Ocean Girls: Just Add Water

Chapter 11

Author's notes: My depression has been getting worse and it's gotten to the point where it's hard to write now, but I'll try for you my faithful readers and reviewers. So without further ado. Here's chapter eleven.

"What do you mean?" Her father demanded.

"Mom, Dad," Bella hesitated before continuing. She tried to phrase her question right. "I ran away, because of something someone did." Before her parents could speak she quickly continued. "It's complicated and I can't really explain it over the phone."

"Bella," Her mother said. "What's going on?"

"If you really want to know meet me at Rikki's café tomorrow at eleven o'clock." She said. Her parents were about to protest but Bella spoke again. "Meet me there and I'll try to explain everything. " The mermaid hung up the phone before her parents could say anything else.

"So how did the call with your parents go?" Jason asked as he entered the room only a minute later.

The mermaid shrugged. "Okay, I guess." She explained what happened and about the meeting with her parents tomorrow.

"So, you're going to meet them tomorrow?" He said.

"Yes, I think they deserve an explanation for all of this."

"What about your secret?"

"I think it's time that I tell them all about me." She responded.

"Are you sure that's a wise idea?"

"I don't know." She said, "But I have to do something. I can't just let fear rule my life anymore. I have to tell my parents, and confront Will."

"Be safe okay Bella?" Jason told her.

She gave him a small smile. "I will. You take care of yourself, you hear?"

"I will."

Bella snuck out of Orca and joined Neri swimming back to her Island. Tomorrow was the day when she finally told her parents her secret. When they would find out everything. Hopefully they took it well. If not, she had no idea what she would do.

The next morning Bella explained everything to Neri.

"You going to visit parents."

"Yes, I have to tell them everything. They deserve to know."

Neri nodded absently. They heard the call of a whale and ran toward the beach. The boys had arrived to visit.

"What are you two doing here?" Bella said in surprise. She wasn't expecting to see the boys that morning. She already told them goodbye the night before.

"Well, you didn't think we'd let you leave without saying goodbye to us now did you?" Brett remarked.

"I said goodbye to you last night!" The mermaid exclaimed.

"That was only for last night." Jason said, "Not for this trip you're leaving on."

She smiled and gave them each a fierce hug. "I'll come back to visit." She promised.

"You'd better." Brett told her hugging her back.

"How about every weekend?" Bella suggested, "If I can. I probably have tons of school work to catch up with first."

"It's a deal." Jason said giving her a hug.

Neri watched their goodbyes.

Bella then walked up to the girl who had been her best friend during this tough time. "I'll come back to visit."

"Make sure that you do." Neri replied. She gave her a tight hug, which the mermaid gladly returned.

Bella had given the boys each her cellphone number last night so they could keep in touch. She made them promise to call her if anything happened or if they needed help with anything.

After giving them all one last hug the mermaid stepped back and looked at her three friends one last time. "I'll miss you all."

Bella dressed in her normal clothes, that she hadn't worn since arriving at Neri's Island turned and ran into the ocean. She dove down into the depths and put on a full burst of speed.

She was going back to the Gold Coast, to see her parents and her friends. She was going to explain everything and hopefully everything would turn out well.

At Rikki's café the girls were all hanging out when Mr. and Mrs. Hartley came over to their table.

"Hello girls."

"Mr. and Mrs. Hartley?" Emma said in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

"We got a call from Bella last night." Mr. Hartley explained. "Bella said she'd meet us here at eleven o'clock today. We just thought we'd arrive early in case she happened to."

The girls looked at each other before Rikki spoke up. "What did she say exactly?"

"She said she was going to explain everything." Mrs. Hartley replied.

The girls looked once again at each other silently communicating with each other. "Do you mind if we wait with you?" Cleo asked.

"Not at all," Mrs. Hartley responded, "I know you girls have been very worried about her as well. You've been such good friends to Bella."

The girls looked at each other. "We'll be right back, we're just going to talk to Ash, and Zane really quickly to let them know about Bella's return." Emma said politely.

They quickly cornered the two boys to let them know everything that they had learned and they set their plan for the surprise party for Bella in motion. Cleo called Lewis while Rikki talked to Zane and Emma to Ash.

They were going to make sure that Bella knew that she would always be a part of their group of friends. That she felt she belonged with them.

They remembered the other night, the night of the full moon when Bella told them she didn't belong there. How could they not notice how she was feeling? She basically told them she was the outcast in their group of friends; which didn't sit well with any of them. She hadn't even felt she could talk to them about any of her problems with Will.

What kind of friends were they to do that to her? Sure, she was the newest addition. But they never even thought about how she could fell like the outsider, like the seventh wheel in their circle of friends. She hadn't been in their group as long, but she was still important to them. They were going to make that clear to her upon her return.

Author's notes: sorry for the long wait. I hope that you all enjoy this. If it's completely terrible I apologize profusely.