Please let me know what you think.

Working with love

A girl and a man are walking down the street. The girl is supporting the man. Before entering another street, she looks around scared. "C'mon, we're almost there. I'm sure they can help us." The man just nods, but still has a hurt expression on his face. "Don't give up, I can see the house already." Right before she can get the man across the street, a demon shimmers in behind them.

The demon pushes the girl to the ground and holds the man with his arm pushed onto his back. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Drazi."

"I knew I'd find ya."

The girl gets back up and gets into fighting position. "Leave Coop alone." The two guys turn back towards them her.

"Jenny, you need to stay out of this, I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Yeah listen to your friend, you don't want to get hurt."

Before Jenny can do anything, Drazi shimmers out with Coop.

-h2o-

In an abandoned warehouse they shimmer back in. Drazi throws Coop into some wooden boxes before pulling him back up by his hair. Then he reaches into Coop's chest to squeeze his heart.

"Ahh, you're killing me."

"I could do a lot more than that. A lot more. How does it feel, huh? I can tell ya, I know. Thanks to you, I know what it feels like to have your heart ripped out. You don't want to feel that pain do you?" He throws Coop on the ground again and stands on his arm. "No, I gotta better idea and you're going just hate it." Drazi takes Coop's ring. "Your little magic ring you use to slip in there between the heart beats, plant your little thoughts of love, I'm gonna borrow it. I'm gonna use it to tear apart some of your more recent unions."

"No, Drazi, no."

"I'm gonna turn love into hate and that hate is going to slowly and painfully kill you. And in the end, you're gonna wish I had ripped your heart out."

-h2o-

Rikki is reading a book in her room, when her father knocks on her door. "Rikki, sweetheart, there is someone here to see you."

"Who?"

"A girl, she says she knows you from school."

Rikki stops in her tracks. It's not possible that someone from school is here, she never told anyone where she lived. Not even Cleo or Emma know. A knock on the door brings Rikki out of her thoughts.

A blond girl pokes her head around the door. "Sorry, but your dad said it was okay for me to come trough." Alright, this girl didn't look like much of a threat. Rikki nods her head, while standing up. The girl smiles and comes in, closing the door behind her. The girl laughs at loud. "Whoa, I can't believe I'm standing in the room with you. I mean, I know all about you." Rikki takes a step back. "Oh I'm sorry, I haven't told you who I am right? I'm Jenny, Jenny Matthews."

She holds out her hand, which Rikki takes. "I'm Rikki Chadwick. So how do you actually know me?" Rikki waves to her bed, indicating that Jenny can sit down.

"Because you're famous. I mean not actually you, but what you are is famous." Jenny notices Rikki's distrust and frowns. "You are one of the chosen ones right?" Rikki, still full with distrust, nods. Jenny's face lightens back up. "Good, cause I need your help."

"Euhm, do you mind if I ask you a question in return?" Jenny shakes her head enthusiastically. "Who are you?"

"Like I already told you, I'm Jenny. Oh you mean what I am, I'm a witch."

Rikki can't help but let a giggle escape. "Wait, you're a witch. Can I see your wand? Or can I maybe take a trip on your broom?" Rikki stops laughing when she sees Jenny's angry eyes.

"I'm not an escapee from Harry Potter. I don't own a wand and I certainly don't fly around on a broomstick."

"Sorry, it's just hard to believe, you don't look like a witch to me." While saying this, she motions to Jenny's pink coat and her long blond hair. "I always pictured witches as mean and ugly and old and you're not actually one of those things."

"I actually think that was a compliment, so thanks. But now we need to get back on track. I need your help with something."

-h2o-

On their way towards Emma's house, Jenny explains things to Rikki and by the time they arrive, Rikki is completely up to date. Emma opens the door smiling. "Hey Rikki." She notices Jenny. "Who is this?"

Jenny starts to explain, but Rikki cuts her off. "Better get inside first, I don't feel like doing this explanation more than once." Rikki steps inside, motioning with her hand for Jenny to follow, while looking with her head towards the stairs. "Is the rest already here?" Emma closes the door behind her two new guests and nods.

The three girls enter the room to find Cleo and Lewis glued together by their lips. After a little cough from Rikki they let go of each other startled. A blush creeps over their cheeks. "Sorry didn't hear you coming in." Emma and Rikki sit down on the bed, both wearing a face that says obviously. Cleo turns her attention towards Jenny. "So who is this?"

