For the past week, Kim's efforts to meet up with Elliot never panned out as she hoped it would—he claimed that he was busy with soccer practice, though, from her perspective, it felt like he was being avoidant, as evidenced by his vague and shifty responses. Still determined to find answers, Kim yet again reached out to Elliot, asking to talk.

phone vibrates Emma: picks up her bag and looks up "Is this who I think it is?"

Elliot: sighs "Yes, it's Kim… again."

Emma: "Is she still trying to—"

Elliot: "Talk to me? Of course she is!"

Emma: "So… just tell her that you're busy."

Elliot: "That's what I've been doing for the past week, Emma. I've even been avoiding her at school, and I think it's only making her more suspicious of you guys."

Emma: "I know that, but until Cleo comes clean herself, there's nothing that neither one of us can do about this, except…"

Elliot: furrows eyebrows "Except what…?" sighs "I don't like the sound of this…"

Emma: "You know, distract her. Try to make her take her mind off this… somehow."

Elliot: "And if that doesn't work? You know how Kim is, she can be really stubborn."

Emma: "Just… talk to her, and I'll do the same with Cleo. Got it?"

Elliot: shrugs "Sure, why not. I'm running out of options here." texts Kim

Looking up from where she sat, Kim glared at Cleo with suspicious eyes as she barely finished her breakfast, claiming that she was leaving for school. What was her rush, she wondered? If only it were the weekend, Kim thought to herself, she'd probably follow her around since a tight-lipped Cleo would never tell her a single thing. Though, judging from the text that received, it appeared that she would be getting her answers sooner rather than later—at least that's what she hoped for.

Standing at their usual meeting spot was Emma, Rikki and Bella who appeared to be in deep discussion about something seemingly important.

Cleo: "Hey, guys!" studies their faces "What's up? Everything okay?"

Emma: "Cleo, it's—"

Rikki: "Your nosey sister! You need to do something about her!"

Cleo: turns to Emma "I thought you said that Elliot—"

Emma: "Yes, he's been avoiding her, but he can do this for only so long."

Bella: "Why is she suddenly so invested? Was this always the case?"

Cleo: "Sort of… something similar happened that one time… but I thought I had it under control."

Rikki: "Maybe she saw something… like you using your powers around her?"

Bella: "Did you?"

Cleo: "Noo… at least not recently."

Rikki: sighs "So you're not even sure."

Cleo: "That's not what I said, Rikki."

Emma: "No matter how you look at it, this could be a huge problem, Cleo. Maybe… you should consider telling her?"

Cleo: stares blankly at Emma "You can't be serious. Tell Kim, of all people? No way!"

Emma: "Cleo, I'm just saying—"

Cleo: "No! No! No! I'm not doing it!" walks away

Bella: turns to Emma "Well, maybe your brother will have better luck at swaying her."

Rikki: rolls her eyes "I know you haven't been around her much, but if Emma can't convince Cleo, then Elliot definitely won't be able to get through to Kim."

Bella: "Really?"

Emma: "Really! Now come on, I don't want to be late for school."

The rest of the school day was like any other, save for Bella and Will's occasional awkward encounters. Turns out that they still haven't smoothed things over—it was obvious to anyone who laid eyes on them. Sensing her discomfort, the group of friends offered to help Bella take her mind off of her current situation with a much-needed trip to the ocean.

Bella: sighs and stretches "Nothing beats clearing your mind in the ocean, right?"

Emma: "Yeah, I always felt that way even before I got my tail."

Cleo: "You needed this swim more than any of us, though."

Rikki: "Yeah, the tension between you and Will was too much, even for me."

Emma: "So, are you ever going to tell him the truth?"

Bella: "I will, it's just that… the timing isn't right."

Rikki: "With you, it sounds like it will never be the right time."

Bella: "It's not that I don't want to… I mean, even you guys have seen how he's been giving me the cold shoulder."

Rikki: "So what? Sounds like you need to be more assertive."

Emma: "Or maybe just give him some time. He might come around eventually. And when he does, you need to be ready to tell him everything. No holding back."

Bella: sighs "Yeah, I hope you're right."

The scene at Rikki's cafe was the same as every other—lively and bustling with teenagers who treated it as their go-to hanging spot. It was now Will's as well, given its close proximity to the beach and his training center.

Will: "Hey, Zane. I'm here to pick up my order."

Zane: "Got you. Coming right up."

As for Elliot, it turns out that Kim was already sitting and waiting for him. She must have been there for a while too, he noted to himself, judging from the low content of her smoothie.

