Okay guys, this is my first story :) I hope to update once or twice a week, and I will give shout-outs to reviewers! (but that won't start until chapter 4) :D

It all started at Washington's sleepover. It was rainy, and most of the states at the sleepover were "hiding" from the storm. There was a bright flash of lightning followed by the loud crack and boom of the thunder.

"Ahhhhh!" shrieked Hawaii from her spot under the couch, "All this thunder is scaring me! Washington, make it stop!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" replied Washington, as he moved to console Hawaii, "I can't control the weather!"

"Can't you at least make your walls sound proof?" asked Alaska, who was very annoyed by the situation. He was the oldest, being 15, and acted as an older brother to Hawaii, Washington, and Oregon. He tried to protect his sister, California, but she was 14 and claimed she didn't need protection.

"That won't help," replied Washington, "The walls shake with every crack of thunder."

"Why does it always have to rain here? It's so cold and dreary...," said Nevada. He was only 11, but he tried to act older.

"I wanna go home!" cried British Columbia. He, Alberta, and Yukon Territory were visiting from Canada.

"Me too! I want daddy!" exclaimed Alberta. Yukon just rolled his eyes.

"You two are such babies! Dad will be fine without us, and we'll be fine without him. Uncle America will take care of us," Yukon said in an irritated voice.

Just then, "Uncle America" did walk in. Children surrounded him with exclamations of "Alfred!", "Uncle Alfred!'', "America!", "Uncle America!", and "Daddy!". He brushed them off kindly and announced dinner time.

"Are we having burgers?" asked California, "Those are my favorite!"

"No! No! I want pancakes!" cried Alberta.

"Ummm, we won't be having either. We're having Washington's seafood. His citizens worked hard to fish 'em, and they're really good!" America said, running his hand through his hair. He hadn't planned on having a food dispute, but he should of expected it from Canada's kids. They love their pancakes.

"Aww man...," British Columbia whined, slumping his shoulders drastically.

"Suck it up BC! We're in The United States! Be glad we're not having burgers!" Yukon said, raising his voice slightly to be heard over the whining of British Columbia. Even though he as well wanted pancakes, he decided seafood would be worth a try.

"Okay then, but can we have maple syrup on it?" asked Alberta hopefully.

"Yes, Alberta. You and your siblings may have maple syrup. Your dad gave me a lot of it, so I have plenty." replied America. He then led the children to the long guest table to eat.

After the comotion of dinner, and a certain maple syrup mess, the states and provinces were being settled into bed. But someone *cough* California *cough* had the idea to tell a ghost story. Must be all the Hollywood hits getting to her.

"So you all ready to hear my ghost story?" California asked eagerly.

"Yeah!" replied Oregon, Nevada, and Yukon"

"Bring it on!" shouted British Columbia, "I can handle anything!"

"Is it going to be scary?" asked Alberta.

"Not too scary. Just a little." replied California easily. She adjusted herself on top of her sleeping bag, and brought the flashlight to her face. Then she turned to Washington, "Ready, little bro?"

"Y-yeah. I'm ready," he replied uneasily, trembling slightly.

"Okay then. So, on a dark and stormy night-" began California.

Oh the wonders of starting a story like that, on a dark and stormy night. But just as California began, Idaho walked in. He wasn't very old, only 7, and California knew that she would need to improvise. Idaho was SUCH a tattle-tale, that's probably why America sent him in. To inform him if any wrong was done. Yeah, maybe America wasn't the best example for his states, but he didn't want to make a bad impression on Canada's provinces.

"Dad said I can join you if I wanted to. And I did. Also, you all probably didn't notice but Alaska and Hawaii had to leave. Your weather here is too different for them," said Idaho, as soon as he stepped in. A smug look fit itself on his face.

California rolled her eyes, as a lot of the others did too.

"But I didn't invite you. Maybe I didn't want you here." Washington shot back.

Yukon Territory wanted to hear this story, so he leaned over to whisper into California's ear.

"Can we lock him in a closet or something. Or do something until he falls asleep, but pretend we are asleep too. Once we hear him snore, because we all know he snores loudly, you can continue the story."

"Good idea, Yukon," California whispered back. Then they began relaying the message secretly, keeping it from Idaho. Once (almost) everyone was informed, Yukon got a brilliant idea.

"Let's play telephone!" he exclaimed, "I'll start!" He then leaned over to whisper into Alberta's ear, "Whatever you do, don't change this message,"

Alberta whispered to Oregon, "Change this message immediatly."

"Blame Canada," said Oregon to British Columbia.

"America sucks," BC said to Washington.

"Yukon loves California," Washington said to California.

"Idaho's a loser," California whispered to Nevada.

"I'm a loser," Nevada said to Idaho.

Falling for it, Idaho instantly yelled, "I'm a loser!" He blushed heavily as everyone laughed and giggled around him. Angry, he pulled his sleeping bag over his face and tried to fall asleep.