A Wish on a Full Moon
I do not own H2O: Just Add Water or any of the characters.
Chapter 34: Surprise! (part 1)
[Early one morning, Cleo wakes up and turns over in bed, facing the ceiling when she heard someone knock on her door. She glances at it, her arms crossed over the blankets.]
Mrs. Sertori: knocking on the other side of the door. "Cleo, you're late for school. Up you get."
"You didn't set your alarm?" Emma asked. "I guess I forgot that time," she shrugged.
[Cleo gets up and sits on the edge of the bed, still a little tired. She looks over to where her calendar is on the wall and stands up, begrudgingly walking over to it. She grabs her marker and marks out the day. Next to the big x she marked, was a black colored-in box for tomorrow. She huffs and walks into the bathroom, slamming the door shut.]
"Uh-oh," Don murmured.
"Oh yeah, that day," Lewis winced. "What day is that?" Sam asked. "It's my birthday," Cleo answered, looking down. "Oh, well happy late birthday then!" Ash smiled. "Thanks," Cleo smiled half-heartedly, still looking at the floor. "You don't look happy for someone who has a birthday soon," Harrison remarked. "I, uh, didn't see it as something to be excited about," Cleo muttered a reply. She does love her birthday's now, but the past ones still weren't her favorites; they were the ones she wishes she could forget, the embarrassment from it was awful.
[Down below, in the kitchen, the rest of the Sertori family gets breakfast ready. Don pours a glass of orange juice while quietly talking to Kim, who was next to him, about the plans for Cleo's birthday. Bev was behind them listening in.]
Don: "I was thinking strawberry."
"Oh, are you talking about a strawberry cake? Those are my favorite," Annette commented, perking up at hearing the delicious fruit. Getting over her little funk about her mother. Charlotte was still moping next to her. "Yeah, they were. It's my favorite too," Cleo said, a little bit better.
Kim: "In the shape of a butterfly?"
"How old are you?" Max asked. "Sixteen."
"Isn't a butterfly-shaped cake a little too, immature for a sixteen-year-old?" Zane frowned. "The butterfly shape isn't too bad. It's quite normal," Emma answered. "As long as it tastes good," Rikki said. "I think it's sweet," Sam smiled. Yeah, a little too sweet, Cleo sighed.
Don: walks away from the bar and back towards the fridge. "Nice call. I'll give them a call and find out-" He sees Cleo enter into the kitchen in her robe and speaks normally again. "What time at high tide is."
"Smooth," Ash chuckled.
[Cleo walks past him. Don puts the orange juice up and looks at her, closing the door. Cleo stops and turns to him.]
Don: "Is that the sun coming up for a second time? Huh, no it's my darling daughter."
Cleo: frowns. "What's going on?"
"You should know. He does this every year," Kim told her. And every year I ask him not to, Cleo thought. With that and the parties, it's just so embarrassing.
Don: "What, a father can't admire his daughter?"
"On some days yes. But when it's close to her birthday, it makes it even more suspicious," Neil stated.
Cleo: grabs cereal out of the cabinet. "You're not planning anything for tomorrow are you?" Walks to the bar, with him right behind her.
Don: "Planning? Me? Of course not."
Cleo: "You better not be."
"Why not?" Bella asked. "I'm, just not the party type I guess," Cleo said, a little gloomy. "You could say that again," Kim muttered. "Says the one who tried going to a pool party," Bella scoffed. "To answer your question, I kind of messed up her parties, every year," Don winced, rubbing his neck. Cleo looked down. She was worried about how others will react to her party, but she also felt guilty for how her dad was reacting right now. He almost seemed embarrassed himself in a way.
Don: "Planning?" Grabs his mug and walks into the living room, smirking. "What would we be planning?" Cleo looks at Kim who shrugs and walks off. She looks at Bev, who is at the stove, and she turns away.
"You are a terrible actor," Will chuckled. "I thought I did pretty well," Don said. "No, dad. They're right," Cleo grinned. "Ask Zane for lessons, he seems good at it," Lewis grinned. Zane glares at him.
[At the marina, Zane suits up in his diving suit and prepares his boat for takeoff. Nate walks down to his boat with a fish-finder in hand. He stops by the zodiac and holds it out for Zane.]
Nate: "Here you go man."
Zane: looks over to him and grabs the object, observing what it was. "What's this?"
"It's a fish-finder. You've seen them before," Lewis smirked. "I know that," Zane rolled his eyes.
Nate: points at it. "It-it's the thing you wanted, the sonar thing."
"You have one already. What would you need that one for?" Harrison questioned. Zane doesn't answer, only looking down at his feet, pouting.
Zane: walks around the wheel. "You said you could get side scan sonar. This is a fish detector."
Nate: "What's the difference?"
"The fact that you would know that is impressive," Lewis nodded. "I do fish you know, Lewis. Why else would I have a boat?" Zane scoffed. "For looks," Ash muttered, not amused, that's what most rick people do anyway, to show off.
"Why would you need that?" Will asked suspiciously. Neil furrowed his eyebrows. This better not have to do with Emma.