Elliot: enters the cafe and looks around

Kim: "Elliot, over here!"

Elliot: walks over to Kim "Hey!" sits "What's so important that we had to meet here?"

Kim: glares at Elliot "What took you so long?"

Elliot: "Uh.. I've been busy."

Kim: "The entire week? Whatever. Enough of that. There's something really important I need to tell you. It's about Cleo and the others…" looks around then leans in closer "So, do you remember a couple years ago when I found Cleo's weird diary? The one that she said was for a school project?"

Elliot: "You mean the one that led us to a false witch hunt?"

Kim: "Yes! And there were sketches of tails and water in it! Well, guess what? I found a similar book in Cleo's bag and—"

Elliot: "Kim, aren't you too old to be going through your sister's stuff?"

Kim: "This isn't a joke, Elliot. There's something really weird going on with Cleo. Emma and Rikki, too! And I'm sure that new girl is just as weird as them."

Elliot: sighs "So, what did you find?"

Kim: "It looked like a kid's book, but then there was all this stuff about…" leans forward and whispers "...transforming into mermaids in special pools, powers, and the full moon. And there was this mermaid sketch too, similar to what Cleo drew in her—"

Elliot: sighs and looks away "Maybe it's the same book that she… used for her project?"

Kim: "But why would she still have it with her two years later?" studies Elliot's face and frowns "You know something, don't you. You and Emma are really close. Has she told you anything?"

Elliot: "No… she hasn't. There's nothing… weird with Emma."

Kim: "Between you and Cleo, I don't know who's the bigger liar." leans back and crosses her arms "Looks like I'm on my own with this."

Elliot: "Does that mean that you're going to ask Cleo directly?"

Kim: "Are you kidding me? She'd never tell me!" looks past Elliot "Speaking of, guess who just got here?"

Elliot: turns around, then back at Kim "Look, I don't know what you're planning but whatever it is, you can't be rash about it."

Kim: plays with her drink "He definitely knows something!" looks across the room

Lewis: frowns "Is that Kim and Elliot? When did they start dating?"

Cleo: looks past Lewis "What are they doing here?"

Emma: laughs "They're not. Elliot said she's way too bossy for him. But he did agree to finally meet up with her."

Bella: chuckles "Sounds like a date to me." spots Will "Uh, guys. I'll be back in a minute." gets up

Cleo: "Looks like she's really grilling him. Are you sure that Elliot can handle her?"

Emma: "It's fine. I told him to dance around any questions she throws at him."

Cleo: "I hope you're right. Kim can be a handful."

Miriam: walks up to the counter "Hey, there! Will, is it?"

Will: "Uh, yeah. You're Miriam, right?"

Miriam: twirling her hair "Oh, I'm surprised you know who I am."

Will: "Well, you are pretty popular. You're sort of hard to miss."

Nate: cuts in front of Bella "Hey, Bella! There you are! All set for today?"

Bella: looks past Nate "Yeah, of course."

Nate: looks behind himself "I'm not keeping you from your boyfriend, am I?"

Miriam: chuckles and leans closer "You're really hard to miss yourself. So uh, I take it that you're into sports? Surfing, maybe?"

Will: "Free diving, actually. And I've got a competition coming up soon."

Miriam: "Free diving? Does that mean that you don't use oxygen tanks?"

Will: "Pretty much. Just a pair of really strong lungs."

Miriam: "Oh, I can tell that your training's working. It definitely shows."

Zane: "Here you go, Will."

Will: "Thanks." pays Zane and collects his order "Well, uh, I gotta go. I'm kinda busy today. See you some other time?" turns around and sees Bella talking to Nate

Bella: "Yes, you are. And no, he's not my boy—" sighs "We're just friends, okay?"

Nate: "Well…" leans closer to Bella "...if that's the case, I don't mind… you know, stepping up to the plate. This Will guy doesn't seem serious about you."

Bella: scoffs "And you are? Let me make this clear, Nate, Will and I are only friends, and I'm not interested in you like that. See you at rehearsals." walks past Nate

Rikki: raises eyebrows and smirks "Tough luck, Nate. When will you ever learn?"

Nate: "The ladies looove the Nate-train, Rikki. Remember?" winks at her "You girls couldn't stay away from me." smirks

Rikki: recoils "Ugh, as if. If you're talking about that day, it doesn't count. At all." walks away

Miriam: follows Will's gaze and smirks then leans closer "So, about your competition, I don't mind showing up? You know, as moral support."

