Hello everyone and Happy 4th of July! I can't believe we've got this far! I mean, over 30 CHAPTERS!? That's insane!

Reviews: 185

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We're FIFTEEN reviews away from reaching the big 200! I am looking forward to it and honestly, I look forward to presenting a chapter with the lucky 200!

Also, I want to dedicate this chapter to a YouTuber, MyH2OBlog, who created this great H2O AU video based on Kim becoming a mermaid. Feel free to watch it!

At the Cove's Residence...

In the Grotto...

Charlotte's POV

I couldn't help but groan in frustration as the cauldron in front of me was once again fully frozen to ice.

"I can't do this!" I shouted in anger. I balled my hand up and melted the ice but accidentally ended up drying the cauldron bone-dry instead.

Lesson: Seeing as I have 3 powers, Laguna felt that I should learn to focus on the in-between states. Or, in other words, instead of going directly to solid ice and full boiling, freeze the water to the point that it's bubbling because of how cold it is from different temperatures by using my old hand gesture.

"That's because you keep forcing it! You're not focusing, not concentration, and not keeping control of your emotions with that attitude!" Laguna chastised.

"Easy for you to say! You're trying to get me to 'chill' a bowl of water when all I can do is just freeze things! That's not really fair!" I countered back. I couldn't help but bring a hand to my head as a headache was starting to form.

My day has not gone soothingly since this morning. After what happened with Alaine, it was like my first day of school all over again:

Horrible.

Just as Alaine was avoiding me, I became the talk of the school. I was now known as "Rejection", "Freaky Girl", "Loser Girl", and too many to name. I don't delve in gossip and name-calling, but this was ridiculous!

Riley had tried multiple times to console me on the matter, but I just couldn't talk to him about it and now he thinks I'm avoiding him!

The third thing that ticked me off was that, aside from Dominique, the whole remaining softball team is avoiding me.

And the tip of the iceberg itself, Alaine left me to be tortured under the mercy of Willow and Tessa! What do I mean by that? Easy! Both of those she-devils poured milk on my head and I barely made it to the restrooms in time!

And then at work, I had been stuck with some of the rudest customers on the planet! Not only were they claiming that I got their orders wrong, but they even had the nerve to call me fat!

So excuse me if I'm not really into controlling how I freeze or heat up or ANYTHING! My day is bad enough without being told what to do, or how to do it!

"Well life's not fair, Charlotte, and you're acting like a child!" Laguna exclaimed.

I had to take a step back before retorting. "Excuse me? I'm acting like a child!? Laguna, I've been nothing but patient since the day we met. And even after my change, it still feels like you have something against me and I don't know who's worst: You or Jonathan?"

"And you've been skipping out on your lessons to play with your little friend! Being patient is one thing, but acting responsibly is another! And don't compare me to my son-in-law; He has the tolerance of a whale!" Laguna yelled.

"Well, I wouldn't know! Half the time you act understanding, while the other half seems like you're scared of me. And don't you dare bring Alaine into this! I'm already having problems with her and I don't need you bad-mouthing her to your heart's content! She's the only, normal girl who stands beside me. So, excuse me for wanting a little normality in my life!" I protested.

"Well, guess what! You're not normal, Charlotte! You stopped being normal the moment you deluded yourself into believing that you were a superior mermaid in the first place!" Laguna scolded at me.

"How dare you even use that against me?! How many times must I apologize and beg on my knees for you to understand that I'm not that girl anymore! At least I'm not some hundred years old hag who spends her time hiding under a rock!" I taunted. Low blow, but I don't care!

"Why you- listen to me, little girl! This 'hag' has spent centuries looking for your ungrateful self and this is how you repay me?" Laguna barked, her eyes narrowing at me with her words.

"First off, don't call me 'Little Girl'! I've been through enough to know that part of my life is over and done with! And aren't you a little hypocrite! Instead of teaching me how to do simple stuff, why don't you give me a challenge, like, oh I don't know, controlling my visions! Just because I haven't had one in a while doesn't mean I don't feel or get these stupid vibes over stupid things!

I mean, I was drawing my best friend and without realizing it, I gave her a tail! Seriously, soon enough I'm going to end up drawing myself dead and that's not a good thing. Hell, I have THREE scars on my back from the last near-death experience I had and even then I didn't know any ways to use my powers to defend myself!" I yelled.

