A Wish on a Full Moon

I do not own H2O: Just Add Water or any of the characters.

Chapter 77: Heart Break

The walk from the theater to the dorms she has done several times now, but it's never felt this long and slow. The hallways weren't that long, the doors to the dorms could be seen from any angle, yet it still felt different. Maybe it was because her arms were crossed, her grip tight on each one. Stressed, and nervous from the conversation that was just minutes away. Maybe it was because she knew who was behind her, the one who started this whole trip to begin with. Or maybe it was because she knew what was coming. Either way, the walk felt antagonizing longer than normal.

Eventually, the two arrive in Lewis's dorm, the one he shares with the other teenage boys trapped in this place. Instead of waiting around for the cliffhanger for Lewis to break her heart, Charlotte takes matters into her own hands. The redhead goes straight for one of the beds – hoping it was her friends instead of one of the others – and sits down, preferring to get straight to the point and get this conversation (and heartbreak) over with.

"Let's get to the point, shall we?" Charlotte looks up at him and Lewis looks confused. Before the teenage scientist could open his mouth, Charlotte was already summarizing everything for him. "I like you, you don't want to go out with me because you don't like me and you just want to be friends, you still have unresolved feelings for Cleo, and you'd rather be with her," the girl said all in one breath.

Lewis frowns, taking it all in. "Is that what you think I was going to say?" "It's kind of obvious," Charlotte said with a raised brow, though no smile or grin was on her face this time. Lewis closes his eyes and sighs before opening them again, his shoulders sagging. "Then I think you need to learn from your future self and let people talk for themselves." Charlotte frowns, confused. She thought she had it all right. What could she be missing? "But that's exactly what you wanted to talk about, is it not?"

"Well, yeah, but – but … j – just let me explain," Lewis sits down next to Charlotte on the bed. The boy might have trouble with words, trouble explaining his feelings, but from the time he had been in that theater watching everything unfold these past few episodes, he knew exactly what was on his mind.

"You're right." He has Charlotte's full attention now. "I don't like you, I do still have feelings for Cleo, and still want to be with her," Lewis shrugs. Charlotte's mouth drops. She was crushed. Of course she knew it, but the harshness of how Lewis said it was truly heartbreaking. She never thought he could be so cruel. Tears form and before she can hop up and run out of the dorm, Lewis grabs her arm and continues. "But not in that way." Charlotte slowly looks at him, still confused.

"Charlotte, you're an amazing artist, one heck of a picnic maker, a very supportive and generous person, and I do like you. You're a great friend, Charlotte, and I don't want to lose that," Lewis expressed. Charlotte gave him a small teary smile, before slowly speaking. "But that's all we are. Isn't it?" she asked quietly.

Lewis glances down, giving her a small nod before looking back up with those caring eyes. "I … I don't want to lose Cleo. Not again. I don't want to lose everything we have. She's been my best friend for as long as I can remember," Lewis leans back and sighs, looking up at the ceiling. "I've been in love with her for as long as I've known her. So, you're right. Even after the breakup, even after everything, my feelings for her never changed. I still want to be with her."

Charlotte gave him a look. "I know, that's what I said." The two laugh lightly. "Well, I had to explain it myself," Lewis chuckled again. "And your feelings," Charlotte added with a slight tease, feeling a bit better from his explanation. Sure it was everything she knew, but the way he expressed it, the way he talked to her, he was letting her down easy, without ridding her of their friendship.

Lewis looks back at her apologetically. "I'm sorry, Char." Charlotte sighs herself and gives him a small smile. "It's okay. I knew for a while, just from seeing the two of you on-screen throughout all of this; it's obvious you're happier with Cleo and vice versa. And whatever makes you happy – it'll take time but, I'll be okay with it. I want you to be happy. Both of you," Charlotte smiles seeing his smile grow. "Your heart belongs to another and that's okay. I'll just have to accept that."

Lewis grins. "You're a lot more selfless than people realize, you know that?" Charlotte laughs to herself and hesitantly, hesitantly holds out a hand. "Friends?" she asks, hoping for the same answer. Lewis straightens up and shakes her hand. "Friends." He then surprises her by pulling her into a hug. "Charlotte, thank you." He sounds so relieved to say that, to get all that off his chest. Charlotte hugs back, glancing up from his shoulder. "Anything for my friends."

Lewis smiles into the hug, before realizing her grammatical wording.

Friends.

Lewis pulls away from the hug and turns around. There in the room with them stood Cleo.

They really need to learn how to close doors for private matters.

"Cleo, it's – it's nothing, I swear," Lewis panicked, jumping up, afraid that his fears might come true, and he would lose her again. He just started to fix things with Cleo, he didn't want to mess it all up again.

"That's where you're wrong, Lewis," his longtime friend said, causing him to pale. It was true, his fear was coming true. A smile broke out on the brunette's face. "That meant everything. It wasn't nothing, it was everything; it meant everything to me from the choices you two made. And for that … I thank you, Charlotte," Cleo broke into a smile, looking between the two, her eyes lingering longer on Lewis who too slowly starts to smile as he tilts his head. "How long were you standing there?" as he gave Charlotte a suspicious look. "A while," the brunette shrugs. "The whole time," Charlotte admits as she stands from her spot on the bed and slowly walks over to Cleo.

"I meant what I said. It'll take a while, but whatever makes my friends happy, I'm okay with it. You two – four – are my friends, and friends don't date their ex or their crush. And you two clearly make each other happy," she gestures to the two of them. "Thank you, Charlotte. I know one day, someone will make you feel just the same," Cleo says. "That's what my mom said," Charlotte glances down, a small smile still on her face. "Your mom is right. Mine was," Cleo turns to Lewis and smiles.

