A Wish on a Full Moon
I do now own H2O: Just Add Water or any of the characters.
Chapter 54: Fish Out of Water (part 2)
[Rikki sat on the grassy beach with her knees brought to her chest, still feeling down about the fight from a few days ago. Her gaze stayed focused on the waves, deep in her thoughts, her face in her hands. Suddenly she feels a presence behind her. She turns around to find Zane crouched down next to her holding a red wrapped gift box.]
Terry couldn't help but feel guilty. He now realized that was during the exact same time she wouldn't talk to anyone for a few days, including him. It must've been right after their fight. She normally did that when something was really bothering her. He just didn't know what.
Zane: smiles at her. "Happy birthday."
"I might forget it sometimes but I'm pretty sure it wasn't her birthday," Terry said in confusion, but nonetheless he laughed as he was a little happy that it seemed to have distracted Rikki from her wandering thoughts. "Yeah, it wasn't. We would've known," Emma frowned as she waved to both her and Cleo. "I know, but I knew she was thinking about something so I figured it would cheer her up. And it worked," Zane grinned as he gestured to the screen.
Rikki: frowns in confusion as she looks at him and takes the gift. "It's not my birthday."
Zane: shakes his head and tries not to laugh. "Don't argue. It's a present."
"Agreed. Never question why someone gives you a gift. You just take it," Kim said eagerly, excited to see what he got her. "I think she gets that from you," Don snorted, forgetting about his anger at Bev for a moment.
[Zane sits down next to her and watches her open the gift box. Rikki looks at the now opened box in astonishment, gawking at her present. She reaches into the box and pulls out a dress, the exact same dress that they previously saw in the window of the store the other day.]
"No way. You got her the dress?" Bella gawked. "That's the same dress that she liked earlier!" Charlotte gasped in realization. "It's beautiful," Lisa admired.
"You remembered the dress she wanted and gave it to her? That is the sweetest thing ever," Bev gushed, wiping a stray tear from her eye.
"You really know how to treat a girl," Will joked, but was happy for the two.
"That's my boy," Harrison smiled in approval. He didn't really care how much money Zane had spent on that dress. If it made her happy, then he made the right decision.
"Okay, he's upped the approval rating some more. The boy has charm," Terry nodded with a small smile. He made Rikki so happy. That was what mattered the most.
Rikki: "You bought the dress." Gasp in delight and holds it against herself. "Are you crazy?"
"Crazy in love," Cleo joked around, earning an elbow from Rikki.
Zane: "Do you still want it?"
"No, she wanted to throw it away the moment she saw it. Did you not see her reaction?!" Kim sarcastically said, rolling her eyes. "Wouldn't be surprised if she did," Lewis tilted his head.
Rikki: still staring at the dress. "Of course I want it. I love it." Looks up at Zane and finally sets the dress back down. She smiles up at Zane and hugs him, never letting the smile slip away. Rikki lets go and continues to admire her new dress.
"Good, because they had a 'no return' policy," Zane let out a breath in relief and laughed. "Wait a second, how did you know her size then?" Emma asked in confusion. "Uh, I kinda didn't. I just took a gamble and hoped it would fit her," Zane grimaced. "So let me get this straight. You bought a dress, not knowing her actual dress size, and knew you couldn't return it?" Lewis raised an eyebrow. "Well, I wasn't going to ask her what size she wears. That's rude and it would've ruined the surprise," Zane defended his actions. "That was one heck of a risk," Terry noted, though he apparently does have manners. "I'm not sure whether to be angry with you that you spent that much knowing you couldn't return it or be proud that you had the decency not to ask," Harrison said, feeling conflicted.
"It's the first gift and he's treating her so much better than Miriam," Cleo whispered to Emma who nodded in agreement.
Zane: grins as he watches her play with the dress. "So do you think you're in the mood to wear it right now?" Rikki looks up at him in confusion.
"You're just now asking her to the luncheon when it was going on right then?" Harrison rubbed his forehead in frustration, all conflict gone. "Wow, you really need to work on your timing," Ash winced. "Well, I wanted to ask her earlier, but she seemed so down already, and I didn't want to make it worse for her," Zane admitted. Puts her feelings first before his. Bonus points, Terry hummed.
"Well, you could think of it as a date, plus you get to meet the parent," Neil suggested. "But I've already met Mr. Bennett. On several occasions," Rikki pointed out, surprising Harrison that she called him Mr. Bennett.
[As Zane discusses the luncheon with her, a few yards away, without being seen by the couple, Lewis walks by with his fishing gear in hand. He makes his way towards the water when he looks over and sees Rikki and Zane before turning back and thinks nothing of it. Lewis then stops in his tracks and does a double-take and looks directly at the two. Zane stands up with the box in his hands, and Rikki follows, where Lewis notices the stunning red dress in her hands that she held against her body. The two begin to walk away and Lewis quickly looks away, a mix of emotions running across his face before walking off.]
"Now I got to officially see them for myself, and that was all the proof I needed," Lewis said as he leaned back.
"What was with that look?" Cleo laughed. "I was a bit shocked that you two were right and not going delirious, while also thinking that either he truly did change, or the world was coming to an end … I settled on the latter," Lewis explained with a shrug. "Gee, thanks," Zane sighed.
"Why do you guys feel the need to spy on me?" Rikki sighed. "It wasn't intentional, it just happened to be bad timing. You know I go fishing every weekend," Lewis exclaimed. "And we didn't mean to spy on you, we just happened to be at the same theater as you two at the same time. It was a coincidence, and you know it," Emma huffed.
"You four have the worst luck," Elliot laughed. "Tell us about it," the four say simultaneously.
[Back at the Bennett's, Harrison greets more guests, the Chen family, into his luxurious home as he brags about its upbringing. Harrison, the husband and wife, and their daughter walk down the stairs as they go meet with the rest of the group.]
Harrison: "You wouldn't believe this place, when I first got here. Mangrove, swamp, and lizards. It's amazing what you can do with vision and a bulldozer. Isn't that right, George?" The man, George, nods in agreement as he wraps an arm around his wife down the stairs. Their daughter is on the other side of her mother.
"It can be amazing, but it can also be a disaster for something else," Mrs. Chatham announced, thinking about the wildlife that would've once been there.
"I'm sure it looked beautiful before you harmed the environment," Sam nodded with a look of disdain. It's something she shouldn't worry about. Construction happens all the time, but she hated to hear whenever nature was involved. Whatever was there is now gone. There's a reason she became a geologist, she just loved the outdoors too much. "It was beautiful. There's a picture back at home of what it looked like before it was, it was uh, destroyed," Harrison admitted with a sigh. Back then, he wouldn't have a care for it in the world. But Zane's mother had wanted a before-and-after picture of what it looked like. He could see the beauty of what it looked like, it just took his plans for Mako to be foiled to finally realize it.
