This chapter is kinda short and dialogue-based. I hope that's not a problem.

Warning: Awkward scenarios ahead.

Chapter Nine: Utterly Awkward

Pinky led me to a room not far from ours, and the first thing I heard from said room was a girl shouting, "Give it back, you bastard!"

The next thing I knew, a black and white bear was running out of the room, a platypus was chasing after him. Not long after, she tackled him to the ground.

I had absolutely no idea how to react, but Pinky sighed and rolled his eyes. "They do this, sometimes." He ran to the group, and I followed. Pinky cried out, "Dividirla! Dividirla!" (I now know that 'dividirla' means 'break it up' in Spanish.) With some help from me, we managed to pulled the two of them apart.

Now, that I got a better look at the platypus, I realized that we looked next to nothing alike (at that point, I had only ever seen green or teal platypuses). She had brown fur, a gray bill and tail, bangs, and blue eyes. If she didn't look ready to tear someone's limbs off, I probably would have found her attractive.

She pointed angrily at the bear. "Peter! Hand it over."

The bear - apparently named Peter - crossed his arms in defiance. I suddenly noticed that he was holding a purple book. He turned his head. "Make me."

"Oh, I'm gonna make you!" The platypus tried to attack him, but Pinky grabbed her shoulders.

"Calm yourself, McKenzie!" Pinky ordered.

So, this girl was McKenzie? I briefly wondered whether she was hot-tempered or Peter had just really ticked her off.

Pinky immediately turned to Peter and demanded, "Peter, give her back her diary."

Oh. That explained it. One of the girls back in STORM had a diary. Rascal had learned the hard way not to touch it. Apparently, women wrote their thoughts and secrets in them...or something. I didn't really see the point.

Peter rolled his gray eyes and let out an exaggerated sigh. "Fine. If you're gonna bug me about it." He reluctantly handed McKenzie the diary, which she snatched and held protectively against her chest, still obviously fuming. "I don't see what the big deal is. It's a book with words."

"These words are for my eyes only," McKenzie warned.

"Yeah, yeah." Peter casually headed down the hall, eventually entering a room that I assumed was his own.

Well...that happened. I wasn't sure how to respond. It was just too awkward.

Pinky cleared his throat, and I couldn't tell whether he was bored or annoyed. Or, perhaps a mixture of both. "Perry, this is McKenzie. And, the other guy was Peter the Panda."

McKenzie, seeming to have calmed down, sized me up. Now that she wasn't about to kill someone, she was definitely pretty. She sighed and pinched the bridge of her bill. "Sorry you had to see that. Peter and I..." She through her hands down in exasperation. "Basically, we don't exactly 'get along.'"

I stopped myself from taking a step back. "S-so I see... I-I'm Perry."

She smiled, but I couldn't tell whether it was sincere or not. "And, I'm McKenzie. Or, Mack. I answer to both."

Once we were back in our dorm, Pinky informed me that McKenzie wasn't always so...like she was. Apparently, her and Peter used to date, but it (obviously) didn't end well. He also explained the McKenzie was indeed a little temperamental, but it wasn't usually that bad.

"She's bad at first impressions," Pinky told me, as we sat on the edge of his bed. "When I first met her, she tripped and fell on me, and we accidentally kissed." I laughed at that. And, I thought my first meeting with her was awkward. "I know, right? Although, the fact that a hot girl kissed me kinda dulled the awkwardness."

I shrugged. "I can see how that would work."

There was a loud bang on the door. Pinky suddenly and repeatedly piped up, "Door!" as he ran to the door.

After what I believe was the eighth 'door' I had to ask, "What are you doing?"

Pinky blushed in embarrassment. "Uh, s-sorry." He scratched the back of his neck. "I'm a dog, so when I hear a knock at the door, I feel compelled to announce it."

Caspian stepped into the room. "How's it goin', kids?"

Surprised and a little annoyed, I asked, "Why would you knock, if you were just gonna barge in?"

He seemed confused for a moment, then he seemed to realize what I was talking about. "Oh! I wasn't knocking. I was just popping my shoulder back into its socket." He rolled back his shoulders for emphasis. "Long story short, Rodney's pretty good in a fight." Remember when I mentioned Dr. Roddenstein? Well, most people call him Rodney. "But, that ain't why I'm here. I got some good news for you, Perry. At least, I hope it's good news to you."

Pinky asked my question for me. Well, he asked it in Spanish. "Que es?"

I was confused, but Caspian seemed to understand. "I'll tell ya what it is. Perry, who's got no thumbs and is gonna be your mentor?" He pointed to himself. "This guy!"

Caspian being my O.W.C.A. mentor? I felt strangely happy at the thought. Sure, he was a little eccentric, but he seemed really nice.

"The look on your face tells me that you find this to be good news," he stated happily.

Pinky grinned, and his tail wagged in excitement. "Good for you, Perry! Agent C es muy div- Is very fun!"

Caspian laughed. "Hey, Perry, if your gonna be stuck livin' with the Mexican, you should probably learn his language."

This chapter didn't turn out quite like I wanted it to, but it isn't too bad. At least, I don't think it is. Review, but don't flame.