Rikki, Cleo, Emma, Lewis, and I are talking as we walk along the beach. Lewis says "I have been working all day, every day. and I think I am getting close to figuring out what your transformation's all about." I groan annoyed and say "Lewis, it's magic. you'll never figure it out." Cleo and Emma give me a 'shut up.' look. Emma says "lewis, we kinda figured that one out ourselves." Rikki says "yeah, for me it was the tails. was it the tails for you, Cleo, or.." Cleo says "ease off on lewis. he's trying to help." Lewis says "exactly! science is the key that unlocks the door to the mystery of life. but you don't care much, do you?" Rikki and I say "No." Lewis continues "in the next week or so, I'm going to have the opportunity to, well there is someone arriving today she is a dolphin researcher at the marine park. her name's Denman. she did her Ph.D. at 21! can you believe that?" Rikki says "I'm tingling." I say "I don't care." he continues "these days she's one of the world's leading experts in aquatic mammalian cellular evolution. if I can tap into her research." Emma cuts him off asking "and how are you going to get access to a scientist like her, Lewis?" He says "I have my methods." Rikki says "No way! you're not going to tell a real scientist about us. especially Madison." I turn angry and say "Lewis, if you say one word about me to her I will end you and it will be painful." he says "guys it's me! I'll be careful. wait, what do you mean real scientist?" I roll my eyes. Emma says "she can't know about us." Rikki asks "what if she wants to dissect us?" I add "or perform experiments on us?" Cleo adds "what if she goes public on us?" he says "she's a marine biologist." I cut him off saying "exactly Lewis. she's a marine biologist. they love to share their research with the world." he ignores my comment and says "and she'll have equipment that makes the stuff at school look like toys. if you guys want answers, I need access to it and her research." Rikki asks "and how are you going to do that without spilling your guts about us?" he says "I was thinking charm." I say "we're dead." Cleo says "No. Seriously." he says "come on, guys. all I'm asking is that you trust me." Emma says "Okay. we do need to know what's happening to us." Rikki says "he'll never get to see her, anyway." I say "I'm still out. I'm sorry but I just don't want to risk that." Emma says "we get it. you have more to lose." Lewis says "come on, Mads. please." I say "I said no, lewis!" he puts his hands up in surrender. I say "I'm gonna go write some music for a bit." Cleo asks "are we ever gonna hear any of it?" I shake my head and say "who knows." they groan as I laugh and run off to the beach to write.
~
As I sit on the beach and write Rikki joins me. she says "I get why you said no." I say "thanks." I close my books and ask "how are things with my brother?" she smiles and says "good. he's a sweet guy." I smile and say "yeah, he is the best big brother ever." she smiles and asks "are you really never gonna show anyone your songs?" I sigh and say "not never. but I don't know. I always feel like people are gonna hate them." she says "sing one to me." I ask "what?" she says "sing one to me. I'll be honest with you and you can get all those feelings off your chest." I say "okay..." I flip through my book for my favorite one and clear my throat and start to sing it. "Standing on the platform, watching you go It's like no other pain I've ever known To love someone so much, to have no control You said, "I want to see the world", and I said, "Go "But I think I'm lost without you I just feel crushed without you 'Cause I've been strong for so long That I never thought how much I needed you I think I'm lost without you" I look up at Rikki and she is smiling. I ask "was it good?" she asks "good? that was amazing!" I ask "really?" she nods and says "you got to sing those more often." I smile and say "I'll try." then we get a text from Cleo in the group chat asking to meet up. we go meet up with her and Emma.
~
we are walking towards the cafe. Cleo is going on about Dr. Denman. she says "Dr. Denman. Ha! more like dr. Baywatch babe. what does she know anyway?" Emma says "well, I googled her. she wrote some important paper as part of her PH.D. "Mutations in aquatic mammals" she's got a bit of cred." Cleo shrugs and says "ah, she got lucky." I whisper to Rikki "she's jealous of Dr. Baywatch." Rikki laughs lightly. Cleo continues "I bet she's not even a real blond." now we all laugh and she asks "what? I'm just concerned about Lewis, and how he's feeling right now. you should have seen him before. I mean, what if he's so influenced that he tells her about us?" I say "she's got a point." we all nod and head to the cafe.
