Skin and Blister

by Rondabunny

Rikki's Place:

Rikki paced from corner to corner talking to her father.

Rikki: "Dad, How could you? I mean, she is not even your daughter."

Mr. Chadwick: "Rikki, your mother asked me to take care of her."

Rikki: "Mother left us 11 years ago. Remember?!"

Mr. Chadwick: "Rikki, it's only for a month or two. She's a nice girl."

Rikki: "Why couldn't she take care of her daughter?"

Mr. Chadwick: "She has some kind of problems. When she settles them she'll take the girl back."

Rikki: "I don't know. Why doesn't she take a baby-sitter? She has always used you, dad!"

Mr. Chadwick: "Rikki, I decided this girl comes tomorrow. End of discussion."

Rikki: "Do you still love her?"

Mr. Chadwick didn't answer anything. He just lowered his head and turned away. His daughter went outside.

Rikki ran into the water as if it was her last savior. Being a mermaid she knew where to go to calm down and to think everything out. She was swimming as quickly as she can to the moon pool. This place always made her feel better. She lied there in the water looking into the sky. She was taking deep breaths but it wasn't helping any longer. She hasn't even noticed that water was boiling around her. "Why me? Why me? I didn't do anything wrong. Why it is always me who gets into trouble?" She asked the question in her mind again and again but there was no answer left.

Juice-net Cafe

Lewis came into juice-net café. He looked worried. Emma and Cleo were sitting at a table chatting. They smiled and enjoyed their drinks.

"Hi, guys," Lewis joined the company.

"Hi, Lewis," answered Cleo and Emma. "How are you doing? Did you like yesterday's party? I think it was awesome!"

"Yeah, pretty cool. Do you know what's wrong with Rikki? I headed down the beach this afternoon and she passed me like a bomb nearly dashing me to the ground," Lewis was curious. He saw Rikki in her bad mood and he knew what she was able to do when she was angry. He couldn't understand what or who made her so out of control. "Did she quarrel with Zane?" asked Lewis with concern.

"Have you seen where she was going?" asked Cleo.

"Where could a mermaid go? Of course you know the place," answered Lewis. "Just be careful I've never seen her being that angry before."

Emma and Cleo looked at each other. "We'll go and find out," - replied Emma.

"Yeah, I hope so," said Lewis doubting the success of their intentions.

Moon Pool:

Two mermaids swam into the cave but there was no one there. The strange thing happened to water. It was too warm for this part of the afternoon. "Well, where is she?" asked Emma swimming closer to the shelf.

"Emma, please cool the water. It is too hot in here," pleaded Cleo. Emma stretched her arm and the water became cooler.

"Thanks, you're really a good friend," said Cleo approaching Emma and relaxing a bit.

"This means that she left not long ago. I don't understand what's the reason of boiling water, especially, when you stay in it," stated Emma matter-of-factly.

"What are you two doing here? Why can't you leave me alone just for a couple of hours?" Rikki left her hiding place and now was starring at two creatures with long fish tales lying in the water.

"We are glad to see you too," said Emma sarcastically.

"What's happened? You wouldn't boil water for nothing." Cleo looked worried. She knew how tough Rikki could be sometimes. She just wanted to help her friend to make her feel that they could solve any problem she had.

"Nothing I can handle," replied Rikki sitting down on the sand.

"Come on, Rikki. We are your friends. We can help you. You have to spit it out," Emma watched Rikki's sullen face. "Believe me, if it is Zane he'll come back and apologize. He likes you a lot."

Rikki smiled. At first Zane was the one who made her be rebellious. She hated him until she found out more about him. He was her boyfriend who understood her and always was patient with her.

"No, it isn't about Zane. It is about my mother. To be more precise I have a stepsister." Rikki told this information as it was so unimportant and so stupid that she could hardly believe the words left her mouth. Emma and Cleo looked at her in a shock. They watched Rikki playing with the sand and couldn't add anything to support her.