Harrison: to the Gilbert family who was talking with Candy in the yard. "Neil and Lisa, I'd like you to meet George Chen, the most influential property developer on the east coast." Pats George on the back.
Neil: "Pleasure to meet you, George."
George: let's go of his family and shakes Neil's hand. "Likewise, mate."
Lisa: "Yes, I'm Lisa." Emma looks around before walking away from the group.
Harrison: "And George's lovely wife, June."
Lisa: "How do you do?"
Harrison: "And this is Candy. Neil's the real estate portfolio manager in town."
"I'm surprised you two haven't ran into each other in town," Don said, knowing of Neil's job. "That's because George and his family live on the other end of the east coast. He doesn't normally come to the Gold Coast unless it's on business or they take a vacation," Harrison replied.
[The Chen's daughter runs over to a poolside lounge chair and sits down. She takes out her game and begins to play with it, she stops and holds it away from Emma when the teenage blonde tries to lean down and speak with her.]
"Guess she didn't want you to play with it," Lisa chuckled though she found it sweet that Emma at least tried to interact with the little girl, so that way she wouldn't be bored at the business lunch.
"Just like every rick kid, spoiled," Rikki joked as she glanced over at Zane. "I think she might've been better than Zane," Harrison added with a laugh. "Hah ha. You know all kids are spoiled at that age," Zane rolled his eyes. "And you never grew out of yours," Lewis smiled smugly.
[Zane suddenly speaks up from the top of the stairs.]
Zane: "Dad." Emma stiffens before straightening up and slowly turns around. Her scowl instantly turns into a look of shock as she sees who was with Zane. Zane and Rikki walk down hand in hand, Rikki now in her beautiful and stunning red dress with matching red heels and a gorgeous necklace with it. The partygoers look at the two in amazement, seeing how beautiful Rikki looked. When they get to the bottom of the stairs to greet them, Zane motions to the blonde beauty. "You know Rikki."
Almost the entire theater's jaws hit the floor. Rikki smiled wide at all the looks she was getting from being compared to her now and to what was on the screen. Lewis, although he saw the dress in person, never actually got to see her wear it, points to her and the screen, his mouth never closes. "How – wha – who – how? … What?!" "Uh thank you, Lewis," Rikki giggled at his confused look as he stutters out an answer.
Terry didn't know what to say. She looked, amazing, spectacular, gorgeous. Every positive definition in the dictionary you could think of! That was his daughter, in an amazing dress that Zane had bought her. Zane is definitely winning the best boyfriend award. And they've been dating for only at least a week. Although the sight almost brought tears to Terry's eyes. His daughter, so grown up, it's so hard to see that she wasn't the little girl that she used to be.
"Woah," Will said, causing Zane to frown at him.
"You look amazing Rikki," Charlotte complimented, wishing she had a dress like that. Cleo looks at Rikki in shock. Unlike her friends, she never got to see the dress in person. It looked great, she looked great. And the dress was definitely her style, it was so, 'Rikki.'
"And you got matching heels and a necklace with it too?! Never let him go, Rikki!" Bella exclaimed. "Thanks, guys," Rikki laughed, a blush taking over her. Yes, it was definitely safe to say that Rikki was stunning.
Harrison: steps forward and looks at Rikki in shocked confusion. "Yes. Delighted you could come." He holds a hand out for her to shake and Rikki hesitantly accepts it.
Playing nice now I see, is it because you have an audience? Terry scowled.
Rikki: "Delighted to be invited."
"Looks like second chances are worth it sometimes since that first impression didn't go too well," Zane chuckled. "Yeah, it was definitely a change, for the both of us," Harrison nodded. "That I can agree with," Rikki nodded along.
Lisa: "Rikki, you look lovely."
Neil: "Very glamorous, Rikki. Terrific." Off to the side, Emma looks at Rikki a bit dumbfounded, as if she were questioning whether what she was looking at was real or not.
"What's the matter, Em? Cat got your tongue?" Rikki laughed. "If you thought it was a shock when we found out you and Zane were together, how do you think I felt seeing you in a dress for the first time?" Emma raised her eyebrows.
"I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting you guys to be there," Rikki looked at the Gilbert family. "Would you still have come if you knew I was there?" Emma asked, a bit of hurt showing on her face. Rikki hesitated thinking about it before she nods. "Yes. I mean I was doing it for Zane, but truthfully, I also wanted to know if maybe things would change if you saw me, and Zane interact a little more. Plus, I really wanted to see your reaction of me wearing that dress. Worth it!" Rikki said. The last part of her statement ends with a fist pump.
Harrison: gives Zane a look before he looks toward the tent. "Let's eat." Leads the way toward the tent and the others begin to follow. Zane wraps an arm around Rikki and takes her to the tables. The Chen's take their daughter by the hand and follow along. Emma lags behind for a moment, standing by the poolside with a cup in her hands, still in shock, until finally, she goes too.
"You weren't nervous standing so close to the edge?" Ash asked as he noticed how close she was to the pool. "Not really. I have a pool at home, so I'm used to getting close but being careful. And I needed to act normal about it. Everyone knew I used to be on the swim team so there was no point in acting like I was scared of a pool," Emma answered.
[A few minutes later, the guests and the Bennett's sit under the tent at the lunch table eating. Harrison sits at the end of the table while the Chen's and Rikki are on one side and Candy plus the Gilbert's sit on the other. Zane sits on the other end between Rikki and Emma.]
Harrison: "Everybody wants to go to the beach. If you've got sand and water, people will come. Believe me, the coastal boom is far from over."
George: "Could not agree more."
"It's true. I'm not sure what it is but the beach has a special place in everyone's heart," Sam smiled. "The Gold Coast is always super busy during the summer, especially during spring and winter break," Don nodded. "Which makes it harder for us to swim out," Rikki muttered to the girls.
Zane: whispers to Rikki seeing that she was picking at her food with a fork. "What's wrong?"
Rikki: looks up at him. "Why would anything be wrong?" Emma glances at them and slightly shakes her head.
"I was in front of my supposed best friend who I had a fight with and was still mad at about over you. No, nothing's wrong," Rikki sarcastically said rolling her eyes. "I figured it was because the food looked weird," Elliot shrugged. His mom was right, he would find it boring. "That too I guess," Rikki chuckled. Ugh, rich people food.
"Why are you shaking your head?" Cleo asked Emma. "I thought it was weird he was concerned about her. He never is," she answered.
