The morning following the full moon, Zac was sure nothing could make him feel worse than he already did. Evie had gotten hurt because he'd tried to defeat the dragon and had kept things from her. He realized how stupid he'd been to do that.
Zac sighed deeply as he left to meet up with Evie before school.
CHCHCH
It seemed that no matter what Evie did or how she moved, her back hurt. She wasn't sure how many cuts and scrapes there were, but every movement felt painful to some extent. She didn't want to have to explain to her dad or anyone else who didn't know the secret what had happened.
Instead of wearing the sleeveless shirt she'd planned to wear, Evie found a darker, loose shirt that wouldn't add any pressure to her back and would easily hide the bandages.
CHCHCH
A little while later, Zac met Evie at her house to walk to school. "How do you feel?" he asked softly as they started down the street.
"My back really hurts, but I took something for it this morning. Hopefully the pain will dull soon."
"Evie, I'm so sorry. I was just trying to protect you and keep you and all the other mermaids safe and I—" he rambled.
"We both lied to each other," Evie cut him off. "There's nothing we can do about it now anyway," Evie sighed.
Zac nodded and they continued in silence.
CHCHCH
Ondina and Mimmi sat in the grotto while Zac and Evie headed to school. Ondina paced the floor, pausing briefly only to make a slow turn in the other direction.
"You know what!" Ondina exclaimed, breaking the silence as she stopped and turned to Mimmi. "Weilan has been nothing since she got her and brought the dragon with her."
Mimmi sighed. "We can't be sure the dragon actually followed her here. And even though Evie did get hurt, as terrible as it was, Weilan had good intentions," Mimmi insisted.
"But she still lied to all of us and the mermaid council. Evie got hurt, for crying out loud," Ondina continued as, unknown to her, Weilan started down the stairs. "And now that Weilan's plan failed, the dragon is still out there ready to attack next full moon!" Ondina exclaimed.
"Ondina!" Mimmi tried to cut her off.
"C'mon, you know I'm right, Mimmi. If Weilan hangs around until the next full moon, what will happen then? She'll come up with another brainless plan and we'll all get hurt. Or worse, lose out tails?"
"Ondina, she's—"
"No, Mimmi," Ondina cut her off. "Weilan has only caused problems since she got here. First there was flinging David across the jetty and now with the dragon. The best thing she could do now is leave."
As Ondina finished speaking, Weilan stomped down the stairs from where she had stopped. Weilan grabbed her backpack and shot a glare over to Ondina as she passed by on her way back out.
Ondina pursed her lips as Weilan walked past her. She turned to Mimmi once Weilan was gone. "You could have said something."
Mimmi sighed since she had tried to tell Ondina that Weilan was there, but, as always, Ondina had ignored her. Mimmi shook her head and turned to go to the other side of the room.
CHCHCH
A few minutes after leaving Evie's house, Zac and Evie met Cam and Carly along one of the paths. Cam and Carly sat on a bench waiting for them. As Zac and Evie approached, Cam and Carly stood up.
"Hey Evie," Carly spoke, her voice soft and cautious as she wasn't entirely sure what to say after hearing what had happened the night before. "How are you feeling?" she asked.
Evie shrugged. "A little better now. I guess the pain reliever I took is starting to set in," she spoke.
While the girls talked, Cam shot Zac an unsure look, his eyebrows raised and lips pursed in a straight line. Zac motioned Cam over and spoke, keeping his voice hushed. "I don't know what to say to Evie," he started. "I feel really bad but don't know what more to say without repeating myself."
"I'm sure she knows you're sorry," Cam replied, keeping his voice just as quiet.
"Are you ready to go?" Evie asked, breaking Zac and Cam's momentary silence.
"Yeah, they agreed. As they walked the rest of the way to school, Zac took Evie's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze trying once again to show her how sorry he was.
CHCHCH
After leaving the grotto, Weilan neglected to go to school. Instead, Weilan made her way to a quiet pond. She walked across the wooden walkway surrounded by lush, green trees.
Her backpack hung over one shoulder as she considered what she wanted to do while standing on the walkway. Glancing around, Weilan eventually decided to make her way to a small jetty with a bench and a roof built over the structure.
On the bench, Weilan sat with her arms crossed over her chest, looking out towards the houses surrounding the area, focusing on little else.
"I hope the fish are not taking the day off like you," a voice spoke.
Weilan looked up as the man spoke; he seemed somewhat familiar and she eyed him suspiciously.
"Uncle Shen, remember. From market," he spoke, a bright, warm smile on his face.
