A Wish on a Full Moon
I do not own H2O: Just Add Water or any of the characters.
Chapter 43: Bad Moon Rising (Part 2)
[In Emma's living room, the two non-moonspelled mermaids sit Rikki down gently on the couch, trying to cool off the hot-tempered blonde. Emma places a fan in front of Rikki as the latter begins throwing apologies her way.]
Rikki: "I'm sorry for burning your hand. I mean, it was an accident. I didn't mean to."
"Which is the truth. I didn't mean it," Rikki said quietly. "We've already been over this, Rikki. You were moonspelled. You had no idea," Emma repeated for what felt like the hundredth time.
Emma: nods as she adjusts the height of the stand for the fan. "Rikki, it's ok. It's fine."
Rikki: shrugs. "I just don't know what's wrong with me."
"It's not you, it's the moon that's causing all of this. You never meant for any of that to happen," Bella said gently. "I know. But it still feels weird having to see it for the first time," Rikki shuttered.
Cleo: walks over to her and leans against the back of the couch. Rikki turns to face her. "Nothing's wrong, Rikki. It's the moon. We've just gotta keep your temperature down."
"Why didn't you use your powers on her, Em? Surely that would've cooled her off, wouldn't it?" her little brother asked. "That was the first thing we tried. Unfortunately, my powers were ineffective on her during a full moon. The only thing it did was create more moisture in the air," Emma sighed.
"And you thought a fan would do the trick?" Kim raised an eyebrow. "It was the only thing that wouldn't melt at her touch," Cleo explained.
Emma: "And to do that, you need to settle down." She and Cleo walk over to the edge of the entryway. Distant enough to where Rikki couldn't hear over the roaring of the fan, but close enough to keep an eye on her.
"Like any of you listened during a full moon," Lewis scoffed.
"The more emotions she has, the worse her powers got," Emma told everyone, the others nodded along. "Then it must've been one heck of a ride," Rikki mumbled to herself, having a flashback of Zane's sunburnt face at the Juicenet.
Cleo: "What are we going to do? Her powers are out of control."
"You could keep a better eye on her," Will suggested. "Like we haven't thought of that before," Emma and Lewis say simultaneously. "Gee, why didn't I think of that?" Cleo scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Leave the sarcasm to your sister, sweetheart. She's better at it," Don joked; Kim shrugged. "He's not wrong."
Emma: "I don't know. But we have to stay calm." Unbeknownst to them, Rikki stands up from her spot on the couch and sneaks past them into the kitchen. "The most important thing is that we stick together. Ok?" Cleo nods and Emma does the same.
"You're the one that has to remain calm? What about me? And how come I wasn't a part of that conversation?" Rikki questioned, gesturing to herself. "You aren't an easy person to mermaid-sit. And you wouldn't have remembered it anyway," Emma remarked.
"You had one job. And you couldn't even do that?" Kim said, rubbing her forehead as they watched Rikki walk away from view. "Maybe we should've watched her better," Cleo winced, seeing how easy it was for Rikki to get away from them. "Ya think?" Kim sarcastically said. "Hm, so you do like me, huh?" Rikki joked. "You're my favorite so far," Kim shrugged. "Uh, excuse me?" Cleo said. "Favorite sister's friend," Kim corrected. "Excuse me?!" Emma exclaimed.
"That's what I've been saying this whole time," Mrs. Chatham chuckled. "You've been saying that for fifty years," Max shook his head.
Emma: "Good. It can't possibly get any worse than this."
"What is it with you guys jinking stuff?" Will sighed.
"Oh, trust me, it can," Lewis winced.
[Just then, the sound of dozens of glasses shattering comes from the kitchen, interrupting their conversation and making them jump in fright.]
"That doesn't sound good," Annette grimaced as everyone flinched at the loud crashing noise.
"Oh no," Rikki frowned, not liking what she was about to see, Terry doing the same, sneaking worried glances towards his daughter.
[They immediately make a dash towards the kitchen where they find bottles and can sodas exploding into the air, bags of chips popping open along with the rest of the snacks, the tea kettle steaming on by the stove, and Rikki flinching and backing away in shock at every single noise. Rikki turns around to see the wine bottles bursting open on the racks next to the fridge, pouring all over the floor, and a bag of popcorn popping on its own on the counter.]
"So, it was never a party?" Lisa asked gently, as everyone overcame their shock. "Like I said before, I had to lie. I'm sorry, mom," Emma said sadly. "No," Rikki spoke up, startling the icy-blonde. "It's my fault. I should've been the one who took the blame for it, I'm the one who caused this mess in the first place. It's my fault, and for that, I'm sorry Mrs. Gilbert." She spoke so genuinely, so seriously.
Terry has only heard her speak like that a few times before. And a couple of those times was during this whole reveal thing. She never intended for any of this to happen, she never meant to hurt anyone. You could tell that she never wanted to, all of those threats were just threats. No bite and all bark. That's the way Rikki was, it's what made her who she is now. She's a good person at heart, and anyone could see that if they just got to know her better. It made him smile a little, a sad one at that, but it was kind of nice to see her opening up some more, even if she didn't know it.
"It's okay, Rikki. We know you didn't mean it. And don't blame yourself, it wasn't your fault. It wasn't any of your faults. It was all an accident. It only took a few minutes to clean up anyway," Lisa waved it off, giving the girl a genuine smile.
"She's right, darling," Terry interrupted them as Rikki turned towards him. "That can be cleaned up, that can be fixed. But we can't fix you, because you're irreplaceable." A bright smile grew on Rikki's face as she blushed. "Aww, thanks dad." "He's right, Rikki. You're irreplaceable in our group. We could never find another Rikki," Emma grinned as she wrapped both her and Cleo in a group hug. "Okay, okay. Sheesh, no need to be so sappy," Rikki chuckled as she pushed herself out of the hug.
Bella looked down at the floor sadly, thinking she would never probably be able to be a part of their group. Not fully at least; Rikki already accepted her, but will the rest be the same way? Or will they toss her back to the fishes? You're irreplaceable in my books as well, Zane thought.
Rikki: shakes her head and puts her hands to her head, sounding stressed. "It's my fault. It's all my fault. I don't know how to stop this." The bag of popcorn suddenly pops open, popcorn flies everywhere. "What is happening to me? We're all in danger. And it's all because of me." Rikki storms off, heading for the door.
