Zane paced back and forth, anxiously checking his watch. He had broken out in a cold sweat. No matter how many times the rest of the group had told him not to worry, he couldn't seem to calm down. They only had ten more minutes until the full moon was to rise.
Zane, Rikki, Lewis, and Cleo had completely sealed up Lewis's home from top to bottom. There was absolutely no way any moonlight could get in. Bella was staying with Will in his boat shed that night. She usually liked to be with the girls, but for this night she thought it would be easier on both Zane and Will if they were separated for this first one.
"Ok." Rikki looked around the room, checking the sealed windows one last time before walking towards Zane. "You're going to be fine, you have absolutely nothing to worry about."
"I know, I know." Zane said, trying not to sound as nervous as he felt. He did not like to feel out of control. Last month's episode still gave him nightmares. Zane made himself smile down at Rikki and found himself relaxing slightly. "Nothing is going to happen. "
"Right." Rikki smiled confidently up at the boy she loved. "Piece of cake."
"Absolutely." Zane nodded. "Now, where is Lewis? I told him I'd help him examine that new blue stone he found."
"I guess he's downstairs." Rikki shrugged. She wasn't nearly as fascinated with the new stone as the boys were. Still, it was kinda cute watching Zane and Lewis play geologists.
Rikki was right, Lewis was downstairs. He had managed to convince Cleo to let him borrow her blue crystal necklace so that he could compare it to the new blue stone. The two were alike in almost every way, but they had a few distinct differences. Number one, the most obvious, was the size difference. The girls' stones were all identical in size and shape, but the new one, Zane's, was bigger and a perfectly flat circle. Also, the girls' stones were crystal clear. This new one was just the tiniest bit cloudy. Still see-through, but not as clear as the others. Lewis was dying to see what happened when the new stone touched the other crystals, but he wasn't about to try it on a full moon.
"Hey man, whatcha looking at?" Zane took a seat at the kitchen counter across from Lewis.
Lewis looked up briefly from his notes. "Hey Zane. Just reviewing the data I got earlier."
"See anything new?" Zane asked interestedly.
"Not really." Lewis closed the notebook and dropped it onto the counter. "It doesn't change on contact with water, it hasn't changed for the full moon, the only thing really left is to test it's reaction with the other crystals, but I think I'll wait to try that tomorrow."
"Good call." Zane nodded. He knew that when the girls' crystals touched they had the same properties as a full moon. He didn't know if his would react the same way, but he was more than willing to wait to find out.
"Hey guys." Cleo hurried into the house, her arms weighed down with bags. "Sorry I'm late."
"Not late, but you're sure cutting it close." Lewis briefly checked his watch before hustling over to help Cleo with her bags. "You really should be careful."
"Lewis," Cleo's tone was condescending, "The moon hasn't bothered us in ages."
"No, but it might bother..." Lewis's voice faded as his eyes flickered over to Zane, who still sat at the counter.
"It's ok Lewis." Zane stood. "I'm worried the moon might affect me." Zane spoke directly to Cleo.
"Gotcha." Cleo began unloading her shopping bags. "Well, no worries. I'm sure it will all be fine. And I've brought distractions." Cleo looked at the rest of the group mischievously.
"Beer?" Rikki said incredulously as she walked down the steps. "Cleo, are you bonkers?"
"No, she's a saint!" Zane grabbed a can and popped it open. "Perfection." He took a long gulp.
Lewis and Rikki crossed their arms.
"Oh, come on." Cleo shrugged. "We'll all fall asleep quicker and it will help us relax."
"If you say so." Lewis let his arms drop and gave Cleo a quick peck on the cheek. He picked up a can and cracked it open. His eyebrows rose up as he looked around the sealed house. "Let's get this party started."
The night was surprisingly fun for all of them. Zane found himself quickly relaxing. He and Lewis realized that they had quite a bit in common, and soon began chattering like old friends. Cleo and Rikki enjoyed watching their boyfriends gab. Cleo eventually produced a pack of cards and the group began playing some casual drinking games to pass the time.
Three hours later, the group was nearing the end of the case of beer. They were well into their fifth round of cards, and were having an absolute blast.
"I mean it man, I totally love you right now." Lewis had one arm wrapped tightly around Zane's neck.
"No, you're like my best friend." Zane dopily draped one arm around Lewis, pulling him backwards.
"Uh oh." Cleo leaned towards Rikki. "They're going down in 3... 2..."
There was a huge crash as Zane and Lewis fell backwards off their chairs and onto the kitchen floor. They rolled around for a few seconds giggling like kids.
"Hey Rikki!" Zane shouted. "You should come on down here, it's so comfy."
"I would kill for a bowl of Fruit Loops." Lewis murmured dumbly.
"I'm sure you would, sweetie." Cleo said as she hopped out of her chair and headed for the fridge.
"Rikki, I can't seem to be able to stand up." Zane rolled over onto his stomach before flopping down onto the floor.
"Cleo! Fruit Loops!" Lewis called towards the refrigerator.