Will: "Oh no, you don't have to—"

Miriam: "What's wrong with a classmate supporting another—"

Bella: walks up to the counter "Hey, Will. Got a second?"

Will: "Not really, I'm—"

Bella: "It won't take long. Just a few minutes."

Will: "Some other time, Bella. Now really isn't the time for this." turns around and leaves

Miriam: smirks and brushes past Bella "Oh, sorry about that, didn't see you there."

Bella: "Seems to be a recurring issue. Ever thought of getting your eyes checked?"

Miriam: "Oh please, they're perfectly fine. I mean, even I can see that Will's had enough of you."

Bella: "Huh? Will and I are—"

Miriam: "What…" tilts her head "...having a bit of a disagreement? Is that what you call it? Word of advice, Bella, boys don't like pushy girls."

Bella: rolls her eyes "And take it from me, Miriam, Will's definitely not into snobby blondes."

Miriam: smirks "Takes one to know one, right?" sees Bella frowning "Face it, maybe he's just not that into you. You're no one special." walks away

Bella: tightens her fist and whispers "Oh, I'll show you special." puts her hand behind her back then uses her telekinesis to send Miriam's drink flying in her face

Miriam: screams "What…" wipes her face and looks around "How… why?!" wipes her face then turns to Bella "You! You put something in my smoothie, didn't you!"

Bella: "Who, me? I'm no one special, remember?" joins Cleo, Emma and Lewis at the booth

The stunned trio struggled to find the words to express their disbelief at the unexpected scene that unfolded before their eyes.

Kim: gasps and whispers "Did you see that?! How did that drink get on her?"

Elliot: "The… wind?"

Kim: "What wind?! We're indoors!"

Elliot: "Maybe she tripped… or bumped into something?"

Kim: "And spilled it right into her own face? Not on her clothes? No way! It's like someone grabbed it and threw it at her!"

Elliot: "But that didn't—"

Kim: "Exactly! Still think I'm crazy?"

Elliot: sighs "I never said you were."

Kim: "Well you sure made me feel like I am! The book said they could control water, maybe that's how she did it!"

Elliot: sighs and drinks his smoothie "She's way too sharp."

Rikki: whispers "Way to go, Bella!" turns to Zane "Do you know how many times I've dreamed of doing this?!"

Zane: leans over and whispers "Evaporating her swimming pool wasn't enough? Or turning her into a popsicle?"

Rikki: "Of course not. It's Miriam we're talking about here." whispers "And I'm the one who thawed her out after Emma froze her."

Zane: looks at Miriam crying and grabbing tissue from Tiffany "Looks like I need to do something about this."

Rikki: "Oh, come on, Zane! Give it a few more minutes! I want to savor this moment a bit longer."

Zane: chuckles "That's real mature of you, but I'm going to hand her a towel." heads to Miriam

Rikki: sighs and crosses her arms "There you go, being a party pooper."

Bella: sits next to Emma

Lewis: "Do my eyes deceive me, or did you just send that drink flying in Miriam's face?"

Bella: sounding grumpy "That's exactly what happened, Lewis."

Cleo: exchanges glances with Emma "Maybe you should go for another swim? To cool your head?"

Bella: "I'm fine. Normally, that sort of thing wouldn't get to me, but with everything going on between Will and I, Miriam's comment felt like rubbing salt in an open wound."

Emma: "All the more reason you need to tell Will the truth."

Lewis: "Yeah, beating around the bush will only make things worse."

Bella: "Well, between his training and him avoiding me, I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon."

Emma: "It will, if you want it to."

Bella: "Honestly, I'm surprised that you guys are pushing for this."

Lewis: "Well, he is your friend, and he seems like a trustworthy guy. Plus, it's better to nip it in the bud before he goes on a mermaid hunt like Zane did."

Bella: furrows her eyebrows and plays with her ring "Maybe I do need to let off some steam."

Lewis: "Maybe? You're slowly morphing into Rikki here."

Rikki: "Who's morphing into who?" puts their drinks on the table and glares at Lewis

Lewis: "Oh, nothing, other than the negative influence you've been having on—"

Rikki: "I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were y—"

Bella: stands up "Okay, I think this is my cue to leave. Later, guys." leaves

Lewis: "Nice one, Rikki."

Rikki: "So this is my fault, huh?"

Emma: sighs "Aren't you guys tired of this?"

Rikki: "Whatever… I have other orders to get to."

