Chapter 18
Temptations
It was finally the girls' first day back in school. While Lynae would start her final year in high school, Meredith was beginning her first year there as well. After they finished getting ready, Lynae drove her car to the school parking lot along with Meredith at her passenger side. The girls sat in the parking lot for a bit nervous to step into those double doors.
"So this is high school," Meredith spoke up.
"Yep, I'm so ready to leave this place."
"How should we go about this? I mean what if it rains at days? What if..."
"We'll come prepared for that. For right now let's just take some baby steps and try to get through this one day,"
"Alright, I'll see you after school?" Meredith asked.
"I'll be here." Lynae sighed.
"Lyn...I..." Meredith tried bringing up the situation in the ocean before.
"You should go get your paperwork and ID badge. Don't want to be late for your first class," Lynae interrupted her knowing what she was going to say.
Meredith did what she was told without another word out of her. She first opened the car door and made her way inside. Lynae had her hands on the steering wheel and took deep breaths trying not to let the past get to her.
"Breathe, Lyn, you can do this. It's only one more year. It's only one more year..." Lyn said to herself.
She slowly got out of her car and walked toward the school entrance. The only thing she could hear was her breath and her heart racing as she walked slowly in the hallways. She then saw some faces turning toward her eyeing her directly. As she was shaking at the stares, she heard a voice in her head once more. That voice was Amelia's.
"Hi, Lyn,"
"Gah, Amelia, don't do that! You scared me!" Lyn scolded in her head.
"Sorry, I knew you had school starting and I kind of sensed – well you know, I am basically trying to get you to ignore the people staring at you in the hallway,"
"What? Did you read my mind again?"
"Didn't have to, this afternoon I felt this heaviness in my chest and then I remembered that today you and Mere started school today,"
"How did you feel that?"
"I don't know, I think it was when I felt like I was being judged or being talked behind my back but I knew it wasn't my situation from where I was at either."
"Gee, thanks for the reminder,"
"Look just block it out. If you can't then you know where to reach me,"
"I'll keep that in mind, but I think I got this,"
"Your body language says otherwise,"
"Will you get out of my head already? Don't you have a boyfriend to see?"
"Alright, alright, I'll leave you alone, but my offer still stands,"
"Okay, later,"
Amelia left the conversation, then Lynae went inside one of the classrooms to get ready for one of her classes.
Meanwhile, Meredith was getting registered and saw some of her friends coming by.
"Hey, Mere, did you get registered?" Hailey asked.
"Yeah, I just got my ID badge done. How about you?"
"Yeah same here, it's so different from middle school,"
"I know, right? I didn't believe my sister when she said it was a big school,"
"Speaking of, are you going to try out for the volleyball team this year?"
"Nah not this time,"
"What? Why? Don't tell me you're intimidated by the older grades!"
"No that's not it at all. I have stuff that kind of makes me not have time for volleyball anymore," Meredith tried to lie.
"What stuff?"
"I'm volunteering as a coach for little league baseball,"
"Seriously?! How did that come about and why didn't you tell me over the summer?!" Hailey grabbed her by the arms.
"Surprise!" Meredith grinned.
"Well, I guess that would explain why you haven't been answering my texts lately too.
"Yeah, haha, sorry about that..."
"No biggie. Still, the team would be missing out on an awesome freshman player though," Hailey continued.
"Sorry, give a bit more out there for me, will you?"
"Will do,"
The girls chattered as they went to their first freshman class of the year. What Meredith didn't tell her best friend was what actually happened during the summer. She knew that telling her the truth would shake up her friendship but also endanger her family in whole. Never did she think that she would ever have to keep a secret from Hailey nor did she think of taking precarious measures in hiding her other form.
Back in Delaware, Amelia was walking around in the kitchen then her mom walked in later on.
"Oh, I was looking for you, your doctor called back. He scheduled you for another appointment next week," Ashlynn stated.
"What, what for?" Amelia asked but she knew what her mother was going to say.
"Dr. Beckham found something on the MRI, and he wants you to come back for further evaluation,"
"What does that mean?"
"I don't know, but next Thursday you will know," Ashlynn said while grabbing some papers.
"Okay, well, I'm off,"
"Okay, let me know if you'll be back by dinner time,"
Amelia left the back door without saying another word to her mother. She sensed that her mother was in shock of the callback from the doctor. Could she be surprised or was she in suspense when Amelia stated that she was doing better? It was difficult for Amelia to differentiate between the two and she had hoped her mother didn't try to follow her around.
While she was making her way to the beach, she was relieved that her mother was still at the house. When her father stated that they would loosen the reigns, they were not joking. She hoped it stay that way and try to act as normal around them as possible not to second guess on their decision back in Oahu.
However, while being distracted thinking about her parents and that time in Oahu. She was surprised to see a familiar face waiting for something – it was Eddie. She really did not go into much detail about the vacation nor did she spend a lot of time with him since she returned.
"Eddie..." Amelia said with her eyes wide open.
"You act like I'm some kind of stranger with that look," Eddie smirked.
Eddie was a carefree boy that Amelia had known since they were preschool age. No one in their peer group expected them to become a couple to begin with. They started going out around their junior year in high school despite Amelia being homeschooled a bit and not seeing him a bit in their younger years. He usually made Amelia feel at ease and not so tense around him despite her condition and her parents' strict regimen for the sake of it.
"I didn't expect you being here today. Don't you have work today?" Amelia asked knowing he had a part time job as a mechanic.
"It's my day off today, I was wondering if we could spend some time together?"
