Thank you all so much for the nice reviews! I'll take some time here to address some of the reviews that I got sooo:

SoulMusician: Thanks for the review. I think it would get a comment from them, but not a huge surprise.

Azlyn: That was fun putting that reference in. Thanks for the review!

Izi: Thanks! There's going to be more!

Chapter 4

"Do you girls want to spend the night?" asked Evie as Mimmi and Sirena gathered at the café. They weren't going to stick around get into a fight. Tonight they were going to call another girl on the list. Evie had no luck getting a hold of Emma's number so tonight they were going to get a hold of Cleo.

"We can watch a movie," gushed Sirena at the idea. "And snacks!"

"I'll bring dip," said Carly as she walked over. "So is there a girl's sleepover tonight?"

"Sure, it'll be fun," said Mimmi. "We don't have to hear fighting and stay up all night. We just have to make a very important phone call."

Carly just nodded and went back to waiting on tables. At least she had plans for half the night. Cam started his holiday early by visiting his family in Canada and left the night before. School let out next week, but they had booked the flights in advanced. So she had no boyfriend for the next two weeks. Girls nights in were always fun. Too bad not all of the girls were getting along right now. Otherwise they'd have a party at Evie's house.

Crap, she had nearly forgotten that she would go with Zac back to the convention. She got off here at 4. So she would have to go meet him and then meet the girls. That could work. She would have to come back here after meeting Zac though. She had promised Joe that she would help close since David had left for some kind of emergency. Carly hoped that he was alright, but it sealed her plans for the day. Get off, go meet Zac and hang out for a while, come back and help close. It was like an extra-long unpaid break. Perfect.

"We're going to get a head start and order the snacks and pizza," said Evie as she shut down her part of the café. Since it was the first day of holiday from school and a Monday, she closed early. Carly would be getting off at nine for closing, which meant they had all night to talk to her.

Mimmi and Sirena had helped and followed her home. They had successfully evaded running into both Lyla and Weilan. They didn't want to talk to them about what kind of fight was currently going on. They would all sort it out themselves and they would all be great friends again.

As soon as they got there, Evie ordered a pizza to be delivered in an hour. Mimmi went to go find the file on Cleo. Sirena had set up the living room to watch what Evie called a chick flick.

Then they all finally sat around only to stare at the phone.

"We have to call her sometime you know," said Sirena. "We already set it up with Bella and Rikki. We would have to talk to Emma and Cleo sometime."

Both Sirena and Evie had turned to look at Mimmi with an expectant look on their faces. Evie had planned to called Emma and Sirena already called Bella. Now it was Cleo's turn.

Her heart pounding, Mimmi dialed the phone number. With any luck they could just leave a phone message. They heard the dial and then a female voice. Oh crap…

"Hello?" asked a relaxed voice on the other end of the phone.

"Hi," she said as the girls urged her to talk to the older mermaid. "My name is Mimmi and I believe you might know our friend Rikki Chadwick?"

The woman on the other end of the phone got quiet as they heard shifting on her end of the phone. There was a whisper and they heard the phone go from being private to loud speaker.

"Yes, I do actually, may I ask the reason?" she said getting suspicious. She had every right since they had the same secret that they shared. They didn't actually agree on some kind of story….

"Well, her birthday is coming up," said Mimmi thinking quickly, which turned out to be true. "We're hosting a party for her and we are inviting you. At the Ocean Café it's across-"

"Oh I know where that's at," she caught off. "I would love to come. Lewis stop listening in on my phone calls! I know I have to leave. Sorry, I'll be there. What time?"

"Two weeks on Friday around three," she said promptly. "It should be a great turn out!"

Cleo hung up and the others only let out a sigh of relief. Now all they had to do was hang out and wait for Carly to get the party really started.

"Hey we're meeting other people for lunch, do you two want to get a pizza?" asked Tanner. "You can meet the other guys."

