A Wish on a Full Moon
I do not own H2O: Just Add Water or any of the characters.
Chapter 25: The Camera Never Lies (part 2)
[Lisa pours her and Emma a cup of tea. Setting the pot down, she hands a cup to Emma, who accepts it, where she sat at their previous spots from the last filming that morning.]
Emma: "Thanks mom." Lisa grabs a cup and sits down while Emma takes a sip, considering her next question. "So, when you're a junior lifesaver, you're obviously a good swimmer. Did you ever save anyone?"
Harrison pales, hoping she doesn't bring it up. He knew Zane would probably never let this down. Sure it was a scary moment, but he didn't want his son to know about it.
Lisa: opening her mouth, she was about to speak, when she remembers that certain person. "Uh –."
Emma: "What?"
Lisa: looks away. "No. It's nothing. Forget it."
"I've never heard that reaction from you before. Which makes me think you're lying," Neil said slowly, looking over at her. "You did save someone. Haven't you?" "Well, uh, yeah. I guess I did," Lisa said nervously. "You did? Who was it?" Bev asked. Emma looks down at Harrison, where he was the only one not looking her way; while everyone else besides him and Emma looked up at Lisa, wondering who it could've been. Finally, after several seconds, she sighed and gives up, pointing to the screen. "You'll know in a moment."
Emma: leans forward. "You did."
Lisa: "Oh yes – but no." looks at her for a second, shaking her hand, looking regretful for bringing it up.
"Come on mom, tell us," Elliot urged. "Be patient Elliot, I'm sure you'll know soon," Emma said to him.
Emma: "Mom tell me about it."
Lisa: "No no no I can't." Takes a sip.
"You sure were stubborn about this," Neil said skeptically. "It, wasn't something I should have mentioned," Lisa said, looking down. It was something I should have brought up, Emma thought remorsefully.
Emma: gives her a pleading look. "Please?"
Lisa: after a moment of thinking, she sighs heavily and lowers her drink, slowly answering her pleads. "I was twelve … and I saved a boy from the surf. He would've drowned."
"But who was it?!" Kim whined. "Kim. Be patient. It sounds like it wasn't an easy topic," Bev said, resting a hand on her shoulder, which Kim yanks away from. Bev looks at her in shock and lowers her hand back down sadly.
Emma: "Mom, that's a wonderful story! Did you – did you get a name? Is there any way we could contact him and pull it up? That would be a really great moment in the film." Lisa tilts her head, giving her a look to try and stop asking so many questions, but Emma keeps urging on. "Mom?"
"She's right. That would be a good story to talk about. An interview between the two where they meet up after the incident years later would be great," Ash said. "But what if the boy didn't want something like that being out in the public. He might've been a little embarrassed by it," Annette assumed. "Not everybody wants an incident like that known all over the place." "Which is why I didn't really want to speak about it," Lisa said, fumbling with her hands.
Lisa: inhales deeply and holds up a hand. "I'm sure he has forgotten all about it, and he's a fairly important person now, and I don't think he'd like it made public."
"Or that could be another reason," Annette said for her earlier comment. Why not both reasons? Harrison thought.
"Now I really want to know who it was," Zane said, making Harrison pale even more, his eyes casting downwards and leaning against his hand.
Emma: "Please? Just a name?"
Lisa: rolls her head, thinking it over. Then looks forward, not making eye contact as she says the name. "Harrison Bennett."
The silence was deafening to Harrison's ears. The fact that no one said a single word, and even though he wasn't looking at anybody or at the screen right now, as his eyes were closed, he knew they were all looking at him. Except for Lisa who had a look of guilt written all over her face.
Some are shocked, some are surprised or amused, but the one that seemed to be different than the rest, was Zane's. The difference between his than the rest was his was a look of hurt. Hurt that his dad never told him about this. Hurt that they couldn't have a personal conversation like Lisa and Emma did. Hurt that his dad was keeping secrets from him. "Wait, what?" Zane finally asked, breaking the silence, as his voice grew loud.
Harrison sighed and looked over at his son with a look of regret. "Surprise," Harrison sarcastically replied.
Ignoring his comment, Zane continued, leaning forward in his seat. "You were saved from drowning? And you weren't going to tell me about this?! I had to find out through this whole thing?! What happened to being honest with one another? About trying to reconnect as father and son? What, was you just going to let it get tossed down the drain? Or in the waves I should say," Zane scoffed, his anger building up.
"Look, it wasn't that simple. Being rescued like that from someone who was younger than me, no offense to you Lisa. But my life was on the line. I screwed up and I didn't want that incident known about. If you were in my situation –." Zane shot up from his seat, cutting him off, glaring at his father as he pointed at himself. "I was in your situation! I almost drowned as well! And if it weren't for one of the mermaids I would have!"
