(I'm wondering how everyone feels about the length of this chapter, should it be longer, shorter, or is it fine as is? Please comment if you feel like giving your input! Thanks -Roftlheory)
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Now that Amarisa had revealed this sudden information, Nikki realized that there was a lot that they never talked about. Sure they talked about Amarisa's love for creating art, the lake she used to live in, but nowadays they talked about Amarisa's job and Nikki's classes, movies, art, books. Regular people stuff.
They spent their time together going out, trying new restaurants and visiting new places. Oh and sex. Lots of sex. Sometimes they would spend an entire day in bed just making love.
And all this time, there was more to her mermaid-turned-human lover than she ever knew.
"There's so much you didn't tell me." She said to Amarisa as they watched the kangaroos hop around in their enclosure.
"I'm sorry, it just never seemed like the right time." Amarisa said, taking her hand. "I'm human now, it was a big adjustment for me, and everything was new." She brushed a strand of hair away from Nikki's face tenderly. "And, you."
She caressed the last word with her voice, and Nikki shivered happily. She snuggled up to Amarisa as she continued. " You were a very big distraction. I always seem to want you."
Nikki giggled and nodded. "I feel the same way."
"I want you to go back with me, I trust you. You and Elena. We'll have lots of fun, and I'll show you around."
"So, this mermaid colony, what is it like? Is it underground? Oh my god, it isn't underwater, is it?" Nikki questioned Amarisa relentlessly. Now that the secret was out, she wanted to know everything.
Amarisa chuckled at Nikki's curiosity. "No, it isn't underground or underwater, don't worry." She said as they walked up the stairs of the subway station, back to Amarisa's apartment. Once they were inside Amarisa felt comfortable sharing a few more details.
"Is it like the lake, with the wood cabins?"
"Wooden houses. And yes, there are some lakes, we like water, remember?" Amarisa teased Nikki, who grinned.
"So there are no humans there? Would they like us being there?"
"No humans, but they do allow humans in the colony, of course it's a secret so we don't usually have humans there." Amarisa rambled on, clearly distracted now as she headed her bedroom.
Nikki followed her and she was pulling out the drawers, taking clothes out. Nikki had a few sets of clothes for when she stayed over, and now Amarisa was pulling them out and placing them on the bed.
"Whoa, baby." Nikki laughed. "I think there's the problem of school for me, and work for you."
"Oh, right."" Amarisa said, looking glum.
"But...in two weeks, I have reading break..." She said in a tantalizing voice, and Amarisa brightened. "So all you need to do is book it off."
"Two weeks." Amarisa said suddenly.
"Yes- huh?"
"We should go for two weeks."
"Uh, school still in session." Nikki stammered, confused by the way this conversation was going.
"You only have lectures, all your exams and group projects were finished before reading break because your professors wanted to mark them early." Amarisa stated, crossing her arms, proud that she had remembered this suddenly very important information.
" I really don't like skipping-"
"It's only three lectures!" Amarisa begged. "Come on, the way your schedule worked out, it's perfect."
"Fine." She said and Amarisa cheered, hugging Nikki tight.
"But you still have to get time off from work, remember."
"Right, right." Amarisa said, already distracted again as she went back to helping Nikki pack.
Nikki looked down at the bed. "Ok, are you going to pack anything more for me besides underwear?"
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"Now this is something interesting." Amarisa said to Nikki. It was after dinner, and they were sitting on the couch watching TV and eating popcorn. Amarisa nodded at Elena, who was on the phone with her boss. They instinctively ducked their heads down sneakily, eavesdropping on Elena's conversation as she paced back and forth beside the window that showed the view of the street below.
"It wasn't this bad when you booked off your two weeks, was it?" Nikki whispered.