Harrison: "There's coastal property surrounding us, that's ripe for development." He nods at George and then to Neil. "With your financial backing and Neil's sales experience, it'll be a shoe-in." Everyone gives him a strange look, including Rikki and Emma. "But we'd need to move quickly, to gain maximum returns."
"You want to communitize the beach, to make it more livable just so you could make more profit? That'll destroy the beach! It'll ruin the home for the other sea creatures: the turtles, the seagulls, pelicans, the fish, everything. It'll ruin their homes," Sam argued.
"Are you talking about the entire Gold Coast?" Don frowned. Harrison sighed and rubbed a hand through his hair. "No. Not just any beach." "Then what one?" Max questioned. Harrison once again sighed and pointed to the screen, not even bothering to look at it.
Emma: to Harrison. "Um, excuse me. But do we have to develop it? Can't we just leave it alone sometimes? We need coastal reserves."
"She's right. The beaches are beautiful as they are now. No need to destroy them anymore. The Gold Coast gets plenty of business from the surrounding areas now and even better from the tourist seasons. Any more and it'll be nothing but overrun and hurt the Gold Coast," Max agreed. "At the time I could only think of the amount of money I would make instead of the effects it would bring," Harrison said with a regretful look.
Harrison: grins. "Back me up here, Neil. You're a typical family man." Neil smiles at him. "Tell me you wouldn't jump at the chance to buy into some beach real estate."
Neil: sets down the utensils, having just finish fixing his plate. "Well, I suppose I would be interested, as long as there was uh some consideration for the environment."
Harrison: "Well, that goes without saying, within reason."
"At least someone thought about it," Sam grumbled, crossing her arms.
"I sure hope so," Mrs. Chatham whispered. She might not live as close to it, but the beach was still considered her home. She wouldn't want any harm to come to it. They already took her Lorelei, she wouldn't want them to take another.
[At Cleo's house, Cleo sorts through her closet, leaving piles and piles of clothes on her bed. She walks over to her bed and looks at two outfits in her arms before dropping one into a hamper next to her bed. Lewis walks into her opened bedroom doorway and sees her and the rest of her mess. He walks further into the room, taking careful steps.]
"What in the world?!" Don yelled. "What do you think you're doing?" "I was cleaning out my closet, getting rid of a few, uh, unnecessary outfits," Cleo said sheepishly. "Is this why I found so many of your clothes in the hamper?" Bev said in realization. Cleo nodded as she shrunk lower into her seat. "Well, I hope you're not planning on me buying you any more outfits after that, cause that ain't going to happen," Bev chuckled. "It's fine. I had money saved up for the next time I wanted to go shopping," Cleo replied.
Lewis: "What are you doing?"
Cleo: "I'm liberating myself. Out with the old, ready for the new."
"Please tell me it's not because of that stupid zombie movie," Kim gave her a look.
Cleo: "I am not a zombie." Goes to the other side of her bed and grabs another outfit.
"Of course," Kim sighed and shook her head.
Lewis: "You're actually going to throw clothes out."
"I know, it's a surprise to me too," Bev said. Don't count on it, Lewis snorted.
Cleo: "Well, I'm keeping half. But which half?" Holds out the two outfits in her hand for him to decide.
"You're asking a guy? Wouldn't it be better to have a girl's opinion rather than Lewis's?" Ash asked. "Well, Emma was busy and at the time, we weren't talking to Rikki," Cleo said while looking guilty for a second. "Sorry – and mom and Kim were out that day. Besides, Lewis has good fashion sense." "Don't tell them that!" Lewis said through gritted teeth. "I really hope you don't," Zane said as he looked at him with furrowed brows.
Lewis: looks at the options before he smiles at the one on the left side. Points at it. "That half."
"Oh gosh," Zane groaned in annoyance.
Lewis blushed in embarrassment. "Well, there goes my reputation." "What reputation?" Rikki smirked.
Cleo: looks down at the outfit then holds up the other one with a sad face. "You don't like this half?"
"If you know what's best for you, don't answer that," Don mentioned. One thing he learned throughout his marriage, is never ever tell them what you really think.
Lewis: eyes wide, a little frantic. "Um, speaking of dresses, I-I just saw Zane give Rikki one."
"Wise choice," Don nodded.
"Hey, don't bring me into this!" Zane exclaimed. "Well, they wanted me to report back," Lewis shrugged. "Since when do you listen?" Zane scoffed. "Since I learned mermaids can seriously kick some butt," Lewis remarked.
Cleo: walks over to him and drops an outfit on the bed, choosing to keep the other one instead. Has a look of slight shock on her face. "Really?" Lewis nods while she drops the other outfit into the hamper. "What kind of dress?"
Lewis: "Uh it was – it was red. It was elegant. It was sexy."
"Uh, thanks?" Rikki squinted in confusion. It was really weird coming from him. Zane frowned, tapping down the jealousy. "I was talking about the dress, not you," Lewis corrected. "You really don't know when to shut up, do you?" Ash looked over at him.
Cleo: walks back over to her closet and grabs another outfit. Frowns at his choice of words. "Elegant and sexy? It doesn't sound like Rikki."
"That's what everyone thinks until they see her wearing it," Zane smiled. "I like just about any dress that's my favorite color," Rikki said, trying to ignore the fact that even her friends didn't realize she couldn't afford that dress herself.
Cleo: tosses another into the hamper. "A dress is bad. Their relationship is more advanced than I thought." Walks to the other side of the bed and grabs another then looks at him. "Can you ever imagine buying someone a dress?"
Lewis: holds up a dress. "Not in this lifetime." Cleo lays down an outfit and smiles at him.
"The dress is good and that's a good thing, Cleo," Rikki told her. "I realize that," Cleo said.
"What's wrong with buying a dress?" Max asked. "Nothing, it just seems a little old fashion," Cleo mentioned, choosing her words wisely. "If she wanted the dress, I was going to get it for her. Old fashion or not," Zane explained.
"How many clothes do you have? That hamper is full!" Will said in surprise. "Too many," Lewis complained. "Why do you think I like to borrow hers sometimes," Kim giggled.
[After finishing their meal, everyone stood around the table as Harrison goes over his plans. On the table lays an overhead view of Mako Island. The Chen's little girl stands in one of the chairs to get a better view.]
Harrison: "It's all about location, as Neil will tell you. Today, Mako Island. Tomorrow," Lays out another see-through plan over Mako Island with a bunch of buildings on top. "Pearl Sands Island Resort. Welcome to the future." Emma and Rikki share worried looks. Harrison points the plans out to them. "Marina, airport, golf course, hotels, shops."