Amelia knew she scheduled to meet Rimulus today for further Latin lessons, but she felt that it wouldn't be fair to Eddie since she hasn't been spending time with him recently. Plus, to make her feel guilty even more, it was his day off which he hardly gets now since he started that job. She had to do one or the other -postpone the lesson or turn down Eddie's date. She then opened her mouth to respond to him.
"Sure, I've missed you a lot!"
"We could go in the water if you want,"
"No, no, I don't want you to get your shorts wet. I thought maybe we could just do what you want for a change. You've always gave into me wanting to go in the water so why not a change?" Amelia lied to keep her secret.
"I don't mind it, Mia. But if it that's what you want to do, alright. How about the arcade?"
"Sure! That sounds great!" Amelia said while trying to sound excited.
While they were walking hand in hand, Amelia telepathed Rimulus.
Rimulus, I'm sorry can we reschedule the tutoring session? I have something I have to do to make sure I don't give away my secret.
Rimulus responded a few seconds later, It's fine, my lady. Better to do what needs to be done to keep your secret rather than someone be suspicious.
Without noticing, Amelia sighed out loud. Eddie looked at her concerned.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine, just a bit worried,"
"About?"
"I have another test next week at the hospital. Something changed in my MRI scan,"
"Really? Is it getting worse... getting better?" Eddie's eyes went wide when he heard her statement.
"Not sure, my mom didn't give me much details. I don't know if the doctor told her or if she wants to surprise me," Amelia deceived him once more.
"I would come with you, but you know my job..."
"It's okay, I know you do, I don't want you to get in trouble with your boss at work,"
"Man, it sucks being an adult. I have to work so many hours, too tired to do anything, and I can't even be there for my freaking girlfriend at what could be...gah!" Eddie held back from what he wanted to say further.
"Eddie, it can't be helped. Please don't be upset. I don't like seeing you upset," Amelia grew worried at his reaction.
"I know, I'm just under some pressure. I'm actually thinking of switching jobs."
"You are?"
"Yeah, something with more stability. While you were gone, I interviewed for a position as a butcher for a seafood shop,"
"I didn't know you like fish,"
"I don't, but I don't mind it either. Plus, it has more stable hours at least,"
"When will you hear back?" Amelia asked.
"Sometime in the next few days,"
"You'll get it, I'm sure of it,"
"I don't know, he had more to interview,"
"You'll still get it."
"You just want me to get it to get a discount, don't you?"
"No...maybe..." Amelia said teasingly.
They finally reached to the arcade downtown. They played for hours until they got tired. Eddie was always good at video games which kind of made sense at the time that he had a job as a mechanic. Amelia was happy to see him this excited to go to the arcade and play all of his favorite games. She didn't regret going with him despite not being a fan of video games.
The couple started making their way back until some of the clouds became darker and more condensed to where it was going to rain. This made things tricky for Amelia because she knew if she got into contact with the rain, she'll turn in public. Also she would have to explain to Eddie about everything.
"Shouldn't we find some shelter?" Amelia asked quivering.
"We still have some time, beside I don't think the rain is going to be much anyway,"
She started to see spots of wet concrete and dashed away from Eddie trying to find some shelter from the rain.
"Amelia wait up!"
"I can't be out in the rain!"
"What are you talking about? Come back here! I'll take you home!" Eddie said while chasing after her.
The rain started to come down and Amelia dashed to an alleyway on her left. Eddie finally caught up to her catching his breath.
"Amelia, what the hell?! What's gotten into y...?"
Eddie stopped dead in his tracks after he lifted his head at Amelia. Her body shifted into her luminescent golden purple tail. Amelia started sniffling fearing what he might be thinking. She knew what he was thinking at least part of it because he was mostly shocked at what he was seeing right now.
"Eddie, please..." Amelia pleaded with him while trying to suppress her incoming tears from her eyes.
"W-when were you going to tell me this?!" Eddie panicked.
"Eddie, please, I can explain..."
"Is this why you didn't tell me about your vacation in Oahu?"
"It just happened. I'll tell you anything you want to know, just please..." Amelia bowed her head.
The rain kept coming down with Eddie staring down at Amelia. Her thoughts were shadowing what he was really thinking. She thought now that he knew, he would stop loving her and break up with her. Then he shifted out of the alleyway leaving Amelia without another word. That's it, she thought. It was over between them. All because of this, she lost her boyfriend over it. She kept crying and crying.
Then to her surprise, she felt something hovering her head and body. She looked up and she was picked up by someone. Then she saw who it was. It was Eddie. Her eyes were wide on him not knowing what to say. Then he spoke softly.
"You're going to catch a cold if you keep sitting there – not like you could move out of the rain by yourself anyhow." Eddie said while carrying Amelia in his arms.
He was careful enough to conceal her tail by wrapping it around by a large towel and then having another to keep her warm. Instead of what he said before he was going to take her, he went to his house instead. He placed her on the couch into his living room.
"What are you doing?"
"What's it look like I'm doing? I'm helping you get dry." Eddie said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Are you mad at me?"
"No, just disappointed. I thought you trust me."
"I do trust you!"
"Then when were you going to tell me about this?! How long was this going on?!"
"Since Oahu like you mentioned. I wanted to tell you, but I just didn't know how to bring up a situation like this. It's not like I'm pregnant or anything like that!" Amelia said.
Eddie remained silent.
"Eddie, say something, please. I love you. I also thought if I told you, you would probably not want to date a fish,"
"You really think that's what I'd think?! Mia... I..." Eddie paused for a moment of frustration and then took a deep breath.
"Can I touch it?" He asked softly.
"Huh?" Amelia looked puzzled.
"Can I touch your tail?"