Sophie's Pov

I was cleaning up the café as all the employees were getting ready to go home. Today was a sad day, why? Because today was the last day of the café being open. Finally Zane has lost all his money to run this place and now he can't pay it off anymore, meaning, the "Rikki's Cafe" is shutting down.

Tomorrow I was going to help Zane pack up the boxes and officially close the place. He's been stressed out lately and I thought he could use a hand.

I don't get why he is still stressed out about Rikki though. They broke up over a month in a half ago. That's a reasonable amount of time to move on from a relationship but obviously he hasn't. What did he see in that girl any ways? She was bossy and so annoying.

She always kept secrets away from me, fired me for stupid reasons and always disliked me for the weirdest reasons ever. Well, now I would understand why she would dislike me because I kissed her boyfriend, well, now ex-boyfriend but before that, I didn't do anything wrong and she still treated me like trash.

I've done almost everything to get Zane to like me but im like a window to him. He sees right through me and im like invisible to him. I did everything this past month to keep the café up and when I discovered those crystals down by Mako, he still ignored me about it. Those crystals were worth a fortune and could keep the café going for ages but he some how had such a huge issue with it.

Now that the café was closing down, it would be hard to get Zane's attention because I wouldn't be able to see him everyday. It would be really hard plus since he is still so into Rikki, it would be still harder to get his attention. I just need to do something to make him like me more than her.

I was about to put the close sign in front of the café until a girl walked in. It was the same girl from this morning. I've never seen her before but somehow Cleo and Lewis knew her because they welcomed her with a huge hug.

The girl seemed upset and her face looked red and her eyes looked puffy. She slowly walked in and just sat at the table alone.

I slowly approached her as I picked up another empty drink right next to her table.

"Im sorry but its closing time." I said with I stern voice but she just kept looking down at the table.

I wonder what was wrong and why she seemed so upset. I didn't know why she was sad but I somehow felt bad for her.

I slowly sat at the table across from her as I looked up at her but she didn't look back.

"Are you ok?" I asked gently this time but it took her a long time to reply.

"Im fine." She said quickly but her voice didn't sound so great. It sounded like she just cried.

"Are you new to the area?" I finally asked her after sitting there awkwardly for about 30 seconds.

"No, well yes. I don't know. So much has changed since I was last here." She said in a depressed voice.

"Well I saw you this morning at the café. I didn't recognize you so I figured you were new here." I responded in a friendly voice.

She just kept her head down.

"Look-" I started off saying. "I know you just barley meet me and everything but you seem a little upset. Do you need someone to talk to?" I asked hoping she wouldn't immediately reject my question.

All she did was look up at me with sad eyes.

"What is it, friendship problems, new to the area and trying to find a place to fit in?" I asked stopping my question since I didn't know anything else to ask her.

I mean she could be new to the area but how would that explain how she knew Cleo and Lewis?

"I guess, well, me and my friend, well friends just got in a big fight. That's it.

She responded with a soft voice.

"I saw you hug Cleo and Lewis today-"I started saying and she gave me a weird look. "Oh, im not stalking you or anything but since I've worked here for a long time and I know a lot of people here, seeing you here was… different." I said awkwardly ending my sentence.

She didn't seem to respond, just looked back down at the table as her eyes looked a little teary.

"Did you and Cleo get in some sort of fight?" I asked in curiosity.

"It's none of your business!" She snapped at me with anger.

"Oh, im sorry. It's probably rude for me to ask you questions like that since we barley meet." I paused.

I quickly got up from the table and grabbed a juice that I was going to give to a customer 10 minutes ago, but they left and I ended up giving it to the sad girl at the table. She weirdly looked at me while I handed her the juice.

"What? Do you want me to give you a empty juice?" I asked in sarcasm.

A small smile appeared on her face as she grabbed the juice form me.

"Thanks." She said as her voice didn't sound so sad anymore.

"I'm Sophie by the way." I said as I stook my hand out infrount of her.

"Emma." She quietly said as she shook my hand.

I smiled at her trying to think of something to say to her.

"I hate getting into fights with my friends. But it always works out for me. Don't worry. Im sure it will all blow over by tomorrow." I said with a friendly smile.

"Ya right." She said as she slowly sipped on her smoothie.

"Exactly who did you get in a fight with? Well, that's only if you want to tell me." I asked as I looked at her.

She paused but then finally gave in.

"You were right about the Cleo part but I also got into a fight with my friend Rikki as well." She paused. "I mean, isn't this café named after her?" she asked.

"Are you referring to Rikki Chadwick?" I asked hoping she was talking about the right Rikki, I didn't know any other Rikki's but I was just making sure.

"Yes, that Rikki." Emma said with a serious small smile.

"Exactly, how do you know her? " I asked in curiosity.

"Im a old friend of hers, so is Cleo." Emma responded. "I guess they changed a lot over the years and their not the same old self's they used to be." Emma said sadly as she added more to her sentence.

"What happened?" I asked hoping I didn't seem like I was asking her way to many questions.

"They replaced me with this new girl… Bella." She responded as she quickly paused in the middle of her sentence.

Soon it was all making since. I've never liked Rikki, Bella, and, well I cant say I dislike Cleo since I barley ever talked to her but since she is part of their little clique, I bet she is just like them too.

I promised Will that I would stop being mean to Bella and that I would respect her as his girlfriend, so I didn't want to break that promise. But I never promised that I would respect Rikki and Cleo.

"Well it sounds like you and Bella are victims here." I answered her comment as she looked at me in confusion. "Bella probably had no intention of replacing you so she probably is facing the same issue as you are." I said adding to my sentence.

