Disclaimer: All the characters in Coraline including Coraline herself; belongs to the very hot looking Neil Gaiman, and Wybie belongs to Henry Selick's amazing creative thinking. This story has nothing to do with the movie it just stems from the book and uses one of the characters from the movie.

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Pink Palace Apartments

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Exploring a school wasn't as fun as exploring around her new home, and although Coraline had made new friends of the apartment's residents she found that teachers and other students found her "over-active imagination" to be distracting in class. So it was no wonder why as soon as she got home the dreary grey sweater and skirt of her private school would come off for her more adventurous rain coat, lucky sweater, jeans, and boots. Taking a note pad and an orange which was stuffed in her pocket, Coraline walked into the foggy evening air of her new, no, it was just her home now. The adventure she'd had even before her family was settled in made it her home.

Now, almost a month after the whole ordeal she was back outside exploring the world and with her companion, a cat she named Cat. She was no longer able to converse with him, but could read his general body language. The feline rubbed up against her leg and looked up at her as if it were saying: "What are we doing today?"

"Passed the gate."

Coraline had never been past the gate by herself, her mother took her to meet an old elderly woman who lived in the old grey house with her daughter and grandson. The gate was rusty with age to which its only purpose was to act as a property border. She was told not to go near the gate but her mother never mentioned anything about going passed it. So with her trusty sidekick, Coraline hopped the low rock wall just next to the rusting gate and landed in the slippery mud on the other side of her neighbor's property.

Wiping some of the mud off of her knees she got up and looked at her surroundings. Fog came up to her waist, a phenomenon which she had gotten used to, and in the distance she could see the ominous form of a dark grey house. Cat had climbed onto her shoulder as to avoid the mud, which made her slightly off balance, but as she walked the ground became firmer. Coming up upon the house Cat jumped from her shoulder; the ground turning to gravel and rock. It seemed the fog was even thicker in this area. Coraline couldn't even see her feet! Walking towards the towering building, which was small compared her own home, Coraline stared up wondering if this house held the same secrets hers did.

"Rrrrannnnwwwwooooo! Heeeehhhh!"

"Cat? What's the matter?"

Coraline tried to peer into the grey-white fog that surrounded her but saw nothing. In her arms the cat began to silently growl. Bending down, she felt the ground and with one hand holding the cat and one hand grasping a stick Coraline closed her eyes. There was someone behind her, she heard it. Turning around the cat jumped out of her arms and into the fog. Coraline stepped back from the direction she'd heard the sound till the back of her feet met up with the start of the rocky hillside. Scared at the sudden contact she turned around and looked up.

There standing above her was death.

A scream escaped her mouth just as Cat jumped on the things back. Being pushed from its perch the girlish-screaming death fell forward landing ungracefully on Coraline. Frightened she tried to push the horrifying creature off of her. Succeeding in her plan Coraline took to her feet, grabbed her stick, and prepared for the worst.

The worst was the painful groans of a brown curly haired boy who appeared out of the thick fog. His robes were actually a black trench coat with silver reflective stripes, and his bone face was the welding helmet he held in his hand. Frozen in place, mostly from shock for she had been expecting something evil, Coraline watched as the boy dusted himself off and turned to stare at her. He had an oval shaped face and as she looked closely at him, it was yellowish green eyes that stared intently back at her. Realizing she was staring Coraline averted her eyes, blushing for no apparent reason.

"No one's ever scared me like that before! What was that, an attack cat or something?"

Walking towards her, the smile on his face crooked, Coraline almost stepped backwards.

"Uh, oh. I don't mean any harm! I was just trying to scare ya. It worked too, well, till that cat of yours got the best of me!"

As his smile spread Coraline began to laugh as she thought back at how could she have thought this goofy boy was scary?

"My names Wybie, Wybie Lovat. What's your name?"

"Coraline Jones, nice to meet you."

"Caroline? That's a nice name. Oww! What was that for?"

"It's Coraline, ok!"

"Oh, ok sorry. So whatcha doin' on my turf."

"Turf? Hehehe. I'm exploring, what else would I be doing?"

"I don't know there aren't a lot of other kids to play with around here."

A moment of uncomfortable silence passed between them; she didn't know what to say. Letting her eyes wander Coraline spotted Cat playing with a large yellow and icky looking slug. Making a face at the scene she turned to Wybie only to find he wasn't in the place he was before.

"Hey! Cat, don't touch Slug-zilla."

