Hi guys, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 8
The minute that followed after Ash drank the potion was the longest minute of Zane's life. A million thoughts ran through his head. What if the potion did hurt Ash? What if it worked but there were bad side-affects? What if the potion permanently made Ash forget who he was? These were the things he was most worried about.
Ash suddenly grinned at them, "It worked I remember who I am!"
"Really?" Zane asked grinning as widely as Ash was.
"Yeah, I'm Ash and you guys are Zane, Lewis and Emma. My best friends!"
"Yes!" Zane shouted and engulfed Ash in a hug. Emma and Lewis also cheered and joined in the hug. They stayed that way for some time, when they released Ash, Zane saw Ash try to discreetly wipe his eyes. Under any other circumstances Zane would have made fun of Ash for it, but given everything he had been through Zane didn't blame him. Zane hugged Ash again, so Ash could hide his face in his shoulder. However, after a couple of minutes Ash pushed him away. Surprised Zane looked at him in confusion. Ash looked angry.
"I also remember you and Lewis are the reason I lost my memory, because you tried to erase Emma's memory of finding out we are mermen!" Ash shouted.
"Look Ash, we're really sorry about that", Lewis said.
"Sorry isn't good enough, I could have lived my life not knowing who I am. And I'm not the only one you should be apologising to", Ash said and stormed out of the house.
"Ash!" Zane shouted and was about to go after him, but Emma stopped.
"Let him go, he needs time to process what he went through." Emma said.
"We really are sorry Emma", Lewis said.
"I know, I need some time to think about this too", Emma said and also left.
When Emma left Zane sighed and sat down, he was so happy that Ash had got his memory back that he had almost forgotten he was the cause of him losing it in the first place. Lewis sat down next to him and put his hand on his shoulder.
"At least the potion worked, things could have been so much worse", Lewis said.
"Yeah, but now Ash hates us".
"He doesn't hate us, he's just angry with us and he has a right to be. He'll come around".
"I guess, I still think we should try and erase Emma's memory of us being mermen".
Lewis gaped at Zane, "Seriously? After everything that happened with Ash".
"There's still a chance that Emma could turn us in. Especially after this fiasco".
"Fiasco, I'm surprised you know that word", Lewis said grinning trying to take Zane's mind off the Emma situation.
Zane glared at him, "My dad has been trying to get me to do some reading, I've done some but I hate it. And don't change the subject".
Lewis sighed, "It's too risky Zane, don't do it".
"Fine, I won't", Zane said, but still held on to the thought. If it looked like Emma was going to turn them in, he would erase her memory of them, he wouldn't let them be turned into lab rats.
Lewis didn't look convinced, "I promise I won't", Zane insisted.
Lewis smiled at him, "Good, it is still quite early. Want to watch a movie?"
"Yeah that sound great", Zane replied smiling back, and the two spent the rest of the evening watching movies.
When Ash got home he tried to run to his room but his mother spotted him.
"Darling, what's wrong?" Rachel asked in concern.
"Nothing's wrong".
"You can tell me anything you know".
"I know, I'm just not in the mood right now", Ash said and ran up to his room. Though part of him wanted to hug his mother and the rest of his family, now that he knew who they were, he was feeling overwhelmed and exhausted after everything that had happened and just wanted to sleep. As soon as he got to his room he lay down on his bed and instantly fell asleep.
Three weeks later Ash and Emma were still mad at Lewis and Zane so they went to class without them. Lewis and Zane really missed them, and tried to approach them many times, but they refused to talk to them every time. Lewis and Zane sat next to each other in class and chatted, both trying to avoid thinking about Ash and Emma. They had English literature, which Zane really disliked and couldn't wait to drop the next year. Lewis had already looked up possible books and plays that they would be studying, despite his preference for science Lewis enjoyed English. Much to Zane's annoyance, and Lewis was currently talking about the play he thought they were most likely to work on. Zane felt a mix of relief and dread when their English teacher Mrs Pond walked in signalling the start of class. Lewis had been right, they worked on Shakespeare's play "Much Ado About Nothing".
