See You Soon (See the Moon)

4. Secrets

My differences with the girls started coming to the head when Emma noticed me come back from school on a rainy day. Things had gotten a bit out of hand for them as they tried to cover up the reason they couldn't go out into the rainstorm. I knew I would have to come clean to Cleo and Emma soon.

It was another full moon night when Rikki was affected.

The Gilberts had gone camping leaving the house to Emma.

Lewis arrived ready to full moon proof the house.

He looked at me in curiosity, "You again."

"She knows." Rikki spoke from the living room.

"Is there something you haven't told me?" He glanced from Cleo to the rest of the girls.

They didn't answer, instead Emma pushed him out as soon as we finished proofing the house.

"You are not staying Lewis. I promised my parents, no boys."

Lewis left but as he did the reflection of the moon bounced off reflective surfaces. I glanced around the corner to see Rikki staring at the reflection in her glass of water.

"Rikki?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you ok?"

Rikki stood, "I'd like some ice cream."

When she couldn't find any, the room seemed to get hotter. Rikki seemed to get more antsy.

"I can't stand this heat."

Rikki's body started overheating.

"I think you are affected, Rikki." Emma looked worriedly at the other blonde.

An explosion of juice, soda and other liquids in the kitchen followed.

"I'm sorry I don't know what's wrong with me." Rikki wiped some sweat from her forehead.

Cleo was quick to set a fan in front of Rikki, "We'll get you cooled down and then everything will be alright."

Things escalated from there.

"I should take Rikki to Mako."

Cleo shook her head, "You'll be affected too."

Emma's eyes narrowed, "It doesn't affect you does it?" She came closer, "Just like you can get wet. You are different from us. What are you?"

I shook my head, "Rikki comes first."

We all jumped as we heard the front door slam as Rikki made a run for it

I chased after her.

"You'll tell us when you come back." Emma's no-nonsense face was on.

I looked back at them and nodded, "Now close your eyes I'm opening the door."

Lewis ran past me, as I ran towards the pier after Rikki.

I followed the bubbles left after Rikki's speed swim to Mako island.

When I reached Mako, the island was on fire. The edges of the beach alight with red and golden flames.

"Rikki," I whispered as I started my trek through the brush. It was as I was making my way through the flaming jungle that I noticed I only felt warm from the blaze, no sweat was on my brow. It was as if extreme temperatures couldn't affect me.

I kept walking til I found Rikki sitting at the center of a ring of flames. Her knees pulled up to her chest. Tear-tracks down her soot-covered cheeks.

I came to sit beside her. Her eyes stared at the ground, her face full of grief.