Zane: "It's the difference between night and day Nate. The difference between success and failure." Shoves it into Nate's arms.
Nate: "Hey watch it. I borrowed this from my dad. If anything happens to it-."
Zane: "It's not what I want."
"Just because it's not what you asked for doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful with his stuff," Sam said.
Nate: "Well you should've been more specific." Begins to walk off.
Zane: "I was. You know, I don't think you're cut out for this Nate."
"That's a bit harsh," Elliot claims.
"What's got you in such a sour mood?" Rikki asked, but she already knew the answer. It was clear as day he was still thinking about the incident. Especially since he started that little mermaid hunt that day. Lewis was the one who warned them and showed them the drawing.
Nate: pauses. "Oh, yeah? Says who, you?" Zane stays silent looking up at him. Nate gestures to his boat, a little infuriated. "What are you doing anyway?"
Zane: hesitates, looking down for a second before back up at him. "I'm on a hunt. And if I find what I'm looking for, I'll rewrite the history books."
"So that's when the whole mermaid hunt officially began," Lisa thought aloud. "I knew it," Neil scowled, glaring at the brunette. "Easy, Neil. No need to burn holes into him," Lisa whispered as she rested her hand on his shoulder. "But he tried hunting our daughter. You aren't the least bit upset about this?" Neil whispered harshly back to her. "I'm not happy about it, but this was in the past. He can't take back what he did, and he seems like he's over it now. I'm sure he didn't do anything harmful. I mean look, Emma's not even upset about this," Lisa said, gesturing to where their daughter was. And she was right, Emma wasn't angry at all. She didn't seem happy either, but there was no anger in her eyes.
She must've known about it already. He did admit at the beginning that he knew the secret, so she must've dealt with him somehow. Whatever happened, I'm sure everything turned out fine with the two, Lisa assumed. Neil was thinking that she might be correct. But the fact that it was his daughter he was hunting, was a little unnerving.
"Figured you went to him first before me," Lewis commented. "He's my best friend," Zane shrugged. "Wait, what? Lewis, you joined him on the mermaid hunt?" Denman asked him in shock. That hypocrite. "Not exactly," Lewis smiled smugly. "But, you did," Zane said in confusion.
Nate: looks around, trying not to laugh. "I think you might be losing it man." Nate shakes his head and walks off. Zane sits down in the seat and finishes getting his boat ready.
"We all thought you did," Harrison chuckled. "Who knew it was true." "I thought he was just seeing things from the lack of oxygen," Don laughed along with him.
"I wouldn't tell everyone that information. Or else they might react like that," Max nodded towards the screen. "Too late for that," Zane sighed. "Just like Karl," Mrs. Chatham whispered.
[At the café that morning, Lewis barges inside through the beaded curtains, accidentally bumping into someone in the process.]
Lewis: turns to them with an apologetic smile. "Oh, sorry." Jogs up to Emma at the bar.
"What's got you in such a hurry?" Will asked. "I had a plan, but I needed to do it fast," Lewis answered. "It did work but not the way I expected it to."
Emma: "Hi, Lewis."
Lewis: "Emma, hi." Quickly turns away from her and focuses his attention on the man in charge. "Wilfred, uh just the man I wanted to see."
Wilfred: places some decorations on the counter and chuckles. "This is the place to find me."
"It's the only place we can find him," Zane chuckled.
Lewis: "Yes. I have a two-part proposition." Holds up two fingers.
Wilfred: "Try one to start."
Lewis: "Right. Wilfred, how much time have you actually spent on the waves since opening the business?"
"He used to surf?" Cleo asked in surprise. "What do you expect? He loves the beach and has surfing décor all over the place," Rikki told her. "Wait, how do you not know this? We've known Wilfred like, forever," Emma said. "I don't ask about his personal life," she defended. "He was really talented. The best there ever was. You should've seen him in action," Harrison stated. "I bet he could still do it." Don laughed. "At our age, I doubt it."
Wilfred: gives him a look. "Try none. But then what can you do? Business is business."
Lewis: and Emma nod. "Hmm. Well, that's all about to change." Points at him. "Because you're about to hire me, and, spend the rest of the day at the beach." Gestures to himself and Emma tries to hold in a laugh, biting her lip.
"Not a bad idea. But what's the catch?" Ash grinned. "He wanted a ton of money in return for only a small amount of time with no training," Emma smirked as she looked at him pouting.
"How much money are we talking?" Kim asked.
Wilfred: nods, thinking it over. "Lewis, that's not a bad idea."
Lewis: "Yes. Get to it." nods and walks around the counter. Emma looks at the both of them like they were crazy as Wilfred gets back to work on the shelf behind the counter.
Emma: "Wait a minute, you call that a job interview?"
"If he's willing to work and knows how it goes then I don't see the problem," Will said, crossing his arms. "It needs to be proper. They didn't even do it correctly. He needs a resume and everything," Emma stated. "It's a juice bar, Em," Rikki scoffed. "Not a 5-star restaurant, or an office job. You don't see them wearing fancy suits, do you? Just let them be."