At the end of the class, Mrs Pond explained that they would be doing a presentation in pairs about certain parts of the play, and that they had a few weeks to work on it as they had only just started working on the play. Zane and Lewis glanced at each other silently agreeing that they would work together, knowing that Ash and Emma wouldn't want to work with either of them. Zane didn't mind working with Lewis though, he had become one of his best friends. In the past he would have partnered up with Nate, but he had become closer to Lewis than he was with Nate. He was disappointed however, when Mrs Pond said that she had already chosen the pairs. The class groaned in protest, but this didn't discourage her.
"I know you aren't happy about this, but this will give you the chance to make more friends and resolve any disputes you may have", Mrs Pond explained.
This didn't make Zane feel any better, and he really hoped he wouldn't be paired with Ash or Emma, before the fight he would have liked to be paired with Ash and would have tolerated Emma. But Zane felt that he wouldn't be able to take the awkwardness if he was with either of them. Zane zoned out worrying about who his partner would be, until he heard his name.
"Zane, you will be with Rikki", Mrs Pond said.
Zane gaped at her, and quickly caught Rikki's gaze, she glared at him and he glared back. Zane already had the misfortune of meeting Rikki on the morning before he got stuck on Mako Island with Ash and Lewis.
Flashback:
Zane was sitting in a booth in the JuiceNet Café playing with his phone, while he was waiting for Nate, when he was interrupted by a girl with long blonde hair tied up in a ponytail.
"Hey, can I borrow your phone?" The girl asked.
"Sorry, I'm busy", Zane replied.
The girl peered at his phone, "You're playing Angry Birds". She deadpanned.
"Like I said, busy".
The girl sighed in frustration, "I think making a phone call is more important than playing a game".
"No it isn't I'm about to beat my high score".
"Oh wow, call the news" Rikki said sarcastically.
"Hey, this is more newsworthy than you wanting to make a phone call", Zane retorted.
"No it isn't", Rikki said.
"Yes it is".
"No it isn't".
"Yes it is".
This went on for some time until Cleo came along, "Hey guys, what are you arguing about?"
"This guy, thinks that playing a stupid game is more important than making a phone call, and won't lend me his phone", the blonde replied irritably.
"Hey, Angry Birds is not stupid, it is an awesome game".
"It's stupid".
"Here you can borrow my phone", Cleo said quickly before Zane could start another "Yes it is", "Not it isn't" argument.
"Thank you Cleo, at least someone around here is being reasonable", the girl said.
"I was being reasonable", Zane said.
"Oh really, how were you being reasonable?"
"Did you not here me when I said I was about to beat my high score?" Zane asked incredulously, "You know what, never mind, you wouldn't understand anyway.
"Yes I would, I happen to play Angry Birds a lot".
"Oh yeah? Prove it".
"Fine", the girl said and sat next to Zane, Cleo sat opposite Zane.
Zane and Cleo watched the blonde play Angry Birds on Cleo's phone for a while.
Zane gaped at the phone, "You beat my high score!"
"I sure did", the girl said smirking at Zane.
"Don't you have a phone call to make?" Zane grumbled.
"Come on Cleo let's go, this moron is a sore loser", the girl said.
"This moron has a name", Zane said irritably putting quotation marks around the word moron.
"Whatever moron", the blonde said grinning widely at Zane, after saying goodbye to Zane Cleo followed the blonde.
"It's Zane!", Zane called after them.
Without realizing it, Zane found himself staring at the girl who was making her way out of the café with Cleo.
"So, you like Rikki huh?"
Zane jumped, he had been so engrossed in staring at the girl, that he hadn't noticed Nate join him, which Nate seemed to find very funny as he was snickering at him.
"Who?"
