H2O: A Summer's Tail
By Jeune Ecrivain
Chapter 3
A/N: So sorry for taking so long! I got distracted by the upgrade to some of my favorite software. It has a bit more of a learning curve than I expected. I'm really going to try to update more regularly now, so please stay tuned! I hope you enjoy this installment! The next one should be longer.

"I know what you want, Ronnie, but I can't. People might see."

The dolphin in question responded only with another series of squeaks and clicks, which Cleo was finding harder and harder to resist. This was one of those times she could swear there was a genuine language behind the cetacean vocal repertoire, complete with grammar and syntax. The sentience with which those beady yet innocent eyes looked up at her as he reiterated his invitation like an ever-hopeful child only served to make it all the more endearing.

Still, even though she was technically on break, she could be easily spotted by tourists passing by on their way to other attractions. It was too risky. "I was here bright and early this morning just to go swimming with you," she reminded her aquatic partner with an apologetic smile. "That's just going to have to be enough for a while."

"I think you've spoiled him," came a voice from behind.

Cleo turned to find Rikki seated lazily on the second tier of the otherwise deserted bleachers. "You try working with a friendly dolphin every day. I'll bet it wouldn't be long before even you gave in at least once." As had recently become her habit, she picked up a beach ball from the ground near the pool and sent it sailing over the pool, chuckling as Ronnie sprung out from beneath the gentle waves at precisely the right moment to use his bottlenose as a built-in tennis racket.

Stepping half-backwards, she caught the rebounding ball on the way up to join her human friend and tossed it again just as her butt met the bench. "Even people who can't grow tails like swimming with the dolphins. How could anyone expect us mermaids to be any better at saying no?"

Rikki ventured a glance Ronnie playing catch in a way that vaguely reminded her of an American movie about a basketball-playing dog. "I suppose it'd be a shame to waste an excuse like that," she replied with a small smile.

"I've been trying to swim more with him while I still can," admitted a wistful Cleo. "In a few short months, we'll be off to university, and it'll all be over." A soft sigh escaped her lips as she caught the ball and tossed it for the umpteenth time. "Even if I come home for holiday, I won't have my job anymore, and it'll be much harder without employee clearance."

"You have to sneak around because you're literally half-fish anyway. What's the difference?"

"Half-cetacean, actually."

"Huh?"

"Fish have vertical tails and swim by moving it from side to side. We have horizontal tails and swim by undulating our spines up and down, like whales and dolphins. Also, fish have gills and can actually breathe underwater instead of just holding their breath for a really long time. Technically, the only thing fishy about us is the fact that we have scales."

The response was a smug grin followed by a nod. "Yep. You've definitely been dating Lewis for too long. He's officially turned you into a nerd. I guess you're both whipped now."

Cleo elbowed Rikki in the side. "Shut up."

The blonde only chuckled in reply. "You don't even mind that he's infected you with his nerdiness, do you?"

The brunette responded with a roll of her eyes. "He didn't infect me with anything! Someone had to fill in for him while he was away in the States, so I just kind of slid into it, and once I did, I found out I liked it."

"Please. You started down that slippery slope before he ever left and it's only gotten more obvious now that he's back. Have you even noticed that you seem to wear those glasses of yours more often when he's around?"

Cleo's cheeks flushed, but she was otherwise unfazed. "Of course I have! That has nothing to do with me being nerdy. That's just me having a little fun."

Rikki looked genuinely confused. "Fun? So it's not a subconscious thing?"

"Nope. Apparently, my glasses really turn him on, so I just like to tease him sometimes."

The blonde gave her a proud smirk. "Alright, I can get behind that. But you're still a nerd."

"Fair enough."

A pause followed during which the only sounds were the rhythmic bip and bop of the ball going back and forth between Cleo and Ronnie. Finally, Rikki piped up. "What time do we need to be at the airport next Thursday to meet Emma again?"

"Her flight comes in at 2:40," answered Cleo. "It'll be so nice to have her back and have all of us together again. I'm so glad we worked it out so we can all go to the same university too. If we hadn't, the timing couldn't have been worse!
We'd all be reunited only for a few months before we'd probably end up scattered across the country."

"Yeah, that would've sucked. But on the other hand, that probably wouldn't have happened if Emma hadn't gone globetrotting to begin with."

"True." The observation sparked a memory of that pivotal conversation with Lewis. He had not been very keen on Emma's extended trip in the first place, concerned about there being no one else traveling along with her who knew her secret and could thus help prevent any accidental exposure. Naturally, the entire group agreed with the essence if not the intensity of his misgivings, but there was simply no feasible way out of it. Emma had promised repeatedly to be very careful and had done her best to appear more confident than she was. Nevertheless, crossed fingers and baited breath had accompanied the hugs and tears at her departure. They could all see the unspoken apprehension that lingered in each other's eyes. Their only consolation was that those most likely to discover the secret were her loving family, who would undoubtedly protect her despite their shock if they did find out.