"Wait, Rikki! Where are you going?!" Terry shouted, his heart racing. "From what I was told, I went to Mako," Rikki said quietly. "Why on earth would you go there? That seems like the worst place to go on a full moon night," Bev said worriedly. "I don't know. I guess my mermaid mind-like state somehow thought it was a safer place to be. Somewhere that no one else would go," Rikki said, sounding a bit regretful. Because she did know one thing, even if she didn't remember it during that time: that someone else was there with her. Zane. Surely, he didn't see me use my powers thoug, since he didn't know about our secret until later on.
Terry gulped nervously. Because no matter where Rikki ran, she wasn't safe from herself, she wasn't safe from her powers. She shouldn't be alone, she needs her friend's help.
"You're not in danger because of you. It's because of the moon. It's the real danger," Max said. "I don't think so. The moon works in mysterious ways as Mrs. Chatham said. Sometimes it can be good, sometimes not so good. But it can be really helpful," Rikki said, smiling mischievously with the other three as Denman gave them a suspicious look.
Emma: "Rikki!" She and Cleo chase after her, the latter following her path while Emma takes a shortcut through the living room and into the entryway where she sees Rikki run out the door and slam it behind her. Cleo grabs the doorknob, only to get burned by the hot metal.
Cleo: yanks her hand back and shakes it rapidly. "Ow! It's hot."
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Don asked worriedly. "It's fine, dad. It only burned for a few seconds," Cleo informed.
"Great. I burned you too," Rikki said a bit mopey. "You didn't mean to. It was an accident. I forgive you. And it healed quickly anyway, so don't worry about it," Cleo said, giving her a side hug.
"Please tell me you're not going after her," Kim whined. "She needed our help," Cleo exclaimed. "But there's already one moonstruck mermaid, you don't need three," she replied. "Too late for that," Lewis muttered, thinking about the last moon, where he couldn't help but feel like it's his fault. Like it always was it seems.
Emma: jogs up to her. "Stay back." Holds her hand up to the door and freezes the lock to which it quickly cools off. She quickly turns the knob and pulls it open. The two were about to run out when they were forced to take a step back.
"That's smart. Your powers ought to help cool things off," Max thought. "It did, but only for so long. Rikki's power was stronger than mine that night since hers was constantly flowing and increasing the more emotional she was. Mine I could only handle for so long before I got exhausted. We weren't used to using it for that long. I couldn't use mine the whole night," Emma explained.
Lewis: runs inside, forcing them to back away from the door. "Girls, hey, hey." Lewis shuts the door behind him, preventing them from seeing the moon.
"Well, you got there in a nick of time," Zane huffed, not liking that he didn't go after Rikki. "Rikki was faster than me, it was too late for me to stop her," Lewis sighed. But she needed to go to Mako Island anyway. The moon pool was the only safe place for her.
Emma: turns to him and waves at the door, yelling. Cleo puts her hands on her hips. "Lewis, where's Rikki?"
Lewis: gestures to the door, shouting back. "She's gone. She's gone to the canal."
"Oh gosh," Terry groaned, lowering himself in his seat as he rubbed his eyes. "You just can't stop me from worrying, can you?" "Sorry, dad. I don't know what to tell you, since I have no idea myself," Rikki shrugged with a small grin.
Emma: "Well, we can't leave her out there." Emma moves for the door again.
Lewis: "No, you can't it's the full-." He tries to stop them, but it was too late. Emma yanks open the door, only for her and Cleo to stop in the doorway as they stared up at the full moon that shined brightly above them.
"Oh, great," Kim said, rolling her head backwards. "Not you too!" Elliot said worriedly as the other parents gasped in horror.
"All three of you now?" Ash said in shock. "Not entirely," Cleo grimaced. "What do you mean?" Denman asked.
Lewis: sighs and shakes his head. "So much for independent women." Lewis shuts the door, cutting off the spell, and the girls immediately break out of their trance. Cleo holds her forehead as she blinks and Emma shakes her head, getting rid of the fogginess.
"Excuse me, but I wasn't trying to be independent. I was just doing what my parents said," Emma corrected him. "Eh, whatever," Lewis joked.
"Are you saying they couldn't do without you because you're a male?" Bella scoffed. "No, I'm saying they needed my help because I'm the only one that knew who couldn't get moonspelled," Lewis countered. "Fair point," Bella tilted her head. "What about Mrs. Chatham? She couldn't get moonspelled," Charlotte said. "If we could find her, maybe. But she's not exactly, up to the standards, I guess. No offense Mrs. C," Lewis pointed out. "None taken. I'm not as young as I used to be," she chuckled.
Emma: looks to him, then to the door, then back at him in confusion. "Lewis, what were you doing in my front yard?"
"That is something I would like to know," Neil said, crossing his arms. "I was just, uh, being a bodyguard," Lewis winced, hoping they wouldn't take it the wrong way. "From what? The big bad moon?" Zane scoffed. "Yes," he said deadpanned.
"What I would like to know is how come you two didn't become moonspelled like her," Sam told them. "Well, I guess it's the same way with the first full moon. Me and Rikki were dazed by it, but we never became moonspelled because it was more focused on Emma than it was us. The same way applies for Rikki in this instance," Cleo said, gesturing to the screen.
"Least I wasn't the only one affected by it that night," Rikki muttered, feeling a little better by it. And at least they didn't become power crazy like me.
Lewis: shrugs. "Camping. You should try it sometime."
"I have. Not something I would call exciting," Cleo pouted. "But we always go camping. You girls love it," Don exclaimed. "Dad, you love it. We tolerate it," Kim sighed, gesturing to her and Cleo. Bev nodded in agreement considering she had to put up with a few of those. That 'fun' ended a couple of months ago.
"You were camping in our front yard?" Lisa said jaw dropped. "That explains the tent poles I found," Elliot hummed.
"Sorry, Mr. Gilbert. I was just worried about them. They're my friends and I wanted to make sure they were okay," Lewis apologized. "Well, technically he wasn't breaking any rules. We did say no boys inside," Neil said as he leaned back in his seat and looked over at his wife who nodded along. "Alright, Lewis. I'll let it slide, mainly because you were only doing it to protect them." "Thank you, Mr. Gilbert," Lewis said, his voice a little shaky as he tried to calm down. Emma sighed in relief, glad that she wasn't getting in trouble for that.
"You know how to impress their parents," Ash snickered as a few others began to laugh as well at his luck. "He knows how to pass their limits, that's for sure," Zane snorted. "Oh, like you could do better," Lewis shot back.
Emma: "Lewis."