Harrison stayed silent at that, knowing that he was right. "But I didn't let that stop me, everyone in the whole town knew about it. People made fun of me, but I didn't let it get to me." Zane let out a painful laugh as he continued. "I guess it doesn't matter to you though. Because I tried working hard on figuring out what happened that day. I was just trying to set things straight. While you were out goofing off doing who knows –." "I was practicing on trying to make my record, alright!" Harrison hollered, silencing whatever Zane was trying to say.
"I was practicing on the windsurfer. I had just bought it. I worked hard getting it; it's the same one that is in the café now. It was my first attempt. I got on and was somehow able to stay on for a good bit. But then the waves got a little rough and knocked me off. I would've been a goner if it weren't for Mrs. Gilbert." He sent a glance her way and noticed she was looking at him with guilt in her eyes. "I was embarrassed. Due to my popularity, I didn't want word to get out. But thanks to her, I was able to get back to safety, and then I practiced even harder from then on out. I did it carefully, and with hard work until I got my record." Zane continued remaining silent, standing there in the middle of the theater, breathing heavily. "I wasn't goofing off. I was working towards where I am now. Now you got my life story. Happy?" he snapped.
The room continued staying silent, letting the argument stay just between father and son, hoping that it wouldn't get even worse than this. The only thing that could be heard was the breathing of every person in there.
Zane keeps eye contact with Harrison, father vs. son, hurt vs. shame. Finally, after a few moments, he slowly sits back down and shakes his head, not even daring to look back at his father. "Very," Zane sarcastically replied, letting the hurt tone be heard in his voice as one single tear slides down his face. Harrison sighed, and turns back around, facing the screen as everyone else does as well, trying to forget the public argument he just had with his son.
He leans back into his hand, feeling ashamed of himself for his past, and the argument just now. The paleness goes away, mixing into a bit of red with anger and embarrassment as he tries to focus on the rest of the show. Everyone eyes each other carefully as they turn back to the screen, trying to forget the awkward, yet tense situation that just occurred.
Rikki glanced at Zane nervously. If he was going to react that way about a secret his father kept hidden, then how will he react once he finds out who rescued him from the sharks?
[Emma's eyes widen, and she looks at her mom in shock.]
Lisa: "He was young, he got into difficulties, and I dragged him out. That's all there is to it."
"Yeah. I'm sure that's all there was," Zane scoffed. "There was a lot more to it from my point of view. I had a lot of things on the line," Harrison argued back. "Sure, it might've seemed like I was goofing off, but I was trying my best." "Which led to an ultimate failure. Congratulations, now you know how I felt," Zane said, narrowing his eyes. Harrison looks down, feeling a bit guilty about the whole situation, but never realized that his son ever felt like that. Was he that much of a terrible parent?
"I can't believe you saved his life," Neil whispered, Lisa nodded in response.
Lisa: Emma gives her a look and Lisa returns it. "Funny thing though. I was pretty keen on Harrison back then." Emma gives her a small smile.
"You were?" Neil asked, raising an eyebrow at his wife, who blushed with embarrassment. She forgot that she said that to her.
Elliot laughs, thinking that it was kind of funny.
Lisa: "And after I saved him, he kinda avoided me? I think he was a bit embarrassed."
"More than a little bit," Harrison said, trying to forget the situation from earlier.
Lisa: What I do remember very clearly though, was how scared I was. I was petrified. I mean, what if I didn't save him? That's a lot of pressure for a twelve-year-old." Emma blinks, nodding slightly in thought.
"You got that right," Sam agreed.
Mrs. Chatham nodded in agreement, for she knew how it felt. She saved that fisherman so long ago. The only difference was, back then, she had a tail to keep hidden.
[Closer to Mako, Zane is going around the island near the shore. He radios Lewis with an update.]
Zane: "Lewis, once I get around this point it should be plain sailing."
"Did you just tell a joke?" Rikki asked, grinning. "I didn't know you had it in you." "What did you think I had?" Zane asked, turning to him. "A sarcastic ego with a hint of anger issues," she smirked. Zane opens his mouth to speak, but closes it, only to laugh after a few seconds. She lets out a breath of relief, hearing him laugh. He seemed to be getting better already.
[Below him, the sharks roam around freely, slowly. The closest thing to them, besides the ocean floor, was Rikki, who was filming them at a remarkably close distance. She records all of them, even the surrounding fish that swam nearby. Surprisingly, they all seem to leave her alone, as if she were a part of their world.]