"Hi," Weilan replied, looking up to meet his eyes briefly before turning away, her arms still folded over her chest.
"No school today?" Uncle Shen asked.
"Free period," Weilan lied. She'd heard enough from Ondina about how she messed up, she didn't need to hear it from Zac and Evie as well.
"Oh," Uncle Shen said, setting his things down. "How'd puzzle box work out for you?" he asked, recalling the last time he had seen Weilan. "Did you solve it?" he added.
"Still a work in progress," Weilan replied, her voice monotone. She wasn't in the mood for talking.
"Some problem not so easy to solve. Some take time," Uncle Shen nodded. "Why have I not seen you at shop lately?" he asked while reaching down for his things. "New stock arrive. I give discount to regular customers."
"Yeah, well, I've been kind of busy messing things up for everybody." She looked down. "Maybe you'll have better luck with the fish. I'll see you around." Weilan got up and started walking away.
Uncle Shen looked down. He was sure there was something wrong; maybe he could help. "Oh, my eyesight not so good anymore. Can you help me tie the hook?"
Weilan stopped and considered staying or going for a moment. She turned back to Uncle Shen. He had a big smile on his face and gave her a reassuring nod of agreement. If she stayed, Weilan wouldn't have to face Evie or anyone else for a little while longer, so she decided to stay.
CHCHCH
After Weilan had stormed out of the grotto, because of what she overheard Ondina saying, Mimmi had gone to the main level of the house to give Ondina some space. They'd been best friends since Mimmi had joined the Mako pod so Mimmi was well aware of Ondina's temper.
When Mimmi returned, she found Ondina sitting on the stone bench. A magazine had been tossed to the side and Ondina was fidgeting with her fingers and nails.
"Are you going to sit there all day?" Mimmi asked, walking down the stairs. "You can't just sit here and sulk forever." Mimmi paused as she went to sit across from Ondina. "I'm sure Evie's feeling pretty down right now. We should try to do something to take her mind off everything."
"How?"
"We could make her some Arctic Marshmallow. Evie really likes that."
"How is dessert going to help?"
"I've seen a couple movies where people eat ice-cream after a break-up; maybe this could be something like it."
"But it won't really help," Ondina countered, standing and walking across the room.
"Okay, then what should we do. It's not like we can go back in time and stop Evie from going to Mako."
"You know about a thousand spells and potions; don't you know one that could, I don't know, heal her back faster or alleviate the pain or something?" Ondina threw her arms up in desperation. She looked back to Mimmi to find a small smile forming on her best friend's face. "You know something."
"There's this cream you can make. In the Northern Pod it's used mostly is you happen to cut yourself on ice or something, but I'm sure it can work for Evie too."
"What are you waiting for? Let's go get everything we need!" Ondina exclaimed. Mimmi smiled and shook her head as she followed Ondina to the grotto's pool.
CHCHCH
Weilan and Uncle Shen sat at the bench as they had been before. Weilan held a mug of tea that Uncle Shen had given her. Uncle Shen held his fishing pole and slowly reeled the line in.
After a couple minutes, Uncle Shen set his fishing pole aside to pour himself a mug of tea. As he got his own tea, Uncle Shen told Weilan about where he had gotten it to try and make conversation. While slowly sipped his tea, Uncle Shen noticed how Weilan was looking off into the distance.
"Something on your mind?" Uncle Shen asked.
Weilan pursed her lips and looked to her hands in her lap
Knowing something must be wrong and hoping he could help, Uncle Shen reached down to a small covered pan he had and pulled out some bread. "A problem shared. . ." he trailed off as he broke the bread into two pieces, "is a problem halved," he finished, giving Weilan some of the bread.
Thought it was a bit reluctantly, Weilan took the bread Uncle Shen offered her. After a couple moments of consideration, she spoke, "There's a problem my friends and I have been . . . dealing with," Weilan started vaguely. "I tried to fix it, but one of my friends got hurt pretty badly," Weilan trailed off, looking up to meet Uncle Shen's gaze.
Uncle Shen took a deep breath before he spoke, "If you were trying to help, I'm sure your friend will forgive you."
Weilan shook her head and turned away. "No she won't. Not for this," Weilan's voice broke. "I made a huge mistake and I don't see how she can ever forgive me," she finished, tears now falling from her eyes.
"Ever is a long time to wait. I'm sure your friend will forgive you," Uncle Shen repeated.
"No," Weilan sniffled as a few more tears escaped her eyes. "I can't go to her. She probably hates me. Right now I'd do anything to change what I did so it never happened. And," Weilan sniffled once again. "I want to tell her how sorry I am for letting it happen, but I don't think I can." Weilan sucked in a deep breath to try and even out her breathing. "If I just disappeared, the problem could come with me."
