Rikki glanced at her closet repetitively, thinking back on the days where pastels and neons once littered her wardrobe. Maybe it was a change in attitude - maybe it was just her life beckoning her to become the girl she used to be.

She pondered the options of her clothes' past. There were no bright colors anymore.

She didn't want to face it, but she knew in her heart what had caused her heart to drop and her taste to differ. Inevitably, the thoughts crept back into her mind again. She gripped the warm white handle of her hot chocolate mug and tried to tune them out. It was a pointless game.

Ever since her breakup with Zane, she noticed how everything she took in was perceived negatively. Bella described her constantly as an 'antagonist' - though she'd had her face buried in a pile of books recently. Rikki was in no mood to accept her opinion.

She found the steaming cup soothed her, and she was able to unwind at the foot of her bed, with her legs tucked to her chest.

Yet, she lost herself in another pointless, agonizing daydream.

She was walking along the beach, trailing her feet in the water. The cold rush of the ocean rang in her ears, and with every footstep she maneuvered further and further from the pressures of civilization. She trailed her way to some rounded rocks, resting serenely where the tide surrendered. She hopped up and let the breeze carry her hair out of her face.

"Rikki," a dreamy voice echoed. She knew it all too well.

A loud ringing startled her out of her trance, and she fumbled to keep the hot coco with mug in her grasp. "Ah!" She groaned and rolled her eyes.

Wasn't it a good thing her mind was off Zane?

"Hello, uh," she cleared her throat. "Hello?"

"Hey baby." Rikki's heart sunk.

"Hey Dad," she laced up a pair of sandy converse, and pulled a sweatshirt over her head.

"I, uh, I'm at the store. You need anything. Like, uh. . ." he struggled to get the words out.

"Ah! No, Dad," she cut him off. Not a chance in hell she'd let him finish that sentence.

"Well anyways, I'm going to be working late at the garage-"

"No problem," Rikki shrugged, then questioned the action. She finished the conversation as politely as she could manage before snapping the phone shut.

She didn't expect her dad to be home for dinner anymore - he worked the evening shift at the garage. First decent job he'd had in a while, and Rikki didn't plan on interrupting that. She wasn't one for 'family time' anyways. Besides, she had yet to find a place of her own. She'd attended a few basic college courses and she was in no hurry to finish her tuition.

She locked the door behind her and strode over to the café, calling Cleo in the midst of her footsteps. It was near sunset when she arrived.

She lingered at the beaded entrance hesitantly, drawing in a breath. She hadn't faced Zane for a good three weeks, and wasn't sure how he'd react.

She didn't want to admit the relief she felt that Sophie had taken a job out of the city; in fact, she was unsure of her actions. Did she even like Zane anymore?

"Rikki!" Cleo called from behind her.

"Hey," she smiled. "Want me to order us something to drink?"

"Uh, actually," Cleo blushed. "I promised Lewis we'd get together tonight. I'm sorry. He's been planning something-"

"Not a problem," Rikki lied. She would just walk in there and face Zane alone. By herself. Flying solo.

Cleo sighed, recognizing the fear emitted from Rikki.

"Go, have fun," Rikki patted her back and shooed her off with a smile that barely passed as sarcastic.

She parted the beads and took a step, unaware what she'd walked into. She slammed her knee into the side of a table and spilled the remains of a deserted customer's drink.

"Damn!" She yelled. She saw a few wondering eyes peering at her from miscellaneous locations. One set in particular - Zane snorted at her from behind the counter, rounding it while trying to hide his smirk.

She rolled her eyes and turned on her squeaking heels. It wasn't like she was avoiding Zane anymore - that ship had sailed. She wasn't even sure what charade her card read nowadays.

"Wait," he chuckled, lightly moving her shoulder so she faced him. That playful grin lit up his face, and his eyes beamed. She assumed it was just the artificial lights.

"Nevermind," Rikki said as politely as she could manage. She reached for the doorway.

