Hey, ya'll (pardon my intentional country slang—I'm from West Virginia—welcome to my first-ever H2O: Just add Water FanFiction! So, please hang in there while I get the characters non-OOC (Out of Character). So, please, read AND review. Thank you! Enjoy!

"Cleo, we had to come with you at—" Rikki checked the clock on her phone. "—two a.m. just to see your boyfriend leave?"

"Yeah," Bella agreed, yawning. "Couldn't he have caught an earlier flight? Let's say, maybe six?"

"As in, the evening," Rikki added quickly.

"There wasn't a flight at that time," Cleo explained easily, wrapping her arm around Lewis's.

The foursome (Cleo, Lewis, Rikki, and Bella) headed towards the terminal where Lewis was to board his plane. There, they stopped. Lewis set his bags on the ground to free his arms. He wrapped them around Cleo's waist; Cleo wrapped hers around his neck. The couple stared into each other's eyes, ignoring the people around them. Lewis tilted his head forward to kiss Cleo. She rose up on her toes to meet him.

"I wish you didn't have to go back," Cleo whispered. She was breathing just a bit harder from the kiss.

"I wish I didn't have to go back, either," Lewis responded.

"But I'm not going to keep you from leaving." Tears started to prick Cleo's eyes. Just then, a voice over the loud speaker stated that Lewis's plane was starting to board. "It's time for you to go."

"Are you going to be okay?"

Cleo nodded and stepped away from Lewis. "Yeah," she said, sounding more like she was assuring herself rather than Lewis. She wiped tears from her eyes. "I'll be fine. I guess it's easier to see you go the second time."

"I love you, Cleo!" Lewis gathered his things and starting walking down the hall towards the plane.

"Lewis, wait!" He was halfway down the hall by then. She ran to him and kissed her super-smart boyfriend. "Call me, will you? Call me as soon as you land, okay?" Lewis started to walk again. "Lewis?" Cleo called. Lewis turned again, almost starting to feel slightly annoyed. "I love you." Lewis smiled and walked again. He disappeared around the corner before Cleo could say anything else. She walked back towards her friends.

"You are absolutely the worst when it comes to goodbyes," said Rikki.

The three best friends waited at the airport until the plane left the airport. They watched it take off then retreat to the sky.

"C'mon, Cleo," said Bella. She put her arm around her friend's shoulders and turned her away from the window.

"I'm sorry," Cleo apologized. She sniffed. Instantly, her face brightened. "Emma!" She shrieked and raced across the room. Rikki and Bella shared a look of confusion.

"Emma?" Rikki asked. "She's not back from her vacation is she?" Bella shrugged, but pointed to where Cleo was hugging a tall blonde girl. "It is Emma!"Rikki ran to join Emma and Cleo's hug. Bella followed slowly behind, unsure of what she should do. At last, when the reunited trio broke apart, Bella offered a hand to Emma. Emma extended one in return and the two shook hands.

"I'm Bella."

"Emma. It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too."

"Why are you guys here?" Emma asked, turning back to her friends.

"Lewis got a scholarship for a university in the States," stated Cleo. "He just left, actually."

"Emma?" Mrs. Gilbert called. "I know you're excited to see your friends, but you can see them tomorrow, okay, dear? We need to get home. It's late."

"Okay, mum," said Emma.

"How about we meet tomorrow, twelve o'clock, at my house?" Emma offered.

"Sounds perfect," said Cleo.

Emma waved and followed her family out of the airport. Cleo, Rikki, and Bella went out another door to the parking lot, where Mr. Sertori was waiting in the car. He was half asleep when the girls climbed into the back seat.

"Dad," Cleo said loudly. "Dad! Wake up! We're back!"

Mr. Sertori woke with a start, startled at the sudden appearance of the girls. "Back already?" he said and yawned. He started the engine and drove towards his home. (Bella and Rikki were spending the night.)

~ (The next day, twelve o'clock, Emma's house) ~

The doorbell rang. Emma practically flew down the steps to answer the door. Her friends were waiting on the other side. Emma unlocked the door and opened it. Her two best friends, plus the girl she met at the airport (Was it Bella?), stepped inside. They marched up to the bedroom. The four got settled on the bed and began talking.

"So, meet any cute French boys?" Rikki asked.

"No," Emma responded. "I'm still with Ash!"

"Then what did you do?" Cleo asked.

"We visited Argentina, Morocco, Egypt, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Brazil, Spain, France, and basically everywhere. We saw the Great Wall of China—the view was amazing. I saw the Eiffel Tower and you could see for miles in all directions. It's beautiful, especially at night. There's too much for me to tell! I show you the pictures when I get them printed, okay? So what happened to you guys this year?"

Cleo sighed. "A lot."

"But this we can explain, unlike you," said Rikki.

"The JuiceNet café closed, but then Zane bought it and named it in Rikki's honor. Then we met Will and Bella. But then the café opened on a full moon. Will was at the Moon Pool—he's a free-diver—and the Moon Pool was acting weird—"

"Weird?" Emma interrupted. "Weird how?"

"Hang on, we'll get there," said Rikki. Then she continued the telling of the story. "He said that a waterfall covered the whole back wall and that it shot out bolts of energy and took his torch…" Rikki and Cleo finished the telling of the recent events.

"Where's the bathroom?" Bella asked.

"Down the hall, second door on the left," Emma responded automatically.

"Thanks."

Once Bella was out of earshot, Emma began talking. "Did she take my place?"

"Emma," Cleo said, shocked. "She didn't take your place."

"It looks like it! Where are your lockets, huh? What's with the crystals?" Cleo and Rikki shared equal looks of guilt now. "See?"

"Emma, Bella did not take your place!" said Rikki. "Now drop it!"

Just then, Bella walked in the room, stopping Emma from her protests. "Who wants to race to the Moon Pool?" she asked.

So, how did you like it? If you didn't, well, maybe you'll like it in a few more chapters. (In my opinion) it will get more interesting.

Coming up (this is sort of a preview for the rest of the story/the next chapter):

How will Emma and Bella get along?

What has Charlotte been doing this whole time?

Will the mermaid secret be revealed?

P.S. If anyone has a better name for this story other than exposed, let me know, at any point in the story. I'm not good at making up titles, but some people are, and I need those people! I'll even give you the summary of the story if needed.