THE ARRIVAL OF KAI

#1: MEETING AGAIN AFTER 7 YEARS

"Well, well kids, how are you doing?" Grandpa max's big booming voice said, with a hearty laugh.

The 3 teens looked up to see their Grandpa as jolly as ever. Ben and Gwen immediately got up from their seats and gave him a big bear hug while Kevin stood there, not sure of what to do. Grandpa max stretched his arm further that gave him the hint. He joined in the group hug with a smile.

"Not that I love either of you less, but you guys are kinda suffocating me." Gwen said sandwiched between Kevin and Grandpa Max. Kevin pulled away and rubbed his head sheepishly. " Uhh, I got kinda carried away." "Never mind." Gwen replied.

"So Grandpa, what brings you here? I've never seen you at Mr. Smoothie before." Remarked Gwen as the foursome sat back at the smoothie table.

"Yup, I know. But I have got a task that I need your help on."

"Sure, what planet do we have to go to?" Gwen asked.

"Yeah, and when do I have to get the Rust Bucket ready?"Kevin added.

"And who is gonna get beaten by Waybig this time?"Ben boasted.

Grandpa Max sighed aloud.

"I'm thinking all the Plumber missions have made you guys way to serious. You need to chill, hang out and make new friends. Speaking of which, there's gonna be a new person who could hang out with you."

"A new friend? Who's that gonna be?" Ben asked, obviously having a Smoothie high.

"Well she won't be entirely new coz you guys do know her from before and might I add, Gwen is not very fond of her."

At this, the reels in Gwen's mind began churning as she thought about all the she people she disliked.

"Lemme guess. Charmcaster? Gwen still hates her for stealing her first kiss." Ben offered.

Gwen and Kevin looked at him strangely. Ben noticed and shrugged, " What? It is true, guys."

"Yes, but it's highly improbable that she would leave Legerdomain to hang out with us, don't you think?" Kevin pointed out.

"Oh right. Well then is it Jennifer Nocturne? No, wait, she can't be, we…" Ben was interrupted by Grandpa's impatient voice.

"Yea, I know all that. But NO. Its someone from much before that, from your ten year old summer days."

"THAT before?" Ben started thinking about the possibilities.

"Aunt Vera? Her old neighbor? Or maybe…" Ben was cut off by Gwen as realization struck her. There was only ONE girl who could hang out with them being a teen.

"KAI GREEN?" she exclaimed.

"AAHAH! You got it pumpkin." Max agreed.

Gwen and Ben looked at each other and yelled, "WHAT!?"

"B-but Grandpa, how can she…" Gwen tried to reason.

"Oh come on kids. It's been a long time since that incident. She was a kid too. And Gwen, you always believe in giving people chances, don't you? I'm pretty sure she's changed and equally confident that her priorities have too."

"Well, y-yes but I'm not sure if that applies for a girl who wanted to chain up and keep y cousin as a pet wolf or something." She stated flatly.

Kevin sat in his place trying to get the tails and heads of the whole thing. He obviously didn't have a clue. So he said what he thought was relevant which he had to say at the wrong time, as always.

" Well, you did give a chance to a guy who tried to kill your cousin, then why not someone who wanted to chain him? I mean, even I have wanted to chain him up on so many occasions." Kevin grinned evilly as he thought about the idea.

"KEVIN!" the cousins yelled in unison. And it was then that Kevin realized he had actually stated something against Gwen's opinion. He immediately tried to cover up.

"I-I-I didn't m-mean , I guess, I umm…"

"He is right Gwen, and you know it."Max said plainly."The fact is that her father wants her to join Bellwood High so that she can live a comfortable city life away from desert; I offered to take her I, so try to understand kids. She would be lonely and forlorn and only you can make her feel comfortable in a new place."

Gwen shut her eyes and tried to argue with herself about this. This appeared to be a very bad idea. But now, she had no choice but to do what was logical.

"Fine. But I'm having a very bad feeling about this."

"That's my pumpkin. Okay, so she will be here in a few minutes . I've got some calls to do, I must get going. Take care kids." Grandpa kissed Gwen's head and patted Ben and Kevin before he left off in his Rust Bucket IV."

"Good. Now may I know who this Kai is?" Kevin asked.

"Remember I told you about Ben's first real crush? A girl from the desert, werewolf….remember?"

"Oh yea, that girl who wanted Ben to turn into a werewolf so she could have a cool pet like a werewolf. Yea, what about her?"

"Well, she's the one who would be joining us..." Gwen explained.

Ben stared wide eyed at Gwen. "He knows the story?"

"Yup, I told him."

"How could you? So have you told him about ALL of my love interests?"

"Noo, I haven't told him about that girl with rotten breath – Maggie or about Delia-that cocaine addict and Rhea-that girl who flirted with you to get free ice from Big Chill…"

"You know, you just did." Ben pointed out.

"Oh yea, you're right, Ben." Gwen pretended to realize it just now.

"And by the way, you had told me about coca girl. When you were half asleep."Kevin said.

"Oh well, that explains why I couldn't remember." Gwen shrugged.

"You talk to HIM when you are half asleep. Ho's that even possible? He stays away from your house…" then the truth dawned upon him.

"You two SLEPT together?" Ben exclaimed loud enough for a couple of customers to hear.

"Hush, Ben. You don't need to say everything over the microphone. And no, we didn't SLEEP together; he just comes in to see me occasionally and maybe tuck me in bed…"

"What are you? A third grader? You need to be tucked in bed?" the tables had totally turned.

Gwen huffed in frustration as she tried to reason with her knucklehead cousin.

"You won't understand. It's a girl thing." Said Kevin, trying to defend her.

"Or more like a girl having crazy nightmares after her boyfriend was almost killed by her dear cousin… you know that sorta thing." Gwen said sarcastically.

"I don't believe this. You are still stuck on that part?" Ben asked throwing his arms in the air.

"Stuck on what, may I ask?" a sweet voice came from behind Ben.

The trio looked in the direction from where the voice had come. Ben and Gwen's faces had irritation written over them while Kevin guessed that this must be the girl they were fussing about.

"Hello Ben, Gwen and….Mr. Sexy." She addresses Kevin not knowing him.

Gwen's frown deepened as Kevin blushed lightly and said awkwardly, "Hello. Y-you must be..."

"She is Kai Green." Gwen interjected.

Kai walked up to Kevin and crossed her arms behind her back and asked Kevin in a sing song manner, "Aaandd you are?"

Gwen immediately rushed beside Kevin and circling his arm faked a smile.

"Allow me to introduce – Kevin Levin, my BOYFRIEND." She stressed on the last word.

"Oh, I see. So, do you mind if I join you guys?" she sat down on the table with the trio and ordered a raspberry smoothie.

"I do mind you joining us, but there's nothing I can do about it." Gwen said to herself.

"Ahhh, the smoothie is delicious. I guess I'm gonna get more of it."

Ben gazed at her for a while as he contemplated the idea of forgetting the past and letting her be friends with them.

"I donno if this is a good idea or bad, but if Grandpa wants us to try, then I guess I will. We ain't got nothing to lose." Thinking thus, he decided to embark on a new journey of friendship with Kai along with the gang.

A/N: that's the 1st chapter. What do you think ppl? I'm gonna try and make this story intense…

There's something I wanna say…my stat checker tells me hundreds of ppl have viewed my stories but only 2-3 of them have bothered to review…I put in a lotta effort in these works...so plz do review even if it's just one word like 'okay' or 'good' or 'it sucks'…anything..Even flames are welcome…