Chapter 8

Keisha and Dana looked like stunned mullets. Their mouths were gaping, open and shut, their eyes staring into the distance.

"Great, they're coping well," Rikki stated sarcastically. They turned to them at the sound of her voice.

"Mermaids?" Dana asked, still in shock. The girls nodded silently.

"Mermaids are not supposed to exist!" Keisha exclaimed. "How…?" she trailed off.

"That is a long story," Cleo said. "First off, we have to make sure you're not going to put us in danger by blabbing our secret to the world. You have to promise not to tell anyone."

"Trust me when I say that you will regret it. I will hunt you and find you and boil you alive…" Rikki said menacingly.

"Okay, settle down Rikki, I'm sure it's not going to come to that," Emma interrupted. "We can trust you right? You know that if anyone found out we'd become science experiments." Dana and Keisha nodded their understanding.

"You can trust us," Keisha said.

"Wait a minute , you just said 'we.'" Dana acknowledged. Emma froze.

"She, uh, meant to say 'they', we often use the word 'we' because if our friends are affected, we are too…" Lewis covered for Emma.

"Oh," Dana said.

"No, they deserve to know the truth," Emma said. Everyone gave her a look saying 'what are you doing?'

"I'm a mermaid too." She continued before her friends could stop her.

"What?" Dana said, laughing in disbelief. "You've got to be joking." Emma shook her head solemnly. "My cousin is a mermaid? My God, it feels like you are pulling my leg but…I saw…" she trailed off.

"Are there mermaids in your family?" Keisha asked, "Were you born like this?"

"No on both accounts," Cleo replied.

"So how then…?" Dana asked.

The three girls took turns in telling their tale about how they got their tails and then proceeded to talk about when they found out their powers.

"Could you show us?" Keisha asked.

"Yeah, give them a taster, girls," Ash said. "Your powers are wicked!"

Dana and Keisha watched spellbound as the mermaids demonstrated their powers.

"That is super cool." Keisha stated. Dana nodded her agreement.

"So many things make sense now!" Dana said, once the demo had finished. "Why you quit swimming, why you three always leave abruptly when water touches you,"

"Why you can't participate in water activities at school," Keisha added in. "Wow, it must be a pain!"

"Yes." Cleo said with a laugh.

"I wouldn't trade it for the world," Rikki said. "Swimming with dolphins, cool powers…" she trailed off going into her own world. "It's just amazing."

OoOoO

Dana and Keisha reasoned that since the mermaid was a part of their friends and had been for over a year, they shouldn't let it faze them. The rest of the sleepover went without another hitch. Before they went to sleep, Keisha raised a good point:

"Emma, while you're travelling the world, there will probably be lots of water right? What happens if you get wet?"

"I'll manage," Emma gave a half-smile in reply. "I'm sure I can hide somewhere – I've managed working at a café and Cleo has managed working at the Marine Park feeding dolphins for goodness' sake. I'll work something out."

"Do Auntie Lisa and Uncle Neil know?" Dana asked.

"No." Emma said. She looked at Rikki. "And they won't until the time is right. If they find out, well…I trust them,"

OoOoO

The following morning, Keisha asked if they could go swimming. The group agreed without too much hesitation; it was an extremely hot day. They journeyed to a deserted part of the beach – Lewis' secret fishing spot. Dana and Keisha were amazed when they saw their mermaid friends in their natural environment.

After their swim, all of them lay back on their towels on the sand, relaxing.

"One week left," Emma mused aloud. Ash put his hand on hers.

"I'll miss you, Em," he said quietly.

"I think we all will," Cleo said. "But let's not worry about the future, let's enjoy the present."

OoOoO

Emma pushed the hair out of her eyes as she sealed yet another box. The Gilbert's had some trust-worthy friends organised to rent their house while they were away for the year. Therefore, Emma and her family were putting their things into storage before the tenants moved in the day before they left. Emma sighed. Packing truly was a trial. She wiped sweat from her brow. Why did it have to be so hot? She heard a knock on the door to her bedroom. She looked up and a smile lit up her face. Ash was leaning against her door, arms folded, grinning at her.

"Ash!" she exclaimed. She welcomed him with a kiss. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to give you a hand, and spend time with you," he replied, embracing her.

"Thank you," she said softly.

For the afternoon, Ash stayed to help Emma pack up her room. To him it was worth the heat and menial labour; they were constantly talking and there was the odd stolen kiss.

OoOoO

The following day, Ash returned to help along with Rikki and Cleo. By that evening, the unnecessary furniture and personal items were moved into storage. It was two days until the Gilbert's were due to leave. Emma arranged an overnight camping trip with just Rikki and Cleo, over on Mako Island. The next day, the new tenants would move in and that evening, the Gilbert's would fly out of Australia. Their first destination was Hawaii.

OoOoO

"Hurry up, Lewis," Rikki called. Lewis was carrying three packs and sleeping bags, stumbling through the jungle. A raised tree root caused him to trip and fall flat on his face, the pack on his front somewhat breaking his fall. Cleo and Emma were already at the Moon Pool, having gone through the underwater entrance. Lewis had been commissioned to bring the gear by boat to the beach, where Rikki would meet him and help carry stuff. Unfortunately for Lewis, in true Rikki fashion, he had been left all the gear and was following behind the fast paced mermaid. Lewis sighed and got up again. He shook his head with a tired grin. He should have expected this.

OoOoO

"We've arrived!" Rikki called down into the moon pool cavern, slipping down somewhat gracefully. "Well, at least I've arrived," she smirked walking through the tunnel.

"Where's Lewis?" Emma asked. "And where is your share of the gear?"

"Rikki! You didn't!" Cleo exclaimed. Rikki just shrugged. Cleo and Emma rushed out of the moon pool to find Lewis. They found him carked out on the edge of the jungle, buried by gear.

"Just…catching my breath," he wheezed.

"We're sorry," Emma said. "We should've helped instead," Emma picked up a few packs and returned to the moon pool. Cleo brushed the lose hair out of her boyfriend's eyes.

"You need a haircut," she grinned. Lewis groaned.

"For you," He replied.

"Thank you," Cleo replied cheekily. He leant up and gave her a chaste kiss. "Seriously though," she continued, "Thank you for doing this,"

"You're very welcome," Lewis replied sitting up. He gave her another kiss before standing up shakily. Cleo grabbed the remaining gear, and Lewis took a sleeping bag. The duo then made their way down to where the girls would 'camp' that evening. Soon, across the soft sand, three bed rolls and sleeping bags were laid down. To make up for her laziness displayed in her treatment of Lewis, Rikki roasted a couple of fish and cooked dinner without even lighting a fire.

"Forgive me?" Rikki asked Lewis sheepishly. "You know you love me," She added batting her eyelashes. Lewis rolled his eyes in response.

"On one condition," he began, "You promise never to fry, soak or destroy another one of my sim cards, USB sticks or other technological devices again."

"I think I can live without forgiveness," Rikki said with a smirk. Emma laughed at both Lewis' and Cleo's appalled expressions. She would truly miss this banter.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please suggest future storylines in reviews or PMs I take all into consideration. Thanks so much for reading! I love you all.

Thanks especially to those who have reviewed this story - it means a lot.

Thanks to ObsessedwReading, chinaluv and a Guest. Love you all and I hope you continue to like this story.