With that Zac and Carly sat down next to Tanner and Ryan at the table. A woman in a waitress uniform stopped and gave them all plastic cups filled with ice water. She knew who they were and what they usually wanted. Then she came back again with a large anchovy and pineapple pizza. Carly made a face but took a piece anyway. Free food is free food. Plus, she got a whole bunch of souvenirs here. She had a nice lacy scarf, some pearl necklaces, American peanut butter, and other goodies.

"There he is, the love bird," said Tanner holding up his slice. Dean only rolled his eyes at Tanner as he came up. Carly only looked impressed, Dean was pretty cute as well. Mermen had to be genetically good looking aren't they? Zac looked up at him and smiled, Dean looked pretty nice.

Then a girl followed up behind him. That was when Zac and Carly only stared a piece of pineapple fell off of Carly's piece. Behind Dean stood Nixie. Nixie the one who grew a tail whenever she touched water. Nixie the mermaid that they haven't seen in months.

"This the girlfriend?" asked Ryan looking over at her. "She's pretty dude."

"Thanks," said Nixie sitting down and looked up. The smile on her face seemed to freeze when she saw Carly and Zac sitting across from her. Dean only looked at the both of them curious before waving his hand in front of her face.

"Do you guys know each other?" asked Tanner being the observant one.

"Yea, we kind of already do," said Nixie looking at Zac and Carly before waving at them. Stunned, they waved back. Then it became awkward as they sat across from one another.

"Hi, sorry I'm late- Nixie?" asked the voice of Lyla from behind all of them. "Zac, Carly, what are you guys doing here?"

"Wait a second, wait a second, all four of you know each other?" asked Ryan looking confused as ever. Zac, Carly, Nixie, and Lyla only shared a look not exactly thrilled to see each other.

"All of you know them?" asked Lyla getting herself surprised.

"Well, yea. We meet Lyla during our break. She was waiting for someone to come out of a movie and we invited her to lunch. Then when our shift was over we caught Zac and Carly in the equipment room. We learned Zac was a merman and invited them to the convention. Then obviously Nixie and Dean meet on his break. So yea we all know you. How do you know each other?" asked Tanner looking at them confused.

"Well you see," started Carly. "Well you know Nixie and Lyla are both mermaids right?"

"You are?" asked a surprised Tanner before laughing a little. They already knew about it when they went to lunch. "I knew Lyla was one, but not Nixie. Did you hear that Ryan our Dean is dating a mermaid?" He turned to his friend who only burst into a laugh. Dean only shrugged but felt himself blushing. Nixie only leaned against his shoulder and grinned. At least they were on the same level right now.

"Well know we know," said Ryan finally shrugging. "Go on with the story."

Zac shifted uncomfortably remembering when he first meet Nixie and Lyla. They weren't exactly on friendly terms when they first knew about each other. He figured let Carly do all the talking. After all, she only knew the stripped down version.

"Well, Lyla and Nixie witnessed Zac getting a tail and they thought it was their fault. So they went on land to take away his tail. They couldn't and went back to the sea after making friends with him."

All of the boys looked at one another before looking at Zac for an explanation. He only looked down at the floor embarrassed. "Well it's true."

"That's a lot of holes," pointed out Ryan. He remembered how long it took Erik to admit everything that he had done.

"Lots of them," piped up Tanner. "Could we get a full story?"

With that Nixie, Lyla, and Carly pulled together a fuller picture of what they could. Zac only inputted a little extras and confirming what did actually happen. Cam, the trident, finding the cave and what not. As soon as they were finished and the pizza was just about gone, the last person they thought they'd see showed up. He also heard the entire story that the girls were telling.

"Hey guys I got Thai food instead of pizza-" said Erik as he saw Carly and Zac. He just stood there awkwardly as a blush raised on his face and neck. He thought he was going to avoid them before heading to the outback.

"Alright, so Erik we know the full full story now," said Tanner before he turned to Zac and Carly. "He threatened your boyfriend and nearly killed you right?"

Carly only mutely nodded unsure what to make of Erik sitting with their group. Then again he was a merman.