"That girl you were staring at", Nate replied grinning.
"What? Don't be ridiculous, I don't like her".
Nate laughed, "You do like her".
"No I don't", Zane retorted.
Nate raised his eyebrow at Zane, "I don't", Zane insisted.
End of Flashback
Zane and Rikki both raised their hands.
"Yes?" Mrs Pond asked.
"Can I please be with anyone else?" Zane and Rikki said at the same time, causing the entire class to burst into laughter, though the laughter died down at the stern look Mrs Pond gave the class.
"I'm sorry, but you two clearly have things you need to work out, so you will have to work together", Mrs Pond said.
Zane and Rikki both groaned, causing some people to snicker. After Mrs Pond had finished telling them who they would be with and gave them instructions as to which part of the play they would focus on, the bell rang and everyone filed out of the classroom, and after they left the next class came in after them. Zane was about to follow Lewis to biology, but someone grabbed his arm. He turned and saw to his irritation that it was Rikki.
"What do you want?" Zane asked impatiently.
"I don't want to work with you", Rikki replied.
"Well, guess what? I don't want to work with you, but you heard Mrs Pond, we have to".
Rikki sighed, "I know, we need to meet up some point this week to talk about the PowerPoint".
"We only just got the assignment, we don't need to start in the first week".
Rikki looked at him in surprise, "Yeah, you're right. But we can't leave it too late, I am not failing this assignment because of you", Rikki said and brushed past him.
Zane imitated Rikki in a high pitched voice, "I'm not falling this assignment because of you" and then muttered, "You would be the reason we fail not me".
"I heard that!" Rikki called.
"You were meant to!" Zane said and stared at her until she was out of sight.
"I told you so", Nate said suddenly appearing beside him.
"What?" Zane said startled.
"You like Rikki", Nate clarified.
Zane shoved Nate, "I said I don't, and I meant it".
Nate shoved him back, "Yeah right, you two are going to be a couple".
"That will never happen", Zane said, the two continued bicker about it all the way to biology.
Two hours later school had finished, and Zane went home to drop of his things, after he had don that he made his way to the Juicenet café. Half way there he ran into Nate.
"Hey, Nate. What's up?"
"What's up?" I barely get to see you anymore".
"You just saw me earlier today".
"Briefly, I'm sick of you always hanging out with Ash and Lewis, I know that you guys and Ash are fighting right now but you'll make up and continue to hang out all the time".
"I'm sorry Nate, I'll hang out with you more often".
"No, you need to decide right now, me or them".
"What? You know I can't make that choice".
Nate let out a humourless laugh, "What do you mean? It should be an easy decision. We have been best friends since we were five, you have only been friends with them for five minutes".
"We have been through a lot together", Zane protested.
"Oh yes, your mysterious adventure at Mako Island, which you refuse to tell me about", Nate said angrily.
"I'm sorry Nate, I wish I could tell you what happened at Mako, but I can't".
"Why? What happened to you? Ever since that day, you have been different".
"I'm sorry Nate".
"You know what forget it, this decision is obviously so difficult for you so I'll make it for you. We're no longer friends Zane".
"What? You can't be serious".
"I am, bye Zane", Nate said sadly and turned to walk home.
"Wait! Nate don't this".
"Too late, nothing you can say will change my mind", Nate said and ran off. Zane wanted to go after him, but he was too upset.
Instead he ran home, and curled up on the couch with a film on the TV, in an attempt to forget about what happened. Ten minutes later his phone rang. He had forgotten to tell Lewis he wasn't meeting him anymore. He let it go to voicemail, as he didn't want to talk to him. He sent Lewis a text saying that he wasn't feel well and apologising for forgetting to tell him. Zane didn't want to tell Lewis what had happened between him and Nate. He knew that Lewis would feel guilty even though it wasn't his fault. Zane hoped that Nate would calm down and that they would make up. But Zane was worried, he had been friends with Nate for most of his life and he had never seen Nate that angry. It was bad enough that he was fighting with Ash and Emma, and now he may have lost Nate as a friend. Zane ran to his room, he didn't want his dad to see him in his anguished state.
