AN: please keep reviewing I like to hear your thoughts too.

Chapter 7: Problems

Rikki's POV

"Aww Zane, you set up a picnic for us."

"Yes, I thought it would be nice just me and you reflecting on the good times, and maybe go for a swim. I know what you're going to say, but no one's around, and it'll be nice."

I look into the pool, then around to see no one else in sight.

"Alright, I guess, but why do you suddenly want to swim with me?"

"Because you said I didn't show interest in you mermaids, so I want to make an effort to be apart of it."

"Why can't we go swimming in the ocean?"

"Because I have a real hard time with the ocean. It is just so much easier in a pool with a ground I can reach."

"Okay so lunch first?"

"Yes, amazingly I didn't make an awesome lunch but just some awesome peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."

"Well, it is still cute."

"I want you to trust me enough that we could get back together, we were good together...great even."

"You cheated on me...how is that considered great? She will try again you know... she wants us to be over. What are you going to do about that?"

"I love you and I promise she won't get the chance to try again. I know I should have pushed her away or something, but I was weak we were faulting away and she was actually interested...you weren't. I was in shock at first, and didn't know how to tell you or explain it."

"So, it's my fault?"

"No, it was my responsibility. I am just saying why I didn't do anything. Why I didn't tell you about those meetings...i am just trying to justify what I did, but I can't."

"So, how do we ensure it wouldn't happen again?"

"I become more involved in your mermaidness? I spend more time with you. We do more things together? Or even I could fire Sophie."

"Do that. And then stay away from her. Also okay we could spend more time together."

"You will let me be more involved?"

"Yes."

"Fantastic!"

Then I dive into the pool, and as I come up I yell,"Come be more involved." Then I dive under the water. Zane dives in too, and when we both go break the surface we hear, "So, how did you fake losing your mermaidness?"

It was Dr. Denman and Mr. Bennett. They were here to discuss the development of Mako island, and just happen to see Rikki in the pool when they looked out the window.

"It's a long story, and I don't think you have the patience for it," I say.

"Rikki, why don't we have a chat about this," Dr. D says.

"What is there to talk about?"

"I know your secret. I want to claim it as mine in the scientific world. Would you want to make a deal?"

"Of course she won't! Dad, you weren't supposed to be back for hours. I am sorry Rikki I had no idea," Zane says.

"It's okay Zane, it isn't like she couldn't figure it out again."

"That's right. Don't blame yourself," Dr. D says.

"So what do you want from me?" I ask.

"I want to work with you not against you. I want to strike a deal with you and the others. You can have all the freedom you want. Live life as normally as possible. All I want is to show you to the world. Get the credit for the discovery and run some tests and such to see how and why this happened," Dr. D says.

"We will get to live life like we have been the last three years? Only the whole world will know that mermaids exist? We won't be locked up or put in zoos or anything?" I ask.

"Exactly. You let me show that I discovered you. I get the money and the credit. I do some tests to write papers and such about you and then you go on and live a normal life," Dr. D says.

"I will need to talk about this with the others, and think about it myself. This isn't something we can do on instinct," I say.

"I understand let me know when you decide."

At Rikki's Cafe

"There you are Rikki," Emma says.

"Hi guys, we kind of have a problem, but there is a solution we need to talk about,"I say.

"What did you do?" Emma asks.

"Why do you assume I did something? How do you that an accident didn't happen?" I ask.

"What accident," Cleo asks.

"Me and Zane went swimming in his pool... and his dad and Denman came back early...to see me in the pool," I say.

"Denman and Mr. Bennett saw you with a tail?" Emma Asks.

"Yup, but she has offered us a deal," I say.

"A deal? What kind of deal," Cleo asks.

"She wants the claim to the discovery of mermaids, the rights to do her research, and show us to the world," I say.

"She wants to expose us and use us to better herself and her career?" Emma asks.

"The whole world, you say?" Bella asks.

"Yup, the whole world," I say.

"What about us what do we get?":Cleo asks.

"Our Freedom, and maybe a better understanding on how we can control this, she could know the answers to questions that Lewis couldn't answer," I say.

"We won't be locked up?" Emma asks.

"Nope total freedom," I say.

"Then lets make a deal," Emma says.