"We already punished him for you," said Dean finally speaking up. "I threw a hot pizza in his face and then incased him in a jelly mixture. I doubt he wants to remember that."

"And we're all being punished with him," muttered Ryan. Zac just looked at him oddly. "We all did something to get punished. Mostly for being caught using our powers and letting them get out of control though.

"All three of you: Dean, Tanner, and Ryan know everything. About Erik and-" said Zac still confused and a little overwhelmed all of a sudden.

"We heard something about a sea dragon," said Dean thoughtfully as he ate a slice of pizza with no pineapple. The others ignored him except for Nixie who had picked off the anchovies and ate it.

"Oh yea, we forced the entire story out of him. I think it's pretty awesome that your sister is a real mermaid. We hardly ever get them in the system any way," said Tanner as he stole a bite of Erik's Thai food. Another pizza was delivered that distracted Tanner enough. "He can't keep a secret from us. Or the entire project for that matter."

"You guys did read the handbook last night right?" asked Ryan. "They keep tabs on all of us in the system. Any misuses of magic we get in trouble. Dean's punished for causing an earthquake in a non-earthquake area."

"I spent a day with strong man?" said Nixie teasing the poor guy. Carly only blinked and gapped unsure what to make of this entire meeting. What? Did they just befriend merman convicts or something? Zac still sat there befuddled at the entire meeting that just happened.

The waitress came back with another water before rolling her eyes. Now the entire table grew awkward at this.

"So does Nixie and Lyla," started Tanner as he gestured to Erik and the girls.

"Yea," said Nixie nonchalantly as she picked up a slice of pizza. For being on land for only a little bit, she should have discovered the world of pizza much sooner. "Sirena told us everything."

Erik tensed up at hearing Sirena's name. Great, she probably told the whole pod about him now. He could never get into southern waters again without getting a powerful smack across his face. The fact that Nixie sounded really indifferent meant something to him though. He kind of relaxed of hearing it in that manner.

"And you don't care?" asked Carly still very confused.

"Not really, since I also got Dean's end of the story," said Nixie as she only smirked at the boy. He only smiled at her and grabbed some of Erik's Thai food.

"Eat all my food you want guys," said Erik rolling his eyes and then making a grab for the pizza. Which of course, Tanner pulled away.

"You have to get more food from the eastern section dude before you have any pizza," said Ryan and Lyla laughed. Zac and Carly only watched on oh so very confused. Zac made a mental note to look at that book Tanner had given him on his first day.

"I kind of want to go to one of these programs," he said looking at a piece of paper that was slide in front of him. Two young boys were handing them out to people in the throng of people. They all looked kind of interesting.

History of Project Merman

How to guide: swimming

Getting to know your doctor

Growing up in a foster system

Growing up merman

He only looked at everything a little bit amazed. Alright really amazed. He still couldn't believe that they could pull this off. Or the fact that he was sitting this close to Erik and not wanting to throttle him.

"You should totally go to the history of project merman," said Tanner as he took another slice of pizza. He practically ate the entire thing by himself. "Erik and I are in it."

Erik's face seemed to fall at hearing this as he turned red. Zac couldn't help but laugh at what exactly they would be doing for it. Maybe they had to get dressed up in silly costumes.

"You're in it?" asked Carly looking amused.

"Yea, see they start the program with a video," he said as Erik just bang his head against the table. "They needed five young mermen, a baby one, and a grown one. Erik and I are two of the five. You just have to watch it. The program starts soon right?"

Zac looked down at his watch and looked at the time. "In another 5 minutes."

With that Tanner got up and started running off to the area where it would be held. They all looked at each other followed the redhead in the crowd. In a quick thinking attitude Carly watched as Erik finally got some food from the left over pizza. Then he promptly handed a 20-dollar note to the waitress.

They had slide into the event room just in time. A woman did a head count and smiled as she saw Erik and Tanner come into the room.

"You two can't help but watch this can't you?" she said as she shut the door. The lady handed the new group a little pamphlet with a smiling cartoon dolphin on it. Each of them took one as they sat down.

