And…. I'm back! Sorry for the wait guys, but here's the next chapter, and I hope you'll like it! I don't own Mako Mermaids, I only own my OC!

Sun was up in the sky when I got out of Rita's house to sit on her balcony. Wind was blowing around, making my long hair fly and I was watching the horizon.

"Good morning Alyssa." I quickly turned around to see Rita sitting on a chair and writing something on her laptop. "Good morning." I greeted back with a smile. "Morning!" Sirena and Mimmi greeted, coming out as well. "Rita, Alyssa, we're planning to make a sea sponge cordial, do you want to help?" Mimmi asked us.

I loved sea sponge cordial! It was one of my favorite drinks, beside some juices I tried on land… Rita apologized and explained how she couldn't because it was the first day of term at school today. My eyes widened. It was September already?! "What about you, Lyssa? It's your favorite drink after all!" Mimmi asked me with a grin which I returned. "Sure!"

"Great and Rita can go to school when we're finished!" Mimmi commented, making Rita chuckle. "Not an option I'm afraid." "Land school isn't like a mermaid school." Sirena explained. School… Zac always mentioned it back then, but I never got to learn more about it, and this desire to find out now was coming….

"What's this?" I pointed at something on Rita's laptop at the same time as Mimmi. "It's a timetable," Rita started explaining to us and pointing at names written in squares. "Names of teachers, the subjects and the time and day of every class, they all have to fit so everyone's at the right class at the right time." I was looking at this timetable curiously. School really seemed interesting…

I remembered when I was little, everything seemed to unfamiliar and I wanted to know everything, but, after being busted by the Mermaid Council, I lost interest in everything about land people, I thought I knew everything about them…. But now I saw how wrong I was. There were many more things to be found out, and there was no Mermaid Council to stop me this time…

Zac used to help me back then, but maybe it was time I did it on my own. I wasn't so little anymore, I knew how to act around humans now and I was more mature, experienced… A grin came to my face after I felt this familiar feeling of pure joy and wonder in my chest and my heart started beating faster after so many years… I…. I wanted to know everything!

"How does this machine/laptop work?" Mimmi and I asked in unison before looking at each other and chuckling. Sirena chuckled as well. "Typical duo, you just have to know everything. It's nice to see you again like that Alyssa, especially after…" She trailed off. "I agree." I grinned and hugged her. "Well thirst for knowledge is a wonderful quality." Rita told us before closing her laptop and saying she should go.

Mimmi and I looked at each other, grins on our faces because we had the same idea. "We'll help you and you can tell us everything about school along the way!" I told her while Mimmi took her things and nodded. Sirena looked at us in a bit of amusement, as if she was saying 'good old duo is back' before waving.

We waved back before walking after Rita. "What subjects do you have at school?" I asked curiously while we were on our way to school. "There are many of them like geography, science, biology…" She mentioned the names of them. "What's geography about?" Mimmi asked her this time. "You study about Earth and people." That sounded awesome!

"And biology?" I asked. "It's about different species on Earth." Unfortunately, before we could ask more, Rita told us we were in front of the school and Mimmi gave her the things she needed before she said 'bye' to us. However, soon, we were led inside by a crowd of students. "It won't be bad if we look around a bit?" I asked Mimmi who shook her head. "Of course it won't!"

So, Mimmi and I were walking around the schoolyard, watching people as well. Some of them were playing with a ball; some were holding books in their hands and going somewhere. And, Mimmi and I stumbled upon one room so we entered it while looking around. There were some letters written on some sort of a…. Paper? It seemed to be hanging from a wall!

There were glass bottles, scissors… "It looks really interesting." I commented, taking one battle and observing numbers and lines which were on it. Mimmi nodded in agreement. "Yeah, amazing, isn't it?" "Yes…" And we turned around to see… Erik! "What are you doing here?" "Going to school." Erik responded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"What about you?" Erik asked us. That was when Zac and Evie entered the room along with Cam, Carly, David and the others… "What are you doing here?" Zac quickly asked me in surprise. "Um, we were just looking around?" I responded sheepishly just as more of people came into the room. Then, one woman entered as well. "Take your seats." She ordered.