Lewis: "Alright. Um, look. I just wanted to make sure you guys were ok. And you're lucky I did, except for … Rikki. That was a negative. But-but I was here when you guys needed me."
"Way to bring the mood down," Charlotte chuckled.
"What happened to the phone calls every hour on the hour?" Kim asked. "It stopped the moment they realized Rikki was moonspelled," Lewis sighed. "And how long did that take?" Bella asked. "A-a couple of hours," Emma mumbled.
Lewis: walks into the kitchen and they follow, where he sees the disaster that Rikki had left behind. Puffs his cheeks out, surprised by the mess. "Whoa! You uh-you girls sure know how to party." He picks up a busted soda can and holds it out to them. They look at him a bit annoyed. Cleo shakes her head and crosses her arms.
"Timing, Lewis, timing," Cleo shakes her head, similar to the way she did onscreen.
"Thanks," Rikki sarcastically said.
[The doorbell rings and their faces drop, not expecting anyone to come at this hour.]
Emma: gestures to the door. "Lewis, can you get that?"
Lewis: "Uh, were you expecting anyone?" Walks past them and to the door.
"Well at least you were smart not to open it this time," Kim laughed as she looked over at the girls. "We had to make Lewis useful somehow," Emma smirked. "Hah, hah," Lewis rolled his eyes.
"Who could it be then?" Lisa asked. "Let's just say it's someone we haven't seen in a while," Cleo beamed.
Cleo: points at Emma, an idea pops into her head. "Maybe it's Rikki."
"Even I don't think my moonspelled self would use the doorbell. I would barge in," Rikki stated.
[Lewis opens the door and Mrs. Chatham takes a step into the entryway, smiling at him and the other girls.]
"It's about time you showed up," Kim huffed. "I have a life too you know," Mrs. Chatham squinted. "Why did you show up then? Why not earlier when Rikki needed you?" Terry asked suspiciously. "I showed up when I knew they would need me the most. I had a feeling to once Rikki was moonspelled, I tried to get over there as quickly as possible," she informed, sighing at the reminder. "It's okay, Mrs. C. There wasn't much you could do once I was in that state anyway," Rikki told her with a small smile. "It's the thought that counts."
"Why did you let her in without us there?" Neil asked her, narrowing his eyes. "Mom said she's a welcomed guest there anytime. And we can trust her, she's one of us," Emma answered. "Honey, when I said anytime, I didn't literally mean in the middle of the night," Lisa shook her head, laughing.
[The group, excluding Rikki, gathers around the kitchen to talk with Mrs. Chatham. Said lady picks up some popcorn from off the messy counter and crumbles it in her hands as she walks around.]
Cleo: against the couch, arms crossed. To Mrs. Chatham. "Where were you? I looked everywhere."
"And you just completely ignored my question," Cleo chuckled. "Well, you have your answer now," Mrs. Chatham grinned.
Emma: holds out a mug of coffee for her. "We're in trouble. It's Rikki."
Mrs. Chatham: chuckles then sits down at the counter. "Rikki … she has the most dangerous powers of all of you. Definitely do not let her out of your sight, on a full moon."
"But Rikki's power isn't dangerous, sure it might be powerful but to be fair they are more powerful than any human on earth right now," Ash pointed out.
"It's only dangerous if she uses it wrongly, which she's proven plenty of times that she's worthy of having," Sam informed, purposefully leaving out the warehouse incident, knowing full well that shouldn't be brought back up.
"And Emma's proven that hers can be just as strong as Rikki's, Cleo's as well. All three of them are strong, and powerful and could be dangerous, but they're not. They are kind, trustworthy people and know how to control and use them properly," Bella brought up. She hated when her kind was thought of as dangerous, anybody that wasn't normal. It should only be thought of as dangerous when this power is put in the wrong hands, or tails in this case.
Well, used properly most of the time, there are some occasions, Cleo, Lewis thought of how many times she used her powers on Kim. "Not to mention, they are much stronger when they work together," Denman mumbled, shuttering at the memory of when they fought back.
"Uh, a little too late for that," Kim winced. "Yeah, you probably should've given that advice ages ago," Lewis scratched his neck.
"Oh, now you tell them," Rikki rolled her eyes, grinning.
Emma: "She's already been affected by the full moon. We think she touched water, and she's lost it."
"I think she's noticed, Em," Rikki joked, as they all saw the mess lying around the kitchen. "Thank goodness it was only the kitchen and not the whole house," Neil chuckled. "Or else we never would've gotten it cleaned up."
Cleo: "Do you have any idea where she would have gone, while she's, well, you know, gaga?"
"Really? Gaga? You couldn't have said moonspelled?" Rikki scoffed as she raised an eyebrow. The younger ones began snickering at the phrasing. "You were way past moonspelled by that point," Cleo teased.
Mrs. Chatham: puts down an empty water bottle that was lying down on the counter and looks at Cleo. "She could be … anywhere."
Lewis: "Big help." Emma gives him a look.
"Well, that helps," Kim rolls her eyes.
"Really narrows it down," Bella furrowed her eyebrows.
This only seems to increase Terry's fears, wondering how in the world they found her.
Mrs. Chatham: picks up her mug again. "But the only safe place, is the moon pool on Mako Island."
"How so?" Elliot asked. "Because that's where the magic first started. It's connected to the moon, it'll protect her, and them," Mrs. Chatham smiled. "Not to mention it's full of water and she can't burn anything in there. It's just full of rocks and water," Cleo shrugged.
Lewis: scoffs and narrows his eyes. "Excuse me. This whole Yoda act, it might work on these two. But I am not falling for it."
"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Cleo turned to him. "Were you calling us gullible?" Rikki glared. "No, I was just saying I wasn't going to believe it that easily," Lewis corrected sheepishly. "That's the same thing!" Cleo exclaimed.
"But Mrs. Chatham hasn't lied to them nor has no reason to lie. And she was right the whole time," Bella defended the elderly lady. "It was just hard to believe that someone out there understood the moon's power without giving a good explanation and just marking it up to magic. I believed in science more than I did the real thing. Sorry, Mrs. C," Lewis told them. "It's alright, darling. You had good intentions," Mrs. Chatham smiled and turned back to the screen. How he and Max are so much alike.
Emma: gives him a warning look. "Lewis."
Lewis: "No, it doesn't make any sense." Mrs. Chatham raises an eyebrow at him as he now has their full attention. "Water and moonlight are what bring on this full moon madness. And now, you're telling them to go to the moon pool, which is a pool of water, full of moonlight, on nights like this."
