Through the Year
Through the Year
Disclaimer: No, I do NOT own Ben 10!
Ratings may change. Has OC starting from now!
Trick or Treat: Part One
Halloween: A night when people celebrate evil, carve faces out of pumpkins and save up sweets for the kids trick-or-treating in silly ghost costumes. I loved it; carving pumpkins, eating sweets, dressing up… scaring the life out of my cousin, Gwen, who would come and visit us every Halloween.
But not this year because I'm too old for trick-or-treating. And if I'm not doing it, Gwen won't be either. This means that we both will be alone with my dog in my house because my parents have made up plans with Gwen's parents. And Grandpa's not visiting us this year. His excuse? Plumber meeting. I thought he retired from that organisation!
"So, Mom, what kind of plans are you making with Gwen's parents?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Oh, we're going to the restaurant," Mom replied briefly and smiled. "Why don't you and Gwen go trick-or-treating with Jack?" she said. I instantly dropped my jaw. Oh, and Jack's our German shepherd.
"But Mom! Aren't we a bit TOO old for trick-or-treating?" I asked, partly yelling at her suggestion.
"How old are you?"
"Twelve," I muttered. So maybe I'm not that old, but I don't have any costumes I can fit into anyways. "But can't we just stay home and watch a movie?"
"The TV's busted," she said, and as if to prove it, Dad punched the power button but nothing came on.
But no sweat, if there's nothing to do at home, I can just survey the town for any crimes or criminals.
5 hours afterwards
"This is so boring!" I grumbled, throwing myself down on the couch.
"Like I don't know! Being stuck here with you is bad enough!" Gwen groaned and slouched down the sofa. "Oh, hi Jack!" she smiled as Jack entered the room carrying a milk-bone in his strong jaws. Oh, his jaws are strong alright, combined with his sharp set of canine teeth. He managed to chew off the air out of our car's tire without swallowing any rubber. Dad was in a fit until Mom got it changed.
"We could walk around town and search for criminals," I shrugged.
"Maybe. Then how about Jack?" she asked while stroking the dog's back lovingly.
"He can stay in the house," I said. And Gwen immediately sprang up off the sofa.
"Ben, that's irresponsible! What happens when he needs to take a walk? Or when he wants to play?"
"Oh, so you're suggesting we should take him with us?" I asked her defensively. Gwen bit her lip and crossed her arms.
A few minutes later
"So… now what?" I started, tugging on Jack's leash.
"Dunno. You started the whole 'criminal hunt'," Gwen retorted looking left and right. I sighed. Fine, maybe it's not such a good idea to go out now; the streets are full of kids in costumes carrying a basket filled with candies knocking door-to-door. Not to mention Jack being Jack, bouncing and chasing kids playfully that I have to use all my strength to restrain him.
"Here, I'll hold him!" Gwen said and touched my hand.
"OK, but he's hard to handle you know," I chuckled in embarrassment, handing the leash over to her. And my eyes started to widen with amazement. While it took me all my strength to hold down Jack, it took less than half of Gwen's strength to hold him back.
"How'd you do that?" I asked in awe.
"Oh, karate did me good," she giggled. "I used to be a wimp like you."
I'd like to see that. Wait, did she just call me a wimp?
"Hey!" I snapped. She laughed and began running and pulling on Jack's leash harshly it made him whine, allowing me to chase her gleefully.
The chase ended when she bumped into a tall boy with neat, spikey golden hair that compliments his friendly-looking face.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Gwen apologized frantically as she got up. And then she gasped more in surprise than in horror. "Err, hi Carlos!"
"Hello," the boy said cheerfully.
"Wait, you two know each other?" I interrupted, coming in between and pushing the boy named 'Carlos' aside.
"Know each other? We're best friends! You must be Ben Tennyson. Nice to see you," he grinned and let out his hand. I smiled and shook it.
"Pleasure," I said, somewhat coldly. Don't ask me why but I felt weird about him. Like he's something sinister despite his kind looks.
"Nice dog," he murmured reaching out for Jack. I was about to say 'Sic'im, Jack!' but Jack gladly welcomed Carlos by licking his fingers and wagging his tail.
"Thanks. He's pure-bred," I replied and stuffed my hands in my pocket. I never really mentioned that Jack was a pure-bred because I figured out that that piece of information was unimportant. But I felt like in this situation I had to do things differently.
