Penny For Your Thoughts
(Griffon's P.O.V.)
"Six, seven, eight. Eight pennies." I said, pointing to each of the bronze coins in the palm of my other hand. "Let's see how many people I can get to spill their guts!"
I walked into the warm, spring air, looking for one of the dragons. 'Where could they be?' I wondered in frustration. I turned to go back inside, having only found Master Fung, & there was Mystic, sitting on the roof, deep in thought.
I jumped up next to her & held out one of the pennies, "Penny for your thoughts?" I asked as she took it from my hand.
"What makes Master Fung the way he is?" She inquired. "Why does he do the things he does?"
I looked at Master Fung as he made his way to the meditation Temple. "You know… If you ask me… I say it's gotta be that damn moustache."
Mystic laughed at my assumption. "I'm serious, Mist!" I said, turning to her.
"Sure, Griff, If you say so."
"I do say so. It's that moustache!"
Mystic jumped down from the roof & headed inside. "You keep telling yourself that, Griff." And she was gone.
"One down, seven to go." I said to myself happily, staring down as the doors opened again.
I dropped down in front of the person, I had to do it. "Boo!" What can I say? It was the temptation to spook someone, the one temptation that no one can resist.
"Whoa, Griff, watch it." The person told me. It was Clay, & he had dropped a notebook.
'Well, well, well. What secrets does Clay's notebook hold.' I thought, picking it up. "Sure thing Clayton!" I assured him.
"Don't read that!" Clay exclaimed when he saw the notebook.
"Why? Is it your diary?" I asked as I opened it up & read the first page out loud. "'Raimundo is a nice guy & all, but he really needs to grow up & stop being so immature. Omi is way too arrogant, even when he & everyone else knows when he's lost or that someone else is better than him. He needs to stop, open his eyes, & get over himself. Kimiko is a-' whoa! Strong language there, Clayton! 'But she always ends up nice in the long run. Aqua is almost as bad as Rai, but at least she knows to respect my hat. Flannery is sweet, but she always has her nose buried in a book, it seems a little anti-social to me. Griffon has got to be the world's best pick pocket, now if only the others would realize that it's her, not Aqua, doing it. Even if she does steal our money, she's always there when we need her, no matter what condition she's in, all she cares about is the safety of her friends.' Aww, thanks, Clay! 'Mystic: sure she was, & still is, being controlled by heylin magic, though just barely, but she's got the lot: personality, talent, brains, looks.' Do you like her or something?"
Clay, who had been trying to get the notebook back, stopped almost immediately, "What?"
"Clay, how do you feel about Mist?" I urged on, handing him the notebook. I'm nosy, and if I'm right & he likes Mystic, then I'm not going to respect him & stay out of his love life. She's like a sister to me! I want to know.
"I gotta go!" he stated, turning to go back inside.
'Does he really think he can get past a shifter?' I asked myself as I blocked his path. "Oh, ho, ho___! You've got a crush on her? I know you do, just say it!" I accused, pretending that I had just figured it out.
"I don't like Misty like that. We're just friends."
"Your lips lie… But… Your red ears tell me the truth. So just admit it so we can get on with our lives."
"No way!"
"We can stay here as long as it takes, Clayton." I informed him.
Clay sighed & paused for a minute before replying, "You never give up, do you?"
"Never! Thanks for noticing!" I admitted, giving him a big, toothy grin before putting a serious look on my face. "Now TALK!"
"Never!"
Finally, I backed away from the door he had tried to escape through. 'Let's try a different approach, shall we?' I asked myself. I held up a shiny bronze penny up to him, which he took with caution. "Penny for your thoughts?"
That did it. Clay gave up. "Okay, yes, I like Misty! A lot!"
"Then why don't you ask her out or something? I mean, you got nothing to lose." I told him with great sincerity. "She wouldn't let something like that ruin the friendship between you two if she didn't like you back. Notice I said 'if!' She really likes you Clay, every day she wonders whether or not you feel the same, praying that you do. I know, she tells me everything!"
"You're right, Griff, maybe I should. Thanks, you were a big help!" Clay stated, ruffling my hair as a playful gesture of gratitude. "I'm gonna go catch up with her!"
I waited until he had closed the door before celebrating my victory by doing a little dance, "And another one bites the dust! Go ME!"
Okay, I WAS being arrogant, but I did do a good job for just five minutes time. I deserve to gloat a little bit. Then I shifted into a chameleon(so I could blend into the temple walls) & followed after Clay so I could see if my plan had worked.
When I caught up to Clay, he was close to where Mystic & Flannery were talking. I tried my hardest not to laugh as I watched what went on.
