Chapter 12

Emma was now in her third month of travelling. She was missing Rikki, Cleo and Ash desperately. While her family had been travelling through Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, Emma had had limited access to free Wi-Fi (the best kind), and so internet correspondence had been restricted, a few messages here and there. Now in Poland, Emma begged her parents to go to a McDonalds or at least park outside so that she could communicate with her friends and boyfriend. Her parents had agreed mainly because her father needed to move money around their accounts.

Since it was ten in the morning in Warsaw, she thought that it was probably around six in the evening on the Gold Coast. Eagerly and excitedly, Emma logged onto her Skype, hoping one of them would be on. Ash. She messaged him quickly. Soon, he was video-calling her iPad.

"Hey, Em!" Ash greeted cheerfully.

"Ash! It's so nice to get to see your face," Emma replied happily.

"Yeah, you too," he replied.

"How is living in Brisbane?" Emma asked.

"Not too bad, I've adjusted quickly and its nice having my own apartment,"

"And the job?"

"I love it," Ash grinned. "The training apprenticeship is going well – my instructor says I have great potential,"

"I knew you'd be great," Emma replied.

"Where are you right now?" Ash asked.

"Warsaw,"

"That's in Poland right?" Emma nodded in response. Ash continued, "What is it like there?"

"Beautiful. We've been to some amazing gardens and parks. Despite the fact that I have been travelling through Europe for a while now, I'm still amazed by the European architecture. All the buildings look so different to the ones back home,"

"I bet. Do you have a highlight?"

"This morning we visited a place called 'Old Town,' a world heritage site – after Warsaw was destroyed in World War II it was completely rebuilt. It was cool seeing what the city used to look like,"

"Awesome. So you haven't had any close calls?"

"Not recently," Emma replied quietly. "It would be so much easier to tell them but oh well. So far we haven't encountered too many water activities – mainly because it's quite cold, but I'm sure that'll be a problem in the near future. And when it has been raining, I've-" Emma began to whisper, "frozen the water gently, making it snow instead. I don't know why but I don't change when in contact with snow," she resumed a normal volume, "People have just noticed 'freak weather patterns,'" Emma smirked. "So yeah. Last month though I did have to rush to a café bathroom when Elliot accidently tipped over his lemonade, but nothing I couldn't handle yet,"

"Wow," Ash said. There was a comfortable pause. "So, have you talked to Rikki and Cleo in a while?"

"Not properly – it's just been a few Facebook messages and emails here and there. I will Skype them at some point – it has been too long. It's like I'm missing two parts of me – especially since I haven't been swimming in a long time. I feel like I have a version of cabin fever – land fever or something,"

Ash chuckled in response.

"I bet they miss you too. I know I do,"

"I mean, I love my family but…I need some other company – thank God for the internet,"

"Amen," Ash replied. He heard voices in the background and Emma looked up.

"Just a second…" she said. "Okay…Sorry Ash, I have to go – we are going to do some more sightseeing. Catch you later, yeah?"

"Definitely," Ash smiled. "It was awesome to get to talk to you,"

"I agree – I look forward to the next," Emma smiled. She touched her hand to her lips and then blew him a kiss. "Miss you, I'll see ya Ash,"

"See you," Ash replied. The call disconnected.

OoOoO

The next day, after they had driven to Krakow, Poland, the Gilberts went into an internet café. Emma couldn't believe her luck when she saw Cleo online. Rikki quickly made her way over to Cleo's place and a video call was arranged.

"Hey, it's so nice to see your faces," Emma said excitedly when the call connected.

"Likewise, Em," Rikki said, smiling.

"How's school?" Emma asked.

"Good thanks," Cleo replied.

"Typical, your first question is about school," Rikki smirked. "I should have known," Emma rolled her eyes.

"You getting everything done, Rikki?" Emma asked.

"Yes, Mum, I'm handing everything in on time. No thanks to Cleo here – she's really stepped up the pressure now that you're gone,"

"You make that sound like a bad thing," Cleo laughed. "You're actually doing quite well, Rikki,"

Rikki just shrugged.