Rikki stands up again and stops next to Jenny. "This is Jenny Matthews, she is a witch. Jenny this is Emma and the two lovebirds are Lewis and Cleo."

"I feel honoured to meet you."

"Why?"

"My mother has told me all about you, the chosen ones. Each separately are strong, but together they are the strongest force against evil."

Everyone in the room, except Rikki, look with awe towards Jenny. Rikki claps her hands, to get everyone's attention again. "Alright, now introductions are over, we can get to business. Alright, Jenny has come to me for help. I know it's hard to believe, but she needs our help to find Coop, who is a cupid." Now it is towards Rikki, everyone, except Jenny, is looking with mouths hanging open. She claps her hands again. "Looks like we are falling in repeat. Coop is kidnapped by Drazi, the demon of hate. Alright, so Lewis I need you to find everything you can find on Drazi and cupids, Cleo can help you. Emma, you and I can…"

"No I can't, I have to organize the dance remember. It's the last time our entire class will be together."

"Emma, c'mon, if we can't find the demon, there probably won't even be a dance."

Jenny steps forward.

"No, Emma is right, she should organize this dance." Rikki looks surprised at Jenny. "At a dance a lot of couples are formed and if we want to have a chance at keeping Coop alive, we need all the love we can get."

"Alright Emma, you go organizing your dance. Jenny and I will make a potion to vanquish Drazi" Rikki looks back at Jenny. "Right?"

"Yes."

-h2o-

Rikki opens the door for Jenny, who enters with a bag. They enter Rikki's room.

"So how long are you already a witch?"

"I've been one all my life, but I've only come into my powers recently."

"You have a power? What is it?"

Rikki sees Jenny smiling. "Since I was fourteen I have premonitions. At first I could only see the future, but now I'm also able to see into the past and the present. So what are your powers and how long are you already a mermaid?" Jenny flops down on Rikki's bed.

Rikki sits down next to Jenny. "We've only become a mermaid about seven months ago. I can boil water, Emma can freeze water and Cleo can mould and move water." She notices Jenny's eager face and holds her hand out towards her glass of water. It starts smoking at the same time Rikki closes her hand.

"Wow, that's great."

"Yeah it is. So have you already a lot of experience with demons?"

Jenny nods. "My mom thought me the ropes. First I was only allowed to make potions and stuff, but I became more active after I got my power."

"Wow, it must be great to have someone to teach you everything."

"Yeah it is, but didn't your mom thought you, I mean she used to be a chosen one herself, right?"

Jenny notices how Rikki quickly changed the subject, but decides to drop it.

"So how are you able to fight the demons? I mean, no offence, but premonitions doesn't really sound as a power you can use to protect yourself."

"Yeah my mom thought the same, so I learned material arts."

"That's great, I've only just started learning them, so maybe we could train together?"

"I would love that."

They smile at each other, but Rikki frowns when she sees Jenny's gigantic bag.

"What you have you got into that bag?"

"My stuff." Jenny pulls her bag towards her and gets a big book out of it. "And this is my book. I know, yours must be bigger but..."

"Ours isn't that big, I can assure you. May I?"

"Sure."

Jenny hands her book to Rikki, who begins to flip trough the pages. "This is great. I can't believe you fought this many demons."

"Oh, but I didn't fight them all. The book is given trough from generation to generation. Didn't your mom give you yours?"

"No, we started our own book. We should combine our knowledge. You can add whatever you want from our book to yours and we can expand ours."

"Sure, I'm sure my mom would love that. Alright, let's starts with the potion. I can use my own ingredients if you don't want to use yours."

"Euhm, I don't have ingredients."

"Then how do you make potions?"

"I never did."

"Alright, then I guess it's time to learn. Where is the kitchen?"

-h2o-

Jenny and Rikki just finished the potion when they hear a thump in the back yard. They run out, to find Coop on the ground. "Coop!" Jenny helps him to sit up. "Are you alright?"

"No, Drazi stole my ring and he's going to use it to find all the loves that I've put together so he can destroy them, which will in turn destroy me."

"We know about Drazi, we already made the potion that will vanquish him."

Rikki walks closer.

"So I'm actually supposed to believe that you're cupid?"

"You believe in warlocks and demons but you can't believe in me?"