Still frustrated with Elliot's dismissive behavior, an impatient Kim decided to take matters into her own hands. Sensing an opportunity, Kim wasted no time sticking her leg out in Nate's direction, which led to things snowballing out of control—Nate bumping into a waitress, and the latter bumping into none other than Rikki herself.

Rikki: "Alright, here's your ord—" gasps "Move it!" runs towards the office

Zane: looks up and sighs "Not this again." turns around "Hey, Rikki! Are you—" hears Rikki fall "I guess it's a no." goes to check on her

Elliot: "Kim?! What are you doing?!"

Kim: "I didn't do anything! This guy should've watched where he was walking!"

Nate: "Me?! You're the one who tripped me and now you're putting this on me?!"

Kim: "I did not! It's not my fault you're such a clutz!"

Nate: "Listen here, brat—"

Kim: "Who are you calling a brat?!"

Lewis: "What's going on over there?"

Cleo: looks across the room and sighs "I knew it!" walks over "Kim! What are you up to?!"

Emma and Lewis follows Cleo

Kim: "Why are you always so quick to accuse me! It's not my fault this guy was goofing off!"

Emma: "Why didn't you stop her, Elliot?"

Elliot: "As if anyone can control Kim! I didn't even know what she was going to do!"

Cleo: "Come on, Kim." leads her outside "Why would you do something like this?"

Kim: "Why do you and your friends always take off running whenever you get wet. I'm tired of being lied to, so I decided that I'm going to find out the truth on my own, one way or another!"

Cleo: whispering "Look, you can't ever do this in public again. Okay? Especially with so many people around."

Kim: "Why not? What's with you guys and water? Why act so weird about it?"

Cleo: "Rikki… just didn't want to get her clothes ruined."

Kim: "Oh please, it's not just Rikki, and you know it." walks away

Cleo: "Kim! Kim!" sighs and crosses her arms

Elliot: "I should get going too. See you later?"

Emma: "Yeah, sure!" watches Elliot catch up to Kim

Lewis: walks up to Cleo and puts his hand on her shoulder "You know, I think it's time…" sees Cleo's confused expression "...that you tell her?"

Cleo: "What? No way! You saw what she did just now, right?!"

Lewis: "That's exactly why I'm saying this. You've been encouraging Bella to tell Will, but what about your own family?"

Cleo: "I don't think Kim can handle the truth right now. She's too immature. And my parents are divorced and dating again, so…"

Lewis: "Well, you should at least start with Kim. You might be surprised how well she takes it."

Cleo: "You can't be serious about this, Lewis."

Emma: "He's right, Cleo. This could've turned out so much worse for Rikki… and us. It's been almost three years now. I think they deserve to know at this point."

Cleo: crosses arms and sighs "Okay… fine. I-I guess I'll think about it."

Lewis: holds her hand "Do you want me to come with you?"

Cleo: "No, it's fine. I have to do this on my own."

Just as he did the last time, Will decided to spend his day off at none other than Mako. On one hand, it made for a great training experience, though, in reality, he was actually there for one thing only—to search for the mysterious figure from before. That day replayed over his mind incessantly over the past week as Will struggled to make sense of what he saw—a fish-like silhouette, invisible to the human eye, but also somehow visible as it appeared to carefully make its way past him. Now that he really thought about it, it's almost like the creature was sentient, even aware of his presence? A sharp breath escaped his lips as Will positioned himself at the boat's edge, this time, equipped with his waterproof stopwatch and camera in hand. Realizing just how absurd the situation was, Will couldn't help but laugh at himself a little—could he really blame Bella for not believing him? What exactly was he trying to prove? Would the figure even show up on camera? Although he doesn't fully blame her, it did sting a bit that she, of all people, refused to hear him out, almost like she wanted no parts of what he had to say.

With a clear mind and lungs full of air, a determined Will plunged right into the ocean, slowly and carefully descending to the sea floor. This really was a great idea, he thought to himself, the ocean's abundant beauty made training so much more bearable—a far cry from Sophie's grueling sessions. The following five minutes went by pretty quickly, and just as he thought, the chances of running into that mysterious figure were rather slim. Still determined, however, Will made his way back to the surface for a quick break, and once satisfied, resumed exploring. This went on for nearly an hour, and by then, his record was now five minutes, forty-five seconds, a fifteen seconds increase from his previous personal best. Still not quite at the six minutes mark that he was hoping for, but he's going to get there soon.

