Rikki And Zane Find Out

Rikki and Zane were still talking about their project when Rikki's phone rang. She pulled it out of her shorts pocket and looked at the caller ID which read Cleo.

''Hey Cleo, what's up?''

''Rikki, I've got some bad news to tell you,'' said Cleo. ''It's about Emma.''

''Is she ok?'' asked Rikki, concerned for her friend.

''No, she's not. Her grandmother died of cancer today at the hospital. Me and Lewis were with her at her house when her dad told her.''

''Oh my god, poor Emma! She must be devastated right now.''

''Yeah, she is. We left Emma with her family, but I could tell I'm feeling so sorry for her.''

''I understand. Thank you for letting me know about that, Cleo. I'll go see Emma tomorrow with Zane.''

''Ok bye.''

Rikki hung up her phone and turned to face Zane. She was in complete shock.

''What's wrong Rikki? You're pale like if you would have seen a ghost.'' said Zane.

''Emma's grandmother died of cancer today,'' answered Rikki weakly.

''Fuck, that really sucks! Emma was so close to her grandmother, she must be devastated right now.''

''Yeah. Cleo told me she and Lewis were there when Emma found out.''

''You know what Rikki. We'll go visit Emma tomorrow. She needs our support, we are her friends.''

''You're right.'' said Rikki.

The atmosphere was heavy in the Gilberts household. After all, Neil lost his mom, Lisa her mother-in-law and Emma and Elliot a beloved grandmother. Elliot was crying in his sister's arms and Neil Gilbert was comforting his wife.

''Dad, when is the funeral going to be?'' asked Emma.

''I don't know yet. I'll go with your aunts and uncles at the funeral home tomorrow to organize everything. If I remember well, your grandmother wanted to be exposed during two days and to be buried after.''

They went to bed late that night, but nobody was able to sleep. Emma cried her eyes out almost all night before she finally fell asleep. She woke up at 8 am while she heard her dad talking on the phone.

''Hello Harrison, it's Neil. Listen, I'm sorry, but I won't be able to come to work today. I just learned last night that my mother died of cancer. I would appreciate to take some time off from work for a while, just to clear my head. Thank you for understanding.''

Emma got out of her bed and went downstairs. Her dad was sitting at the kitchen table, eating his cereals.

''Hello Emma. Did you manage to sleep?'' asked Neil.

''Very little. I cried almost all night before falling asleep around 5:30 maybe.''

''Yeah, I didn't sleep well too. I just called Harrison a few minutes ago to tell him the news.''

''I think I'll tell Wilfred today. I feel pretty bad, because he just gave me a promotion last night. He made me his new supervisor at the JuiceNet.''

''Emma, that's great! I'm proud of you!'' he said, hugging his daughter.

''I don't really care about work right now, losing grandma really hurts, dad.''

''I know, Emma. Believe me, I know how you feel. I lost my mother, one of the most important people in my life. It won't be the same without her around.''

''True. We would always feel her absence on holidays.''

''I got to go, Emma. I'll meet your aunts and uncles at the funeral home. I'll see you later honey.''

''Bye, dad.''

Emma went upstairs to take a bath. While she was in the bath, she thought about was she would do that day. She decided that she would eat breakfast after her bath and go to the JuiceNet later, to inform Wilfred about her grandmother's death.

After she was done taking her bath, Emma dried herself and waited for her mermaid tail to disappear before putting on her wardrobe. Then, she walked to her room and dressed in simple clothes. She chose to wear jean shorts and a t-shirt.

Emma went downstairs to eat her breakfast. She poured some cereals in a bowl and sat at the table. After her breakfast, she put her bowl in the dishwasher. She took her keys and her phone and left the house to go to the JuiceNet after she locked the door.

When she came in the JuiceNet, she went straight to the counter where Wilfred was.

''Wilfred, may I talk to you privately?'' asked Emma.

''Sure, Emma. Come with me in the cool room.''

Emma followed Wilfred and closed the cool room door behind her.

''Is something wrong, Emma? You look really tired.'' said Wilfred.

''I didn't sleep very well last night. My grandmother died yesterday. My dad told me last night after I got home after work.'' answered Emma.