"I'm sorry again we got off on the wrong foot. I really think we can be friends," Charlotte apologizes. "I think so too, considering we are. You said so yourself. You're our friend too, so don't count yourself out," Cleo and Charlotte smile. "And I'm sorry for whatever my future self does," Cleo adds, shaking her head. "Same here," Lewis and Charlotte say simultaneously, with the former raising his hand slightly, causing the three of them to laugh. "I think that's going to be said a lot from now on." Charlotte, however, was happy to hear that Cleo too saw her as a friend, she just hoped Emma and Rikki would too. Her mom was right about another thing. This was their chance to start over, not hang on to the past. This was their chance to make friends they could trust, they could rely on, they could be happy with. And so far, that seems to be working, far more than either Watsford woman expected.

"How about when we return home, we all go to the Juicenet Café for a relaxing day," Cleo suggests. Charlotte smiles. All, meaning the five of them. "I'd like that. I'm dying for one of their smoothies," Charlotte looks up in exasperation, making the two near her laugh. Charlotte turns to Lewis at the sound of his voice. "I believe I saw some similar to the cafés at the buffet." Charlotte grins. Aka, my time to leave. "Alright. Thanks. See you in a few," Charlotte waves to the two and makes haste out the door that remains open.

As soon as the red hair was out of sight, Lewis immediately rambles to the only other occupant in the room: Cleo. "Listen, Cleo. I'm so sorry about these past few episodes. I know they must be really tough for you with your mom and everything. I know it was for me." Cleo steps closer. "It's in the past, Le –." She couldn't finish, however, as Lewis kept talking, not realizing Cleo was speaking to him. "And I'm sorry about my future self. I don't know why we're all acting like that, but if I can fix it, I will." Cleo steps closer again, trying to get his attention. "It's ok –." "It's just, that I still care about you. I still like you. And I'm so afraid of losing you again, I'm worried, and I don't know if –." Now close enough to her best friend, Cleo silences Lewis's rambling with a kiss.

Slowly the two separate as Lewis stares at her. "… does this mean you still like me too or were you telling me to stop talking?" he asks. Cleo looks up at him and smiles mischievously. "Yes." "That doesn't clarify things."

Cleo rolls her eyes. "Yes, I still like you, idiot," Cleo slaps his chest, the two still holding each other close. "What do you think that future was about?" Lewis hesitates, glancing around in confusion. "Uh … a misunderstanding?" Cleo sighs and looks him directly in the eyes. "Lewis, I still like you. I care for you too, that never went away. I missed you. My future self was just jealous of you getting so close to Charlotte." "Well, you don't have to worry about that. Me and Charlotte are friends," Lewis gives her a small smile, rubbing her arms with his thumbs. "I know. Because she's my friend too."

Lewis pulls Cleo closer. "And you and me? What does that make us?" he asks. "That's up to you. I can't make that decision alone," she answers. "Then I'll help you," Lewis leans in and kisses her. The two stay like that for a moment before they break apart and hug each other tight. "Just promise me, if something ever bothers you again, whether it's your mom or me or something else, that you'll talk to me. I'll try not to be pushy; I know you need to do things on your own as well. Just don't push me away. Not again," Lewis breathes out. "I promise," Cleo mumbles into their hug. "I missed you, Cleo," Lewis says quietly, closing his eyes. "I missed you too." A small tear runs down Cleo's cheek.

Outside the room, around the corner more specifically, Charlotte peaks around the door frame watching the two hug with a smile on her face. Yes, her heart did get broken, but it was needed so two broken hearts could be mended together again as one.

"Hey," a whisper came from behind her. Charlotte whips around to find the other two mermaids next to her. When did they get there? She thought, a bit surprised she didn't hear them sneak up. "Have they kissed yet?" Emma whispers again, two smoothies in her hand, one in Rikki's. "Yup," Charlotte nods, a bit relieved they weren't mad. Just as curious as she was. "Good," Emma smiles, relieved herself. "It's about time. Come on, let's give them privacy," the feisty blonde smirks as she walks toward the entrance back to the theater. Emma and Charlotte follow, and as they do, Emma hands Charlotte the extra smoothie. Charlotte, a bit surprised by the offer, accepts the drink. "Thanks," Charlotte smiled as she took a sip.

Charlotte began to feel more of the stress leave her mind. Not just from the talk with Lewis and Cleo, not just from the refreshing beverage, but from her new friends as well. Friends that she knew would have her back and she theirs. Friends that she could trust. This was her due-over, and she was not going to mess it up.

By the time the three of them sat back in their seats with food and drinks, Cleo and Lewis were walking out hand-in-hand, bright smiles on their faces. Most people noticed and smiled as well, quiet in order not to ruin the moment for the renewed lovely couple. Most at least; that adorable moment can only last so long.

Bella bit her lip, preventing the squeal from coming out, but she did wiggle in her seat in excitement from her ship returning. "Gross," Cleo could hear her sister mumble. But it was her dad's reaction that made her brighten with embarrassment the most.

"Why?" Don whined, staring up at the ceiling. My little girl, he thought with a pout. "Dad, he's been around plenty before, you should be used to it," Cleo and Lewis remove the trays of food out of their seats, nodding gratefully at the two friends they knew that retrieved the trays for them – or at least believing this is what they did while the two of them were gone. "Yeah, but now he's going to be around more," Kim complained, though Cleo saw the grin on her face. Kim was internally happy for her sister though; she was always at her happiest whenever Lewis was around.

"Well, since you two were the last to arrive, which one of you would like the remote?" Terry offers, the remote now in his raised hand. Lewis glances at Cleo and grins. "Why don't we do it together?" he asks, their hands still clasped around each other. Cleo nods, the smile on her face never fading away. Terry hands the remote to them and together, they press play.