Chapter One - New Beginnings and Fresh Faces

Fast forward eight years later, Bella and her family return to the Gold Coast after living abroad due to her parents' jobs. While unpacking her stuff, Sophie, who actually moved there one year prior to train Bella's childhood friend Will Benjamin in free diving, bursts into her room holding a flyer for an audition to select the lead singer for the Rikki's Cafe's new band.

Sophie: "Hey Bella! You're not going to believe this! There's this new cafe that just opened and guess what?! They're looking for a lead singer for their live band. I think this could be the perfect opportunity for you to, you know, actually make friends. It's your final year of high school, remember?"

Bella: "I know Sophie, and it's not that I don't actually want friends, it's just that I can't trust just anyone regarding my secret."

Sophie: "I understand that, trust me I do, especially as your overprotective big sis, I don't want any harm to come your way. But you've done such a great job at hiding your tail from the world for so many years, that it wouldn't hurt to ease your way into making friends this time around, even if it's just one or two. And who knows, maybe the Gold Coast might have its very own resident mermaid!"

Bella: "Haha, very funny, Sophie. I've been a mermaid for what–eight years now, and I've never even come close to suspecting anyone at school or anywhere else of being a mermaid. So I highly doubt that'll change this year."

Sophie: "Enough of your skepticism Bella. At least give the auditions a go? I just know that you'll ace it on your first try. Can you at least do that?"

Bella: sighs "I guess you're right. You, mom and dad can't continue being my only friends, right? Not that there's anything wrong with you guys' company."

Sophie: "That's the spirit. Why don't you go down by the beach to clear your mind, or even go for a swim."

Bella: "Sure thing, will do."

At her wits end, Bella begrudgingly takes the flier and ponders on Sophie's words as she steps outside for some fresh air.

Making her way down the Gold Coast's pristine shores, Bella muses over her sister's words and this time actually thinks it over instead of brushing it off like she normally would. Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by a group of obnoxious boys around her age beckoning for her attention from the water.

Boy 1: "Psst! Hey, cutie, why don't you join us for a swim?"

Boy 2: "Yeah, the water's fine! Come on in! What are you, scared of a little bit of water?"

Bella rolls her eyes at the boys and continues to trudge forward, but that only seems to anger them.

Both boys: "Snob!" both laugh in agreement

Before she's even able to react, the most unexpected thing happened - the water around the boys appeared to be boiling, while another was flipped over while sitting on his surfboard. A regular person would be struggling to wrap their minds over what just happened, but not Bella, her mermaid instincts instantly kicked in. Not far from where she stood lay two teenage girls near her age, a blonde and brunette, laughing hysterically at the rather unusual scene.

Bella: "What was that all about? Wait, did the water just start boiling? Did that other boy just get flipped over? And why were those two girls laughing like it was the most normal thing in the world?"

Curiosity further piqued her interest when the blonde girl mentioned the cafe listed on the flyer that Sophie handed her. Acting more so out of curiosity rather than genuine interest, Bella decided to give the audition a go, in hopes of running into those girls and learning more about them.

Cleo and Rikki's POV

Cleo: sighs "I miss Emma."

Rikki: "I know Cleo, I do too. Besides, she's gonna be home in a few days."

Cleo: "Yeah, and she's on the last lap of her trip, too. Where is she now, The Sahara Desert? And then it's sweet home Gold Coast. I just know she's aching for Mako island."

Rikki: sighs "I can't believe we're in our final year of high school. Kinda bittersweet, don't you think?"

Cleo: "Yeah, it definitely is. Especially since we'll all be going to college afterwards, some of us outside of Australia too."

Rikki: "So you've made up your mind about attending college in the States with Lewis, huh."

Cleo: "Yep. But I'll visit you guys for sure during the semester breaks, no doubt about that."

Rikki: "You better, or I'm dragging you back to Australia myself!"

Cleo, about to respond, is cut off by the sounds of a couple of rude boys harassing a blonde girl.

Rikki: "Ugh, can you believe this?"

Cleo: "Wanna teach them a lesson?"

Rikki: "Well look at you Cleo. You know, Emma would be so disappointed to find out I've rubbed off of you like this."

Cleo: shrugs "What can I say? I hate obnoxious guys!"

Rikki proceeds to heat up the water, while Cleo flips both boys over their surfboards.

both girls laughing hysterically

Cleo: "Now, wasn't that satisfying?"

Rikki: "Oh it sure was. Wish I could do it again, but Zane's expecting me at the cafe."

