It was three hours later when we left the lake.

"Hey, everyone's at my house for a sleep over. I'm sure Dad will love to see you again, Moose."

"Sounds great. So, how do you think the Santiagos survived Ruth?"

"By running and hiding? The girl's become a prankster queen. Like more thane ever. Remember Ms. McKarrik?"

"Yeah."
"She quit two months into Ruth's sixth grade year. Because of Ruth."
"What? No fair. We tried so hard to get rid of her for years. He'd she do it in two months?"

"By driving her insane. Never got caught."
"That little kid. Man, she got big."
"I know. It's been crazy. Remember her first concert?" We laughed. The rest of the walk was spent trading stories.

"Hey guys, what took so long?" Hailinn said.

"Just talking. I haven't seen this weirdo in five years." I couldn't keep a grin off my face.
"I can tell you were close."
"The closest. For reals. They were joined at the hip." Ruth called from the tv. She was sitting in between the Santiago twins playing video games..

"We were not." I stuck my tongue out at her.

"You're right. You were joined at the hip, shoulder, and ankle. Arm in arm pretty much wherever you went. Then I was on one side or the other."

"Shut up Trouble." Moose grumbled. The others laughed at out discomfort.

"Dad!" He came in. "Look who's home."

"Moose, my boy." He walked over, embraced Moose. "Glad to see you. We've missed you around here. You know son, you're always welcome here with us. You're family."

"Thanks, Mr. Ryder."

"Hey, it was one thing when you were a kid. That was respect. Now you make me feel older, call me Keith."

"You got it."
"So, what's kicking that's got you back here?"

"Giving my home girl here a ride to NYC."
"She said she was joining your crew up there. Didn't know that included the full ride and roll."

"Wasn't planning on it originally. It was a surprise. I brought my best-"

"And brightest!" Thing 1 and 2 said from the couch.

"Obviously not." Exploiting their distraction, Ruth moved and beat them.

"My best trusted sailors with me. We've got a little problem going down, nothing much. Ex girlfriend might be making trouble. I just wanted some back up on the road. World Jam's around the corner and the Samurai did not like being beaten once. They've got no limits when it comes to winning."

"It's true. Julien jacked our dancers, took our place, and tried to get a spy in the House of Pirates. Luckily, Moose replaced the dancers with MSA, Kido got us a place to live and practice, and Natalie fell in love with Luke. Down to the line with Moose and Jason's killer lights on our side, we win anyways."

"I told you man, we a family." Thing 2 finished his brother's statement. Really, if not for the large '1' and '2' necklaces, you couldn't tell them apart.

"I'm glad you'll be looking after her. I know you care about her. I think of you as a son. How's your Dad?"

"Good. He wasn't too happy when he heard I still danced."

"Still? What do you mean?"
"He thought I would quit when I started college. Instead I went full blown and won World Jam. So quick intro. Keith, meet Thing 1 and Thing 2, the Santiago twins. Things, meet Keith Ryder, the top musician in the Falls. And over there is Mrs. Ryder, Middle/Highschool science teacher."

"Moose, you're a grown man now, relax, call me Christine." I smiled. I knew my parents loved Moose as their own. Both our parents loved us. Sleepovers lasted days or weeks for us.

"So, are you three staying the night here? You're perfectly welcome, as always, Moose. And your friends."

"We'd love to. Thanks a lot, Keith."

"I'm making my special." Mom said. Moose grinned.

"Yes!" He muttered. "Christine here's special is the best ever guys. Like, amazing. Look forward to dinner tonight. Hey Faye…"

"Cool." Moose and I went out towards my room. He wanted to see the new tracks I was running for choreo.

Hales PoV.

"Those two really are clueless. I mean seriously. Are they blind?" I sighed. No one asked what I was asking about.

"Yeah. The last few days, after he stopped walking on coals with Camille, he would not stop thinking about her." Thing 1 said.

"What really happened between those two?" Ruth propped up on an elbow.

"Moose was talking to her on day when Cam came in. She threw some rap about how he wasn't paying attention to her or the crew at all. Then she dumped him. He didn't exactly mourn the relationship. Lately the three of us have noticed her around where Julien, the Samurai leader, lives. Once we get se proof we'll tell the crew everything. But one thing's for sure: Moose is completely available." Thiing2 said.

"What would you say if they ended up together?" Jas said.

"About time. THey love each other so much, but they can never see it in each other, or themselves."

Moose PoV.

This is mack! Girl, you workin this?" I held up the headphones. THe beat was mellow, with a distinct melody and an undercurrent sidebeat.

"Yeah. Mixing the new tracks igves me somehting to do after homework. It's fun. I saw Pamela last month." I smiled. She'd been our first dance teacher. Preschool level.

"Remember when we got our names?"

"My names Richard Alexander the 3rd! And I'm 3!" I laughed like the three year old I was. "Who are you?"

"I'm Fayelin Ryder! Age three! But evwybody just calls me Faye!" The girl put up three little fingers. Her hair was dyed black in braids. "You should have a name too. Your hat is a moose. I'll call you Moose."

"Hello children. My name is Pamela. This is my daughter Kiera. She's in your class." I smiled at the nice lady. Her hair was gray, like Nana's.

"You were so cute with black hair." I smiled. The track played in the background, forgotten.

"Then there was our first routine." I smiled at the memory.

"Moose, we did it!" We were four now. We'd just finished the dance routine on our own. We smiled and giggled.

"Great job guys. You were amazing." Mom smiled.

"Always the perfect team" Mrs. Ryder

They were right. We were a team.

"And the 2009 Award Ceremony." Now there was a memory.

"Here we are at the 2009 Falls Central Dance Battle Awards! Falls 2Point is running the final lap and they have brought a new dancer to the floor people! After dancing with the esteemed duo for years, she is finally taking the spotlight! From Falls City Elementary, Miss Ruth Troublegirlie Ryder!" I barely heard the announcer. I was to focused on my moves. Our rivals: Falls Central Darks. THe other major dance crew in the Falls. They were good, but their lead dancer had graduated three years ago and there was nothing to take their place. We beat them today, and the crew is done. Faye would continue Falls Central after I was gone. The crew would live on. That's what was running through my head as I ran the final lineup on the song. That 2Point was immortal, while Darks wouldn't survive in the spotlight. It went without a hitch. The judges looked around.

"Against odds, our own 2Point has come from the edges, with so few dancers, but they did it! Guys and gals, for the seventh year running, beating the record made by the Falls Crew 1Double9-4, the DBA Champions, Falls Central 2Point!" I pulled the girls close for a hug.

"We did it. After all this, we did it." Faye kept whispering in my ear. This had been her dream, to take the record the 1Double9-4 had placed, with six consecutive wins of the Falls DBA's, and break it. And she had done it.

"No, we did it." I must have said it out loud. I bent down, picking up Trouble Now she was raised up on our shoulders. The crowds cheered, screamed, and hollered for us.

"Look after 2Point when I'm gone. Keep the Beat." I told her. Tears were in her eyes, but they were neither sad nor happy. They were shocked, having completed her dream, and sad for what was happening, me leaving. But for now we had our light. Hundreds of people celebrating with us. Our victory.