"How is the café, Rikki?" Emma asked casually. Emma felt a bit uncertain when the light in Rikki's eyes darkened slightly. Rikki sighed.

"It's good – but stressful. I have to take a lot of the account work because I'm much better at it than Zane. He lost us quite a bit of money recently,"

Emma was going to ask how but saw the look on Rikki's face and decided not to press the issue.

"And then there is Will's sister, Sophie. She seriously is a bossy piece of work…" Rikki was interrupted.

"Anyway, how is Poland? That's where you are right?" Cleo asked.

Emma realised that she was going to hear a lot more about this seemingly problematic Sophie in the near future.

"It's great, we just arrived in Krakow – it's one of the historic and cultural centres of Poland. Today we are going to the Krakow Zoo – Elliot's really excited. We'll probably visit one of the many museums also,"

"Sounds good," Cleo said.

"How is swimming?" Emma asked wistfully.

"Wonderful as always," Rikki replied.

Emma sighed. "Darn it, I miss you guys! And I miss swimming. Every time I see a lake in the distance I feel drawn to it – I'm deprived!" Emma lowered her voice, "I haven't had a proper wash in ages –what we are makes it nearly impossible to have a shower in a campervan. I have done it a couple of times though,"

"Aw, that sounds ghastly – I never thought about that," Cleo said eyes wide.

"I can't really complain though, look at this amazing opportunity," Emma said.

"Just focus on the pros," Cleo smiled.

"Is travelling amazing?" Rikki asked, "I've never left Australia – if you don't count a few swimming excursions I've had recently. Is the culture significantly different?"

"Definitely – everything is so much older, it has a deeper history – you can just feel it. The way people react to things is different in every country I've visited,"

There was a comfortable pause.

"Sorry guys, my parents have finished their coffees – we're on the move again. I'll catch you later," Emma said.

"No problem – It was awesome to talk to you,"

"Bye," Emma smiled as she ended the chat. She sat back in her seat content. She somehow always felt more at ease having talked to them. It was a shame how short the calls were but short was better than nothing at all.

A/N: Hey everyone! I'm so so so so sorry about how long it has taken me to update - I had writers block and just kept putting it off...and I had uni work :P Anyway, I have this chapter and my blockage has broken - I'm working on the next chapter.

Next chapter, TIME JUMP, Emma returns. I think it would be more interesting. However, if you want another chapter like this one, just leave me a review, and I'll make the chapter I've started follow a new chapter. I hope that makes sense.

Thanks for following this story; I hope people still want to read it :)

Anyway, thanks so so much to you all for your patience and loyalty.

Thanks especially for the reviews - I know it took me a while, but the reminder that people still want to read it makes me want to finish.

Thanks so much to

WannabeeAussie - Thanks so much :) I'm glad you like it - the emails are fun to write. I hope you enjoyed the video calls just as much (they're harder to write) Thanks for the great idea - unfortunately, for this story, I want Emma to get back, and also I don't see it as likely that Emma could sneak off and swim without her parents noticing. If I got her parents to find out then I could use it. Who knows, maybe if people want me to continue this story into her attending uni, she'll meet some there :P

Chinaluv - Thanks so much, I appreciate it :)

Mermaids Forever - Thanks so much, I appreciate it :P In response to your review - I'm not exactly sure which month, oops, but I think its about April for this chapter. I really should have set a timeline, but oh well, I don't think it matters too much)

SisterSam - Keep up the pressure at home, I need it :P

NotJustAShadow - I'm sorry it took so long. In the next few chapters Bella and Emma will meet :P

ObsessedwReading - Thanks :) I hope you like this chapter too.

HybridsRose - Thanks for the review! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as the last.

Starlightdreamer12 - Thanks for the feedback :)

1 - Thanks!

Guest - Thanks for your opinion. I might just do that :P

Thank you all! :D

The next chapter won't be so far away (I hope :P)

I hope this wasn't too boring.

See you all next time or on another of my stories!

P.S Wow long authors note! :P