"Where's the chubby baby? And the bow and arrow?"

"Where's the tail, the long hair and the need to continually comb your hair?"

"Alright, show me something supernatural."

"Drazi took my ring. It's my powers, how I get in."

"Get in?"

"People's hearts, to waken love. See, but Drazi's all about hate and he's going use the ring to get in the same way."

"Okay, so how are we supposed to find him?"

"The same way he can find me. We can sense each other. We're connected in a cosmic way. There's a fine line between love and hate."

"Oh, brother."

"Hey, don't take Drazi lightly. You are in danger as well you know."

"I'm in danger every day. I'm used to it."

"Look, if Drazi succeeds, eventually he'll kill the ability to love. And believe me, it's a fate worse than death." Suddenly Coop doubles over from the pain. "Drazi has started, he is using the ring." He turns towards Rikki. "You have to go, he already infected one of your friends."

Rikki looks towards Jenny. "Don't worry, I'll get Coop out of here. Just go, we'll meet at Emma's." Rikki smiles one last time and then jumps into the water. "Wow, I wish I could do that."

-h2o-

In the meantime, Emma is walking towards the juice net café. She sees Byron sitting next to Tiffany, but as soon as Byron sees her, he gets up and walks towards her. Suddenly time slows down and Drazi appears next to Byron and Emma, he turns towards Byron. "Oh boy, do you really think she will ever open up to you? She is never going to trust you." He then turns towards Emma. "Why do you think he was sitting with Tiffany? He is keeping his options open, as soon as he is finished with you, he'll move on to the next girl." Time turns back to normal and Byron and Emma start shouting at each other.

"Why am I even bothering Emma, you'll never trust me anyway."

Bryon turns around.

"Yeah that's right, go back to Tiffany. I can't believe that I was even interested in you. All you do is looking at other girls instead."

Bryon walks back up to Emma.

"Maybe I do that because they don't have trust issues. When you're dating, people trust each other and I thought we were dating."

"Well not anymore."

-h2o-

Back in Cleo's room, Lewis and Cleo are once again lip-glued together. They are startled when Kim storms into the room. "There is someone to see you… eww, what were you doing?"

Cleo gets off Lewis lap and takes Kim back downstairs. "Nothing." They are followed by Lewis. Nate is standing in the hall, waiting for them.

"Nate? What are you doing here?"

"Collecting my prize." He explains further when he sees Cleo and Lewis' confused faces. "I won a bet from you Cleo, remember. I could take you out on a date."

"Right now isn't a great time…"

"Oh, but I don't want to take you right now. I'm going to take you to the dance tonight."

Both Lewis and Cleo look at each other, before looking back at Nate.

"Nate, you can't mean that. Let's go some other time."

"Nope, the dance will do." He opens the door, but turns around again. "Oh yeah, wear something short and tight." With that he closes the door behind him. Cleo turns back to Lewis.

Just then, time slows down and Drazi appears again. He turns towards Lewis. "She didn't put up much of a fight, did she? She prefers Nate above you. And who can blame her, she thinks that all you really do is walk in the way. She said it herself that she would rather have you staying out of the fighting." He turns towards Cleo. "Poor Cleo, Lewis doesn't seem to mind that Nate is taking you to the dance. He hasn't even asked you yet if you wanted to go with him, he is taking you for granted. He is using you, you're only something to experiment on." Drazi disappears and time goes back to normal. The couple looks at each other with furious faces.

"You didn't seem to mind much that Nate asked you, did you?"

"Well maybe that is because someone else didn't ask me first. You're taking me for granted."

-h2o-

Along the way towards Emma, Zane finds Rikki.

"Hey beautiful, want to go for a ride?"

"Sorry, Zane, but I can't right now. I have an emergency."

Rikki tries to walk past Zane, but he takes her hand to stop her.

"Hey slow down. Let me help you."

"Zane really I can handle it."

"No Rikki, I'm going to help you. I don't want to see you going into the fight alone. I don't want to see you get hurt."

Time slows down again and Drazi reappears. He turns towards Rikki. "Touching. Really touching. Rikki, could you be a bigger fool? He's still sleeping with his ex, Miriam. He looks at you as a desperate, lonely girl. Easy sex. And do you really think he will ever truly understand?" He turns towards Zane. "Zane, she's nothing but a gold digging tramp, who wants to hit your big fat wallet. You are everything she always knew she never wanted and you know it. Bye bye." He disappears. Rikki pulls her hand out of Zane's hand and hits him in the face with it. Zane touches his face.

