Chapter 9: "Curiosity killed the cat"
The rest the week moved fast.
Camping at Mako was relaxing and fun and it really helped Rikki clear her mind a bit. Until at the beginning of the second week of their camping, something happened.
It was a quiet evening. The stars were shining brightly at the sky. The group was sitting near the fire that Rikki had made with her powers and was laughing at sone of Lewis' stories.
They were all peaceful and with smiles on their faces. Then suddenly Rikki, whose eye were wandering somewhere beyon the dark water, saw a boat coming towards them. A zodiac. It was coming closer and closer.
Rikki stood up as it finally reached the shore. She made a few steps towards the boat and smelled the stench of alcohol.
Zane was drunk. Again.
He stood up in the boat and staggered to his feet as walking towards her. When he reached her, he put his hands on her cheeks and pressed his lips against hers. As much as she loved the kiss, she pulled away.
"What do you want, Zane?" She asked and pulled back a little to look in his eyes.
"You." He answered and tried to kiss her again, but she made a step back.
"Don't." She said.
He put his hand on her leg and moved it slowly up and up. Even she didn't want to, Rikki couldn't help but moan quietly and he smiled.
"Zane, you're drunk, please go.." She started to say, but he interrupted her kissing her lips roughly and then her neck. This time she moaned louder.
"You know you want me too." He smirked. "Admit it."
"Zane, stop." She said and she pulled away making a step back. "This is wrong. You're drunk and it's late. You should go home."
She sounded gentle, but firm at the same time. He made a step towards her taking her hands in his.
"I love you." He said.
She smiled a bit.
"I know. I hope it's really true."
"It is. I've never loved someone as much as I love you. Rikki you're my life, the best thing that happened to me."
"Why did you come?"
"I told you, I wanted you. My body is some kind of addicted to yours. My lips are longing for yours. I want you."
"Zane, I-" She didn't know what to say. "I love you too. But you need to stop drinking and seek help. Otherwise you'll lose me."
"No!" He said. "I don't want to lose you. I'll try to quit drinking and seek help, I promise! I'll do everything to be with you!"
"Ok, but now it's very late, you should go." She said.
"Fine." He murmured and gave her another kiss before turning and walking back to the Zodiac.
Rikki watched after it as it disappeared out of her sight. She then went back to the others.
They were sitting in an awkward silence, but now Lewis continued with his stories and soon they were laughing again.
The second week also ended quickly and everyone went back to their activities. Rikki went back to the cafe along with Emma, because now they were working together, Bella - to her singing with the band, Cleo - to the marine park and her job as an assistant dolphin trainer, Will went back to training, and Lewis and Ash just to spending time in the cafe.
Rikki's morning sickness was killing her, but she hid it well, because she still didn't want Zane to know for the baby.
Unfortunately, someone else noticed it. Sophie.
She was now no longer working at the cafe, but liked coming back there almost every day as a regular costumer. That bothered Rikki and Zane, but still not so much to kick her out.
She noticed Rikki running to the bathroom almost every morning and she quickly figured it out why. Meanwhile Zane's problem was getting worse. Instead of keeping his promise and quit drinking, he was doing it more and more and was drank practically almost every day. But he too was trying to cover it well in front of Rikki, because he didn't want to lose her.
It was then when Sophie saw her chance to split them together and finally get Zane for herself.
One day, when Rikki ran to the bathroom again, she went to the bar and put something very strong in the cup of coffee Rikki had made for Zane. She then walked to her table, not noticing someone saw what she did. Someone who would later do everything to stop her plan. Sophie gave Rikki an evil smirk when she got out of the bathroom, then she put the money on her table and walked away.
Rikki went to the office to give Zane his coffee and then back behind the bar. That day was one of the busier days and she wasn't coping very well with it. She was tense and moody, her sickness continued the whole day and she was extremely tired. All she wanted was for the day to be over and her to go home, to get some rest in her comfortable bed. Having already finished singing Bella walked over to her.
"How are you feeling?" She asked her concerned.
"Been better." Rikki answered only.
"Why don't you let Zane or me finish here for you and go home to get some rest?" Bella asked her.
"No, I'm fine." Rikki told her, but Bella noticed how pale she had become the last couple of hours.
"Look, let me finish here for you, and you go, you're pale and don't look very good. It's bad for you in your condition."
"Bella, I'm fine, really." Rikki said getting annoyed again.
"No, you're not. Please do what I say, I insist."
"Fine." Rikki sight. "I feel too tired to argue with you, anyway."
"Good girl." Bella smiled at her making Rikki let out an exausted laugh.
"Thank you so much for doing this for me!" She told her.
"You're welcome." Bella answered her.
Rikki grabbed her bag and went to the office to say "Bye" to Zane, but found him, holding an empty bottle of scotch. Her eyes darkened and her smile disappeared. He unsuccessfully tried to hide the bottle when Rikki came in, but didn't manage to do it in time.
