Waterworks (H2O Just Add Water) 🌊

18. Bad Moon Rising

The girls and I were in the living room at the Sertori house. Emma had out the circular moon calendar while I had Ida's sketch drawings of Mako Island laid out on the makeshift table.

"That's it. Tonight's a full moon," Emma told us.

"This is making me nervous," Cleo confessed.

"You'll be fine. You three just need to control yourselves a little better this time," Rikki shrugged.

"None of you guys were there when I was affected," I shook my head.

"You're not immune to it, you know, Rikki," Emma frowned at her.

"I'm pretty sure I can resist the big bad moon. Even if you can't."

Rikki was confident that she could control herself under the moonlight.

"Look, I'm pretty sure we can all resist the big bad moon," Emma turned to Cleo and me, "I'd just rather be prepared."

"Prepared? Don't I smell another Emma plan coming?" Rikki smirked, "All we have to do is avoid the moonlight and water."

"Still, I'd feel better if Cleo and Zoey tracked down Miss Chatham. She seems to know how to deal with the full moon stuff."

The doorbell rang during Emma's sentence and Cleo got up to answer it.

"When she's not talking in tongues," Rikki muttered.

"Zane," Cleo remarked feeling surprised that he swung by.

"Uh, is your dad home? he asked her, "I need a word."

Still, I had a feeling that it had to do with his obsession with tracing the supposed sea monster that rescued him from drowning. And since Mr. Sertori was a fisherman, Zane thought he had seen a variety of sea life, including the one that saved him.

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The girls and I met up at the Gilbert's house later on for the sleepover. I was surprised to find the house quiet when not finding Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert or Elliot around.

"So where's the rest of the Brady Bunch?" Rikki asked as we set up the living room.

"Mum and Dad have taken Elliot camping," Emma replied.

"And how did you convince them to leave you alone?"

"They trust me."

"Ah, of course."

Since Emma was mature for her age, it made it easier for her parents to trust her with a lot of things, even having the house to herself while they were out of town. 

"So, Cleo, Zoey, did you both talk to Miss Chatham?" Emma asked both Cleo and me.

"No, we couldn't find her," Cleo shook her head, "This is a bad sign. A very bad sign. I know bad signs, and this is one of them."

Earlier, Cleo and I had swung by the retirement home where Miss Chatham was living hoping to talk with her, but the staff told us she wasn't available for visiting. I figured she was either resting or was out in town.

"Maybe," Emma nodded, "So, we're on our own."

"Not quite," Lewis smiled as he arrived wearing a utility belt and carrying a long roll of black tarp.

"Lewis. What are you doing here?"

"Well, isn't obvious? You guys wanna risk it here, I'm full-moon-proofing the house."

"I don't really think--"

"Just stop. Don't go all independent female on me. I just spent $40 at the hardware store."