"Bitch!"

"Why don't you go and give your googly eyes to Miriam."

"Well, the bank's closed, baby. You're not laying one finger on this guy's money."

"Screw you."

They both walk away.

-h2o-

Cleo and Rikki enter almost together Emma's house and sit down next to Emma on the couch.

"I can not believe Byron. Who the hell does he think he is?"

"Bryon? What about Lewis? Nate asks me out and he doesn't even care."

"Totally out of line. I confronted Zane with the fact that he is still sleeping with Miriam and he didn't even denied it."

"We're better off without them."

"Certainly not worth crying over."

"I have never hated someone so much in my entire life."

"Me either."

"Same here."

They all cross their arms at the same time. Emma looks at the others.

"Still it's all so weird. One minute there is nothing wrong…

"And we are laughing."

"And having a great time…"

"And the next we're acting like we hate each other. Uhh…"

"What?"

"I was just thinking about Drazi."

"No way. He couldn't have had anything to do with this. We would have felt it."

"Byron's scum."

"So is Lewis."

"Zane ends the list."

"Hello, can somebody help me?" Jenny leads Coop towards the other couch and sits him down. She smiles at the others, but gets only angry faces in return.

"You're still here?"

"You know what? None of this would have happened if you would've just left us alone. Now get out. Get out of my house."

"Uh, you guys."

All three girls stand up.

"Shut up!"

Coop starts to leave. Jenny follows him.

"Where are you going?"

"There's nothing I can do. They're trapped."

Emma answers Coop.

"Oh, we are not trapped. For the first time in my life I see things how they really are. Now whoever you are, whatever you're selling, just get out."

"No, no. Listen to me. You guys are under a spell. Okay, this is not you. Listen to me."

"If you're with him, why don't you go too?"

Jenny looks at Rikki with pain in her eyes. "What?" The three girls turn back around. "No, you guys." She turns back towards Coop. "How is this happening?"

"He knows how to infect them with hate trough the ring. And without the chosen ones help, we're going to have a lot of problem vanquishing him."

"What, so he's invincible now?"

"Maybe not. Maybe if destroying the loves that I put together is killing me. Maybe the reverse is true. Patching everything up with everybody just might kill him."

"But you can't do that without the ring."

"Well, I've got you."

"I'm sorry. What?"

"Your heart is as big and true as anyone I've ever seen, Jenny. You'll be my ring."

"I'm flattered, I think. But I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You will. Come on, we've got a lot of work."

"Okay."

-h2o-

The doorbell rings. Emma opens the door. Byron, Zane and Lewis are standing there. Byron steps forward.

"This better be good."

"Am I supposed to know what you're talking about?"

Lewis steps inside.

"Don't buy the innocent act. She pulls it all the time."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Just cut to the chase, Emma. Why did you call?"

"What? I didn't."

Zane stands at the bottom of the stairs and calls out to Rikki. He is followed by Lewis.

"Isn't this your number? 'Come to my house a.s.a.p.'."

"That's really pathetic. Paging yourself?"

"Pathetic?"

"I'm sorry, I meant moronic."

Rikki and Cleo come down the stairs. "What?" Rikki looks at Zane. "Why are you here?"

"You called."

"Oh, you wish."

Cleo looks around.

"What is going on?"

Right then Jenny and Coop enter. "Hate and it's got to stop. I asked the guys to come over here." She helps Coop again to sit down in one of the couches. Rikki follows them.

"And what is he still doing here?"

"Trying to help you."

"No reason to hang around here, that's for sure."

"Oh, on the contrary. Everyone on the couch now."

"Hey, just mind your own business."

Rikki turns to Zane again.

"Hey, don't talk to her like that."

Coop is still in pain.

"Please."

"Okay, everyone on the couch now. Come on."

Jenny takes Cleo and Rikki's hand and leads them to the seats. They sit down together. The others follow their example.

"Jenny, I don't understand."

"Okay, well be quiet and you will."

Byron notices Coop's pain.

"You don't look okay. Are you alright?"

"I'm having a rough day."