Lewis: "Uh, yeah. Yeah. It worked for me. Wilfred?" He points behind his back as Wilfred turns to them, leaning against the counter.
Wilfred: "Got all the information I need."
"What about payment?" Kim asked again. "Oh, that comes up quickly," Emma chuckled.
Emma: frowns. "No. You've got to do it properly. You've got to ask him questions." Lewis starts writing orders down on a notepad.
Wilfred: "Like?"
"What are your intentions?" Will suggested. "Why do you want to work here?" Bella asked. "Are you wanting to do part-time or full-time?" Sam added. "How much did you want to get paid?" Kim kept asking. "Okay, okay. I think we get it," Lewis interrupted them, cutting off any further questions.
Emma: straightens up, looking at Lewis seriously. "Lewis, why do you want to work at the Juicenet café?" Wilfred nods along, looking at Lewis who huffs and grins widely.
Lewis: "I'm committed to providing fresh juice and friendly services to the masses."
"Sounds like you've been practicing that line," Annette tilted her head. It sounded exactly like the same answers all her employees gave her when being interviewed for the restaurant. In all honesty, sometimes different answers would be much preferred than the same lines over and over. "Always come prepared," Lewis commented.
Lewis: "And I need money quickly. Wilfred, I am prepared to work for as little as thirty dollars." His back still facing Wilfred.
Wilfred: shakes his head in surprise. "A day?"
"That's quite cheap for just one day," Lisa said.
"That's how much I get for babysitting Elliot," Emma shrugged. "You get paid for that?" Cleo asked in shock as she looked between Kim and her parents. The latter two avoiding her gaze. They never paid me once for babysitting Kim!
Lewis: "An hour."
"An hour?!" Terry yells in shock. "That's asking wayyy too much," Max shook his head.
"Even I wouldn't ask for that much," Kim scoffed. "You made me pay ten dollars just for the dishes," Cleo spat.
Wilfred: laughs then puts a hand on his shoulder. "That's unrealistic Lewis."
Lewis: "Hmm. Really?" Emma smirks and Wilfred nods. "Well, um, part two of my proposal will have to wait until I get some money. I'll get back to you." Wilfred leans against the bar and shrugs, giving him a sheepish smile.
"Way to ruin my plan, Emma," Lewis said teasingly.
"What was part two of your plan?" Bella asked. "That's a surprise for later," Lewis smirked.
[Lewis walks outside and accidentally stumbles into Zane, who was still in his diving suit.]
Lewis: "Ooh. Sorry."
Zane: pats him on the back, as he starts walking with him. "Lewis, buddy, just the guy I was looking for. Ya see, I've got a problem."
"You didn't think it was weird he was looking for you? Or suspicious?" Emma asked him, raising an eyebrow. "I thought it was weird that he called me buddy," Lewis shrugged.
Lewis: stops and starts counting on his fingers. "Well let me guess. You're self-centered. You're vain. You're disgustingly rich." He pauses as he realized what Zane just called him. "Did you just call me buddy?" Starts laughing in shock.
"All of which are true," Cleo muttered, laughing as she saw the look of shock on Lewis's face.
"Not surprised at all that that was what you focused on more," Rikki sighed, shaking her head.
Zane: leads him out onto the deck. "Lewis, look, in the past we haven't actually seen things, eye to eye."
Lewis: "No, we haven't. But I tend to see the glass as being half full. You tend to see the glass as something to hit people with." They walk out into the grass.
"Will you just let him finish?" Kim complained.
"What does this have to do with glasses?" Elliot asked, confused. "It's a metaphor sweetheart," Lisa told him.
Zane: "You're trying to be funny, right?"
Lewis: nods. "I know. It's wasted."
"Definitely," Charlotte muttered, still feeling down from earlier. She just couldn't stop thinking about her grandmother being a mermaid. Oh, how she wished she could see more.
"Terrible delivery," Ash commented. "Is he ever funny?" Rikki mocked, getting a slap to the arm from Cleo.
Zane: "Lewis look, how would you like a job?"
Lewis: stops and turns to him. "Job?"
"It better not be for the hunt, Bennett," Neil mumbled, still fuming over his daughter being hunted down.
Zane: "I need a scientific geek type to try and help me find … something." He looks around, making sure no one was listening in.
"Of course, you would try to wrap him up in it," Don sighed. As much as he hates to admit, Zane was right. He would be a good person to help out with this mission. Even if it is trying to hunt his daughter and her friends down.
Lewis: "Something. Could you be a little more specific?"
Zane: steps closer, lowering his voice. "A sea monster."
"You spoke about it so easily," Ash chuckled.
Zane: "Lewis, there is something out there, in the ocean." Points out there, and Lewis follows his direction. He pulls out a piece of paper from his pocket, then looks around once more before unfolding it and showing it to Lewis. "And what I need, is someone who knows how to use these."
Lewis: takes the list and reads it aloud. "Side scan sonar, 3-D Radar modeling software, thermal imaging camera." Looks back up at him, a slight worried look in his eyes. "You're really serious."
