Cleo and Lewis stepped through the front door of Cleo's house, hand in hand. They both froze momentarily as the door shut behind them.
"Are you sure you're ready to tell him?" Lewis asked, his eyes focused vaguely off in the distance.
"Yes." Cleo answered confidently.
"Ok."
A few seconds passed, but neither Cleo nor Lewis stepped any further into the house. Each of them looked straight ahead, willing their feet to move.
"So, do you want to tell him or should I?" Lewis asked quietly.
"You do it." Cleo sounded relieved. "You asked me to marry you, you should tell dad, right?"
"Ok." Lewis hadn't expected Cleo to take him up on the offer. He took a deep breath and prayed Don wouldn't shoot him.
"So... I guess we should go find dad." Cleo's tone was not as strong as it had been a moment ago.
"Right." Lewis said firmly.
Still, neither of them moved.
Don Sertori chose that moment to walk out of the kitchen. He stopped in his tracks, confused, when he saw Cleo and Lewis standing frozen by the front door. He gave them an odd look as he slowly walked to stand in front of the pair.
"And what are you two up to?" He asked suspiciously. Don crossed his arms over his chest and waited for Cleo and Lewis to answer him.
The couple looked up at Don with wide eyes. This was it. The tension in the room was thick.
"I can tell something's going on." Don's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"
"Lewis and I are getting married." Cleo blurted out. She immediately clapped her hand over her mouth.
Lewis's eyes looked ready to pop out of his head, but he held as still as possible, waiting for Don's reaction.
Don appeared to be frozen solid. And entire minute passed before he managed to speak. "What?"
Lewis cleared his throat before speaking. "Ah, Mr. Sertori, I've asked Cleo to marry me... and she's said yes." Lewis took a small step backwards, away from Don.
Don looked at Cleo. Then he looked at Lewis. Quickly, he reached one arm out, grabbed Lewis by the collar, and pulled him in for a tight bear hug.
"It's about time!" Don clapped Lewis on the back so hard that Lewis's knees buckled.
Cleo's eyes widened excitedly. "You're alright with this?"
"Alright?" Don released a very purple and gasping-for-breath Lewis. "I was wondering when this one was going to man up and ask you!"
Lewis managed a half grin as he tried to catch his breath.
"In all seriousness," Don calmed down for just a second. "I'm thrilled to see Cleo so happy. You two will be great together. Though..." Don looked serious for just a second, "You might have asked me first." Don's expression once again became ecstatic.
Lewis's expression warmed. He, Cleo, and Don joined together in a totally cheesy group hug. After a few seconds of self indulgence they immediately began making plans for an engagement party.
Bella pulled herself out of the water reluctantly. She didn't want to end her day of swimming, but she had a performance with the band to get ready for.
"There you are." Will jogged over to the dock where Bella sat, drying herself off. He watched as she held her hand over her tail and quickly steamed the water away. It was still weird to see her with the same power that Rikki had. "I've been looking for you everywhere."
Bella stood, smoothing down the blue dress she had on. "I've been out. You know..." Bella looked out over the water. "Out there."
Will slid his hands into his pockets as he gave Bella an easy smile. "Feel good to be back?"
"You have no idea." Bella brightened as a smile crossed her face.
"Glad to hear it." Will reached for Bella. He tried to pull her in for a kiss, but she ducked her head at the last minute and hugged him.
"Let's just take things slow, alright?" She murmured into his arm.
"Ok." Will awkwardly let his arms fall to his sides. "Do you, ah, want to get a juice?"
"I would," Bella answered regretfully. "But I have a performance with the band to prep for."
"Ah." Will nodded. "Where are you guys performing tonight?"
"A wedding." Bella spoke easily to Will as they walked. "It'll be simple, though. We only have to perform for two hours during the reception, the rest of the time there is our own." Bella slid her eyes sideways towards Will. "Want to be my date?"
"I'd love to." Will shyly reached for Bella's hand. She allowed him to entwine his fingers in hers. Bella blushed as he squeezed her hand gently. "What time is the show?"
"Seven to nine." Bella answered. "But the reception starts at 6:30."
"So I'll pick you up at 6:15?" Will's thumb rubbed the back of Bella's hand slowly.
"Sounds good." Bella looked up at his familiar face and smiled. "I'll see you later?"
By this time they'd reached Nate's house, where the band was rehearsing that day. With one last look back at Will, Bella hurried to the side door into Nate's house and let herself in. Will watched her walk away until she was completely out of sight. After the door closed behind her he turned to go, letting out a long sigh of happiness. He headed towards home, trying to calm the excited butterflies in his stomach. He was more than a little nervous about his date with Bella. He wanted everything to be perfect.
