Next part xxx
"Wow. Mermaid-yness regeneration healing powers," Lewis nodded in appreciation and grinned at Cleo.
"In English, please, Lewis," she smiled gently back and sat up slightly on the hospital bed, supporting herself on her good arm. She'd lost a lot of blood from the wound in her left shoulder, but, being Cleo, she was just happy to be alive. Plus it was fun being able to tease her friends for once and knowing that they wouldn't do anything back to her because of her position.
"You heal faster than most people," Lewis explained. Cleo groaned at him.
"No, I'm just incredibly lucky that the...bullet hit my shoulder and not my heart. You read too much sci-fi," she complained.
"Well, I had to do something in the waiting room," Lewis teased her. "I'm just glad you're alright," he added, his tone softening. "I don't know what I'd do without you,"
"Um...you'd get off with Charlotte?" Cleo asked, fluttering her eyelashes innocently.
"Cleo, we've been over this, I never loved Charlotte, she was just a friend who got the wrong idea and I liked you the whole time, ok?" and he leaned in to kiss her. Cleo put her hand over his mouth when he was inches away.
"It was a joke, Lewis," she grinned. "But you can kiss me anyway,"
"CLEOOOOOOOOO!" There was a bang as the doors to Cleo's ward were sent flying open and Rikki, followed rather hesitantly by Emma, came running in. "We're here!!" she yelled.
Lewis made a 'why-does-she-enjoy-interrupting-us-when-we're-about-to-kiss' face. Cleo shrugged apologetically. "Yes you are," she nodded to Rikki and Emma.
"Just before the nick of time..." Lewis muttered under his breath, only to be elbowed in the ribs by Cleo.
"And we have chocolate!!" Emma added as she brought a huge bar of Dairy Milk from behind her back.
Cleo rolled her eyes. "Of course you do..." she shifted her position so she was facing the girls.
"Uh Lewis?" Rikki said slowly.
"Hmm?"
"Bye!"
"Whaa-?"
"It's time for a girl talk," Rikki told him seriously.
"Guys, Cleo is my girlfriend, I want to spend time with her too," Lewis moaned, trying to guilt trip in a way that had ceased having effect on Emma months ago and never had an effect on Rikki in the first place.
"Well, you just had a whole...five minutes with her..." Rikki stopped and looked at her watch again. "Huh, it felt a lot longer to me..."
"It would," Emma smirked. "So yeah...bye Lewis," she gave a wave then pushed him out the door, ignoring his protests.
Cleo laughed as her two best friends sat on either side of her bed.
"So how're you feeling?" Emma asked, concerned.
"Close to hysterical!" Cleo giggled, then stopped abruptly.
"What's wrong?" Rikki asked, instantly alarmed.
"You have chocolate and it's not in my mouth," Cleo said calmly, before they all burst out laughing again.
XXX
"I've gotta leave the lesson early today Ash," Emma swung herself into the saddle with expert grace. "Cleo's getting out of hospital at three and me and Rikki are gonna surprise Lewis with her. He doesn't know yet," She grinned excitedly at the prospect, making Ash laugh.
"Em, you've only told me fifty times, I'm surprised Lewis hasn't heard you blabbing to everyone about it!" He helped Elliot onto his horse then leapt onto his own mount. "Let's go,"
Fifteen minutes later, they were on the track around the cliffs, breathing in the salty air that wafted up from the beach.
"Loosen your reins, Elliot!" Emma heard Ash call, and then smiled at Elliot's reply of "Yessir!"
Caught up in her own dream world, Emma didn't realise she had no idea where she was until she found herself at the very edge of a cliff. Being capable, sensible Emma, she only gave a small scream, before gaining control and urging her horse, Misty, away from the sheer drop.
"Ash? Elliot?" she shouted, only to hear her own voice ring back at her. Pushing her hair out of her face, Emma gazed around her; she was at the edge of a semi-circle shaped cliff, which peered down to a secluded corner of a beach, totally void of life.
Emma took a deep breath and began to scan for anyone who could help her, when Misty gave a start, bucking and almost throwing her rider out of the saddle. Emma, startled, saw that the reason for the horse's distress was because of a grass snake slithering towards them through the dead bracken.
Emma rubbed Misty's neck gently, murmuring to her softly, but the horse took no notice and bolted, and then Emma was falling, down, down, down...