Chapter 10

Once she got back from her swim, Emma had her dinner and text Ash. They had not been going out for too long yet they missed each other tremendously.

OoOoO

'Mako, now' Rikki text Cleo.

"Hey, what's so urgent?" Cleo asked once she surfaced. Rikki was pacing on the sand by the moon pool.

"I don't know what to do," Rikki said to herself. Cleo pulled herself onto the step in the moon pool. "What happened?"

Rikki sighed as she sat down. A small smile crept across her face.

"Zane stole my idea," she said.

OoOoO

The Gilberts parked their campervan in a McDonald's car park. Emma was excited to be able to read her friends' and boyfriend's messages. She never realised how much time she spent with Cleo and Rikki before she left. They would honestly swim together at least once a day and would spend hours at each other's houses. They were inseparable. Although they had been apart before, after three weeks, she was beginning to miss them greatly.

First she opened her emails. She found a great number. She sighed, it would take her a long time to get through all of these. 'Don't even get me started on Facebook,' she mused to herself. She spent a long time reading through the emails of the last week and a half since she had last been at a Wi-Fi hotspot. She smiled and laughed as she read them all – especially Rikki's; that girl had a sense of humour. She re-read Ash's a few times. Although they were just updates on what he was doing, she found herself absorbed by his words, imagining them in his voice. She would have to Skype him soon. The most recent email was sent from Cleo's account but as soon as she started reading, she could tell that Rikki and Cleo had written it together.

"Hey Em! Emmy, Emma, Ice Girl,"

"Rikki," Emma thought, shaking her head.

"How's it going in Europe? Been able to swim much lately? How did you cope with the full moon? For one of the first times, we didn't get moonstruck! Woot, woot! [That addition was Rikki by the way – Cleo] Unfortunately, it didn't go smoothly :-/ The moon decided to send water from Mako to attack us, last night. Nice of it, wasn't it? Don't worry, we're all good. We'll just have to be more careful on full moons and we'll have to figure out why. (Cleo is freaked out about it- Rikki)

[It broke my mirror! ]

(I was the one who was taken to Mako – Rikki)

We used our powers on it and then the moon set so it was all good. So don't worry – just another day in the life of a mermaid, hey? Oh by the way, you should probably delete this once you've read it. Don't want anyone using it as evidence, right?

We haven't told about this most exciting part! I am now a café co-owner. [Zane surprised Rikki the day of opening, talk about last minute – Cleo] The Juicenet has been changed into Rikki's Café. He actually named it after her. Talk about whipped. (Shut up, Cleo – Rikki)

Anyway, we've made friends with a new girl called Bella. She is a singer at the café now. And she is like us in more ways than one, if you catch our drift.

'What did they mean by that?' Emma asked herself. Maybe they just got along really well.

'Anyway, this is us signing off, enjoy your travels, and whenever you are online just text or Facebook us and we can Skype.

Lots of love from your besties,

Cleo and Rikki.'

She began to type her reply.

"Hey guys, nice to know that you're okay. That's a scary development – aren't we supposed to control the water? Keep me posted.

For the moon here I just made sure that I was inside. I told my parents I was tired and pretty much just went to bed early – so uneventful on that front. I miss swimming every day, and I miss swimming with you. Lakes just aren't the same. Other than that, the sights here are incredible. Amazing scenery. We will be on our way to Italy tomorrow- I can't wait to see the Coliseum.

A café Rikki! Are you going to be able to balance studies okay? It's awesome that you are making new friends, maybe we'll become friends when I come home.

Tell me everything that happens at home!

Lots of love,

Emma"

Emma sat back satisfied with her reply. She hit the send button and then proceeded to more their email to a secure place – for her eyes only. She had got Lewis to set it up for her before she left. She didn't want to have to continually delete the emails.

OoOoO

The following day, Emma was at an internet café long enough to be able to Skype Ash.

"Hey Ash," Emma smiled as his picture came onto the screen of her ipad.

"Hey babe, long time no see," he grinned. "How is travelling going?"

"Great- the sights are awesome. It is so strange though seeing unfamiliar places constantly though."

"I bet,"

"It is also strange having very little face to face contact other than parents and Elliot,"

"Well, I'm only across the internet," he smiled. He saw Emma turn away from the camera for a moment, seeing her nod.

"My parents are ditching me- going for a walk," she said with a laugh. "Anyway, have you decided what you are doing this year?"

"I've applied with Racing Queensland to do my Certificate in Racing – to be a Trackrider - I've always wanted to properly train horses – and I've always loved racing. This will help me get into proper training later on."

"It sounds ideal," Emma said.

"Yeah, I think I'll get a response within the next week or so. I did my Stablehand course with them a few years ago."

"Oh yeah,"

"Will you be staying on the Gold Coast?"

"Who knows, I'll have to see where I can train. Maybe move to Brisbane? I don't know,"

"Are you excited?"

"What do you think?" Ash grinned.

A/N: Hey everyone :D I hope you enjoyed that chapter. Sorry it takes me so long to update - I have University work and four stories to go between! PLEASE REVIEW! THANKS SO MUCH FOR REVIEWING, FAVOURITING AND FOLLOWING, IT MEANS A LOT.

Thanks especially to: My sister, Sam: SisterSam a.k.a Bubblygumgum, to Mermaids Forever, Raven Iris, ObsessedwReading, chinaluv and HybridsRose.

See ya next time!