Gasps fill the room, except for the ones who knew before all eyes fall on Harrison. "You wanted to turn an island into a resort?" Sam said in a low voice, glaring daggers at him. "Are you crazy?" Annette scoffed. "At the time all I could think of was the money. I could've made millions, but I would've lost something else in the process," Harrison glanced over at Zane.
"But Mako is protected. It has endangered species and wildlife there, not to mention the volcano!" Don argued. "Along with the moonpool and the magic of Mako, including the surrounding area," Sam continued, clenching her fist. She knew Mako Island was left untouched, but the fact that someone did try made her angry. "Don't forget the sharks and dolphins," Bella brought up with a frown.
"Building a resort would destroy everything on that island, including the magic," Mrs. Chatham said quietly. "Yeah, I know. I regretted everything. Trust me, I've learned my lesson long ago," Harrison admitted in a sorrowful voice as he looked over at the girls.
"Please tell me you two stopped it?" Bella asked them in a pleading tone. All Rikki could do is give her a small smile.
George: "It's quite an idea."
"It's a horrible idea!" Sam shouted. "Good thing it never went through, because I would've never stepped foot in that place," Max shook his head in disgust.
Harrison: "No, more than an idea. It's happening. I'm going to take a rock and turn it into a holiday destination."
"A rock? It is not just a rock, it's a beautiful and majestic island!" Sam scoffed and continued glaring at him. Harrison said nothing. He felt like he deserved the hatred coming toward him, he deserved the disappointment, it was his mistake after all. He couldn't take it back either, especially for what comes later.
Zane: and Rikki frowns. Sets his drink down on the table. "Maybe, this isn't such a good idea." Emma looks at him in shock. "You haven't seen what I've seen out there."
"At least someone agrees," Sam grumbled.
"Maybe this isn't the right time to bring up mermaids," Will grimaced, having an idea of what he might do. "Too late for that," Zane mumbled.
"You're right about one thing. He hasn't seen what you've seen," Max nodded.
Harrison: "Thanks for your insight, Zane."
"The sarcasm is heard very well there," Ash said. "I didn't like that he was going against my plans," Harrison explained. "Then maybe you should've told me about them beforehand," Zane responded.
George: "No, no let the boy speak." Turns to Zane and smiles. "Go ahead."
"At least someone there is being nice to him," Bev muttered. "Too bad it isn't his own father," Lisa muttered back.
Zane: "I know this is going to sound a bit out there. But it's true, I swear." Zane hesitates before speaking up. "I've seen a mermaid." Emma glances around nervously.
"Well, it does sound a bit bizarre," Charlotte shrugged. "We'd all think you were crazy if we haven't seen it for ourselves," Don chuckled.
"Sorry, Emma if I made you nervous," Zane apologized. "It's fine," Emma said glancing down.
Emily: sitting on the table, looking excited. "A mermaid? Where?"
Laughter fills the room. "She is so adorable," Sam smiled, almost forgetting her anger there for a moment.
"She reminds me of you. You were always so happy to talk about mermaids. Now I know why," Annette sighed as she told Charlotte. "Because of grandmother," Charlotte whispered.
Zane: "I think she lives somewhere near Mako Island. You can't develop it." Harrison sighs and gives Zane a stern look.
"Although it sounds crazy, you were doing it for the right reasons I suppose," Max thought.
"I don't live near Mako, I just visit it," Emma chuckled. "A lot. You might as well live there," Lewis corrected. "It always did feel like a home to us. It's so welcoming and peaceful, not to mention the magic of the place," Cleo smiled.
Emily: to her father, tugging strands of her hair. "Dad, is there really a mermaid?"
Harrison: "Oh, don't believe a word he says, Emily."
"She wasn't talking to you," Bev scowled.
"You just crushed a little girl's dream," Will shakes his head.
Harrison: "I always bring my son along, as a bit of comic relief." The others laugh along, except for the teenagers. To Zane. "Zane, why don't you tell everybody about the fairies you saw at the bottom of the garden." They continue to laugh, while Zane looks down at Rikki in shame and regret. Rikki looks back at him before biting her cheek and staring at Harrison.
"You embarrassed your son in front of your own guest?" Annette raised an eyebrow. "To be fair I did embarrass him in the first place. I should've known better than to think people would believe me that mermaids existed. Paybacks fair play," Zane answered for him. "Still, it was no excuse. Even for myself," Harrison commented.
[Cleo pushes more clothes down into her hamper while Lewis grabs more from the closet and stands next to her.]
Cleo: "Rikki's not going to be able to keep the secret much longer. Sooner or later, she's just going to blurt it out."
"Uh, excuse me, but I can keep a secret," Rikki scoffed, looking over at her friend. "It's true, she's never told me any of hers before until now," Terry chuckled. When Rikki kept quiet, she sure knew how to keep quiet. "Well, with you dating Zane, it was a big risk until you were going to have to tell him," Cleo grimaced. "I can handle a secret, especially this one. And I can keep a secret far longer than you can. How long did it last between us until you decided to show Lewis your tail?" Rikki questioned with a look. Cleo blushed in embarrassment. "I didn't have a choice then." "Yet you chose to go to the pool party," Emma grinned. "Though I do have to say, that out of the three of us, I think Rikki is better at keeping it a secret."
Lewis: "Well, she's going to need someone to talk to."
I did need someone to talk to. I couldn't talk to you guys at the time. But I wasn't going to tell my boyfriend that when we just started going out, Rikki thought with a sigh.
"And now she has more people to talk to. All of you," Max nodded.
Cleo: grabs a shirt off of her closet door and stuffs it into the hamper along with Lewis. "Exactly, and that's why she thinks she only has Zane."
"I did only have Zane, because you two made me choose," Rikki pointed at the two. "We said we're sorry," Emma groaned in annoyance. "Doesn't mean I can't point it out still," she replied.
"Rikki never did talk to me about it and didn't want me to even talk about mermaids. You guys were in the clear," Zane added.
Cleo: the two finally get all the clothes she wants to get rid of in the hamper. "So where to go?"
"They're your clothes, do what you want with them," Bella said. "Or better yet, give them to me," Kim said giddily. "You don't strike me as the person who likes hand-me-downs," Charlotte told her. "When they're cute, I don't mind," Kim shrugged with an excited smile. "Should we go ahead and tell her that you kept them?" Lewis whispered to Cleo who shushed him.
Lewis: shrugs. "Perhaps we should ring Emma, and just tell her about Rikki and the dress."
Cleo: "Good idea." Goes to grab her phone off the bedside table.
"Uh, a little late for that," Emma chuckled.
"You guys are like two steps behind," Zane grinned.
Lewis: "Uh, are you really going to part with all this?" Points to the hamper full of clothes.
"Did you have any clothes left after that? That was quite a lot," Annette commented. "Believe me, that's only part of it," Bev sighed.
