Chapter 11: Interesting Friends?

I smile at her and we stay like that for a moment.

Until, out of nowhere, I hear whispering and some rustling. Um, what the hell are those sounds? I look around but don't see anyone or anything. I then look at her, mumbling something while looking below so silently, "D-do you hear that?"

"Hear what? I don't hear anything." She gives a fake smile.

Malinda's a bad liar.

Suddenly, I hear a voice, "I'm sorry! I can't take it anymore!" and a small pink fish-like figure appears from under the pond. With a high-pitched voice, it says "Hi, I'm Grace! I am Malinda's best friend for the longest time ever!"

Another voice joins in behind Malinda… a frog, "We're not supposed to show ourselves!" It whisper-yells to Grace then notices me, "Ugh, hi, I guess. The name's Faye." She gives a long look at me, "I know I'm a frog, but I can be something else for you, sweetheart." she licks her lips with her long-ass tongue. Gross.

Then a turtle's head pops up from the water, "Y-yeah, and I'm Tim. We were… here last time…" it gulped, "I-I hope that's o-okay for you…" and it hid again.

"It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, I am Bo." Lastly, a deep, bold voice enters but I can't seem to find it around the cave, whatever it is. It cleared its voice and adds, "Look up." I did and spot a bat giving a creepy smile to me.

I quickly stand up in shock and look at all of them trying to think what kind of friends she has. But after all that happened today, I'm sure this is less surprising to find out, "WHAT THE F*CK?"

Malinda looks at me with shock, "What does that f word mean?" she looks at Faye, "I heard him say that already but I'm not sure what 'that means."

Faye looks back at me, licking her tongue again, "It's the something else that we can be doing right now." Again, gross.

I ignored that and stuttered, "Y-you can talk? All of you can talk?"

"I mean, yeah! All animals can talk." Grace gives a sweet smile, "I mean, duh!"

I do a defensive stance, "But you're not going to hurt me, are you?"

Faye replies, "Excuse me, why would we hurt you?" I look at the frog who was apparently checking her nails. Or slimy hands. "Malinda helped all of us when we were, like, super ill, so we wanted to keep her company, y'know?"

"That is so true!" Grace adds and wiggles her tail, "I couldn't swim because of my poor little apple bottom here, but she totally saved my life!"

"M-me too…" Tim spoke, "My shell cracked and… oh my gosh! It was terrifying. I-I thought I was going to die! B-but Malinda really fixed me up…"

And then, Bo, with his intimidating and threatening voice says, "She has been a true friend to every one of us. Anyone who does keep her company is ours as well. Anyone who is the opposite of that, would be our enemy." That literally confirms my question. I'm not really an enemy though… right?

I sit down again and try to relax a bit, "So, all of you are Malinda's friends? For the longest times?"

Tim shakily responds, hiding a bit on his shell, "Yes… W-we try to help her back and also... g-get some things for her…. F-from outside," Now fully hiding on his shell, he adds, "I'm sorry! I was the one who took your sketchpad!"

Now that I think about, I never question how her things would magically transport inside if she can't really go out. That makes sense. "It's fine," I take breaths, "But, I'm not." I stand up and say, "I think I'm done here." I started to walk but take one more look behind me and spot Malinda's flower crown which was set down beside her. I go near her and grab it. I warn her, "And just in case my sketchpad is gone once again, I'm going to use this as a trade." Then start walking away once again.

Grace bids goodbye cheerfully, "Okay then! Come again soon!"

When I was out of the cave, I hear some loud gasps inside, but I didn't check out what it was all about. Instead, I observe Malinda's flower crown I stole and put it inside my bag before finally leaving.

-

I checked my phone.

12:20 pm.

It took 7 minutes to travel from the cave up to Chai Cafe. But the time I spent inside the cave probably took much longer than that. I was walking up the stairs to the cliff earlier and my leg cramped again. I checked it.

And the bruise is back. I know I said I wanted it back, but seriously?

After we talked, I wanted to go somewhere to gather my thoughts so here I am. I sigh then leaned back to my chair. I can't believe everything that has happened to me. But she has proof, and it was so believable. But I had more questions for her in mind, even questions to myself. And her 'friends' were weird as hell. I wonder how long they've been stuck in there too.

I wonder what my own friends will think of me once they hear about this. They'll shit their pants. I suddenly received a text message. I quickly checked what it is.

Apparently, I have 50 messages from the group chat, most of which are spam messages of memes. I scrolled to the end, not wanting to read what they were talking about.

Cygoose: You ditching school agn, huh

Cygoose: Without us

Cygoose: Bitch

RhysInPeace: I got sick.

RhysInPeace: I mean, like, sick of school

SpillTheTheo: BTW, give me back my dirt bike, bro. FFS.

Cygoose: Yeah, not cool, bro

Can they please stop saying bro for one second?

RhysInPeace: 1. I'm giving it back tomorrow. I have some crazy shit I have to tell you guys too, 2. I thought you were both were still smacking each other's ass

SpillTheTheo: We talked it out.

RhysInPeace: Thank FUCK. You literally argue every second and drag me in your BS

Cygoose: Whatever. Just go back to school ASAP bro

Then, a guy suddenly bumped into my table and spilled my Blueberry Cheesecake Frappe over the table and almost on my sketchpad. He just left not apologizing. Douche. I hurriedly try to wipe it off by tissue until a hand with a cleaning rag splat on it.

"Don't worry, I got it."

Ah, Violet, again.

"Really ballsy of you to keep skipping school, Harrison." She sasses while cleaning the spilled drink, not looking at me.

"You're saying that as if you're not here too."

"I have a job," she rolls her eyes, "That is an excuse. What's yours?"

I give a cheeky smile, "Nothing important."

Violet finally wiped it out neatly and mutters, "Whatever." and adds, "Eyes on me, Harrington—I mean Harrison. You figured out my name, yet?"

I put my hand on my chin and slowly say, "Is it… Violet?" I assumed.

She gives me a look of confusion, as if I almost got it right, "You're joking, right?"

"What, is your name Purple then?"

Purple groans, "You're lucky I'm kind to you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean," she looks away, "You should really be more careful of people around you."

Now, I'm confused. I don't know what to say… because I don't know what Violet's saying. What is she saying? I realize it stays like that for a while to make her groan aloud and go away without another word.

I shook my head. She's probably just messing with me. They're all just messing with me.

It's been a long day, even if it's still mid-day, and I think I should head back home. Even if, I don't want to. I go outside and sit on the dirt bike. As I open my backpack, I see a cat looking at me.

I stare back at it, "What? You a talking cat, too?"

It just meowed at me. I swear, I'm going mad.

I put my sketchpad inside my bag. Then I notice a weird-looking notebook inside. Oh right, it's my grandfather's journal that my sister keeps talking about. I forgot Grumbly made me put it in my bag.

I never take on anyone's recommendations but I feel like I should probably read this one. I try my best as much as I can to avoid being associated with anything my ancestor's do, but I think I can handle this one. Maybe I can ignore my current family situation for now and focus on the old ones. Maybe I'll even find some interesting stuff out.