Triple: Chapter 2

Cleo's POV

We waited another 7 minutes before deciding we should get back to the main land before anyone starts to worry. 'It's not like anyone cares anyway.'

I usually don't like to think this way, but it's true. Not one person has shown any sign that they care about me for the last two months. I don't think I should count my dad. I mean. He's sending me away to America to get better, but why not just talk to me? I'm sure It would be fine to just talk. 'Maybe he's just sending me to America so he doesn't have to care for me?'

'No! I will not think like that! He's my dad, of course he cares!'

Having this small inner argument myself made me realize two things.

1: maybe I do need help.

2: we're lost.

I was so lost in my thoughts, I failed to realize we were wandering. I ran out her so fast, not even sure where I was heading. I was crying so hard I didn't really pay attention.

I looked over to Zane to see why he didn't say anything about us being lost, but that's when I realized that he, too, was deep in thought.

"Zane?" I asked

"Hm? Yes Cleo?" He responded

"What are you thinking about? If you don't mind me asking, of course." I won't lie. Zane is the first actual person in the past two months to give me the time of day, I want to hold on to that for as much as possible. I don't want to lose it just yet.

"About where we would go, specifically. Where to find jobs at. You know, the important stuff to actually live life and not in the streets." Was he serious?

"Are you serious?" I voiced my thoughts. "Are you actually serious about going with me to America?

Surely he can't be serious

"Of course I'm serious Cleo! Why wouldn't I be?" he must've read the look I was trying to give him. "Cleo, there is no way in hell I'm going to let my only friend move to another freaking continent all on her own, and by force of all things! Now, I know you don't want to go willingly but I also know that you try your hardest to keep your family happy, that's why you won't fight your dad on this. But you'll be alone. With nothing and no one but your thoughts to keep you company. I'm going with you, and we're both going to get better! We are both going to help each other out of this depressive state we've managed to get ourselves in. Together. Not alone."

I just stared at him in shock. He kept reminding me, in one way or another, that I-we are alone, but alone together. If I'm hearing him correctly, than eventually we won't be alone together. We'll just be together, no longer alone.

"Okay." I responded

Zane and I didn't speak after that. We stopped focusing on what was to come and more on finding a way out. We were deep in the island.

After another 12 minutes Zane got bored and decided he wanted to play a game. Without asking if I wished to participate of course.

He started off by poking me then backing away a few feet. "What are you doing? I asked him

Again, he just walked up to me then poked me. "Why are you poking me?"

As if my words were falling on deaf ears, he poked me once more. "Stop it!" I said, reaching my arm out to him. But he jumped back as if my touch was poison.

"You can't get me that easy. You're going to try harder than that!" And to my surprise, he turned around and ran with half speed through the trees.

That's when I realized. He started a game of tag.

The first poke, I was it. The second, technically speaking he was it. The last poke made me it once again, having him run away to avoid being tagged.

'Why not? What's the worst that can happen?' I thought before running after him.

Before I knew it, we spent the next half an hour running around playing tag on a magical island.

Our game ended on the beach. Zane was it and refused to finish the game still it. Neither of us realized how late it must be until Zane tackled me into the sand, both laughing too hard to even register our surroundings.

"That was amazing!" I laughed out, still lying on the ground.

"That tackle?" He asked from his position in next to me.

"No silly, this entire game!" I explained

Zane and I just laid on the sand in silence, smiles hopefully permanent on our faces, staring up at the darkening sky.

The moment didn't last much longer, maybe less than a minute. We were broken out of high by a large splash from the water. 'Probably a dolphin'.

"*Sigh* Are you ready to go Cleo?" the entire time we played tag, we somehow found our way back to Zane's boat.

"Hey, don't worry. I'll be here the whole time." He softly said

"Can I go back to land on your boat?" I asked.

That question seemed to shock him "Yea, sure. But, how come? Don't you usually prefer swimming back? I mean, it is faster." He asked

"Yes that's true, but I'm in no rush. I want my last moments in Australia to be this way. Care free. Happy. If I swim back to the main land and wait for you, what are the chances of me running into at least one of the girls? With my luck, I'd probably see all three of them together having fun and laughing and-." Before I could finish, I was engulfed in a hug

"Stop it Cleo. No more talking about the girls. No more sad moments. Not now at least. Wait until we're on the plane, so our last moments in Australia aren't tainted." He said

Not much was spoken after that. Zane had took me back to the main land on his boat. Of course he asked how I wasn't getting wet "I had a lot of time to myself to practice my powers. If I concentrate enough, I can stop really small amounts of water from touching my skin." Of course, explaining this to him made me lose my focus and 10 short seconds later I was a mermaid out of water.

"Guess you should keep practicing." Zane commented, which earned him a little swim resulting from me manipulating the water and sending a water tentacle to push him off.