"Wha – Rikki!" Terry shouted. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!" "Well, if I would've known that we were going to watch our lives play on the screen I would've warned you," Rikki shot back. "What are you doing so close them?" Terry said, a little quieter this time. "I needed a good shot of them," Rikki shrugged. "I'm fine. They didn't bother me." Terry sighed, trying to prevent the headache from getting worse. Why does she keep doing this to me?
"Wait, you were there?" Zane asked, pointing to the screen. Rikki looks over at him and slowly crosses her arms before looking back to the screen, trying to remain unphased by him. "Yeah, I was."
Zane: looks down at the water. "Whoa! What was that?"
Lewis: overhears this on the radio, and his smile falters as he jumps up and looks around. Unfortunately, he was too far away from Mako, or anything else, to see. He sits back down and contacts Zane. "I can't see a thing."
"Did you even try to crank your boat again?" Don asked. "I still need to let it wait to give it a rest, in case I did flood it," Lewis explained, and Don nodded in understanding.
"What did you see?" Elliot asked. "I think you're about to find out," Zane gulped.
Harrison frowned, hoping that it wasn't what he was thinking. Did he really almost get attacked by sharks? He and Zane might have been a little angry at each other, or in Zane's case, outright furious, but that didn't mean he still didn't care for him. He loved his son. He didn't want to see him get hurt.
[Suddenly, a shark comes up and bumps his board, causing Zane to fall off the windsurfer, yelling on the way down into the water. The windsurfer tips over, leaving Zane helpless as he comes back up gasping for air; the waterproof camera still recording Zane, just barely hanging above the water.]
Several gasps fill the room, hands flying to their mouth to keep from screaming. "Oh my gosh!" Charlotte gasped, horrified by what she was seeing, along with everyone else, who was murmuring in shock. "Oh no," Ash whispered with worry. He had a near-death experience! But how did he make it out, alive?
"You, you were pushed into the water, with sharks?" Bella asked nervously. She's been swimming with them before and they never bothered her. But that was probably because she was a part of their world. Zane wasn't; he was a human. For them, that was a whole different world.
Rikki looks away, not wanting to show them how she felt about it. Because she had already seen it once. She didn't need to react again.
Emma and Cleo look at the screen wide-eyed. He was telling the truth, Emma thought, regretting for ever teasing him about the whole 'shark incident.'
Zane closes his eyes, not wanting to relive this moment again. He was terrified of it, afraid of that ever happening again. He didn't want to see his greatest fear relive in his head. In all honesty, to him, it was probably worse than almost drowning. He didn't think it would be as painful as being eaten alive by sharks. The strangest thing about both of them was, that he was somehow saved from those two incidents, and he wasn't sure how, or what saved him.
Harrison's face softens into a look of worry. His son was telling the truth, and he didn't believe him. He was in the face of danger, and he didn't believe him. He lived a terrifying moment before, so why didn't he trust him when he told him about it? He looks over at his son and noticed the look he had. The look of not wanting to relive it all again. He felt the same way when Lisa brought the story up again. He noticed Zane clenching the arms of his seat. And decides to place a reassuring hand on his arm.
Although Zane flinches at the touch, he opens his eyes and looks at his dad, giving him a fearful look. Harrison gives him a small smile and nods and they both return to looking at the screen. Or Harrison does at least, Zane just closes his eyes again.
[Several sharks immediately begin to swim closer. One even comes further up to where his fin breaks the surface, swimming up from behind, and right next to him. He sees it swimming right beside him and starts kicking away frantically from it, panic filling his eyes.]
Zane: flings his arm up to the earpiece, trying to get ahold of Lewis. "Help! Shark! Help! Help!"
Lisa's face turns to mortified and she clings onto Elliot and covers his eyes. "Mom!" "It's alright Mrs. Gilbert, nothing happened to him. Well, nothing painful at least," Rikki said to her, soft enough for Zane to hear as he opens his eyes up and looks at her curiously. "How would you know?" Emma asked, fear hidden within her eyes. She might not have been on the best of terms with Zane, so to speak, but they were old family friends. She didn't want him to get hurt, or worse. "Because, you're forgetting one thing. I was there, too," Rikki whispered to her, quietly enough so Zane couldn't hear that part.
[Lewis looks down at the radio, hearing his panicked calls. He quickly turns around and starts pumping up the motor again.]
Zane: over the radio. "Help! Help me shark!"
Lewis: flips the switch on the motor and is able to get the engine running again. He flips it into high gear, putting it on the fastest speed, hightailing it for Mako. "Coming, Zane!"