Despite his fatigue, Will decided to give it another go. Slowly he swam past several rocks, inspecting the area thoroughly, hoping that he didn't miss a thing. Making his back in the direction he came, Will noticed something alarming that nearly made him gasp—a long golden tail and luscious blonde hair in the distance! He couldn't see her face but there was no doubt what she was—a mermaid! Coming to his senses, Will clumsily positioned his camera and snapped several pics—was she real? Was his mind playing tricks on him because he'd been in the ocean for so long, like those hallucinating sailors who'd been out at sea for months? And then it happened, so quickly and unexpectedly, the mermaid, with a single stroke of her tail, sped away at an incredible speed, the likes of which Will had ever seen. Was it his fault that she took off in such a rush? Was she fleeing from him? Breaking the surface, a stunned Will could only stare in the direction that the mermaid took off in.

This really wasn't like her. Bella let out a long and slightly exaggerated sigh in hopes that it would relieve her of the remaining frustration that plagued her mind. Maybe Rikki was right, and that she needed to be more assertive, even aggressive, perhaps. Without even thinking about it, Bella was already calling Will's phone—and unsurprisingly, he still wasn't picking up. If only she knew where he was, then she'd force him to hear her out. At this point, all Bella could hope for was that he'd listen to her voice note and give her a chance.

Coming to his senses, Will desperately tried to retrace the path where he saw the mermaid—where did she come from? Was she the figure that he previously encountered? Suddenly, something unusual caught his attention—it looked like a cave, or rather an underwater entrance? Wondering where it led to, he daringly swam through the narrow pathway, where he saw what appeared to be sunlight streaming through the water. Breaking the surface, Will found himself in the most unusual yet breathtaking place—an enigmatic cave, or rather, as he craned his head upwards, the interior of the island's extinct volcano. It was surprisingly warm in there too, though he just chucked it up to the summer's heat. Who would've thought that such a place existed? Wanting to document it all, Will made it a point to snap several photos of everything that piqued his interest—the cave, its pool, the volcano's cone, as well as three perfectly shaped holes in the cave's left wall. Noticing another entrance to his right, Will instinctively checked it out—and before he knew it, he was trekking down a short path that led to another opening. A fairly steep one too, most likely leading to the forest with a nearby river from what he could hear. What caught his attention, though, was the rope attached to a rock-climbing anchor, a clear indication that someone else has been there before. Who else could have known about this place, he wondered to himself? Then it dawned on him—does Bella and the others know? Sure, they spend a lot of time at Mako, but they also seemed scared of the island? Will had so many questions but was unsure as to who to turn to for answers. He was convinced that Bella would yet again dismiss his claims, even though he had solid proof of the mermaid and the cave that she swam from. With this, Will decided that there was only one thing left to do—that it would be best to bring Bella there herself.

Bella: phone vibrates, then frowns as she reads the message "He wants to meet up? Why so suddenly? Either way, now's my chance to come clean." texts Will and stands up

On her way to the docks, Bella kept ruminating in her mind her upcoming conversation with Will. What was she going to say? How would he handle it? Would he forgive her for blatantly lying to him? This went on for several minutes, and before she even knew it, Bella was at the docks where Will was already perched, awaiting her arrival.

Will: "Hey, uh… sorry for asking to meet so suddenly. I know that things have been shaky between us lately and—"

Bella: "It's fine. I've been meaning to talk to you as well."

Will: "Look, Bella… I'm really sorry for how I reacted before… and I don't blame you for not believing me… but there's something that I really need to show you."

Bella: furrows her eyebrows "Show me? What is it?"

Will: "It's easier to understand if you see it for yourself. Come on, let's go." walks towards his boat

Bella: "And why do we need your boat?"

Will: "Because we're heading to Mako."

Bella: gasps "Will, why—"

Will: "Just hear me out. I know you're not a fan of Mako, or water, but telling you isn't enough. I need you to see it with your own eyes."

Bella: struggling to speak "Uh… yeah. Okay, sure."

Will: "Really?!"

Bella: "Yeah…" shrugs "why not?"

Will: "Great! You won't regret this!" enters his boat and helps Bella in who tries to avoid the puddles of water "Oh, here." dries the seat "This should do it."

Bella: chuckles "Well, aren't you a gentleman."

Will: laughs "Hey, I can't have my aquaphobic friend getting wet."

Bella: "I'm not exactly scared of water, just… wary of it… especially in public."

Will: turns on the boat "How's that any different from having a phobia?'

Bella: "It's hard to explain, but I'll show you later."

Will: "Show me?"