"Hello everyone!" said the woman with a blue dress and tight red curls. "My name is Claire O'Donnell and I'm here to give a presentation on project merman. Kick back and enjoy."

Carly watched as the lights dimmed and a projector in the back turn on. In front of them started a picture of a foggy day with the caption Scotland 850 A.D.

On the screen played out a story of monks on the beach of Scotland. A group of 5 men dressed as monks were collecting shellfish and crabs.

"Brother Aaron," said one of the monks pointing to the waters. A young woman had surfaced. All of them had backed away from the woman unsure what to make of her. She looked innocent and guilty all at the same time.

"Help me," she said as she flicked her tail. All of the brothers had turned and one had scrambled up on a sand dune.

"She's the devil with a taill," said one of the men. Another one had picked up a long piece of drift hood. He had pointed it directly at the mermaid.

"No please, I need help," said the mermaid convincingly. "I can't keep him the others want to kill him." She held up a baby with a blue tail and the other men just looked at the babe with wide eyes.

"I can't watch them. Please I want him to be safe," said the lady. The actress looked around for whoever might be looking for her.

"Please, I'll take away his tail. Just please take him," said the woman chocking back a sob.

Brother Aaron walked forward and picked up the baby around the torso. The mermaid did a hand move and the tail had disappeared. She had given the baby one last look before swimming away.

Carly only felt her heart break a little watching the short little video. The mother didn't want to give up her baby. Otherwise, she was going to watch her child get killed. She turned and looked at the boys. Erik looked really upset at the short beginning as did Tanner, Ryan, and Dean. This was probably what their mothers or fathers did to them.

Zac only looked on upset at what he had witnessed besides the terrible acting. It was something that he couldn't face watching. Nerissa had to leave him behind for a reason but not for this reason.

"Hey look more fish!" said a boy that looked like a young Erik. He had pointed to the nets as they filled more.

Tanner and all of the other boys turned and looked at Erik. Erik, however, unembarrassed only grinned with a smirk written all over his face. Even Carly had to admit he was pretty cute at like 6 or whatever.

"Dude, dude, dude," said one monk to brother Aaron.

"It's brother Aaron," hissed the guy playing brother Aaron.

"Like, there's Viking ships," he said pointing. All of the monks picked themselves off of the beach. Brother Aaron picked up a young Erik by his arm pits and carried him off to the main land.

By the time they had made it the ships had gone missing. It was like they weren't even there. Blink and it was gone.

"God is watching over us today," said Brother Aaron.

*The video cut forward a little bit more in time. This time played out a scene of a different origin. *

"Brother Aaron," said a monk. "Look."

They had found a baby crying on the beach. They looked toward the water and saw a pair of brown eyes staring at them. She let out a small wave before diving into the ocean.

"You don't think the mermaids are protecting us do you?"

"If they are we take care of their sons."

*There is a flash forward to five different boys on the beach with the monks. All of them are staring out into the water. Another baby merman on the beach and a mermaid watching them back. They all waved as she dived away. *

"Bye!" called out a boy with red hair waving.

All of them turned and looked at Tanner who only waved at the screen. The lights turned back on and the woman stepped in front of the screen. They all blinked as they looked from Erik and Tanner and back at the screen. They were cute at like six or seven years old.

"Thus a brotherhood of monks is established that slowly spreads around the globe with the rise of the British Empire. Mermaids leaving their sons on beaches everywhere. Eventually, we grew from monks to people of all shapes and sizes pitching in and saving these mermen. Mermen stopped appearing on the beaches and taken into these homes. A chapter house of was founded in Australia in 1789," said the lady now using a Prezi to site all of her sources.

"These homes were initially poor as they were attempting to keep a secret. It wasn't until the foster system was founded, did they partner with them. The foster system had given them good homes."

She flipped to a picture of old orphanages and to a modern home for the time. Then to a portrait of someone.