"You didn't seem to think he was joking," Bella said. "That's because he's been acting like that since the incident happened. And he was telling the truth, even if he didn't know it at the time," Lewis replied. After reading that list, it was a little worrisome about what he was looking for.
Zane: nods. "Yeah. So you want the job?"
Lewis: "When you say job, is there money involved?"
Zane: "Name your price."
"Of course, Lewis. Or else he would've said volunteering," Rikki said. "No need for the sarcasm."
[Cleo and Rikki are about to walk into the café, when they see Lewis and Zane talking to each other, unable to hear what they are saying. They watch Lewis hand a piece of paper to Zane and walk off with him.]
Cleo: arms crossed. "What do you think that is?"
Rikki: "Nothing good." Emma walks outside through the beaded curtains and smiles when she sees her two best friends.
"It never is when he's around, seems like," Will mumbled.
"It does look like a bad situation from that perspective. Even if it is a bad one," Sam shrugged.
Emma: puts her hands on Cleo's shoulders and smiles at her. "Hey, there she is. Last day as a fifteen-year-old. Let's celebrate."
Cleo: the three of them start walking towards a table. Cleo tenses up at the sensitive topic. "Em, it's really not necessary."
"And you still don't want to celebrate," Bella sighed.
"Why not?" Lisa asked. Cleo sighed, getting tired of them asking. But she didn't want to complain in front of her dad. Instead, she bit her tongue, trying to resist the urge to scream it aloud. "Ehm, I think it's best if you find out later," Emma winced, scratching her neck as she answered for her.
Rikki: looks at them in shock and shakes her head. "It's your birthday? Why didn't you say anything?" She and Cleo sit down at a table next to the outside bar, where Wilfred was on the other side of it as Emma ordered them some drinks.
"You didn't know?" Elliot asked. "I wasn't around long enough to know back then. And they never said anything about it," Rikki told him. "That's because you've never asked," Emma shrugged.
Maybe because my parties were really embarrassing and it ruined my expectations for any birthday I ever had, Cleo thought, still biting her tongue.
Emma: "Wilfred, wheatgrass smoothies all around please." Sits down at their table.
Wilfred: "Coming right up."
Emma: to Cleo, excitedly. "And you know what the best part is? I can come to your party this year."
"You've never been to her birthday parties before?" Terry asked. "Not since I was six. Since then, they always had swim meets on her birthday, so I was never able to make it," Emma explained. "Until we started sprouting tails, then that all changed."
Cleo: "Well, there's not going to be a -."
Rikki: "What's been stopping you?" Cleo looks irritated.
"She was trying to tell you something," Lewis said in a singsong voice.
Emma: "The past few years I've had a swimming comp. But, this year, I'm ready to party."
Cleo: shrugs and looks away. "Great. Could we change the subject now?"
Don began looking down, feeling bad for ruining her mood for her birthday back then. But this year, things were going to be different. He was going to throw her the best birthday ever. And not have a huge age gap between them.
Emma: "Cleo's dad throws the best parties." Cleo looks down in frustration. "He does the works, German castles, clowns, ponies. Of course we were just kids."
Rikki: nods. "What a guy."
"Yeah, that sounds pretty cool. Well, when I was six maybe. But that still sounds great," Ash said. "Thanks, Rikki," Don whispered. He still felt down for what he did to Cleo. And he knows Cleo does too. Hopefully they can get over it during this episode.
Emma: "I wish my dad would go all out for my birthday."
"What are you talking about? We celebrate every year," Neil frowned. "Yeah, with just family and close friends," Emma said. "And it was always at the swimming pool." "But you love swimming pools! Or, you did at least." It's better than having it with the same theme and age gap every year, both Don and Cleo thought.
Cleo: interrupts her. "Look. There's not going to be a party this year. So can we please just drop it?" Cleo stands up and leaves, they watch her go.
"You actually believed him? After that terrible act?" Will scoffed. "He promised me he wouldn't," Cleo sighed. And I never should have believed it.
Emma: turns back to Rikki and frowns. "What do you think's the matter with her."
Rikki: shrugged, also frowning. "I dunno. You mentioned her birthday party and she snaps."
"Wouldn't that be a clue to you guys?" Kim asked. "It was, but in the wrong way," Emma winced.
Emma: her phone starts ringing and she takes it out of her pocket and answers it. "Hello?" She smiles and points at the phone. "Oh, hi. Mr. Sertori. Yep." Rikki looks at the menu while Emma nods along. "Cool. Ok. Don't tell her. See you then."
"Party invitations?" Harrison assumed. "Party invitations," Don nodded.
"Perfect timing since it was right when Cleo left," Annette chuckled. "If I would've just stayed a minute longer," Cleo shook her head with a small smile, finding it a little ironic.
Emma: leans over the table, smiling ecstatically. "See? That explains it. That was Cleo's dad."
"Really? Couldn't tell," Rikki said sarcastically.
Emma: "They are throwing a party for her. That must be why she was so down. She probably thinks they've forgotten."