"So, why do you bother about it? I have a sister too. And you know Kim is not the most wonderful person but I got used to it. By the way, your sister lives far away from you. It is nothing to worry about," said Cleo firmly.

"No, you just don't get it. My mother left me. And now she calls my dad as if never had happened and asks him to take care of her daughter because she has problems! I hate her! Where she was when we needed her? But now she asks us to take care about the child because she doesn't give a damn for this girl." Rikki started striding from side to side waving her hands explaining the situation she was in.

"Rikki, it is not that bad. I mean, having a sister is not the end of the world. I'm sure you'll get along just fine," said Emma with confidence.

"Of course, Miss Having-Perfect-Family, but you know, there are two rooms for me and my dad in our cabin. This means that she'll be sharing my room! She'll be using my things! She'll be everywhere I go!" Rikki yelled with rage. She stopped passing. Her face was red with anger. Suddenly a lightning struck the ground. She jumped aside. Two mermaids looked astounded and scared.

"Stop it! Get into the water or you'll burn yourself!" cried Emma. "Get in, now!"

Rikki had no choice but to obey. She jumped into the water and it began boiling, but Emma cooled it quickly.

"Calm down, Rikki, you can't change anything." Cleo swam towards Rikki and embraced her. "We'll be together and we'll help you," Cleo wasn't sure of herself, but she knew, she had to do something to calm her friend down. The stormy clouds went away and the stars began shining in the sky.

Juice-net Café:

"What's up? How did you manage to calm Rikki yesterday? It seems to me, I saw dark clouds and lightning above Mako Island," Lewis greeted her friends firing questions at them.

"Yeah, she was dazzling," said Emma with a sigh. "Believe me she had her reasons."

"Maybe you'd shed some light on Rikki's mystery," asked Lewis puzzled.

"OK. Her stepsister comes today. She'll be living with Rikki and her dad for sometime," said Cleo watching Lewis' reaction.

"What? How? She hasn't any sisters, has she?" the boy couldn't hide his emotions.

Lewis starred at them unbelievingly and said: "Don't tell Zane anything. She'll tell him when she is ready." Girls approved with his decision.

The next morning. At Rikki's place:

Rikki looked outside her window and saw her dad with a suit-case approaching their cabin. A girl about 11 year-old walked beside him. She wore jeans, a T-shirt and a pair of shoes. She had long brown curls gathered in a pony-tail. She had a wrist watch on her left hand. Her eyes were blue and shining. The girl walked as if she hasn't noticed anything. She watched her steps and kept silent.

Dad came into the room placing the case near the wall. "Sweetheart, this is your sister Andrea. Please, take care of her, I should go to work." Father got out of the room leaving the girls facing each other.

"Nice to meet you. You're Rikki I suppose," said the little one offering her hand. Rikki stood silently not moving a muscle. Andrea decided to break awkward pause. "Can you show me my room? I've spent to days in that damn train.

"Watch you tongue, kiddo. You're not at home. Come on. I'll show you your place," told Rikki without enthusiasm.

They came into the room and Rikki showed Andrea her bed. It stood by the window. "Welcome", she exclaimed. Andrea took the suitcase and put it on the bed. She took out some clothes and asked Rikki to show her the bathroom.

"Ok. I have to go to school. You'll find food in the fridge. Don't touch my things. Bye," she left the room taking the bag with her. The girl stood in the middle of the room surprised by this warm greeting. She shook her shoulders and went to the bathroom.

School's yard:

Emma, Lewis and Cleo sat on the lawn.

"How do you think, is Rikki in a good mood today?" asked Lewis the girls.

"I suppose, you can ask her," replied Cleo looking at Rikki approaching them.

"Hi, there. How are you today, Rikki?" asked Emma looking suspiciously.

"Never better"

"Have you seen her? I mean your sister?" asked Cleo watching Rikki's smiling face.

"Does she look like you?" added Emma.

"Yes, I saw her and no, we are completely different," answered Rikki with a foxy look on her face.

"Where is she?" interrupted Lewis.

"I left her at home. Why do you look at me like that?" the girl was surprised to see her friends' faces.

