Cleo's POV (A quick one)

I hung up with Bella and then dialed Rikki's number.

It rang once... then twice... then voice mail. I hung up and tried another time, but still no answer. Now I was determined to have her answer. So, I dialed again and she picked up.

Rikki's POV (From where we left off)

I can't believe he wants to get back together with me! Does he just think he'll walk back in and expect everything to be cool? I mean, he was first a jerk. Then he was kind and sweet, then his ego was the issue, and now he's trying to be sweet again! I feel like their is a pattern going on here.

"Zane. We can't do this, I can't do this! You are nice and all... but I can't forgive you. Not after what you have done."

"But you just said I am nice."

"I did. Then you turned back into your jerky self!"

"Can it be beef jerky?" Zane asked me.

"What?" I was very confused.

"You said I turned back into my jerky self. Well, why can't it be beef jerky?"

"Whatever!" I laughed.

"See, I just made you laugh."

"That was not a laugh, it was the... thought of a person being a food."

"Sure thing fishy." Zane teased.

I lightly punched Zane in the arm. Resolving in Zane doing it back to me. Then we started getting into a play fight. Zane grabbed a bottle of water and carelessly poured it on me. I was mad for a moment. Zane quickly apologized and then I grabbed the bottle and started getting him wet, they were both laughing and giggling. Still splashing each other. My phone buzzed on the couch, Zane got off the ground to see who it was.

"It's Cleo." he said then pressing ignore button without even asking me.

"Zane! What was that for?"

"So I can do this." Zane got back on the ground and gave me a kiss on the lips. At first I was liking it because it was like the olden days. Then my phone buzzed again and we stopped. Zane still ignored it and this time I just gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Let me see what she wants."

Zane smiled at me,"Ok but remember, mermaid boyfriend is in waiting."

I laughed at his joke and then saw that Cleo called me again. "Hey." I said sounding a bit cool.

"Rikki! Mako Meeting, NOW."

"Can it wait?" I asked seeing that I was in the middle of something.

"No. It's very important. Meet us at the beach of Mako Island."

"Ok..." I sighed. "I'll be there soon."

"Bye!"

"Bye."

Beep!

"What did she want" Zane asked right away.

"I have to go. Mermaid meeting." I just said.

I could tell Zane was a little mad. He did his, 'why are you always at Mako' speech again. I reminded him about the Denman and Miriam situation and he softly sighed. I dried my tail off and soon stood up. "What just happened with us doesn't change how I feel about you."

"Ok." He laughed. "How about our not date could not be at the cafe tomorrow after closing?"

I thought for a short second. "I guess. But we are not dating!"

"I know, that's why it's a not date."

I rolled my eyes at his confusing sentence and left with my phone. I stuck it in my jeans and then ran to the beach. Of course, once I got there it's pretty obvious I jumped in the water. My tail soon appeared after ten seconds. I started swimming to the beach with bubbles all around me. When I popped my head above the water Cleo and Bella were dry, laying the sand waiting for me.

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late. So... what's the big news?" I think I kind of already knew what it was but I wasn't too sure so I still asked anyways.

"Ryan's back." Cleo said straight forward. "He said he is doing some sort of research for a 'friend' and also he said there is an award ceremony? I'm not sure but I do know that he does know something."

I realized what Cleo meant by award ceremony. Was Ryan excepting the award? But for what? I just decided to tell Cleo and Bella. "Guys?... I have something to tell you and I'm not sure you're going to like it."

"I'm not sure how bad your news is." Bella said. "But I think that boat over there coming to Mako is slightly worse."

I turned around seeing a motor boat coming closer to us. It surely wasn't Zane and it wasn't Will. Lewis is back in America, so this person is not going to stay to talk to some mermaids. I quickly dried off as fast as I could and when I was dry I ran with Cleo and Bella into the forest. We hid behind some bushes and quietly watched from a distance.

The boat docked on the sand and a man came out...Ryan came out. He had all of his gadgets and thing-er-magigers. If Lewis was here I bet he would be pointing out the names of each thing and what it does. I'm just as unsure as Cleo is, he must be up to something!

Ryan walked into the forest right by the river, or pond, or, well... the water that is not the ocean or the moon pool. We followed him, but still watching our feet to make sure we don't give away our location by stepping on a twig.

We all found a big rock, conveniently! That was our next hiding spot. Ryan started picking up rocks and doing that thing he did last time. I should burn his gadget again but we need to find out what he is up to. No matter how much I hate him!

It looked like to me he realized something and started going to our cave. I wonder if he remembers what he did to it? It's still a mess but we are cleaning it up and it's getting better each day. Now it is starting to restores it's self and we can now be in there safely.

"Ok" I whispered. "Cleo, you go back to his boat and see if you can find anything. Bella, take a look at some of the equipment he still left here. I'm going to go to the under water entrance and see what he's up to."

Surprisingly they just nodded and went to their 'stations' I thought at least the would fight back. Usually in movies the sidekicks always argue how they don't get to do the cool stuff and the leader gets all of the awesome things! I like our leader. (Me) I ran back with Cleo to the beach and dove in the water. I shifted my body to start swimming to the underwater entrance. Once I got there I stayed back, hiding so Ryan can't see me.

"Oh my word!" Ryan gasped. "I can't believe it! She was right."

Who was right?

Ryan started chipping away at a piece of rock in the cave. I got very angry, he's ruining the cave! It's still healing too! At that point I really wanted to burn him.

"Just use the piece on the ground!" I yelled out loud. I realized that I said that, not in my head. So I ducked under the water and swam back to the beach. I was too afraid to stay there, because if he saw me I would have been doomed! I dried myself off once I got on Mako's beach again. "Cleo! Get Bella, we're leaving!"

"Why?" She just asked very calmly.

"I think Ryan's coming back!"

"Ya right. Nice joke, I just LOVE your fake expression right now. Bravo, bravo!"

Bella came over to us right after that in a quick hurry, "Guys! Ryan's coming!"

"HA!" I said back.

"Bella, Rikki's got you in on this too? Seriously guys this is not funny."

We still did not respond. Ryan's is what really helped.

"Hello? Is anyone out there? It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you."

"Come on guys, let's get out of here!" said Cleo.

I shook my head while laughing, and diving in the water, all at the same time. I wish we could have stayed longer, I know we would have found something if we stayed.

We did our usual routine, dry off on the rock, act like we were never mermaids, and walk away from the beach. we found a near by table that is right by the beach but not close to the water. OS we sat down and caught our breath.

"So, what was your news Rikki?" Bella asked me.

"Nothing too important."

Cleo got annoyed, I could tell! "Rikki, just tell us!"

"That award ceremony Ryan asked you to go to, Miriam is sponsoring it. The one who is giving the award is Denman. I think Ryan might be receiving that award."

"So that's what he was doing at Mako!" Cleo squealed.

"Maybe. I could be wrong, but-"

"But what?"

"Just forget it. How about we just wait here until he comes back then we can ask him."

Bella questioned me before she answered, "Since when did you become the leader?" She asked. "I do like the idea. I just can't stay. Will and I are going on a dat-" Cleo stopped Bella before she finished.

"Don't say the d- word in front of Rikki." She spoke through her teeth.

"Well, Bye Rikki! Bye Cleo!"

"Bye!" Cleo said back. I saw the look on her face and it looked like she was in a hurry too! "Um, Rikki? I have to video chat Lew-"

"Just go ahead." I didn't look up knowing she was going to show her, 'I feel bad' face. She also said goodbye to me and I said the same back.

I was now alone, waiting for Ryan to find out the truth... I hate waiting!

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