"Boy you were completely wrong about that," Lewis laughed.
Rikki: nods. "Ok. So do we tell her?"
"You just heard her say not to tell her," Kim sighed. "I wasn't listening."
Emma: smiles and shakes her head. "No way." Rikki smiles at that.
"I wish you would have," Cleo whispered to her.
"It would've saved me a whole lot of trouble too if you did," Don chuckled. "Wasted a whole lot of time doing that." "And money," Bev muttered.
[At their house, the Sertori family lounge around downstairs; Bev is sitting down on the couch in the living room reading a magazine, and Don and Kim sit at the table, planning the party.]
Don: "Love, can you come here for a minute please?" Don nods at Kim.
Don pales slightly at that. Completely forgetting all the nicknames he used to give his now ex-wife until now, from this reminder. Guess he'll have to get used to hearing them again for a while till this all ends.
Bev: stands up from the couch, the magazine still in hand as she walks over to the table. "Yeah."
Don: "For the same money, we can get another balloon folder or, a chihuahua dressed as a renaissance poet who can bark the whole of 'I Was Made for Loving You.' What do you think?"
Zane snorts, hearing that. While the other guys like Ash and Will squint at that, a little confused on why Cleo would like that for her sixteenth birthday party. Was she that childish? "You like that stuff?" Zane was laughing now. Rikki sent him a harsh glare and he quited down. Cleo sighed. "Yeah, when I was six."
"I may have, goofed up on her birthday parties for a while now. They weren't exactly, how you say, up to her standards," Don said sheepishly. What does he mean by that? Charlotte thought. "It's okay dad," Cleo said, though couldn't help the blush that rose up from embarrassment. Everybody was going to see her sweet sixteen after all.
Kim: "Oh get the dog. The dog."
"Who doesn't like dogs? They're so cute and fluffy," Kim smiled. Elliot smiled, getting an idea on what to get her as a present for her birthday one day.
Bev: frowns and starts grabbing dishes off the table. "Don, do you think this is the best idea?" She walks over to the sink.
At least someone understood, Cleo thought with a little relief.
Don: and Kim frown at that as they look at her. "Bev, I know what Cleo wants. And she wants a humdinger of a birthday, just like last year and the year before." Don holds up a photo from her past birthday, showing her standing side by side with a clown and a bear mascot, with Cleo moping in the middle.
"That is not what she wanted, that is what you wanted. For her to not grow up," Bev whispered harshly. "You think I don't know that now?" Don shot back, rolling his eyes.
Cleo's face reddened even more and tried hiding her eyes as now everyone was seeing that embarrassing photo. I thought I burned all of those! But instead of hearing a bunch of laughter from them, she didn't hear anything. She opened her eyes and seen that some had looks of pity in their eyes, feeling bad for the poor girl as they began to see the effects of her birthday parties; they may not realize the extent of them yet, but at least they were beginning to understand. Although she hated the pitying looks, it was a bit nicer than having everyone laughing and mocking her. Like Zane would have, if it wasn't for his father who had a hand over his mouth.
Others were still looking at the screen in confusion though, not completely understanding what was wrong. "It's only a few kiddish things. I don't see what the big deal is," Will said. "At least it's not the whole thing. Right?" He chuckled to himself and quieted down after realizing none of the other Sertori's or their friends were laughing. Right?
Don: puts the picture down as Kim smiles excitedly at him. "Don't we always have fun?"
Bev: shrugs. "Oh, yeah. But you know -."
Kim: "Dad's parties are the best in the world."
"Ten years ago it was," Lewis muttered.
"Thanks, Kim. But I know the truth now," Don chuckled. And I promise I'll fix it this time.
Don: "See? So what do you think, balloon folder or a chihuahua?" Bev shrugs, thinking it over.
"Probably the chihuahua. It seems more age-appropriate," Annette mentioned. Charlotte nodded slightly but thought it could do better than that. She was an expert at planning parties.
[Back at Zane's boat, Lewis joins him on the vessel as they try to get his new technology working.]
Lewis: setting up the scan sonar as he sits in the boat. "Man you weren't kidding. I mean this, this is expensive gear."
"I don't kid about things I want," Zane told him, his arms crossed. Yeah, and that's what worries me even more, Neil thought.
Zane: climbs into the boat, across from him. "I told you I don't care about money Lewis. I'm serious. Now do you know how to use all this stuff?"
"If I didn't, I would've figured it out eventually. I'm a fast learner," Lewis smiled. "Depends on the situation," Rikki said, glancing sideways as she thought about the last full moon.
Lewis: "Of course. I, I mean I just want to know, what's this about a sea monster?"
"You didn't know?" Charlotte asked. "I had a few ideas," Lewis admitted.
Zane: hesitates then leans in closer. "Well, remember a couple of weeks ago when I almost drowned?" Lewis nodded slightly. Zane leaned down and grabbed a piece of paper out of the bag and handed it to Lewis. "I saw this."
