Hey! First off, I'd like to say, I'm so, so, so, so sorry that it's taken a month for me to update this! Please, please, please forgive me & I hope you guys haven't given up faith in this story.
I've been on holiday (where I met Angus McLaren who plays Lewis may I add!) and then had major writers block for this story and inspiration for my others. Anyway, no amount of writers block would ever make me stop a story halfway, in-between or anywhere else other than the end.
Anyway, thank you so, so much for giving me over 100 reviews! 106 to be precise! Thank you so much guys! I'm glad you're liking this story so far! Keep the reviews up and I promise I'll keep the writing and updates up too, just with a much, much shorter wait though!
Onto the chapter, this story you'll find out who's got the unlikely connection with Dr Denman, the person who'll make Rikki's life worse. You'll also be updated with the Bella storyline too.
Enjoy the chapter and please review! I love hearing what you guys think of my stories.
Have a good day xxooxx
Chapter 21 – Red (By Daniel Merriweather)
Rikki's POV
-1 week after Bella was last seen-
I arrived at the café which Harrison & Dr Denman had decided to privately book for the venue of their engagement party.
I was wearing my blue dress that I wore to Don & Sam's wedding, with my blonde curls down.
Zane & I were going to set up a bit earlier and make sure things were ready. I'm not sure why we bothered, but we did, and the café looked pretty good in the end.
20 minutes or so before the party started, Doctor Denman and Harrison arrived. She was wearing a short and expensive looking dress that was a shiny material and peach colour. Her makeup was plentiful and her hair was put up, with a few dangling curls.
"Good morning Rikki, Zane." Denman said with a sickly sweet voice, matching her appearance, as she walked up to Zane & I. "The place looks great!"
"Thanks…" I said flatly.
Harrison walked up to us, kissed me on the cheek and greeted his son too, even though he likely saw him earlier this morning.
"Now today, I would really appreciate it if we could look like a happy family" Doctor Denman said and I scoffed, making my detesting attitude evident.
"You know I can easily slip scientific phenomenons out if I'm not careful…" she added.
Zane & I looked at each other and I said "Okay, your wish is our command."
She was controlling Harrison, Zane and I like puppets, and we knew we had too much to lose if we cut our strings.
Shortly after, the café was filled with people, mostly colleagues or friends of either Dr Denman or Harrison. They'd offered if we'd like our friends to come too and we declined the offer, thinking Zane's mates were too embarrassing and mine were too risky. Bella was still missing, so that eliminated her and likely Will from coming, inviting Lewis & Cleo would be awkward because of their history with Denman and Emma wasn't even talking to me.
We were walking around the crowded room, mingling with people Zane knew or being introduced to others by either Denman or Harrison.
The 4 of us were together at the moment, with 'The happy couple' standing next to each other, Zane standing next to his Dad, and me on the other side of my boyfriend.
I heard Harrison ask "Is there anyone else still to come or can the speeches and stuff start?"
"My brother's not here yet. Give him a few minutes or else we'll start."
"Okay" he agreed, and we continued mingling and being meeting more stuck up 'friends' of theirs.
"Oh Rikki" Doctor Denman said and I grunted in response.
I grunted. "What?"
"I was wondering if you'd like to be a Bridesmaid at the wedding. My cousin is the Maid of Honor and because Zane's Harrison's Best Man, that means you won't be partnered together, sorry."
"No."
"Sweetie, remember what might happen if you don't do what I want?" she whispered.
"Fine, just don't call me that again."
"Great! You'll be partnered with my brother Leo."
"I'm so excited!" I said sarcastically with an over-the-top smile.
After a while, Zane & I had managed to sneak away from his Dad & future step-mum, and we were now sitting in a booth together talking.
"I still feel so bad…" I said, referring to Harrison's sacrifice.
"Don't Rikki. Your freedom means more than Dad's money" Zane said rubbing my back affectionately.
"I just feel guilty."
"Stop" Zane said as he kissed me, making me forget about our previous conversation for just a few seconds.
As we pulled away, I started to get up and asked "Want a drink?"
"Yeah, thanks."
I nodded and walked over to the counter where Amber was working.
"Hi Amber, Can I have two juices?" I asked, as I felt someone bump my shoulder with what felt like an elbow.