"It's about time!" Kim huffed, obviously worried about the teenager. Sure she thought he was obnoxious, but that didn't mean he should get punished for it. Plus, she wouldn't admit it, but he did seem to be getting better with it lately. Though she wasn't for sure how, or why.
Lewis winced, regretting on being too slow. He should've had the motor already pumped and ready. He shouldn't have flooded the motor. Maybe then Zane would have been safe and beat his dad's record.
[Zane watches horrified as he sees a large fin swim by him slowly, and go under the broken windsurfer, that was only a few feet away.]
Harrison watches in horror with the same look that Zane had onscreen. He turns to his son and gives him an honest, worried, and apologetic look. "This might not be the right time for it Zane. But I am so sorry. I should have believed you and be worried about you. Be glad that you were safe. Not berate you for your actions. I'm sorry son. For everything," he said with sincerity in his voice. He meant it, not just for his past actions towards that. But for everything he said and did. Including the last argument.
Zane looks at him, tears swelling in his eyes, but he forces himself to keep it down, as his mouth hangs open in shock. Finally, after a few moments, he closes it and gives him a small smile in return. "It's alright. And I'm sorry too, for pushing you." Harrison chuckles and rubs his son's head, which Zane attempts to get him to stop.
[At this moment, Rikki pops her head up for air, taking a break from filming, when she hears yelling not too far from her.]
Zane: "Help! Save me!" She turns her head in the direction of the voice and sees him flailing around for help. "Aaaah, please! Somebody help me!" She looks around to make sure the coast is clear and ducks back under. He looks around frantically, gasping heavily for air, as he sees another shark fin heading straight for him. He starts kicking around when he sees the fin disappear from view, going up under him into the deep. "Help me shark!" He swishes around, making sure there were no more coming for him.
Oh great, she saw that. I'm surprised she hasn't been making fun of me for it. I wonder, did she feel bad for me? She did approach me later that night, Zane thought, rubbing his forehead in thought.
"How did you not see her?" Denman asked. "Oh, I'm sorry, I guess I was too busy fearing for my life!" Zane shouted with a sarcastic tone. Harrison glared at the doctor, a little upset that that was what she was more focused on.
"What were you planning?" Emma asked, narrowing her eyes as she tried to figure it out. "Someone had to save him from being shark bait," Rikki simply explained.
[Rikki speeds over to where she last saw Zane and stops, looking up towards the surface, where she sees his damaged windsurfer and him flailing his legs around next to it. She looks around and sees a shark heading right for him and looks back over to Zane. Zane sees the incoming predator heading right for him, the shark beginning to make circles around him. He closes his eyes and tries not to cry from fear.]
Zane frowned, unsure of what she was doing. Was she trying to help him? The only thing he could remember that day that helped him was ... the bubbles. Zane eyes-widen as he begins to realize what this all meant.
[Rikki swims over to him, staying below him, and making sure that she wasn't being seen. As more sharks begin heading towards them, Rikki turns around towards the sharks and raises her hand, making a fist; causing a wall of hot bubbles to scare off the hungry sharks. She increases her strength into it, forming a circle of steaming bubbles around Zane. Zane looks around, finding the sudden change a bit odd.]
"It, it was you that did that? You're the one that saved me?" Zane stuttered, looking over at her in shock. Rikki doesn't look over in his direction, instead looks over at the wall closest to her. "I suppose so."
Emma couldn't believe it. She was the one who saved him? She did a heroic act? She leans over and whispers into Rikki's ear. "Weren't you the one who was giving me grief for saving him from drowning?" "Yeah, but I wasn't the one that let myself get seen," Rikki shrugged, letting a smug grin fall onto her face as Emma gives her an annoyed look.
Max raises his eyebrows in amusement, impressed by her quick thinking. But also, with how wise she was using her powers. She showed great strength in defending him from the sharks. He knew that a ring of bubbles that strong would take a lot of strength and energy.
Mrs. Chatham smiled, proud of Rikki for doing the right thing. She knew she was a strong one, and glad that she showed that she had a good heart too.
[Rikki turns around, strengthening the bubble on the other side of the ring as well, increasing the heat on all sides of the circle. A shark attempts to try to breakthrough, but the heat proved too much for him, and he swam away, trying to find another way in, but Rikki wouldn't budge. She smiled at her handiwork, seeing that the sharks were beginning to flee as the bubbles rose more violently to the surface, surrounding Zane. Rikki releases her grip on her fist and grins, proud of her achievement. The bubbles dissolve and disappear from the surface. Rikki swims away as Zane looks around, deeply confused at the now inactive water.]
Bella looks at the screen in surprise. She went from endangering someone to saving someone? Seriously, make up your mind! But I must admit that ring move was pretty impressive. Wish I could do something like that, Bella thought, looking at her hand, which Rikki noticed.