"You mean to run away?" Uncle Shen spoke, knowing that's what she really meant. Weilan turned and looked over to him.
CHCHCH
After a couple hours of swimming around to find the ingredients they knew they needed, Ondina and Mimmi returned to the grotto. All the remaining things they hadn't found while on their swim they knew Rita had.
Ondina and Mimmi lay out all the ingredients they had just found for the cream on the table in the grotto. They then went and found everything else they needed.
"Like with the Arctic Marshmallow, this needs to be precise," Mimmi explained as she set the last of the things out on the table.
"So what, you don't want my help?" Ondina asked, looking over to Mimmi who moved her head to meet Ondina's eye.
"Well, not per se, but it needs to be exact, so no making it on your own."
"All right," Ondina agreed as she and Mimmi got to work.
While working on the cream, Ondina and Mimmi talked during the time they waited to be able to add the next ingredient.
"You know, Weilan was just trying to help when she taught Zac how to use Turning the Tide and sent him to the moon pool to fight the water dragon," Mimmi said.
"Yeah, so?"
"The point it, maybe she should have talked to us about it, but she was trying to help get rid of the dragon. C'mon, Ondina, everyone makes mistakes every once in awhile. Even you."
"Me, no, I have never made a mistake."
"The Arctic Marshmallow?"
Ondina sighed, finally giving in. "Okay, you're right. She was just trying to help. And I guess if Evie hadn't been there, maybe it could have worked."
"Good. Now that we're on the same page, hand me the vial with the seafoam green liquid in it." Ondina laughed as she handed the vial over to Mimmi.
CHCHCH
Weilan and Uncle Shen sat on the bench looking out to the water a little while later. Uncle Shen had been silent the last few minutes to let what he had said sink in for Weilan.
"You know," he began, turning to face her. "A long time ago in China my family lend me money to start shop." Uncle Shen paused as he recalled the memory. "I was not very smart," he gave a slight laugh; his speech slowed as he continued, "shop failed. I was so ashamed I run away."
"You look like you've done fine," Weilan spoke.
"I'm much smarter now than I was then," Uncle Shen said, giving a light chuckle. "But, I do still regret running away."
"Well, I won't be running away," Weilan countered. "It's more like," she trailed off, "a strategic withdrawal," she finished.
Uncle Shen once again met Weilan's gaze and sighed. "You can not run away from problem, Weilan. They follow you like shadow. You need to turn and face it. You must be strong, like water," Uncle Shen finished, bringing his hand down on his leg for emphasis.
Weilan blinked at Uncle Shen, "Water's not strong. It's weak; easily manipulated."
"No," Uncle Shen spoke. "Water is not weak. Water is the most powerful force on earth. A river can wear away rock and create canyon. Waves can change the shape of continents. But it also had beauty," Uncle Shen paused. "Like you," he added, looking over to her and giving her a big smile.
Weilan turned and gave Uncle Shen a weak smile before looking away again. "You've been in the sun too long, Uncle Shen," Weilan laughed.
Uncle Shen let out a laugh as well. "Maybe you are right. We have been out here for a long time." Uncle Shen leaned forward to put the cover back on the tin with the bread in it. He handed that to Weilan and packed away the rest of his things. "Can you help me bring these things back to my shop?" he asked.
Weilan nodded and was handed a few more things Uncle Shen had packed away. A few minutes later, they were heading back to the shop.
CHCHCH
Having finished making the cream at Rita's, Ondina and Mimmi headed for school, hoping to find Evie during a break. The halls were mostly abandoned when they got there; only a few students getting things from their lockers lingered in the halls. Deducting that it wasn't a break, Ondina and Mimmi headed towards Rita's office.
"Ondina, Mimmi, what are you doing here?"
Ondina and Mimmi turned, hearing Rita's voice behind them. "We made a healing cream to help Evie's back; we were going to give it to her," Mimmi explained.
Rita smiled. "That was very kind of you. Class will be over in a few minutes if you want to give it to her then." Rita paused briefly. "Have either of you seen Weilan? She hasn't turned up for school today. She's already missed several classes and I can't find her or get a hold of her."
"No, not since this morning in the grotto," Mimmi answered.
"That's odd," Rita pondered. "She's one of our best students and never misses class. Did she say anything to you this morning?"
"Well," Ondina started, dragging the word out as she spoke. "Not exactly."
Rita frowned. "What happened?"
