Chapter 10

Zane's POV

Great. I screwed up with Rikki. Again. Why do I keep doing this? I am such a screw up.

I walked to my zodiac, well, I actually ran. I started it up and headed for Mako Island. Hopefully she was at the moon pool. If she wasn't there, I have no idea where to look. I guess I would go to Cleo and Bella.

When I got to Mako, I went to the moon pool entrance, the one from land. Once I got to the moon pool, I looked in the water. Great. No Rikki.

How will I get her to forgive me this time? I can't come up with another speech. It took me days to think of the one I told her before. I could plan a romantic evening. Only one problem.

I suck at being romantic.

I really don't want to do this, but I have to ask Lewis to help me. He seems to know how to be romantic. I mean, Cleo loves him and so did Charlotte. He did mess up a couple times though. He was too clingy to Cleo. She broke up with him after that. Also, he dated a bitch, but he is the only one I can go to. Even if Will was here, he wouldn't help me. He hates me. Like, with a passion hate.

I went back to my zodiac and headed for the docks. Where the hell is Rikki?

Lewis's POV

When I heard that Denmen was back in town, I flipped out. We didn't know what to do. They went to Will's boat house to figure out what they were going to do.

Cleo and Bella have been staying at the boat house while back in town. I was staying at my own place that I rented because Cleo's dad didn't want me in the boat house with them. I think he still hates me. Anyway, Will still owned the place and didn't mind that they were staying there. He had to stay at college since he still had classes. He had to take a break for a month because his parents wanted him to go visit him with Sophie.

I went home and sat on the couch. What should we do? Denmen is a serious problem. She caught them as mermaids once, so she can do it again. Let's not forget that she trapped me too. Thankfully Zane saved us. Did I really just think that? Maybe I should go talk to Denmen. Find out why she's here. First, I got to eat something. I haven't eaten all day.

I got up and started to make myself a sandwich when I heard a knock at my door.

I went to answer the door. When I opened the door, I saw Zane.

"Zane? What are you doing here and how did you find out where I live?" I asked him.

"Your parents told me and I need your help. Can I come in?"

"Yeah, sure." I stepped out of the way so he can come in. "What's wrong?"

"It's Rikki. She's pissed at me again and I want to plan a romantic date, but I suck at being romantic. I thought you could help me."

"Why is she pissed at you?" I asked him.

"I didn't agree with her when she was upset."

"Is this about Denmen being back? I understand why she would be upset. You should have agreed with her."

I kept talking.

"Wait. Denmen is back?" Zane asked me.

"Yeah. You didn't know?" How did he not know? I thought Rikki would tell him.

"No. We were talking about Emma and she got mad and dove into the water."

"Oh. That was before she saw Denmen's boat near Mako. You may want to talk to Rikki. She was really upset and she usually hides it. She was actually showing her feelings for once."

"Okay. Denmen is a bitch." I started to walk out.

"Where are you going?" I asked him before he could leave.

"To talk to Denmen and then Rikki. She hurt Rikki and I will not let that go. No one hurts the girl I love and gets away with it." He stormed out.

He loved her. Wow. He really has changed. Good for him…I still don't think that he deserves her.

Zane's POV

How dare Denmen come back here? When I yell at her, I have to remember not to spill the secret. She thinks that they aren't mermaids anymore. Denmen believes that they gave their powers up during the full moon.

I ran out of Lewis's apartment building and toward the docks. Denmen is dead. If she isn't there, I am grabbing my zodiac and searching the ocean.

Denmen's boat was there.

"Denmen!" I yelled. She came out of her boat.

"Zane. How are you? How's life out of high school?" she asked me.

"Cut the crap. What the hell are you doing here?"

"Counting fish."

"Yeah right. You said that last time and ended up trapping my girlfriend and her friends in a cave!"

"I see your interests in mermaids is gone. I was really hoping that you could help me."

"I'm not crazed about mermaids anymore. I know I won't find anything else out. Also, if you think that I am going to help you, you are insane!" I yelled.

"Too bad. I was really hoping that we could work together."

"Work on what together?"

"I want to find out how the girls became mermaids. I want to create more mermaids and do some test on them. It could be a whole new super race. Little girls could have their dream. We could use mermaid powers in war. It's all for the good of the world."

"How is doing test on someone for the good of humanity?"

"There not someone's. There things, freaks, not humans." Does she have no heart at all? Heartless bitch.

"You heartless bitch! Mermaids are humans too!" I yelled and ran out.

"You'll help me eventually!" she yelled as I was getting further and further away.

Yeah right. I wouldn't even help her even if my life depended on it. I'm sure that Rikki wouldn't want me to.

Rikki!

I ran to her trailer and knocked on the door.

She opened the door, saw it was me and went to close the door. I put my foot in the doorway so she couldn't close it.

"Rikki. Can we please talk?" I asked her.

"No. We have nothing to talk about and I'm really not in the mood."

"I know that Denmen is back in town."

"How do you know about that?" she asked me.

"Lewis told me."

"Why would Lewis tell you and why would he talk to you?"

"I went to him for help."

"Help with what?"

Damn. She really wants to know. Wow, this is embarrassing.

"I needed his help with you." She looked at me with a shocked expression. "I wanted to plan a romantic date so you could forgive me. Lewis knows about romantic stuff and I don't, so I went to him for advice. I really want this relationship to work and I know I screwed up again, but-" She cut me off with a kiss. "I thought you wanted to take it slow?"

"What you did, or planned to do, was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. How can I not forgive you after this? Do you still plan on giving me this romantic date? That would really get my mind off Denmen."

"Yeah, I still plan to. But first we have to talk about Denmen."

"Why do we have to talk about her?"

I came inside and we sat on the couch.

"I know why she is back." She waited for me to say why. "She wants to find out how you were turned into a mermaid. Also, when she figures it out, she wants to create new mermaids and do tests on them. Then use them as super weapons in war."

"What the hell is wrong with her!" she yelled. "I need to tell the girls about this." She grabbed her phone and started to dial there numbers. She stopped and said, "What if this is connected to Emma? What if Denmen took Emma?"

"That is possible and I'm sorry that I didn't agree with you before."

"No. I should be sorry. I can't expect you to agree with me on everything."

I motioned for her to sit on my lap and she did. I hugged her and said, "I am the one apologizing because I think your right. I think your dreams are sending a message. Emma is missing and it's alright if you're scared. I will be here for you whenever you need me."

I kissed her and she kissed back.

"I love you Rikki Chadwick."

"I love you too Zane Bennett."

We kissed for a while. It was awkward when her dad came home from work and she was on my lap kissing me.

"What is going on here?" he asked us.

We looked at each other and burst out laughing.