Chapter 8

Nothing happened in the end. Tulip chased the girls away, screaming in anger before rushing back to Emilia, who still remained in the pool.

‘I’m fine I'm fine’ Emilia hastened, as Tulip knelt at the edge of the pool, leaning over her, grasping her by the arms, as if scared Emilia might sink beneath the surface again.

‘I can’t believe she did that to you!’

‘Don’t worry about it’ Emilia said firmly.

The tone of her voice made it clear that she did not want to pursue the matter.

‘It’s ok’ Emilia said, speaking in a gentler tone now. ‘I’ll get her back, don’t you worry.’

Tulip made a noise of displeasure at that.

‘What, with another prank? You need to stop fighting with her’ Tulip told Emilia. ‘That’s the only reason she acts this way towards you, no one else fights with her like you do.’

‘Oh, does that make me special?’ Emilia gleamed.

‘This isn’t funny Emilia’ Tulip said sternly.

‘Oh come on.’

‘She tried to kill you!’

‘You’re overreacting’ Emilia rolled her eyes. ‘I’m not gonna die. You think I’d let a pipsqueak like that end my life?’

‘She tried to drown you!’

‘So?’

Tulip looked livid.

‘Why are you so nonchalant about this?’ Tulip snapped.

‘I’ve faced people way worse than her.’

‘Emilia….’

‘And besides, if I do die….’

Oh heck, I might meet my mother again.

‘You know what?’ Emilia relented, ‘maybe you’re right. Can you just do me a massive favour please? Can you get my leg back and then we can just forget about all of this?’

Tulip let out a heavy sigh, frowning down at her, shaking her head.

‘Oh Emilia, I wish you would be more careful.’

Emilia said nothing as Tulip rose to her feet, turning and making her way away.

‘I’ll be as quick as I can’ Tulip said to her.

‘Thanks. I’ll just wait here.’

Emilia watched her go, before pulling herself up and out of the pool, turning and sitting on the edge, hearing the water slosh off her as she did. She kicked her foot playfully in the water, making waves and humming a theme to herself.

‘…what if everyone could see, that just by holding hands, like the dango fa-mi-ly, you will find love. Now the little dango town, is slowly blossoming, into the, bright world I dream of. Just beyond the starry sky, the rabbit’s on the moon, wave and smile down upon, the world below. Roll up all the little things, that make you sad and find, all the things, that make you ha-ppy.’

She waited patiently.

It wasn’t too long before Tulip returned to her, back in her normal clothes now. She was carrying Emilia’s prosthetic leg in her hand.

Upon seeing it, Emilia felt elated.

‘Sweet!’

Tulip came to the edge of the pool, handing the leg to Emilia.

‘Thank you so much’ Emilia said to her.

Tulip didn’t reply, instead continued to stare at Emilia, expression serious.

‘What?’

‘Nothing’ Tulip sighed. ‘I just….’ She shook her head with a smile then, this time her demeanour more relaxed. ‘It’s nothing. I’m just glad you’re ok.’

Emilia quickly attached the prosthetic leg.

‘There’ Emilia beamed. ‘All better. Can you help me up?’

Tulip offered Emilia her arm, who took it gratefully. Tulip helped her to her feet.  

‘Whoops!’ Emilia wobbled slightly.

‘Easy there’ Tulip said. ‘Are you going to be alright?’

‘Definitely. Let’s go back to the locker-room, I wanna change.’

 *

Tulip waited as Emilia dressed, putting her shoes back on. She felt much better with her shoes back on, sturdier, less likely to fall over.

As she closed the locker, Tulip spoke up, glancing to her watch.

‘It’s getting kinda late, I should be getting back to my room. I need to study, and there’s other work to do.’

‘I’m sorry to keep you.’

‘No, it’s ok.’

‘You can go ahead if you like’ Emilia said to her.

‘Um.’

‘What?’

Tulip laughed awkwardly. ‘I uh…don’t want to leave you alone.’

‘What do you mean?’

Tulip frowned to herself, reluctant to answer.

‘You’re not worrying about those girls are you?’ Emilia said. ‘They’re nothing. You know I can handle them. They only came today because well…’ she shrugged with a smile, ‘I was unprepared. It’s harder to fight when you’re in water and missing a leg. They have no chance against me on land. They only came when they did because I was vulnerable. I would have done the same.’

‘You would have tried to drown someone?’ Tulip asked incredulous.

‘No no, that’s not what I meant!’ Emilia hastened in a panicked tone. ‘What I meant was…to increase your chances of besting your opponent, you strike when the odds are most in your favour. Imagine a predator and its prey in the wild.’

‘I wish you’d take this more seriously’ Tulip lamented. ‘I wish you weren’t so nonchalant.’

‘I'm not going to cry about it’ Emilia replied simply.

‘I’m not saying you should’ Tulip said, as Emilia lifted her bag, walking over to her. ‘I’m just thinking that maybe you should talk to the headmistress or something.’

‘And admit defeat? No way. I’m not showing weakness.’

‘This isn’t a game Emilia’ Tulip answered seriously.

‘Sure it is.’

‘One of these days you could get seriously hurt.’

‘Oh stop’ Emilia chuckled, patting Tulip on the top of her head playfully. ‘It’s sweet that you care so much for me, but there’s no need to worry.’

Tulip slapped her hand away with annoyance.

‘Just…let me walk you back to your dorm room. It would make me feel better.’

‘Fine’ Emilia grinned widely. ‘If you insist.’