In Rikki's mind, Zane wouldn't know what hit him if he was living her life-lack of money, unable to pay expenses. And Zane believes Rikki wouldn't be able to handle the toll that fortune takes on a person. What would happen if the tables turned? When Rikki's Dad wins the lottery, and Zane's Father loses it all in the stock market, actions begin to speak louder than words. Cleo and Lewis are inseparable. Until something is wrong with Lewis.
Hey, I thought this was a cute idea and this is just a prologue. This story is mostly Zikki, but Clewis as well. I love hearing your opinion and value what you think greatly! Tell me if I should continue! Thanks!
Zane was slouched across his father's couch - his overly expensive extravagant leather couch - that they barely got any use out of, eating a slice of pizza from the delivery box. Summer break had been one big blur for Zane - late night deliveries and the compelling urge to resist any thoughts that might cause him to think. He preferred watching late night movies On Demand ™ and ordering out whenever he felt hungry. Pizza, chicken, Chinese, whatever he was in the mood for.
He didn't know whether it was comfort food, or just food. But considering he didn't feel like thinking, or doing anything for that matter, he simply watched one of the purely worst acted films he'd ever seen, without questioning his motives. He was running on instinct.
His thought were a nuisance to him now. They brought up many happy memories, but with any form of happiness for Zane, came the sadness and regrets.
His phone rang across the room, but he didn't bother to answer it - until he pondered who it might be. Zane shot up off the couch, spilling the pizza in the process, and snapped it open on the fourth ring, not bothering to check who it was. His thoughts had got him this far - now it was his instincts turn.
"Rikki?" He breathed with a sigh, being the first to talk.
In response was a nasally, prissy offended tone, a female voice he knew all too well. "What was that? Zane?" She flirted, obviously not hearing him. "Well, anyways. My Dad was totally talking to your Dad. And he's in some Latin American country, like…Europe, right?" Zane could almost picture her twirling her hair. "That's so cool. But whatever. They said we should hang out, and I totally agree. Maybe I'll get a cute little heart tattoo on my ankle?" She giggled.
"Miriam," he pinched the bridge of his nose and rolled his eyes, glad she couldn't see him. "I don't know if I can."
"Tomorrow? Come on," she giggled again, her laugh piercing through the line and causing him to remove the phone from his ear by a few inches. "I'll make it say Zane! Ooh!" She continued.
"Don't tattoo my name on your body," he wanted to hang up. But if Harrison had anything to do with this, then he was prone to find out and Zane didn't like the sound of that. He could cut off Zane's allowance or take away his boat. And Zane liked his freedom.
"Ok. I know you want what's best for me," she paused. "Mall tomorrow! Ooh, we can shop for hair stuff. I'm sure your in need of a girl's opinion," she mused. "Let's say eleven? Meet you by fountain," Miriam's shrill voice rebounded off the chambers of Zane's head. "Whatever." He hung up. Maybe she'd forget, or better yet, maybe she'd give up on him coming and ignore him for the rest of his life.
Zane sat back down on the couch, and did something he'd wanted to do for a long time. He dialed the familiar number he'd come to memorize. One ring. Two rings. Voicemail.
*.*.*
Rikki's hair was being brushed by Bella as Cleo pondered which hair gel to use.
"The blue or the pink?" Cleo called from the bathroom.
Rikki laughed. "When's the last time you used those?" She responded for Bella. "Let me see them. Ouch," she repositioned the brush in her hair and let Bella do her thing.
Cleo brought the products over and sheepishly grinned. "They're really old. I found them in the back of my sink cabinet. Here," she tossed them to Rikki.
Rikki mused at the label. "Sixty percent water?" She raised an eyebrow at Cleo.
Bella laughed from behind her. "Hey, Rikki your phone's ringing," Bella tossed it to her.
Rikki's eyes widened at the caller I.D, and before she could think, she flipped her phone shut, sending Zane to voicemail.
"Who was that?" Cleo asked empty-mindedly.
Rikki was half frozen on the bed in a stance that suggested anxiety. The play of emotions that flashed across her face was unreadable and confusing to say the least. Bella had stopped brushing Rikki's hair when she became motionless, and Cleo stopped digging through her drawers when there was no answer.