"They're coming, they're coming." Cleo humored him as she pulled a bowl from the cabinet and quickly poured the cereal. She placed the bowl in front of Lewis a few seconds later and carefully pressed a spoon into his hand.
"Oh Cleo, you're the best girlfriend in the whole world. I mean, I love you. I can't wait til- wait, no milk?" Lewis shot Cleo a disappointed look.
"Always the charmer, Lewis." Cleo laughed as she poured some milk into her fiance's cereal bowl.
"And you." Rikki sat herself down on the floor beside Zane. "Think you might want to go on upstairs and head to bed?"
"Bed?" Zane's head shot up as he made himself sit up straight. "Yes. I am certainly ready for bed."
Rikki checked her watch. It was only just midnight, but that worked out pretty well. Zane could go to sleep and when he woke up in the morning the moon would have set. "All right then, let's get you standing."
It took a great big heave, but Cleo and Rikki managed to get Zane onto his feet.
"Are you sure you've got him?" Cleo asked concernedly as she handed Zane off to Rikki.
"Absolutely." Rikki said confidently. "We'll see you guys tomorrow morning."
Rikki and Zane began to make their way towards the hall, past the kitchen counter.
"Isn't my blue stone cool?" Zane's hand shot out and snatched the rock off the table. He held it up in the air proudly. "Lewis is going to put it in a necklace for me. Just like you."
"So he told me." Rikki tried to focus on keeping her balance as she tried to support Zane's weight. Despite her best efforts, she felt herself begin to tip sideways.
Before she could rebalance herself, Rikki found herself tumbling sideways, Zane still clutched tightly to her side. the pair fell to the floor and rolled a few times before settling.
"Are you alright?" Rikki asked Zane quickly.
Zane lay practically on top of Rikki. "I'm fine." He said, suddenly sobered.
"Thank goodness." Rikki sighed.
"I know it." Zane's sigh matched Rikki's. He let himself relax on top of her, forgetting that the blue stone was still clutched tightly in his right hand.
As Zane tried to push himself to stand up he let his hand rest momentarily on Rikki's chest, near her collar bone. Exactly where her necklace hung from her neck.
The larger stone Zane held in his hand touched Rikki's nicklace just briefly, but just long enough. Zane, Rikki, and Cleo went completely and totally moonstruck as the whole house filled with a blueish glow. The three of them froze as they gazed out at the light.
"Cleo?" Lewis's head shot up from his bowl of Fruit Loops as he looked at the rest of the party. "Cleo!"
Cleo didn't move a muscle.
Lewis hastily pushed himself up to a sitting position and raced towards Zane and Rikki. He grabbed the stone out of Zane's hand and threw it clumsily to the other side of the room. The light immediately faded and the color in the room returned to normal. Zane, Rikki, and Cleo shook their heads, confused.
"What just happened?" Cleo rubbed her temples.
"Rikki touched Zane's rock." Lewis stammered, still trying to hold himself up steady. "I mean," He corrected himself. "Zane's rock touched Rikki and magic happened. NO..." Lewis's head rocked back and forth as he tried to compose himself. He took a long, deep breath. "Zane's blue stone touched Rikki's blue stone." He managed.
"And what happened then?" Cleo said seriously.
Lewis groaned slightly as he tried to put thoughts together. "The room filled with blue light and... and..."
"And what?" Rikki pushed.
"And you guys all kind of froze for a second or two." Lewis finished.
"Meaning... that we all went moonstruck." Cleo clarified, looking to Lewis for confirmation.
"Yes." Lewis said, rubbing his forehead as he spoke.
Cleo, Rikki, and Zane all exchanged nervous looks with each other.
"I feel ok, how do you feel?" Rikki looked to Zane anxiously.
"I feel... fine." Zane said, surprised. He didn't feel any different at all.
"So do I." Rikki smiled, relieved.
"Me too." Cleo grinned.
"Ok then." Rikki pulled herself carefully to stand. She extended a hand down to Zane, who still laid on the floor. "Come on, let's head up stairs."
"You got it." Zane said as he carefully stood. He looked at Lewis shakily. "Are we all alright?"
"I think so." Lewis looked at the three of them one more time. "Everyone seems to be alright."
"I need a glass of water." Zane realized that his head was splitting from the beer. "I really need everyone to be fine, this evening was going so well."
"Here you are." In a flash, before Zane had finished speaking, Cleo poured a tall glass of water from the refrigerator and handed it to Zane.
"Thanks." Zane muttered as he downed it. He set the glass down as he looked to Rikki. "Want to go upstairs?"
"More than anything." Rikki immediately dropped Zane's hand, left the group and hurried up the steps without looking back. She quickly disappeared, closing the guest room door tightly behind her with a bang.
"Well she must be ready for bed." Zane muttered. He looked appreciatively to Lewis. "Thanks for looking after us, mate." He said awkwardly.
"No problem at all." Lewis said honestly.