Cleo: dials Emma and puts it up to her ear and starts folding another shirt. "Yep, ancient history. I never knew it'd feel this good." Cleo smiles as she tosses it behind her back, where it lands on Lewis's neck. He looks down at the shirt that got thrown at him before continuing to stuff the hamper. Cleo looks at her phone. "Her phones switched off. Should I leave a message?" She looks back at Lewis; he nods.
"That feeling didn't last long," Emma laughed. Unlike the others, who were laughing at the shirt hitting Lewis, she laughed at the memory of Cleo putting all her clothes back in her closet, having decided to keep them.
"Why was your phone off?" Cleo asked curiously. "You know why. You saw me at the luncheon. I didn't want to be rude and take any phone calls during an important meeting with my parents," Emma explained. "That was very nice of you, Em," Lisa smiled.
"That message was never needed," Rikki smiled. Emma heard the message after the girls had reunited, so she deleted it right after.
[Harrison continues discussing his plans. Zane sat back in his seat now, a little glum about the incident from earlier.]
Harrison: "Mako Island will be transformed. The eastern side will house the timeshare component; the western side, your private apartments. They, in turn, will act as a gateway to the pool and the Italianate piazza." Pours himself a cup of water.
"How long have you been planning this?" Annette frowned. "A couple of years by that point. I talked to several government lawmakers, property owners, and management. Just about everyone in or around the Gulf Coast. It was a dream of mine for a while until that point," Harrison explained, letting out a breath. "Yes, well some dreams have to be brought back down to reality," Emma told him. "Mermaid," Will coughed out. "Which is real thank you very much," Rikki eyed him.
Rikki: leans against the table next to Zane with a disgusted look. "How ugly. Is this your idea of good design?" Harrison and Zane watch her look around the estate before shrugging. "Well I guess so."
"It's hideous," Sam agreed.
"Though the plan is horrendous, your place is actually beautiful," Annette commented. "Thanks, I guess," Harrison said, unsure of what to say.
"Ooh, burn," Lewis chuckled. "That was a good one," Zane grinned. At the time he was too afraid to say anything, it felt great hearing it again.
Harrison: sighs and holds his cup up and gives her a pointed look. "Feedback is always important, even from people who will never be able to afford to live in a place like this."
"Watch it, Bennett," Terry scowled, crossing his arms.
"Not everyone can afford places like that," Ash muttered. He might've helped run a horse ranch, but it didn't mean he could ever live in a fancy place like that.
"You should hear from every person's view. Everybody has some perspective they can give, including feedback," Mrs. Chatham included. "Everyone's a critic," Max nodded.
Rikki: walks over to the plans and waves to them. "Why would anyone want to wreck nature, for the sake of a piazza? People have more sense, or at least taste, don't they?"
"I sure hope so," Sam sighed. "They used to at least," Bev looked away. "They could have at least better taste in boats instead of houses, I mean my boats are a beauty," Don mentioned, trying to brighten the mood up.
Harrison: goes over to Zane and talks in his ear. "Maybe Rikki would like to visit the rose arbor."
"Why would she?" Elliot asked. "So, he could get me away from ruining his plans," Rikki crossed her arms. "It was ruining business," Harrison shrugged at the looks he got.
Rikki: "Who could enjoy a holiday, knowing that sixteen species were wiped out so they could sit by the pool and sip overpriced drinks?" Harrison walks over to her and before he could talk, Zane jumps up and stops her.
"She has a point," Bella shrugged slightly, hoping this would work to save Mako. These were the only two moonpools she knew of. There were bound to be more out there, but she didn't want a single one messed with.
Zane: "Rikki. Can I just have a word?" Waves to the poolside behind him.
Rikki: looks at him. "Now?"
Zane: "Yeah." Nods then grabs her hand to gently lead her away. Emma takes a few steps forward and watches them.
"Oh, come on. I wanted to hear more," Kim whined. "Don't worry, there's more to come," Rikki smiled smugly.
"I'll just say, the timing, both good and bad," Ash tilted his arms like a scale.
At least he's not being rough with her, Terry thought.
Zane: by poolside with Rikki, a little ways from the tent, where the Chen's are now sitting. "Rikki, you have to cool it. This is my dad's lunch. This business stuff is his thing."
"It might be business but it's wrong," Sam frowned. "Sometimes businesses have to do what they do in order to survive," Denman said, looking down in thought. Sounds like you know from experience, Max thought, glancing at her.
Rikki: frowns. "Are they your thoughts or your dad's?"
Zane: "This is not the time and place to be making an issue."
"Really? Because just a moment ago you were on her side," Charlotte said. "And then his voice got turned down when his dad started picking on him," Annette muttered to her. "He ruined his son's confidence." "Then it's a good thing Rikki's with him. She has enough of it," she responded.
Rikki: "Do you always pick your dad's side, even when you know he's wrong? Can you at least try thinking for yourself? Or do you have to ask daddy first?" Gestures to her head before walking off and away from the party. Zane watches her go, and so does Emma. Emma shakes her head slightly.
"Well, he's, my dad. Of course I'm going to do what he tells me to do," Zane answered. "Most of the time," Harrison corrected. "You might need to do what your parents say, especially when they're trying to help you, but there's a time and place for when you need to think for yourself and consider whether what you're doing is right or wrong. Then you stand up for yourself," Neil stated.
[After having left the disastrous lunch party, Rikki sets out into the water, speeding with all her might toward Mako. Once she enters the moon pool she surfaces and looks around for a moment. Rikki paddles herself towards the ledge and drags herself up slightly and crosses her arms over the rocky edge before gently resting her head on her arms.]
"You went to the moonpool?" Zane questioned. He had wondered where she went after leaving the small gathering. "I always go there when I need to blow off steam. It's a nice place to relax and think. And as Cleo said earlier, it's our home too," Rikki said in a sort of duh tone.
Bella knew that feeling. She used to do the same thing before they left Ireland. After that, she always tried to keep her cool, but when she needed to, she would swim in one of the lakes or small creeks they would find.
"But you were gone for what, thirty minutes? How were you able to do that and get back so quick?" Neil asked. "Speed-swimming and steam dried myself off," Rikki said holding her hand up.
[Rikki glances around with a depressed look, thinking about the memories she had here with Emma and Cleo. She remembers when they first discovered the moonpool, when they first walked into the cave, the three of them.]
Rikki: flashback. "Wow! This is like the cone of a volcano." Cleo looks around with a nervous look and Emma and Rikki in wonder.
"Ah, the memories," Emma sighed fondly. "We got lots of memories there, it just happens so to be the first one," Cleo smiled.
