"Okay, I think this is the last of my stuff," I told Lien Hua and Ren Shu, looking in my bag of clothes. I didn't have much, just the clothes Lien Hua kindly sewed for me, soaps, toothbrush and toothpaste made of peppermint and spearmint leaves.
I was in my original outfit again which was a purple long sleeve shirt tucked in my style ripped blue skinny jean that goes to the middle between my hip and belly. I am wearing my high top purple converse shoe, which was the only shoe I had. This time, I tied my hair into a messy bun on top of my head, leaving a few strands sticking out from the sides.
They walked me to the end of the road, where I saw a group of young people waiting for our ride. I saw Taoren and she saw me as well. She smiled and waved to me.
"Dani!" Taoren yelled and rushed over to us, "I'm so happy you're coming too! We are gonna be such great friends!"
"Yeah, it is only right for me to make my own allowance. I can't rely on Lien Hua and Ren Shu forever. I only hope to be able to send some money for them to repay their kindness," I replied. Taoren smiled. I looked around and saw stupid Hundan and his minions. When I turned to the road, I saw Marc and he was walking next to that pervert Zhou. It seemed like there was someone missing. That was when I realized I didn't see Taoren's sister Mao. "Oh, your sister's not coming?" Taoren shook her head.
"No, she's staying behind to take care of my grandparents. They're elderly and can't properly take care of themselves. Our parents are deceased so we live with them. It was either me or Mao to stay behind. She chose to stay," Taoren explained. I felt bad for her and knew how she must have felt not having parents.
"I'm sorry to hear. I don't have parents either. I don't even have siblings," I replied to her. Taoren frowned. "But it's okay, I have you. You're my family. So is Lien Hua and Ren Shu." It made her smile and give me a quick hug. We walked a little bit further from Lien Hua and Ren Shu.
"You are too cute, Dani," Taoren replied cheerfully. I smiled too. She gave out a confused look on her face, looked at the back of my head, and turned to me. "Oh, I didn't know you have black in your hair. I haven't seen it yet until now." I touched the black highlight on the back of my head in the middle.
"Oh… I almost forgot about this. I've always had it since I remembered being alive at a young age. I may have been born with it." I replied to her, "As a matter of fact, my hair was like this already."
"So pretty and cute! It really suits you," she complimented. It made my lips curve upwards into a smile.
"Thanks. I like your hair too, Taoren. It's long and beautiful," I replied and she smiled as well. From behind, we heard someone speak to us.
"Tch, even the littlest of all people want to go work. Hate to say but you'd most likely get fired shortly," Hundan told me quietly. It was only loud enough so the he, Taoren, and I could hear. I made a mad face and turned to him.
"Shut up, I know you like Taoren!" I replied loud enough for the 3 of us to hear. Hundan's face flushed red immediately and his brows arched down.
"Do not!" he told me, and quickly went back to his minions. I bet he likes Taoren. That's why he got so embarrassed.
"Ew, Dani. Even that comment is an insult to me," Taoren said, and I began laughing a lot. I tried to stop laughing but I couldn't…
Marc and Zhou were talking when they heard someone laughing a lot. They turned and it was none other than Dani. She was laughing whole heartedly and it was very cute. Zhou couldn't help but think that it was cute. He hasn't seen that side of her before. Hmph, she sure is enjoying herself. One would think that she is innocent and cute in nature. She could fool anyone with that smile and laugh, but she will not fool me. He wasn't about to tell his friend what he was thinking. It was already bad enough that Marc questioned whether he liked Dani or not.
Marc smiled. Seeing Dani so happy like that made his day. She is very charming and cute. I don't see why Zhou doesn't like her. Or maybe he does but just doesn't want to openly admit to me. Maybe I should be a good wing man for him.
"Ey Zhou, let's go to Dani and her friend," Marc suggested. After the warning I gave him, he still wants to be her friend?! How could he?
