Chapter 9: the paparazzi on our tail

Next day, Cleo and her friend's car pool together to get to school. When the students at the school saw a car pulling up, they instantly thought it was the paparazzi. But the paparazzi were right behind the vehicle pulling up to the school. The principal and about five teachers came on by to help the girls get to their classes. Everyone had mixed feelings and ideas about the girls. The paparazzi tried to snapshots, of the mermaids in their so called "human form". While being at school, Sophie and Miriam watched as Emma, Cleo, Bella, and Rikki were getting all the fame. Even their boyfriends plus Zane were getting all the fame too, getting couple snapshots with them as well.

Clearly revenge was more than what Sophie and Miriam wanted. They wanted to get even with them. As the four of them, went to their biology class. Everyone around them was thinking if they ever used their powers to cheat or purposely cheat on the assignments to get good grades and graduate. Because way before they knew their secret up til now they thought it was unfair that they were mermaids with cool powers. "Okay class, please form groups of four or five to do today's experiment" Mrs. Barnhart said.

It was a no brainer that the mermaids would team up. They felt that if they teamed up with someone else, then they would feel uncomfortable and their partner would think they cheated with their powers. "And ladies, for the sake of the class. Please don't use your powers for this assignment, or any assignments in the near future unless I say it's okay." The teacher said looking at Cleo and her friends.

"Don't worry Mrs. Barnhart, we promise not to use our powers unless any teacher for our classes says otherwise" said Emma being polite and trying not cause trouble or grief for her and for her friends. Rikki was slightly annoyed, that these people would even think they would use their powers just to get good grades. They work their butts off just like everyone else. Before their assignment started, a handful of paparazzi's showed up at the window taking pictures. People were so desperate to be famous too. So they grabbed the mermaids up to the window and started posing with them.

Neither one of them like the idea, of being famous. But they didn't break the mermaid code; two low life girl's spied on them and figured it out on their own. Pretty much everywhere they went; paparazzi's will be following them. It's like they had no privacy. Even their favorite hangout spot mako island is no longer a good place to escape because reporters hang out at the possible locations of where the girls might go. "This is ridiculous; we can't even have a place to hang out other than your place Cleo and Emma." Said Rikki who was getting annoyed.

"I know but this is the price of being a celebrity. And we are still the biggest news yet" said Cleo. When the paparazzi found them again. They beg to see their powers. So the girls showed their powers but making sure no one got hurt. The paparazzi was very pleased to see this with their own eyes. They look a lot of pictures. On the side lines Sophie and Miriam are still upset they are all getting the fame. When the girls were showing off their powers.

Sophie got the idea of making it look like their powers have gone rouge and make it look like it was trying to hurt them. She dumps water on Miriam and on herself and scream saying "aahh! Look Cleo used her water power to soak us! If I know my mermaid history. Good mermaids don't that!" Cleo was very peeved off about this and she said "that's a lie! I was nowhere near you. And I would never stoop that low!" The others were backing her up. Yet again their plan failed, Sophie was so mad she wanted to get even and make up the times they have embarrassed her.

She wanted her brother to help, but he was so against the idea. The mermaids left to swim and relax; they headed to the Beach of Mako Island and saw it wasn't crowded by paparazzi. "I can't believe Sophie stooped that low and tried to frame you Cleo" said Bella. "Same here, gosh I hate her so much." Said Cleo splashing the water with her tail. "She's just jealous that she's not like us" said Rikki. "Nah, I don't think so. Maybe she doing tasks doctor denmen told them to" said Emma. "Whatever it is, we can't give in to temptation. The last thing we need is people turning against us."

"I don't think Ms. Chatham would not be pleased about us." Said Cleo. "Yea, she might think that we gave out the secret." Said Rikki. "Umm, who's Ms. Chatham?" asked Bella curiously and slightly confused. "Ms. Chatham is this nice lady who had helped us with our problems, anxiety and other things about our secret being exposed." Explained by Emma. "When can I met her?" Bella asked again. "We're not sure ourselves. She usually appears and disappears a lot lately" said Cleo.

"Is she like us? Mermaids?" Bella asked once more. "She was, over time herself and her friends. Were exposed of being mermaids. They fought a lot, and they grew distant form each other. Ms. Chatham is the only former mermaid living." Said Emma as if each of them were quoting what Ms. Chatham said to them and the stories she had shared with them. With Ms. Chatham gone, they were so lost on what to do. They didn't know if they should just give up or keep on fighting. They all know giving up is not an option.

Rikki wished Zane would help her, but she was too heartbroken to even forgive him. This whole madness could have been easily avoided. But it was bound to happen eventually, even if they were careful. With people like Sophie, Miriam, and doctor denmen. A secret like being a mermaid or any other mythical creature will be exposed. The editor of a famous magazine wanted a cover photo, of the girls in their mermaid form. As the girls went to Mako Island, through the underwater cave entrance. Risking it being seen as mermaid to relax.