"Well, I guess it's able to show what we're thinking too," Rikki frowned, confused about how the magic knew what she was thinking about.
[Rikki thinks of the time they helped Cleo overcome her fear of water, for just a moment so they could escape, as she goes into the water with Rikki and Emma. As soon as they pop their heads up, the full moon goes overhead of the cone the volcano and does its magical transformation. The water bubbles around them and glows and bubbly sparkles ascend up into the sky towards the full moon. The girls look around in bewilderment, having never seen anything before like that in their lives, then dive under into their next adventure.]
"I still can't believe that the moon is what caused all of this," Don commented. "Well believe it, because that's how it happened," Cleo grinned.
"It's crazy how it hasn't been that long either and you guys have already been through so much," Charlotte said in awe. She enjoyed seeing the magic of the moonpool. It excites her every time. She also couldn't help but wonder what her grandmother thought of it when all of this first happened to her. Was she happy about it too? What were their adventures?
[The next flashback shows her and Emma walking hand in hand into the waves at the secret beach. They count to ten, but before they could finish, the transformation happens, and they turn into water for a split second before forming back into mermaids. The two fall down screaming. When they push themselves up by their arms, they look back at each other's tails.]
"At least we learned the timing of it pretty quick," Emma and Rikki laughed. "Except we never seem to learn to lay on the ground when we get wet instead of falling to the ground," Rikki said in amusement. "Yeah, we really got to work on that. Makes my tail sore," Cleo winced.
[The girls, including Cleo swim with a wide smile through the reefs. They swim side by side with each other, all three wearing matching bright smiles. Rikki leaves her memories and stares off into the cave, the sad look never leaving her face.]
"They look so happy," Lisa whispered with a smile herself. "Yeah, but she wasn't," Neil pointed to the now onscreen Rikki. "She must've been worried about the place. It holds so many memories and adventures for them. They weren't kidding, it really is a home to them. She would've really missed the place, and that it might be her last time there," Lisa said with a sigh. "They all would've," Neil said as he thought about what Emma would've done. He knew hearing about those plans really hurt her, she must've been afraid of losing the moonpool too. Luckily, they won't have to worry about that ever again.
[A few minutes later, Rikki is now back in her human form walking among the rocky edge of the moonpool, still in her heels and dress. She looks up at the cone and lets out a breath. She then looks back at the moonpool and starts walking towards it. Without any hesitation, she walks off the rocky edge and steps onto the smaller ledge before diving into the water. Once the transformation hits, Rikki zooms out and into the open water, heading back for the mainland.]
"I really hope that won't mess the dress up," Charlotte grimaced, seeing the water hit the dress. "Eh, once it's on us it's a part of us. Our clothes always return back to normal after we dry off so there's no harm to it," Rikki shrugged. "Lucky," Kim muttered.
"Oh, I smell a plan forming," Ash grinned as he rubbed his hands together.
Terry smiled at the Rikki onscreen. There was a new determination set in motion and whatever it was, he had a feeling it would work.
[Rikki pops her head up a few minutes later and watches the lunch party continue in the distance. The guests and the Bennett's never notice the mermaid spying on them from the canal. After a moment she quietly ducks back under.]
"Rikki!" Emma, Cleo, and Terry yelled. "What? I needed to be sure they were still there," Rikki explained and shrugged. "There are other ways to do it than to pop up in the canal with a tail and prove Zane's story true," Emma huffed as Cleo hung her head back in annoyance. "We were worried about her telling Zane instead of her trying to show the whole world," the brunette grumbled. "It was a few people that were focused on Dr. Bennett's plans. And I kept enough distance and didn't stay long either," Rikki lazily rolled her eyes. "I have to agree with them this time. That was pretty stupid," Kim tilted her head.
"So why did you go back?" Bev asked. "Another thing about Mako? Once you know the place so well you start to realize a few things about it," Rikki smirked, not giving it away just yet.
[The guests remain under the tent, discussing further plans for the undecided future of Mako.]
Neil: to Emma. "Look, I understand your concerns. But some developments can be eco-friendly."
"How is 'developing' an island that, may I remind you, is smaller than the entirety of the Gold Coast, and has limited natural resources including the wildlife, eco-friendly?" Max asked, looking over at him. "I was just trying to calm her down and not disrupt Harrison's luncheon," Neil sighed.
"You said 'some developments.' Do you think that one would've been?" Will asked in a slightly worried tone. "Truthfully … no," Neil admitted, causing more glares to be sent Harrison's way. "With his plans and how much space and resources he was planning to use. There would've been nothing left. No wildlife, no trees, animals, not even the volcano. And the surrounding beach would've barely been there as well."
"If you knew this, then why were you supporting it?" Emma frowned. "For you two. With that much money split between the three of us, it would've had you and Elliot set for life. You would've never had to worry about your future," Neil said with a small, yet regretful smile. "Only now do I realize how wrong it was and that it might've not been something you wanted." "Oh dad," the two Gilbert children say with a bit of sadness. "No matter what our future holds, we're still going to love you," Emma smiled as the three shared a hug before Lisa joined in.
Emma: "But Mako Island is unique. It's been untouched for thousands of years."
"Now we know why it's unique," Denman chuckled.
"Until you six showed up," Max whispered to Mrs. Chatham with a quiet laugh.
"I wonder if it has to do with the magic that it's always been protected and untouched like that," Neil hummed in thought. "The magic is what makes Mako so special," Emma reminded.
"It certainly explains why she kept bombarding us with reasons why it should be left alone," Lisa muttered to Neil who nodded. Seeing Emma defend Mako made them realize that Mako wasn't just a home to her, it was a part of her. It is a part of her life and always will be, just like her friends and family.
Lisa: "Emma's got a valid point, darling."
Rikki: crashes the party once more, now in her normal clothes and the dress bundled up in her hand. Walks over to the side of the table where Emma and her family and Zane were. "Emma's right."
"That she is," Sam nodded with a smile, happy to see the girls standing up for the right thing.
"Darn, wish I recorded that," Emma teased and snapped her fingers making Rikki playfully roll her eyes.
"So, there was more to come," Kim said a bit excited.
"Glad to see you back," Ash grinned. "Glad to be back," Rikki smiled.
[Harrison looks up in shock that she would come back then leans back in his chair and throws his hands up in frustration.]
Rikki: "Developing Mako Island is wrong and greedy, not to mention stupid. The water surrounding the island is home to the largest population of mako sharks. You think they're just going to pack up and move on when they hear you coming? Oh, and they're protected too." Emma smiles at her.
"She has a point," Neil nodded. "She has a lot of points," Harrison corrected. "Not only did she stop my plans, but she also saved my own tail. If it weren't for her for bringing up the sharks and other protected wildlife, I would've had a boatload of lawsuits coming for me, and a death count. She ended up helping me from making the biggest mistake of my life."