That meant that we should go? "Let's get out of here." I whispered to Mimmi who nodded but Erik interrupted me. "No, stay here, stick around for a while, nothing's going to happen!" "No, we need to…" "Lyssa, nothing's going to happen!" And Mimmi sat next to him. I was looking around the room, wanting to find a place to sit. It was obvious we should get out, but I was staying here only because of Mimmi.

Oh well, I was going to sit alone this time… I was about to head to one empty desk, but someone took my right hand and I looked up to see… "Zac!" I greeted awkwardly. "Come sit with me." He responded simply and led me to one of front desks.

He sat in one chair and I sat in the second one on his right. "What about Evie, I mean, she's your…." I started only to quickly stop myself from continuing, my cheeks being red. Not that I minded, sitting with my former best friend would be awesome, but Evie was his girlfriend and… "She's with Carly," Zac started with no hesitation and pointed at the two of them sitting in a row behind us. "And why should you sit alone?" He asked me. "Okay then." I smiled a bit and he smiled back. "Why are you here anyway?" "Mimmi and I wanted to find out more about humans." I explained, making him look at the ceiling as if he was in his thoughts.

"In case you've spent the entire holiday lying in the sun and frying your brains," The woman then started, taking a magazine off Cam's part of the desk, much to his annoyance. "I'm going to repeat an experiment we did last year. And watch closely, you'll be doing it yourselves this afternoon." Honestly, this woman didn't look like the nicest person in the world…

The woman mentioned some ingredients like food coloring, flower and water… She then added baking soda, stirring the bottle with some sort of a stick which appeared to be made of glass. I really forgot that this was all so fascinating; I've never seen anything like this! "And now I'm going to add the next key ingredient, vinegar!" She put some weird looking glasses on before pouring the liquid.

And, the liquid inside the bottle changed its color a bit, going up and some bubbles coming up as well! Mimmi and I looked at each other in excitement and fascination. "Is there a slightest chance anyone could tell what this reaction is called?" The woman asked while taking off the glasses. It sounded like she was used to people not knowing this, as if she was utterly bored.

"Magic!" And my eyes widened at seeing Mimmi standing up and smiling. What was she doing?! We weren't supposed to stand out! "Well yes, science is magic. What's your name?" The woman walked to her. "Mimmi." "Well, it's a pleasure having you in the class!" And Mimmi smiled proudly and sat down. Zac and I looked at each other for a moment in worry before looking at the woman.

And suddenly, the woman walked to in front of me. "And what would your name be? You're new as well?" Those eyes were looking into my green ones expectantly and I didn't like it at all… What was I supposed to do? If I said my real name in front of Zac, he would put two and two together and then I'd be done for! But if I said my 'other' name, Mimmi would become suspicious….

"I'm… I'm…." I started, trying to think about what name to choose. "Her name is Allie, she's a bit shy." Zac suddenly spoke up, covering for me. I smiled at him in thanks and he nodded back once the woman went back to her desk.

But right after the bell rang, Zac took my hand and led me outside, Evie following us and I could see her looking at us questioningly, but I didn't understand why. "Mimmi, you and Allie shouldn't be here!" She stated once the three of us stopped Mimmi and Erik. Mimmi looked at me in confusion. "Allie, what are they talking about Aly…." "The point is we need to go!" I cut her off before she could say my true name.

"What's the problem, she's looking around just like you!" Erik pointed out. "Well they don't wanna look around anymore!" Zac argued, his hand holding mine even more tightly, much to my surprise. "Let's go, Mimmi, Allie…" "Well I certainly do wanna look around more!" Mimmi told him firmly. "And I don't understand why you suddenly want to leave, you love land people just as much as me, you've loved them ever since you were six!" I shook my head. "Mimmi, I get it, I want to stay here just as much as you, but…"

I never got to finish because Erik cut me off. "Well I'm going to the computer room, do you want to come?" He asked Mimmi who nodded. And they were off just like that. "Evie!" I could suddenly hear Carly calling her best friend, leaving only Zac and me here.