"He's not wrong. It doesn't make any sense at all," Will thought. "That's just the way the magic works," Mrs. Chatham chuckled. "Full of mystery."
Mrs. Chatham: "I can't explain it. I just know, from personal experience."
Every head turned towards Mrs. Chatham, ready to hear about her experience. "Well to sum it up, Julia had a night very similar to Rikki's since they had the same powers. Her powers were out of control just like hers. We ended up taking her to the moon pool since it was the only place we could think of that wouldn't catch on fire, and the next thing we know she was cooling off," she shrugged. "And left me with all the cleaning," Max grumbled, a small grin on his face.
Lewis: frowns. "Oh, and we're supposed to just accept that?"
Mrs. Chatham: nods. "Yes, dear."
Cleo: "Lewis, enough." Lewis sighs and listens to Cleo.
"I see you'll listen to her but not to Emma," Zane teased him. "Zane, enough," Lewis mimicked.
"No need to start an argument when my daughter is out there on the loose!" Terry said in frustration. "Arguing gets you nowhere," Annette reminded.
Cleo: "So how do we get to Mako Island, without getting touched by the moon?" Mrs. Chatham sighs, trying to think of an idea along with the others.
"It's nearly impossible," Don mentioned. "Nearly," Lewis repeated.
"It took a while, but we managed to find a way," Cleo said.
[Over on Mako Island, the small waves lapped over the sand which showed marks where Rikki had dragged herself ashore due to her tail. However, the trail quickly ended a few feet up the beach, where legs were then formed as shoeprints went through the rest of the trail, leading into the forest of the island.]
"Woah," Will breathed as the others mumbled in amazement. Rikki's eyes widen. Steamdrying her tail and the others was never that fast. And it looked like she didn't even try, considering by the looks of the path in the sand, she was too busy dragging herself up the beach to even worry about drying herself off. My power must've been off the charts by then to be able to dry off instantly. Just how hot did I get? Too bad nobody brought a thermometer along.
"It's getting stronger," Denman frowned. "The longer the night went on, the worst it seems to get. It's no longer about her emotions, it's only detonating on its own."
[Rikki was seen walking through the woods, pushing past plants and trees, moving the giant leaves aside to clear the way. Unfortunately, during her hike, one of the bushes she brushed by had wilted and burst into flames from the touch of her hand.]
"Woah!" Will yelped along with the rest of the crowd flinching back in surprise. "Will you quit saying 'woah!'" Rikki snapped as she stared at the screen jaw-dropped, trying to hide her fear at the moment. This was a whole lot worse than her new powers. If I had my lightning powers during this full moon … who knows what would've happened. It would've been a disaster for everyone, and not just our families.
Rikki's heart dropped as she watched the on-screen's terror being shown in her eyes, wondering what she was thinking during that moment. Though if she had to guess, it must've been the same thing as before: that she didn't mean for any of that to happen, it was all an accident, it's all my fault, everything is my fault. The words kept echoing in her head as she sighed, trying to get rid of the thoughts.
Her heart rate wasn't the only one that dropped as Terry's seems to be worse. She's getting stronger, and it's like she can't handle it. He covered his eyes with his hands, afraid to see what happens to her. He couldn't bear to watch. This was all too much to see her go through. And she still came out okay after all of this? How?!
"You can make fires?!" Kim yelled, jaw dropped, though wasn't afraid to admit that she was absolutely terrified at the moment. "Okay, remind me to never make you angry again." Cleo elbowed her in the ribs. "Ow!" "I didn't mean to. And even if so, it would've only been during that one night when my powers were amplified," Rikki said a bit sadly.
[Rikki turned around, revealing herself to be burning up and covered in sweat. She stared at the fire in fear then back at her hand for a moment, then turned around and tried to run, only for her to fall on the ground. Rikki looked at the ground where her hands touched the dead leaves and sees a group of them catch on fire and then slowly spread out around her, leaving nothing but ashes behind in its place. She looked back up to the fire she had accidentally made, and sees it growing even more, along with the leaves on the ground.]
"Rikki! What are you doing?! Run!" Elliot yelled. "Get out of there, Rikki!" Terry practically screeched. "Calm down, guys. I'm sure everything will be okay," Rikki waved it off, too focused on the screen to worry about them. At the moment, she was worried about herself and what she was doing to Mako. She knew it sounded selfish, but at that moment, the only thing she wanted was for her on-screen self to stop and protect the island and her friends. But even though she couldn't remember, she knew that wouldn't be the case. It never was.
"That's where the fire came from?" Zane mumbled, wishing he could go over there and hug his girlfriend, to help her feel better. But he knew that would only make her even angrier as it would reveal their secret. If she wanted to keep their relationship quiet, he would gladly do so just to make her happy, even if it means having to deal with people like Miriam more.
[Rikki jumps up and breaks into a run, running past all the bushes and trees, leaving a trail of fires behind her every step. Rikki glances up at the moon where it still shined fully up above her. She continued running, seeing all the fires that were being created by her. She paused for a moment after coming into a small clearing and picks up a stick, which was lighted up at the top like a torch. She looks behind her and sees the fires growing even more.]
"Oh no," Charlotte gasped. "This is awful. Poor Rikki," Annette murmured next to her. She's gone through so much in one night.
"Quit touching everything!" Kim exclaimed. She's never been to Mako Island, but she's seen enough now to know that this place is like another home to them. It's what made them so special. They cared about it. She cared about it. Kim would hate to see the place be burned down. "She couldn't control it, it was even coming from her footsteps," Lewis informed.
"Hold on. I don't remember seeing anything in the news about any fires on Mako. What happened to that?" Don asked. "It turns out when the full moon disappeared, not only did Rikki go back to normal but so did the island. It was like it was able to heal itself," Emma smiled. "Any marks of the fires were gone forever." Rikki sighed in relief, glad that it didn't leave a permanent mark on the island. It's almost like the island forgave her for her moonspelled actions.
[At the marina, Zane marches down the dock, heading straight for his boat. He unties the zodiac from its spot and turns the engine on as the motor roars to life and speeds out of there.]
"And just where do you think you're going, it's late at night," Annette frowned. "Really? Didn't notice," Zane scoffed before quieting down as Harrison gave him a stern look before answering her question. "He's going to Mako. Or at least I'm sure he is. I remember that next day he kept rambling on about some fire at Mako … now his story makes sense."
[A little while later, Zane stops the engine and looks further out into the water, noticing a light coming from Mako Island. He stands up and stares at the small orange light with bewilderment.]