"If the resort were to endanger the sharks, even more, they would've shut down the resort immediately and all that money would be a waste in the end," Neil included. "I think it's safe to say that Rikki saved everyone one of your lives, literally and figuratively," Ash chuckled. "Who knows, you might be next," Rikki joked. "I hope not," he replied.
Harrison: finishes wiping his face with a napkin before tossing it back onto the table. "Look, hold on a minute –."
Rikki: "The island is an underwater wilderness. Everything will be lost: the dolphins in the lagoons, the rare green turtles, the soft corals that aren't found anywhere else in the world." Zane stands up and looks at her in amazement.
"It is a rare and beautiful place, both on land and under the sea," Mrs. Chatham smiled.
"Way to go, Rikki, don't back down," Terry encouraged. "You go girl!" Sam shouted, causing a few chuckles to escape the room.
"That's how you get your point through. Don't let them get a word in," Annette grinned.
Emily: to her father. "Dad, you're not going to hurt the dolphins and turtles, are you?"
June: gives her husband a look while talking to her daughter. "Of course he isn't, Emily." Harrison lets out a breath and looks away, already knowing he was losing an investor.
"Ooph, telling it all in front of the little girl. Brilliant! That's a nailbiter there, can't tell daddy's girl no," Lewis laughed, proud of his friend.
"With the puppy eyes and the sad lip, there's no way they could go through with the plans," Cleo beamed.
Rikki: "There's more. It'll all be on the list I send to the Environmental Protection Agency. Once that's done, I'll contact the press. And then I'll organize a petition." Zane looks impressed, and so does Harrison, on the inside that is as he leans forward in his chair listening closely to her threat.
And that's how I knew I had a real threat to worry about when it came to that resort, Harrison chuckled to himself. He might've not known Rikki real well, but he knows a threat when he hears one. That's why he brought Denman aboard with the plans. However, to Rikki, that wasn't a threat. That was a promise.
"And you'll have my full support if you ever need it," Sam promised. "Mine too," Annette nodded. "Mom, you run a restaurant. What could you do to help?" Charlotte asked. "I could help spread the word. Lots of hungry customers, lots of people to tell," Annette smiled.
Emma: jumps up and stands side by side with Rikki and Zane, facing Harrison. "And I'll help her. Some things are worth saving." Harrison leans back and lets out a breath in defeat. George crosses his arms, pouting that his business offer was ruined.
"Indeed, Emma, indeed," Mrs. Chatham smiled proudly.
"You weren't just talking about Mako, were you?" Cleo grinned, hinting at the meaning. "Our friendship is worth saving too," Emma finished, pulling both of her friends in for a hug.
Rikki: hands the dress back to Zane. "You can have this back. If you want to go on playing ventriloquist dummy to your dad, you can forget about being with me. Get this straight. I am not Miriam. So you can stay here. Or you can come with me." Zane smiles at her and glances around. When he begins to head off with Rikki, Harrison calls out to him.
"That's the Rikki I know," Terry smiled, crossing his arms.
"I never said you were Miriam," Zane told her. "And you better not. Or it will be your downfall," Rikki warned with a laugh. "I'm not sure whether to take your threat seriously there or not," Zane laughed with her. "Rikki doesn't threaten, it's a promise," Harrison reminded him.
Harrison: "Sit down, Zane." The three of them look back at him.
Zane: throws his hands back down to his hips and smiles. "You just don't get it, do you?" Harrison looks at him clueless as the three teenagers walk away. The Chen's look at the now lonesome Bennett, who looks around at his other guests at a complete loss for words, shocked that he lost and that Zane fought back for once.
"Now I do," Harrison whispered. Now, he was happy that his son stood up to him for once, for the right reasons at least. It shows that he really has matured and grown up some, that Rikki was the right person to help him out and to be there for him.
Rikki didn't tell him then, but she was proud of him for standing up for himself. She knew he could do it, he just needed a little bit of encouragement. She knew he had his own mindset in there somewhere.
[After abandoning the luncheon, the two lovebirds find themselves at the beach walking down the boardwalk, enjoying the fresh air.]
Zane: with a big smile on her face. "I am feeling monumentally great."
"As you should," Rikki said.
It felt like the first bit of freedom I had in a long time. Well, the first from my dad. The first-ever was when I kissed Rikki, Zane thought, glancing at her.
"Where did you go?" Lisa asked, noticing Emma wasn't with them. "I saw where Cleo had called me, so I decided to go talk to her in person instead of over the phone. Besides, I didn't want to be a third wheel," she explained, before giving the two a look. "So does this mean I earned your approval?" Zane teased. "When pigs fly, Zane, when pigs fly," Emma laughed, but nodded anyway. "Actually, there's a small chance that –," Lewis tried to say before Rikki cuts him off. "If you say because mermaids exist then pigs might be able to fly, I'll make you wish you were sunburned," she warned holding a hand up. Lewis closed his mouth.
Rikki: "What if your dad cuts your allowance?"
Zane: shrugs, the smile never leaving his face. "Whatever, I'll get a job. It just felt so good standing up to him like that. And I really loved what you had to say."
"Zane with a job? Now that's scary," Cleo sarcastically said before laughing. "That's more mythical than mermaids," Lewis scoffed.
"I think we all loved what she had to say. Especially you Sam," Bev laughed lightly, the other woman laughing to herself.
"Did you cut his allowance?" Neil asked with a raised eyebrow. "No, I was too busy trying to talk George back into the deal rather than worry about his actions," Harrison sighed.
Rikki: laughs before looking up. "I was pretty good, wasn't I?"
"You did great, sweetheart," Lisa smiled and patted her shoulder. "All I did was tell the truth," Rikki said with a light blush. "You did it while being yourself. Because of you, Mako is saved once again," Sam congratulated.
Zane: stops her and faces her. "So do you believe me?"
Rikki: "Believe what?"
Zane: "Believe I saw a mermaid."
"What did any of what you just went through have to do with her believing you?" Terry frowned, completely clueless as to how he got to that assumption. "Because she was defending Mako like I wanted to. A part of me thought she was doing it for me," Zane admitted. Until I found out the real reason why. "She had real reasons to protect it. You had a real reason too, it just wasn't believable enough," Kim mentioned.
Rikki: holds her hair back from the wind blowing it in her face and lets out a breath. She hesitates before looking back at him with a satisfying answer. "I believe in you, Zane." The two smile at each other, Zane with a wider one, before they wrap an arm around each other and continue down the boardwalk.
"Now that is the right answer," Terry whispered with a wide smile for Rikki. "You two are so adorable," Bev grinned at the sweetness.
