Don't worry he'll find out eventually," Skye laughed. "Stop it!" I said. "Find out about what?" Ash came from behind. "Nothing! It's just a little joke," I said, looking at Ash. "She likes Fernando," Kinessa said. "What?! No!" I said. "This little girl? With that guy?" Ash asked. She laughed and snorted. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked. "I'm sure you have better taste than that," Ash said patting my head. "Thank you!" I said. "Don't mind me I'm just gonna have a rest over there under the tree,"

I rested under a shady coconut tree, sitting on a beach chair while enjoying the view. I looked to my side and I saw a whitetail that seems familiar. I stood up and went to the direction of the tail. It was behind a bush. I went to the bush and it was a white cat that looks similar to Mr Fluffers. "No way…" I said, picking up the cat. The cat meowed and it sounded just like Mr Fluffers. "Maybe….it's a different cat…" I put the cat down. "You're interested in cats?" Cassie said, standing behind me. "Yeah but this cat seems familiar. Maybe it's just the same species," I replied. "Alright then," Cassie walked away.

At the end of the day, Ash and I went back to her house. "That was fun," I said. Ash nodded. I went back to my room and changed into my normal clothes. A navy blue t-shirt and black shorts. I lied down on my bed, looking up to the ceiling. Until I heard someone opened the front door. I opened my bedroom door a little to take a peek of the living room. I couldn't believe my eyes it was Fernando. Ash looked at my direction and caught me peeking. I quickly shut the door. I thought Fernando is not allowed to enter this place or perhaps… No, I thought. Wild ideas were flying through my mind. I shook it all of me. "No no. That can't be happening…..I hope," I said.

I was lying down in my room, bored. I grabbed my jacket and crawled out of the window. It was freezing outside so I wore my jacket. I walked around the place, trying not to trip on anything since it was very dark. I looked up and the stars were shining beautifully. I noticed snow was coming down. "Huh? I'm sure it's not wintering yet," I said. I looked around and I saw someone on a stick soaring through the area. It looked like a witch.

The person landed in front of me. She had blue hair and staff. "Hey! I saw you on the beach earlier! So how was it getting saved by Fernando?" she asked. "Would you not ask about that!" I replied. "Sorry can't help myself," she said, giggling. "I'm Evie by the way. And you are?" she asked.

"Emily, nice to meet you, Evie," I said.

"Nice meeting you too, Emily," Evie said.

"Did you make all of this?"

"Yeah! Isn't it 'cool?" she laughed.

It took me a while to understand what she said. I laughed. "Finally! Somebody thinks it's funny," she said. Beautiful tiny snowflakes fell from the night sky and landing on things. It was fascinating. "You like it, huh?" Evie asked. I nodded as I looked up high. "Every time it's snowing, I never go out to run around and play in the snow. I had to stay inside," I said.

"Why?" Evie asked.

"Mother was so worried that I might catch a cold and Father, on the other hand, doesn't even let us go play outside. We never know why," I replied.

"That's sound so boring!"

"It was indeed very boring. I'm glad I appeared here,"

"If I was you, I wouldn't even stand just sittin' around doing nothing!"

I looked behind and I saw Fernando leaving the house. "I better go before Ash or Fernando notices I'm out here," I said. "I can help you get there faster," Evie replied. She grabbed me and placed me on her ice staff. We both soared to the window of my room. "Thank you for your help, Evie," I said.

"No problem," she replied, soaring off to someplace else.

I climbed into my room through the window and landed on my soft bed. I placed my face on the pillow. Someone poked on my arm. I looked and it was Ash. "Hey, did you saw what happened there?" Ash asked. I shook my head. "Good," she replied. "Did you two…. Do something…?" I asked.

"What do you think we were doing?" Ash asked.

"Probably….what I'm thinking it is," I said sheepishly.

"No. We did not do that,"

"So, you two weren't "canoodling" with each other?"

"What?! Why would you think we would do that?!"

"I don't know 'cause that's what my father used to do with ladies at his house,"

"Maybe your father has a problem,"

"He does. So what did you two even do, hm?"

"We just discussed tomorrow's match,"

"Uhuh, is that's all?"

"That's all,"

"Why did you even asked me if I saw what happened? Did something "wrong" happen?"

"No. I was just asking to see if you saw us out there,"

"Alright then. I'll just ask Fernando tomorrow about today since nothing wrong happened,"

"Don't even speak to him,"

"Fine fine. I would not not talk to him,"

"What does that suppose to mean?"

"It means that I would not not talk to him," I giggled.

Ash looked at me suspiciously and went out of my room. I giggled. "It means that I would ask him about today," I whispered and giggled. I hugged a pillow tight and threw it off my bed. I hid under the sheets.

Word Count: 2,130

Last Updated: 13/12/2019