"Rikki, please, I can explain." He started, but she turned around and opened the door to walk away saying, "I don't want to hear it!"
Zane ran to her and grabbed her hand.
"Rikki, please-"
"No, Zane!" She pulled away her hand in a flash.
She gave him a look full of disappointment and disgust and he couldn't bare it. She tried to walk away again, but he put his hands at the door, preventing her to open it. She turned to look at him and realized they faces were only a few inches apart. She could smell the stench of alcohol in his breath and that only made her feel worse and she felt like she was going to be sick.
"Please, listen to me!" He said, but she shook her head.
"No, Zane, I'm tired of you giving me empty promises!" She stated.
He tried to stop her with a kiss, but she pushed him away and stormed off the office. He wanted to follow her, but suddenly he felt a little dizzy and sat down on the couch. He decided to leave and go home. He could barely walk and he had no idea how he finally reached his home and his room. He felt he couldn't stand on his feet anymore and he collapsed on the bed.
Then an evil laugh sounded behind the door. She walked to him, closing the door behind her.
"Zane, Zane, my lovely Zane, once my plan is completed, you'll be mine!"
She kissed his motionless lips roughly with hers. How long has she longed for his lips after their kiss in that boat when Will won! She smiled to herself and pulled off his shirt, then his pants. She then covered him and undressing herself she layed next to him. She reached at his pants and took his phone.
"Now the final part of my plan." She smirked and wrote a quick text message.
She put back his phone on the nightstand and put her hand on his chest. Now all she had to do was wait.
In the silence of her room Rikki was sitting in her bed, her head resting to the wall and hands around her knees. Suddenly she heard her phone beep on the nightstand. She took it and saw it was a message from Zane.
"Please, come at my place, I have a surprise for you!"
She threw her phone in front of her on the bed. Should she go?
She hesitated for a few minutes. She hated surprises and she didn't want to see Zane right now. But there was one feeling stronger then the others; curiosity. She was curious what his surprise was.
With a final moment of hesitation, she sighed and stood up, putting her phone in her pocket. She went out in to the night, heading straight to Zane's house.
When she reached it she noticed it was all dark. Only in his room there was a dim light. She walked quietly inside, careful not to wake his father. She went upstairs and stood up in front of Zane's room.
Although some strange voice in her head was telling her not to do it, she reached for the handle and pushed it to open the door. The second she did it, her stomach dropped and her heart broke. Waves of anger, sadness and pain filled her body all over.
Zane and Sophie were in his bed. Around them there were many small candles, giving a dim, and romantic light to the room. They were in bed he and Rikki had shared together so many times and were both sleeping. Her head was resting on his chest, and his hand was around her soulders.
Rikki shut the door and stormed off his house, diving in the ocean. She thought about how true was the familiar proverb "Curiosity killed the cat". Her curiosity didn't killed her physically, but inside she wished she was dead.
She swam straight to Mako.
She felt so angry and hurt and betrayed by Zane. Once she reached the moon pool she dried herself, she started pacing around fast. Then in one moment she stopped, took one small stone and threw it against the wall.
Rikki felt relief as it smashed and broke on pieces.
She started throwing stone after stone with all her strength. When the rocks finished she leaned against the wall, one tear running down her face. She brushed it quickly, but another one rolled. She jumped in the water and swam towards Cleo's place. She hated being weak and she hated talking about her problems, but she felt if she doesn't share this with someone she'd explode.
She pressed the door bell and felt relief when Cleo answered the door.
"Rikki, what is it?" She asked, seeing the grimace on her face, but Rikki didn't said anything.
She threw herself in Cleo's arms and the tears she hated so much and tried to hide, started rolling down her cheeks. Cleo took her in and closed the door behind her.
"Go to my room and I'll make you some tea. Shell I call Emma and Bella?" Cleo asked her.
Rikki shrugged her shoulders meaning "If you want to" then headed to Cleo's room. Cleo made her a hot tea, while texting Emma and Bella.
"Something's going on. Rikki came to my place and started crying. Come as fast as you can".
And she went upstairs. She hugged Rikki and soon her shoulder become wet of Rikki's quiet tears. Cleo was fondling her gently on the head.
After about ten minutes Emma and Bella came with worried faces in Cleo's room. They didn't ask Rikki anything, letting her tell them everything herself.
Those three girls were exactly what Rikki needed. Loving, caring friends.
After Rikki's story of what happened Cleo and Bella decided to never go at Rikki's again. They were furious at Zane. Emma was the only one who didn't say a word. She was the one who knew Zane long before any of them. And she knew he wasn't capable to hurt someone he loves like that.
Not to mention there was something else. Something was bothering her. She remembered her quick chat with Nate, just when her shift was over. He'd ran to her to tell her something, before she was about to leave. Something that now echoed in her thoughts.
"Be careful with Sophie."
I have big plans for this story, but I don't know how often I'll be able to update! Hope you'll like this chapter :)))