[Emma arrives at Cleo's house and explains everything that went down to her and Lewis in the eldest Sertori's bedroom. Lewis sat on the bed observing a fake fish while Cleo leans against the bathroom doorframe.]
Emma: "I wish you guys had been at Zane's house. Rikki was amazing." Hops onto Cleo's bed and leans sideways.
"That's a first," Rikki chuckled. "That she wished we were at Zane's house or that she thought you were amazing?" Cleo asked. "Both."
Lewis: looks at Cleo and points at the dress she was wearing. "Didn't you throw out that dress, Cleo?"
Cleo: looks down at her outfit, avoiding his gaze. "This one? No."
"Yes, you did!" Kim pointed with a smug look on her face.
"You forced me to help. I know which ones were and weren't," Lewis shook his head. "It was my favorite," Cleo exclaimed. "All of your outfits are your favorite," Bev sighed. "The entire shopping mall is her favorite," Don added.
Lewis: stands up from the bed and walks over to the hamper and looks inside it, finding the entire thing empty. Looks at Cleo in disbelief. "Cleo, did you throw any dresses out?"
Cleo: steps forward and grimaces. "Not permanently."
"So, what was the point of all of that then?" Don huffed. "Just a waste of a day and a big waste of my time," Lewis sighed. "It wasn't a complete waste. I at least got to keep count of how many clothes I had," Cleo grinned. "So how many do you have?" Kim raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. Cleo opens her mouth to answer then closes it shut. "You forgot how many after your last shopping spree, did you?" Kim guessed. "… yeah," Cleo admitted in defeat. "Don't even bother asking for help this time. You're on your own," Lewis rubbed the oncoming headache to go away.
Lewis: "Not even the pink one, the one I saw in the zombie film?"
"The one you saw? When did you go see it?" Ash asked in confusion. "She made me go watch it after she argued over the reason why she wanted to get rid of the pink dress," Lewis said in a deadpan tone. "I had to get you to understand my point of view," Cleo reasoned. Plus, it was a good date opportunity.
Cleo: "Well, I couldn't throw the pink top out. It goes with my mauve belt." Emma laughs quietly to herself on the bed. "And if I didn't have them, I'd have nothing to wear with my mushroom bag."
"I'm not sure whether I should be annoyed that you wasted his time or be impressed that you have a great sense of fashion," Charlotte said. "Why not both?" Emma said; she was annoyed yet impressed herself with Cleo's conflicting talents.
[Right then, Rikki walks in and unknowingly saves Cleo from a rant from Lewis and shuts the door behind her.]
Cleo: "Rikki, I heard you sabotaged Harrison's plans to develop Mako Island. That is so cool." Sits on the bed with Rikki sitting on it across from her.
"That is one heck of a mood swing. You went from complaining about Rikki to complimenting her," Will commented. "When she stopped Harrison, it completely changed my mind about her. I thought she was going to bring us down with her. I was way off," Cleo explained. "You could say that again," Rikki told her, talking about her saying she was wrong. "Why can't I get a mood swing like that from you?" Kim asked. "Because all you do is annoy me," Cleo grinned. Kim stuck her tongue out at her.
"How did you know to go there?" Bella asked. "Emma told us where she was heading when we left the party. After that, I figured they would want to talk about it. Emma was bound to tell them," Rikki replied.
Rikki: grabs a magazine from off the bedside table. "This is a change. You're not gonna ask me where I've been, who I've been with, what color bra I'm wearing?"
"Really, Rikki?" Terry rubbed his forehead in frustration. Already been one heck of a rollercoaster this episode, why not add more to it? The kids and other teenagers burst into laughter, except for one certain blonde.
Lewis: "Just out of curiosity, what color –."
Cleo: and Emma give him a warning look. "Lewis."
"Kidding! I was kidding. I swear!" Lewis shot his hands up in the air as everyone turned to him, one set of eyes doing their best to burn holes through his head.
Terry glares daggers at him, raises two fingers, and points between him and Lewis, signaling that he was keeping an eye on him. And to add a measure, he slices at his neck with his hand. Lewis gulped. With Rikki being his daughter, he knew he was on thin ice with the man. "Dad don't blame him. I was the one who brought it up as a joke. It was funny, it was just for laughs," Rikki sighed, beginning to understand how Emma felt about her parents' overprotectiveness. "Teenage humor. I will never understand," Neil sighed in disappointment.
Don glared back at the boy, all three men being reminded of the incidents he caused from the first night of watching this stuff go down.
"If you were a cat, you would have at least five lives left. Use them wisely, you dimwit," Zane whispered. "At this rate, you might get killed before me … keep it up,"
"I really need to think before my life gets put on a screen again," Lewis told himself.
Emma: ignores Lewis and looks back at Rikki. "Look, Rikki, I'm really sorry I underestimated you." A small smile grows on Rikki's face.
Cleo: "Me too."
"It's about time you apologized," Kim huffed. "You never apologize," Cleo accused. "And do I ever need to?" "Yes!" "Girls, not now," Don sighed.
Cleo: "I have an idea. From now on, let's make a pact, no more secrets."
Emma: "I'll second that."
Rikki: "I'll work on it, maybe." Looks through the magazine.
"Aside from that time you were training Byron, you two didn't have secrets to hide from each other. This mostly affects Rikki since you guys knew each other longer," Neil pointed out. "But it would help out for any more problems to come in the future," Cleo said.
"And still am," she barely whispered. Rikki glances down, hiding the guilty look. I did say I would work on it. But when?
Cleo: "I just have one question. Get angry, but what do you see in Zane?"
Rikki: looks up and slowly but surely a bright smile forms on her face. "He gets me." The three of them look at each other before smiling with her.
"I think that's a question we've all asked once before in our life," Terry joked, his anger from earlier forgotten, though Lewis continued to keep his mouth shut in case it was to return.
Zane couldn't help but smile even more. It was the exact same thing he saw in her. She gets him. They understood each other so much, and they made each other better. He would always care for Rikki, whether they continue dating, or if they decide to become friends. Though he'd rather continue dating her, she was a great girlfriend. He just hoped he was a great boyfriend.
"Okay, so what's next on the agenda?" Neil said, wanting to continue, though secretly, he was hoping to get more information about this mermaid hunt. "Guess we'll find out. Mrs. Chatham, would you like the remote?" Harrison said before turning to the older lady and holding it out to her. "Why not," Mrs. Chatham smiled and took it. She might've not liked his plans for the island in the first place and what he did to the girls, but at least he tried to fix things and apologized to the girls, and also became a better father to Zane. That she could learn to forgive and forget. She holds the remote up and presses play.