Rikki sat down on the curb and pulled out a cigarette lighting it and taking a long harsh drag. Nate finally struggled to his feet and limped over sitting on the curb next to her, and she handed him her lit cigarette. He looked a real mess, his nose and mouth was bleeding and both his eyes were puffing up but he took the cigarette thankfully.
"Are you ok?" Rikki asked her voice emotionless.
"You need to talk to him." Nate said thickly.
Rikki turned to look at him, examining his face. "You need to go to hospital. I think you need stitches or glue or something."
"It's fine. I deserve it."
"Do you want me to get someone?" Rikki asked him standing up and looking over her shoulder towards the party.
"It's fine." He repeated.
"Stop saying that."
"Ok." Nate replied wiping some of the blood which was dripping from his face and not looking at her. Rikki stood awkwardly for a few moments when the silence was interrupted.
"Rikki, is that you?" Cleo's voice rang out.
"It's me." She said turning around to face Cleo who was quickly followed out of the gate by Lewis, they both surveyed the situation cautiously.
"Do you want us to leave you alone?" Lewis asked looking at Nate's startling appearance.
"No, I was just leaving." Nate answered before Rikki could respond.
"You need to go to hospital." Rikki said again as he stood up.
"Have a good one." He replied and walked away down the street.
Cleo walked over to Rikki who stood rooted to the spot watching him walk away.
"Rikki?" Cleo said tentatively.
Rikki turned to face them, and burst into tears. Cleo's eyes widened and then rushed forward to wrap her arms around her friend.
"I need help." She sobbed as Cleo and Lewis's eyes met with the same mixed look of shock and worry on both their faces.
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"Do you think she needs a doctor or something?" Cleo whispered to Lewis whilst tucking a blanket around a sleeping Rikki, who had passed out on the sofa five minutes after getting back to her house.
"Physically no," Lewis replied cleaning up the glass from Rikki's limp hand, "But mentally, I'm not sure. I think she's having some sort of mental breakdown, and after tonight's events, well...it could be the only thing that will help."
"She won't go into any kind of psych ward or anything. You know how stubborn she is, and she's especially stubborn at the moment." Cleo replied. "I think we should stay here tonight."
Lewis nodded and went to the kitchen to fill a glass of water, placing it on the coffee table within Rikki's reach.
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Rikki opened her eyes and saw Cleo sat looking at her worried. She sat up quickly, and then held a hand to her head as she felt pain shoot through her temple. She squinted at Cleo through sleepy eyes.
"Have you been here all night?" She asked.
Cleo nodded. "What happened last night Rikki? To Nate I mean."
"Emma told Zane what we did, and Zane came down and shit out of him," Rikki said her voice was horse and her throat sore. She put her hand up massaging her glands on her throat.
"Did he hurt you?" She asked passing the glass of water which Rikki took gratefully, taking a huge swig.
"No, he hates me though..." She replied, "I don't blame him!" She said quickly as Cleo opened her mouth to respond.
"My heads all over the place right now and I don't know what to say. Nate was there and Zane wasn't, and that's all there is to the whole thing. I needed a distraction to keep myself from completely falling apart, and he was there." She looked at Cleo's face, who's expression was hard to read.
"You need to talk to Zane." She said.
"He doesn't want to talk to me, he's probably back at his Auntie's house by now."
"You don't know that for sure, it's worth a try." Cleo shrugged.
"Ok, maybe I'll go later when I don't feel like my brain's coming out of my ears."
Cleo smiled, and for the first time she felt like Rikki was back.
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Rikki and Cleo left the house at around midday to meet Emma and take a walk along the peer and have a talk, just the three of them.
"It's been so long since we've done this." Cleo said looking at her two friends fondly, and playing on the crutches that they had brought along for Emma to help her in and out of her chair.
Rikki smiled and nodded and put her arm around Cleo's shoulder pulling her into a hug almost pulling her over.
"Thanks for last night Cleo," Rikki said smiling.
"Who are you and what have you done with Rikki?" Cleo replied laughing.
Emma stopped in her chair for a second and the other two stopped and turned to face her.
"Rikki listen, I'm really so-"She began but Rikki cut across her.
"Emma, you really don't need to apologise. I honestly don't blame you." She said with nothing but truth in her voice and grinned.
Emma looked stunned for a second, smiled and then said,
"Pass me my crutches will you."
"Emma, what are you doing?" Rikki hissed, as Emma pulled herself up and began to take a few slow steps around.
"Just trust me, it'll work!"
Cleo and Rikki looked at each other and stood for a few second watching Emma hobbling along the wooden deck towards the water edge. Emma stood where the decking ended and threw her crutches either side of her.
"Emma don't!" Rikki and Cleo cried in unison rushing towards her. Emma fell forwards into a dive breaking the surface of the water in a smooth splash. Standing on the edge of the peer Rikki and Cleo scanned the surface looking for Emma and after a few agonising seconds of nothing; a face immerged from the depths. The expression was half between a wince and a smile. Tears were rolling down Emma's wet cheeks.
"Are you ok? Do you need me to come in?"Rikki asked worried.
"No, I'm fine...I'm just so happy!"
Cleo was crying too "It's been so long since we've all been together like this!" She said again.
Rikki grinned, "Not quite!" With this she grabbed Cleo's hand and jumped into the water, dragging Cleo in with her.
As they swam through the water, Cleo and Rikki held Emma's arms and pulled her along with them towards Mako.
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Will Zane forgive Rikki's betrayal? Will Rikki forgive Zane's abandonment? Will Rikki be able to stay on the straight and narrow? Only I know, and you'll just have to wait. Mwhaha! Review's and further ideas and opinions on the matters as always would be very nice. I don't think I'll ask for a specific amount of reviews before I put another chapter up, that's not my style but they would still be appreciated. (It might speed the process of updating up though... ;) ) (A)(E) x ps. sorry for the mistake of putting Zane instead of Nate in Chapter 10 at one point, I'm not sure if there's anyway to correct that without having to upload it again and that seems such a faff when you know what I meant.