Still, complete relief would not come until Emma was safely back in town, and their anxiety would only be exacerbated by a few close calls of which she kept her friends informed via telephone. When Ash had called to report on Emma's behalf that an abrupt rainstorm had nearly revealed all to the other Gilberts, Lewis had finally broached the question that had been bugging him for quite a while: wouldn't scattering across the country (and potentially the world) to different universities present most of the same dangers? That very evening, an impromptu conference call had carried long into the night, and the end result was the agreement that they needed to stay together as much as possible. In a way, it was not a hard decision. A certain part of each one of them welcomed a valid excuse to cater their college plans towards avoiding what would have undoubtedly been a bittersweet parting of ways.

Cleo was brought out of her reminisces by the ring of her cell phone. She drew it from the pocket obscured by the sash of her pirate-wench costume and found a text message waiting for her. "It's from Bella," she told Rikki. "She wants us to meet her at the café ASAP."

~~~~~~~CLEWISZIKKIEMMASHWILLA~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lewis met Cleo and Rikki on their way to the café, having received his own text message from Bella. Greeting his girlfriend with a customary kiss, he reported that he knew no more than they did about the motive for Bella's summons. The possibility that they would be meeting the new owner provoked equal measures of enthusiasm and nervousness. The latter emotion faded quickly, however, when they stepped through the open door to find not Zane but Ash leaning against the counter beaming at them.

"Ash!" Cleo cried, rushing up to give him a hug, barely noticing Bella seated on a stool next to him. "Welcome back! We were wondering when you'd show up, considering Emma's due back soon!"

Ash accepted a hug from Rikki and a warm handshake from Lewis. "Thanks! It's great to be back, and I actually come bearing news!"

"All good, I hope," said Lewis.

"Well,..." Ash lifted the hinged barrier built into the counter and stepped behind it..."...I have good news, I have bad news, and I have better news."

"Do we have a choice as to the order?" asked Rikki.

"Not really."

"You suck."

"I think you'll get over it."

Cleo turned to Bella. "What's going on?"

"I'll be the one making the announcements!" Ash interjected before she could respond. "First off: the good news. You are looking at the proud new owner of Rikki's Café!"

Rikki's jaw dropped. "What? How?"

"I basically used the final exam in one of my business classes as a proposal to get a loan from the bank."

Lewis looked impressed. "Are you serious? They actually gave you the money?"

"Yep. I made Zane an offer last week."

"Wow!" marveled Cleo. "That's awesome! We were worried some tycoon would snatch the place up and turn it into a cheap malt shop or something."

"Not on my watch," the male brunette declared. "Anyway, on to the bad news.

"Can't we have a moment to enjoy the good news before you ruin it?" Rikki whined.

"No."

"I'll say it again. You suck."

"You'll thank me," he smirked before giving a fake sigh of dejection. "As I was saying, the bad news is that Emma won't be coming home when she originally said."

The fiery blonde glared. "That's just unacceptable."

"Yeah, Ash! What the hell?" Cleo agreed. "We've been looking forward to next Thursday for ages!"

Lewis crossed his arms, sharing the girls' disappointment. "What happened?" he asked simply.

Ash resisted the urge to smile as he looked over their shoulders to see Emma emerging from her hiding place behind one of the booths near the entrance. "Well, that actually brings me to the better news. You see, the reason she's not coming home next Thursday is because..."

"I'm already here!"

All three newcomers turned to find Emma leaning against the front door with a warm smile on her face.

"EMMA!"

Despite the instant grin on his face, Lewis stumbled and instantly regretted having stood so close to the now-ecstatic girls, who raced like a cannonball over to their long-lost companion.

For her part, Emma eagerly let herself be engulfed by her friends' embrace. "Oh, my God! I missed you both so much! I'm never going away for that long again!"

"Damn right, you're not!" agreed Cleo. "We missed you too much to do it again!"

Rikki withdrew just long enough to glare at her returned comrade. "If you ever so much as try to leave on a trip that long again, I swear I will hunt you down and drag you all the way back with my bare hands!" Her stern pretense crumbled even as she finished, and she renewed the embrace.

The only brunette of the trio finally managed to peek out of the three-way hug to find her boyfriend massaging his eardrum with his knuckle. "Lewis, get in here!"

"Yeah, just give me a sec for my ears to stop bleeding."