Bella: smiles "You'll see."

The ride to Mako felt somewhat unusual for a mermaid like Bella who's used to propelling herself throughout the ocean whenever she felt like it. In a lot of ways, she felt like she had more in common with its creatures rather than humans, although she still considered herself to be one. Her stomach felt like it was in knots, though she couldn't really tell if it was because of the sea-sickness, her own nervousness, or an uncomfortable combination of both. It also didn't help that the boat ride felt like it dragged on forever, though in actuality it was barely five minutes long. Once at their destination, Will pulled his boat onto land and set off for Mako's eerie forest.

Bella: "Um, Will…? Do you know where you're going?"

Will: "I hope so, considering I've only been there once."

Bella: "When? No, let me guess, today?"

Will: "Yup!" sees Bella's worried look "What? I was out swimming, obviously."

Bella: fidgets with her ring "So… you were out swimming … today… and now we're here on land because…"

Will: "You'll see in a minute. It's too amazing to explain with just words. Hey, there's the river. I think we're getting closer."

Bella: feeling nervous "Will, you never said anything about having to cross a river."

Will: "It's fine, the water's shallow. And look! There's some stones you could step on."

Bella: "But my feet will get wet."

Will: looks at the river, then Bella and sighs "Well, I guess there's only one thing left to do." walks up to Bella

Bella: "Hold on, you aren't going to do what I think—" gasps as Will lifts her up "Will?!"

Will: "What's the matter? You're too scared to cross it, and we need to get to the other side. Do you have any other ideas?"

Bella: mumbling "I do, but I…" looks away and blushes "You know what, it's fine." chuckles "Take me away, Prince Charming."

Will: chuckles "By all means, your highness." puts Bella down after crossing the river "See, that wasn't so bad."

Bella: "It would've been, if you dropped me."

Will: "So much for you not being scared."

Bella: "I wasn't, I—" notices where they are "Hey, the place that we're going, does it have something to do with the volcano? Is that why we're heading upwards?"

Will: laughs "You got me there. Come on, it only gets better." climbs up the rocks near the river "See that opening there?"

Bella: follows after Will and looks down "We're going down there? It… it looks pretty steep."

Will: "Yeah, come on. I'll help you down." follows Bella after she enters the cave

Bella: looks at Will's expression "You seem really excited about this."

Will: "You will be too, after seeing how amazing it is there." enters the moonpool "Well, what do you think? Isn't this place awesome?"

Bella: feeling uncomfortable "Yeah… it… is. But did you really have to bring me here? You could've just taken a picture."

Will: "I did, but seeing is believing, right?"

Bella: "Yeah… sure. How did you even discover this place?"

Will: "You won't believe this but…" pulls out his camera "...here, take a look at this." shows Bella the pictures of her swimming "I saw that today, Bella. With my own two eyes! And the mermaid, I think she must have swam out of there." points to the moonpool "I know this sounds even crazier, and you might not want to hear this, but what if it's connected to the thing that touched me? Amazing, isn't it?!"

Bella: "I-I guess so…" crosses her arms and paces back and forth "But, what now? What do you plan on doing with these pictures? Sell them to the highest bidder?"

Will: "What? No way. I'd hate for that poor mermaid to end up in a fish tank at the zoo or as a test subject in a lab. And even if I did, most people would think it's fake."

Bella: "Do you really mean that? That you won't tell anyone?"

Will: "Absolutely. You know I'm not one to go back on my word."

Bella: "And… uh… what if… what if you could meet that mermaid. What would you tell her? How would you treat her?"

Will: "Hmm… well, I have a whole bunch of questions I'd like to ask her—like where'd she come from, are there others like her, and what's it like having a tail. That has to be the biggest one."

Bella: chuckles and mumbles "I guess I've really been worrying over nothing…"

Will: furrows his eyebrows "Hmm? Did you say something?"

Bella: "Nothing, just that… you'll have your chance to ask those questions."

Will: chuckles "What, you're going to set up an interview with the mermaid?"

Bella: laughs "I guess you can call it that." closes her eyes and takes a deep breath "So, Will…" turns around and opens her eyes "...you know how I said that I'm not actually scared of water, but wary of getting wet in public?"

Will: "Yeah, and you said that you had something to show me?"

Bella: "I do. And I… I'm really sorry for not telling you sooner." sees Will's confused expression "Will, you see…" walks towards the moonpool "...whenever I come into contact with water…" steps into the moonpool

Will: "Bella, what are you—"

Bella: "...this happens." dives in and transforms

Will: gasps and steps back "Bella… I-I… you… you're a…"

Bella: turns around "So, about that mermaid you saw earlier—"

Will: gasps "Th-that was you?! You knew that I was there?!"

