While Emma and Byron were out swimming, and Cleo and Lewis packing, Rikki was hard at work at the Juicenet café. After "Rikki's" had gone under, Wilfred had come back and made her and Zane an offer they couldn't afford to refuse. As a result, he bought back the space and other amenities in the café, and paid off any remaining debt the two teens had gotten themselves into. By the end of it, they were out of debt, but didn't have a penny to their names in profit.
While Zane wasn't suffering from the loss, Rikki wasn't as fortunate. As soon as Wilfred put up the "Help Wanted" sign, she was the first to meet with him for an interview. If she wanted to be sure she would be able to attend university with Emma and Cleo, she had a lot of money to make before the first university payment was due. And because she only had a few more days of working before it was reduced to weekends only, she was literally in the café for as many hours as Wilfred would allow her.
"Rikki."
Rikki looked up from clearing a table to see Zane walk toward her. She still wasn't really speaking to him, even after over 2 months of them being broken up. From the look on his face at seeing the coldness in her eyes, he was still deeply affected by how things ended between them. More so, he was even more affected by all of the work she'd been doing the entire summer to secure her finances.
"What do you want, Zane? I didn't want your pity money earlier this week and I certainly don't want it now, so unless you plan on purchasing a juice, you're wasting my time." She began walking away, but his body blocked hers.
"Is this what it's going to continue to be like? We can't even speak properly to one another?" He leaned closer to her, causing her to bend slightly backwards to keep some distance between them. "How many times do I have to apologize before I can get you to hear me?"
Rikki heard the desperation in his voice, and even the sincerity. Thinking back on everything that happened in the last year, she knew that a lot of his actions had less to do with being sincerely inconsiderate and more to do with the stress of dealing with their business going bankrupt and his father's added pressure of refusing to offer any kind of paternal advice. But even knowing all of this, she still couldn't get over him not being there for her when she needed him most. It was that kind of betrayal that kept her and her father so closed off from everyone else.
She sighed and moved around the other side of the table away from him. "You still don't get it, Zane. I won't 'hear you', as you call it, until you stop apologizing for what you want instead of for what you did. If you don't understand that, we won't ever have much else to say to one another."
She walked away, leaving Zane at the deserted table watching her leave.
/-/-/-/
The days seemed to fly by for Rikki, Emma and Cleo. Aside from making trips to Mako and soaking up the rest of their vacations, they were hard at work—Rikki and Cleo especially— getting everything together before they were set to leave. And now that tomorrow was the big day, things were starting to hit them.
"I can't believe we leave tomorrow for Melbourne." Cleo said to herself as she took a bite of her food. It was dinner time; the last dinner she would have with her family before university. Lewis was at her side, his hand on her leg, while her father, mother, Kim and Sam sat around her. Having all of her family there with her before she was to take that big step in her life really touched her.
"You can't believe it? I for one am in shock." Mr. Sertori looked at her, and the tightness of his face told everyone there that he was holding back his emotions. "It was only just yesterday that I was taking you to your first day of preschool…"
Sam moved to put her hand over his, but instantly pulled it back to her lap when he instead reached out for Bev's hand.
"I can't believe it either, sweetheart." Bev spoke as she squeezed Don's hand briefly before letting go. "Your father and I want you to know how proud we are of you."
Cleo smiled and looked at the both of them. "Thanks mum and dad."
Bev looked from Cleo to Lewis and repeated the sentiments, which he graciously accepted before clearing his throat and standing.
"Thank you all so much for dinner, but I'd better be going now." He pushed his chair out and picked his plate up to put into the sink.
"It's about time." Kim said, smirking.
"Kim!" Mr. Sertori and Bev scolded, earning them an innocent look from the blond.
"Do you have to leave now, Lewis? I was about to serve dessert." Sam finally spoke, a warm smile on her face.
"Yeah, I really should. I told my parents I would be home in a little while to spend time with them before we all leave tomorrow. Actually, they asked if Cleo would like to come with me."
Cleo looked from Lewis to her parents. "I'd love to. Would that be alright?"
"I have no problem with it. Do you, Bev?" Mr. Sertori looked to his former wife.
"That sounds fine, Cleo. But be sure to come home a little early tonight. Wouldn't want you tired tomorrow. Have a good time. And Lewis, give my best to your family."
"Thanks mom and dad." Cleo thanked and began clearing off her dishes from the table. Though they were rarely there, Cleo loved visiting Lewis's house and his family. And considering tonight was their last night before they took such a big step in their lives, Cleo thought it appropriate to visit them.
/-/-/-/-/
"Do you want me to put this in the refrigerator with the rest of the leftovers, mum?" Emma asked as she and Elliot cleared the remnants of dinner from the table. It was the last night before Emma met with the rest of the girls at Melbourne and- like Cleo- she too had an intimate dinner with her family.
"Yes Emma, you can put that with the rest of the things. And Elliot, put those dishes in the sink for now. You can wash them after we've had dessert." Emma's mother instructed as she bustled around the kitchen, setting up the dessert tray. Emma's father had brought home Emma's favorite dessert especially for the occasion and they were all to eat in the family room while watching a movie.
Elliot complied, but paused as he heard the doorbell. Unsure of whether to answer it, he gave a questioning look to Emma. Emma walked over and motioned for him to complete his task and she went to the door to answer it. Aside from wanting to be the responsible one, she was also curious of who would be at the door so late in the evening. Her parents rarely had visitors and Elliot's friends had been over the house earlier in the afternoon. And unless there was a crisis pertaining to the moon pool or her secret, there was no reason for Rikki, Cleo or Lewis to be over either.
The doorbell rang again, and Emma shook the thoughts out of her head before cautiously opening the door a few inches. Her expression turned to one of extreme surprise and suspicion when she saw Zane standing on the opposite side. Hands in his pockets and his face downcast, Emma knew that this visit was far from a social call.
"What are you doing here, Zane?" She asked, moving so that her body blocked the gap between the open door and the wall. He looked up long enough to make eye contact with her, and the look he gave was one that almost made Emma forget who she was actually looking at.
"I need to speak to you." His voice was low, and his head still downcast. Emma had no idea what to think, and was about to tell him to leave when he uttered the one word she knew he never used unless he was truly serious.
"Please."
He cast his eyes upward again, and all Emma could do was nod and move aside for him to enter. Once he was inside, Elliot- who had been watching attentively from the kitchen- resumed his work while their parents greeted Zane from the living room.
"It's good to see you, Zane. How have you been? Gotten into any new business ventures?" Mr. Gilbert asked as he shook Zane's hand. Zane seemed to snap himself out of his mood long enough to give the man an answer and hug Mrs. Gilbert before resorting back to his previous behavior. Emma watched the exchange briefly while walking toward the three of them and placing her hand on Zane's arm.
"Is it alright if I excuse myself for a few minutes? Zane offered to help me with a last minute university class choice."
"Alright, that's fine. Zane, we were just about to watch a movie. Just a small family get together before Emma leaves for Melbourne tomorrow. Would you like to join us?" Mr. Gilbert offered, earning an enthusiastic smile from his wife.
"Oh yes, Zane. You are more than welcome to join us. You and Emma have basically grown up together. We consider you part of our family as well."
Zane looked up at them and gave a smile that Emma could see did not reach his eyes.
"I'm flattered, but I don't think I'll be able to stay very long. Thank you for the offer." He responded politely, and Emma's parents gave him reassuring smiles before leaving him and Emma alone in the doorway. With one slight movement of Emma's hand on his arm, the two moved to walk upstairs to her room.
That's all for this chapter. Drop me a review to let me know what you think!