"Ew, no! I refuse to. I don't like them," Zhou told his friend. When he turned, Marc was already walking off to Dani and Taoren. "Marc!" His friend paid him no mind and continued walking. Damn it, Marc! You really want her to show her true colors to you before believing me, huh? Zhou groaned before walking after his friend…
"Hey Dani, we meet again," a voice said to me from behind. I recognized that voice. I turned and it was Marc.
"Hi Marc! Are you heading to the capital to work as well?" I asked and he smiled.
"Yeah, I am. You are too, right?" he replied. I nodded.
"Yup. A few days ago, I didn't know about it until Taoren told me. Oh, Marc, this is Xiaolong Taoren. Taoren, this is Marc Rodia," I told them.
"Hi," they exchanged. Someone else approached us. It was Zhu Zhou, the pervert. My expression quickly changed to a mad face.
"Here to get hit again?" I asked and his brows arched down.
"Shut up, you mermaid. I'm not here for you. I'm with my friend Marc," he replied, and turned to Marc, "Why are you even here? I thought I warned you to stay away from her. She is pure evil." That stupid Zhou is friends with Marc? I don't see how they are buddies!
"Come on, let's be nice to each other. We're all gonna be sharing houses and quite possibly the same room. Might as well get along, right?" Marc replied.
"Speaking of which, I heard it's 4 people per room, but I don't know," Taoren added in. 4 people per room?! Oh goodness.
"I don't care who I share with, as long as it ain't the 2 of you! You guys are immature and annoying." Zhou insulted.
"Shut up, I never said I wanted to share rooms with you anyways! We stay far away from each other! It's a win-win for us all!" I yelled back, only loud enough for us to hear. Taoren agreed with me.
"Yeah! Anyways, I know you like Dani but too bad you're such a pervert! Maybe if you're nicer, I might just let you hang out with her," Taoren said and smiled. I turned to her with confusion. What the heck? She might just let him hang out with me if he was nice?
"Ew Taoren, not even," I told her.
"Shut up, I never said I wanted to hang out with a mermaid like you!" Zhou scolded, his face turning red. Marc chuckled softly and we all turned to him.
"I can see we will get along just fine. Our ride is just about here now. We should get going," Marc told all of us. We turned and saw 12 white horses with a big carriage. Oh wow, horses! I've never seen one up close before! The horses came to a halt and a tall, muscular man came out.
The carriage is white, and spacious. It was luxurious and had small floral designs. The left side of the carriage had a window that could be opened or closed. The front of the carriage has double doors. Its wheels are made of metal and the carriage itself rose 5 inches above the ground. The horses were split into 3 groups. The first 3 groups of horses closest to the carriage had 3, the fourth group only had 2, and there was 1 in the front leading the way.
"I am Imperial Guard Pang De! Those who wish to work in the capital, come forward into the carriage! We don't have all day. Let's get a move on!" the man shouted. I saw Hundan and his minions go inside the carriage first.
"I should go say my final goodbyes," I told Taoren and Marc. They both smiled and walked on ahead a bit further with Zhou…
"She's very different. May I ask why she limps a bit when she walks?" Marc asked Taoren. Zhou was curious himself as to why Dani limps.
"She didn't tell me, but I think it's because she is injured. When I first met her, she was already limping. When she was fighting, I noticed that she was only using her right leg and left arm to hit," Taoren replied, and Marc was shocked. Dani likes to fight? Wow, even I wouldn't know.
"She likes fighting?" he asked, and Taoren shook her head.
"No, I don't think so. She was defending herself and boy, she is badass! Zhou had to learn the hard way when he decided to peep at her when she was gonna shower," Taoren explained. Marc turned to Zhou, confused. Whoa, am I missing something here?
"For the last time, I did not! God, you are so stupid and annoying!" Zhou exclaimed, and walked off towards the carriage, while Taoren and Marc were laughing. Marc lightly bowed his head to Taoren.
"You must forgive Zhou for being this way. He isn't a bad guy. Let's just say he can be insensitive at times without realizing it. He doesn't open up easily to new people. Shall we go to the carriage first?" Marc asked, and Taoren nodded.