Ondina looked down, ashamed of what she had said.
Mimmi spoke up, "Weilan overheard Ondina talking about how she'd messed things up this morning. Weilan kind of stormed out of the grotto after that. We had just assumed she came to school."
"I know she's perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but she appears to be missing now and I need you to look for her. Zac and Evie both have a few free periods coming up and might be able to help you." When Rita finished speaking, the bell rang out through the school. They were near Rita's office and went there to page Zac and Evie over the intercom.
A couple minutes later, right as the next class was beginning, a knock came on Rita's door. "Come in," she spoke. Zac and Evie were the ones who entered.
"What's wrong?" Zac asked.
"Weilan hasn't been in class at all," Evie noted.
"That's what I wanted you to come here about. I can't get a hold of Weilan and I was hoping the four of you could try to find her since you have your free periods now," Rita explained,
"Of course," Zac spoke while Evie nodded in agreement.
"Let's go," Evie said, staring out of the office. Zac followed right behind her then Mimmi and lastly, Ondina, a bit more reluctantly.
CHCHCH
Uncle Shen and Weilan had soon made it back to his shop; he entered first, followed with Weilan right behind him. He moved to stand behind his desk and put some of his things down. Weilan set one of the things she was carrying down on the desk.
"Ah, careful. Careful," Uncle Shen repeated, picking up the rectangular, woven satchel to check the painting underneath. He brushed some dust off.
"What is it?" Weilan asked, looking down.
"Is very beautiful painting of ancient myth," Uncle Shen explained as he began to unroll the sides more. "The Legend of Jiao Long," Uncle Shen continued, brushing more dirt off the ancient painting. He looked up to Weilan who was taking in the painting. He smiled and began to explain, "Ferocious dragon. See," he pointed it out on the painting. "People run from dragon like you."
Weilan glanced back and forth between Uncle Shen and the painting. She eyed him suspiciously. "What do you mean?" Weilan asked; her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she watched Uncle Shen.
He let out a short breath before he explained. "You have dragon in your mind," he said, pointing to his temple. "It is what you fear, inside. Is like dragon. Even if you run away, trouble will follow you; it always will." Uncle Shen gave a brief pause. "Are you sure you want to leave?"
Weilan looked down to avoid his eyes. She gave a small shrug of indifference. "I don't know."
"Well, you may stay, or you may go. If you leave, make sure it is for right reason. Do not leave in storm. Leave under bright blue sky. Here, I want to give you this." Uncle Shen turned and retrieved a paper bag from a shelf behind his desk.
Weilan looked at the bag in wonder when Uncle Shen placed it in her hands. "What is it?" she asked with a sparkle in her eyes that had been absent most of the day.
"Prawn crackers," he explained. "No one should make up mind on empty stomach."
Weilan smiled as a way of thanking Uncle Shen for his generosity. "Thank-you," she spoke, the sparkle once again returning to her entire face and not just her eyes. A genuine smile completed the look. Weilan started to go, but turned back to give Uncle Shen a small smile before she walked out the door; he gave her a nod of encouragement before she continued on her way.
CHCHCH
"Evie and I don't have all that much time until we have to get back to school," Zac spoke as he, Evie, Mimmi, and Ondina exited the school grounds. "It might be best if we all split up and each search in a different area."
"All right," Mimm agreed. Evie and Ondina also agreed to that plan. The group only paused a few more minutes to work out who would look where before splitting up to try and find Weilan.
CHCHCH
Weilan kicked at a stone while walking back to Rita's from Uncle Shen's shop. She had her backpack slung over one shoulder and held the bag of prawn crackers in the other hand. Uncle Shen had made some good points about why she should stay, but she couldn't. What Ondina had said that morning both stung and stuck. She'd only brought trouble since she'd come. If she left, everything could go back to normal.
She wouldn't be there to put Evie in danger anymore, and her back could heal from what had happened. Once that was done, it would be as if Weilan had never actually stayed on the Gold Coast at all.
Weilan had made it to the grotto and was shoving clothes into her backpack when she heard splashing coming from the pool. She ignored it and continued to shove clothes in her backpack. Nothing could change her mind now that it was made up. She already had her heart set on leaving and ignored the sound of footsteps as they got closer.
"Weilan?" Ondina's questioning voice broke through the silence of the room. "What are you doing?" Ondina asked, starting down the stairs.
"Giving you what you wanted. I'm leaving," Weilan spoke, shoving another T-shirt into her backpack. Satisfied, she closed it and threw it over one shoulder. "Well, I'm leaving now. Enjoy my absence." Weilan gave a huff as she started out of the room.
