Lalita's P.O.V

"Hey, Lalita!" A voice rang out over the noise of the cafe. Lalita Bennett turned, looking for the owner of the voice. Just then, someone tapped her on the shoulder. Lalita jumped. She swung around, and came face to face with her best friend, Teri McCartney.

Lalita smiled. "Hi."

Teri drummed her nails on the table. "Guess what."

Lalita looked up from her strawberry smoothie. "Hmm?"

"My dad got a new boat, and he said we could use it!" Teri said excitedly.

"Uh-huh." Lalita said, not really paying attention.

Teri sighed, exasperated. "We could go to mako…"

Lalita's head shot up. "Really?

Teri smiled. "Sure." She wrinkled her brow. "Although, our parents did say not to go to mako, especially on a full moon."

Now it was Lalita's turn to sigh. "Please?"

Teri slumped against the table. "Oh, alright."

Lalita grinned. She pulled herself out of the booth, and spun around.

"Yes!" She cried.

Teri put a finger to her lips. "Shhhh." She pointed at Lalita's dad, Zane, who was serving drinks to an older couple.

"Ohhh. Shh." Lalita whispered. "Let's go, " She said, still whispering. Together, the girls wound their way throughout the crowd of people, and out to the canal. A little speed boat was hooked to the walkway, bobbing in the water. The girls climbed in, and Teri started it up.

"Ready?" She called to her friend over the noise. Lalita nodded.

"Ready." She looked over to the canal. A girl stood on the docks. "Who's that?" She yelled.

Teri followed her finger. " She's the daughter of the singer who used to work here. When they moved back from Ireland, she took over her mom's job. I think her name is something like Bria? Or Brittany? Not sure. " As Teri drove the boat away from the docks, she sent up a spray of water that drenched the girl. Shock, and then fear covered her pretty features. She glanced around, seeing if anybody was watching, before diving into the water.

"Weird." Lalita remarked.

Teri turned to her. "What?" She asked.

"When the boat splashed that girl, she just dove into the water." Lalita replied.

Teri shrugged. "Who knows." As they rode above the water, Teri extended her arm. "There's Mako!"

Lalita pushed Teri's arm out of the way to get a better look. "I know that, doofus."

Teri pretended to look hurt. " You're a doofus, too" She pointed to the sky. "Look. It's beginning to look dark."

Lalita shrugged. "Keep going."

Teri frowned slightly. "Ok."

OoOoOoOoO

Teri's P.O.V

Teri jumped out of the boat, the shallow water coming up to her shins. She glanced over as Lalita jumped in with a splash. Together, they pushed the boat into the sand. Lalita glanced around, unimpressed. "It's cooler from far away." She remarked.

Teri rolled her eyes. "Ok, we're here, and you've had your look. Can we go now?"

Lalita shook her head. "No way. Let's look around."

Teri dramatically sighed. " For a minute, but after that, if you don't come, I'm leaving you."

Lalita broke into a grin. " Ok." She pointed towards the jungle, that seemed to have a path that led up. "That way."

Teri groaned. "I seriously regret this." Lalita just smiled.

OoOoOoO

Teri jumped across the slippery rock, wondering why on earth she had brought up Mako to Lalita. The water ridden rock glistened with the full moon's light. She shook her head violently. And on the full moon? Who knew what monsters were lurking around. As she hopped to a new dry area, she felt her foot slip and the ground give away. Her hands shot up, and she screamed as she fell down into a dark cave, through a tunnel. Above her, she heard Lalita's feet pounding on the rock, trying to find her

"Teri? Where are you?" Lalita called.

Teri looked up. "Down here!" She cried. Lalita's face appeared in the entrance to the cave. "Careful, it's-" Teri tried to warn her friend, but was cut off as Lalita slipped and fell in. "Slippery." Teri finished with a sigh.

Lalita looked around. "What is this place?"

Teri shrugged. "No idea. Move over." She said, moving over to the tunnel. Standing up, she tried to grasp the rock and get out. Using her nails, she started to climb, but her feet slipped sending her back down. Growling, she tried again, once more slipping down. She stood up, and backed away. "Can you do it?" She asked hopefully.

Lalita gave her a look. "If you can't, neither can I."

Teri sighed. "Let's go through there." Pointing to a hole on the rock that obviously led to another cave. "See if it leads to another way out. " Turning on her heel, she slipped through the hole. "Wow! Lalita, you coming?" LolInside the other cave was a beautiful pool, round, with perfect tidal rings. As Lalita came in, she exclaimed excitedly, "Tidal rings! That means it's connected to the ocean."

Lalita knelt down, and put a finger in the water. "Warm." She said, flicking the water off her finger. She sat down at the edge of the pool, and began taking off her socks and shoes.

Teri sat next to her. " Our parents are going to be mad at us for going to Mako on a full moon and staying out past curfew.

Lalita smirked. " Who said we're telling them we went to Mako?"

Teri's mouth dropped. "We're gonna lie?" She asked in disbelief.

Lalita scoffed. " You wanna tell your parents you were here on Mako on a full moon?"

Teri bit her lip nervously. "I suppose not l."

Lalita nodded. " Good. Tell them we were taking a boat ride, and our boat broke down, so we swam here, and then walked to high ground to try to call somebody. When we couldn't,we walked back to the boat and waited." Lalita slipped into the water, the water illuminating her face. "Come in.""

Teri rolled her eyes, and while sending a smirk at Lalita, jumped in the pool. The water splashed up and soaked Lalita's hair.

Lalita groaned."What was that for?"