"Yeah. By the way, I don't think he's a bad guy either. I can tell by the way he is," Taoren replied and they began walking to the carriage where Zhou was standing, waiting for them. They turned back to their friend, who was saying her goodbyes…
"I can't believe it's already time for you to leave. It only seemed like yesterday when we found you barely alive," Lien Hua told me.
"Yes, and the both of you were kind enough to help me. If it were not for you guys, I think I would be dead. Thank you so much for everything the both of you have done for me. I will make sure your kindness is repaid," I told them both. Ren Shu handed me a small sack.
"Here. This is but a small start off for you. When working, you don't get your money right away so you need to have some money with you to buy the things you want," Ren Shu told me, making my left hand hold the sack. It was heavy for a small bag. They really are too kind. They've been helping me, yet I couldn't do anything for them because of my injuries. I almost don't want to leave. Tears filled my eyes and I hugged Ren Shu. I let out a sigh as a tear dropped. Ren Shu chuckled and hugged me back. "Silly girl, Dani. It's not the end of the world yet. You can always come visit whenever you want. We will still be here." I nodded my head and sniffed, trying not to try. I stopped hugging him.
"I'm really gonna miss you," I told him. He smiled out sadly and I went to give Lien Hua a big hug. She hugged me back. "I will miss you too. You're more of a mother to me that I wished I had. Thank you for everything. I swear the next time you see me, I will be able to walk normal and help you guys out. I will not be useless." She kindly chuckled.
"I will be waiting for your return, my child. I pray for your safety always," she replied to me. I nodded and hugged her tighter and cried softly, my chest aching. I never knew I could feel this way. It's a different kind of hurt, kind of hard to explain. Lien Hua was rubbing my back softly while I had my emotional breakdown.
"Last call for anyone who wishes to work in the capital!" Imperial Guard Pang De shouted.
"You should get going before they leave." I stopped hugging her and nodded. I wiped my tears away.
"Okay… Goodbye," I told them. They smiled out sadly and I turned around to begin walking towards the carriage. I hate goodbyes, even though it's not forever. This pain in my chest isn't going away. Have I grown this attached to them that fast? I turned back to them once more. They waved goodbye to me and I did the same…
Marc was waiting for Dani to come to them while Zhou impatiently waited for Marc to hurry. He didn't understand why Marc still wanted to be Dani's friend. The thought that she was nice to Marc and mean to him made him angry and he didn't know why he was feeling that way either.
"Marc, let's just go in first. She can wait for her stupid mermaid friend herself," Zhou complained. I wonder why Zhou hates Dani so much? I've never seen him this upset about anything before, especially being upset at a woman like Dani. Maybe he is trying not to make it obvious that he likes her? Marc chuckled to himself with that thought. "What?"
"Nothing. Just never seen you hating someone so much, that's all. Are you sure you don't like her, Zhou? You can tell me anything. I keep secrets," Marc replied, smiling. Zhou's brows arched down. What is wrong with Marc now? Why does he keep thinking I like her when I don't? Zhou rolled his eyes, trying to keep the hotness on his face contained.
"For the last time, I do not like her, Marc! Maybe you like her!" Zhou replied. His heart was thumping fast but he tried not to let it show. Marc could already see that his friend was flushing, even he did too when Zhou said he liked her.
"Yeah, I do like her. She's a friend of mine. Maybe you ought to be nicer to the 2 girls, right, Taoren?" Marc asked. There was no reply, only the sound of someone sniffing and crying softly. Zhou and Marc turned and saw that Taoren was bawling her eyes out while looking straight. Marc became worried while Zhou thought Taoren was so stupid for crying out of the blue but deep inside, he felt a little sad for her.
"Why the hell are you crying?" Zhou asked, trying to hide that he cared a bit why she began crying. Taoren sniffed and wiped her tears away before turning to them.
"It's just that it was so beautiful and sad. It really got to me," Taoren explained. The 2 guys were confused.