"Sorry!" I heard from next to me and I turned around.
I took one look at the person and I gasped, standing there frozen, unable to move.
Finally, I managed to get out the words, "What the hell are you doing here?" before being interrupted.
"Oh Leo! You're here" I heard someone close say loudly.
I turned around and saw Dr Denman coming up to us.
I felt my brain & thoughts do a total flip when the two hugged before Dr Denman turned to face me.
"Rikki, this is my brother, Leo. Leo this is Harrison's son, Zane's girlfriend."
"How are you sweetheart?"
Hearing him say that sickly word, flooded my memories of 3 years ago.
Fish. Bought. Money. Sweetheart. Dodgy. Fake, Barry Rollins.
Those words torpedoed through my mind and I realized how much danger I was being thrown into.
Wait a minute… Dr Denman & 'Barry' are related? I only just realized that.
"Who are you?"
He put his hand out for me to shake. "Leo Denman."
"My little brother" Dr Denman added in as she rested her hands on his back, probably to make me feel even more uneasy than what I already was.
I turned around to walk off, but 'Leo' grabbed my hand.
I shook it off and yelled way too loudly "Get off me!"
I felt like everyone was looking at me and as I looked around the room, I discovered I was right.
Zane came rushing over to me too, likely wanting to bombard me with questions about my outburst and why I snapped at the Leo/Barry person. Hell, I don't even know who he is!
"Rikki, what just happened?"
"Not now Zane…."I said, turning around headed for the office.
I felt so overwhelmed by the situation and I needed to get away from everything, and fast.
I burst the door open in the office and slammed it shut, as I paced around the room.
Seconds later the door opened again and I turned to see Zane walk in.
"Rikki, what happened? What was all that out there."
My words were overtaken my flooding emotions and thoughts that bubbled out of me.
"I can't do this anymore Zane! I can't!"
"What's wrong? What can't you do?"
"Take it."
"Take what?"
"Life. Bella's missing and NO-ONE has seen her at all for one freaking week, Emma HATE my guts, I feel GUILTY about your Dad, I'm being CONTROLLED by Denman and now HE turns up out of nowhere! I can't do it!"
Zane came over to me, wrapping me in a hug. I rested my head on him and helplessly felt soft tears coming out of my eyes.
I felt incredibly relieved just from letting out a few tears and sharing my burden with someone else.
"It'll be okay. They'll find Bella, you guys will make up, don't feel bad about Dad, we'll find a way around Denman and who the hell is he?"
"Read my latest message from Will" I said to Zane handing him my phone.
I heard the soft clicks on my phone and watched Zane's expression.
'Hi, just updating you about Bella. Police said if there's no sign of her in the next two days, they'll stop searching for her, they'll be looking for a body. I'm so scared. Will."
"Oh Rikki" he said as he hugged me again, pressing his lips on the top of my head.
"What if they don't find her Zane?"
"They will Rikki, they will."
I took his word for it, even though I knew Zane couldn't guarantee anything.
No-one could.
"So who's that guy? Denman's brother isn't it?"
"I worked for him once, supplying him with rare saltwater fish from the sea."
"Isn't that illegal?"
"Exactly, he made a fool of me, saying they were for the Marine Park. I was so angry at him for making me feel like I was just a kid, someone that he could take advantage of and fool."
"What happened next?"
"We weren't sure how we'd be able to tell the police and explain how we got the fish, but in the end, we found enough evidence to send him to jail. He must of done his time by now I suppose."
"So that's why you freaked out."
"Yup, well that just pushed me over the edge from everything that's been happening. I just don't know what do anymore."
"We'll make it through… together."
And I can't do this by myself
All of these problems, they're all in my head
And I can't be somebody else
We had something perfect and painted it red
Ah no! Barry, who's now Leo is back, Bella's missing and her chances are getting worse, Emma still hasn't talked to Rikki or the others. What else is going to happen?
Next chapter will either be about Will at the Police Station about Bella or the beginning of the storyline which is going to affect the wonderful world of Clewis.
Please review and I'll update. Can I get 113 or more reviews and then I'll update.
Have a good day & I apologize again for the wait of this chapter.