Who likes the new summary? The joke about Spaz (my alter ego) liking Kris was just that; a joke. Spaz likes Jordan.

Oh yeah, if you think that every time that Oban Star-Racers shows on TV should be a national holiday, put this in your profile, then put together a protesting group and fly to the White House! (and while you're at it, do your best to get George Bush impeached(kicked out) of the White House!)

Ah… I just sneezed…and I saw a picture of Jordan's face that I drew once when I closed my eyes… I was a damn good one too… I'm just getting weirder by the day…

Ch. 8- Picking up the Pieces

Lightning flashed. The rain fell in sheets, tapping out a steady rhythm on the stone roofs of the flying temples. Eva lay awake. She was curled up in a tight ball, waiting, waiting. Waiting, for this infernal downpour to let up. Waiting, for the fear and alarm to leave control of her pounding heartbeat. Trying, trying to ignore the flood of harsh memories. Trying, but accomplishing nothing. The thunder ceased, lulling her into a half-sleep, where dreams and visions roamed free.

Flashback

The rain fell earnestly. Mist blanketed the world in a sluggish obscurity. A solitary car steadily made it's way down the road. It stopped next to a pair of grim-looking 50-foot gates. The gates opened. A gray-haired woman and man walked out. The man held an umbrella.

A young girl, about the age of five, stepped out of the car.

"Ah, our darling little Eva!" the woman exclaimed.

The little girl ran to the driver side of the car. "Daddy!"

The window rolled down and a worn-looking man gazed out at his daughter. "Eva. You must promise to be a good girl. Daddy's too… busy to take care of you right now. Goodbye."

Water streaked across the younger Eva's face, mixing with her tears. "Don't leave me too, Daddy."

Thunder suddenly roared. Eva shot bolt upright with a choked squeak.

"Whoa, don't scare me like that!" a familiar voice gently brushed her shattered conscience.

Eva, still too shocked form her dream to speak, tried to control her breathing. Her heart fluttered faster than a dying bird's.

"You okay?" Jordan, who had been watching over her, sounded concerned. He laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I'm alright…" Eva gasped.

"Nightmare?" Jordan asked simply.

"Uh huh." she choked out.

"This one must've been really bad."

"Huh?"

"Well, seeing as you broke out in cold sweat and you technically got a fever, I doubt it could be anything else."

"Oookaayy then."

"Care to talk about it?"

"No thanks, Jordan. I'm…tired."

"Well in that case, you should lie down." Jordan got up and handed her an ice pack. "For your forehead."

"Thanks." Eva lay back on her pillow. She stared at the ceiling. "What about the thunderstorm?"

"Just rain now. So that was it…"

She looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"When I was a kid, thunderstorms used to freak me out. Like, I couldn't do anything. It was like I just… locked up. Kind of like Rick."

Eva sighed. "I miss him."

"Who?"

"Rick."

"Yeah. Me too."

"Hey, wait a minute, how did I get here? I thought I was with Kyrra."

"We took you here. You fell asleep and then the thunderstorm happened." Jordan replied.

"Where is she?"

"I don't know. We can talk later; right now you should probably get some rest. Although it would help to get that nightmare off your mind, sleep is the best thing for all of us, at least for now."

"Your right, of course…You know what, Jordan?" she mused.

"Hmm?"

"You're always there for me. That's weird…but in a nice way." She closed her eyes and rolled onto her stomach.

Jordan absentmindedly drew his fingernails across her back.

(A/N- It's sorta weird… you gently drag your nails over someone's back-it really tickles unless your used to it.)

Eva cracked an eyelid open. "What're ya doing?" she murmured sleepily.

"Uh…sorry. It helped me sleep when I was a kid."

"Whaddaya mean, 'helped you sleep'!? It tickles! Tee hee…" Eva giggled. Her feet started kicking.

"Mueh heh heh!" Jordan tickled harder.

"He-he-hey! S-s-stop th-that!" she said. Eva started tickling Jordan'sarmpit.

"I-hi-ll s-stop whe-he-hen y-you s-s-stop!"

This went on for another fifteen minutes. Apparently, tickling is their favorite sport.

Of course, all (good) things must come to an end.

Eva and Jordan were breathless by now and had to rest. They looked at each other. Their faces were inches away.

Eva knew just what to do.

She blew in Jordan's ear.

Jordan backpedaled (can you do that when your sitting down?)"Hey! You can't do that!"

She pouted. "Oim a widdle kid now and I can do what I woant!"

"Yes, well, little kids have to go to bed early, which means you have been a naughty, naughty little girl, staying up this late! Off to bed without supper!" Jordan wagged a finger in her face.

"Okay!" Eva pushed her head onto the crook of his neck and started fake snoring. "You'we my piwwow."

"No, little girls need to stay in their own hammock." Jordan said, pushing her off.

"Skwatch my bawk again? Pweeeeeeeze?" She pleaded.

"Good night."

"But-"

"No buts."

"But-

"I said, goodnight."

"Oh, crudmuffin."

Jordan chuckled and ruffled her hair.

CLUTBNOTMBIISPCTOSRALTM

"Hmm. Kannaletto. The years haven't been kind to you." Kyrra observed.

"Do not speak to me like that. You know what happened to Sul. Your punishment will be ten thousand times worse."

"Who said I was working for you? I'd rather die."

"Know anyone named Heath?" Kannaletto remarked dryly.

"Heath." Kyrra spat. "Bad egg. I'm only part of her Clan if we fight against evil, not for it. I am once again in pieces."

"Your putting to death will be swift if you pledge to me."

Kyrra chuckled. "I didn't even say the school's whole pledge of allegiance. What makes you think I would for you?"

"I control your destiny. It is written in the stars. Vow, or I will strike you down where you stand!"

"You're just an apparition! You can't hurt me!"

Kannaletto's projection struck out at Kyrra. She fluidly swayed to evade the blow like a blade of grass in the wind, even though it wouldn't have harmed her. She smirked. "That didn't hurt."

"Ya want it to?"

"You know I can take pain; do your best. Go ahead, make it hurt."

"Works for me." He-it-lashed out again and again. Kyrra easily got out of the way. She ducked and weaved until she got close enough to elbow the 'ghost' in the stomach.

"You will payyyyy…" the thing hissed before dissipating in a cloud of mist.

Kyrra threw back her head and laughed. "Ya want some? Come back any time, Kannaletto! You always get an extra-special discount!"

---

Just so you know, Kannaletto sent a fake "hologram" of himself to Kyrra, he wasn't really there. He watched with those weird feathers.

CLUTBNOTMBIISPCTOSRALTM

There wasn't another good place to end it, so you are all UNDER MY COMMAN- wait, wrong phrase. I meant you are all just going to have to live with this shortie OR DIE A PAINFU-Gahh, I did it again. Sorry. Next one's going to have a LOT of explanations, so BE AFRAID, BE VER-Curses! I SAID be READY, not AFRAID! GOOD RIDDAN-I SAID GOOD-BYE YOU IDIOTIC BRAIN! STOP PUTTING WORDS IN MY MOUTH! GAHH!

-Virtual Dragon OF DOO-OF OBAN! BARZUL! (Barzul is a Dwarvish cuss, which Christopher Paolini owns. Paolini wrote the Inheritance Trilogy (Eragon, Eldest, etc. Rumors have it that the third book is called Empire but I don't know) blah) SHUT THE FRICK UP, BRAIN!