Cleo: "Still no luck at finding a lead singer?"

Rikki: *stands up and dusts herself off* "Nope, and my already thin patience is at a record low."

Cleo: "You know, I still can't get over the fact that Zane not only bought the Juice Net Cafe but also named it after you. Never thought I'd see him do that sort of thing!"

Rikki: "I know right? I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it, and it's been almost a month now. But I have to admit, the name Rikki's does have a nice ring to it. By the way, what did Lewis have to say about the crystals we found at Mako last week?"

Cleo: "Actually, I've yet to show it to him, we've both been so busy over the summer, and now he's you guys' new drummer."

both walking away

Rikki: "Wait, you still haven't?"

Cleo: "Like I just said, I haven't. Plus don't you find it odd that we only found three crystals? Like one for each mermaid?"

Rikki: "Yeah, and I don't know why but I can tell these aren't your regular, run-of-the-mill crystals. Sorry Cleo, but I gotta get home to change. But we'll talk about it tonight at the cafe at closing time, right?

Cleo: "Sure Rikki. See you later!"

Finding the cafe was a lot easier than Bella initially expected. Upon arriving, her path was cut short by a rude, uppity blonde, who was in the middle of throwing a fit, supposedly for being turned down the job as the lead singer, she assumed.

Miriam: "Watch it, loser!"

Bella: "I take it someone's lacking in home training."

Miriam: "What did you just say?"

Bella: "Oh nothing, just that I'm going to audition for the lead singer position. I take it that's why you're mad, because you got turned down, that is."

Miriam: hmph "Nothing's good enough for these losers inside. If I, of all people, got turned down, then, there's just simply no hope for you."

Bella: rolls eyes "Right… if you say so."

Miriam: smirks and flips her hair "Hmph… well, good luck with that." rolls her eyes

Inside were just just a handful of kids her own age, along with a pair of slightly familiar faces—the two girls from the beach. Both were with their boyfriends—one couple was all lovey-dovey at one booth, while the other seemed to be in the middle of some important yet lighthearted discussion.

Rikki: "Well that was another bust! Why is it so hard to find a decent singer in the Gold Coast? Surely it can't be so difficult?

Zane: "Come on Rikki, relax. I know our grand opening is tonight, but we still have plenty of time. We already have our drummer, guitarist and keyboardist, all that's missing is a lead singer."

Rikki: "No need to state the obvious Zane, otherwise we wouldn't be sitting here listening to person after person croaking our ears off."

Zane: "You know, Miriam wasn't so bad. If it comes down to it and no one decent shows up, we just might have to give her a call."

Rikki: "Ugh! As if! Zane! Have you lost your mind? Sure she can hold a tune, but barely. And let's not forget about her snobby attitude. We're gonna have to deal with that just about everyday."

Zane: laughs hysterically "If there's one sure way to get a rise out of you, it's definitely by mentioning Miriam's name."

Rikki: "Oh, you think you're so funny, huh? *whispers* Need I remind you what happened when I kissed you that one time on Mako? Even though I don't remember that night, I can definitely replicate that moment. Care for another wicked sunburn?" pretends to close her hands into a fist

Zane: "Oh, I remember that night very clearly, and I can tell you that it was so worth it."

Rikki: smiles and jabs him in the arm

Zane: "Hey! Not even a peck on the cheek?"

Rikki: "We're at work Zane!" turns around upon hearing someone enter "And see, it looks like our next candidate is already here."

Cleo: "Hey, isn't that the girl those boys were harassing on the beach?

Rikki: "Yeah, that's her. sighs "Let's just hope she's here to put an end to our misery."

Bella: "Uh… hi… umm… My name's Bella and uh… are the auditions still going on? Because I'd like to give it a go."

Rikki: "Yeah sure. Just stand over there and we'll get the band to play you a tune. Hey Nate! Stop goofing off and get up there already! You too Lewis, don't make me have to get up and peel you off Cleo. Let the girl breathe!"

Lewis: "Ugh, looks like it's back to work for me."

Nate: mumbling to himself "I'll never understand what Zane sees in her."

Rikki: "What was that?!"

Nate: "Nothing! Come on guys! Hey, Bella was it? I hope you get the job." playfully winks at her

Bella: in an annoyed tone "Yeah sure, ready whenever you guys are."