"Project Merman started in 1910 when Orville Pattinson, a merman, decided to do some experiments on himself. He had discovered his merman heritage when he was pushed off of a dock and left there at 13 years old. He kept his research a secret until his father had found his writing. Orville and his father Samuel kept records of what they would do. Eventually, Orville had married and had a son named James. He had done experiments with his son from a young age. It wasn't until they were caught by other fellow mermen did they expand the experimentation."

The girl cleared her throat and continued to speak. She had pulled up older pictures from this period.

"When James was 13 he had a tail. They continued to find fellow mermen up and along the coast trying to help each other. They had learned the hard way that mermaids were not to be messed with. It wasn't until Orville's wife had died and he had become very sick did the foster system step in for James.

It was the original founders of Project Merman: William Stevenson, Orville, Elias Walter, Martin Finkleman, and Gordon Fisher decided that the foster system was the best thing. They didn't need one person finding out a secret and jumping to the conclusion that all of them were one as well. They continued to meet and do research about their findings. They carefully monitored the foster system to make sure the secret never came out. When James had moved to America, he had set up an American branch of the project."

She flickered to the screen with the picture of the American branch.

"It wasn't until 1958 did Project Merman expand beyond America and Australia. The first convention was held in 1986 with a moderate success. They continue to hold it every five years."

Claire stopped at a picture of a group of mermen hanging out on a beach. She pulled out a bunch of papers and started to hand them around the room. Then she started handing out some pens to keep.

"Now this wouldn't be a workshop without some work. So I want all of you to think about who is important to keeping your secret. You keep this paper but I want all of you to write down the most important people that know. People that you trust and look out for you. You all share a unique and special secret. You're a brotherhood and you look out for one another. Even if you do some of the stupidest stuff known to mankind."

Carly watched as everyone started writing around her. Dean, Tanner, Erik, and Ryan all started writing and she looked at Zac. He was still staring at the screen with the Prezi on it. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him- for all of them- as she watched that. No one could stay with their parents. If they had brothers or sisters, they wouldn't know about it. She couldn't help but pity Erik even no matter how much she hated him. He had to leave his foster family, no knowledge on his real parents, and all of his closest friends lived across the globe. No wonder Ondina is so important to him, she was the closest thing to having someone around that understood. Then Zac… He was extremely lucky to even known his mother was alive and found him.

Zac looked down as Carly took the paper away from him. He couldn't help but think that he could have been like Daniel or those boys on the screen. Zac grew up thinking that his parents were his parents. They had given him a good life. Then he knew Nerissa and how she was his actual mother that found him and loved him no matter what. None of these boys had that.

"Hey Zac," said Tanner. "Tomorrow we should totally do growing up merman. They show you all kinds of tricks and how to get around rain."

"Yea that'd be fun," he said with a genuine smile.

"I say we have enough information," said the voice. Her dark blue eyes slide over to the older woman. Both girls shared a look and the older woman turned away from the younger. She picked up a homemade brush and ignored the younger girl.

"Patience my dear one, we still have a bump in the road," said her elder. "There is still one more day until the full moon."

Another girl swam into the dimly lit cavern. They were miles from land and Mako Island. In the middle of the cavern, she surfaced and looked at the other two. A look of disgust on her face as she leaned against the shelf in the cavern. All three of them looked at one another and then at the cavern that they have been seeking shelter in. It was dimly light from the sun and they could make out their captive on land.

Slightly bruised but otherwise unhurt propped up sat David. He only watched as the three mermaids gathered. He had seen mermaids alright, more of them then he needed. The older one had kidnapped him and the other girls, about his age, had been feeding him raw fish.

"He's out of the way, we still need the others," said the young blond hair.

The other two didn't speak and David only watched helpless. Who were the others? Oh gosh, there were more mermaids? There was probably an oceans full of mermaids around the world. All of them were probably going to go after the land people.

"There's still three secret keepers," said the young girl with the dark blond hair. All of them turned and looked at him. David tried to back away but he couldn't go any farther due to the cavern wall. Not only that but he had his ankles and wrists tied. David didn't even know where he was.

