Ever since Charlotte found out about Gracie and Ida being close friends, she had been contacting me non-stop, even at school. It got Cleo, Emma, and Rikki concerned that I might've told Charlotte the deep details. I kept assuring them that I didn't say a word to her about Gracie and Ida being mermaids or of us for that matter.
Right after finding some old footage of Gracie in her mermaid form, Charlotte texted me asking if Ida knew anything about her. I didn't have a straight answer for that. I just left it blank knowing the other girls would get at me for communicating with her.
The four of us sat side by side each other on the bench waiting for Lewis.
"There he is," Rikki pointed him out as he made an appearance.
"Hey, guys. What's up?" Lewis asked as Cleo opened her locker and pulled out the leather messenger bag that contained Max's research on Mako Island.
"You need to get rid of this," Cleo told him.
"That's all of Max's research. I'm not gonna rid of it," Lewis stated.
"Yes, you are," Rikki frowned at him, "Thanks to you, Charlotte's already seen a mermaid. We don't want her finding out anything else." She shoved the bag into Lewis' arms.
I could understand Charlotte wanting to gain some closure after learning a shocking secret about Gracie. Though I understood the other girls' worries about Charlotte potentially finding out about us. Yet again, I was stuck in the middle of it all: A girl wanting to learn more about her late grandmother after stumbling across some photos and footage of her. And my friends and I trying to keep our secret from getting out into the open.
"It wasn't my fault she found it," Lewis remarked.
"No. You're right. You know what? Why don't we just burn it?" Rikki suggested sarcastically and turned around, "Em?"
"I'm okay with that," Emma nodded sarcastically.
"Cleo? Zo?" Rikki turned to the rest of us.
Cleo shook her head while I didn't say anything.
"Guys, guys, guys, guys. I'm only halfway through it," Lewis explained, "They're highly valuable, detailed documents."
"About mermaids," Cleo whispered and glared at him, "Lewis, she can't find out about us."
"There's still so much to learn."
I could tell Lewis was itching to dig deeper into all of Max's notes and other documents.
"It's too dangerous. It has to go," Emma suggested.
"Maybe just hand it back to Max," I spoke up, "Tell him someone else got too curious and stole some footage from it."
Lewis nodded at me and turned to the others, "OK. Ok. Why don't I just give it all back to Max, as Zoey suggested? It will be safe with him that way. OK?"
The girls and I left leaving Lewis on his own.
🌊
Charlotte had managed to catch me when I wasn't with the other girls. Like in her text, she asked me if Ida knew anything about Gracie being a mermaid. I only told her that the film was part of a filming thesis for future filmmakers after she showed me some of the printed photos from it.
After being reminded that it was a full moon, I recalled it was a school night and the other girls were planning a sleepover to watch over each other. I knew how vital it was to stick together on those nights, but I couldn't do it. I assured them that I had blackout shades that filled my room with advanced darkness when shut. Plus, Grandma would help make sure I wasn't in any room where the moonlight easily got in. And second, Lewis or one of the girls would call me to make sure I was alright.
The girls were also worried when they saw that Charlotte had talked with me. I assured them that I didn't tell her anything.
Before having to head back home and quarantine myself from the moonlight, I tagged along with the other girls for a quick swim and rested at the moon pool.
"Do you know what the best thing about being a mermaid is?" Cleo asked after the four of us surfaced.
"What?" I shrugged my shoulders.
"Going slow over the reef."
"Are you kidding?" Emma remarked, "Going fast is so much better."
"Listen to you two," Rikki pointed out, "You sound like you're on some corny TV commercial."
I shook my head smiling at my three best friends as we all laughed at our joke.
"It's getting late. We better get back," Emma reminded us.
"No, we've got time," Rikki sighed.
"Actually, I wanna call Lewis just in case we need his help," Cleo admitted to all of us, "You know with the moon."
"I should be getting back home myself," I informed the other girls, "Grandma might get worried if I'm not there before the moon rises."
"We'll make sure you'll get there in time, Zoey," Emma nodded at me.
"Thanks guys."
🌊
The girls managed to escort me home after returning to the mainland. They promised to keep me up to date with what went on, even though I didn't care to get caught up in any of their dramas.
After dinner, Lewis contacted me informing me that Charlotte had followed him when he went to return Max's research. The elderly man revealed everything about Gracie to her after learning Charlotte was the granddaughter of the love of his life. I didn't blame him for that. The other girls were upset about it. Lewis added that he couldn't find or contact Charlotte after not hearing back from her.
"Is everything okay, sweetheart?" Grandma asked as she shut the window blinds in the living room.
"Just hoping everyone pulls it together," I nodded after closing up my phone.
When I mentioned to her about Max, Grandma revealed that she had known him since he was one of Ida's friends and when they were younger, he was a science geek, like Lewis. She told me that he had been in a relationship with Gracie but she ended up breaking up with him. Max remained single for the majority of his life, never forgetting about Gracie. Grandma never knew how it happened, but was aware that it ended. She wasn't surprised when learning Max had been aware of Ida being a mermaid.
I got a headstart on my homework assignments to keep myself distracted when it became clear there wasn't anything I could do to help locate Charlotte. Not while the moon was full.
Patrick called me letting me know that he managed to find some of his late grandfather's notes on astronomy after his grandma recalled storing them away. He offered to bring them over at once but rescheduled once reminded that it was a full moon and I couldn't risk opening the door for him. Grandma was keeping a close eye on Grandpa who still couldn't do much since the knee operation.
🌊
Waking up the next morning, I realized nothing had happened overnight. Emma called me to make sure I was alright. I assured her that I was fine and that no crazy event happened the prior night. The other girls had slept over at the Sertori house. I felt cozy and content with having used the blackout shades. Sure there were always other nights the four of us had slumber parties on special weekends and holiday breaks.
At school, Patrick arrived at my locker with his grandfather's astronomical notes.
"These were all that I could find," he told me as he handed me an old rucksack, "Grams had a massive cleanout of Gramp's stuff after he passed. Mum, Dad, and one of my uncles had managed to save some of them."
"Thanks, Pat," I nodded and stuffed it in my locker for later on, "I'll make sure to give them back when we're done with them."
"No worries. They're hardly missed since no one in the family has an interest in astronomy."
"Most of these are your grandpa's handwriting. I'm certain you all held on to them for sentimental reasons."
"Grams still has Gramp's journal for that reason. And there are some documents that have his handwriting that we've found and kept over the years."
I smiled at Patrick. I could tell he loved his grandfather a lot. Plus, Patrick didn't care much for physical materials. The memories were what he cherished the most.