Bella: "Yes… and no! At least not until you showed me the pictures!"

Will: "And this place? Did you already know about it?"

Bella: "Yes, but only for a few months."

Will: "Wait a minute… you hang out with Cleo and the others all the time. Even here on Mako, too. Did they already know of…" gestures towards Bella and the cave "...this?"

Bella: "Yes, but—"

Will: "So you trusted them enough to share your secret, but not me? Even though you guys just met?"

Bella: "I didn't tell them… more like… we found out about each other."

Will: "Each other…? Bella, are you saying that Cleo, Rikki, Emma, and even Lewis and Zane are—"

Bella: bursts out laughing "What? No way! I'm having a hard time picturing Lewis and Zane with a tail. In fact, I've never met a merman."

Will: "So then, it's just—"

Bella: "Yeah. Cleo, Rikki and Emma are all mermaids. And they look exactly like me too."

Will: "Bella, when did you… how did this…"

Bella: chuckles "Remember how I said you'd get a chance to interview the mermaid? Well, consider this to be your lucky day!"

Catching Will up to speed over everything that's happened—from her transformation as a child, her powers, to their current predicament regarding the asteroid—took way longer than Bella expected. Though, like Emma said, it felt really good revealing all this to Will, particularly now since the initial nervousness washed away. She especially enjoyed Will's wide-eyed reaction and genuine curiosity towards everything.

Will: "Okay, wow! This is a lot to take in. So let me get this straight…. mermaids are real…"

Bella: nods head "Mmm-mmm…"

Will: "...and you…" gestures towards Bella "...you changed in a pool like this one? In Ireland? Because of the full moon? And these powers…" points to Bella's ring "You all get one…?"

Bella: sighs "Yes, Will…" leans against the moonpool's edge

Will: "...and there's also this potentially deadly asteroid heading straight for Mako? Is that all? Did I cover everything?"

Bella: "Pretty much. Oh, and the full moon had this weird effect on us where we'd act crazy with no memory of it in the morning, but we're over that now."

Will: "Really?" chuckles "Sounds like you guys are no different from werewolves."

Bella: laughs "Hey!" splashes water on him "I'm a delicate mermaid, Will. How could ever compare me to these ferocious beasts."

Will: laughs and wipes his face "It's not my fault that you have so much in common with them. I bet you howled at the moon, too."

Bella: scoffs "As if! But I'll tell you all about my crazy moonstruck moments some other time."

Will: looks at the glass Bella made "Seriously, this is so cool…" holds it closer and squints ".Hmm.. it looks familiar, too. Like that crystal I found at the beach a few weeks ago."

Bella: looks away "Uhh… that's because… it's the same thing. I… accidentally left it there."

Will: sighs and rubs his forehead "I honestly shouldn't be surprised at this point but is there anything else I should know? Like that thing I bumped into the other day?"

Bella: "Um… well… about that…"

Will: shocked expression "That was you, Bella?! You made me feel like I was crazy!"

Bella: "Because you're the first person outside of my family that I've ever wanted to share my secret with. The others don't count because we found out about each other at the same time. But with you, it's different. I-I was scared, okay?"

Will: "Why would you ever need to be scared of me, Bella?"

Bella: "Not of you, of my secret. That it would tear us apart, not bring us closer." turns and wipes her face "I know this is stupid, forget what I said."

Will: "Hey…" leans forward "...you don't have to apologize. I obviously can't relate to your experiences but I do get that it must've been really hard… and lonely."

Bella: "It was. I mean, sure I had my family, but until I met the others, I never had anyone I could relate to directly."

Will: "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I guess I overreacted."

Bella: "Understatement of the year." sniffles "But I don't blame you. I should've just told you from the beginning." looks up "We should get going. We've been here for some time now and I Rikki's gonna fry me if I don't get there soon."

Will: laughs "Makes sense that she got the fire powers." stands up "See you at the beach?"

Bella: "Sure thing, slowpoke."

Will: laughs "You sure got over that quickly, huh?"

Bella: smiles "Teasing you is my friendly duty." dives underwater

Will: laughs and leaves the cave

Much to Will's surprise, Bella hitched a ride with him back to the mainland rather than swimming—in her own words, walking from their secluded spot on the beach to the cafe was too much. Not that he was complaining, as the mood this time around was much lighter than it was a few minutes ago. Once at the cafe, Bella couldn't help but notice a pair of eyes shooting dirty looks in her direction, which she happily returned with a beaming smile.