"And with this attitude, you wonder why? You're acting like a spoiled brat who's not getting their way and it's highly unsuited for someone your age! Grow up!" she shouted.

"I've been doing nothing but growing up since I was 17! I've entered a depression where I practically STARVED myself to death in pain and guilt over what I've done! So if you so much as judge me like I'm a common criminal, oh so help me, I will-"

"ENOUGH!"

Laguna and I snapped our heads to Karen, and saying she's mad is an understatement.

She's furious! Glaring daggers at both of us while shifting her hands on her hips, making her 9-month stomach stick out more.

There was silence for a moment before she started to speak either one of us. I was first.

"Listen to you! You're both acting like children! Charlotte, there is a specific reason you must respect your elders. They are wise beyond their years and can teach you a lesson or 2. Laguna has taken her time to train you and if she feels that you're not ready for something, then that's how she feels. If you're not ready to control your visions, then you're not!" she stated.

Then she turned to Laguna. "Mother, I can agree with Charlotte. That was a low blow, even for you! You know the person she is now and the person she was before are practically different two people. And yes, she may need to be more responsible for her lessons, but she is nearly 18. This means that she is practically old enough to make her own decisions whether you like it or not."

Laguna and I couldn't help but look at each other and bow our heads in shame.

Karen is right: I should appreciate what Laguna is doing for me.

"Now," she continued, "I have Jonathan in the car waiting for you, Charlotte. Literally, on the drive here, you were reeking in anger and frustrations. You need to calm down and cool off for tomorrow, where we will continue this lesson. Now go."

With a sigh, taking one last look at the two women, I walked past Laguna and left the grotto.

3rd POV

Laguna and Karen waited until they felt vibrating and slam at the entrance of the grotto, signaling that Charlotte was gone.

Good.

Laguna sighed and sat down in her armchair. She could practically feel the glare from her daughter burning through her.

"I suspect you're angry with me, are you not?" she asked, annoyance in her voice.

Perhaps being rude to her pregnant and hormonal daughter wasn't the right choice to go by.

"Are freakin' KIDDING ME!? You know, I'm due this month and the last thing I need is chaos in its wake!" Karen fumed. "How could you say that to her, Mother? I thought, out of everything that's happened, you'd be the first to realize that she's regretted what she's done. And you can compare how she was from the first day we met her to the present that she's come along way! Do you want to derail all that progress!?"

"Karen, understand that it was a slip of the tongue in the fuel of anger and that I never meant it. But she's overstepped her boundaries!" Laguna argued.

"Yes, she did, but you can't tell me she didn't speak some truth. She's right, we need to push her more with her abilities and...and...And you're too scared to do it!" Karen exclaimed.

Laguna snapped her head up at that accusation.

"Karen, that is preposterous! I do no-"

"Don't even think about finishing that sentence!" Karen interrupted. "You do! You've been deluding yourself since the switch! And when we discovered her Invisibility, you were shocked out of your wit! It was just supposed to be you and it was out of luck me and Brendan inherited it. But when Charlotte turned out to have, not only that but demonstrated Detection as well, you lost it! And don't even get me started on her gelatin powers either!

To you, the more you try to push her, she does something you feel that Ane'lie would do and it hurts you and scares you! And as for controlling her visions, that's not a bad idea. You did it and were able to predict things no one else saw coming. Hell! I'm pretty sure you could predict the stock market as well!"

"So what are you suggesting? That I'm refusing to go further because I'm afraid of how she'll use her powers?" Laguna asked incredulously.

"Yes. And she has proven, time and time again, that she can improve on her own. But here's the thing: She comes to you because she's scared. Scared to go down a dark path again. Scared of losing control. Scared of hurting the people she loves. She's scared and she's been putting up a front to show otherwise. You know it, I know it, Brendan knows it, and even Jonathan knows it! You are so focused on Ane'lie that you forget about Charlotte!" Karen shouted.

There was silence. Laguna just sat there with her head down. Whether it was because she was ashamed or not, Karen couldn't tell.

Suddenly, there was a sniffle. It was so low that Karen barely heard it.

But then, it got louder and louder until Laguna lifted her head up and despite her stoic face, there was wetness in her eyes.

"Red hair. The moment I saw her red hair that day, I knew who she was. It wasn't her vision, her thoughts, or any of that. It was her hair. I believe she did that so that I could find her. But what's the point? I failed. I failed Carmenta with the Dust Storms in the 1930s, I failed Caprice during the 1966 Flood of Venice, failed Florence in the waterspout in Malta, and the list goes on and on.