Almost an hour later, it was already really dark, we had finally got back to the main land. Zane decided to walk me home because 'it's what gentlemen do' but I think it's his fear of me running into the girls. I've seen them once, but I guess Zane saw them first because at that moment, he proceeded to knock my phone right out of my hand and across the other side of the street.

"Zane!" I scolded.

By the time I retrieved my phone and observed it for any breakage, the girls were gone.

Zane took me straight home after that without any encounters with anyone else. He didn't come in though. He said he needed to go home and pack.

When I entered my house, Dad was standing there and he wasn't happy.

"Cleo Jasmine Sertori! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE!?" Dad was yelling

I didn't have a chance to answer "YOU WERE OFF GOD KNOW'S WHERE DOING GOD KNOW'S WHAT WITH GOD KNOW'S WHO! BECAUSE OF YOUR FOOLISHNESS AND YOUR LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY, YOU'VE MISSED YOUR FLIGHT TO AMERICA!" His face was turning red

"Dad I-" I was cut off by his shouting "HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL, DO YOU EVEN WANT TO GET HELP? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH THAT TICKET COST!?" Before he could continue, the front door opened.

"I'm sorry to interrupt Mr. Sertori. But it's time to go." Zane's last sentence was said to me.

"Cleo's not going anywhere Zane. She's grounded!" Dad wouldn't even look at me.

"Grounded? Why would you ground her on the day she's leaving to America?" Zane asked

'What is he doing?'

"Cleo's not going to America anymore Zane. She missed her flight, and why would you of all people come over to tell her when it's time to leave anyway?" Dad asked

"Oh, she didn't tell you?" Zane repeatedly looked between Dad and I. "She's not taking a plane. We're taking a boat to America. I thought she told you."

'Again. What is he doing?'

"We? A boat? Cleo what is he talking about?" The look Zane gave me told me to play along.

"That's why I was late dad. I was with Zane. I told him about how things have been the past few weeks, and how we agreed it would be best if I went away for a while. Zane wasn't very fond of the idea of me going on my own to another continent and invited himself along." I looked to Zane

"I hope it's not a problem Mr. Sertori. I just figured since it's on the other side of the world, she shouldn't go alone. We both are in need of a fresh start and I think this way, we aren't alone. It's a great opportunity, so why not save a couple notes and live together." Zane explained

Dad stood silent, probably thinking, before asking "Whose boat?" Zane "borrowed it from a distant uncle."

"What about the money I spent on the airline ticket? If we'd sat down and actually talk about this, I'd still have my money.

Their conversation continued from there. Zane telling dad that he'll have all his money returned to him. Dad telling Zane to take care of me. Dad telling me to watch out for Zane. Then, finally, dad wrote down all the information we'll need in America. It has the address, State, City, and Neighborhood. The color of the apartment that's been rented out for the next month (should give us enough time to look for jobs.) he even wrote down the exact longitude and latitude the place would be at.

"I'm sorry Mr. Sertori, but we really should be going. I know it's late, but the sooner we leave, the sooner we'll get there."

"It'll be a really long trip Zane. It could be a month, maybe even more depending on the weather! Are you sure this is how you want to do it? A plane will just be a 14 hour flight." Dad asked

"I'm sure Mr. Sertori. Besides, Cleo and I are living mates now, better start getting to know each other better. And what better way than to be stuck on a boat with nowhere else to go?"

After my dad finally agreed whole heartedly, Zane took my bags from the house and into the care that was running outside.

"Say bye to Sam for me." I said as I released him from a hug

I would've told him to say bye to Kim for me, but she knew I was leaving. She chose not to be here. Last I heard, she went out to look at paint to paint over my walls. She's claimed it hers now.

Living close to the docks really has its benefits. The car ride over wasn't long at all.

Arriving at the docks, I noticed a good sized two floored boat. It wasn't big, but it was bigger than the boat Mrs. Chatham use to live in.

'I wonder what happened to her.'

I didn't have time to really dwell on my thoughts or to admire the boat. Zane wanted to hurry up and leave.

After unloading everything onto the boat, including the items Zane picked up on the way over which include the items we'd most likely need; Flashlights, first-aid kits, extra blankets, canned foods, fishing rods, many bottles of fresh water, etc. we finally started our journey to America.

"I can't believe this is actually happening." I said after the faint glow of the doctors were no longer visible.

"Well you better start believing because it's happening." I heard Zane reply. "Hey, what's the name of this town we're going to anyway?

"Hold on, let me find it." After searching through both our bags I found the piece of paper my dad used to write down the information. "Here it is. Ok. It say's we're going to some place called Forks. Forks, Washington." I said

"Forks? What the bloody hell possessed someone to name a town after a kitchen utensil?" He asked

"Oh shush up Zane! Every town has a history, every name has its own reason." I said back

"Forks, Washington. I guess it's a new start then." Zane said

After a little thought. I realized Zane was right. 'What the hell possessed someone to name a town after a kitchen utensil? Forks.'