"But we can change that. You are all acting like you are under some kind of spell." The three girls, Lewis and Zane look at Jenny. "Would you stop thinking and just feel. Look, I know that some ugly things were said today but you can get past that."

"Assuming that we want to."

"You know you want to."

Jenny sits down next to Coop and Coop turns his attention to Emma.

"Emma, you've been hurt and you're scared. But you've got to take a risk if you want to find the real thing. And Byron is real. Open up to him. And Byron, Emma's love and compassion awaits you, but she's afraid that you'll leave her. You've got to reassure her."

Emma turns towards Byron.

"I am so sorry for whatever happened today. I don't know what came over me."

"It's okay. It doesn't matter. I didn't mean it either. None of it."

"Really?"

"Really."

-h2o-

Drazi doubles over in pain. "Coop. Do you think you can undo what I've done? You're dead."

-h2o-

Coop turns towards Rikki.

"Remember how you felt the first time you saw Zane?"

"Yeah, I hated him."

"My point exactly. Opposites attract. But after a while he started to make you smile didn't he? He made you laugh. Look at him again. Remember that." Rikki and Zane look at each other and Rikki smiles slightly.

Jenny continues. "And Cleo, I watch you when you talk to Lewis and I see light and warmth and hope and I know you feel that way. And Lewis, you don't need someone whispering in your ear telling you not to trust Cleo. Trust yourself."

Lewis smiles at Cleo and takes her hand in his. She smiles back. Coop turns towards Jenny.

"It's working."

"Where is he?"

"He's close."

Jenny stands up. "Okay, okay, here's the plan. Zane, Byron, you go down to the corner market and get whatever you want. If the food of love is Cheetos and soda, then play on. Um, can you pick up a couple of frozen pizzas?"

"Yeah, okay."

"Take your time. Bye, bye."

Byron and Zane leave.

"Hey, what the hell is going on?"

"Okay, think you guys. Do you remember Drazi? Well, he's still alive and if Coop's right, he's on his way here as we speak. Whatever bad feelings you had, Drazi did it. He's twisted your relationships with hate."

"So what do we do now?"

"Exactly what you're doing right now. You let the guys back into your hearts."

Drazi walks around the corner and grabs Coop.

"Hello, lover boy." Drazi reaches in Coop's chest and grabs his heart. "I should have finished you off the first time."

Cleo sprays water from the sink on them, and Emma freezes Drazi.

"Okay, so much for loving him to death. What do we do with him now?"

Coop moves away from Drazi. "Thanks." Coop takes the ring from Drazi's hand and places it on his own. Jenny throws a potion at Drazi. He starts melting and he turns into black stuff and disappears.

"Is he gone?"

"Yeah, he's definitely gone."

"How do you know?"

Emma turns towards Cop.

"Because I've never felt better." He turns towards Jenny. "I knew you could do it. And now I have to go." He gives Jenny one last hug and disappears with pink smoke.

Rikki walks over to Jenny and puts an arm around her shoulder. "You're one hell of a witch." Jenny smiles.

"I try."

"So are you staying around?"

Jenny looks up to Emma.

"You want me to?"

"Yeah, we could learn a lot from you."

"And you're great to hang out with. So what do you say?"

Jenny turns back towards Rikki, whose arm is still around her shoulders. "I would love to stay, but I don't have a place to stay."

"You're bag is already at my place and I'm sure an extra bed could fit into my room."

Jenny gives Rikki a hug.

"Thank you Rikki."

Cleo looks away from Lewis.

"Wait, your parents wouldn't mind?"

"No, my mom is a witch too and she'll understand if I want to stay here, where all the action is. Besides if I'm saying that I'm protected by the chosen ones, she'll be much more reassured than when I'm home."

"Hey you can come with us to the dance later on."

"But I don't have anything to wear."

"I'm sure, someone of us has something in their closet for you."

-h2o-

That night at the dance, Emma and Byron and Rikki and Zane are enjoying their evening while Cleo keeps on giving Lewis apologizing faces for dancing with Nate. Jenny stops next to Lewis. "You know there is something as cutting in."

"You think she wouldn't mind."

"Yeah I think she would mind if you don't cut in this moment."

Lewis gives her one last smile and then steps towards Nate and Cleo. Cleo looks relieved when Lewis cuts in. and Nate is quickly taken by Tiffany. A slow comes up and Jenny looks towards all the couples dancing. "Great work Coop." And she smiles.