Lewis: takes the paper and looks at it. The paper showed a very detailed drawing of Emma's tail, but not enough to be known as a mermaid's tail. Lewis nods and looks up at him, a little nervous. "Looks interesting."
"Woah. I know it was bad for him to hunt her down, but for someone who only seen it for a split second, while underwater and on the brink of unconsciousness, that is a really good drawing," Charlotte commented, completely awestruck by it. She didn't even think she could possibly do that in those sorts of conditions. Even her grandmother's drawings she wished she could replicate, though now it seems like she can since she knows exactly where those places are now.
Mrs. Chatham had a small smile on her face, a little impressed by the drawing since it was so similar to the one from when she saved that fisherman so long ago.
Zane: "Keep it. It's a photocopy. The original will be worth something one day."
Lewis: smile slowly falters and shakes his head. "And, what is it? Is it, is it some kind of dolphin?"
"With those amazing details, I highly doubt it," Bella commented. "Not to mention, their tails have a different design than the dolphins, clearly you can tell in the photo," Harrison said. Even if I did see it for myself.
They might be completely different, but they definitely have some similarities, Denman thought.
Zane: shakes his head and points at the paper. "No way. You're not going to find that in any book Lewis. And whatever it is, we're going to catch it."
It is in one book I could think of. I just wish we could get it back somehow, Lewis thought.
"You better not!" Neil shouted, startling everyone. Emma looked over at him. "Dad! Calm down!" "But he's trying to get you girls!" Neil started. "Dad, everything's fine. It's in the past. We're fine," Emma said calmly. Neil quieted down, not wanting to make any more of a scene, but was still fuming at the thought of it, hoping that everything turns out okay between them. Lisa patted his hand, trying to calm him down, but was quite nervous herself over the fear of something bad might've happened to them. Emma did say they were caught in a mishap with the scientist earlier, surely dealing with Zane's hunt was nothing to worry about more than that.
Lewis: holds his hands up. "Hey, whoa, stop. You know what, actually, on second thoughts, I'm out." He jumps up and climbs out of the zodiac, walking away from the boat.
"Thank you, Lewis," Neil sighed in relief.
"But then, how did I see you with him in a boat at Mako?" Cleo asked in confusion. "What?!" Neil shouted, his anger once again rising up. "Dad," Emma sighed. She didn't want to tell him the full details, even though he knew some of what happened with Denman the next time, from when she told them earlier, but didn't want to go into any more details right now. She didn't want to mess anything up and get Zane into even bigger trouble with her father. He was already angry enough.
Besides, Zane helped them escape; it only seems fair to help him escape this problem too. She owes him one.
Zane: stands up. "What?"
Lewis: "I'm out." Continues walking away.
Zane: "Lewis." Watches him leave, confused as to why he suddenly changed his mind.
"Yeah, I can understand why you freaked out now," Zane nodded. "I would have too if I'd known it was them."
[That night at Emma's house, Lewis meets her and Rikki there in the kitchen, showing them the picture that Zane had given him.]
Emma: walks into the kitchen, where Lewis is leaning against the counter and Rikki is on the other side of the bar, holding the drawing of her tail in her hands. "Oh no. My tail."
Ah, so that's the reason why Emma isn't angry about this. Lewis warned them, Lisa nodded along in thought. She felt relieved that Emma found out that he knew and was able to somehow figure out a way to deal with it. Then again, everybody on the Gold Coast knew about it eventually. This must be how she knew what was coming and was prepared. Unbeknownst to her, that wasn't the only reason Emma wasn't mad at the moment. Sure, she wasn't happy about it, but she wasn't downright furious about it either.
The other reason was because of the talk the two of them had had earlier. She knew Zane had only wanted answers, that he proved quite a few times. That's what he wanted his whole life. And besides, he never intended to do any harm to them, especially since he didn't know it was them, and did help them escape. That eased Emma's worries a whole lot more.
Lewis: stands up straight. "See, that's why I hang around with you guys. Because all the other girls at school are like, oh no my make-up." Emma walks around the counter, standing in the kitchen, and hands the paper to Rikki.
Chuckles erupt in the room, finding the sarcasm a little humorous in the worrisome situation. "Not true. That's mainly Miriam and her other followers," Rikki stated. "My point exactly," Lewis replied.
Rikki: looks at the drawing. "Well this is a valuable lesson. Next time Zane's drowning, don't help." Emma gives her a look.
"Excuse me?!" Harrison yelled, gaining everyone's attention. "Oh, it was a joke," Rikki said, rolling her eyes, although did understand that it wasn't something she should've said aloud. "It's okay, dad," Zane sighed. Harrison kept his mouth shut, listening to his son, since it was about him, but continued glaring at the mermaid.
Zane frowned, not expecting such a comment from her. Sure, it was something she would say, but it still hurt. Rikki sees the hurt look on his face, and sighed, not meaning to hurt his feelings. But it was something she said in the past. She can't take back what she said or did! But still, the look Zane had on his face, made her feel guilty, regretful for her past mistakes. She sighed and looked down before glancing back up at him. "Zane, I'm sorry. It wasn't right for me to say, and I didn't mean it." Zane gave her a small smile, hiding back the surprise that she actually apologized to him. In public too.
