𝐀𝐐𝐔𝐀 𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐄 - AN H2O: JUST ADD WATER STORY

˚○◦˚five˚◦○˚

Emma stared blankly at Cleo as Cleo stared back. Then, things seemed to click, and she began shaking her head.

"No. Absolutely not. I know what you're thinking, and the answer is no." Emma asserted.

"Emma," Cleo started as they sat in the car. "I need you to do this for us. We don't have another choice."

"We are not bringing Zane back to my house! I mean, look at him!" She motioned to Zane as he sat in the back, pale and exhausted. "He can't even walk straight."

Cleo exhaled deeply. "He can't come back to mine. Kim will be all over our case."

"Where would we even hide him? The closet?" Emma shook her head.

Cleo was quiet for a moment. "Actually, that's exactly what I'm thinking."

As much as she wanted Zane to face the consequences of his actions, his father was known for being harsh, and she didn't think Zane was exaggerating the punishment he'd receive.

"You're insane," Emma huffed.

Rikki glanced around the back of the seat to look at Emma. "Please, I'll help get him into the house and hide him and everything," she begged, eyes desperate.

Cleo nodded and looked at Emma. "And I'll help you distract your mum," she added, looking at Emma hopefully.

Emma sat back and looked at the street ahead for a moment, silence hanging in the air.

"You both owe me big time. And so do you," Emma said finally, shooting a glance at Zane in the back seat, who put his hands up in quiet surrender. Grins broke out on Cleo and Rikki's faces, and Emma motioned forward. "Just drive."

──── ❀❀❀ ────

"So, how exactly are we going to do this?" Rikki asked when they turned onto Emma's street.

"I thought you had a plan," Emma replied.

Cleo nodded assuredly. "We do. We're just coming up with it as we go."

"That's not a plan."

Cleo sighed. "Okay. Rikki, stay in the car until Emma and I have gone into the house. Then, you'll go around to the back garden and find a way to get to the roof over the porch. We'll open Emma's window when we make it upstairs. Good? Good. Because we're here."

They pulled into the driveway, and Cleo nodded at Emma. "Let's go."

They hopped out of the car and headed up to the front stoop, stopping outside the door as Emma rang the bell. Cleo crossed her arms nervously.

"Oh, no. Cleo," Emma's eyes went wide. "Your face."

"What do you mean, my—" She stopped, blood running cold as her fingers went to the tender bruise starting to form on her cheekbone.

Just then, the door swung open, and they wiped the panic off their faces in a clean sweep.

Mrs. Gilbert stood there, a smile laced with mild confusion at the sight of them. "Did you forget something?" She asked, glancing between Emma and Cleo.

"No," Emma answered quickly. "Um, I was actually hoping Cleo could spend the night here instead?"

Cleo nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I forgot that my sister has this new...Sleeping schedule she has to follow, and we didn't want to make her stay up too late past her bedtime." Cleo hoped Mrs. Gilbert wouldn't ask her to elaborate, as Cleo had no idea where she was going with this story.

"Well, isn't that thoughtful," Mrs. Gilbert remarked. "Come in, come in!" She waved the girls inside, shutting the door again behind them. "Cleo, do you want anything to drink? Water, tea—" She paused, giving Cleo a double take.

Oh no, here it came.

"What happened there?" She motioned to her own face as she looked at Cleo's in concern.

"Oh, I...Fell off my bike." She laughed, glancing at Emma, who started to chuckle nervously and nod in agreement.

Mrs. Gilbert furrowed her brows. "Looks like a nasty fall. Are you sure you don't need anything?"

Emma shook her head and answered for Cleo. "Ahh, she'll be fine. Wouldn't be the first time." She started to usher Cleo towards the stairs. "We'll be upstairs, mum. Thanks!"

The girls took the steps two at a time, racing to the second floor, down the hall, and straight to Emma's room. Emma shut the door just as a dull, heavy thump sounded from outside.

Cleo hurried to the window, sliding it open to find Zane and Rikki already waiting on the roof outside.

Rikki ducked into the house first. "Remind me never to try and lift anyone onto a roof again," she grumbled.

"Noted," Cleo answered, watching as Zane stumbled into the room, catching himself on Emma's desk.

"Watch it," Emma warned, shutting the window behind him.

"Sorry," he said aloud.

"Shh!" Emma hissed. "You aren't supposed to be here, remember?"

"Right," he whispered. Rikki went to Emma's closet and opened the doors, then came around and backed Zane into it.

"You, stay there," she instructed, and Zane obediently sat down against the piles of clothes and pillows strewn on the closet floor.

"I hope you're feeling better," Emma said doubtfully. "I've had enough drama for one night."

Rikki sat on the edge of Emma's bed and looked at Zane. "Who was that guy, anyway? And why was he saying you ruined his bike?"

Zane rolled his eyes. "Will Benjamin. He's on the racing team with me. Or, was on the racing team," he explained, smirking. "Coach let him go a couple weeks ago, and I guess he's taking it pretty hard."

Cleo raised an eyebrow. With Zane, the truth was never that clear. In fact, he was a master at twisting words until they were unrecognizable.

"That doesn't explain the bike," Cleo pointed out as she crossed her arms and leaned her hip against Emma's desk.

"We were on the track and he kept getting too close to me, so I cut him off." Zane shrugged. "Not my fault he crashed straight into the fence afterwards. If you want to be on the team, you've gotta know how to handle your own." He chuckled, and the girls exchanged a glance with each other.

There. That was the truth.

But strangely, Cleo wasn't finding herself as annoyed at Zane as she usually was when he did things like this. Maybe it was because she wasn't the victim this time. Or maybe it was because of the way Will had so rudely pushed past her at the gate and sneered at her.

Cleo couldn't believe she was saying this, if only in her head, but maybe Will deserved to be pushed into that pool, just to humble him a bit.

"Great," Rikki said sarcastically, sighing. "Zane, remind us not to take you anywhere ever again. Goodnight!" Then, she stepped forward and slid the closet doors shut on him.