Chapter 9

The day was upon them. The day of excitement and dread had come about. It was leaving day. Emma embraced Lewis first with a sad smile before turning to Cleo. They shared a tight hug. Cleo, when she pulled away, rubbed her sleeve across her watery eyes.

"We'll miss you, Em," Cleo began. "Have a great time," she continued, wishing her the best. Emma hugged her again. Rikki was fidgeting, looking at her hands.

"Try not to miss us too much," she said faltering. She bit her lip.

"Come here," Emma said, opening her arms. The two friends embraced; Emma was the first to let go. She then turned to Ash, kissing him gently and wrapping her arms around his neck. As they pulled away, Ash reached up and stroked her cheek. She covered his hand with her own.

"I'm going to miss you, baby," he said quietly.

"I'll miss you too," she replied.

"Thank God for the internet," he gave a half-smile. "I'll contact you every day." He promised. She nodded. He leaned in and they kissed again.

After one last embrace, she hugged Cleo and Rikki again before picking up her luggage and following her parents and brother through the gate to the departure lounge.

"Bye!" her friends chorused, "We'll miss you!"

As Emma went through the gate, she had mixed emotions, a heavy and excited heart. She would see them again soon. Contact would be constant and the trip wasn't forever.

OoOoO

The Gilbert's first destination was Hawaii. After a sun-filled adventure with, amazingly, no water issues, they flew to the United Kingdom. From there, they would travel throughout Europe. The family had decided to buy a campervan and travel across the continent. Once their trip was complete, they would ship it back and sell it in Australia. Fortunately for Emma, due to it being winter time, they would not be swimming at too many beaches. Unfortunately, the enclosed space would make it difficult to get away from the family if she happened to get in contact with water. She was excited to see the world.

OoOoO

One week following Emma's departure…

Cleo and Rikki messaged Emma constantly. Emma would check her messages at camping sites that had wifi or when they were parked outside a McDonalds or at a café. When she didn't have internet, she would text. It was not as bad as Rikki thought it would be, of course there seemed to be a gap in their lives, but it did not feel like the end of the world as Rikki had expected.

OoOoO

"Wanna walk to the end of the beach?" Cleo asked. Rikki nodded and they both got up from their towels.

Cleo and Rikki walked down the beach. It was a beautiful summer's day. There was that jerk again, with his mates. Three guys were in the waves, surfing. They were beckoning to a girl on the shore. Cleo and Rikki had never seen her round before but they could see she was not interested in the least.

"Come over 'ere!" the guy called to the girl. "Hey babe, come over 'ere,"

When she did not make any move of going closer, he yelled out, "Scared of the water are ya? Aw, we'll look after you. What's wrong with ya?" he called again, "Snob!"

Rikki and Cleo looked at each other. This guy needed to be taught a lesson. Fortunately for them, he was in the water this time.

Rikki grinned as she stretched out her hand causing the water to bubble around the guy. Cleo flipped him off his surfboard by the twist of her hand, to his humiliation.

"Don't you love summer holidays?" Rikki said with a smile. The friends did not notice the look that girl gave them as they walked past.

Soon, they returned to their towels and lay there sunbathing and chatting for a while. Rikki to apply more sunscreen, before returning to her towel.

"Gorgeous, isn't it?" Cleo said, when Rikki had lain down again.

"Not for much longer," Rikki replied.

"Hey, hey, hey," Cleo retorted, "You relax, school is at least two weeks away,"

"It's not that," Rikki replied sadly, looking at her hands.

"Emma?" Cleo asked. She was spot on. Rikki looked at her. "You should be happy for her, not everyone gets to see the world with their parents,"

"I know, I know," Rikki replied. "But why'd she have to leave? It's our last year of school, who's going to hassle us into doing our homework now?"

"I miss her too," Cleo replied. Rikki wondered how Cleo had got to be so good at interpreting her emotions. Rikki's phone beeped. She retrieved her phone.

"Where is she now? Paris?" Cleo asked as she put on her sunglasses.

"No it's Zane, I've hardly heard from him in three weeks and suddenly he's got a surprise for me,"

"A make-up present, hey?"

"Lucky me," Rikki said sarcastically.

"Oh, I should get back to Lewis, he'll be wondering where I've got to," Cleo said. She and Rikki began picking up their stuff. They walked together away from the beach.

"Want to meet up for a swim later?" Rikki asked.

"Definitely. Maybe once Zane has shown you his surprise?"

"I'll text you," Rikki smiled. "See ya,"

The two friends parted ways.

OoOoO

The Gilberts had parked their campervan near a lake. It was stunningly beautiful. Emma was aching for a swim. It had been a couple of weeks. Emma did not feel the cold as often as others due to her power being ice and snow.

"Hey mum, could I go for a walk down by the lake?" Her mother was preparing dinner.

"Will you be okay?"

"I'll be fine, its not very far away,"

"Okay – don't be long now though, dinner will be ready soon," Emma smiled her thanks. She grabbed a towel discretely and walked down the track to the lake shore. A stroke of luck meant that the lake was not frozen over. After looking around to find no one about, she placed her phone and towel by a rock and quietly plunged into the icy waters. It felt good to be able to swim again.

A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry it has been so long since the last update! As I've said on my other story updates, university life is hectic! Because I'm going on easter break soon, here is an update! I hope you enjoy it and it was worth the wait. Here were are finally arriving at Season 3 of H2O. I will follow them and Emma through the season for a bit. I hope you enjoy my interpretations.

Thanks so so much to reviewers! You are the reason this story is still going.

Thanks to ObessessedwReading, Guest, Acgisme, HybridsRose, and Mermaids Forever for reviewing the last chapter. They mean a lot!

LOVE YOU ALL! SEE Y'ALL NEXT TIME!