Clay, who was standing behind Mystic & motioning to Flannery not to give him up, covered her eyes & called, "Guess who!"
"Hmm… Could it be Clay Bailey?" Mystic replied, playing along.
Clay removed his hands & leaned over her shoulder to look at her. "How'd you know?" He was pretending to be flustered by her guess.
"Woman's intuition." Was her reply.
Flannery interrupted their little flirting game, "Would you two like some time alone?"
Mystic was about to refuse & apologize for ignoring her friend when Clay spoke up,
"Actually, I do need to talk to Misty alone for a sec."
Flannery seemed to have got the jest of what he was doing, "Okay, I'll check with you later, Mystic." She called back as she walked away from the two.
Mystic turned back to Clay, "Is something wrong?"
"Only the fact that I've been putting this off for way too long." Clay mumbled to himself.
"Putting what off?" Mystic asked.
"I was wondering if you would join me when I went for a picnic, & to watch the sunset later on." He informed her, then added, "Alone. A date. What do you say?"
Mystic was beaming at these words, she wrapped her arms around his neck, "Of course I would. I thought you would never ask!"
"Okay, well, the sun sets at seven. So we'll leave for the hill with the best view at six thirty. That way we'll have plenty of time to eat & rest before it's time to go back. How does that sound?"
"Like perfection. I'll pack the picnic, you make sure no one else finds out until after we leave. 'Kay?"
"Why?"
"Didn't the twins follow Kimiko & Raimundo when they went out, every time they went out?"
"Well, yeah."
"Do you want someone to follow us?"
"Not particularly. Though I wouldn't really mind if they did."
"Please. Just do that one thing for me?"
"Fine, you win, Madame Misty."
"Thanks, Clay," Mystic leaned forward & kissed his cheek, "you have no idea how happy that would make me."
Flannery & Aquanette came in suddenly, "Are you two done yet?" they asked together.
"Yeah! See ya, Misty." Clay waved & walked past the twins, toward their rooms.
The twins were curious, that was a bad thing for Mist & Clay, "What was that all about?" Aqua asked, putting her hands on her hips.
Mystic was quick on her feet, in other words, Clay was right when he said she had brains, "Oh, Griffon went pick pocketing again & asked if I could talk to her about it. He also wanted me to get his money back."
I scuttled out the door & shifted back into my human form before walking back in & pretending I had just walked in, "Ouch, I'm hurt. It was only one fiver, I could've taken all twelve of them."
"You still took the money, now give it to me so I can return it to him." Mystic replied. I just nodded & pulled out the five dollar bill I had snuck out of Clay's wallet that morning.
"Who's turn is it to cook dinner tonight?" I asked, hoping I could get her to let her tongue slip.
"Oops, it's me! I better get started of it won't be finished in time. Bye, guys, see you at dinner." Mystic answered, checking her watch & rushing off. When she was out of sight I turned to the twins & let the words I had been holding in spill out of my mouth.
"Clay-asked-Mystic-out-on-a-date-and-she-said-yes-and-now-their-going-on-a-picnic-in-an-hour-to-go-watch-the-sunset-and-he-likes-her-and-she-likes-him-and-I-think-they-might-kiss-tonight-but-I-don't-want-to-follow-them-but-I-want-to-know-and-I-need-your-help-and-you're-good-at-the-relationship-stuff-and-I-figured-you-might-want-to-know-because-you-knew-they-liked-each-other-and-were-going-to-set-them-up-sooner-or-later-and-I'm-rambling-now-and-and-and-what-do-I-do-you-have-to-help-me!!!" I didn't think I could talk so fast, but I did. Now I was panting & my face was red, but the twins understood every word I had said.
"No way!" Aqua yelled.
"What do we do?" Flannery asked.
"We follow them, of course." Aqua told the other two. "All three of us will, & we'll bring a video camera so that we can record the event for Kimiko & Raimundo to watch later."
"I don't know. Wouldn't that be an invasion of their privacy?"
"Of course it is, but don't you want to find out what's going to happen?" Flannery answered.
"Of course I do! Why else would I spy on them in order to find out if Clay was going to ask her out?" Griffon retorted.
Aqua was quick to react. "Then either you come with us & see what happens, or you don't come & we won't show you the tape. Your choice."
"Fine, I'm in!" Griffon agreed, slouching her shoulders.
Flannery picked up where her sister left off, "Then meet us here at five thirty, & we'll get ready to follow them." Then she & Aqua walked off.
"I'm sooo going to regret this!" Griffin told herself as she headed for her cube.