"It's okay. We all make mistakes. Nothing we can do about it now," Zane shrugged, before a smirk replaced his smile. "And besides, it's kind of ironic to hear that from someone who once saved me from sharks." The room once again chuckled, finding the rude comment also ironic. Rikki grinned at that, biting on her cheek to keep herself from blushing.
Harrison's glare softens at seeing Zane and Rikki's interaction. It was clear the two still liked each other. Zane talked about her all the time. He sighed and shook his head, returning to the screen. Guess I'll have to get used to comments like that if she continues sticking around.
Lewis: "Zane's trying to track down a sea monster. And he's offered me a job helping him."
Rikki: walks around the counter to where they were and hands the paper back to Lewis. "That you should take."
"What? Why?" Terry nearly shouted, confused as to why his daughter would suggest such an idea. "That's a stupid idea," Kim scoffed. "Why on earth would he do that?" Bella frowned. "It's not stupid, it was actually quite brilliant," Lewis defended her. Rikki nodded. "Yeah. The idea was for Lewis to distract him." Zane tilted his head, not understanding where she was going with this. "Distracting him by doing what exactly?" Denman asked. Rikki smirked and nodded towards the screen.
Lewis: nodded. "That's interesting logic that, that could work."
"You understood that quickly of what she meant?" Will asked in surprise. "It seemed like the only explanation," Lewis shrugged.
Emma: looks at the two, completely clueless by what they meant, and shakes her head. "Hang on. Two steps back, yeah?"
"At least we weren't the only ones who didn't understand," Ash chuckled as Emma hides a blush, not understand why she was.
"Rikki has a plan that Lewis understands, and Emma doesn't. The world must be ending," Cleo shook her head jokingly.
Rikki: grabs some straws and two drinks, then turns around to Emma. "Well, Zane's trying to track you down." Looks to Lewis. "And you know how not to find us."
"Okay. Still not getting the idea here, guys," Charlotte said.
Zane gasped and slapped his forehead. "I'm an idiot! You were trying to get me off the trail!" Lewis laughed. "Bingo!" The others looked at the group in confusion, still not understanding them.
Emma: nodded along, finally understanding. "Yeah, and Lewis could steer Zane away from any no-go zones like Mako Island. This is good. Keep your friends close, keep your enemies out in the middle of the ocean."
"Ahhh, okay. That makes sense," Will said as the others nodded along in understanding with him, finally getting the idea.
"That's not how the saying goes," Max chuckled.
You sure kept me close, Denman thought bitterly with a hint of regret as she thought of herself as their enemy. Who was she kidding, she was their enemy.
"Why didn't you guys tell me about this?" Cleo whispered to them. "We didn't want to worry you with your birthday being the next day. We didn't know you were going for a little swim either," Rikki said, pointing out about Cleo not telling them where she went.
Emma: "So when's he going?"
Lewis: "Uh tomorrow."
Rikki: takes a sip of her drink, the straw already in the bottle, and lowers it. "You'll miss Cleo's birthday."
Lewis: a disgusted look on his face. "Good. Cleo hates her birthday party. She's embarrassed by them."
"Don't blame her either," Lewis mumbled.
"So, what if there's a barking chihuahua and a butterfly cake. It's only a few kiddy things. It can't be that bad," Will scoffed, hoping to get an answer this time. Luckily, he did. "Oh no, it is. It was awful," Rikki winced and quickly looked over to Don. "Sorry, Mr. Gilbert." "It's alright, Rikki. It's the truth," Don chuckled lightly. "I should've realized it sooner rather than later."
Emma: frowns. "What? Why?"
Lewis: "Em, how long's it been since you've been to one?"
Emma: shrugs. "A few years ago."
"At least I had a good reason. I've never been to one. You at least had somewhat of an idea as to why she could've been embarrassed," Rikki told her. "I didn't think it would be like that," Emma remarked.
"When exactly are we going to see this 'embarrassing' birthday party?" Charlotte asked, wanting to know why it would've been so bad for her to hate it. "Soon," Cleo huffed.
Lewis: "Yeah, well I've been to them all. And believe me, she has good reason." Emma once again frowned, curious as to why he would say that.
"Could you at least give us a hint?" Elliot asked, a little impatient. "Let's just say, that it was the same thing every year," Lewis sighed, and Cleo groans in annoyance. "That doesn't help," Elliot complained.
Lewis: takes his phone out of his pocket and calls the young Bennett. "Zane, it's Lewis. We're back on. Let's go find us a sea monster." Lewis grabs the paper and walks towards the door, leaving behind Rikki with a smug look on her face as Emma watches them.
"This sounds like it'll be fun to watch," Bella smiled, wondering all what will happen. "Oh, it was rather enjoyable," Lewis grinned; Zane rolled his eyes, pouting.
[The next morning, the birthday girl wakes up to her phone ringing. She fumbles around for it on her dresser before finally grabbing it and answering the three-way call.]