Zane was down to earth as he spoke, though Rikki could detect a little longing in his voice. "At least let me assist you with a band-aid," his voice hinted at sarcasm.

She looked down and groaned quietly, appalled at how her knee would betray her. Her knee had tore open and there was a little bruise forming under the cut.

Zane was still smiling, but it was more in a sincere sweet way. She hoped it wasn't some sort of trick - some sort of mind game he was playing with her.

"Come here," he walked slowly to his brightly lit office. She hesitated then followed.

He motioned for her to sit in the leather chair, as she did.

She watched his fluent motions; removing the old box of band aids from the cabinet and peeling off the wrapper. The little scraps fluttered to the trash bin.

It was a little shocking when he knelt down on one knee in order place the band-aid on her injury. He treated it like it was severe.

Rikki was short of breath. That creative, exponentially increasing adrenaline rushing, wild fantasy side of her mind started up. She could hear the gears cranking and rumbling to life. Her heart started beating faster - that was, when it was beating at all. A warm sweat broke out of her forehead and she tried to hide it. It appeared in her line of vision, that Zane was kneeling before her. On one knee.

She shook off the feeling she'd spent months worrying about losing, then trying to contain. It was here, and the fact was this truth; it was definitely here to stay.

"Rikki?" Zane asked.

Her head jerked towards him. "Oh, sorry," she blushed.

He stood up and offered his hand to her.

She rolled her eyes. "Honestly, it's not broken," she sneered.

She got up, avoiding any physical contact…she wondered if it was just to annoy him, or if this was her playing hard to get.

"Hey, wait," he stuttered, his smile dimming. "You obviously came here for a reason. . ." he suggested regrettably.

Her voice was a monotone. "I was meeting Cleo."

"Where is she?"

"With Lewis and I don't need you questioning my motives," she turned the handle of the door, agitated.

He rushed over and placed his hand on hers. It sent a jolt of pulsing electricity up her spine. It made the hairs on the back of her clammy neck stand up and each of her harsh thoughts melted to mush.

"Stay for a drink? It's on the house?"

The moment their eyes met, she knew she was in for it. He sensed her let her guard down and took advantage of the moment. Zane wrapped his hand around Rikki's and led her to the bar, where she sat in the cushioned bar stool opposite the blender.

"What can I get for you?" he smiled accompanied by a nervous laugh.

Rikki pondered the menu aimlessly; she already knew what she wanted. What she really needed was time to think. She could leave, but there was always that chance - honestly, she just wanted Zane and herself to be friends. Good friends. She was utterly jealous at how Cleo and Lewis could be so comfortable around each other; it was obvious the two birds were in love.

Love?

Her train of thoughts took an unexpected twist in a direction she didn't feel like traveling. All the mush about love and relationships crept in to her consciousness. Regrettably, she glanced up. She couldn't help the involuntary action.

Zane was staring into her eyes, with a sincere look of content on his face. Maybe he was still smiling from before. Yet, it seemed like he was smiling at her.

Her eyes quickly darted back to her name plastered on the menu. She took in a breath and blew a strand of hair out of her face, trying to act nonchalant, and wondering if he really knew her well enough to see through the act. To her dismay, the hair settled on top of her eye again.

Zane's arms were crossed atop the table, as he was leaning in her direction. He shifted his weight to the right one, and ever so slightly reached up with his left. With a look of longing ringing in his features, he tucked the blonde wave behind her ear, attempting to touch her face; something he didn't want to admit that he missed.

Startled, she glanced up from the menu yet again and resisted the urge to lean into his hand. Instead she slammed the menu into his face and ask for a Banana Smoothie with mint, please.

It wasn't very noticeable, yet Zane's hand shook as he pulled it back. If he really looked deep inside himself, he knew no matter how large he portrayed his ego, he would face rejection hard. And, he didn't know how much more of it he could take.

While the roar of the blender drowned out any sounds, the noise projecting from their physical stances said enough. Was it true that anticipation can sometimes be greater than the actual event itself? He denied that claim, knowing every second spent with Rikki was better valued than a second spent thinking about her.