Bella, although wracked with nerves and fear, sang her heart out, much to everyone's surprise. Ricki in particular was especially happy, primarily because this meant the end of a rather long series of auditions. The brunette and her boyfriend, Cleo and Lewis, they introduced themselves as, showered her with praises, while Rikki made an inside joke about Cleo's singing that made her blush out of embarrassment. Elated at the unexpected turn of events, Bella headed home to both prepare for her new job and to deliver the exciting news to her family.

Bella: "I guess Sophie was right about giving the auditions a go—I even managed to get the job right on the spot!"

*notices a guy struggling to start his boat*

"Wait, is that who I think it is? Oh my god it's Will! Oh wow, he's… a lot more muscular than I remembered. Must be the result of Sophie's intense training sessions."

*walks up towards him*

Bella: "Hey there stranger, long time no see!"

Will: confused look "Uh… do I know you?"

Bella: "Seriously? It's only been five years and you've already forgotten what I look like? You've always been bad at remembering faces, but this is a new low, even for you, Will." *crosses arms and pretends to pout*

Will: "No, seriously who are…" fake gasp "Oh my god! Bella! Is that you? It's been so long! *chuckles* " I see that you're still short as ever."

Bella: "Hah, and now you're tall enough to tell me what the weather's like up there!"

*both burst into fits of laughter*

Will pulls Bella into a quick hug. The sight of his body up close and the faint smell of his cologne made her blush slightly.

Will: "Sophie told me that you guys have been here for about a week now, but you know how serious she takes training, I've barely had any time to myself, let alone enough to pay you a visit."

Bella: "Yeah, that sounds like Sophie alright. *points at the boat* "So what's up with that? Heading out for some sightseeing in the ocean? You know it's nothing but saltwater out there."

Will: *laughs and runs his hand through his hair* "Actually, there's a small island southeast not too far from here. Mako? Does it ring any bells? I'm going to free dive over there."

Bella: "Wait, that creepy island that's surrounded by sharks? And you're going there all by yourself?"

Will: "They're pretty much harmless Bella, unless you provoke them."

Bella: "I-I know that. Besides, there's all these spooky stories surrounding that island, especially ones about shipwrecks."

Will: laughs "Never thought I'd mistake you as the superstitious type. Well, if you're so worried you can come keep me company."

Bella: blushes slightly and turns her head "Uh, that sounds great and all but, I have a gig tonight at this new cafe, Rikki's. I'm the lead singer for their live band."

Will: "Oh cool, that's great Bella! Tell you what, when I'm done over at Mako, I'll stop by to pay you a visit, you know, as moral support."

Bella: "Of course, I'd love to have you there! By the way, the cafe opens at five."

After a few more tugs, the boat's engine finally roars to life. Upon this, Will parted ways with Bella.

Back at the Hartley's residence, Jonathan and Theresa's conversation was cut short by their daughter bursting into the living room.

Theresa: "What has you excited sweetheart? Did something happen?"

Bella: "Yeah! I just got a job as the lead singer for this new cafe, Rikki's. And their grand opening is in a few hours so I need to get prepared and meet them within an hour for rehearsals."

Theresa: "Oh Bella that's—"

Sophie: "Did you just say that you got the job?! That's great Bella. I told you could do it! And to think that you doubted me."

Bella: "Of course you were right! By the way, I ran into Will a few minutes ago. He said that he's heading out to Mako for some diving?"

Sophie: "Yeah, he's been wanting to go there forever. I just don't see the appeal in swimming in those shark infested waters. But you know Will, once he has mind set on something, it's pretty hard to make him change it."

Jonathan: "Congrats on your new job Bella, and don't worry about the rest of the boxes, Sophie's there, the three of us can handle it on our own."

Theresa: "Great job sweetie! Why don't you go on and get ready. Don't want you to be late!"

Bella: "Thanks mom, dad! *eagerly runs up to her room*

Sophie: "Actually, I was hoping to stop by at the cafe to watch my baby sister's first performance."

Jonathan: "Not a problem. Let's just unpack the rest of our things first."

Now at Rikki's, patrons were now filling in the cafe, including none other than Sophie and Will. Everything went without a hitch, everyone was dancing and having a good time as the music filled the air and Rikki and Zane were kept busy taking orders.

Rikki: "And to think we came this close to hiring Miriam of all people. Thank god Bella showed up when she did!"

Zane: "Yeah, even though I was joking, we really would've had to hire her."

Rikki: "Well I'm glad that didn't happen, otherwise I'd never get to see that look on her face." face." nods her head at Miriam scowling at a booth while nursing a smoothie

Zane: "Oh Rikki, you know you shouldn't knock people while they're down."

