Rikki walked down the beach with a nostalgic expression. She was going to be leaving all of this in only a week. Her father had found work in New Zealand, and she still hadn't broke the news to Bella and Cleo. Dad only found out three weeks ago, anyway, Rikki thought to herself as she slowly walked in the direction of her two best friends houses. She had thought about the move though, and decided that she would take a break year to adjust to New Zealand before going to college there. She was after all, just out of high school. Rikki walked on the right side of the pavement, and even though it was a warm, sunny day - perfect weather - she was cold. She continued nostalgically remembering every area in her town. That's the cove where we had a picnic once. And that's Miriam's house. Remember that awful party? Suddenly, she felt something whiz by. She turned around, realizing that it was Zane, on a skateboard.

"What's up, Rikki-o?" he asked her with a bright smile. Rikki looked at him. His face had pure joy on it, something that Rikki hadn't seen on it since the summer before. Rikki shook her head, before answering, "What do you mean, 'what's up'? I'm moving, that's what's up."

"You're moving?" Zane said. His face quickly grew darker.

"Yeah, I'm moving. Now, will you please move out of my way?"

He didn't. "Where to? Why?"

Rikki sighed. "I'm moving to Alexandra, New Zealand. And it's because my dad got a job."

They continued walking up the sidewalk as Zane asked with a frown, "Well, can't he work in some other place?"

"No." Rikki said, shortly. "You know that he hasn't found any work here."

"Look, Rikki," Zane said, passionately looking into her eyes. "What you and I've got here is something really special. You can't just leave me!"

"Zane, nothing has been 'special' about our relationship in a year! In fact, currently, our relationship is categorized as 'common acquaintances.'"

Zane looked down. She was right. He couldn't correct the facts. "Rikki," he started. "I -"

"Oh, look," Rikki interupted him. "Here I am. Cleo's house. Bye now."

"Rikki!" Zane cried. "Rik-"

She had closed the door, but instead of walking away like he normally would have, he sat down on Cleo's porch.

"Hey, Rikki," Cleo said with a friendly smile as she welcomed her friend inside. Rikki quickly closed the door on Zane, and followed Cleo inside. "Haven't seen you in a while."

"Oh! Well, um, things have been busy." Rikki quickly said.

"What kind of things?"

"Oh, you know."

"No, I don't know," Cleo said. She stopped right in front of the door to her room.

"Well, I guess I'll have to tell you. Come on." Rikki opened Cleo's door. Inside of Cleo's bedroom was Bella, surrounded by books and magazines on the bed. Rikki glared at Cleo. She hadn't expected to have to also tell Bella right then.

"Well?" Cleo asked, impatiently. "What have you been doing?"

"What have you been doing?" Bella asked, looking up from a clothing catalog.

"Okay, okay. I came here to tell you, um, that Dad found a job..."

To this, Bella and Cleo smiled, happy for their friend's family.

"But..." Rikki continued. "It's in New Zealand, and we're moving next week."

Cleo and Bella looked astonished and upset. Rikki wrung her hands.

"Well," Bella said, trying get back her composure. "You're technically an adult. Can't you stay here?"

Rikki frowned. She had thought of that but had decided not to. "I can't, I'm sorry, guys. Dad needs me, and I don't have a job or anything here."

"Couldn't you stay with one of us?" Bella asked hopefully.

"Oh, no," Rikki said. "I'm really going."

Cleo still hadn't said anything.

"Cleo?" Bella asked, worried. "Are you alright?"

Cleo bit her lip. "Yeah, I'm good."

"Well!" Bella said, trying to keep the peace. "I guess you're moving. Need any help packing?"

Rikki smiled. She knew that Bella would be supportive of anything that she or her dad ever did, even if it included moving away. "Yeah, I do. Wanna come to my place and help out?"

"Sure," Bella answered, hopping off the bed. "Coming, Cleo?"

"No, um, I have things to do actually."

Bella and Rikki started towards Rikki's house, chatting on the way. Cleo watched. Even though she and Bella were very close, they weren't friends in the same way that she and Rikki were. But even Rikki had been more distant in the last year. When Emma had still been in their school with them, she had often pulled them closer together. But now Emma was gone, and soon Rikki would be to. Cleo was also not sure what she would be doing with the rest of her life. She'd always wanted to be a writer, but now that she was nineteen, that seemed so unrealistic. And she'd won awards for her science projects, but it just wasn't something that she could see herself doing in the future. She shook her head. I need some fresh air, she thought.

Cleo walked out of her room, slipping on a pair of sandals as she reached the front door. She pulled it open, and inhaled the fresh sea breeze. I haven't been for a swim in a while, she thought as she caught a whiff of the ocean. Should I go to Mako? Or maybe that nice cove near it... her thoughts were suddenly interupted by a man's voice.

"Cleo," it said.

She spun around. It was Zane.

"What are you doing here, Zane," she said glaring at him. Even when he had been dating Rikki she hadn't liked him, but after he'd treated her so awfully, she wasn't even in the mood to be cordial with him.

"I wanted to ask you about Rikki," he said with a charming smile.

"Go away, Zane," Cleo said, walking away from him.

"Please Cleo," Zane said in that stupid cunning voice that Cleo hated. "I'm trying to get my girl back."

Cleo turned again. "Really?" she asked.

"Yes, really. And I need to in a week. Have you heard about..."

"Yes, I have heard that she's moving."

"Once she's gone, I won't have any chance."

"I know, I know."

"Will try and help me?"

"Okay."

Zane smiled his best smile. "Thanks Cleo, you're the best." He ran down the path, and across the street to his bright red Lamborghini. He jumped in, and sped off, waving to Cleo. She reluctantly waved back.

"Ugh!" she muttered to herself. "Now I have to help stupid Zane... at least Rikki might stay." She forgot about the swim that she'd been planning, and went back inside.