Trust Factor

Chapter 3: Secrets Are Funny Things

Monday January 13-12:15pm-Emma's hotel room- The Hartley Hotel

Emma sat looking at the report. She had read it 12 times already, but still couldn't believe it. How could the three of them just run away, and how stupid could they get making one look like a kidnapping?

"Ok, Emma, just a few more questions," The officer said flipping the page of his note pad. "Did you talk to Rikki before she went missing?"

"I told you, I talked to her and Cleo and Bella the night before. I haven't seen any of them since," Emma told the cops for what she thought was the 5th time.

"And do you know anyone who would find an interest in kidnapping her?" the second officer asked.

"Not really," Emma said as she thought, every scientist on the planet.

"Ok, that will be all, thank you," the first officer said as the two of them walked out of the room. Emma took a deep breath as she walked out into the main area of the suite. There she found her father standing with Lewis. The boys looked up when Emma walked out.

"Emma, I really want to talk to you," Lewis said as he pulled Emma back into the bed room.

"What is it Lewis?" Emma asked in more of a whisper as she easily pulled her arm free of Lewis's grasp.

"I just wanted to say, I'm sorry, something the others wouldn't even listen to. I didn't mean to give your father that disk, I didn't mean to even have it get out of my room. But my mother was cleaning the house, found it and thought my father was meaning to send it away or something, I don't know. Point is, can you forgive me?" Lewis finished his speech to find a speechless Emma.

"You gave my father that disk," Emma said slowly, getting her ability to speak back. "It's your fault the girls ran away. It's your fault my father is tracking the Hartley girl and won't stop till he has her in his arms for ruining his big night." Emma raised her voice just enough for Lewis to get scared, but not enough that her father would hear them.

"I never meant to," Lewis said knowing that wasn't the point.

"But you weren't careful, Lewis. I can see why the others are mad at you. Because you weren't careful now they have to hide. And you know what could have happened if their little plain Saturday didn't work. My father would never forgive me if he knew I was lying to him."

"Lying to your father, is that really all your upset about? I mean Rikki went off about this being a secret. Cleo yelled about how I jeopardized their safety, and all you care about is lying to your father!"

Emma was quiet. She knew it could have gone worse and the whole lying to her father would be nothing next to the fact that she was a mermaid. There would be scientist at her door. She would never be allowed to see her father or mother or Elliot ever again.

"Lewis, I know you didn't mean for things to get this out of hand, but they did. Now it's your job to see that things get back to the way they were before all of this," Emma said lowering her voice back to the whisper she had before.

"So you still trust me?" Lewis asked.

"Get this worked out, and we'll see."

Monday January 13-3:25pm-Cullen house-Forks Washington

The house was huge at first glance. Cleo was amazed at the beautiful house in the woods. It wasn't what she was picturing Alice's house to look like but it was nice.

"Got a story, Alice," Rosalie asked nervous about some unknown thing to Cleo.

"Everyone is here," Bella whispered just loud enough for Cleo to hear.

Alice gave a smiled before opening the door. Right there in the living room were 6 guys and 2 girls, one obviously 5 years older than the other. They crowded the door when the girls walk in so much that Cleo stepped back to let the others in first.

"Where on earth have you four been?" A tall blond man asked. He was one of the most gorgeous men Cleo had ever seen.

"Um, you remember Cleo Sertori," Alice said pulling Cleo to the middle of the grouping. "She kind of found us, after 10 years."

"She found us?" a boy who looked like a 17-year-old god said after moving closer to Bella and Nessie.

"Yes I did," Cleo said softly.

Cleo looked around at the people in the house and noticed that only 9 of them were pale, young and gorgeous. Two of them were nice looking, but very tan. The boy of those two didn't wear a shirt as the girl wore what looked to be a dress an orphan would wear. The last was an older man who had pale skin, but not as pale as the first 8.

"Alice, why don't you and I take Cleo upstairs," The blond man suggested.

Alice nodded and started for the stares with Cleo close behind her. They walked up to a room that looked as if it would belong to Alice, large closet. Alice couldn't stop talking about how she would take Cleo shopping to help her with her summer like wardrobe.

Cleo sat down on the bed as Alice and the blond closed the door and looked at her.

"How did you find us?" the blond asked. "We need to fix it so nobody can find us again."

"I goggled your name," Cleo answered. "I found the picture of me, Kim, and Alice when she was babysitting us during Christmas. I looked on the back and saw the name and goggled it. Who exactly are you?"

"O' I'm sorry, I'm Carlisle," the blond answered. "And the guessing what we were?"

"After I goggled the name I found a picture of Alice. She did not look like she changed at all. I saw a picture of, I think it was Rosalie, and saw the small resilience, eyes and skin. I remembered how Alice never eat while watching us all day and how she once saved Kim from falling when she was standing next to me. I guess I have also opened my mind a little in the past 2 years," Cleo said hoping she had said enough.

"Opened your mind?" Carlisle questioned.

"Cleo turned into a mermaid 2 years ago," Alice explained.

Carlisle turned toward Alice. Then he looked back at Cleo. "How is that possible?"

"Long story," Cleo answered. "Point is if water touches my skin then I grow a tail."

"And that's why she is here. A disk was given to this team of scientist and now they could be after her and her friends. She needs a place to hide. And if people know one kind of mythical creature exists then they might think more do and in turn we could be in trouble and the wolfs," Alice explained.

"Then I guess she is welcome to stay here," Carlisle said with a small smile. Then he walked out leaving Alice with Cleo.

A/N:I know this story might seem like it centers around Cleo and the Cullens, well you could say it does. This does not mean I will not talk about the others, it just means they will not be in every chapter.