"Mimmi said you'd loved land and people ever since you were six?" He asked me with a raised eyebrow. Mimmi, why?! "Yes?" I asked questioningly. He looked up with a frown. "Hey, what is it?" I nudged him by his right shoulder gently. "Nothing, it's just that you remind me someone I knew a long time ago." He responded. "In your pod, did you know someone named Alyssa?" He suddenly asked me.

What?! I swear, my heart was beating so fast that I thought it was going to be the end of me. Why, why?! A part of me wanted to tell him 'Zac, it's me', but…

"I do know. Zac, Alyssa is me." I pointed at myself. "And you're telling me this now?!" Zac was glaring at me. "How dare you…"

No, NO! I was the worst person ever! But if I did tell him, he would hate me… "No, I didn't?" I asked questioningly? Zac sighed and looked into the distance, much to my confusion. "Let's just get you two out of here."

And after we found Mimmi exiting the computer room, we were walking upstairs. "Rita doesn't know you're here?" Zac asked us. "No, she doesn't." I told him just as we were near to leaving the schoolyard… "Mimmi, Allie!" And I wanted to groan at hearing that voice. We turned around to see the woman from that class walking towards us with a 'I've got you now what do you think you're doing' expression on her face.

How lovely it was to see her again… "I've just checked classes and there are no records of you two enrolling." She commented. "Well we wanted to see what the school was like so we could think of enroll…." "They're just leaving." Zac cut me off. "They're not going anywhere until I get to the bottom of this." There was only one word I wanted to say right now. Crap, crap, crap!

"Now, what are you two doing here, I want answers!" "We wanted to see what the school was like!" I commented. "They're principal Santos' nieces!" Erik suddenly joined the conversation, but the woman smiled even more smugly, proving all that did was worsening the current situation! "Oh really? I don't remember the principal mentioning you two when I ran into her this morning." She responded.

"What is your previous school?" "Well, Rita teaches us…" "She means they're homeschooled." Erik covered for us. "They're really gifted…" "Well you two can be my laboratory assistants this afternoon then so we can see how gifted you two are!" Crap, crap, craaap….

And that afternoon, Mimmi had to explain some sort of a reaction and I was told that I had to write it on board. I turned around once the woman gave me the pen for writing on board, and I could see Zac looking down, not being able to watch while sitting next to Evie. I looked at Cam who face palmed in disbelief once he saw me and the others who were just waiting and watching…

I looked at the board, but I couldn't understand the point with all the numbers and big letters. What the crap was COOH plus something supposed to mean anyway?! I decided to write what was on the board from before, whatever that was, and I couldn't care less! "Allie, can you tell me what vinegar is, so you could help Mimmi over here?" Crap…

"Yes?" I put the pen down and looked at the woman who was looking at me expectantly. "I'll give you a hint, is it an acid or an alkaloid?" What was that?! And I could see Zac mouthing to me something that sounded like the first thing she mentioned. "Acid." I quickly told her. "Correct. Mimmi, now that Allie helped you, can you tell me what baking soda is?"

And Mimmi nearly said acid, but at Zac and Evie shaking their heads slowly she said alkaloid, but then the woman asked her something even worse… "Magic?" Mimmi simply responded with a smile. "What on Earth has Rita been teaching you two?" The woman asked us in utter disbelief. "This is not that reaction, girl!" She walked to me and pointed at my writing on the board.

I had the biggest urge to bang my head into the board now. Then the woman took a chair, put it in front of the board and ordered Mimmi to sit there. "You sit here." She pointed at another chair where she used to sit earlier and I did what I was told. "David, go get the principal…" CRAP, CRAP, CRAAAAP…..

"I'll do it!" Zac suddenly stood up and ran out, much to my relief. But, we were done for anyway! After about 10 minutes, Rita came in with Zac behind her, running to his usual seat next to Evie. The woman then started going on and on about our lack of basic scientific knowledge and how Rita's decision to 'homeschool' us would reflect badly on school. "How I educate my nieces is none of concern for the school board, or you." Rita responded politely.

