Authors Note: Please review and let me know how you are liking the story! I will be updating the story everyday on the weekend and then pausing on the weekdays.
Cleo fiddled with her locket nervously. Normally she stayed away from any place that reminder her of the past—which meant the places she could go in this town were limited—but now she stood in front of the restaurant that had replaced the JuiceNet Café. Vegan Cuisine, such a step down. Even from a hundred feet away Cleo could almost hear the laughter of her friends, taste her favorite Boomerang Banana Smoothie, and feel the soft touch of Lewis.
Tears began to stream down her face. How had so much changed since then? They had been so innocent, so . . . naïve. Cleo backed up slowly, then turned and ran for the darkness. Before she knew it, she was swimming in the canal, her powerful tail pushing her toward Mako Island.
The moon, close to being full, lit up the entire island. The sight made Cleo almost forget that it had been 10 years since any of them stepped on the soil. Even now should couldn't bring herself to get too close. She knew only ghosts waited for her there. The swim helped her calm down, however, and she felt peaceful floating there with the moon shining on her. Things would start looking up, she was sure of it . . . maybe.
Rikki rubbed her eyes as her driver drove down the highway. She couldn't remember the last time she had left the Gold Coast. She almost felt as if she was in a daze, had Zane really sent her world into chaos? She found herself wishing he hadn't come home and ruined her bath. But, wishing wouldn't help her now. After 10 years, she was going to see Emma again.
From the sound of it, Emma had a cushy job she was good at—she could boss people around—and had enough money to buy a last-minute flight and hotel. At 27, Emma had done well for herself, though Rikki had never doubted her. She absently stared at the road as she imagined their reunion; hopefully it would be a happier one. Then again, Rikki would have to break it to Emma that she never got ahold of Lewis.
Zane and she spent close to an hour trying to find information about him on the internet. Emma had been easy to find, type in Emma Gilbert to Google and you find plenty of reviews on how well she planned vacations. Emma, always the planner. But Lewis? Lewis had only a handful of science articles published in fancy science magazines. The last thing any of them had heard was Lewis was studying in America—and Cleo had gone with him.
Rikki had only called Mr. Sertori to ask for a number to reach Cleo, she hadn't expected to actually talk to Cleo right then and there! If she had known Cleo had been in town . . . Rikki pressed her foot harder onto the gas. Cleo still hadn't forgiven her, that was clear.