Cleo Sertori was an ordinary girl. Sure, she could swim faster and longer than most of the girls her year, make water do whatever she wanted, and turn into a half-fish; but she still had math homework, and science homework, and English homework. She was also still a girl that hated being stuck inside for hours doing all that homework on the most beautiful Saturday they had seen in weeks. If only…

She turned to Lewis who was sitting at her desk and prepared her puppy look. "Lewis, it's such a nice day wouldn't you rather go for a swim?"

"Absolutely, but our project proposals are due next week. You know we need those for University acceptance, and I am determined that we are going to college together."

"What if I don't want to go to college? I could take a gap year, do some travel. I'm sure Rikki would be up for it."

"Are you trying to upset me?" he asked offended.

"Lewis stop worrying. I'll do fine."

"I know you'll do fine, because we're getting this proposal taken care of this weekend."

"Ugh," She moaned hanging her head. "Can't we go get a Juice at least? You know, for brain power."

"You and I both know your brain is powerful enough even without a juice. Come on, I know you can do this."

Even though she would tend to put up a fight, she was thankful for Lewis' encouragement to do the hard things in life. She remembered having to encourage Lewis to take a leap, back when his whole life was turned upside down.

Camp had been quiet the morning after the boys fell into the pool. Everyone muddled around with the fire and food, as if afraid to speak. Cleo however, found Lewis noticeably absent. Ash had pointed her down to the beach, where she found him: knees to his chest, gaze to the glistening ocean not six meters away from him. She had lowered herself to the sand allowing the natural silence to hang over them until he broke it.

"Quantum Superposition."

"What?"

"Quantum Superposition. It's a principle of quantum mechanics in which if there are two or more possible states within a system those states may relationally affect the original state. A new state can be created from where they overlap, correct term: where they are superimposed."

"Okay, you completely lost me."

"You remember the paradox with the cat. If you put it in a box with poison its' possible states are either alive or dead. Until you open the box though…"

"…It's possibly both alive and dead, yeah I remember now. Still don't really get it."

Lewis sighed, "Right now, the possibilities are that I'm human, or that I'm a merman. But until I open that box, until I step into that water…"

"You're both."

"Or, maybe I'm not either of them." He lowered his head darkly.

"Look, Lewis… It's okay if you're scared…"

"I don't think I am, not really. It's just... I'm never going to have this moment again. For this little bit, I'm not Lewis the human, or Lewis the merman. I'm just… Lewis."

Cleo sighed firmly, then made a point to look at him, willing him to return her gaze. "Well I love you Lewis, whatever you are. And whenever you are ready to open that box I'll be right here." She looked down at his hand and then took it in hers. "But you're never going to know until you get into that water."

He smiled before leaning over to give her a kiss. "Then let's go get the others," he spoke resolutely.

After another two hours of getting work done, Lewis finally caved. The two of them headed to the JuiceNet for drinks and to see if they could find any of their friends. Cleo hoped Emma or Rikki would be there, allowing her to stall before diving back into productivity.

Her excitement rose when she caught sight of Zane and Rikki sitting at a table outside of the Café.

"Hey guys," greeting with her usual level of cheeriness. "Is Emma here?"

"No. She and Ash are on a date out at Mako," answered Rikki.

"Ooh swim dates! Those are always fun."

"Actually, they were going to explore the island. Ash mentioned he'd been feeling pulled there."

"But it's not even a full moon," Lewis spoke up, now curious and concerned.

"Yeah we know," assured Zane, "We haven't felt anything. Have you two?"

"No. Not that I'm aware of," responded Lewis as Cleo shook her head.

"It's probably nothing then," said Rikki, who was unknowingly about to eat her words.

"Guys! You'll never believe what we found!" Ash yelled across the porch as soon as he saw them. He was panting heavily as if he hadn't stopped moving since leaving Mako.

Lewis stood up quickly followed by Cleo, "Ash what is it?" He asked urgently.

"And where's Emma?" Cleo added.

"Oh, shoot. I must have run ahead of her," He realized quickly looking behind him. "Oh, there she is," he relaxed a little as she rounded the corner.

"I can't believe you were able to run so fast after that steam dry!" She panted a little as she slowed over to the group. "You may have done it to my tail, but I can still feel the stinging in my legs!"

Zane shook off the brief comedy to turn the tone serious again. "What happened guys? What did you find?"

They pressed silently waiting for Ash to catch his breath, "It was huge… you couldn't see it and then, BAM! It was like it had been invisibly hiding itself until we ran into it… literally."

"What? What was it!?"

Emma took a breath before finishing for him, "It looked like some sort of… ancient temple."