Chapter 36
The next day, the main beach...
"Hey beautiful,"
Elliot and Kim walked hand in hand along the beach.
"Elliot, I have amazing news. I'm only allowed to tell you, but I just have to!"
"So do I!"
They sat down in the soft sand, away from any crowds, on the dunes.
"You know like eight years ago I found that diary of Cleo's with all those doodles and stuff? Its real! My sister and her friends – your sister included- are mermaids!"
"I know! That was my news too! Emma told us last night, she mentioned that Rikki and Cleo were mermaids too."
"Bella is too!"
"Really? Okay then"
"We mustn't tell anyone. We promised,"
"Yeah. I couldn't betray them like that. I'm so glad that you know!"
Later on...
"Sophie is back in town for about a week," Will told his wife
"WHAT!"
"Visiting our parents and me..."
"You could've warned us sooner..."
"And we have to go to dinner with my parents and her tonight..."
"Talk about late notice Will!"
"I know, sorry, sorry, I kinda forgot earlier..."
"Let's just hope she won't cause any trouble this time."
That night...
"So this is where you parents live now..." Bella said as she took in the tidy cottage on the waterfront. Will rang the doorbell.
"Come in!" A jolly round man with silver hair opened the door.
"Dad! Long time no see,"
"It's only been a few months Son. How's the beautiful Bella?"
"I'm fine thank you Mr Benjamin," Bella blushed
"Oh, come now, how many times to I have to tell you, call me George,"
"Okay then...George," she smiled.
He led them into the dining room to see a woman with blonde hair, in which strands of grey were peaking through slaving in the kitchen
"Marge! Our guests are here," she spun around quickly
"Oh, they are too," she went over to embrace Bella and then to Will, before gesturing to them to sit down at the circular table in the dining room.
"Daddy" They heard a familiar voice squeal.
The red head entered the room; Bella was trying her best to seem cheerful at Sophie's appearance for the sake of her parents-in-law.
"I visited an architectural firm today and I met the most handsome boy, I do believe we have a dinner date tomorrow night,"
"What was his name?" Bella asked trying to sound interested,
"Robert...I didn't catch his last name," Bella nodded and continued eating.
The following night...
"Anna! Wait!"
Anna ran from his house tears streaming down her cheeks...
The next day...
'Beep, Beep'
Rikki fished her phone out of her denim short's pocket, letting go of Zane's hand in the process.
"It's from Anna." She showed it to him
'EMRGNCY MEET MP'
"Sorry gotta go Zane, I'll be back soon," she smiled and kissed him on the cheek, then ran into the water.
Rikki met up with Cleo, Emma and Bella half way there, as they surfaced in the Moon Pool they saw the auburn haired girl sobbing, her eyes red and puffy. Ben wasn't there.
"Hey hey hey," Rikki said "What's wrong?" she swam over and sat herself on the ledge beside Anna. The other two swam to the other ledges around the pool.
"I saw Ben with another girl...I can't believe four whole years of a relationship down the drain..."
"Don't think like that," Bella interrupted, "I'm sure there was a logical explanation to why she was in his house,"
"Don't worry Anna, I've been through this before, it'll be alright. Soon he'll come running back to you asking for forgiveness." Anna kept sobbing into Rikki's arms. Rikki looked at Bella and Cleo for help. She was never good with the whole tears and comforting thing.
"What does this girl look like? I'll give her a piece of my mind!" Cleo said forcefully. The fierce expression on her face almost made Rikki want to burst out laughing as she pictured the pregnant Cleo fighting someone.
"Scratch that Cleo, I will...or Lewis will...don't want you to over exert yourself in your current state,"
"Short red hair, she kinda looks like Will actually..." They all gasped and gave each other looks.
Rikki detangled herself from Anna's arms and said with clenched fists, "Sophie."
"Rikki...your fists..."
Emma fanned herself. If it got any hotter then she would use her power against Rikki's.
"Oh, sorry guys...but really, how could she!"
"That evil little..."
"Of all things spiteful..."
"Anna, she's the one who kissed Zane!" Now it was Anna's turn to gasp.
"Will's sister." Bella said, "I saw her at dinner a few nights ago with Will's parents. Pretty awkward meal that was."
"She was real quick to get a guy..." Emma said.
"I thought she'd changed," Bella said.
Rikki fumed silently to herself.
"I'm going to sort her out," Rikki said forcefully and prepared to swim out.
"NO!" Emma said. "That's not going to solve anything but create enemies. Let's just see what happens. Who knows Ben could have been set up, he was probably subject to her advances,"
"True," Rikki nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile...at Ben's house...
"Get off me!"
"What?"
"I said, get off me!" Ben shoved Sophie gently but firmly off him. "Get out. You are not welcome here. I have a girlfriend who was supposed to meet me here, about now!"
"But..."
"Don't you get it? I do not want to be with you. I have a girlfriend whom I love. What are you even doing here? I only met you at the office today! For all I know Anna could have seen us and now I'll have to patch up a wonderful relationship!"
Sophie left in a huff.
'She'll probably be at the moon pool,' Ben thought to himself after realising that he would have been seen. He dived into the water and swam to Mako Island.