Chapter 3

A/N: Sorry about the long time span in between updates. School has been keeping me super busy. No one said if they cared if I left Cleo and Lewis out of the story, so they probably won't make a huge appearance if any at all. Thanks to everyone who reviewed!

Rikki POV

I set my alarm for 8:50 a.m. even though it was likely I wouldn't need it. I laid in bed awake all night tossing and turning. My thoughts rarely wandered from Zane, and when it did, it wasn't for long. I kept thinking of what might happen with us. I must of thought of at least 100 possibilities. The only thing to shake me out of my thoughts was the bright light shining through my windows.

"God," I mumbled to myself, "I haven't even dozed off, and the sun is rising."

I decided to go ahead and take my bath because it was useless to just lie there doing nothing except thinking like I had for the past 8 hours. I spent a while in the nice, warm water thinking to myself some more. After I got dressed, I discovered it was only 7:30, so I made myself some breakfast of bacon and eggs. I took a swim to hopefully clear my mind. The hour long swim in the reefs did let me see the situation from a rational point of view. I realized that for now all I could do was keep the café running and wait. I headed towards the secret beach near the café to dry off before heading to work.

When I got to the café, I headed straight to the office. I sat down in the chair and booted up the computer. I was presented with the option of the user Zane or Rikki. I was surprised that Zane hadn't deleted my account considering we broke it off almost a year ago and my account has access to all his bank accounts and café books. I wasn't complaining though because it worked out well for me. Somehow sitting in this chair felt right, I hadn't realized how much I missed this place. I opened the right drawer expecting to find the checkbook, but I only found a few pictures in frames. I assumed he threw all of the pictures of us away or at least took them home, but I guess after finding those notes, I shouldn't have been the least bit surprised. I must have sat there for 15 minutes staring at them and thinking about how happy we looked.

I jumped when I heard Bella yell, "Rikki! Are you here?" When I jerked, I dropped the picture I was holding, and to my dismay the frame fell apart and the glass shattered into a million little pieces.

"Yeah Bella, I'm in here! I'll be out in a minute!" I went to pick up the pieces most importantly, the picture. I discovered that there was not just one picture but three. It didn't take me long to figure out why they were hidden. In both of them I was a mermaid. The one was just me. The other was Zane and I kissing in the moon pool. I threw them in the drawer then shoved it closed.

"Hey!" I said walking out of the office.

"Hi. How are you holding up?"

"I've been better," I replied, "I didn't sleep at all last night."

"Awww. That sucks! If you want to sleep on the couch for a while, it's okay with me."

"Nah, I am way passed tired. Sleep is hopeless right now. Besides, I've got my coffee. Do you want any?"

"No, I'm good. I had some before I left this morning. Thanks anyway!" she responded.

"We need to start putting chairs around the tables and clean the counters," I stated. The first employees started to arrive for their shifts. The day went by pretty slowly with nothing happening. Harrison stopped by around dinnertime to see how I was doing and to inform me that he sent the letters out. He also told me that it could be a while before it got there because of where they were going.

Zane POV

I got up and looked in the mirror only to discover I was right. I appeared to have a hangover, but truthfully, all I did last night was sit by myself, no alcohol included. I attempted not to think about Rikki, but it didn't work out very well. I got in the shower, and instead of turning it to warm like I usually do, I turned it to cold in hopes that it would wake me up a bit. I had a few interviews, so I put on dress pants, a button up shirt, and my favorite tie- the one that Rikki gave me. I mentally scolded myself for thinking about her again. Over the day I got turned down again and again for lack of experience and referrals. I finally decided to give it a break for the day and go get some dinner. It was odd going to dinner by myself. I usually go with Nate or someone, but this time I was all alone. As I was walking out of the restaurant, I heard someone say, "Zane, is that you?" Nothing could have prepared me for who I saw.

A/N: So what did you think? Sorry it was so short. I am having a tad bit of writer's block. Please review and read my other story, Untitled.