Waterworks (H2O Just Add Water) 🌊

51. Sea Change

After cutting off ties with Charlotte, things seemed somewhat relieving for all of us. Lewis had no clue about what actually happened during his party. I could only guess Charlotte filled him with lies about my friends.

While heading for my locker at school, I overheard Charlotte tell Lewis that he couldn't be friends with the others anymore. It sounded like she was becoming a bit possessive. Charlotte admitted to Lewis that out of the other girls, I was her favorite person, despite my going behind her back to plan his party with the others. I had to guess it was because of Gracie and Ida's friendship. But still, I refused to hang out with someone who deliberately talked down about my best friends.

Rikki and Emma cautioned me to steer clear of Charlotte, which I have been trying to do despite her reaching out to me. They even told me to avoid Lewis as long as he was with her. I could tell Cleo was unhappy. She still saw Lewis as one of our closest friends.

During lunch, I found Cleo by herself even though we'd normally meet up with the others.

"Cleo, is everything okay?" I wondered as I took my seat next to her.

"I dunno," she sighed sadly, "Em and Rikki refuse to talk about the whole Charlotte thing."

"I'm listening."

Cleo turned to me seeming glad that out of our group, I was willing to let her express how she felt about it all.

"It feels like everyone and everything has fallen apart since Charlotte became one of us," she explained, "And Lewis hasn't been talking much lately."

"Someday, he'll realize what's happening and see what kind of person she is," I assured Cleo, "Maybe not overnight, but sooner than you think."

She gave me a small smile, "I hope you're right, Zoey."

"Do you wanna come over after school? Grandma and Grandpa would love to see you."

"Sorry, I can't. I have to be home then. Maybe another day."

"Call me if you need to talk some more."

🌊

After getting home from school, I got started on my homework at once, hoping Cleo would call me. She never did apparently. I tried calling her multiple times, but no answer. I guessed she was caught up with something, but hoped she'd see that I tried getting in touch with her.

Later, after dinner, as I helped Grandma clear the table and the dishes, I hoped Cleo was okay, especially since the whole drama with Charlotte had been affecting her emotionally.

"Something's troubling you," Grandma turned to me with a concerned expression, "Is everything alright?"

"I can't stop thinking about how Cleo's feeling," I replied as I helped her put away the dishes and silverware after they were cleaned and dried, "Lewis hasn't talked to her or any of us lately, on account Charlotte might've lied to him about them. Rikki and Emma refuse to have anything to do with him."

"He will realize the truth when he sees how Charlotte's affecting all of you."

"It's kinda what I told Cleo earlier."

That second, the phone rang. Not my cell phone, but the landline. Grandma and Grandpa still used the house phone whenever they were home and their cell phones while they were out in town. 

"Can someone get that?" Grandpa called out from the living room.

I answered the phone and was surprised to hear Mr. Sertori on the other end. He asked me if Cleo was with me since she wasn't with the other girls. I told him that I hadn't seen Cleo since school and that she wasn't at the house. It gave me a bad feeling. I let Mr. Sertori know that I'd ask around and let him know if I found anything.