~
we asked lewis to meet us at the cafe. when he gets there we talk to him about our concerns. Emma asks "and what exactly are you going to say to her, Lewis." he asks "have a little faith, please! all I want is access to her lab. that's it." Emma says "you're a sucker for a pretty face," he asks "Pretty face? what, you think I noticed whether she was pretty or not?" I say "Lewis, you're a teenage boy. of course you did." he looks at us. he says "I'm a scientist. besides, she wasn't that special anyway." his phone starts going off and he says excitedly "ooh, it's her." he stands up to talk to her acting like a teenage girl. Cleo says "he's got her number programmed into his phone already." Emma gags as the rest of the girls watch both in horror and disgust. I say "I'm gonna grab a juice." I stand up and go to Wilfred and say "hey, Wilfred can I get a Green juice, please?" he smiles and says "absolutely, Madison." when I get back to the table Lewis is gone. I say "well, if it makes you guys feel better Rikki heard me sing one of my songs." Emma asks "wait really?" Cleo says "no way." I nod and Rikki says "it was amazing her song and voice. it was killer." I say "thank you, Rikki." Roman walks in and Rikki says "I'll uh be right back" and she and roman exit. I say "she's not coming back." we all laugh.
~
we are all at Cleo's for the night except Lewis is only here for a few hours. he tells us he moped floors today. Cleo asks "you moped floors?" I say "hey, Denman is teaching him something. how to be a great housewife." Rikki and I laugh. then Rikki asks "and that helps us, how exactly?" he says "guys I know what I'm doing. I have access to her lab. all I need now is a fresh DNA sample. from everyone. including Madison. let's say a toenail clipping?" I say "No, I'm not doing it, Lewis." I start to walk away. he sighs annoyed, and asks "come on, don't you want answers? you did in the beginning." I turn and say "You're right, Lewis. I did want answers. but not anymore." he asks "why?" I say "cause I'm happy now! I'm just gonna head home. I'll see you all tomorrow." I grab my stuff and head out as the girls call out "Madison." but I just head home.
~
I get home and head straight to my room. I sit on my bed annoyed, tired, sad, and just overall pissed. Roman and Dallas knock on the door and ask "is it safe to enter?" I smile and say "yeah." they come in and sit beside me on my bed. I say "I love you guys." and I grab onto them in a tight hug. Roman says "we love you too. always and forever, right, Dallas?" he smiles and says "always and forever." we all laugh and hold on tighter." our mom knocks on the door and asks "hey, boys, can I talk with Madison." they nod and each give me a hug then leave. she comes and sits beside me. she says "we need to talk, Madison." I ask "what?" she smiles and says "I know you talk to your dad. and I know he is resueing for custody of you and the boys, so you're not allowed to talk to him till the charges are done with." I say "No. you can't dictate who I talk to. especially my dad." she smiles and says "actually as your mother I can." she grabs my phone and deletes dads contact. I cry and say "no! you can't do this! Please!" she says "it's already done. and he knows not to call or text you." she walks out and I cry myself asleep feeling worse.
~
the next night we all meet up at Cleo's again. and Lewis told us that Denman saw the sample. Emma says "Lewis, she saw the sample. how could you?" he says "you're not getting the big picture. it was an accident! and besides, she's a scientist. this is what scientists do!" Rikki asks "sell out their friends?" I ask "be a complete moron?" he says "No, and rude. compare notes. that's the thing about us." Rikki asks "us?" he clarifies "we scientists? our need to know is what drives us! believe me. she's cool." Rikki asks "what if her need to know ends up with her dissecting us and Madison, so hoped up on experiments she's not even herself anymore?" he says "she's not like that." I yell "you've known her for 5 seconds you moron!" he says "I have to go. I'll talk to you tomorrow." he leaves. I lay on the bed and groan. Cleo says "Lewis, isn't usually this erratic." Rikki says "those in favor of not trusting Lewis as far as we could throw him, raise your hands." Rikki and I put both our arms up. Emma says "agreed. let's keep an eye on him."