Teri shrugged. "You were going to get wet anyway." Just then, the pool's water began to bubble, as the moon came into full view at the top of the volcano. Little golden things that reminded Teri of fairies floated and danced upwards. Mesmerized, they watched, until the moon was no longer visible. Teri shook her head, dazed. "Strange." She said softly. Lalita only nodded.

Unknown P.O.V

In the sea entrance of the Moon pool, a girl of the same age watched as the moon's magic gifted the two girls in it's waters. Her eyes narrowed. Despite just moving to Australia, she knew the pool in the dormant volcano was special. A smirk appeared on her face. She'd make them pay. She had no doubts. Unconsciously, her hand moved down to rest on her tail, long and orange. Yes, they would pay. But first…. The girl swam out into the open sea, until another girl of her age appeared in view- also sporting a tail. She met her at the surface. The other mermaid smiled.

"Someone else has changed." She said softly. "Will you help them?"

The first mermaid scoffed. "Of course not."

The second mermaid's smile turned wicked. "Good girl." She examined her long nails. "If only your mother had joined us."

The first mermaid scowled. "She is a fool."

The other mermaid nodded. "Yes, Charlotte is a fool. She could have regained her powers. You will have to dispose of her."

The first mermaid nodded. "Of course, B-" She cut off as the second mermaid glared at her.

The second mermaid turned away, preparing to duck under the surface. "Thank you, Lyla." And then she was gone. Lyla watched until she could no longer see her bubble trail, before she broke down and cried, wondering how on earth she got herself into this mess.

Lalita's P.O.V

Lalita filled the bath in her bathroom, before turning and admiring the seashell she had recently painted on her bedroom door. Quickly, since the large old house was often cold, she undressed, and slipped into the water. She sighed happily, before a tingling sensation came over her legs. In what seemed instantaneous, a large orange fish tail had replaced her beautiful tanned legs. Without thinking, she let out a scream, before clapping her hands over her mouth. Footsteps sounded in the hall, and then she could see a shadow under the door.

"Lalita? You alright?" A boy's voice sounded.

Lalita let out the breath she'd been holding. It was her twin brother, James. "I'm fine. You can go." James hesitated, before walking away. Lalita slumped in the tub. What on earth had happened last night?

Teri's P.O.V

Teri stared at the water in her water bottle. For some strange reason, it seemed very intimidating. She was standing on the docks, where her father's boat usually docked. At the moment, he and her mother were in Miami, looking at a newly discovered fish. They wouldn't return for another three weeks. Teri faced the ocean, in her swimsuit. Her phone lay on her clothes and towel in her beach bag. Teri raised her water bottle to her lips, as a speedboat flew past, soaking her, and causing her water to spill all over her.

"Idiots!" She called after them. She stepped forward, and lost her footing, and fell into the cold salt water below. She kicked her feet, to only realize her legs had joined as one. Her head broke the surface, and she gasped wildly. Looking down, a large bronze tail was connected to her hip where her legs usually lay. She heaved herself onto the dock, glancing around, before pulling her phone out of her bag and dialing Lalita's number. As Lalita picked up, she said grimly. "Meet me at my house." Then she hung up, wondering how to get the fish tail to go away.

Bella's P.O.V

Bella Hartley was certainly beautiful, no doubt. She had also inherited her mother's crystalline blue eyes and wonderful voice. At the moment, the girl was spying on Teri McCartney. She saw as Teri gained a tail as she fell in. As soon as she left, Bella whipped out her phone, wondering if she could look up Teri's address. Deciding against it, She crept over to where Teri had gotten soaked, not realizing as she stepped in the puddle on the dock, soaking her feet. She sighed as her tail appeared, and she fell to the ground.

James P.O.V

Nearly thirteen feet away, James Ash Bennet watched the whole scene unfold, from the moment her tail appeared to the conservation on the phone, to Bella's tail appearing. To keep from screaming, he bit his lip. He'd have to spy again. Oh well, it was a good thing he knew where Teri's house was. He watched as Bella furiously dried off, and heard her sigh of relief as the tail shimmered out of view and her toned legs. James sighed softly. She was absolutely beautiful, with a tail, or not. James vowed right then to keep her secret, and to protect her no matter what. Stepping out from the crate he'd been standing behind, he called out to her.

"Bella." He said softly.

Her head snapped up. "What did you see?" Her voice was strained.

James hung his head. "Everything."

She grabbed his hands. James gasped In surprise. " You mustn't tell anyone."

James smiled. "No one. But I can tell you where Teri lives. "

Bella looked at him in disbelief. "Why?"

James forced a smile. He wasn't ready to tell her. "Because I'd like to help you, and my sister."

Bella looked at him with suspicion. "Teri is your sister?"

James shook his head, chuckling. "No, Lalita is. She's Teri's best friend. I think she has a…." He trailed off, gesturing to Bella's legs.

Bella smiled, a real one. Standing on her tiptoes, she placed a kiss right next to his mouth. She blushed, as James blinked, dumbstruck. She let go of his hands, and gave an over exaggerated crusty. "Lead the way, my prince." James nodded, but as he turned and walked towards Teri's house, his hand reached up and brushed the place where she had placed the kiss. He wouldn't forget that soon.

There you have it! First chapter of Leaping into Faith! I'm sure you have many, many questions. And for those of you who might have lost faith in me, I will be finishing the first season of this. Most likely, the second one too, because I have lots of evil plans for this story. Muhahah. Anyway, who is the second mermaid? Is she the girl from the docks? Or is Bella? Are they the same person? Who is Bella's mother? Who is Lyla? Is Lylas mother Charlotte from the second season of H2O:Just add Water? What won't James tell Bella? That he loves her? Or is it something else? Or both? Find out next chapter, in H2O: Leaping into Faith!

Au revoir, Bella Sentil