Author's Note: Another of Jpbake's characters is introduced in this chapter. He'll be a constant character after this chapter.

Those of you wondering if Tex will be back...

We'll see.


Crystal's POV

The beach was always my favorite place to spend the last day of summer break, especially since Claire had been born. While my parents were walking along the beach and my brother was with his friends, Claire and I would build sandcastles and hunt for shells at the edge of the water.

I stepped into the sand and watched my younger sister run around with a bucket and little plastic shovel as she looked for the perfect spot for our sandcastle.

I began to follow her when-

"Look out!" called a voice, then I was knocked over with someone sitting on my back.

"Get OFF!" I yelled, easily jumping up and throwing off whoever it was that had landed on me.

That someone happened to be a deep crimson furred, brown eyed male bandicoot that was barely a year older than me. He was holding a football and wearing nothing but a pair of deep grey swim shorts.

"Not a bad catch for an edgy cheerleader." He grinned at me.

"Bite me, Wally..." I growled.

Yes, I had been a cheerleader for our school an he knew this because he was on of the football players...and my brother's best friend.

Wally just winked at me before running off and meeting up with my brother as well as some of the others on the football team. They always met up here before they started practice. Kinda lazy, but we're three year championship winners.

I simply rolled my eyes and saw Claire was sitting on a smoothed out area of sand waiting for me.

"Hold in, sis, I need to get something really quick." I walked by her and ruffled her hair as I grabbed m bag out of the van that Mom had started driving.

I pulled out Tex's shirt and looked at it, then tied the sleeves around my waist before getting my hair clips out and pinning my hair out of my face. I then closed the van door and rushed back to where Claire had already started on the sandcastle.

"Couldn't wait, could you?" I asked, sitting next to my baby sister and helping her shape the sand for the biggest part of the castle.

As we were working on the towers, a football came and knocked the whole thing down. Claire's eyes teared up and I stood. My eyes went right to my brother and the football team...and they all pointed to Chance, a cheetah, who slowly started to back away before turning and running off. Chase was naturally fast, but I bolted after him and tackle him to the ground within a short moment thanks to inheriting my mother's speed.

Chance was shaking as I raised a fist and aimed it at his face, but instead of punching him I flicked his nose before letting him up.

As I walked away, I actually put Tex's shirt on and pretty much cocooned myself in it to calm down. The sand was burning under my bare feet as I walked, leaving charred marks.

My parents had watched the whole thing happen and I noticed my father's worried expression as I walked by.

Saying nothing, I returned to Claire to help her rebuild the sandcastle.


Author's Note: Yes, Crystal misses Tex. Yes, he's going to come back.

When?

Keep up with the story to find out.