"Here's your smoothie, Rikki," he stuttered on her name and tried to cover it with a smile.

She loved hearing him say her name. "Thanks," she sipped a little out of the bendy straw.

Hesitation lingered in his eyes before he maneuvered flawlessly around the corner, sitting in the chair to the left of her.

Rikki glanced up, and couldn't make herself look down.

"So, how are…things?" Zane was noticeably nervous, pertaining to the way he sat - guarded. He had a uncontainable smile plastered on his lips.

"They're ok, I guess," she shrugged.

"So, no mermaid mishaps…?" his tone was light.

"Not at the moment," Rikki finished her drink during the long pauses in their short conversation.

Zane racked his brain for new material. "Been out to Mako recently?" he suggested.

She sighed. "I was heading out there tonight. . ." she looked into his desperate eyes.

Now it was Zane who was flustered. Had Rikki just suggested they go together? Or was she teasing him? He wished against the latter, yet that's what prominently haunted him. He had to think fast; he had to say something smooth-

"Excuse me," a rotund customer coughed. His floral patterned vacationer's button up barely covered his gut.

Rikki scrunched her face and looked away. "Well, thanks for…this," she stood up and turned.

The man coughed again.

"Can I help you?" Zane asked sarcastically.

"Yeah, I'll have whatever that girl was having," he licked his lips.

Zane stood up. "Look, we're closed for the night," he lied. It was only seven - the café closed at ten.

The man was bewildered and turned, disappearing out the beads just as Rikki had. Zane buried his face in his hands. He had made the wrong decision again…choosing the business over Rikki.

He jumped as a gentle hand rested on his shoulder. The adrenaline pumping in his heart overruled his common sense. "Rikki? What are you-"

"Can't you take a hint?" she smiled slightly.

"A hint at what?" He was slightly disoriented by the lights.

Rikki had a thousand sensations and wants, most relating to the sappy drama she wished to take no part in. Like hugs and kisses and hand-holding. "Do you want to do something…maybe, tonight. As friends," she slurred her last words.

He rubbed his eyes and smiled as wide as the sun, and hoisted himself down from the bar stool.

She blinked, first, waiting for an answer.

"Just, um, um, let me lock up," he tried not to resemble a clown on drugs but once inside his office, he let himself smile.

As they parted the beaded doorway, Zane locked the café behind them.

"Where to?" he asked.

She pondered answering with anywhere.

Rikki ended up leading Zane to the beach. After a minute of silence - all but the scraping of Rikki's old converse - Zane pursed his lips and reached for Rikki's hand.

She looked down and let out a high pitched sound of annoyance. They stopped walking and Rikki turned to him, pulling her hand away harsher than intended. "Zane! I'm sorry, I can't do this anymore! I'm tired of playing these stupid games with you."

"Friends…can't hold hands?"

She rolled her eyes. "It means something entirely different and you know it."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because…I know you."

Their was an eerie silence - all but the rushing of the waves, and the cool breeze sending goosebumps up Rikki's spine.

Zane removed his sweet smelling sweatshirt and placed it around Rikki's shoulders, even as it made him cold.

"Zane," she snapped aggravated.

He just smiled. "What does this even mean?"

"What's 'this'?"

"…Us."

"What about you and me?"

"Well…what would you say to us?" Zane swallowed, knowing this would be his last attempt to re-gain Rikki's heart. He knew after this, all thoughts, all actions would become muted and dull. Nothing would matter because it truly would be too late to spark again the flame they once shared.

Rikki slipped the sweatshirt sleeves on. She did something she'd been meaning to do for two years. She leaned in and wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled. "I don't know anything anymore Zane."

"What do you know?"

She shrugged.

"Well. . .do you like me?"

"What?"

He waited, smirking.

Their eyes were so close. She glanced at his lips and before she could reject, Zane kissed her.

"Zane!" she shouted in faux aggravation. Though, he knew her well enough to detect the glimmer in her eyes.