Zane: "A fire." Zane flops back down into his seat and starts the boat up again, heading for the blazing light on Mako.
"Woah. That's pretty big to be able to see it from that distance," Ash commented. "Well, it wasn't that big. I mean, it was dark, and it was the only light around to be seen," Zane told him. Terry looked at the brunette boy suspiciously, wondering if he had seen Rikki at the island, knowing very well that she wouldn't want anybody with or around her while she was in that state.
[Zane pulls his boat onto the shore and then turns around and dashes into the woods. As he entered the woods, Zane slowed down his pace and stops as he sees the surrounding trees and bushes being burned. He walks past the burning trees and branches, finding it off that they were only on certain spots, spread out, and not in one spot altogether, as if they were placed there.]
Zane: looks around. "Hello? What's going on?"
"Did you really think someone would answer you?" Kim asked. "Well, I knew she was thereafter I saw her, but someone had to make those fires, but I didn't think it was her. They were spread out so strangely, they looked almost like they were manmade, placed there on purpose," Zane explained. "Don't you mean, mermaid-made?" Ash smiled smugly. Will glared at him. "Don't steal my thunder."
Zane: looks at a small clearing, seeing somebody clutching their knees to their chest. Getting closer, Zane realizes who it was. "Rikki?" Sits down next to her, looking around. "Are you okay?"
"So, he did see her," Terry whispered as he raised a curious eyebrow over to the brunette boy, though his heart did seem to calm down a bit, kind of glad that someone was checking up on her, even if it was the bully. It seems he didn't want anything bad to happen to her either.
"Since when do you care?" Lewis asked, arms crossed. "I don't know if you know this, Lewis, but I do have a heart," Zane said, patting his chest. "Yeah, for her," Bella muttered, motioning her head towards the screen. It was clear as day that he cared for her, ever since that movie night they had at the Juicenet, after she saved him from the sharks even though he didn't know it was her back then.
Rikki: eventually speaks, though very quiet. Stares straight ahead, refusing to meet his gaze as her skin was still burning up. "I'm fine."
"No, no you're not. You need help Rikki, let your friends help you. Let him help you," Terry whispered to himself, shaking his head in frustration.
Rikki: "I'm just -." She stops and finally meets his gaze, showing how exhausted she was. "I can't do this anymore."
Emma and Cleo turn to her and frown, wondering what she was saying. "Can't do what?" Rikki doesn't answer at first, because she was trying to figure it out herself. Though, she believed she had the answer.
Although she wasn't completely herself, actually not herself at all, that night, she did know her emotions. And during that time, that past month, she was beginning to feel the pressure even more of being a mermaid. But she never spoke to Emma and Cleo about it, because she saw how they had finally accepted it as a part of themselves, while she still struggled with the cons that came with it, and all the secrets she had to hide from her father.
It was also during that time when her father began asking her many questions about what was going on with her, why she seemed so different, what happened to her? She began feeling the same pressure that Emma had felt before and how Cleo had felt when she first found out what they were. It had become something she had regretted, something she dreaded. She loved her powers, don't get her wrong, but she didn't enjoy having to keep it a secret from the ones she loved.
Rikki gulped down her nerves and just kept a straight face, similar to the way she was onscreen. "It was, a difficult time, having to deal with some things. You know what it was like; let's just say it was my turn to deal with those challenges. I guess my moonspelled self was able to pick up on some of those emotions," she whispered to them.
They glance at one another, slowly looking at her, seeing and hearing the seriousness, and realizing that she went through the same thing they dealt with. As if she finally began to understand how hard it was to be who they were. They looked down in sadness, understanding the pain. There were great times, good memories when it came to their new lives, but it also came with a lot of problems as well. Sometimes it was hard to see the light in the surrounding darkness.
Terry looked down in shame. For he knew what Rikki was saying. Because he remembered, that during this time he kept pressuring his daughter to talk to him. He knew she was hiding something, he just couldn't get her to break. So, he kept trying and trying, until eventually, he gave in, believing that she was just as stubborn as he was.
She might've stayed strong in front of him, but what he's seeing now, on the screen, is her weakness. Something she was hiding for so long. And it hurt having to see the breakdown she was going through, knowing there was nothing he could do to fix it.
At least she's finally releasing it. Letting it go always makes the stress disappear some and gives you a new boost of confidence.
Zane: "Can't do what?"
Rikki: "This, everything." Shakes her head. "It's too hard. No one understands."
"We do. And you know that," Emma whispered as she laid a hand on Rikki's shoulder. "We're in this together. We go through this together, we work together, we stick together, and we fight together. No matter what Rikki, we'll always be there for you." "Yeah, you can't exactly get rid of us that easily," Cleo grinned, making the other blonde smile a little.
Zane: drawls his knees up closer, facing forward now. "I know exactly how that feels."
"Not exactly," Emma muttered.
"You and I have two different definitions for 'everything,'" Rikki mumbled, grinning at him as he returned it with a sad smile. She didn't remember their talk, just like the rest of that night, but she does know what he's talking about. Because it's the same tone he had when they were talking on the roof of the hotel. When he told her about his life, how he felt, his relationship with his father, everything.
While she told him somewhat of her life. But she knew this is exactly what he was mentioning right there. That was his everything. Hers was the mermaid part of her life, and his was the more personal part of his life, his family life; a whole other side of him. It was when they got closer, and it was something that she would never regret.
Zane: looks around after a moment of silence. "What happened here?"
"I decided to try out being an arsonist for fun, didn't work out well," Rikki tried to joke. Zane snorted, along with Will and Ash. "That's not funny," Emma grumbled, she hated to see Mako Island in pain.
Zane: "You're a mess." Picks some dirt out of her hair and tosses it away.
"Gee, thanks," Rikki pouted as he laughed, knowing she isn't going to be saying much these next few parts, as his favorite part of the night was coming up.
[Zane gives her a small smile. She turns to fully face him now, and then leans forward and kisses him.]
"Oooooh," Kim teased in a sing-song voice. Lewis had his jaw dropped as Zane closed it shut, only for it to fall open again while Emma and Cleo, and the rest of the crowd gawked at the screen. Zane snickered at their reactions, then looked over to her father where he was currently staring golf ball wide eyes at him. "That is not helping!" Terry said through gritted teeth. "Dad!" Rikki groaned as her cheeks were currently bright red, probably redder than her onscreen self at the moment.