*_*_*
"You ready?" Aqua asked me as I entered the hall. She was dressed in a dirty, old shirt & a pair of ripped jeans.
Looking at Flannery, I noticed she was dressed like her sister, I hadn't bothered to change, given the fact that I was going to shift into my favourite form, a black cat with a white patch of fur on my forehead in the shape of a crescent moon, in order to follow Clay & Mystic. I shifted quickly, "I am now!"
Flannery peaked her head out of the door, "Guys, they just left the temple gates."
Aqua & I raced out with Flannery close behind, "Let's go then." Aqua whispered as not to be heard.
We followed them from a safe distance and listened to them discuss how they liked & disliked living at the temple, recording the conversation, watching as both of them held the middle of the basket that held their food & blanket. After ten minutes, they reached the top of the hill, it was clear of trees & gave a full view of the sky, in the middle was a flat stone platform that was clean & smooth, perfect for a picnic blanket to be laid on.
"Clay, it's beautiful up here." Mystic exclaimed softly as she placed the basket on the platform. Clay followed her & set up the blanket & food as his friend took in the sights.
"You ready to eat?" He asked softly when he finished, snapping her out of the little world she had gone into.
She turned to him & smiled, "Sure."
They ate & continued their earlier discussion about life at the temple. "So what's the best thing about living at the temple, for you?" Clay asked after he finished the last of his drink.
Mystic held up a finger as she finished off the last of her food. "You first." She insisted.
"Count of three?" Clay asked her as he gathered his trash & placed it in the basket.
"Count of three!" She said following his example & situating herself toward the lowly setting sun.
Clay began to count. "One… Two… Three!"
"Getting to spend every day with you!" The two admitted to each other.
"Really?" Clay asked, stunned at what she had said.
Mystic took a shaky breath, "Would I ever lie to you?" She asked if reply.
Clay closed the gap between them & placed his arm around Mystic's shoulders. Mystic laid her head on his shoulder, "That's sweet, Misty."
The twins & I breathed a silent 'Aww!' at that. It was so sweet, now all they had to do was kiss & it would be official, they would be an official couple. Not like the time the twins had dared them to, I had to kiss Omi, & we weren't a couple. They had to WANT to kiss in order to be called an official couple.
The sun was almost gone & the sky was a pinkish shade when Mystic's head lifted, her body straightened, & she turned to face Clay. 'This is it!' I thought.
"You know what would make this sweeter?" Mystic asked.
"What?" Clay wondered, turning all his attention to the girl beside him.
She leaned forward. So did he. Then they did it. They kissed! It lasted about a minute before they separated & just sat there, looking towards the sky.
"Tell me you zoomed in on them when they kissed." I whispered.
"Oh, yeah." The twins answered softly.
"Then let's give them some privacy." I told them as I covered the camera lens with my paw. Yes, I'm still a cat! They shut it down & together we began to head back to the temple. After a few minutes, I got tired of walking & jumped up onto Flannery's shoulder.
*_*_*
Clay returned fifteen minutes after we got back to the temple, & I shifted back to human form. "Shh!" He whispered to us, & we stopped talking when we saw why he had shushed us. He was carrying a sleeping Mystic in his arms. He had left the basket up at the platform. We listened to him, but secretly began taping him again as he walked back to Mystic's room, laid her on her mat, & placed a blanket on top of her before he went into his own room and went to sleep. We shut the camera down again & congratulated each other on a job well done, wishing that Kimiko & Raimundo hadn't already gone to bed so that they could see the video of their friends.
*_*_*
"No way!"
Yes way! Do you not believe the camera?" I asked Raimundo. He, Kimiko, & Omi were bent over the camera, which was paused where Aqua had zoomed on Clay & Mystic's kiss.
"I don't believe it." Kimiko gasped.
Omi was silent, his eyes wide.
Dojo wriggled his way into the room, "Where are Clay & Mystic?"
"They're sleeping in! Now. SHUSH!" Kimiko explained. She had pressed play & was watching Clay carry Mystic to her room.
"Why?" He asked, his voice full of curiosity. I didn't-couldn't-blame him. The two were usually the first ones up, even on Saturdays(today), when the dragons didn't have to train.
"Ugh." Kimiko grunted as she rewound the tape & played it for the dragon.
Dojo was speechless for a few moments, "Wow! Okay then! I'm gonna go now."
"Why did he ask her?" Omi asked, finally. "What motivated him to do it?"
"A penny!" I stated proudly. 'A penny I enchanted in order to make sure Clay told me about his feelings for Mystic, but a penny none the less. The notebook was just pure luck. But I can tell them that part later.'