Miriam: "Ugh… what does he see in her?"

Tiffany: "It looks like they made up."

Miriam: glares at Tiffany "Thanks for stating the obvious, Tiffany." crosses her arms and leans back "If only I could find some sort of dirt on her."

Tiffany: "She doesn't seem like the sort of person to have any."

Miriam: "She's no little-miss-perfect. There has to be something I could use against her."

Tiffany: "You're the most popular girl in school, Miriam. Are you really going to let a nobody like her get under your skin?"

Miriam: "Unfortunately she already has, and now it's time for payback."

Rikki: walks up to the booth "Hey, Lewis. It's almost time. Is Bella here yet?"

Lewis: "No, and she isn't picking up either. Maybe you guys should try looking for her?"

Emma: "No need for that." points at the door

Rikki: raises her eyebrows and smirks "So those lovebirds finally made-up. Took them long enough."

Lewis: "What does that mean for you guys' secret? Are you all okay with him knowing?"

Emma: shrugs "Why not? He's Bella's friend, and if she trusts him with hers then so do we. Plus, it'd be hard to hide everything from Will from now on."

Cleo: sighs "That just leaves the two of us, Rikki."

Rikki: "I know. Can't say that I'm excited, though."

So, it was finally happening. Was she really going to go through with it? A flustered Cleo kept ruminating these questions in her mind as she paced back and forth in her room, her fingers nervously intertwined with each other. What exactly was she going to say to them, and how? For nearly three years, she and her friends were only focused on hiding their secrets, even from their own families, but was it ever the right thing to do? Bella's family knew from the beginning, and now Emma's. And from what she's been told, they've all handled it pretty well, at least after the initial shock wore off. But could she say the same of her own family? It was at this point that a sudden knock at the door pulled Cleo out of her thoughts—it was none other than Kim, standing there with a determined look on her face and armed with a glass of water.

Cleo: "Hey—" gasps "Kim! Why?!" tries to close the door

Kim: pushes the door open "You won't tell me anything so I—" sees Cleo transform and gasps

Cleo: looks up slowly "Kim, I can explain. Please, just hear me out!"

Kim: eyes widen and whispers softly "I knew it." starts speaking louder "I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!"

Cleo: whispering "Keep your voice down, Kim!"

Kim: "Dad! Cleo's a freak! Come see this! Quick!"

Cleo: whispering "Kim?! What did I just tell you?!"

Don: looks up from his seat and sighs "What are these girls up to?"

Kim: "Dad! Dad! Get here now before she changes again!"

Don: "Changes?" heads upstairs and walks down the hallway "Kim, what are you talking—" stops at the doorway and gasps "...about." walks in and furrows his eyebrows "Is… is this some sort of costume? It looks so real." stoops and touches her tail "Where'd you get this from, Cleo?"

Kim: "It is real, Dad! She's a fish! She changed right in front of me!"

Don: "This doesn't make any sense, Kim. It's obviously fake. Right, Cleo?"

Cleo: closes her eyes and breathes in deeply "Kim's right, dad." opens her eyes and slowly raises her head "This is the real thing. Here, I'll show you." lifts the water off her body, then stands up "See?"

Don: struggling to speak while slowly standing up

Cleo: "Well… say something."

Kim: crosses her arms "What kind of witchy powers turns you into a fish? And how are you doing that with the water?"

Cleo: "Mermaid, Kim! I'm a mermaid!" puts the water in her fish tank "And I… I changed at Mako… almost three years ago."

Don: "Three years! Cleo, you've kept this from us for three years?! Does your mum—"

Cleo: "No, I haven't told her… yet. I will, though." sighs "So much for telling you guys on my own terms."

Kim: scoffs "That's what you get for lying so much!"

Don: sighs and rubs his forehead "Cleo, I need you to explain everything to me, in detail."

Cleo: "Yeah… sure." sits on her bed "Where do I even start?"

Don: "From the beginning!" sits next to Cleo

Cleo: sighs "So, remember that time I told you we were stranded at Mako…"

Hey Guys! Sorry for the long wait. I didn't abandon the story. I actually finished this chapter much earlier but was feeling unsure about certain parts. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy it. So far, this chapter is my favorite. Also, I really enjoy reading the reviews as it helps keeps me motivated to keep going.