Honestly, her cheeks were going to be bleeding soon if she kept biting on them anymore to prevent herself from smiling. It would be awful to see how her friends reacted if they found out that she enjoyed the kiss. Heck, she was the one that started it! … And she was probably going to kill Kim and Elliot if they don't stop with that stupid song. Whoever created that k-i-s-s-i-n-g song is going to have to deal with my wrath, she thought furiously.
"So, I take it wasn't a wasted trip to Mako after all, huh son?" Harrison chuckled, glad to see where their relationship first began. He believed that Rikki was the right person for him, they seem like two peas in a pod. They were perfect for each other. And he hoped that Zane wouldn't mess things up like he did with his mother. Candy could never replace her.
[Unfortunately, with their lips touching, the heat radiated from her to him, and Zane immediately began to burn up, as if his skin was boiling alive and the life was being sucked out of him. A second later, Zane passes out on the ground as a ring of fire grows around the two in the dead leaves. Rikki looks at him then goes back to curling up in her knees, staring at nothing but the flames surrounding them.]
"Oh no," Sam said in worry, as light gasps echoed through the room.
"That's how you got those burns? And here I thought you stayed in the sun too long," Harrison humored. He had to admit he was worried a little, but he knew Zane would be fine. He was up and moving the next day.
"Huh, so that's how we found you," Lewis thought. He always wondered how Zane had ended up in that position.
"So, it was literally the hottest kiss ever," Will amused. "Not helping," Rikki said, pinching the bridge of her nose as her face reddened even more. She felt bad for that happening to Zane, but she refused to acknowledge him at the moment, not wanting to apologize or even look at him. The moment was too embarrassing for her, especially after that comment Will had made. It reminded her of that comment that Zane made the next day, something she did remember at least.
'That was one hell of a kiss,' he wasn't kidding, Rikki thought in annoyance.
[The next morning, as the sun begins to rise and the full moon is almost over, Lewis drives the girls, who have hoodies and sunglasses on, in his boat to Mako while they duck their heads down, trying to avoid the last of the moon's rays. Lewis cuts the engine off as it slows down and hits the bank, right next to the zodiac.]
"That's not a bad idea but is still very risky," Bev commented. "Well, we had to do something. We couldn't just leave her there, we needed to make sure she was okay," Cleo sighed, arms crossed.
"Wouldn't she have her cell phone with her, ya know, since she's in her normal form?" Will asked. "No cell service on Mako, remember? That's kinda what caused this in the first place," Emma chuckled.
Lewis: All three of them climb out of the boat and onto the sandy shore. Cleo and Emma keep their hoods low and sunglasses on, making sure to avoid the water and looking up. "Now, keep your heads down and your eyes lowered. The moon isn't gonna set for another couple of hours."
"They needed to wait till the moon was at its weakest point before they could go help Rikki," Mrs. Chatham informed.
Emma: jogs alongside the tree line with Lewis in the back. Pokes her head up to see that Zane's boat was parked next to Lewis's. "Hey, isn't that Zane's zodiac?"
"What did he just say?" Lisa sighed, shaking her head.
Lewis: "Didn't I say not to look up?"
Cleo: "I don't even want to think what Rikki would do to Zane under the influence of the full moon."
"It definitely wasn't what I thought," Cleo giggled as Rikki blushed once more. "I could think of a few things," Lewis smirked, rubbing his chin.
Lewis: "Probably roast him from the inside out." Lewis points into the woods where the smoke was coming from, and they head further into the island.
"It was sarcasm, I didn't think you were going to do it literally!" Lewis exclaimed as Rikki gave him a pointed look.
"Sure, felt like it," Zane said, squeezing his arms as he was reminded of that searing pain.
[Deeper in the woods, the three of them begin to cough as the smell of smoke gets stronger. Emma jogs further up ahead as she sees Rikki crouched in a ring of ashes with a passed-out Zane lying next to her. The fires were now long gone, but still left clouds of smoke and piles of ashes everywhere. Cleo and Lewis catch up to her.]
Emma: kneels down in front of Rikki. "Rikki, what have you done to Zane?" Cleo comes up next to her as Lewis checks on Zane, putting his head to his heart to hear for any signs of life.
"Oh sure, just go past the body and check on the one still awake first. Guess we know what's more important," Zane joked. "She just went on an all-nighter power usage and went out of control and is breathing in smoke for who knows how long. Of course, I'm going to check on her first," Emma said. "To be fair she did ask about you," Cleo shrugged.
"She asked what did I do to him, it wasn't like I did it on purpose. And I should've been fine since the smoke I was breathing was caused by my powers, so maybe it wasn't too harmful. Though that does explain why I was coughing a lot the next day," Rikki told them.
"Thanks, Lewis, for the help. I have to admit, you're probably the last person I would've expected to check on me," Zane said, turning to him. "You're welcome, I think." "And here I thought I would've been the last," Emma tilted her head.
Emma: to Cleo. "We've got to get her to the moon pool."
Lewis: straightens up to look at them. "What? How?"
Cleo: "Leave it to me." Faces Rikki. "Rikki, I want you to think nice, cool thoughts. Visualize them. You're an iceberg, or an ice block, or a polar bear." Rikki avoids their gazes, staring at the ground.
"Oh, so that's why I had that weird dream afterward," Rikki chuckled. "I kept wondering why I had a dream of living at the South Pole." "Guess it did work after all," Cleo muttered.
"Why did you think that would work?" Kim scoffed. "I figured cooling her thoughts would help take the stress away and decrease the strength of her powers," Cleo shrugged. "If a fan didn't work, then that's not going to work," Max shook his head.
Emma: gives her a look. "Cleo." Looks back at the other blonde. "Rikki, we need to go to the moon pool. You'll be safe there." Tries to wrap a jacket around Rikki but she shoves her arms away.
Rikki: "Don't!"
"They're just trying to help you, sweetheart," Terry said, hoping she will comply. "I realize that, dad. But you can't defeat the mindset of a moonspelled mermaid," Rikki sighed. "That's what you think," Emma said with a small smile.
Emma: "Rikki, please, come with us. It's for your own good."
Rikki: finally looks up at them with a frown. "I'm alone for my own good. I'm meant to be alone. It's just the way things are. Things are never gonna change." Looks back down, shrugging it off. "Just leave me alone."
You're not alone. You never are. No matter what you think, there's always going to be someone out there who understands you, who's going through the same things you are going through. Someone who knows your journey. You've taught me that, Bella thought with a smile.
Lewis: looks up to them after checking Zane's temperature. "Guys, Zane's breathing. But he's really, really hot. He's totally dehydrated. We've got to get him out of here."