Cleo: leans up in bed. "Hello?"
Emma and Rikki: both on the phones at their own houses. "Happy birthday Cleo."
Emma: putting her make-up on. "Happy sweet sixteenth sleepyhead."
"It would've been nice to let me sleep in a little more," Cleo joked. "It was a weekend."
"That's real sweet of you girls," Don said with a small smile, happy that her morning went off with a bit of a good start, plus the breakfast that Don and Bev planned for her to keep her 'distracted.'
Cleo: "Mm. Thanks for reminding me."
"You sounded like you were dreading it," Bella said. "That's because I was. I used to hate my birthday parties," Cleo mentioned, before looking at both Lewis, the girls, and her dad with a smile. "But not anymore."
Rikki: "So what'd you get?"
"A wake-up call, that's what I got," Cleo teased them. "You weren't the only one," Don whispered to himself. Though his wasn't the same kind of wake-up call she had gotten. It took almost ten years for him to finally figure it out, that his little girl wasn't a little girl anymore. And that he should start treating her like one. If it weren't for her friends, and finally having a talk with Cleo, he probably would've kept doing the same routine.
Cleo: shakes her head. "Nothing. But thanks for the thought. Now go away please." She hangs up the call and lays it back on her nightstand, and falls back into her pillows, wanting to sleep the day away.
"Not true. You had breakfast in bed," Bev said, arms crossed. "Not yet I didn't."
Rikki: to Emma on the phone. "That went well." They both hang up the phone, a little confused on her reaction.
"Very well," Kim chuckled.
[Bev knocks on Cleo's door and opens it up with a full tray of food in her hands and a cup of orange juice.]
Bev: "Breakfast in bed for the birthday girl."
Cleo: "I'm asleep."
"Unless you fall asleep really fast and talk in your sleep, then you're not," Ash said; Cleo found it unamusing. "I just wanted to be alone," she muttered.
Bev: "It's your favorite, pancakes with peanut butter, banana, and honey." Cleo slowly turns over in bed, looking at the food she made as she listed it off, suddenly changing her mind.
"Ew! What kind of combination is that?!" Ash gagged. "It's really good," Cleo said, defending her favorite food combination. "No way. Strawberries and syrup," Ash exclaimed. "Chocolate chips pancakes with whip cream," Rikki smiled. "Blueberries," Emma added.
"They're making me hungry again," Elliot told his mom, who laughed and patted his shoulder.
Cleo: "Can I, stay in bed?"
"It wouldn't be breakfast in bed now, would it?" Bev chuckled.
Bev: "As long as you like." Bev walks around the bed and hands Cleo the tray who was now sitting up in the bed with a smile gracing her face. "Here you go." When Cleo was busy with the tray, Bev turned around and looked out the window, wincing slightly at the sight she saw outside. She shrugged slightly and walked out of the room.
Cleo: watched her go as she began to eat. "Thanks mom." Bev left the room and closed the door behind her.
Cleo's smile slowly fell as she began thinking of all the times that her mom brought her breakfast in bed. It was one of the only few good memories left, the ones that didn't remind her of her walking out the door every time and didn't come back. She wasn't sure what was worse; thinking about that now, or the birthday party.
"You didn't like it either?" Don whispered to her, seeing the look she gave on-screen. "I just didn't think it was something Cleo would've wanted. She wasn't a kid anymore, Don," Bev whispered back. Don frowned slightly. "Then why didn't you say anything?"
"I did. The day before, it even showed on the screen. But you wouldn't listen to me," Bev replied. You were too stuck up in your own pride to listen to other's advice and see how your daughter felt.
Don quieted down after that, sinking back in his chair in defeat. She was right. He didn't listen to her, and it ended up hurting Cleo's feelings, on her birthday too. The only good thing about it was that she did end up having a good time finally on her birthday, even if it wasn't at the party he threw for her. But it was all worth it in the end, just to see that bright smile on her face again.
[Meanwhile, Zane prepares the boat once again for their hunt. He was testing the sonar out when Lewis walked up next to the boat.]
Lewis: "Zane."
Zane: turns at the mention of his name and looks at the sonar again. "Glad you reconsidered."
"As if he had a choice," Denman muttered.
"Well, someone had to stop you," Lewis smirked. "You mean it wasn't because of the girls' influence?" Zane taunted; Lewis rolled his eyes. "They might've helped with that."
Lewis: "Well, I do love a good mystery." Takes a step closer. "Did you get the hundred bucks?"
"But I do love getting paid more," Lewis sighed happily. "Who doesn't?" Will snorted. Denman and Harrison looked down at that, the feeling of guilt eating at them.
Zane: takes the money out of his pocket and hands it to Lewis, going back to fixing the sonar. "Right here. Is that enough?"
Lewis: holds it up in the sunlight. "Perfect."
"What, did you think I would give you counterfeit or something?" Zane asked, somewhat offended. "Yes," Lewis said deadpanned. "You have pulled a lot of pranks up to that point for him to be suspicious," Emma shrugged.