"You mean, you left her at home alone?" Emma looked at Rikki as if she was crazy or something like that.

"Don't stare at me like that. She is my sister and I'm not a baby-sitter."

"How old is she?" asked Lewis.

"She is about 12. She can take care of herself. Bye, guys. I don't wanna be late at my literature class," she turned and headed towards the school.

"Hey, we cannot leave the girl alone. I know what it is. She could do anything! Once my parents left me to watch over Elliot and he nearly started a fire. It is dangerous!" Emma was full of emotions.

"Sorry, I have to attend Chemistry. I work on a very special project," Lewis took his bag and went away.

"Emma, we have a test-paper today, remember? We can't go either. It is Rikki's responsibility not ours. Let's go and let Rikki settle everything," said Cleo standing up and giving Emma the hand.

"I think you're right. If she is smart she won't do that again," told Emma and together they walked up the stairs.

At Rikki's place:

Rikki came home after school and couldn't find her sister anywhere. She looked everywhere but could find nobody. She sat on the bench. If father figures out that she left this girl alone he will get really angry. Rikki decided to wait for an hour.

"Where have you been, silly? You were supposed to stay at home!" asked Rikki the girl.

"I went sightseeing," told the girl with the innocent expression.

"What?... How old are you to leave the house without any permission?!" Rikki was furious.

"Let me see. I'm 11 years, 4 months, 8 days and 19 and a half hours old," said Andrea very seriously.

"How smart! At least you can count," - Rikki showed her disgust. "Now listen to me. You live in this house you have to obey some rules. The first is…" she wasn't able to finish the sentence.

"Wait a sec., please," Andrea ran into the cabin and returned with a note-book and a pen in her hand.

"Please, speak slowly I'm writing," the girl said with sarcasm in her voice.

Rikki wasn't surprised. She smiled wickedly and began to dictate the rules. She managed to invent 23 house-rules and was very proud of herself.

At Emma's house:

Emma came home deep in thought. She came into the kitchen where she found her mother cooking something. She stood there silently not knowing what to begin with.

"Something's wrong," asked her mother worriedly.

"No, just… I wanted to know. Is it possible to leave an 11 year-old child at home without supervision?" Emma was thinking of it the whole day long. She couldn't imagine Elliot all alone staying at home.

"No, of course not. But I have never left you or Elliot alone, have I?" She looked at her daughter trying to figure out what is going on.

"No, no, I don't mean anything. I was just curious…" she didn't know to continue this awkward conversation or not.

"Why? Did anything happen?"

Emma breathed deeply and said: "It's about Rikki. She has a sister and she left her today at home all alone."

"Rikki? Sister?" mother was astonished.

"It's a long story," Emma began explaining everything to her mother.

Next day. Evening. At Rikki's place:

Rikki came home and found her dad and her sister sitting at the table eating soup.

"Oh, Sweetheart. Would you join our company? Andrea has cooked an excellent soup! Try it. It's delicious," told her father enjoying the meal.

"Mr. Chadwick, when could I go to school?" asked Andrea.

"Your documents are ready and you can go there tomorrow morning. Rikki will show you," said Mr. Chadwick taking another spoon full of soup.

"Thanks, Mr. Chadwick for everything."

"You may call me, dad. You're now the member of the family," he was delighted to say it.

"Thanks," Andrea felt happy.

Rikki has already poured the soup and now was sitting at the table. She couldn't believe her father's words. How could he say that! She was the one and only! He wasn't even her father! Her anger grew. She heated Andrea's soup when the girl turned away to take salt.

"Wow, it's hot!" the girl grimaced. She scalded her tongue.

Rikki stood.

"Rikki, where are you going? Taste it. It's delicious," asked her father.

"I'm not hungry", and she left the room.

Next morning. Juice-net café:

Cleo and Lewis came in and found Emma waiting for them.

"Hi. What's wrong with Rikki?" asked Lewis watching the girl sitting with a frown look at her beautiful face.

"Don't ask her anything or she'll explode," said Emma seriously.