Ondina watched Weilan walk past her and up the stairs. She sighed, "Weilan, wait."
At the top of the stairs, Weilan turned. "What, you want me to stay so you can throw a few more jabs my way?" A harsh sarcasm plagued Weilan's voice.
"No, I–" Ondina cut herself off to find the right words. "It was wrong of me to go after you the way I did. I was upset and I said some things I'm not proud of." She sighed, "You were trying to help; so what I really mean to say is that I'm sorry. Could you try staying a little while longer? Besides, we need your expertise if we're going to defeat the dragon, together." Ondina's voice grew softer as she pleaded with Weilan.
A small smile formed on Weilan's lips. "You really mean it?"
"Yes. Every word of it. I realized I was wrong."
"Wow," Weilan started back down the stairs. "It takes a big person to admit they were wrong."
Ondina let out a light laugh. "I truly am sorry."
"I believe you."
"Are we good then?" a hopeful glint was in Ondina's eyes.
"Yeah, we're good." Weilan set her backpack down on the stone bench. "I think it's a little late to go to school now," she spoke. The two girls shared a laugh.
CHCHCH
"We couldn't find Weilan," Zac reported to Rita when he and Evie returned to school a little under two hours later.
"We haven't talked to Ondina or Mimmi though," Evie added. "It's possible they could have found her."
Rita nodded. "Finish your classes for the day and afterwards we can go see if they went home."
Zac and Evie nodded in agreement and went to their last few classes of the day. When the school day had finished, they headed to Rita's office where she and Mimmi, who had gotten there a little while before, were waiting. Together, the four headed over to Rita's.
Upon reaching the grotto, they found Weilan and Ondina sitting on the stone bench talking to each other. "You're here?" Mimmi asked, addressing Ondina. "And you found Weilan?"
"Yeah," Ondina answered. "We talked and worked things out. I apologized and we're good now."
Mimmi smiled as she, Rita, Zac, and Evie went down the stairs. Mimmi went and sat beside Ondina, placing her arm around her friend.
Weilan faced Rita. "I'm sorry I missed school today. I just needed some time by myself to think."
"It's quite all right," Rita said. "However, you have double homework due tomorrow for missing today."
Weilan pursed her lips but stood to accept the homework. She placed it on the table beside her and turned to Evie. Taking a deep breath, she spoke, "Evie, I'm so sorry." Her eyes and voice were much softer than normal as she approached Evie.
Instead of responding with words, Evie stepped forward to give Weilan a comforting hug, Weilan placed her hands lightly on Evie's back. "It's okay," Evie said a minute later when the two girls separated.
Weilan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh, I just remembered!" Mimmi exclaimed. "We made this cream that should help your back heal faster today." Mimmi reached into her pocket and took the lotion out to give it to Evie.
"Thanks," Evie spoke.
"And I promise next time to give full disclosure to you about what we're doing," Weilan added, causing the whole group to laugh.
CHCHCH
Later that night, Weilan sat in the grotto working on her homework. She closed the textbook she had been working from and headed out to the reef and eventually the moon pool.
"Weilan!" Mimmi spoke in surprise,
"What are you doing here?" Ondina asked, her brow furrowed.
"You don't mind if I bunk with you, do you?"
"Not at all," Mimmi replied. "You're always welcome."
"You don't snore though, do you?" Ondina asked.
"Only when I sleep," Weilan replied, a smirk on her face.
"Ha–ha," Ondina laughed sarcastically followed by all three girls laughing together.
"Goodnight Weilan. Goodnight Ondina."
"Goodnight Mimmi. Goodnight Weilan."
"Goodnight." When Weilan had finished speaking, the girls all lay back and let sleep overtake them.
A/N: Whoohooo! I was finally able to get this typed up. And now, an explanation, apology, and some other stuff:
As a heads up to everyone, when I write, most of the time it's in notebooks the first time because I feel I can do better editing when I have to think through everything while typing it up. That being said, I already finished with 'Wishful Thinking' but the rewrite is 32 pages long in my notebook, about twice what this one was, so it will take me awhile to get that typed up. I took a lot of creative liberties and changed several things around for that rewrite. It shouldn't be 3 months before the next update though; my semester ends in the middle of December and I should have more time then to get 'Wishful Thinking' typed up. And I'm really sorry I took over 3 months to get everything for this chapter together.
Thanks for your patience with me. Also a big thanks for the reviews, favs, and follows, I really appreciate them. I'd love to know what you thought and to hear constructive criticism you have for me. Thanks for reading,
-CrazyHayniac
