Chapter 6: Wasted glimpse of hope
The beginning of Rikki's plan hadn't worked out exactly like she'd expected it, but apart from that, everything was going well.
Now she was working on two things. The first one was a surprise for everyone, and the other - a surprise only for Zane.
The first surprise required a lot of hard work unlike the second. So she was spending most of her time in preparations.
At the moment however she was at the cafe serving some customers when her phone rang. It turned out it was her doctor. She picked up.
"Hello, Dr. Stevens!"
"Rikki, I need you to come to my office, I've got something really important to tell you!"
"What's the matter?"
"It's something I have to tell you personally. Please come as soon as you can."
"If it is about my disease, I've got nothing to talk to you about."
"Rikki, please, it's important! You have no idea what I've just found out."
"Look, no offence, but I don't care what you-"
"Even if I told you there might be a way to slow down your disease and maybe even cure it completely?!"
"That's impossible, Dr. Stevens. Now, if you excuse me I've got work to do. Bye."
And before he could say anything else Rikki hung up.
She walked to the bar, to put down some glasses when Lewis entered the café. He spotted Rikki immediately and quickly walked at her direction.
"Rikki, I have to talk to you."
"Not now, Lewis." She said annoyed. "I've got work to do."
"Please, just for a few minutes, it won't take long."
Rikki sighed.
"Fine. You have five minutes."
Lewis smiled and they walked into the office.
"Ok, talk." Rikki said, sitting on the couch and holding her head with her arms.
"Are you ok?" Lewis asked her concerned.
"Yeah, I've just got that stupid headache."
"Again?" Lewis sounded worried.
"It's not a big deal." Rikki said.
"Yes, it is. Rikki, you're getting worse."
"No, I'm not."
"I'm sorry but you are. You're too tired all the time, you have these constant headaches, you're losing weight , you're throwing up every now and then, you hardly put something in your mouth, you", he paused, "you're slowly-"
"I already know that, Lewis, thank you very much for stating the obvious." She said annoyed. "Now tell me what you wanted to talk to me about, because I'm in a hurry."
"I want to talk to you about your disease actually. You won't believe what I've found out!"
"Not you too!" She groaned.
"What do you mean?" He asked her.
"My doctor just called me to tell me he found a way to slow down my disease and probably even cure it."
"What? And what is it he'd found out?"
"I don't know. I hung up."
"What? Why?"
"I may be dying, but I'm not an idiot. I know perfectly well that my disease can't be slowed down or cured. It's impossible."
"No it's not." Lewis protested. "Please, let me just explain."
"The five minutes I gave you turned into ten. I'm sorry, Lewis, but I've got to go."
And she turned around to walk away.
"I don't want you to die." He let the words slip through his lips.
She froze with her fingers on the handle of the door. She slowly turned to look at him. That was the reason she wanted her friends to never know. They'd refuse to just let her go and they'd do anything to save her.
"I know." She said and tried to smile at him. "I don't want to die either. But it is going to happen no matter whether we like it or not." And she turned around again. "I guess now it's just sooner rather than later."
"Once I used to know a girl, who was stronger and braver than any other person I've ever met. How did she turn into a quitter?"
"I'm not a quitter." She said, this time not turning around. "But if I'm going to die, I want to do it being happy and surrounded by the people closest to my heart. I don't want to die in some stupid hospital bed."
He finally realized what she meant.
"I understand." He said.
"Thanks." Rikki said and turned to look at him. "Thanks for everything. You're a great friend."
He walked at her direction and wrapped his hands around her.
"I'm going to miss you so much." He said into her curls. "I'm going to miss our arguements and you always winning."
They both chuckled at that, though it didn't quite reach their eyes.
She patted him awkwardly on the shoulders.
"Lewis, you know I hate that sentimental stuff, right?!"
He smiled.
"I know."
They released themselves from the hug and Rikki opened the door.
"I have to go back to work now, but if you want you can stay here to calm down a bit. Zane won't be here for a at least half an hour more, so nobody will disturb you."
"Ok, thanks." He nodded and walked to the sofa, to sit down.
She walked away closing the door and Lewis found himself alone in the office.
He looked around the place and he spotted Rikki's phone on the small coffee table. Hesitating for a few seconds he grabbed it and checked the last calls. He found the number he was looking for and quickly typed it on his phone. He then put Rikki's back on the table and went out of the office.
He walked out of the door just on time to see Rikki who was behind the bar falling down unconscious. He quickly ran and caught her in his arms before she could fall down and hit herself. Her eyes were closed and he felt she had a temperature.
He looked around. No one seemed to have noticed what had happened so he took her in his arms and left the café heading straight to his house where he knew no one will be looking for her.
He hated the fact he had to keep a secret what was happening, but that was her will and he wouldn't give it up for the world.
