Chapter One; Another Day

"Ah, Stay, Don't Stand Around

And He Comes And He Stays

But He Leaves The Next Day,

So Sad.

Sometimes She Feels So Sad."

Bubbles P.O.V.

I stared at the passing cars as I sat on the park bench.

"Anything new?" Mike asked, his head in my lap.

I sighed, "Not unless you count a drag queen having a passionate make out session with a poodle new."

He chuckled softly, "As a matter of fact, I do. So would a lot of people. You're just hard to impress."

I shook my head, my blonde hair getting rustled with a light breeze, "But its the third time this week. Surely Mr. Johanson could of found a different pastime by now."

"You never know," Mike yawned, "Once you've had your tongue inside a dog's mouth, tasted that wonderful flavor of dead squirrel-"

I cut him off with a gag, "Ew, okay. No more details please... That was suspiciously descriptive. Want to get something off your chest?"

He laughed good naturedly, "I'd rather not say, but I'll tell you this much. Truth or dare at Princess' house can get nasty."

I gave an exaggerated gasp, "Mr. Uptight himself has played truth or dare! The very thought just shatters your image, Mikey."

He gave me a playful slap on the arm, "I am not uptight! I'm... lazy."

I giggled, "Lazy? Then why did you join Cross Country?"

He grimaced and moved his light brown hair so that it covered his eyes, a thing he did when he was embarrassed or uncomfortable.

"My parents made me. Some bull shit about a college application... I don't want to talk about it."

My smile fell and I stared back out into the city traffic.

Mike was two years older than me and was graduating in less than two months. We didn't talk about it because he was my best... My only friend.

My older sister and I had just moved to Portland six months ago and Mike and I had both been in the art room after school, stealing paints. We decided then and their that it was fate and we would be the bestest of friends until the end of time.

But, he was going to Georgia Tech. States away from Washington and me. I didn't want to be so selfish, I knew it was a wonderful opportunity for him, but... I couldn't help but wish he would stay.

"So," Mike said, in that airy way that meant the subject was changing, "How's your creeper been holding up?"

I flushed, "He isn't a creeper, Believe! He is a nice man that got attacked and you should have more sympathy for the poor guy!"

"Not after the girl scout incident." Mike yawned again, his eyes closing.

I gave a light laugh, remembering knocking on Ace's door a few weeks back.

I had been selling snacks and treats for the school to bring in some extra cash for the Art Club and Mike had been driving my around. Ace had been my neighbor and since we were starting out in places close to us, his apartment was first on the list.

He opened the door and grinned at me, "I've never seen a hotter girl scout."

I had laughed and started presenting the catalog and using all my sales pitches.

"I've got another way you can get some cash." He chuckled and put his hand around my wrist.

I smiled, "Oh yeah? How?"

"That's enough." Mike had growled and yanked me behind him.

He had told me to go to the car and then him and Ace had talked for a good half an hour before Mike returned to the car, normal as ever, and drove me to our next destination.

About two months later Ace had an accident and lost a lot of blood. He's still in the hospital.

"I still don't get why you went all-" I fell silent as a soft snore slipped through his mouth.

"You really are lazy." I giggled, fondly brushing my fingertips through his hair as the sun began to set and, finally, fall.