''I'm sorry, Emma. If you need some time off from work, there will be no problem.''

''Yes, I could use some time off.''

''No problem. Just call me when you will be ready to come back to work. There won't be anybody replacing you in your supervisor position, we'll wait for you to come back. Take the time you need, Emma. Let me know when the funeral will take place.''

''Alright, thanks Wilfred.''

Emma went back to her house, her spirit in the fog.

Rikki was walking the path leading to Zane's doorstep. She wanted to go see Emma with Zane to give her sympathies about her grandmother's death. Rikki rang the doorbell and waited. A few minutes later, Zane opened the door.

''Hey Rikki! It's good to see you!''

''I was wondering if you'd like to come with me to Emma's house.'' said Rikki.

''Yes of course.''

Zane took his keys with him and they were on their way.

Meanwhile, Emma was sitting on the couch, feeling like her world was collapsing. She didn't know if she would be able to cope and come to terms with her grandmother's death. She felt lost without her.

Lisa Gilbert and Elliot were in the kitchen eating breakfast. Like Emma, they didn't sleep well. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

''I'll get it.'' said Elliot.

He walked to the door and opened it. There was Rikki and Zane standing on the porch.

''Hi Rikki, Hi Zane,'' said Elliot.

''Hello Elliot. May we come in?'' asked Rikki.

''Sure.''

Elliot let them in and closed the door behind them.

''Cleo told me about your grandmother. Please accept our sympathies.'' said Rikki.

''Thanks, I appreciate it.''

They went to the kitchen to offer Lisa their sympathies and went to see Emma after that.

''Em, I'm really sorry about your grandmother, said Rikki, while her and Zane sat on the couch. But more importantly, I'm sorry we weren't here with you when you learned it last night.

''It's not your fault. You couldn't know, Rikki. It's just, I don't know how I'll deal with this.'' said Emma.

She buried her face in her hands and started to cry. Rikki took her in her arms, while Zane stroke Emma's shoulder in a comforting way.

''We'll be there to support you through this, Emma. You can count on us,'' said Zane.

''Thanks, Zane. I really appreciate it.'' said Emma.

''Anytime.''

Cleo was waiting for Lewis to arrive. She wanted to see Emma, she was really worried about her friend. The doorbell rang at this instant and Cleo went to open the door.

''Hi Cleo, said Lewis.

''Hi Lewis.''

She kissed him and they left Cleo's house, heading to the Gilberts household.

''I wonder if Rikki and Zane went to see Emma,'' said Cleo, as she was walking hand in hand with Lewis.

''Maybe not, it's only 9:15 am, said Lewis. It's still early.''

They arrived at Emma's house and Cleo rang the doorbell. A few minutes later, Lisa Gilbert opened the door.

''Hello you two! Please come in, Emma is in the living room.''

Cleo and Lewis came in the house and Lisa closed the door behind the two teenagers. She was glad that Emma could count on the support of such good friends.

The young couple went to the living room, where Zane and Rikki greeted them. Emma stood from the couch and hugged Cleo and Lewis, her eyes still red from crying.

''Thank you everybody for being here, I really appreciate your support,'' said Emma, while Lewis and Cleo sat on the couch.

''Emma, we're here for you. All of us will support you through this.'' said Lewis.

Around 10:30 am, Neil Gilbert came back from the funeral home. Everything was now organized for his mother's funeral.

''Mr Gilbert, please accept our deepest sympathies,'' said Rikki and Zane.

''Thanks. I really appreciate it, you know,'' said Neil.

''When will the funeral take place?'' asked Lisa Gilbert.

''Well, she will be exposed next Monday and Tuesday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm at the funeral home, and the funeral itself will be on Thursday afternoon at 1:00 pm. Everything is organized,'' answered Neil Gilbert.

''We would all be there and our parents too,'' said Zane.

''Wilfred told me he would be there for the funeral too,'' said Emma.

''Everybody who would like to come is welcome to do so, it'll be a pleasure for us to see people there to support us,'' said Neil Gilbert.

Cleo, Lewis, Rikki and Zane all nodded, understanding the situation. Emma would need their support during the period she would mourn her grandmother's death, and the four teens were ready to do it.