Chapter 12

Rikki's POV

Did he really just ask me to marry him? I mean, yeah I love him, but am I ready to be with him for the rest of my life? We just graduated from high school. I want to go to college. I want to maybe go travel the world. I can't do that alone if I'm married. I have been with Zane for a little bit over a month, but that's only the time we've been together since we got back together. We were together for about a year and a half before that though, but he cheated on me. Before that he got me trapped in the moon pool with Emma and Cleo, about to be experimented on! I don't know what to do. I love him, but I don't know if I'm ready for this kind of commitment. He is the love, but does that me were meant to be together. He's really the only guy I've ever been with. Shouldn't I be with other guys before I get married? Most girls don't marry their high school sweethearts. If they do, it turns out like hell. What should I do?

I stared at him and he stared back.

"Marry me Rikki. I don't want to be with anyone else. I love you," he said to me.

"I don't know Zane."

"Why? Why don't you know? Don't you want to be with me?"

"I do want to be with you, it's just that, I don't know if I'm ready for that." I got off his lap and went into my room. I closed the door and fell against it.

Zane came to the door and knocked. He said, "Rikki? Can we talk about this?"

I didn't answer at all. I didn't know what to say.

"I guess I'll just give you some time to let you think about it. Call me when you're ready." He walked out of my trailer and closed the door.

I started to cry. This was the time when I could really use my mom. Emma could talk to her mom if she was in this situation. I couldn't.

I cried harder and screamed, "Why did you leave me Mom?" I was screaming to thin air, hoping that someone would answer.

Nobody did.

My life sucks and Zane got my mind off of its suckiness. Do I belong with him for the rest of my life?

I need to talk to the girls. I called the girls and asked them to come here.

About ten minutes later, there was a knock on my door.

I opened the door and saw Cleo and Bella.

"What's the matter Rikki?" Cleo asked me. I guess she saw the red around my eyes from crying.

I stepped out of the way so they could come in to my home. I walked back into my room and they followed. I sat on my bed. They sat next to me. They looked at me and waited for an answer to Cleo's question.

"Zane proposed," I told them.

"What?" they screamed.

They started asking me a bunch of questions that had to do with the wedding. They asked me when it was going to be and what type of dress I was going to wear.

They kept talking and I screamed, "I didn't say yes!"

"Wait, what?" Bella asked me.

"I didn't say no either. I just ran into my room."

They stared at me with their mouths opened.

"Why didn't you say yes? I mean, I don't really like Zane, but he cares about you and will die for you," Bella said.

"I just don't know if I'm ready yet. Marriage is a big thing and I'm a loner type girl."

"Rikki. I have been here since you started dating him, even though it was behind my back. He loves you. He hasn't dated anyone else but you since you broke up the first time. He saved you when we were trapped in the moon cave by Denmen. He cares for you. He would do anything. He even annoyed the crap out of you so you would forgive you," Cleo said.

I looked at her. "I'm just not sure."

"Rikki," Bella said. I turned toward her. "Do you think about him when you get up in the morning and is he the last thing you think about before you go to sleep?" she asked me.

I thought about it. I really do think about him all day. "Yeah. He is." I smiled.

"Who do you call if you need help?" Cleo asked me.

"Zane. You know if it isn't about him."

"Does he ask about your day even if he doesn't want to know?" Bella asked me.

"Yeah, but he never gets an answer because I know he doesn't want to know."

They stared at me waiting for me to get it.

I do want to be with him the rest of my life.

"Thanks you guys. I am so happy that you are my friends," I said

I got up and they did too. I put my hands on their back and pushed them out my front door.

"Bye and thanks!" I yelled as I closed the door.

I knew what I had to do.

I grabbed my phone and called Zane.

Ring, Ring, Ring.

He didn't answer. He said to call him when I wanted to talk. Well, I want to talk. Does he answer? No, of course not.

Beep, beep, beep.

I looked at my phone. I got a text from Zane.

Sorry I didn't answer your call. Are you ready to talk?

After I read his text, I thought about my answer. Was I ready to talk.

Yes, you are Rikki!

I grabbed my phone and text him back,

Yeah. Where can we meet?

After a few minutes, he text me back.

Meet me at the beach. The place where we kissed and Bella caught us.

Why there, I wonder.

Kk.

I grabbed my bag and headed outside. After I locked my door, I went to the beach.

I arrived at our spot, but didn't see Zane. He was probably hiding.

"Zane!" I yelled.

No answer. I sat down on the sand and looked out at the sea. I wish I could swim again. I just can't risk it with Denmen out there.

I was staring at the sea when felt someone behind me.

"Zane, I expected you to be here first," I said to the figure behind me. He didn't answer me, so I turned around.

Denmen.

"What do you want?" I asked her.

"I just want to talk," she said as she sat down next to me.

"I'm not up to talking with a bitch."

"Not even if it's about where Zane is at the moment."

I looked at her. "What are you talking about?"

"I can't believe you fell for it again. I mean the first time with Lewis was expected, but Zane texting you. I would have even seen that coming."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I asked her.

"Zane is in my boat at the moment."

"Why?"

"Probably savoring the last moments of his life."

"What?"

"He's drowning in my boat. You can save him. He's in that boat right there." She pointed to a boat in the distance. Smoke was coming out the windows.

"You are going to kill him!" I screamed.

"Oh well. Just jump in the water and save him."

She knows. Why does my life suck? Can't I have one normal day? Denmen knows that were still mermaids.

"What do you want?" I asked her.

"To know something."

"What?"

"Are you still a mermaid?"