CLEO

The world was safe, school was done, and Lewis was home. Cleo couldn't be happier as she danced around her room with music blaring. She was ready for anything, except the text she had just received from Rikki.

Lewis is leaving in a couple of days, he wanted us all to meet him at the café later, he wanted to text you himself, but he has a new phone, see you at the café.

He was leaving again, what a pity. They had already done so much together, but even so Cleo wasn't ready to say goodbye. Lewis's time back seemed like a dream, still, as the music played, Cleo stopped to remember that Lewis had dreams too. Cleo's phone begin to ring, she turned off the music and answered.

"Hello."

"Cleo?" it was Emma.

"Emma, What have you been up to?"

"Look, I need your help, something's happened."

Cleo's eyes widened as she heard this "What happened, Em?"

"I'll be back in town next week, I'll tell you then, in the meantime, there should be a new guy around town, I told him about the Juicenet and you guys, try to help him fit in."

"Where did you meet this guy, and why is he coming here?"

I met him in Japan, my parents ended up adopting him, his name is Takura, he looks American though, and he speaks English. He's coming to buy back the house, my family is coming back."

Cleo's jaw hit the floor as Emma's words hit her.

"Emma, you're coming back, that's great!"

"I'm not alone, I ran into Denman in America, she's on her way too. That's the bad news, warn Rikki."

"I will, I can't wait for you to come back Emma, this is going to be so great."

"It will, I'm sure. I have to go, bye Cleo."

"Bye Emma."

Cleo jumped at the thought of Emma coming back, but realized that she was a little out of touch. She had called the café the Juicenet, the look on her face when she saw the new café would be priceless. That thought reminded Cleo of her original purpose for getting ready, she was going to the café to meet Lewis, Rikki and Bella. She grabbed her phone and headed out, stopping briefly to say bye to her dad and Sam. Then she was off.

RIKKI

The message went through. Lewis was looking at her expectantly, so she nodded at him. He smiled and turned to look at Bella. E chuckled softly, causing Rikki to cast him a look

"I wonder if they will let me play with them again, just once."

Rikki smiled at that, looking to watch the band rehearse. "They might, I'll ask Bella after the rehearsal, she wrote a song about us you know, she should play it at the show tonight."

That made Lewis smile a little. Rikki looked over to Zane, and caught him staring back at her. "He's still obsessed with me you know, he tried to propose to me the other day, with a green twist tie of all things."

Lewis laughed, for at least a minute, after hearing that.

"A green twist tie, you have to be joking."

"No joke."

"Did you accept?"

"No, Zane needs to realize we're over."

Lewis sighed "I miss you three when I'm gone, more than anything, especially Cleo."

Rikki punched his arm lightly. "Of course you miss her, you're in love with her."

Lewis nodded thoughtfully "Yeah, yeah I am, and it's the best thing ever."

Cleo walked in and sat down, her smile immediately arousing suspicion in the other two.

"Out with it, what's got you so excited?" Rikki asked, tired of waiting.

"Emma's coming back." Cleo announced delightedly

"Emma?" Bella asked, walking over to the table.

"Another Mermaid friend, she went globe trotting with her family."

Bella's phone rang, "It's Will, I'll tell him to meet us here." She answered the phone and walked off.

Rikki Looked up as a handsome guy with jet black hair walked in. he was wearing a black combat outfit with a formal looking white robe, as he turned and looked around the café, Rikki noticed a symbol printed on the back, next thing she knew, Cleo was across the room talking to him. Rikki saw Cleo motioning for her to follow, so she did, leaving a very confused Lewis in their wake.

Cleo spoke first, "Are you Takura, Emma mentioned you when she called today."

The boy looked up at the two, and lightly blushed when he saw Rikki "yes, I am Takura, you are Cleo, correct?"

"Yes, and this is Rikki."

"Rikki? The namesake of this café?"

"That I am, though I am not connected with it anymore." Rikki piped up finally, sounding a bit nervous, unusual for her.

"So why are you dressed like that?" Rikki asked, pointing to The boy's clothes.

"My school required this attire, it is a martial arts school you see."

"What does it all mean?"

"The symbol on my back means four, and the robe means I was chosen to be a captain. I'm the captain of squad four at my school."

"Interesting." Cleo remarked, "We've just finished school, and we don't have that sort of ranking system here."

"When will Emma get here?" Rikki asked

Takura looked at her seriously. "Hopefully before that marine biologist does, otherwise things will not be good for anyone."

"You got that right, but when is she leaving?" Cleo asked

"She left ten minutes ago, if my timing is right."

Rikki sighed, "I wanted to enjoy my summer."

Takura looked at her again, with the same serious look, "So did I."