"Well, what are you doing here?" Gwen piped up.
"Oh, I'm just baby-sitting my brothers while they're trick-or-treating. That reminds me, I've saved some treats for you," he smiled and got out a candy from his pocket.
"Aw, thanks!" Gwen took the sweet gratefully and clenched it in her hands. I could've swore she blushed.
OK, so big whoop. He's got Gwen some candy and made her blush, so what? I'm sure I can do that!
"Hey, wanna take a walk in the park? Ben, you can come along too with, err…" Carlos stared at Jack.
"Jack's his name," I said for him. He nodded. "OK, I'll come," I agreed. Because I'm keeping my eyes on him, watching his every move. And I don't want him to be alone with Gwen or something might happen. For example, the chances that he's an alien and might devour her completely. And you won't want that to happen to your cousin. Especially when your Mom told you she's your responsibility and you should keep her safe and happy. Or else…
"Cool watch," Carlos grinned. I couldn't help but beam at my chance of showing-off.
"Thanks, I got it last, last year in summer when Gwen, Grandpa and me went to…" I didn't finish my sentence when Gwen nudged me on the ribs. Hard.
"Japan." I finished quickly.
"Really?" he raised his eyebrows. "But Gwen told me you three were…"
"Riding on an RV in Japan all summer," Gwen interrupted. "Yep, that's what I said!" she finished with an innocent grin. I could've sworn she flashed me a look filled with bitter scorn. I felt so guilty I might've done something to offend her that I flinched.
At the park
"You and Gwen seem really close," Carlos started at the park. Gwen's in the toilet doing God-knows-what while me, Carlos and Jack waited on a bench. Well, me and Carlos—Jack is patrolling the area.
"Well, we ARE cousins," I pointed out the obvious. Carlos laughed and shook his head. What's so funny with being really close with a family relative? Unless he mistook us as a couple, which is just plain gross and impossible. Or is it?
"No, I was referring to something else. Well, I thought it was something else," he smiled and shrugged. How'd he know? He's not the one who has to stick with her most of the time! Oh wait, he does. He's currently at the same school as Gwen. This meant that he gets to see her everyday. "Gwen's nice," he muttered.
"Really? For me, she's bossy!" I exclaimed in surprise. Carlos eyes widened either in shock or just amazed.
"Does she tease you? Does she keep calling you names but at the same time she's able to cheer you up? Does she hold her gaze and look away as fast as possible?" he said. I thought about it and realized how right he was. Gwen can be kind and irresistable at times, and her eyes never seemed to stay in one place whenever she talks to me nowadays. I nodded. He furrowed his eyebrows and stared at the ground. Then his face cracked a smile. "Then that's a positive sign."
"For what?"
"You don't know?"
"Can we just change the subject?" I tried resisting a groan just to be polite. I settled into silence while Carlos squirmed on the bench, possibly trying to start a conversation.
"Hey, your watch looks unique," Carlos murmured and I felt my wrist being picked up. I snatched it back in reflex.
"Yeah, well, Japanese people are really creative. They produce stuffs that are different than others," I said, instinctively wrapping my fingers around the Omnitrix.
"Doesn't show the time, though, does it?" Carlos narrowed his eyes. Oh shoot. He knows too much. I wonder if Gwen spilled the secret of the Omnitrix, or that he's got a sharp eye for watches. Both way, he's suspicious and I don't think he's safe to be trusted.
"Do you smell something burning?" I sniffed. Because I did, and it's not because I'm trying to change topics.
"Hey, I'm back!" Gwen's head suddenly popped up behind the bench. "Shouldn't you be picking up your brothers by now?"
"Yeah, shouldn't you?" I leered. He raised a peculiar eyebrow.
"Actually, I'm going to spend more time with you guys," he grinned. "My brothers have cellphones anyways." Darn. Why wouldn't he just leave already?
"And how old are your brothers?"
"Only seven," he shrugged. Seven, with cellphones. That's cool; I've had mine since ten.
"Oh, hey, look over there!" Gwen pointed. I followed the direction of her finger and saw what she meant. Outside the park, just half a mile away, a building was on fire, slowly being smothered by its flames.
By the way, thanks for the reviews so far! And I know this chapter's kinda boring, but I'll make the upcoming ones more interesting…