Denman's eyebrows furrow in confusion. Not about Rikki, but about her own theories. She thought Rikki was dangerous, more specifically her powers. Considering she used them as a weapon last time on someone, it seemed to have proven it. But now, however, she was using them as a form of defense to save someone. To protect them from oncoming danger. She used it as a way to say she wasn't evil and can use it for good. It really conflicted her mind, this proved her little theory wrong. She wasn't sure what to think anymore. Was this enough to prove to her, that what she did was truly wrong? That their secret was worth protecting?
"Wow, that must've taken a lot of strength," Kim commented. "Oh, believe me, you have no idea. Zane is a hard one to keep in line," Rikki said, faking exhaustion. Zane chuckled, giving her a smile. "Thanks, Rikki. But I think I could've handled it for myself." He couldn't help but add in that little remark. "Oh, you wanna try that again? I'm sure we could find you a few friends to swim around with?" she said, giving him a crazy look, but with a hint of a smile. "No thank you. I think I had enough sharks for now," Zane said.
"I agree, thank you, Rikki. For helping him," Harrison sighed in relief, glad that his son was safe. Rikki hesitated, never really expecting a thanks from him. But she accepted it anyways. "You're welcome. Oh, and next time Zane, don't do something stupid like that again." "Yeah, let's not let there be a next time," Lewis commented. "Agreed," Zane said, holding his hand up.
"It seems like mermaids can be heroes too," Will grinned. "Wouldn't they be considered superheroes due to their powers?" Elliot asked, tilting his head in thought. "Don't answer that," Rikki said, sounding annoyed as she looked over at Will who was about to reply, but closes his mouth upon hearing that.
[Zane swims back over to the board and climbs on, leaning on his knees and keeping an eye out for anymore sharks.]
"You should've done that in the first place," Annette said. "They would've just knocked me off again."
[At this time, Lewis comes up on his boat and comes to a halt next to Zane. Zane helps him come to a complete stop by holding on to the side, and scrambles in.]
Zane: "Th – the – there were sharks everywhere. I thought I was a goner." He looks over the side, making sure they were gone.
Lewis: "You ok?"
"That's a good question to ask, right after someone almost became shark food!" Kim sarcastically said, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. "He sounded a bit out of it," Lewis tried to defend himself. "You try talking straight after almost dying," Zane spat. "… I see your point," Lewis sheepishly admitted.
Lewis: looks around as well, before looking back to Zane. "I don't see anything."
"You would have it you got there a bit quicker," Will said. "I was going as fast as I can," Lewis sighed.
"I did," Rikki said. "I'm just surprised I didn't see you," Zane admitted. "Guess you were a little, eh, distracted," Rikki grinned.
Zane: "Just get me outta here." He continues to look around, a little freaked out, as Lewis cranks the motor up once more and heads for home.
"Well, I'm glad you're safe," Harrison smiled. "Me too," Zane admitted, his heart beating a little quickly from the intense moment. And I have a great girlfriend to thank for that.
[On Harrison's boat, Lewis plays the film back to Zane, replaying the whole incident. They were sitting at the table, Zane seemingly embarrassed as he watched himself when Harrison walks into the doorway and watches it along with them.]
Zane: on the film. "Help! Help me shark! Aaaah, please! Somebody help me!" In the film, Zane looks around in a panic. Unfortunately for him though, there was no proof on the film that there were any sharks since it didn't get any of the fins swimming around him. Zane looks down, ashamed. "Help! Shark!"
"It didn't catch any of the sharks?" Neil asked in surprise. "It's very strange, for sure. Considering there were tons of them out there from the looks of it," Lewis said. "Yeah, and it ended up making me look like a fool too," Zane said. I wonder if this has to do with Mako and it's magic. Maybe they were protecting the sharks as well from being seen, Emma thought.
Lewis: nods and turns back to Zane, taking his glasses off. "Amazing."
"Were you making fun of him?" Lisa asked. "Uh, maybe a little," Lewis shamefully admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "You just saw him go through an almost near-death experience and you're going to tease him for it?" Annette asked. "I didn't see any sharks," Lewis tried to explain. "That doesn't mean he didn't see any," Sam told him. Lewis sighed, and looked back at the screen, knowing they were right.
Harrison: "Not exactly the word I'd use." Walks further in, now letting himself be known to the other two boys inside the cabin. Zane turns to look at him as the film continues going on with Zane screaming for help. Harrison bends over and leans against the table next to Zane, who looks away from him. "I've been at the juice bar hosing Wilfred down for two hours. He was about to go to the police."