"What was beautiful and sad?" Marc asked.
"Dani and Ren Shu and Lien Hua. They were saying their goodbyes and it was so beautiful and sad. I just got emotional from watching," Taoren continued and Marc accidentally laughed while Zhou's brows arched down. She is so stupid! Crying from watching Dani say her goodbyes?
"Tch, pathetic," Zhou said, turning the other way. Taoren made a mad face. This guy. He is such a jerk! How does he expect to have any friends from acting like that? He is so rude! Taoren gave a kick to Zhou's butt and sent him running harshly 3 times before falling and posing like a pig.
Zhou's mouth opened in shock. He turned back to Taoren and Marc. That stupid Taoren! Ugh! She makes me so angry! He got up and dusted his hands.
"You stupid Taoren!" Zhou shouted, marching off angrily inside the carriage first. Marc snickered to himself, trying to keep his laugh contained. Poor Zhou. He must be so angry at her now.
"Last call for anyone who wishes to work in the capital!" Imperial Guard Pang De shouted. Marc and Taoren turned to each other.
"We should go in first. Dani is just behind us," Marc suggested, scared that Imperial Guard Pang De will leave without them. Taoren agreed. Dani, you better hurry it up before he leaves. The 2 went on ahead inside the carriage…
I reached the carriage and Pang De was next to the carriage door. He turned to me and I went inside the carriage, with him closing the door behind me. Everyone turned to me. Inside the carriage was Huo Hundan and his minions, Zhu Zhou, Marc Rodia, Xiaolong Taoren, and another guy I've never seen before.
The inside had pillows to sit on and nothing else. The inside was large and spacious. It was all white on the inside with a blue peacock painted on the left side of the wall.
"Dani!" Taoren shouted, waving for me to go to them. I walked to them and sat next to her…
Zhou was sitting next to Marc, pissed off at Taoren. When Dani came, she looked like she was crying and she looked cute. It made his heart beat fast. What is it that I'm feeling? Come on, Zhou, keep your head straight. He closed his eyes, inhaling, then exhaling before opening his eyes again.
Wow, even in the aftermath of crying, she is still beautiful and cute as ever. Marc was staring at Dani for a little bit, enchanted by her beauty. Their eyes met, and he smiled warmly at her. Dani returned the smile too, her 2 dimples showing along with her white teeth that had some kind of metal with blue and lavender brackets on each tooth.
Zhao Ying Jie was sitting down by himself, being bored. He stood 5 feet and 9 inches. He was handsome and has light brown shoulder length hair tied into a low ponytail with pushed back bangs. His eyes were hazel and looked to be intimidating and he had slightly tanned skin with dark, thick brows. He has a muscular build and he has juicy, full lips.
When he turned, he saw a girl who stood out very well. She had blueish grey hair with red, black, and purple in her hair as well. Her eyes were heterochromia, which he found beautiful. She was smiling with her teeth, and he thought she was very beautiful and cute, but having a pretty face isn't enough to interest him.
"Hey Dani, you're so little. Have you even begun puberty?" he heard a guy ask. He was the smallest guy there. The girl he thought was cute quickly frowned angrily.
"Shut up, Li! You didn't stop wearing diapers until you were 5 years old! You be walking around, wearing that diaper of yours and looking like one of them ants from 'A Bug's Life' but too bad you was born a human!" the cute girl replied to the small guy. Ugh, what a bad attitude, especially from a young woman! She has no respect! Everyone except for him began laughing at her comment.
"Tch, that's the stupidest thing I have ever heard," another guy sitting close to her said. The girl turned to him as well.
"Shut up, Zhou! I will not hesitate to beat you up again! I won't let you off easy this time, even though you're Marc's friend!" she replied. The guys around the smallest boy were laughing a lot. The man who seemed to be "Zhou" turned to them, his brows arched down.
"Shut up! Who the hell even gave you guys permission to laugh?" asked Zhou, angry.
