Eddie walked down the dirt road, his clipboard in his hand. He was reading it with a serious face, careful to weave around anyone in his way as he went to complete his errands.

All except for Petula, that is.

"Hi Eddiekins~" She purred, a seductive smile on his face. Eddie closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Hello Petula." He said, not giving her any eye contact.

"It's so nice of you to, like, visit me again." Petula said, walking close. Eddie shivered.

"Petula, I-"

"So, you know what happened, like, this time when I was over at Lea's house?" Petula started, putting her hand on his shoulder. Eddie closed his eyes, blocking out her long story. When they opened again, they rested on some hope that would take him away.

"I'm sorry Petula maybe later- Seiko, there you are!" Eddie called out, extending one arm out as he quickly walked over to the gardener. Seiko turned around, her face turning pink.

"E-Eddie?"

"Yeah remember, we have that... Thing together!" He said loudly, putting his arm around her shoulder and guiding her away from Paper Pet's as quickly as he could. Petula's jaw dropped, looking as if she was just insulted.

"W-wait, we do?" Seiko asked. Eddie shushed her.

"No, I just needed an excuse to get away. Petula was going to tell me another story." Eddie whispered, not daring to look back. Seiko nodded, a little disappointed.

Dammit...

"Okay, I think we are good now." Eddie said, taking his arm off the girl, much to her dismay. He turned to her.

"Sorry about that. I'll see you this weekend at the P-Factor!"

"O-Oh, I can't..."

"HEY SAHARI!" Maddie shouted, a bunch of papers in her hand. The desert girl turned around, a smile on her face.

"Hey Maddie!" She said, waving back. Maddie skidded to a stop, catching her breath slightly as she shoved one of the papers into Sahari's face. Sahari peeled the paper off, ready to snap at Maddie when she actually read the paper. Her irritiated face turned into a smile.

"You finally got permission?" Sahari asked excitedly. Maddie nodded.

"I did!"

"Oh my God!"

"I know!" Both girls were driven into a excited squeal, giving Dustin a clue that is was his cue to come on over. He ran over and jumped up and down, doing a weird, seriously voice-cracked squeal with them. Sahari and Maddie immediately stopped, giving him a weird look.

"What. Are. You. Doing?" Sahari asked, her arms folding. Dustin blushed a bit, letting out a laugh.

"Just joining in on the fun. What were we squealing about?" He asked. This time Maddie was the one who laughed.

"Wouldn't you like to- HEY!" She shouted as Dustin snatched a paper away. He read over it quickly, grinning ear to ear.

"A party? Dude, I am SO there!" Maddie plucked the invitation out of his hands.

"Newsflash doofus, it's a SLUMBER party, meaning GIRLS ONLY." Dustin's face fell.

"What?"

"Yeah. It's a GIRL SLUMBER PARTY-"

"Yeah yeah i heard you, but why can't I come?"

"Dustin, your a boy."

"... And?"

"Unless your pretty and have boobs, you can't come."

"Well, then why are you and Sahari going then?"

PUNCH

SLAP

KICK

In a matter of fiery seconds, Dustin was on the ground, face in the dirt. Maddie shook her hand, turning to Sahari.

"I am sorry for his stupidity."

"Not a problem..." Sahari said in a annoyed tone, cracking her knuckles, "So who's all coming?"

"Well, you obviously, I gave Seiko and Leafos their invites, and now I have to give and invitation to Maxime, and that should be it."

"Hm... Sounds like a tolerable party... Sure I'll come!"

"Sweet! I can't wait to see you there!" Maddie said, waving the girl off as she left to hand out the final invitation. Sahari walked away as well, reading the invitation as she went. Dustin laid there a moment, lifting his head up.

"Geez, I was only making a point..." He muttered, going up into a sitting position with his legs crossed. He rubbed the back of his head, not even noticing someone behind him.

"Sahari and Maddie? Geez, what did you say this time?" Eddie asked, a slight hint of annoyance in his voice. Dustin glared back at him.

"What do you want, Lizard?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to see what you said."

"Nothing but the truth..." He muttered, standing up, "What's got your pink panties in a bunch?" Eddie gave him a irritated sigh.

"Dustin, we have been over this- I don't wear girls underwear."

"Whatever. Just answer my question."

"If you must know, I just learned Seiko won't be in the P-Factor this weekend, so that still leaves a open spot for this weekend! Do you have any idea how hard it is trying to find another competitor at such a late notice?" Eddie ranted. Dustin blinked.

"She's going to Maddie's slumber party then?"

"Yeah, and it really stinks because I heard she has this new baby Geckie-"

"Why don't you fill in? Or are you judging again?" Dustin said, completely cutting the Lizard boy off. Eddie gave him an annoyed look.

"My dad isn't letting me this time."

"Why not?"

"He said that I need to get out more- what's so funny?" Eddie asked, his hands on his skinny hips as Dustin started to laughing, grabbing his cramping sides.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA nothing." Dustin said, suddenly going to a straight face. That was when his brain formulated a plan.

"Say, your not going to be doing anything this weekend, aren't you?"

"Sadly."

"GREAT! Go to Arfur's Inn."

"I still have to get a few things-"

"Just go to Arfur's Inn and wait. I have to make a few phone calls~" Dustin said evilly, whipping out his Alert System.

Wow... Crappy start... Oh well~ this is more of a prologue, because NEXT chapter is the where the REAL story starts :D