Lewis arrived home in a matter of minutes and when he walked in his house he gently put Rikki down on the couch, and then dialed a number. His conversation didn't last too long and when he hung up, he went to the fridge to get some ice for her. She was still unconscious and was burning up.
Lewis had no idea if it was her disease or her powers, but he knew he had to cool her down. He put the ice on her head and sat at one of the nearest chairs. Now he could only wait.
{ * }
Will was lying on his bed at the boatshed with Bella in his arms. They hadn't talked for about five minutes when Bella spoke.
"I'm worried about her."
Will moved his head so he could look at her.
"Who?"
"Rikki. It's just…she's hiding something, I can feel it."
Will didn't respond to that.
"You can feel it too, right?"
"Yeah." He nodded. "But I don't think it's something serious. Otherwise she would've told us…I guess."
"I don't know." Bella said. "It's just…I don't…I don't get her. I mean we are her best friends but it seems she doesn't want to talk to us about what's going on with her."
"Like I said, I think if it was serious enough, she would've told you."
Bella sighed.
"I just hope you're right."
They let the silence come again, this time to be broken by Will.
"I've been wanting to ask you something from some time now." He said a bit nervously.
"What is it?" She asked and suddenly the memory of the small box swallowed.
"Let's just wait a bit more. There's been someone else I'd like to be here."
"Someone else?" She said confused. "Who?"
"You'll see." He said.
They waited for about a fifteen minutes when a familiar voice echoed from the door.
"Will, are you home?"
"In here, Soph." He yelled back.
Both him and Bella got up.
"Maybe I should go." She said.
"No, wait." Will said. "It's ok."
Sophie came through the door and greeted her brother and Bella giving them a smile.
"So, why did you wanted me to come here?" She asked.
He walked to one of his cupboards, taking the small box in his hand.
"Well, I wanted to do something and I wanted you to be here when I do it."
"And what is it you wanted to do?" Sophie asked him.
As if to answer he turned to Bella and moved to stand on one knee, opening the small box.
"Bella Hartley, I've never met anyone else like you and I would be very happy if you make me the honor of becoming my wife."
Bella smiled and her face started glowing. She leaned to kiss him and took the ring out of the box to put it on her finger.
"So is that a "yes"?" Will asked.
"Of course it's a "yes", silly!" She exclaimed.
Will then got up and turned to Sophie who was a bit shocked but hid it well.
"Soph, I wanted you to be here, because you and Bella are the most important women in my life and I wanted you to give us your blessing. Do you think you can do that?"
Sophie gave him a small smile.
"Will, you're my little brother and I love you so much. I wanted only the best for you and I made mistakes. If Bella makes you happy, then you have my blessing." And she gave both of them a smile. "I wish you to be very happy and only the best."
Will smiled and hugged her.
"Thank you, Soph."
He then turned to Bella. She was looked at her finger smiling.
"I can't believe I'm getting married!" She exclaimed. "I've got to go tell the girls!"
She gave him a kiss and walked out.
Will turned around to his sister, whose face had suddenly become serious and it looked like she was deep in her thoughts.
"Earth to Sophie." Will joked, but she only gave him a serious look. "Soph, are you ok?" He asked concerned.
"I'm fine, but unfortunately I can't say the same for Rikki." She said again deep in her thoughts.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Will asked getting worried and suspicious.
Sophie looked straight in his eyes.
"How much time she's got left?"
"How much what?" Will asked shocked.
"You mean you don't know?" Sophie was a bit confused by that. "She's dying, Will."
Will felt like he was going to lose it. Big time.
{ * }
Cleo was walking on the beach for a few hours when she realized she had got to Lewis' fishing spot.
She was thinking of walking away when she heard someone crying. She carefully walked closer and spotted Emma in her mermaid form on one of the rocks where she and Rikki used to hide from Lewis long time ago.
"Em?" Cleo called her gently. "Emma are you ok?"
Emma quickly brushed off her tears and turned to look at Cleo.
"It's fine, I'm fine."
"No, you're not." Cleo said shaking her head. "I know you a little bit too well Emma, and I know when something's wrong. Please talk to me."
"I told you I'm fine. If something was going on you'd be the first to know."
Cleo didn't respond to that.
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?"
"Positive." The other girl replied.
"Sometimes you're just so much like Rikki." The brunette commented softly, giving Emma a smile.
That comment however brought the blond on the verge of tears again.
"No, I'm not." She said trying to calm herself down. "No one's like Rikki, because…because she's unique."
"That's true." Cleo nodded. "Do you want to go for a swim?"
"Sure." Emma replied and the two dived in the water.
The last thing she wanted to do was go swimming, because it would be a constant reminder of Rikki, but at least in the water Cleo wouldn't ask questions.
Should she continue to insist, Emma was sure she'd give up and tell the brunette everything.