Are you surprised? She'll end up being just like her. Giving her life to a cause she will be reborn to do over and over again until she succeeds" Laguna stated sadly.

On the drive to Charlotte's house...

Charlotte's POV

If I wasn't already ashamed of losing it on Laguna, then I would have been beyond nervous that Jonathan was driving me home.

If I made any progress making him like me, then I blew it today.

During the drive, I kept my head tilted on the window and looked outside at the speeding cars going by. Jonathan just kept his head up, looking straight at the road ahead. I observed how tightly his hands were gripped to the steering wheel.

I couldn't decide if a silent Jonathan was good or bad?

So, we just sat there. The radio was off, making the air more awkward and tense at the same time. The sound of the engine, wheels moving and cars zooming past us were all we could focus on.

"What happened?"

I jumped at the sound of his voice. It didn't seem to hold a deadly calm like trouble was coming, or the type of calm that you get before being annoyed.

It almost sounded like...

Curiosity?

"What do you mean?" I asked timidly.

"What happened to cause you to be so emotional today? And don't tell me your period is on," he simply stated

I wasn't sure what caught me off guard the most: The fact that he wants to know about my day or the fact he mentioned my period like it's nothing.

"You most likely wouldn't care," I said, preparing myself for the lecture/backlash of being rude.

But he almost smiled at me.

"And why would you think that?" he asked me, trying to get me to be more precise probably.

"Easy, you pretty much hate me and you and Brendan don't get along at all. Honestly, I'm surprised you're even asking," I pointed out.

He never made an effort to know me and his relationship with his step-son was out there everyone to see.

Suddenly, he pulled the van over, rather stiffly, and looked me straight in the eyes.

"And yet you nearly matched my mother-in-law in a screaming match. And Karen, when her hormones are not all the way there, is the only one that can do that. My relationship with Brendan is complicated. He was raised by a stern grandmother, who is responsible for his tail in the first place, and his mother, who spoils him. Dating her and dealing with him were daunting tasks, especially with Laguna not trusting me. Marrying her proved to be a challenge because Brendan wanted nothing to do with me and did multiple stunts to break the engagement. Perhaps I am too strict with him, but he needs to learn boundaries. Not everyone wants to be his friend and those if knew his secret, would potentially exploit him. I love Karen too much to see that happen to her only son.

With you, I can't say that I didn't give off that...presence, but I don't fear you. If anything, trusting you is a task on its own. Learning about your previous mermaid experience played a role, yes, but not before we met. To be honest, I don't understand magic. What I do know, however, is that it takes control of your life in a whole new way. People who don't understand magic do things out of fear. But I'm learning that those who already understand are still feared by their peers.

Just see it from my perspective: One day, this young lady walks up to my mother-in-law, who's already had a stressful day, and both pass out after getting in physical contact with each other. Then, I learn that said young lady is prophesied to stop this ancient mermaid from destroying humankind. She runs away at first and then comes back a month later. I just imagined how out of spin I got to learn she was a mermaid before and lost it because she got jealous. How can I trust her not to lose it again? How do I know she can be trusted not to put my family in danger? Aside from me, the family trusts her yet, she has her things to hide from them. Can you see where I'm coming from?" he asked, calm yet stern in his voice.

I was shell-shocked. This was the most Jonathan has ever said to me!

But I can see his point of view now. It wasn't really that he hated me. That was never the case!

He was just looking out for the best interest of his family. And how can you do that when you have a disobedient step-son and a mermaid who just so happens to have a shaky path ahead of her?

"You don't hate me. You just don't trust what I could stand for. You would give anything for your family and I'm the loose cannon you have to watch out for," I replied calmly.

Jonathan nodded. "Now, I can see a young lady. With this in mind, are you going to tell me what happened?"

This was all new for me, yet he wasn't going to let this drop so easily.

I proceeded and began to spin the tale of me and Alaine's friendship. I explained what had happened after I came home with Alaine from the camping trip. I didn't mention the date with Riley, but I acknowledged that my self-esteem was wearing me down, especially with the misery I was feeling. I told him about my obvious conclusion of Alaine's abuse and, last but not least, what had happened with Alaine in school.

Jonathan was quiet throughout the whole thing and didn't give off any emotions whatsoever.

"Are you going to give up on her?" he asked.