"Why? Does she have problems with her sister? I can give her some pieces of advise," told Cleo significantly.

Three approached Rikki. She sat there calmly mixing her juice.

"Hello. How are you?" asked Cleo.

"Excellent! Leave me I'm thinking," said Rikki cruelly.

"About what? How to boil your sister?" asked Lewis with a smirk.

"You don't get it! She is annoying me! Yesterday I came home and found the whole house cleaned up and my dad enjoying her company!" told Rikki angrily.

"So, what's so bad in it? I'll be glad if Kim makes all the house work for me," said Cleo.

"She cleaned up my things. I can't find anything! She wheezes at night. I cannot sleep. She gets to my dad! Do you understand this?!"

"Rikki, I know it is hard. But everything's gonna be OK. Believe me. Besides it is just for a month," said Emma patting Rikki's shoulder.

"Lewis, do me a favor. Find out what is in this bottle." Rikki gave a bottle spray with medicine in it.

"What is it?" asked Lewis inquisitively.

"Don't know but she uses it quite often. I must know what is it?" said Rikki

Zane approached their table.

"Rikki can I talk to you…. Now. Outside…" he insisted.

All her friends looked at Zane. Rikki stood and went out. They stood on the pier talking.

"When do you want to tell me about your sister?" Zane told in a calm but strict voice.

"I….", - Rikki hesitated.

"Rikki, you always try to hide something from me. When I uncover one secret you already have the next one. Don't you trust me?" He looked at her in disbelief as if she wasn't her girlfriend.

"Zane I wanted to tell you. It was a surprise for me too," she looked in his eyes but saw only sorrow and anger.

"You know, I'm sick and tired of your secrets. Don't want to share. Ok. Than leave me alone," he shook his head.

"Get lost, Zane and never come back!" said the girl in rage. She turned away tears filling her eyes and jumped into the water. Zane stood for a minute and went away angry with himself.

At Rikki's place:

Rikki came home. The cabin was squeaky clean. Andrea wasn't at home. She looked about and decided to make a mess. She threw everything on the floor, broke a lot of things and when the room was completely ruined she calmed down a little. Sister came home and couldn't believe her eyes. She began to tidy up everything before dad's arrival.

Juice-net café. Evening:

Lewis, Cleo, Emma and Rikki sat at the table drinking juice.

"So, have you found something about the spray?" asked Rikki impatiently.

"Yes, this medicine is used by bronchial asthma sufferers. You said that your sister wheezed at night. I think she has some problems with her breathing," told Lewis giving her the bottle back.

"What happened between you and Zane? He seemed to be angry," asked Emma looking at Rikki.

"I dumped him," said Rikki taking the bottle and leaving friends astonished.

At Rikki's place. Midnight:

Rikki woke up. Everything was silent. She stood and found her sister's bed empty. She went outside. Andrea sat on the bench in her pyjamas. The girl had a convulsion every time she breathed in or out.

"What are you doing here?" asked Rikki watching her sister's pale face.

"It's stuffy. I've got asthma. I've lost my inhaler," each word she spoke with a spasm.

"You mean this. I found it under the bed yesterday," said Rikki giving her the bottle.

The girl made too deep breaths using her medicine. She looked at Rikki and said:

"It was under my pillow. You stole it! Why are you always pushing me like I'm nobody? You just like her selfish and cruel." Tears streamed down child's face.

"Like who?"

"Like my… Like our mother", she was sobbing.

"No, I'm not. I'm sorry, Andrea," she sat next to her little sister and put her arm around Andrea's shoulder. "I'm sorry for being rude to you. I'm a loner. It is hard for me to get used to anybody," Rikki embraced her sister.

"Could you be just a little bit patient? I'll be invisible if you want," said Andrea getting closer to Rikki.

"No, I don't want you to be invisible. Just be yourself. It is hard to find out that you have a sister when you were always alone." She stood up and gave her sister a hand.

"Come on. It's windy down here. You're shivering."

Two sisters went into the cabin holding hands.

the End