Chapter 3: Start over

Bella's POV:

It was almost 5 a.m. but I couldn't sleep. I was lying on my bed, my eyes wide open and thinking. I realized how difficult would it be for me to start over, here in Japan. I had to go to a university where the people barely spoke english, I had to meet a bunch of new people who were going to be my colleagues and everything was a complete mess. Not to mention the ocean was far away from the city we were in, and it was impossible for me to sneak out to swim. I sighed to myself. I wanted to go back to Australia so bad. I rolled on one side and looked at my phone. Its wallpaper was a picture of all of us in the cafe, just after Zane proposed to Rikki. I smiled. We all looked so happy. I was in Will's hands, Cleo had her hands over Lewis' neck and Zane's hands were around Rikki's waist, while she was proudly showing up her hand with the ring. I loved these few people more than everything and I missed them so much. Tears started rolling down my cheeks. I fondled my screen and whispered quietly "I miss you so much!" I couldn't know that at exactly the same moment, they did it too, of course some without the tears...
- Isabella! - my dad shouted an hour or so later. - Come downstairs if you will!
- Ok! - I shouted back and slid out from my warm bed.
I put the first clothes I found in my suitcase and ran downstairs.
- What is it, dad? - I asked him.
- Me and your mother will have to go to our new workplaces today, so you'll stay with your cousin Ambrosia. You can go out with her around the city and have some fun. - my dad said with a smile.
I faked a smile back, though inside I was feeling horrible. As soon as my parents left I headed to my room. I wasn't in mood of doing anything today. Especially going out. I sat on my bed and just lied there when I heard someone calling me again - Ambrosia:
- Bells, come down here for a moment, please?!
I sighed and went downstairs again.
- Yes, Amba, what is it? - I asked her.
- Look, I have to go out on a meeting with a friend of mine. Do you want to come?
- No, I prefer staying here. - I said. - I'm not in a mood for going out.
- Oh, come on, you'll feel better. Besides my friend is a scientist and knows much stuff about the sea. I heard from your parents you love the sea...?!
- Yes. - I said. - I do. Fine then, I'll come with you. - I sighed and went upstairs to change my clothes.
Unfortunately I had no idea in what kind of trouble I was putting myself into, by going on that meeting. A meeting that would turn out to be nothing more but simply a disaster...

Cleo's POV:

Today me and Lewis are going to his university, because I need to pay the taxes. I was so exited.
- Cleo, the breakfast is ready! - he shouted from the kitchen.
I was in the bathroom, having a bath.
- Okay, coming! - I shouted back.
I lulled the plug out and waited for all the water to be gone, so I could dry myself.
We had a quick breakfast and left to go to the university. When we got there I could do nothing but looking all over it with awe. It was a big building with a big backyard. There were so many people. We would often stop so Lewis could greet some of his friends, teachers and people he knew. We were just going to walk inside when I noticed someone was watching me. I turned around to see who it was. It was a tall black haired boy with green eyes and evil smile. He was watching me with such an evil look, that I shivered.
- Lewis who's that guy over there? - I asked getting closer to Lewis.
- His name's Ben. He's the local bad boy here. Something like Zane back in the Gold Coast, but a hundred times worse. Zane is just a puppy compared to Ben. - Lewis answered me and rubbed my back. - Just ignore him, ok?
And we entered in, but I couldn't get the look at Ben's eyes out of my head. A look that said "I want you"... Later though I manage to forget it and relax once again. I even befriended one girl while waiting for Lewis who went to talk to his teacher. I was sitting out of his teacher's office and was looking at the photo of me, Lewis, Rikki, Zane, Bella and Will on my phone screen and I felt how huge was the hole inside me, when I was so far away from them. Then I suddenly heard a voice:
- Are you waiting for Mr. Lorence?
I picked my head. It was coming from a girl with straight black hair and blue eyes.
- No. - I said. - I'm just waiting for someone.
- Mind if I sit here then? - she asked me.
- No, not at all. - I smiled as she sat next to me.
- My name's Emily by the way. - she said stretching her hand to me.
- Cleo. - I smiled and shook her hand.
She noticed the photo on my phone, that I was still holding in my other hand.
- Are they your friends? - she nodded to my phone.
I smiled to myself and tears filled my eyes when I answered.
- Best friends!
- Cool. - she said. - Are they studying here with you too?
- No. - I shook my head and a tear rolled down my cheek, but I wiped it away. - This was our last time together before left the Gold Coast.
- The Gold Coast? You mean you're from Australia? - she asked amazed.
- Yeah.
- So cool. - she said and I smiled.
- Thanks.
In that moment the door finally opened and Lewis came out.
- Finally. - I told him and stood up. - You were in there for ages!
He smirked.
- Sorry.
I turned around to Emily:
- Emily that's Lewis, my boyfriend. Lewis - this is Emily.
They both shook hands.
- Emily, it was very nice meeting you. - I smiled to her. - I've got to go now, bye! - I waved her.
She waved back and me and Lewis left to go and get us some lunch.