Huo Hundan and his friends were still laughing when Dani said that Xiahou Li didn't stop wearing diapers until he was 5 years old and Zhou was mad because he thought they were laughing at him. They didn't like Zhou because of that.
"Man, shut up!" Yue Jun Jie told Zhou. Tch, these guys are the wrong ones here and yet they dare to tell me to shut up? They must really want to get beat up! Or better yet, they must be stupid Dani's friends.
"You shut up!" Zhou replied.
"We weren't even laughing at you. You're so stupid! It's not our fault every time someone laughs, you're so insecure that you think they're laughing at you, idiot!" Hundan told Zhou. Zhou's brows arched more downwards.
"I am not insecure! You guys are the stupid one! You started everything! If you guys had just shut up and not say anything to Dani, we wouldn't even be arguing!" Zhou said. He turned to Dani. "Stupid mermaid! This is all your fault!"
"Shut up! It's your fault! Nobody told you to butt in!" Xiaolong Taoren said, defending her friend. He is so stupid! Always wanting to argue with Dani! He must really like her in secrecy and is trying his hardest to not show.
"I know! It's so stupid," Dani agreed. Zhong Kai was closing his eyes the entire time. When he opened his eyes, it looked like Dani was looking at him and called him "stupid" so he quickly got mad. I didn't even do anything to her and she dares call me stupid? It's war with her now!
"Shut up, you're stupid!" Kai told Dani and she turned to him. She had mean, arched brows but it was only cute.
"You're stupid! I didn't even say anything to you yet! You minion of stupid Hundan! Despicable you!" Dani shouted, pointing at him, and Kai was very angry at Dani now. He was not Hundan's minion!
"That is so dumb!" Bell Saphir said, thinking about how stupid it was.
"Yeah, like you!" Taoren told him. Oh goodness, all these arguments are pointless. Marc shook his head softly, while placing his right hand on his head.
"Guys, can you all just stop arguing? This is pointless and has no meaning to it," Marc said. Who the heck does this guy think he is, trying to play the good guy here?
"Shut up, don't be trying to play hero here!" Hundan told Marc. Marc's calm expression quickly escalated into an angry face.
"You shut up! I'm just telling you guys to stop because all the argument is stupid! What the heck is wrong with you, always trying to stir up trouble for everyone? You low life," Marc replied.
"You're a low life!" Jun Jie told him. Ugh, I am so sick of hearing them!
"Will all of you just shut up?! Gosh, you're all so annoying!" Ying Jie told them all and their eyes shifted to him.
"You shut up! When the heck did you get here?" Li replied to him.
"I know! He was so quiet, like a ghost. Wooo!" Hundan said, raising his hands up and swaying it side to side, making the ghostly sounds.
"No one told you to listen," Zhou said, being mad at Ying Jie for saying he was annoying as well.
"I know, what an idiot," Jun Jie agreed.
"Who the hell are you?" Saphir asked. It was stupid for Ying Jie because they were just arguing. Now it seemed like they were all friends now.
"I am Zhao Ying Jie, brother to Zhao Zilong, the dragon of Chang Shan!" Ying Jie said passionately. Everyone looked at each other.
"Eh, never heard of him," Taoren said.
"Me neither," agreed Dani. Ying Jie was mad, because with them saying that, it seemed like they were showing disrespect to his big brother.
"You weren't even here for a month yet, of course you wouldn't know anything, you mermaid," Zhou said to her. Dani's face became a mean looking.
"Shut up, Zhou! I thought I warned you that I will beat you up, even though you are Marc's friend?!" Dani replied.
"You shut up! I'm not scared of you. If I really wanted to, I could have beaten you up already since you're so tiny and already wounded! Be thankful I haven't yet!" Zhou yelled at Dani. She had a mad face and looked at him for a couple seconds. Yeah, you better be scared for you know what's best for your leg.