~
the next day the rest of the girls watch him while I do homework at the cafe waiting for us to meet up and talk later. Rikki messages that he is heading to Mako Island with her so they are going to follow. I end up finishing all my AP class homework before Rikki messages to meet at Emma's.
~
Lewis is there and asks "did you think I wouldn't notice you guys spying on me? I mean, where's the trust?" Emma says "the trust? I think it died when you accidentally gave our DNA to a world-renowned marine biologist." Rikki says "no, no, I think it was when he agreed to take dr. Baywatch babe on a date to mako island." Cleo adds "you've gone too far, Lewis." I add "Trust breeds trust, Lewis. you have to give it to get it." He asks "you don't trust me? after everything we've been through?" he scoffs and says "I've been working so hard trying to solve basic questions about why you guys are the way you are. and this is what it comes down to." Rikki says "they're our lives, Lewis. we're being careful. maybe you should be too." I add "Lewis, we've had to give up aspects of our lives to keep us safe. and we aren't asking you to give up science. but we need you to be more careful with our lives." he asks "you wanna know what I think? I think you guys are a bunch of kids. and at least Dr. Denman is a woman, and a little bit more mature." he starts to walk out and I yell "Lewis, you put our lives in danger again and I will not hesitate to beat you up." he nods and walks out.
~
the next day Cleo asks all of us to meet at the cafe. when we get there she explains she went into Denman's lab and opened her computer and saw stuff about their DNA sample. she says "It looked like an article for a scientific journal or something. it's the same stuff as you keep blabbing about, Lewis. it proves she's still got the DNA sample. it was in a little white slide box." Emma asks "well, Lewis." I listen while I write more lyrics for that song I showed Rikki. he says "she wouldn't." Cleo says "it looked like she'd been studying it, doing tests." he again defends "she's not like that." I sigh annoyed while I Continue to write. Rikki says "time to face facts, Romeo." he asks "facts? you don't have any facts. Cleo, you read a bit of an article you don't understand." she defends "I understand enough to know it's the same stuff you say." he asks "so? maybe I've influenced her thinking. I have a very forceful personality." I immediately say "no you don't." Rikki at the same time laughs "Ha!" he asks "why do you think she wants me on her research team?" I say "I can't handle more idiocy. so, I am gonna go sit in that booth and finish my song. you girls can join me when you're done with Lewis." I pick up my stuff and go sit at a booth. Cleo comes over and asks "can I see your song?" I nod and slide my book over. she starts to read and asks "is this the same one you showed Rikki?" I nod and say "yeah, it's about losing a loved one." she passes it back and says "it's beautiful." I smile and say "thanks." I shut the book and we sit and just hang out for a few hours.
~
the next morning the girls ask to meet up, but I tell them I can't. Roman comes in and asks "what's with the face?" I look up and say "Lewis had a secret of mine and the girls and he just sold us out. so, I'm just annoyed and tired, and frustrated." he says "I'm sorry. well, the girls and Dallas, dad, and I will always have your back." I meekly smile and say "thanks." my phone goes off. it's Rikki she says to meet at the pier. I say "I gotta go meet up with the girls." he nods and says "okay, talk later." I nod and rush to the pier. I see the girls with Lewis watching Denman's boat leave. he holds up the slide and Emma says "you got the slide back." Rikki asks "she didn't suck you in?" I say "Lewis is a lot of things but a sucker ain't one." he smiles and says "Thanks Madison. and are you serious? Do you think I'd buy that stuff about being a good scientist? please." Cleo asks "what about her records all the stuff I saw?" he tells us "when she opens the file I think she'll find it'd Recently been erased. oops!" we all lightly laugh. he says "No, I don't think the good doctor and I are a team anymore, guys." Cleo says "it's good to have you back, Lewis." I punch him in the shoulder. he says "ow!" I say "that's for being an idiot. but thanks for bringing my good friend Lewis back." he nods and says "pleasure." then he and Cleo get awkward and I say "Ok. no, I'm almost done with my song so I'm gonna go finish." they all shout "can we come!" I say "fine! but be quiet while I finish and maybe just maybe I will sing it for you." they laugh and we all head to the deserted part of the beach.