A week later, Ash and Emma where sitting together on the couch in Ash's living room, working on their biology homework and chatting.
"I can't believe I have to be with Miriam for the English presentation", Emma complained.
Ash gave her a sympathetic look, "Yeah that was bad luck".
"Yeah and she's going to make me do all the work!"
"On the bright side, at least you love doing work", Ash said trying to cheer her up.
Emma smiled at Ash, "That's true, part of me wishes that I could just do the presentation without her. You weren't very lucky either".
Ash sighed, "I'm not looking forward to working with Nate he hates me".
"I'm sure he doesn't hate you".
"He does, he's hates that Zane spends more time with me then him", Ash froze as he realised he accidently mentioned Zane.
"You miss Zane and Lewis don't you?" Emma said with a knowing smile.
Ash sighed again, "Yeah, but part of me is still angry with them for trying to erase your memory of us being mermen and erasing my memory".
"It's been weeks Ash, maybe it's time to forgive them", Emma said.
"Have you forgiven them?"
Emma nodded, "They were just trying to protect themselves and you, I hate to admit but I probably would have done the same thing in their position. And I miss them too, even Zane, but never tell him I said that".
Ash laughed and thought about what Emma said. Lewis and Zane were trying to do the right thing, they went about it the wrong way but their hearts were in the right place. And Ash really missed them, "Yeah you're right, shall I ask them to come over?"
Emma nodded and Ash messaged Lewis and Zane in their group chat and asked them to come over. They agreed to come and fifteen minutes later, they heard the bell ring. Ash answered the door and let Lewis and Zane in. When they were all in the living room, Ash spoke up.
"Emma and I have been doing some thinking, and realised that you were only trying to do the right thing, so we forgive you".
"Really?" Lewis asked hopefully.
"Yes, really", Emma said.
Lewis and Zane grinned at each other and pulled Ash and Emma in for a group hug.
When they finished the hug Emma said "Shall we order pizza and watch a movie?"
"Yeah that sounds great, I'll get some lemonade", Zane said.
"I'll help you", Ash said.
Ash noticed that Zane was upset, (though he tried to hide it), even though they had all worked things out between them. He wondered if something had happened to upset him, while they weren't talking and wanted to find out what it was. And knew Zane would only tell him if they were alone. So when they had entered the kitchen Ash spoke up, "Zane are you okay?"
Zane smiled at Ash, though he could tell it was forced, "Yeah I'm fine".
"You can tell me anything".
"I'm fine", Zane insisted and looked away, he knew that Ash meant well but he really wanted him to drop it. Zane didn't want to talk about his fight with Nate.
"Zane", Ash said in a meaningful tone.
Zane looked at Ash, and cracked, "Nate and I had a big fight, and now we aren't friends anymore".
"I'm sorry Zane", Ash said and hugged Zane.
"He's been my best friend since I was five Ash, I really miss him".
"I know, I'm sure he didn't mean what he said Zane, people say things they don't mean when they are angry".
"But it's been a week, I know that's not a long time, but that is the longest we have gone without talking to each other since we were five. Normally he would have tried to talk to me by now".
Ash released Zane and put his hands on his shoulders, "That's probably because of pride, this was a really big fight, he doesn't want to admit he was wrong. But he'll come around".
"You think so?"
"I know so".
"Please don't tell anyone about my fight with Nate".
"Don't worry I won't, but you can tell Lewis you know. You can even tell Emma".
"I know but I don't like talking about this, thanks for helping me Ash" Zane said and smiled at Ash.
"No problem" Ash said and returned the smile.
The quartet spent the rest of the evening catching up, eating pizza and watching movies, all feeling happy that they were friends again.