"His skin was very dry as well. It was like all of the moisture inside his body had evaporated," Lewis explained in vivid detail. "I had to moisturize and put aloe vera on for a week," Zane chuckled.
Emma: and Cleo look back at Rikki. "Rikki, listen up. You are not alone. We're part of something that we can't stop or control. If we're going somewhere, we're going together." Rikki looks up at her, a small bit of hope shining in her eyes.
You'll be able to control it, eventually. It'll just take some time, a lot of strength, and determination. Never give up, Bella thought once more, wishing she could say this stuff aloud but doesn't have the courage to tell everyone. Bella takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. Small steps, Bella, small steps. Mrs. Chatham knows, and you already told Rikki. You can talk to the girls next whenever you're ready … and I'm pep-talking myself, aren't I?
[A couple more hours later, as the moon has nearly vanished, the girls are in the moon pool, swishing their tails about to keep themselves afloat. Emma and Cleo hold Rikki up with their arms as she floats on her back in a trance-like state, the energy of the moon beginning to fade away. The water in the moon pool bubbles wildly, not from the full moon, but from the heat that still radiates from Rikki's body.]
Cleo: and Emma struggle to keep themselves up as the moon pool gets hotter, while also maintaining to keep Rikki above the surface. "Rikki."
Emma: "Rikki, are you ok?"
"What's happening?" Elliot asked worriedly. "Rikki's powers were heating up the moon pool, the last of the effects from the full moon, but the pool itself was trying to fight back the magic, preventing the water from being unbearably hot. It felt like a sauna in there," Emma sighed.
Meanwhile, Terry tried not to have a full-on panic attack from seeing his daughter in what felt like her weakest moment. It was hard having to see her go through all of this, he couldn't understand how the other parents were able to handle it so well. They did far better than he was.
Cleo: "Mrs. Chatham said the moon pool is meant to take her back to normal."
Emma: "Normal's a relative term."
"Too bad it wasn't a relative term last time," Denman muttered, feeling bummed out. "It's a lot more relative than you think," Mrs. Chatham whispered to herself, hiding a smirk. Emma, Rikki, and Cleo grin widely, thinking of how it relates to how they dealt with the situation with the doctor. Maybe what was happening now was foreshadowing that next full moon event.
Emma: "Rikki, listen to me. You have to snap out of it. You're safe now."
"Even in the moon pool, the most magical place of all, it wasn't safe," Max said a bit worried. "It was the safest place for any of them," Mrs. Chatham told him.
Cleo: looks around in fright. "Emma, the water's heating up."
Emma: "Rikki! Please Rikki, wake up." Rikki slowly closes her eyes and leans her head back further into the water as steam begins to rise from off the surface of the water, the water bubbling even more rapidly now. "Rikki!"
"Rikki, wake up! Come on, sweetheart," Terry pleaded with all his might, tears pricking to release.
"Why weren't you waking up?" Elliot asked, his heart beating faster. "Because the moon was finally releasing its hold on her. Her body was getting rid of all that leftover energy. That's why she drifted off for a moment and the water was heating up even more, because the magic was being vented out, releasing itself from its hold," Emma explained, returning the smile that Mrs. Chatham threw her way.
Cleo: "Rikki! Rikki, come on. Wake up."
Emma: "It's cooling down." The bubbles begin to slow down and cease, and Rikki's eyes slowly flutter open and takes in her surroundings.
"Oh, thank goodness you're awake," Terry said, releasing a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "How many more scares am I going to have to go through?" "Ummm, maybe a few more," Rikki winced as she scratched her head, though laughed in relief that her full moon episode was almost over.
"What's even stranger is with this being my first full moon, the only thing I could remember was being in Emma's house with Lewis and them, taping up everything, then waking up to see the cone of the volcano," Rikki laughed. "It was the strangest thing that's ever happened to me." "Stranger than turning into a mermaid?" Charlotte smiled. "I was a mermaid experiencing that. Once turning into one, it was very rare to find moments that were stranger than that," Rikki grinned.
Rikki: "What -." Lifts her head up and looks around, then looks at her friends, who were still holding her up. "What are we doing here?" Cleo and Emma give her wary looks.
"Finally! She's back to normal," Elliot beamed. Terry smiled as well, glad to have his daughter back. "And I wouldn't want her any other way."
"Are we sure we want her to be back to normal?" Lewis teased. "Too bad I didn't set your pants on fire during all of that. That would've been fun," Rikki humored. "You want to set my pants on fire, again?" Lewis whispered back, wiping the smug grin off her face at being reminded of his shorts that he lost during the whole new powers transaction.
Rikki: winces. "Did I get a little too much moon last night?"
Emma: nod. "Yeah, you could say that." Cleo bites her cheek as Rikki frowns, feeling a little bad for her cockiness.
"At least we know it wasn't your fault. It was all just an accident," Cleo smiled. "And since it was an accident, technically I've never been moonspelled by my own actions," Rikki grinned, holding up a finger. "No, no. It still counts," Cleo lowers Rikki's hand back down as said girl pouts. "You would've been moonspelled eventually. No one ever avoids it," Mrs. Chatham chuckled as she snuck a glance over at Bella. You could say that again, Bella rolled her eyes.
[Opening the door to Emma's house, the three of them rush back inside and into the living room as the full moon was no longer around.]
Emma: in the lead. "We've got to get the house fixed up, before mom and dad -." Pauses as she looks into the kitchen, where her parents currently were. Neil was taking the tarps off of the windows above the sink, and Lisa was looking at the mess on the counters.
"Oof, bad timing," Ash grimaced.
"The surprise we came to seeing the house like that, and with you girls not being there either. I was beginning to think we were robbed, and they were the ones who had a party," Lisa laughed along with Neil.
"I just wanted the popcorn, but they said no," Elliot pouted as the rest of the room laughed lightly. "We'll get you some during the next break, okay sweetie?" Lisa told him.
Neil: turns around and gestures to the room as Lisa puts her hands on her hips. "I hope you've got a good explanation, young lady."
Emma: walks slowly over to them as she hesitates, quickly thinking of an excuse. "There was, this party?" She lets out a breath and slouches her shoulders.
"Yeah, right. The one who studies all weekend is the one who throws a party?" Ash scoffed.
"And I was the one who had to take the blame," Emma sighed. "You could've said that I was the one who convinced you. It was my fault the place became a mess in the first place," Rikki shrugged.