Rikki was hurrying down the beach on her way to meet Zane. She kept thinking about the wonderful afternoon they'd shared together in the water. In fact, she never wanted to stop thinking about it. They'd swum all through the ocean between Mako and the coast. Rikki had shown him the coral and the reefs and she'd led him to some of the most mysterious parts of the ocean. Being able to swim with him in the ocean had been amazing. Zane had been enthusiastic about seeing every little thing, and he pulled Rikki to him several times for long, underwater kisses. Zane had had to meet his Dad for a fast business function. He hadn't wanted to go, but he was trying to do a bit of damage control to save his and his father's relationship.
Rikki grinned as she remembered the wonderful day she'd spent with Zane in the water. She walked a little faster, anxious to see him. Rikki was almost to Zane's when she saw a familiar figure walking along the beach towards her.
"Shoot." She muttered, looking around quickly for a way to duck out of sight. The beach was open and empty, it offered no cover. Rikki ducked her head and tried to make her way up the beach and out of the path of the boy walking towards her.
"Hey Rikki." Will called from several yards away.
"Hey Will." Rikki said uneasily.
Their relationship had been more than a little bit awkward since Will had confessed his true feelings for Rikki. It had put a great deal of stress on Zane and Rikki's relationship, and Rikki and Will were were still trying to find the right balance in their friendship where they didn't act awkward around each other anymore.
The pair stood in front of each other, separated only by a few feet of air.
"So..." Will began. "How have you been?"
Rikki shoved her hands in her pockets. "I've been fine." She looked at him carefully. "And you?"
"Doing better." Will had a hard time meeting Rikki's eyes directly, but he managed it.
Will had really been torn up after he'd confessed his feelings of love to Rikki. He'd felt bad, he'd acted ridiculous in front of everyone he cared about, and he had thought he would have to quit hanging out with the rest of the group over it. If Bella hadn't given him another chance he didn't think any of the group would want to be friends with him anymore.
"I'm glad to hear it." Rikki said awkwardly.
"I have to meet Zane-"
"I'm on my way to meet Bella-"
They spoke simultaneously. Both of them paused, flushing just slightly.
"Yeah, so... I'll see you later." Rikki gave Will a small wave and then hurried along the beach towards Zane's house.
Will stood, watching her walk away. After a few seconds he turned and headed his own way towards Bella's. Was he completely over Rikki? No. It was impossible for him to just turn his feelings off. But Will knew how lucky he was to have Bella, and he did have genuine feelings for her. In fact, Will realized, he was really excited to go on a real date with her tonight. Will made a quick stop in a nearby shop and then hurried on his way to meet Bella.
6:15 came quickly. Bella was still putting the finishing touches on her hair when the doorbell rang. She hurried to the front door and, after one more check in the mirror, pulled it open.
"'Hey." She smiled brilliantly as she looked at Will. He looked amazing in the ink black suit he had on. His tie was a delicate blue, the exact color of her eyes.
"Hey yourself." Will took his hands out from behind his back. In one hand he had a bouquet of red roses, which he held out to Bella. "For you."
"Thank you." Bella said excitedly. She put the roses in a vase of water before the pair headed out the door, ready for a night of singing, dancing, and getting to know each other all over again.
"Hey you." Zane pulled open his front door right as Rikki walked up to it. "I thought you'd never get here."
"We've only been apart for an hour and a half..." Rikki teased as she wrapped herself in Zane's arms. "You couldn't have missed me all that much."
"On the contrary." Zane guided Rikki in the house and pulled the door shut behind them. "Every moment away from you is torture..."
Rikki giggled as Zane smothered her neck with kisses. The pair clumsily made their way up the steps towards Zane's bedroom, never releasing their grip on one another. Rikki nibbled on Zane's earlobes as Zane ran his hands over her chest. Both of them were panting by the time they made it to Zane's bed. Zane gave Rikki a playful push, tossing her onto the bed flat on her back.
"Don't leave me here alone." Rikki said smoothly.
"No way." Zane jumped onto her, re-locking his lips onto hers. A slight steam rose from the pair as they rolled over each other on the king sized bed, but neither seemed to notice.
"Sit up." Rikki directed Zane, her voice raspy.
Zane obliged her, sitting up straight and waiting for further direction from Rikki. Rikki grasped Zane's shirt in her fists and pulled it roughly over Zane's head, exposing his thin but toned frame.
"Now you. Sit up." Zane said huskily. He quickly unbuttoned Rikki's top and removed it. With a quick movement of his fingers he removed her bra, exposing her breasts. "Oh god..." Zane sighed as he pulled close the girl he was in love with.
They didn't get much sleep that night.