Zane: "It's your windsurfer, not his."
"Even if that were so, you still did technically break into the Juicenet," Ash commented.
Lewis: "Ok, maybe we should have asked, but this footage is fantastic! It'll make a great film!"
"Seriously Lewis," Charlotte said, frowning. "Yeah, I know," he sighed.
Zane: glares. "You can't do that."
Harrison: "I sponsor that competition. Do you think I want my son on public view, looking like, that?" nods towards the film, which continues showing Zane calling for help. Lewis pauses the footage.
Well at least he still thought of me as a son, Zane shrugged.
"You were more worried about him making a fool out of you rather than be worried that he could've been killed?" Lisa asked in horror. "I am now, but the past me wouldn't have," Harrison said, looking down shamefully. "What do you mean the past you?" Neil asked. "Uh, you'll see further down the road," Harrison told him. Hopefully not.
Rikki scowled slightly, a little angry that he didn't care that his son was in danger.
Zane: waves to the screen. "There was a twenty-foot shark out there, dad! There were heaps of them!"
Harrison: smirks and turns towards Lewis. "Did you see anything?"
Lewis: "Well, um –."
Harrison: "I didn't think so." Zane looks at Lewis, a little hurt.
"You didn't believe him? Your own son?" Bev asked, sounding surprised. "It was hard to believe when he was on the film with no sharks being shown," Harrison admitted. "Yeah, I have to admit, it is a little surprising that not a single one showed up," Lewis said.
"You didn't even let him finish," Cleo told him. "It was probably my fault anyways that Lewis didn't see any. Guess I scared them all off," Rikki shrugged.
Harrison: looks back at Zane. "Zane created this charade because he knew he couldn't really break my record." Zane looks up at his father, hurt covering his face.
"That's not true. From the sounds of it, he would've beaten your record if that shark didn't interfere," Will said, surprising Zane. He's defending me? Zane thought. "Yeah, and I have to say, I think he could too," Harrison told his son, surprising him once more.
Harrison: nods towards the screen, facing Lewis again. "And get rid of that."
Lewis: "No no no no, I shot this footage. That disc belongs to me." Points to the film and back to himself. "It's mine."
"He does have a point. It is his property," Ash commented. Yeah, and which is why I couldn't claim it, unfortunately, Harrison thought.
[Lisa was doing dishes by the sink, looking out the window when she hears the front door open.]
Emma: "Hi, mom." Walks into the kitchen, holding a frame.
Lisa: sets a glass down on the bar and turns around. "Emma, where have you been? I thought you wanted to do more –."
Emma: turns the frame around and shows her the junior lifesaver certificate. She walks closer and hands it to her mom, causing her to gasp in shock. "I got this for you."
"Is that –?" Elliot asked, pointing to the screen. "Yes, yes it is. My junior lifesaving certificate," she said proudly.
Lisa: a bit choked up. "That's my –." She pauses as a smile forms on her face. "That's my junior lifesaving graduation certificate."
Emma: "I tracked it down at the club. They still had it on file, and I got it framed."
Lisa: gives her daughter a hug. "Thank you, sweetheart!"
"That's so sweet of you," Sam said, a gentle smile on her face.
"She deserved it, after everything she's done," Emma said. "I believe so too," Harrison stated, looking over to Mrs. Gilbert. "Thank you, for what you did a long time ago. And I'm sorry it took so long to say." Lisa gives him a smile and nods. "You're welcome."
Emma: releases her mom from the hug as Lisa looks at it again. "Can we hang it up on the wall?"
Lisa: nods and wipes a tear out of her eye. "Yeah."
"That's such a beautiful moment," Annette sighed happily, turning to Charlotte. "It reminds me of every time you bring a painting home to me." "Mom, that's like every day," Charlotte chuckled. "I know," Annette smiled.
[The front door opens once again and this time Cleo, Rikki, and Lewis walk into the kitchen. Emma and Mrs. Gilbert look over at them. Lisa leans against the sink, smiling at them.]
Rikki: "Hi guys!"
"Way to ruin the moment, Rikki," Emma laughed. "How was I supposed to know," Rikki replied.
[The three of them stop at the counter and sit down on the stools, with Lewis and Cleo on both sides of Rikki as she holds the camera in her hand.]
Rikki: "We're ready to film when you are."
"You three actually seem happy to film it. Not dreading it like before," Max smiled. "Yeah. I guess it was just a better day," Cleo shrugged. "That or we were happy that it was the last day of filming," Lewis muttered.
Emma: "Actually, I've decided to call it off." Lisa looks at her.