"A party wouldn't explain the tarps on the windows though," Will pointed out. "Some parties can get really wild," Zane laughed.
"Sorry for lying, mom, and dad. I just didn't know how else to explain it. Nothing else would've been believable," Emma said sadly. "We've done been over this, Emma. You're forgiven. You did it out of the goodness of your heart to protect your friend. If anything, we owe you a 'get out of grounding pass' for everything you three went through that night," Neil mentioned as Emma smiled brightly at the idea.
"Where were you during all of this, Lewis?" Sam asked. "Someone had to take Zane to the hospital. Afterward, I went to get some sleep, something none of us got to have during that whole adventure," Lewis answered. "I wouldn't even call it an adventure, it was more of a nightmare," Cleo shuttered. "How about a night in hell?" Zane raised an eyebrow.
[Later that day at the Juicenet café, Cleo and Rikki sat at the table with their juices in front of them, still feeling some of the exhaustion from the previous night.]
Rikki: "Bummer about Emma getting grounded."
Cleo: "I know."
"No biggie. It didn't last long anyway. It let me catch up on some of my homework," Emma shrugged. "Of course," Ash sighed, shaking his head in disappointment.
"Seems like you were grounded more during these past few months than your entire life," Neil chuckled. "That's because she was never that much of a trouble maker," Lisa said.
[Just then, Zane walks through the beaded curtains behind them. Rikki looks over as he chugs a bottle of water then quickly looks back at her drink and puts her sunglasses on.]
"Uh, what's with the sunglasses?" Lewis frowned. "Cleo told me that he was there on the island with me, unconscious. I just wanted to avoid him at all costs. Seems like my luck ran out," Rikki crossed her arms as both Terry and Zane looked over at her.
"You made yourself more noticeable doing that though. I mean come on, you're wearing sunglasses inside!" Kim pointed out.
Zane: goes over to Wilfred, who was taking an order at a nearby table. Hands him the empty water bottle and some cash. "Wilfred, can I get another bottle of water, large and chilled."
Wilfred: notices the redness of his skin. "Whoa, dude. You gotta keep out of the sun." Walks away to fulfill his order.
"It wasn't the sun that did that. Though I'm probably the first person ever to get burned at night," Zane chuckled to himself.
"How bad did it hurt after getting burned?" Will asked curiously. "I wanted to soak in an ice bath," Zane said, being a bit overdramatic. "The doctors wanted me to drink a bottle of water about every hour that whole day just to keep from being dehydrated again." "At least you listened for once. How many times has it been now that you've gotten yourself in danger?" Harrison joked.
Zane: walks over to their table, getting in front of them so they would have to look at them. "Rikki, why were you at Mako Island, last night?"
"Is that any of your business?" Terry asked suspiciously. "It's just a question. I didn't see a way of her getting there, and it was weird for her just to be there alone while trees were burning around her," Zane said.
Rikki: finally faces him and takes her sunglasses off. "Was I?"
"Were you being serious or was that sarcasm?" Zane asked her. "A little bit of both. I knew I was thereafter Cleo told me, but at the same time I couldn't believe it all happened," Rikki explained.
Zane: frowns then leans on the table. "Yeah, you were. And something really weird happened." Rikki stays silent.
"You could say that again," Don scoffed.
Zane: "What I mean is … that must have been, one hell of a kiss." Rikki's eyes widen as Cleo looks at her, trying to hide her shock. Zane smiles slightly. "Because I can't remember anything after it happened. Can you?"
"That makes two of us," Rikki muttered as her cheeks redden, but not as bad as Zane's onscreen self was.
"Was that a play on words, or were you being literal?" Lewis asked. "Both I suppose," Zane shrugged. "Probably because you passed out right afterward. Couldn't take the heat," Ash laughed.
Rikki: quickly changes the subject, glaring at him. Cleo continues watching her. "Look Zane, what I do, and why I do it, is none of your concern."
Zane: "What about all the stuff you said?"
Rikki: "What I said is exactly that. Stuff. Forget it, ok." Rikki looks away.
"Should you really be discussing this in front of Cleo? She probably has no idea what you were talking about," Lisa informed. "I didn't either. The only one who had any clue of anything was Zane. And even he didn't know what went on," Rikki gestured to herself.
"Yeah, definitely back to normal," Terry sighed, mumbling to himself as he watches her close herself off once more, putting her walls back up. Guess the full moon brings out the more emotional side of her.
Zane: straightens back up and frowns at them. "You chicks are weird." Walks away.
"We're not the one that looks like a tomato," Cleo grinned. Rikki and Emma smirk. "Atta girl." They high-fived as Zane rolled his eyes.
"You weren't going to ask her about the fires?" Annette asked. "Didn't think about it at the time," Zane sighed. "Would've been the first thing I asked," Will said.
Cleo: scoots in more once Zane was gone. "You kissed him?"
Rikki: shrugs and scrunches up her face. "Maybe. I don't know. Give me a mint, just in case." Cleo lets a small smile slip on her face as she leans back. "That's the thing, Cleo. I have no clue what I did. I can't remember anything. But, something weird definitely happened, something, out of control." Rikki shakes her head, still trying to figure it out for herself.
The room bursts out into laughter. "Oh, come on! It wasn't that bad, admit it," Zane huffed. "How am I supposed to admit it when I don't remember it?" Rikki raised an eyebrow. Because it wasn't the first time we kissed, Zane was tempted to say but kept his mouth shut due to the mermaid's father that kept giving him suspicious glances.
"The full moon always brings out the oddest part of us at our weakest moments," Mrs. Chatham mumbled as the room quieted down.
"Okay, I think we're due for a break. I am getting a bit hungry myself. Anyone else?" Lewis thought, clapping his hands together. "I could get something to eat. I'm starving," Will said as he hopped up from his seat, the others following along.
"Speaking of food, Mrs. Chatham, do you think we could talk to you for a minute? There seems to be a new, uh, development, in our scenario," Emma said, her voice lowering as the room began to clear out some. "Certainly girls," Mrs. Chatham said as she ushered them to take a seat. As they got comfy again, she sneaked a glance towards the door, where the last of the small crowd was going through the door to get them some food.
One of the last few people still in the room was Bella, who was looking at her with pleading eyes, as if she were begging for her not to say anything. Mrs. Chatham sighed, looking away as Bella walked through the door after one last look.
It was hard for her to lie to the girls, but she knew she had to, for Bella's sake. But she hoped she would tell them soon, for the longer she waits, the more dreadful it could get.