WATER SPLASH:MERMAID ADVENTURE

Around Oc

of autumn leaves when Monica he

ell's voice carried a w

s, I do. You're the boy who almost ran

ran a hand through his hair, looking sheepish. "I felt terri

s. "Some boys would have blamed me for standing

ology." He extended a h

his fingers lingering as

ke again. "Would it be okay if we kept in touch? Maybe talk on

cond but found herself no

n her life, felt herself drawn to someone in a way she had never experienced before. It was subtle at first-rando

falling

---

friends knew it, which was why, when she first mentioned Maxwell mo

time was

a certain softness when she mentioned his name. And yet, whe

, Monica," she had s

make it sound like I'm a child.

er face. She hadn't meant to sound dismissi

ate, not argue." She turned to Monica with a gentle but firm look. "Honestly, I

it's frustrating that no

f it because, well... in high school, you never really acted on your feelings. But this time, we started noticing something different about you. And

widened. "Wa

"You never talked about losing interest in him. And for the record, your crus

l small, Monica. I just... I worry about you. You've just been admitted to u

ulders sagge

e longer. You turn sixteen in April. Talk to Maxwell, explai

lip, considerin

ay things the right way, but we're your frie

armth fill her chest. "You

d also, if he ever hurts you, we'll p

ars pricking at the edges of her

alise before speaking. "Monica, t

rows furro

whether to say it. "We... may h

nked. "Inv

our privacy! We just-well, we had to be s

em, speechless. "Yo

, when we saw you both at Lightwood

't anything major! We just as

ssed her a

serious you were about him. If he saw

pounded. "And w

dmitted he really likes you, but he doesn't want t

h hitched. "He

irked. "Wor

e a laugh escaped her lips. "So, that's w

We're practically on

n't approve of you dating this early,

s softened.

Annalise's quietness. She held bot

ven our deepest secrets. No matter how things go south or the sudden change in weather, we will stick together. One day, we will accomplish all we dream

and emotional that they hugged

over them. Monica turne

e greeted with

knowing glances before replyi

ed him. Maxwell chuckled softly, his arms wrappin

e of them. "I just wanted to say congratulat

," the gir

"I hope you don't mind, but I was h

d. "We're co

Annalis

hem. "I'll see you

Go enjoy your d

and Annalise stood in silence for a momen

ect together,"

ghed. "Yeah

ession suddenly serious. "You know..

I don't want to invest in something that won't la

n't ever call yourself a lovelorn. Annalise, love isn't just about romance. If you didn't hav

ront of everyone? You stood by me when I felt worthless. You did the same for Monica-again and again.

re what the world says about you. What matters to me is the girl who has always fought

rd, her eyes shimmeri

Clara continued, "Annalise...You may not believ

him once, d

d. "That was a

d, then took a

it hasn't faded. He made mistakes, but I truly believe he'll come back for you-because you are wo

ise's cheek, but this tim

lost in thought. "You

Clara sa

pa

ight," Annalise

ew colder, signaling

head home,"

nodded.

ce, each lost in their own though

away from home when she saw s

her eyes, and smiled before

t skippe

out to her, but Cla

kled, her pul

ust ha