Pre-chapter: Can You Say This Bites?

"I can't believe you're moving!" burst out Riley as she walked side-by-side with her friend, Kyoko, Kyo for short. Kyo was completely in her own world, not even hearing what Riley had just said to her. Riley stopped to admire a cute sundress in the nearby boutique window and Kyo kept walking.

This is absolute whack! she thought irritably. Kyo's mom broke the news to her and her younger brother Hiroshi just 2 days ago that her job had changed and they were being relocated to some random little town called Summerton in, who knows where. Riley had insisted on taking her shopping to spend some 'quality' friend time before she moved. Even though Kyo loathed shopping, she found it a decent excuse to escape her mom and the nearly empty house. Funny thing was, Riley used to be anti-shopping, makeup, and girly girl back when they were kids. Ever since they entered high school and she was asked out by the top swimmer at their school, Riley had embraced the feminine side of her that she had rejected for so long. Sadly, this sudden move came at the right time of their friendship.

"Kyoko!" yelled Riley as she ran to catch up with Kyo, "That was rude! You should have waited for me!" Kyo rolled her eyes skyward as Riley had also embraced cluelessness once she became a girly girl. Riley caught her breath and stopped Kyo from taking another step. "Honestly Kyo!" she panted, "You are so rude to just leave me like that! And what is with you today? You are just acting so weird." Well gee, you think? I'm moving and you are still acting like the spaz I now have come to hate, Kyo blatantly thought. Riley waved her hand in Kyo's face and threw her a look.

"Hello? Is anyone in there?" demanded Riley as she continued to wave her hand in Kyo's face. Kyo became annoyed with Riley's hand in her face and she caught Riley's wrist and pulled it away from her face. Why had she even bothered to come with Riley in the first place? Since they first met up that day, all Riley managed to do was complain about her boyfriend, aka the best swimmer, Kyo moving, and the surprise quiz in science. Boring.

"I can't believe I even agreed to come with you today," Kyo irritably remarked as she turned to face Riley, "All I've heard today is complaints from you about your life and you know I hate shopping. This turned into a wasted day!"

"Excuse me? You're the one who hasn't been engaging in what I've been saying!" shot back Riley, almost cattily. "I thought shopping would take your mind off of things and I needed your opinion on an outfit for my nex-"

"It's called the movies. They call it the bookstore. Gee, oh yeah, and they named the facility the amusement park," Kyo sarcastically replied, "Any of those places would have worked out better than this. Some friend you are."

Riley's face contorted into one of rage and she merely snapped up her cell phone and began dialing. Before pressing the Call button, she spat at Kyo, "I'm calling Carrie. She'd help me out like any friend would. Not like you."

Kyo rolled her eyes skyward and walked away from Riley, far away from her. She walked 2 blocks away from where she left Riley standing and turned into the nearby art shop, her second home. She came here so often, even the staff knew her by name.

"Hey Kyo!" called Joey from the register, "Heard that you were moving. Is that true?" Kyo walked up to the counter to face Joey and took a deep breath. This would be the last time setting foot in here, this amazing second home with the staff that knew her so well.

"I'm afraid so," sighed Kyo as she looked Joey square in the eye, "I'm really gonna miss this place." She walked over to the shelves of comic strip sheets, inking pens, and coloring materials. Joey watched as she picked out 3 packets of 10 sheets of comic strip paper and a package of inking pens. He cleared his throat to get her attention.

"Since you're leaving," he began, "Whatever you buy today is half off. I owe you big time so this is my way of paying you back." Kyo spun around and smiled a little at that. That was Joey, always making promises and paying them back his way. She made her way to the counter and Joey rung up her purchases. As he handed her the bag of things, he slowly remarked, "Well, I guess this is good-bye."

"Bye Joey," she whispered as she stumbled out of the store. Good bye. Even the words brought so much emptiness to a person. As she headed toward her empty house, she felt tears sting her eyes and she forced them back to their reservoirs.