Before everyone knew it, Dani jumped on Zhou and they fell from sitting down. She turned Zhou so he would be laying down flat on his stomach. Dani sat on his back, grabbed his head and began making him hit the ground while he was trying to not hit the ground, but despite her small size, she was strong. Stupid Dani! I have had it with you! You're really gonna pay now!
"Get off me!" Zhou yelled. Marc was so surprised by her sudden movement. Whoa, I can't believe she just attacked Zhou. Quite funny, I wonder if Zhou is secretly happy. Oh well, I should stop her before she does some serious damage to him.
"Do you think I am scared of you?! I am not afraid of anyone, nor will I ever be! You remember that after I show you what's up!" Dani yelled, still making him hit the ground. Oh, she's really going at it!
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" Xiahou Li chanted, as his friends began chanting with him. Zhou knocked Dani off him using his shoulders and she fell on the ground. Zhou turned her to lay flat on her stomach and he sat on her. She began struggling to get him off but he was too heavy for her. He wrapped his arm around her neck, leaning on her, but he wasn't choking her.
"Ahh! Get off me, stupid Zhou!" she yelled. Hundan and his friends were laughing a lot at them while they were fighting.
"How do you like it, huh? You're gonna pay for what you did to me!" Zhou replied, holding onto her tight, trying to make her submit and stop fighting. She continued struggling, holding his arm. Better not be able to lift me up! Stupid Dani! "Not so tough now, are you, mermaid? I will make you submit!"
"Never!" she shouted, as a sharp pain broke out from his arm where he wrapped his arm around her neck. Never in his whole life has anyone ever given him so much pain.
"Ow!" he yelled. Zhou quickly pulled his arm away from her. He looked at his arm and in the center, he had a small bite mark. Zhou opened his mouth in disbelief. He turned to her. "You bit me, you stupid mermaid!" She shouldered him and he fell off her. Dani turned him back to face down flat on his stomach. He tried to turn back but she sat on him and ankle locked his right ankle. "Get off me! you really wanna get beat up, don't you?!"
"You do!" Dani yelled back. Deep inside he didn't want to beat her up. He is not one to beat girls up. he struggled to free himself but she held his ankle tighter, and it was hurting him. Taoren began laughing.
"Shut up, stupid Taoren! It's not even funny!" Zhou yelled at her. She found it very amusing. Taoren already knew that Zhou wasn't trying his best because he didn't want to hurt Dani. Hehe, maybe he really does like her after all.
"That's a shame, losing to a girl. Tsk, tsk, tsk!" Taoren replied, closing her eyes and moving her left index finger side to side. I am not losing to her! She's just lucky I don't literally want to beat her up!
"Calm down, Dani. Let's all be nice to one another, okay?" Marc said, hoping she would let go of Zhou. She still had a mad face.
"Do you promise to stop being mean?!" She asked Zhou.
"That's so stupid! You were the first to be mean!" he yelled and she twisted his ankle a bit more.
"Zhou," Marc muttered to his friend. He hoped that Zhou would just promise not to be mean so she could let go of him. No matter what happened between the 2 of them, it wasn't his business. All he knows is that they are probably going to be good friends.
"You might wanna promise her or your ankle is gonna hurt," sang Taoren, aiming to annoy Zhou because it was funny. Zhou rolled his eyes. He thought it was pointless in promising her because he disliked her a lot.
"Do you or do you not?!" asked Dani again. Though I didn't try my best, this is humiliating! I guess it won't hurt to say, just so she'll get off me.
"Fine! I promise I'll be nice," Zhou replied.
"And do you promise to stop calling me a mermaid?!" she continued. Saphir and his friends continued laughing at them all that time.
"I promise!" Zhou told her.
"Promise what?" Dani asked.
"I promise to not call you mermaid anymore! Now get off me!" Zhou continued. The pain in his ankle faded and his back became lighter than when she was on him.
"Better submit, Zhou, for you know what's best for you," Dani warned as she sat back down next to Taoren. He rolled his eyes. Stupid mermaid, just you wait. When the time comes, you'll pay for humiliating me…