"I'll see you two tomorrow." Zane headed sleepily towards the steps. "And Cleo, be sure to get some rest tonight."
"Yes, Zane." Cleo said robotically. She immediately began marching towards the stairs and up to her room.
"Cleo, wait for me!" Lewis called after her. "Give me just a second and I'll join you!"
Cleo paused only for a second. "I'm sorry Lewis, but Zane has told me to get some rest." She said in a monotone voice before continuing her way up the steps.
"So what?" Lewis called after her.
A knock at the door startled Lewis and Zane. Lewis hurried over and checked the peep hole before pulling the heavy front door open. "Bella, what are you doing here?" He asked, confused.
"I'm fine." Bella said as she stepped inside.
"That's good..." Lewis said hesitatingly. "But why are you here?"
"Zane needed me to be fine." Bella said simply. So I came here so that he could see that I am." Bella walked confidently into the house.
Before the door could close, Will came running up to the front porch.
"Is... Bella... here...?" He panted, completely out of breath.
"Uh, yeah." Lewis held open the door so that Will could enter. "What is going on?"
"I have no idea." Will struggled to catch his breath. "All of a sudden Bella just stood up and walked out the door. She must have swam here."
The boys walked fully into the house as Lewis pulled the front door shut. Bella had walked inside and immediately sat down in front of Zane.
"What would you like me to do?" She asked him, looking up at his face.
"I don't know, whatever you want." Zane said dismissively. "It's late, you should get some sleep soon."
"Yes sir." Bella said with a smile. She immediately curled up on the floor and closed her eyes. Two seconds later she was gently snoring.
Zane walked blankly towards Lewis and Will. "I'm headed to bed." He announced. Then his eyes narrowed. "Don't you have your own home, fish boy?" He called to Will as he walked towards the steps.
"Has he been that pleasant all night?" Will asked Lewis sarcastically as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"You didn't obey him." Lewis said distractedly.
"Uh, no. Why would I obey Zane?" Will raised his shoulders.
Lewis was deep in thought. "Hey Zane," He said. "Could you ask Rikki to come back down here for just a second?"
"Um, sure." Zane shrugged. "Hey Rikki! Can you come down here right quick?"
In a flash, Rikki was downstairs and awaiting instruction. "Yes?" She said brightly.
"Tell her to make you a coffee." Lewis said to Zane quietly.
"What?" Zane raised his eyebrows. "No way, Rikki would never do that, and I'm not even thirsty."
"Just. Do. It." Lewis said seriously.
"Ok." Zane said reluctantly. "Um, Rikki? Could you make me a coffee?"
"Yes." Rikki said immediately as she hurried into the kitchen to heat water.
"Tell her never mind." Lewis said softly.
"Hey Rikki? I'm actually not craving coffee." Zane said, keeping one eye on Lewis. "I'll be up to bed in a minute, why don't you head on up?"
"You've got it." Rikki beamed at Zane before racing up the steps and into the bedroom.
Lewis was looking at Zane with his mouth hanging open. "I need to run a few more tests..." He began, still remembering Cleo and Bella's reactions. Bella still lay on the floor, sound asleep. "But Zane, it seems like the girls are all obeying you."
"No way." Zane said practically. "That's ridiculous."
"Sure it is." Lewis rolled his eyes. "But I think we need to run some more tests."
The group waited out the morning, and it was definitely a tense wait. Will, Zane, and Lewis managed to spend more than a few hours together without killing each other, but it wasn't easy. Eventually the moon began to sink behind the coast.
"Finally." Zane said, bored. "Can I wake up Rikki now?"
"Sure." Lewis said, distractedly. "Do whatever."
"Should I stay or go?" Will's gaze followed Zane. He knew he was not a welcomed guest.
"Oh just stay for now." Lewis said easily.
All of a sudden, Rikki came flying down the stairs and raced into the kitchen. She immediately began cracking eggs into a bowl while simultaneously setting the oven to 400 degrees.
"Hey Rikki, why don't you let me help you with that?" Lewis hopped down from his perch and hurried over to her.
"Zane said that I should make some breakfast." Rikki spoke blandly. "So that's what I'm doing."
"Zane said..." Lewis's voice trailed off. His gaze flickered to Will. "I'm worried."
"Worried?" Will met his eye. "We know he won't share the secret, what else is there to worry about?"
"What else does Zane wish for me to do?" Cleo came walking down the steps.
Will looked at her in surprise, but it was Lewis who spoke up.
"Zane wants you to jump on one foot and sing the Happy Birthday song." Lewis said smoothly.
"Really?" Cleo looked slightly confused but didn't hesitate. She began jumping on one leg. "Happy Birthday to you, she sang loudly."
"Make her stop!" Lewis pleaded.
"Cleo, stop it." Zane said smoothly. Two seconds later Cleo was completely back to normal, holding Lewis's hand.
"We have a lot to figure out." Lewis spoke out loud. It was beginning to look more and more like Zane had control over the girls. But that couldn't be the case, could it?