Rikki: "Who's knocking her down? I'm simply enjoying the moment."

*Zane chuckles and shakes his head*

Finally came the last song–Bella gave this one her all, ending it on a rather impressive high note. The crowd roared and Sophie wasted no time pulling her little sister into a huge hug.

Sophie: "Bella! That was amazing!"

Will: "Yeah, what she said. But you being so good is hardly a surprise, right?"

Bella: slightly blushing "Thanks guys! You two being there means everything to me!"

Sophie: "Well, duh! What kind of sister would I be if I didn't show up for your first gig? Anyways, I'd love to stay a bit longer, but Will and I have training tomorrow, so, see you later? Don't stay out too late! Love you!"

Will: "Bye Bella! And again, congrats!"

Bella: "Bye!"

Rikki: "Hey Bella, great job! You saved us there tonight!"

Bella: "Aw thanks, it helps having moral support."

Rikki: "You mean those two who just left?"

Bella: "Yeah, that's my big sis and childhood friend. See, I just moved back to the Gold Coast and haven't seen him in years."

Rikki: "Well, welcome back home. And if you need anything, just let Cleo and I know, or Lewis and Zane."

Bella: "Sure, I'll keep that in mind."

It was now approaching 10 pm, and Cleo, Rikki, Lewis, Zane and Bella were the only ones left behind, with the latter offering to help cleanup, much to the group of friends' protests. They eventually gave up after Bella mentioned that helping out was just her way of expressing her thanks for getting the job. Although they were supposed to be helping with cleaning, Cleo and Lewis had already snuck outside for yet another flirting session, but almost immediately, Lewis came rushing in with a horrified look on his face, calling for Rikki's help.

Lewis: struggling to catch his breath and speak "Rikki…! *panting* Rikki…! You need to… get here now! "It's… Cleo! She's… *lowers voice slightly* acting strange."

Rikki: "Lewis, what are you going on abo—wait. You don't mean… ?"

Lewis: *pained expression* "Yes, Rikki. I do."

Rikki: "Oh no… " *rushes towards Lewis*

Bella: "Is everything alright? Did something happen? Do you guys need help, or—"

Rikki: "Nope! Bella, we're fine! Besides, it's getting late. You should head home."

Bella: "But—"

Rikki: "Bella! It's fine! Really! Cleo's just… having a bad reaction to something she ate. So we're gonna get her home. It's nothing to worry about."

Lewis: "Uh… yeah! That's it. Cleo's just… being Cleo!"

Bella: "Okay… Well, good luck with that."

Rikki: "Zane, you should lock up, it's getting late." *darts out of the cafe with Lewis*

Zane: "Bella, she's right. This happens to Cleo all the time and it's no big deal."

Bella: "Really? Cuz the look on Lewis' face said otherwise."

Zane: "He's just being a caring boyfriend worried about his girlfriend. So come on, let's put these things—"

Lewis: muffled voice from outside "Rikki?! Rikki?! Oh no, not you too!"

Bella: "Let me guess, she's having a bad allergic reaction too? What's up with you guys? There's something strange going on here, I can feel it." *sets down towel and heads towards the door*

Zane: "Bella! Wait! No, stay here!"

Bella: "Sorry, it's late and I don't wanna miss my curfew. Bye!"

Zane: "Hey, Bella!" runs after her

As Lewis' muffled voice became clearer, Bella immediately became aware of the source of the commotion, only to find herself in the same predicament as Cleo and even Rikki—the three girls appeared to be in a deep trance, their eyes glued to the glowing blue crystals.

Zane: "Hey, Bella! I said wait h—. Bella? Are you—. *sees the crystal around her neck glowing* What the…?"

Lewis: "Zane! Get Bella out of h— what the heck?! What's going on?!"

Zane: "That's what I was gonna ask you! I see it's a full moon. Is this the reason for all this? I thought they'd already gotten over that!"

Lewis: "They have! At least… I thought they did. This… this is something new."

Zane: "Rikki! Come on! Snap out of this! You've done this before! Rikki! Rikki!"

Lewis: "Zane, she can't hear you! None of them can!"

Amidst Lewis and Zane's worried babbling, Bella silently walked up to Cleo and Rikki. The three girls looked at each other, a deep understanding and agreement forming between them. Wordlessly, they plunged into the dark waters of the night illuminated only by the ominous full moon.