Cleo: nods. "Emma, it's ok. We've talked about it, and we're going to help you no matter what we think personally." Rikki makes a face, and Lewis nods along. Cleo smiles.
They laugh at her argument. "Well, that's one way to put it. Brutally honest," Neil laughed. "Yeah, I could have worded that better. Sorry, Emma," Cleo winced. "It's alright. I think I needed to hear that," Emma said with a small smile.
Emma: Lisa nods along and Emma frowns, but walks closer. "Well, that's ok. I think that real heroes don't need their stories turned into big productions. Sometimes it's better just to know the truth." Emma smiled, turning back to her mom, who gives her a wink.
"Not like it would end up a big production anyway," Kim said. Bev nudges her arm, and Kim looks at her. "What. It's the truth. There was no chance of that film winning."
"Agreed. It is better to know the truth," Zane said, turning to his father as he said this. Harrison gives him a small smile and shakes his head while laughing silently.
Rikki: "Lewis, I need a favor." Lewis looks out, spaced out again. They both get up and walk into the entryway.
"Dazed out again?" Cleo assumed. "Just a little annoyed that we went through all that trouble, and it was decided to be called off," Lewis said.
Rikki: smiles ecstatically, holding up the camera. "I have fantastic shark footage, and I have no idea how to cut it into a film. It's great stuff. So close you can almost touch them." Lewis lets a grin come on his face for a second before falling. "So you're the expert, what do I do?"
"You might as well have touched them if you were going to be that close," Lewis said. "Don't give her any ideas!" Terry yelled. Rikki laughed.
Lewis: "How are you going to explain how you shot it?"
Rikki: frowns, looking down at the camera before back up at him. "What?"
Lewis: "Well, if it's better than the professionals, how are you going to explain that without arousing suspicion?"
Rikki: "Well I was – gonna –," looks up. "I mean I could –." Lewis makes a face, waiting for an answer. "Oh. I can't show it, can I?" Lewis puts his hand on her shoulder and gives her a small smile, before letting it fade and walks back into the kitchen. Rikki looks at the door, a little annoyed.
"You didn't think it through, did you?" Kim smirked, trying not to laugh. "Not one bit," Rikki said, shaking her head.
"That's what I was trying to tell you the whole time," Lewis said, glad that she finally understood.
"So that was two films gone to waste then?" Charlotte asked. "Actually no, I used Rikki's film as well along with the one with Zane, and edited them together. It was perfect, especially since they were both filmed on the water," Lewis explained. "Then what about the sharks if you couldn't use them?" Bella asked curiously. "Oh, you'll see," Lewis said, trying not to laugh, confusing mostly everyone.
[That night at the café, everyone watches all the films being played. The last one to go, was Lewis's film, which was currently being played onscreen, showing Zane struggle above the water calling for help. Everyone watches closely, sitting at the tables and the booths.]
Zane: on the video. "Help! Help! Shark!" The audience laughs loudly as a goldfish pops up on the screen, swimming around from Rikki's film. Zane slowly turns to where Lewis is, frowning at what he did to him and his reputation. Lewis, Cleo, and Emma all look at the screen smiling and laughing along with the crowd. While Rikki doesn't. She remains there with a small frown forming. "Help me shark!"
The crowd gasps and tries to hold in their laughs. "It's okay to laugh. That is funny," Zane said laughing as the rest of them begin to laugh as well.
"Lewis! You didn't," Charlotte scolded while laughing along. "The magic of editing, my friends," Lewis beamed, holding his arms out.
"I know that's horrible, but it's so hilarious," Bella laughed, wiping her tears away.
[The judges laugh at the table, except for Harrison, who looks over at Lewis with a glare.]
Rikki: turns to him, a little angrily, keeping her voice low. "You think that's funny?"
Lewis: with a smug look, looks around. "Oh, I think the audience is the best, uh, judge, Rikki." Looks up to the screen, which shows Zane screaming as the goldfish comes back up, facing the crowd.
"While that is true. It can't beat the official judges," Will pointed out. "Yes, unless you count a popularity vote," Lewis shrugged.
Rikki: turns back to Lewis. "I was there, Lewis." Lewis looks back at her as she nods to the screen. "Who do you think scared away the sharks that were about to eat him? Zane isn't acting." The film comes to an end with Zane screaming for someone to save him as some jaws close down on the screen, ending with the words, 'A film by Lewis McCartney.' The crowd claps for Lewis, who looks down, feeling bad for using the film like that and using Zane's fear.
If it weren't for her, I for sure would have been a goner, Zane gulped, fear showing in his eyes.
"I probably should've believed him as well. Didn't think he would be crazy enough to jump into the water acting like that," Lewis admitted, shame filling his voice. "Me too," Harrison muttered.
