Waterworks (H2O Just Add Water) 🌊

16. Lovesick

Cleo and I arrived at the marine park before it opened to the public. Before heading to the kiosk, I swung by the dolphin lagoon to find Cleo walking along the small jetty. She adjusted her necklace and it suddenly fell off and into the water. With no other option, Cleo dove into the lagoon after seeing no one but me. One of the dolphins, Ronnie who was new to the park, for some reason, wouldn't let any of the trainers get close to him, reacted happily when around Cleo.

Later on, at the Juice Net, I had a weird feeling when Zane asked Cleo to get him access to the research material at the marine park. Ever since Emma and I rescued him, he's been trying to find the so-called sea monster that lived in the waters of Mako Island. I could tell him looking up information was just his search for answers.

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The next day, Cleo informed me that Ronnie would only take food from her and not from any of the other trainers. I recalled learning that some animals would imprint on a certain human they're drawn to.

"Where's Cleo?" Emma asked Kim after arriving at the Sertori house to meet up with Cleo.

"She's not here," Kim replied, "She's probably with her boyfriend."

I choked back a laugh knowing the whole fact. At first, I wanted to inform them of the truth but decided to let Cleo be the one to do so since it was her story to tell.

"Cleo doesn't have a boyfriend, squirt," Rikki corrected her.

"That's what you think," Kim sassed.

"Kim, it's fine if you don't know where Cleo is. But sensible girls don't make up stories," Emma clarified keeping herself calm.

"She was on the phone with him yesterday."

The front door opened and closed.

"Hi," Cleo smiled at all of us, "I'll just get changed."

"Where were you?" Rikki questioned her.

"Work."

"Before school?" Emma wondered.

"Sensible girls don't make up stories," Kim remarked.

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After getting home from school the next day, I sat in the living room working on a history assignment while Grandma crocheted some coasters.

"So, did anything new happen at school, Zo?" she asked.

"I got an A in math and an A plus in science," I replied, "Cleo got a B plus in science after having Lewis help her with it."

"That's wonderful."

"And at work, there's this adorable dolphin who imprinted on Cleo for some reason. He won't eat from any of the trainers except her."

"That must be adorable. It reminds me of a family trip to Fiji a long time ago. One dolphin there imprinted on Ida for some strange reason."

"I can imagine."

That second, my phone went off, "Hello?"

"Zoey, we have a big problem," Lewis informed me and went to explain that Cleo had been seeing Zane after going through her phone records.

"You gotta be kidding me." I found myself laughing. Cleo had no feelings for Zane whatsoever. Grandma gave me an expression as if to ask what I found funny.

"Everyone thinks Cleo is dating Zane, which is completely nuts if you think about it since he's already dating Miriam," I told my grandmother after hanging up, "He only asked her for a favor, which was getting access to the sealife records at the marine park."