"Slug-zilla?"

Turning around she watched as Wybie shooed away Cat and with a pair of tweezers he pulled from his coat, picked up the slimy specimen. Walking back towards her Wybie shoved the slug up in front of her face.

"Eww, get that thing away."

"Aww, don't hate Slug-zilla."

"I don't hate it; I just think it's gross."

He just shrugged his shoulders and began showing her just what Slug-zilla could do. Apparently, the slug was a famous actor who could be "fake" eaten, used as snot, had attacked an innocent Japanese village, and was used as a mustache in a famous western movie. Coraline found herself enjoying her neighbors company and laughing at all the gags he would pull. Cat kept his distance from the two not enjoying the lack of attention, and Slug-zilla wishing it could trade places with the feline.

"How come I didn't see you?"

"What? Oh,well, the fog here can get really thick."

"Psssfthahaha! No really how come you didn't stop by my house or something?"

"Well, I did over a month ago, but no one was home."

"…"

"Uh, anyway, my Grandma met your dad and mom so it was only a matter of time before we met, I guess."

"Yeah, I guess. You know a lot has happened since I moved here."

"Really? Like what, you fall down that well that's in your back yard?"

Coraline stopped for a moment, Cat came up to her side rubbing her leg to calm her down. Never would she want to fall down into that well.

"Hey, are you ok Coraline? You went pale all of a sudden. Uh, listen it's getting kind of dark, if you want I'll walk you home?"

"Huh? Oh, thanks. I'd like that."

The two children walked towards the faded pink apartment house joking with one another once again over Slug-zilla and eating the orange she'd brought. Making it to the front of Coraline's flat she invited Wybie in. Slug-zilla and Cat got acquainted with each other once again on the front lawn. Inside the house Coraline took of her yellow rain coat with Wybie in toe.

"Mom! Dad! I brought a friend over!"

"Coraline, don't yell, were right here."

Coraline's mother was sitting at the table typing on her computer while her father was busy at the stove trying to cook up another "gourmet" meal. Everything was perfect and as it should be.

"Mom, this is Wybie Lovat, our neighbor. Is it ok if he stays for dinner?"

"Oh, no! Coraline I can't. I gotta take Slug-zilla back to his trailer…Plus, Grandma needs me to make dinner tonight. Sorry."

"Wylie, I'm fine if you want to stay."

"Dad, Wybie."

"Right, sorry. It's ok, Wybie I made enough food for twenty people! I could gladly let you eat something quick here and give you some to take home."

"Mom is it ok with you?"

"Fine, whatever." (She was still engrossed in her typing.)

Coraline turned to look at Wybie.

"Well, I guess I could."

"Great, well Coraline, get you boyfriend a seat." Coraline's mother stopped typing and both children frozen in mid chair set up at her father's word slip up.

Coraline felt her face heat up and looking over at Wybie she noticed his tint a shade of red as well. "Boyfriend?" Both Wybie & Coraline said at the same time, both looking away from each other as they blushed.

"Charlie, can I have a talk with you for a moment?"

"Sure, Mel."

Coraline's mother got up out of her seat and pushed her husband into the next room.

"Just serve yourselves, ok Coraline?"

"S-sure, Mom."

"Y-yes, M-Mrs. Jones."

Coraline's dinner was silent till her mother and father came back to join them. She was sure no one remembered or even cared what they were eating as all four were red as the candle sticks set up on the table. But soon the uncomfortable atmosphere left and Coraline found her and her parents laughing at the jokes Wybie cracked. But all too soon was it time for Coraline's new friend to go. Her father had given him enough leftovers to keep him and his grandmother feed for the next week; to which he replied would probably get feed to the wildlife, that is if they'd even eat it.

"So I'll see you tomorrow after school, right?"

"Sure, Wybie. Just don't try to act all reaper-y on me again!"

"No problem. I'll think of something scarier. Ouch!"

"See you tomorrow Wybie!"

"Bye, Coraline!"

Coraline watched as her new friend ran home, jump the gate, and almost lost the packages in his arms. She hoped he didn't crush Slug-zilla that was tucked precariously in the back of his trench coats pocket.

"Coraline, bedtime!"

"Coming, Mom!"

That night Coraline went to sleep, peacefully dreaming of second adventures, building tall slugs, and a boy who wore a skull helmet. But, little did Coraline know that the other world inside of her house held a new surprise for her and her new found friend…