The darker blond swam up to him as he tried to wiggle around. She had reached up and pulled off the seaweed gag he had on his mouth. He opened and closed his mouth as he licked his lips. They were going to kill him.

"We're not going to hurt you," said the younger blond girl. "We want information from you. You'll be back in land in two days."

Two days!? They were going to keep him like this for two days?! He didn't want any more fish.

"Who are you?" he asked but closed his eyes quickly, expecting the girl to slap him. Instead, she just shared a look with her friend.

"He's an idiot- a handsome idiot- but an idiot all the same," said the darker blond rolling her eyes. "Tell us about your friends and we will spare you from hurting you emotionally."

His friends? So they wanted Sirena and the others. There was no way that she was going to get that. The girl also said that she wouldn't physically hurt him. That did not mean they wouldn't do something else to him.

"I'm not telling you about Sir-" he nearly said. The blond made a face and only sighed in annoyance.

"We know who they are and how to get them. Just tell us where Cam is and the about the others," said the blond.

"Cam? He left the country to visit his family," he said quickly. The younger girls shared a look with their mentor. They had to believe him since they couldn't find him on land anywhere. The older woman snapped her fingers and the seaweed gag went on his mouth.

All of the girl stared a discussion of how they were going to carry their plans out. David strained to hear but they talked low and he could hardly understand them but he could make out some of their conversations.

"We still have those mermaids in our way," said the blond with disgust written on her face. "Ondina, Lyla, Nixie, and Mimmi-all of them have ties with the mermen."

Ties with mermen? When did Lyla and Nixie come back? What were they going to do to them? Oh gosh, David felt himself start to panic and struggle with his bonds. For being tied with seaweed and old rope, he was tied down pretty tight.

"Asia watch the boy," said the older woman. "We'll get the girl."

The darker blond looked dejected but nodded anyway. One of them needed to stay with the boy. The two blonds swam out as David watched them leave. The two had a mission to have all four, well now three, accomplices from meddling with their plans. They had swum from their hiding spot to underneath the café.

The woman and the girl swam up to the pier. They had watched the lights of the café go out and two people leave the premise. An older boy had dismissed the younger girl as she walked into the warm night.

"You want me to walk you home Carly?" said the boys voice.

"Nah, I'm good Joe. I'm going over Evie's for a girl's night."

The doors to the café had shut as the boy had a couple more final accounting to do. The older mermaid had watched them close down every night. The land people thought that this was a relatively safe area.

"Into the sea
Hold you close
to me slide 'neath
the waves down
into the caves"

Breathily sang the young girl. Carly looked around at the singing and looked over into the water. The older woman had summoned a large tentacle out of the water that reached for the confused and somewhat disorientated Carly. The younger mermaid had reached for the phone and texted Evie an excuse before swimming off with the tentacle and Carly.

"Thanks for walking us back," said Nixie and Lyla. They had Zac, Erik, Tanner, Dean, and Ryan all walk them back. The door swung open behind them and they stared as Ondina was shouting.

"Just shut up Weilan," she cried out. She turned and stared at them for a long moment. She saw Lyla and Nixie and threw her hands up in disgust. Both girls only gave Ondina a cold look. "There is no way I'm staying at the moon pool with these two. And there is no I'm staying here with her. I'm going to curl up on a bench somewhere."

She pushed passed all of them and headed off somewhere at nine o'clock at night. The girls tried to pass off looking confused.

"We'll tell you about our fight with her later," said Lyla dismissively. Dean kissed Nixie's cheek before going back into house. They were going to avoid Weilan all together and head back out to Mako.

Erik watched her leave before turning to catch up with Ondina.

"Ondina wait," he said as he matched her speed. He honestly had no clue where she might be heading. There weren't any benches in the direction that she was heading, he thought humorously.

"What Erik?" she snapped as he slowed down a little.

"If you need a place to stay, you can stay with me you know," he said offering a room up. "My friends all have a hotel room they're staying in."

Ondina looked back at the boys that were walking toward them. She didn't know he had any friends. Well, he had friends that lived in far off places, but not around here.

"Why not?"