"Oh. Was it Zane?" Bella guessed. The lack of response from Rikki proved her answer right. Bella assumed Rikki was in a trance because she was deep in thought or thinking about Zane or something she'd remembered, as was true. Rikki didn't know what hit her then. It wasn't a full moon or any special magical occasion. Something simply occurred to her and she was dying to know what that ache in her heart had to do with anything. It was obviously some force on Mako making her heart feel this way. Seriously, hearts couldn't hurt, could they? It felt like magic, the way her pulse increased and a quantity of adrenaline conquered her veins, and there couldn't possibly be another explanation for it. All Rikki knew was that she was a mermaid and magic had a lot to do with her life at the moment - there was one place that would cure her. One place that would reset the gears in her system and make Rikki become Rikki again.
"I'm going to Mako," she stood up, an empty look in her eye, and ran out of the room. Rikki needed to think.
Bella and Cleo exchanged a glance.
"Should we follow her?" Cleo asked. "That…wasn't Rikki."
Bella shrugged. "If she doesn't come back later, I'd be worried," she scrolled through Rikki's missed calls. "It was Zane. Is something going on with them?" Bella wondered, shaking her head as she thought.
The two jumped as Rikki's phone rang again. "Should I answer it?" Bella smiled. "Let's see what Zane wants, please?" Bella gave Cleo the puppy dog eyes.
"Hello, Rikki's phone, Bella speaking," Bella laughed at Cleo's shocked expression. She clicked the device to speakerphone.
"Hi, is Rikki there?" Zane asked hopefully. "No she's at Mako- Um, she's busy. Sorry," Bella suddenly wanted to hang up. It wasn't like Zane to call or Rikki not to answer her phone in the evening. The sun had set and the moon was up as Bella stared at it through the window.
"Mako?" Zane retorted.
"Oh no," Cleo mouthed.
"No actually, I don't know where she is," Bella lied unsuccessfully.
"But you have her phone. I actually have to go," the voice on the other end seemed thoughtful. The line went dead.
"Bella!" Cleo yelled.
Cleo was furious Bella answered Rikki's phone in the first place. It was Rikki's property and Bella had no right! But to be honest, Cleo didn't care if she answered. She wouldn't care if Bella or Rikki answered her phone, because she trusted them. And she was sure Rikki trusted them, but wasn't Bella out of line? Cleo thought about it. It was Rikki's ex for crying out loud! And on top of that, it was Zane. The mischievous backstabbing cheating weasel that kissed Sophie and betrayed their best friend.
"How could you answer!" Cleo yelled rhetorically.
"I thought I could get him to ease up," Bella was on the same page. It was apparent in her features that she was sorry. Obviously Bella would never intentionally hurt Rikki in any way - they all had one thing that bound them together. Mermaids and their magic.
Lewis suddenly emerged from the hallway. "What's the problem?" He asked, right on cue.
Cleo was upset but couldn't help but laugh. "Lewis, what are you doing here?"
He walked over in a stride of confidence - something rarely portrayed on Lewis's features. He took Cleo's face in his hands and kissed her hard on the lips, breathing heavily. "Cleo, I love you."
"I know that," she rewarded him with a dazzling smile. "I love you too. Why? Is something wrong?" She frowned, forgetting about Zane.
Lewis was out of breath, face red, and stunned. "Well…I was talking to your Dad-"
Bella cut Lewis off, an uncontainable smile plastered on her face. Her sarcastic response was on the mark. "You're not going to ask her to marry you, are you?" She laughed.
The pair turned agitated at her, then made shy eye contact. Cleo's mouth hung open. "Are you?"
His response came at a now or never moment, and when he dropped to one knee, Cleo was sure of it. Bella giggled and jumped up, clasping her hands together and exited the room, secretly watching from the crack it the door she'd pried open.
But Lewis didn't propose. And if he did, Cleo wouldn't of known it. Instead one knee turned to two, and Lewis crumpled to the ground in a heap.
Bella burst through the door, gasping. "Mr. Satori! Kim, Sam!" She called, panicking. A tear slipped down Cleo's cheek. What had just happened? Cleo maneuvered Lewis's body so that it was leaning against the bed. But his eyes were still closed and his mouth was hanging wide open. What had just happened?
*.*.*
Zane was grinning like an idiot as he snapped his phone shut. He would've been amply pleased if Rikki had answered, and Bella answering had just told him what he needed to do. Acting on impulse, not thoughts.
He needed to go to Mako and find Rikki. He needed to make things right, but he didn't know why. All of the non-thinking exercise had gifted him human instinct. And it was telling him, by all means, find her.
Hey! I hoped you guys liked the prologue. Short I know, sorry. My chapters are usually a lot longer than this, but I wanted to bounce the idea off everybody. Tell me what you think! The summary says it all. That and that Cleo and Lewis are inseparable, until something goes terribly wrong. Reviews mean the world. Thanks!