A photographer was standing by hiding waiting for them to come. "Looks peaceful here. Seems like no one is here" said Emma. "Yea, I miss coming here. We had such great memories here." Said Cleo. They all sat in the pool together giggling and laughing together talking about all the good times they had before the secret was out. The photographer was in position; he turned off the flash so they wouldn't see them. The girls didn't sense him, as he took countless pictures of them in the moon pool.

He was just a young photographer, he knew spying was wrong. But he had no other choice; he left the moon pool using the long hike through the forest. The girls got scared as they heard something. It was actually the photographer making is quiet get away without being spotted. For safety reasons the girls left the moon pool and went to the café. "Who the heck was that at the moon pool?" Bella said kind of worried. "Well it can't be Sophie, Miriam or doctor denmen. Otherwise they would have confronted us." Said Rikki being practical about the situation. "True, but if it was a reporter, then they should have come out and asked us questions." Said Emma.

"Emma has a point there. Also if it was a photographer they would have been swiftly and took tons of pictures of us. So maybe that's what we heard a photographer was there with us" said Cleo. A few days later a magazine is published and the girls made the cover and they were in there mermaid form. The head line was "Australian mermaid's pool time fun". "Wow, I guess the photographer we are dealing with. Is very professional and decided to make us look good." Said Bella surprised.

"Well at least it's better than being framed for stuff we didn't do" said Rikki. "What do we now?" asked Cleo. "I guess right now, we need to think of a way to show these people that are powers are for good use only" said Emma. "But it's kind of impossible with the demon trio messing up our plans" said Rikki. "That's just a obstacle. If we can overcome it, everyone will be on our side and they will turn against them." Said Bella. "I wonder where the guys are" said Cleo. "Probably getting ideas to help us or just soaking up the fame and going on a shopping spree" said Rikki joking around.

"Hey Rikki what do you think Zane is doing what now." Asked Bella curiously but tried not to make her sad or angry. "My guess is either, sulking, seeking advice to move on or trying to figure out a way to get me back" said Rikki. "Why can't you just forgive him? It wasn't his fault" said Emma. "I know it's not his fault, but he went along with it. And that's unforgivable. For all we know he could have been bribed to be with those girls and expose us" she said. "You should at least hear his side of the story.

You owe him that much Rikki" said Cleo. "I guess, but right now I just want to be away from him for now. The last thing I need is a huge fight that will end us forever" said Rikki. The others nodded in agreement, as Rikki went to get smoothie for them as Bella went to do sound check for her band. "Bella, hey can we talk" asked Nate. "About what Nate" Bella said as she was getting the mike ready and her back was facing him.

"Why don't you and I date and you can dump that loser William. He's just holding you back and he's sister is evil after all" Nate said hugging her from behind, convincing her to date him. But that was just another evil plan cooked up by Sophie. "I don't know about that Nate. I love William; he's been there for me through everything. Including this moment of where I have been exposed as a mermaid" said Bella. "Even so, what could you possibly offer to me?" Bella went on. "Fame, fortune, a chance to have a normal life with me. And I can teach you self-defense. " Nate said trying to convince her more. "I'll pass, you are not worth cheating. And I love William, even though he has an evil sister. Let's just get the rehearsal done" said Bella a bit sassy.

Nate was very upset that he got blown off by a cute mermaid like Bella. Bella smirked and started singing. Everyone in the café clapped along and enjoyed the live entertainment. Nate knew that Sophie would not be pleased that the plan didn't work. "Wow that must hurt for Nate being shot down by a girl" said Rikki giggling as they watched Nate trying to make a move on Bella. "Imagine if William found out, he would be so mad and probably make a huge scene and challenge Nate to a fight" said Emma. Later that day Sophie was very mad that the plan didn't go well. So she tried another method.

By destroying Bella's relationship with William. But then when Emma was passing by Sophie and Miriam talking she heard that she wanted to destroy Bella's relationship. "I'm letting you hurt Bella" said Emma. "Oh look it's the ice mermaid. What are you gonna do freeze us ha-ha" said Miriam mocking her. "Not only do that but freeze your entire organs and make your body shut down from freezing to death" said Emma threating them to protect Bella. "y-you can't do that can you?" said Sophie slightly terrified.

"I can and I will, unless you two back off from Bella and the rest of us" said Emma very peeved off. "Ok, ok we'll leave you guys alone" said Sophie lying but she made it look convincing. Emma walks away with her smoothie in her hand. Soon the day took a turn for the worse, doctor denmen sent Sophie and Miriam to make the most brilliant plan. This was to make them humiliated and not show their faces ever again. At school Sophie made an elaborate plan. The time was right, when the girls came a tube of water and ice cream falling down on them.

Causing them to turn in to mermaids and then Sophie showed up, pouring hot melted chocolate on them. She laughed saying "you mess with me, you will get humiliated and you guys should know your place. You're not that special. Your just freaks with stupid powers". Sophie walked away as everyone around them couldn't help but laugh. Rikki used her heat powers to dry themselves of and then when they transformed to their human self's. They made a run for it and hide in a janitor closet to clean themselves up. They just wanted the nightmare to be over. At this point they just wanted to hide and be a lone. Will things get better? Or will they give in and let doctor denmen be victorious. Read the next chapter to find out.