Chapter Four

A/N: Thank you guys for the reviews - I really appreciate it! Here's the next chapter and yes - I'm trying to make them longer. I know some people suggested more mermaid stuff on Mako and don't worry - it's coming up soon, maybe a few chapters away... Enjoy!

"So, Lewis, what's the verdict?" Zane folded his arms across his chest as Lewis came out of Cleo's room and down the stairs to Zane who was in the living room. Rikki and Cleo were still inside the bedroom.

"Well," said Lewis with a grave face, "she… she's seriously injured…"

"WHAT?" Zane rushed forward towards the steps but stopped when he heard the sound of laughing.

Lewis was doubled over with laughter, the sound ringing around the hall. "Oh, Zane…!"

Zane came forward angrily. "Lewis!" he exclaimed. He was about to grab the front of Lewis' shirt and pin him up against the wall but Lewis held up his hands in surrender.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Rikki is fine, totally fine. She's got no serious injuries, just a bit of bruising, and definitely no breakages," Lewis informed him, a ghost of his earlier smile still resting on his lips.

"Can I see her?" Zane demanded.

"Yeah, go on right up," Lewis told him. As soon as Zane was up the stairs, Lewis burst out laughing again.

"Rikki!" Zane enfolded her in a gentle hug.

"Do you want to stay round, Rikki?" Cleo asked. "Emma needs help choosing a dress for her date with Ash."

"Sorry, no can do," Rikki replied with a smile. "I'm going around Zane's tonight for a movie. Tell Emma I said good luck."

"Okay," said Cleo, "have fun! I'll see you tomorrow maybe?"

"Definitely," said Rikki. "I have to find out how that date went!"

"Coming?" Zane asked. He helped Rikki to her feet and the two of them left the room.

"See you tomorrow, Cleo!" Rikki shouted behind her.

"Or how about this one?" Emma spun around in the sky blue dress made from floaty silk. It had a fitted bodice with thin straps and the skirt of it spread wide when she spun.

Cleo opened her eyes. She had been drowsing slightly. "Oh, yeah definitely that one," she said.

"You're not taking this seriously, are you?" Emma asked disapprovingly.

"There's been so many dresses," Cleo murmured. She opened her eyes and looked at the last dress. "Wait, that's the one. Yeah, definitely."

"You think?" Emma asked, putting a hand on one hip.

"Yeah," Cleo said firmly.

Emma kept the dress on and matched it with white high-heeled shoes and a white clutch. She put in pearl earrings and a necklace with a pearl pendant. Cleo curled her hair and left it loose with a few curls clipped back around the sides. Emma looked stunning.

"So Rikki couldn't make it then?" she asked.

"No," Cleo replied. "She already had plans."

"Okay. Won't I need a jacket?" Emma asked.

"No, no," said Cleo. "The whole point is that you get cold and he will offer you his jacket."

"It's much cuter that way," Cleo added.

"Okay," said Emma. "Is that everything?"

"Yep, you're ready to go," said Cleo. "Did you tell him to pick you up from mine?"

"Yeah, he'll be here. What's the time?"

"5:50," Cleo told her. "Don't rush it, only go down when he knocks the door."

Eventually, Ash arrived at Cleo's house, clad in a grey suit with a blue tie. When Cleo looked out the window she was ecstatic. "He's matching you!" she squealed.

Ash knocked at the door and Cleo let him in. Emma came slowly and gracefully down the stairs and joined him by the door. "Good evening," she said with a smile.

"You look amazing," said Ash.

"Thank you," Emma replied.

Ash opened the front door for Emma and followed her out to the shiny black taxi that awaited them.

"This is the place. Thank you." Ash paid the taxi driver and helped Emma out of the car.

The restaurant was fairly large, overlooking the sea, the light from inside bursting out the windows. Emma looked at the ocean and sighed with pleasure. Ash had chosen the perfect place. The two of them went inside. Ash had booked the table right by the window so the sea was close. He held out Emma's chair and then pushed it in once she was in it. He offered her the menu and she looked at it.

"Emma?" Sam held his hand over his mouth. "I'm so sorry if I'm interrupting!"

"You are," Ash muttered, though not loud enough for Sam to hear. He frowned visibly though when Emma spoke to Sam.

"It's fine," Emma smiled. "What are you doing here?"

"Blind date," Sam replied. He nodded his head to the petite girl beside him with straight black hair. The girl was wearing a very short pink strapless ruffled dress and dangerously high heels.

"Mia Edwards," said the girl. She carefully shook Emma's hand, almost daintily.

"I came with Ash," said Emma, giving Ash that loving smile that looked so adorable that he completely forgot his irritation with Sam.

"Nice, well, Mia, we should probably find a table," said Sam.

"Yeah, we should."

"I thought he'd never leave," Ash mumbled under his breath.

"Sorry, Ash?" Emma asked.

"Nothing." Ash gave a tight smile. "Shall we order?"

Emma decided on a completely non-seafood meal of chicken and chips, since she was part fish herself. Ash followed her lead and ordered a steak. He was horrified at the thought of someone eating a mermaid and so had gone for the non-fish option.

"How are things down at the stables?" Emma asked.

"Good," said Ash. "Rebel is getting to be slightly more well behaved and Maple is a dream. We use her for the younger kids but I love riding her too."

"Elliot still goes, doesn't he?"

"Yeah, he still comes, though less frequently now. He is still clambering to ride Rebel. I might let him once he's more experienced," Ash mused. "How are things in the Mermaid Club?"

"I love how all you guys call it that," Emma laughed. "No, things are pretty good. The last full moon wasn't too bad, but I can't say I'm looking forward to the next one."

"When is it?" Ash asked.

"Next week," Emma replied. "I think we're all staying round Cleo's."

"Do you need any help setting up? Is Cleo's dad going to be in?"

"I think Mr Setori is away for the weekend and Kim is going to visit her mum," said Emma. "And yeah, I'd love it if you helped Lewis and Zane."

Ash smiled. "Okay, I'll be there."

Emma leaned in over the meals to kiss him. She was so close she could smell the soft aroma of Ash's aftershave, her hair tickling his face. But before they could, a voice broke in saying, "Emma?" Ash inwardly groaned as the two of them broke apart.

"I was wondering if I could talk to Ash for a moment?" Sam asked.

"Sure," Emma said. She got up and excused herself, "I'll be back in a minute."

"Sorry," said Sam once she had left. "Look, I was wondering if you could interview me for a job."

"What?" Ash asked.

"At the cafe," Sam replied. "I really need a summer job so I can save up for college."

"Out of the question," said Ash bluntly. "We have enough workers and not enough money to pay another," he added, though that wasn't the real reason. He simply didn't want Sam around. He always seemed to ruin everything.

"Oh," said Sam, the disappointment showing on his face, "okay."

"Shouldn't you be getting back to your date?" Ash asked pointedly. Sam nodded and left the table. This was supposed to be mine and Emma's date! Ash thought to himself. Why did Sam have to ruin everything?

"Hey," said Emma. She sat back down at the table. "What did he want?"

"Nothing," said Ash quickly. "Now, where were we?"

Emma leaned in for a kiss. "Kissing?"

Ash gave a tight smile. He hated lying to her.