Rikki's POV:

When I woke up I realized it was still very early. I looked around my room and smiled. I really loved it. The walls were painted in ocean blue and the sheets were visualizing the ocean floor with its fish and seaweeds. My room had also a big desk and a wide screen TV. The view from my window was just the house next to ours and could not compare with the view I had back in the Gold Coast at all, but it wasn't that bad either. I slid from the covers, stretched my arms and decided to take a little tour around the house, before I go to the academy. I was in my usual pijamas: blue shorts and black vest. It was big and beautiful and I loved it. My room was on the second floor. Next to it was a big empty room, that I decided to use for a dance studio. Since it was big, I could dance there when I was not in the academy. I smiled to myself. The next room was the bathroom. My own bathroom with a big bathtub in the middle. My dad's room was downstairs, next to the kitchen. Next to it was his bathroom that had a shower and a bathtub way smaller than the one in my bathroom. The dining room had a big sofa and a wide screen TV. Passing by the pool and the jacuzzi in the backyard my heart fell again. How was I supposed to keep my secret with all that water around?!... My phone beeped in my pocket. I took it out and grinned. It was a message from Zane:
I miss you. Whatever the time is in Vienna, have a grate day! Kisses to my babe.
P.S. I love you!
I smiled to myself and wrote a quick reply:
I miss you too.
P.S. Love you more! ;)
Then I slid back my phone and looked up. I suddenly froze. I saw someone staring at me from the other side of the small fence that was dividing my house from the one of my neighbors. It was a boy who was around my age with ginger hair and green eyes.
- Hey, you, what are you doing? - I shouted at him.
He gave me a small smile and playfully said:
- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare, I just couldn't keep my eyes off.
I only sighed in annoyance and turned my back to him in an attempt to walk back in the house.
- Wait! - the boy shouted after me. - You didn't tell me your name?!
I turned my head:
- Rikki. - I shouted in response and went inside.
I saw my father was now up:
- Good morning, sweetheart! - he greeted me, eating his breakfast.
- 'Morning dad! - I answered with a smile.
- Rikki, I have a favor to ask you. - my dad said with a serious tone.
- And what is it? - I smiled playfully.
- Could you stay out until 11:00 p.m. tonight?
- Why? - I asked getting suspicious.
- Please don't ask questions and just do as I say.
- No, not until you tell me what is going on! - I said.
- Not going to happen. Now come here and eat your breakfast, ok?!
- Fine. - I said still looking suspicious. Something weird was going on and I was going to find out what it was...

Will's POV:

After my sister's plane took off, I decided to go to the pool where my trainings were and take a swim. When I went there I went straight into the changing rooms and quickly changed into my swimming shorts. Before I go to the pool, I took out the last photo of me and the guys and took a look at it. We looked so stupidly happy.
- Are they your friends? - I heard a voice behind me.
I turned around. The voice belonged to a dark haired boy with green eyes and weird smile.
- Yes. - I answered.
- They seem nice. - the boy replied. - My name's Tim by the way.
- Will. - I answered.
- So which one is your girlfriend? - he asked me playfully.
- This one. - I pointed at Bella.
- Pity. - he smirked. - Because she is way hotter. - he pointed at the girl next to Bella.
Anger filled me, realizing he was pointing at Rikki.
- What's her name? - he asked.
- Rikki. - I mumbled filling with anger.
- I'd get out with her in a heartbeat if I were you. - Tim teased me.
- Yeah, well, I already have a girlfriend.
- But as I see you're not very happy. - Tim said.
- Look that's not your business, ok?! Just...drop it! - I was getting really angry.
- Ok, ok, I was just trying to make a conversation, that's all. - Tim said. - So you were going to the pool for a swim, weren't you?
I nodded.
- Up for a race then?
- Sure. - I shrugged.
I put back the photo in my bag not noticing that the whole time Tim was still staring at her, deep in his thoughts.
- So, shell we go? - Will asked turning to Tim again.
- Yes, after you. - the other boy nodded and they left to the pool. But Tim's mind was made up - he would get as much information from Will about that Rikki girl and he would go and find her. Because he had never seen anyone like her...