This caught me off guard once more. Is he going to do this through the drive!?

"What?"

"If this girl is truly your friend, and she knows about what happened, are you honestly going to give up on her? Regardless of everything that has happened?" he inquired, giving me more details into what he meant.

But this was something I couldn't give him an answer to, even to myself. The pain I felt was nearly as fresh as the night I got the scars on my back and I don't believe it will go away anytime soon.

Possibly knowing that I wasn't going to give him an answer, she started the van again and started driving into the road.

There was silence between us once more.

Charlotte's house...

After Jonathan dropped me off, I wanted nothing more than to go to sleep.

My day at school, my horrendous time at work, disastrous mermaid lessons, and seeing that side of Jonathan took a lot out more from me than I expected.

When I walked into my house, my best source of comfort was Thomas rushing to see me. He jumped up on his hind legs and I couldn't help but smile at him and nuzzle his head.

Perhaps he could guess how tired I was, seeing as he got down. But then he made me grab his collar and follow him to the backyard.

I briefly remembered Alaine saying that she and my mom were working on a little garden project. I haven't gone back there with respect and had hoped that she would show me.

But the opportunity never came.

But that wasn't like my mom to start something and not finish it. In a way, when someone passes away, she would do something in honor of them. Though Alaine isn't dead, aside from my date with Riley, the house feels that way.

Perhaps working on their little project is her way of mourning over Alaine.

Looking at her now, I don't think I can tell my mom what has happened to her.

When we got outside, I let go of Thomas and looked at the garden. It was nothing like how it was when we first moved here two months ago.

Aside from the pool, there was just a space of green grass.

Now, on the left side of the yard, there seemed to be an at least 3-4 raised garden beds there, alongside were a few, big flower pots where I saw my mom putting the last of the soil and fertilizer into it. The side of the fence where she was had stuff all over it. And then, on the side of the fence, which leads to the house behind us, were a bunch of rocks and bricks, also accompanied by soil and fertilizer.

It seems like mom and Alaine were doing more than gardening.

I walked up to her just as she finished pouring more soil into another flower pot.

"Hey Mom," I said as I helped her put the rather heavy bag of soil down.

She looked up at me and smiled before kissing my cheek. I got a good look at her. Her hair was pulled back and she was dressed casually in a T-shirt and jeans.

Well, as casually as you can get when you are covered in dirt.

"Hey, how was school? Did Alaine return yet?" she asked. This pained me more about what happened. Though I never told her how we first met, it wasn't fair to have Alaine grow on her then turned into a completely different person.

Besides, she was asking about a completely different girl.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I think Andrea is keeping her on a tight leash. No one has seen her, not the Choir or the softball team. Even I searched for her and every place I could think of. But, I trust her to be able to take care of herself!" I tried to cheer, hoping to lighten up the mood.

Mom gave me a small smile in return. I hated lying to her, especially about everything at the present moment, but I don't believe she can take it.

I tried to change the subject.

"So, what's all this here?" I asked, gesturing around the backyard.

"Well, before Alaine left, we were talking. The backyard isn't too big yet not small either. So we decided to do a little, small-scaled landscaping. One side would be completely dedicated to vegetables and the other side would belong to the flowers. I didn't tell her yet, but I wanted to put a white, decorative, vinyl fence behind the flowers so she could plant roses there and it could grow and climb along with it. She never said what color they were, but just that she loves roses for what they mean to her," My mom stated with a far-away look.

I could see what see the meaning. Alaine once told me that White Roses meant the symbolism of girlhood while Red Roses meant courage and respect.

I can see Alaine managing to get the two colored roses to grow together, but I mostly saw the Red Roses winning over.

To put up with someone like Andrea and still be who she takes a lot of bravery and respect, yet she manages to retain some innocence all together.

"If this girl is truly your friend, and she knows about what happened, are you honestly going to give up on her? Regardless of everything that has happened?"

I then made up my mind.

I won't give up on Alaine. I can't lose my best friend and our friendship like I lost the girls. Somehow...somehow, I'll break through to her and get to the bottom of what changed.

I will get my sister back.

Looking at my mother, who proceeded to at least try to finish the garden for the day, I went back inside the house and came out a few minutes later in some casual clothes as well.

"Needs some help?" I called out to her with a smile.

Mom looked up and laughed as she waved me over.

I'd recognize the calm before the storm anywhere. I just hoped that I'm ready for it when it hits.