Wilfred: stands up and turns the lights back on, grabbing a microphone, and addresses the crowd. "So, congratulations to you all for a fantastic effort. It's time to announce our winners. Harrison hands him an envelope. "And the winner is –." Wilfred takes it and opens it, smiling and nodding at the name. "For the second year in a row, a wonderful comedy, Lewis McCartney, 'Scared of Water.'" Lewis closes his eyes, wincing slightly, feeling bad about the whole thing now as Rikki and Zane look over at him. The crowd claps, cheering on the winner.
"That's a great way to win," Ash sarcastically said.
"It didn't feel great after that bomb was released," Lewis commented.
[Lewis slowly stands up and walks over to the judging table, where Harrison stands up with the trophy. Rikki stands up and walks out of the café while Lewis shakes Harrison's hand and gives him the trophy; the doctor sits back down when Wilfred offers Lewis the mic, which he declines. He heads back for his table, not even acknowledging the crowd who claps for him as he sits back down in his chair.]
"Why'd you leave?" Emma asked. "Couldn't celebrate after knowing the truth," Rikki whispered. "Seems like Lewis couldn't either," Cleo told them.
"What did you do with the money?" Will asked. "Went and bought more lab stuff," Lewis shrugged. Rikki huffed at that. She always wondered how he got all that new stuff.
Wilfred: "And, the winner of the gold starfish for best actor, even with his father abstaining from the vote, Zane Bennett." Looks down at the envelope and glances at Harrison. Zane looks up and over at his father. They both stand up as Zane walks over and shakes his hand as Harrison hands the trophy over to him and sits back down. Wilfred offers the microphone to him, which he slowly takes and turns to the crowd. Wilfred steps back, standing next to him.
Zane: holds the microphone up and looks at the crowd. "Can I say, I'd like to donate the prize money to this establishment, to compensate for any trouble I caused." Harrison looks up at him in approval while Wilfred gives him a small smile. Zane looks down at the trophy. "And, thanks, for this award. But what can I say?" He looks over to his dad. "The Bennett's are winners. Right, dad?" His smile slowly fades after releasing that little hint of a jab to Harrison and hands the microphone back to Wilfred who smiles at him. The crowd claps for his little speech and he makes his way out of the café. Harrison watches him go with a pout on his face and sighs, relentlessly clapping along with them.
Zane looks at his dad in surprise. He didn't think his dad would clap for him. But to his shock, he did.
"That, was something," Don said, unsure of what else to say. The theater nods slowly in agreement, remaining quiet from the awkward tension that little scene brought. They knew it wasn't easy for both Bennett's to go through, that it was tough to watch it all over again.
But Zane seemed okay with everything, he was glad to get some things cleared up now, and he was glad to get to know about his dad's youth a little better, understanding why he didn't talk about it much. It's because they wouldn't have believed him like his dad did with him. He didn't want to be made a fool out of either.
[Outside, Zane studies the trophy in his hand out by the docks, twisting and turning it, taking in every feature. But it doesn't satisfy him as he drops his hand down and looks at the water sadly. Rikki watches him while walking up slowly, thinking of what to say.]
Rikki: stands next to him as Zane looks at her, with a confused and sad look. "You were good."
Zane: "Acting, you mean?"
"You went out there to him?" Cleo whispered to her. "I felt like he needed to know someone believed him," Rikki whispered back.
Rikki: "No, the whole thing about windsurfing around Mako, and everything else." Took a breath in and gave him a small smile. "It took guts."
Zane: hesitates, taking it in, and gives her a small smile in return. He looks back to the water with a grin. "You're the only one who thinks so." They stare at each other awkwardly, before settling back down on the water. Then Rikki slowly walks away as Zane watches her go.
So that must be when the feelings first occurred, Emma believed, eyes narrowing in realization.
Terry looked over at his daughter, a little amused that she let the boy know how she felt about it. But also, knowing that look that they gave each other. After all, it was the same look Terry gave to his wife when they first had a conversation.
Zane smiled, now knowing why she confronted him. It sure did take guts, but for her. If it weren't for that little small talk, then he probably wouldn't have talked to her up on the balcony later on. "Okay," Harrison coughed, trying to relieve the awkward feeling in the room. "Shall we carry on?" "Actually, I want to talk to Rikki first," Zane spoke up. Rikki looks over at him with a frown, wondering what he was doing. Zane stands up and looks over at her, with a sincere look. "Please?" Rikki hesitates, seeing that he was being serious, and nods. She stands up and they both walk over to the dorms. The other three club members watch them go through the door, curious as to what they were going to talk about.