She really amazed me. She was standing stiff like a statue, and I had this urge to send the crazy woman flying to the Moon! "We'll see about that." "Indeed, we will." Rita responded coldly. But then, I felt something wet on my blue dress… "Sorry." Carly apologized. While she was coming towards the woman's desk, she spilt the water on me!

I looked at everyone before looking at the woman with that awful smirk still on her face. "Good day, Madame." I greeted with a forced smile before walking away quickly and then running away after exiting the room. Where could I hide, where could I hide… Where was ocean when I needed it the most?!

I was just on a path in front of the main building when suddenly; I couldn't feel my legs anymore. And now, both my tail and I were on the ground. The bell rang and I quickly waved with my hand, making myself invisible. The last thing I needed was being seen like this! Thankfully no one came here, but still, I was panicking.

What if no one found me, what if… "And?" I could suddenly hear Zac's voice. "Nothing!" Mimmi exclaimed. "We need to find her!" That was Rita. "Well where could she be?" Evie. And suddenly, someone stepped on my tail! It hurt! "Ow!" I exclaimed without thinking. "Allie?" Zac asked. "Yes!" I responded.

"We need to get her out of here!" "But where?" Mimmi asked. "There." Evie pointed at something, and soon after, Zac took me by my hands while Mimmi took me by my tail, and they were carrying me towards somewhere. "Good day Principal Santos." I wanted to send that woman to the Moon, I swear! And, Rita kept distracting the woman while Zac and Mimmi put me down, Evie covering me with a lot of leaves.

After about a few minutes, I was dry, and I started taking leaves off me, Zac, Mimmi and Evie helping me in that. "Thank you people, I thought I was done for!" I literally hugged all of them. "Come on, let's just go!" Rita helped me up and we were soon on our way towards the exit.

"What are you two doing here?" We suddenly ran into Sirena and Ondina who asked us that. "Well, we've had a little adventure." I smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of my head. "Ondina was so worried…" "No, I wasn't!" Ondina cut Sirena off. "Well, you're coming back to Rita's grotto, both of you!" She told us, making me smile a bit. She was worried about me as well?

However, Mimmi didn't want to leave until she talked to Erik about something. "What happened with you two?" I asked her in confusion once we were at Rita's place. "He only wanted information about the Merman Chamber; he didn't care about anything else." Mimmi responded simply, making me nod in understanding. Zac didn't trust him either….

That night, we had sea sponge cordial, and it was fantastic! Evie even gave Mimmi and me a laptop, so we could now learn everything about people without causing trouble! That was very nice of her; both of us hugged her tightly, but… I still had that urge to go to school, to act like one of them…

"What a day." I muttered to myself once I was on Rita's balcony all alone. "Agree." I quickly spun around to see Zac walking out with the glass of cordial still in his hands. "And this thing is really, really good!" I chuckled at his words. "Agree, it's one of my favorite drinks actually." "Well I see why." Then there was nothing but silence.

"Just tell me, how do you manage to survive that woman's classes? I wanted to kick her and send her flying to the Moon!" And Zac spilt some cordial, coughing from laughter and I started hitting his back. "Thanks. Well, what can I say? Magic." It was my turn to laugh now. "Zac…" "Yes?" He looked at me expectantly.

I bit my lip. "Whatever happened to that friend of yours?" Zac frowned and looked at the moon. "She disappeared just like that, that's what happened, and I haven't seen her for a long time. Why bother? She didn't even care so…" "No." I suddenly took his hand. "What?" He looked at me with his eyebrows furrowed.

"What I meant was that… You shouldn't judge people like that until you hear the whole story. Maybe there's more to it than what meets the eye?" I explained meekly, looking him in his brown eyes.

"Thanks." He responded, and then, I swear, my heart literally stopped beating. He suddenly kissed me on a cheek, making me look at him in shock. It looked like he realized what he has just done as well, and I could see a bit of red on his cheeks. "I'm… I'm going to go now. Good night." And he left the balcony quickly while I was looking at where he disappeared.

I felt bad, but at the same time, I felt happy. I took another sip of that cordial while touching my cheek slowly, not understanding what just happened, but smiling nonetheless while the wind kept blowing…