Emma stopped to think for a while until she continued her sentence.

"So what do you think I should do?" She asked in sadness.

I stopped to think about this for a while. I didn't want Will to think I was gossiping behind Bella's back so I just had to do what Will would think isn't rude against Bella.

"Why don't you try to be friends with Bella?" I suggested.

She gave me that strange look like she would never do that.

"Think about it." I started off saying. "If you and Bella become friends then you guys can show Cleo and Rikki you don't need them. Why have friends who are only going to be mean to you and replace you." I said proudly ending my sentence.

She stopped to think about it and smiled.

"Ya, why be friends with someone who dosent like me back." Emma said standing up from the table.

"Ya, and if Bella feels the same way, team up with Bella so that way you can rub into Cleo's and Rikki's faces that being friends with them is not worth it." I finally said.

Emma smiled as she took out her wallet and pulled out a five dollar bill.

"Oh, don't pay for the juice. Its fine. I wont charge you for it." I finally smiled.

She put the money back in the wallet and smiled at me.

"Thanks. Im glad I have at least one friend who is here for me." And with that, Emma left the café.

I smiled when she said the word "friend." I hated Rikki so having her friend hate her would make it better. Now this way I can be friends with Emma and make Rikki jealous just like she always made me jealous around Zane. Now I can destroy that stupid little clique of theirs. If Rikki wants to treat me like dirt, then let the games begin!

Bella's Pov

"Bella! Wait!" Cleo screamed for me but I kept power walking.

I couldn't believe Cleo and Rikki had another mermaid friend without telling me! What was i? Their back-up friend until Emma came back? So many thoughts ran through my head as I was walking at a very fast pace.

Not only that but their best friend called us a bitch and I didn't even do anything. I didn't even know I was replacing Emma and why was she was fusing about the lockets. Was that their friendship necklace and suddenly changed it out for a crystal because Emma left? I was so confused and just needed to get away.

I hid behind a corner behind this building as I saw Cleo still running for me. Luckily she didn't know I jumped to the side of the building or else she would of seen me.

I watched her still running as I came out from the corner and headed straight towards the beach. I was so frustrated and was scared that since Emma was back, I would be dumped out of the group.

I got to the rocky cliffs and dived into the ocean feeling the water touch my body. Suddenly bubbles were around me and I magically grew a long orange tail.

I stoke my tail hard and I immediately started swimming at very rapid speeds. I tried to avoid running into any fish while swimming and before I knew it, I saw the entrance cave towards Mako.

I slowed up and swam through the water tunnel. Before I reached the surface, I saw a orange tail meaning someone was already here. I wanted to turn back but I couldn't slow myself down fast enough. There it was. Rikki.

I stopped and saw the back of her blonde hair as I said: "Hey Rikki." In a dull voice but in surprise, it wasn't Rikki. It was Emma.

We both awkwardly looked at each other as we didn't know what to say.

"Wow, when they said you were a mermaid, they weren't kidding." I said plainly but felt stupid for saying that.

I took a look at her and she looked upset. I didn't blame her. If I knew Rikki and Cleo replaced me with another friend, even worse, mermaid, I would be just as sad. But I was Rikki's and Cleo's back up friend so that didn't really make a difference.

"Nice tail." Emma complimented.

"Like wise." I said back and we both smiled at each other.

I didn't know why Emma was being nice to me. She should be angry at me for replacing her in the group.

It was awkward for about 20 seconds until Emma spoke up.

"Look, im really sorry for calling you names at Cleo's house and yelling at you. It isn't your fault you didn't know about me and I think we shouldn't take the blame on each other." Emma said nicely to me.

At this point I didn't know what to believe cause one minute Emma was yelling at us and then the next she was being very nice.

"I should be the one who is sorry. I didn't mean to replace you in the group. I didn't even know about you til this morning." I said softly.

"It's ok." Emma said in a smile while she approached me.

We both laid our arms at the front of the moon pool. When Emma looked at the destroyed cave where all the rocks were scattered, she looked sad and confused but didn't say anything. Emma looked back at me as she spoke again.

"I don't want us being enemies. What I did back there was wrong and was a bad start to getting to know me. Can we just… start all over?" Emma asked with a little sadness in her voice.

"Ya, sure. I guess. Its been awkward for both of us since Cleo and Rikki never mentioned about us." I explained.

"I wonder why Cleo and Rikki would do that. They usually never hide stuff like that from me." Emma mentioned.

"or me." I added on.

We both sat there as so many thoughts were running through our minds.

"Maybe we should take a break from them." Emma said softly.

I looked at her confused.

"A break?" I asked not realizing what she was trying to say.

"They've been replacing us and hiding stuff away from us." Emma started saying. "Maybe if we stopped hanging out with them for a while, they would realize that we are important to the group." Emma said softly.

I thought about it for a while and realized she had a point. Why hang around people who didn't appreciate us?

"I like the idea but, I barley know you." I said awkwardly.

Emma smiled.

"What eles do we need to know about eachother? We like swimming, were mermaids and we both think Taylor Lautner is hot." She mentioned.

I laughed at the joke. I never mentioned about Taylor Lautner being hot but almost everybody did so it didn't really matter.

"Gotta love those six packs." I said as we both laughed.

"Friends?" Emma asked while holding out her hand.

I hesitated for a moment but then shook her hand with a smile.

"Friends."

A/N: Emma and Bella are starting to get along but what will happen with Cleo and Rikki? Well Emma take Sophie's advice and dump them or will they be a group again?