Guys! It's not OUR Stacy! Hence the waitresses name is Stacie with an IE at the end, not Y. I'm not that mean; I like Stacy, Candace's friend.

Well… On the other hand, I haven't updated in a while… Perhaps I am mean… I'm sorry guys! It's just that I had to take a week off because I had to do summer homework (seriously, I didn't do anything all week, but homework; it was horrible) then I had my first week of dance intensive. I'm currently on week 2. I'm tired, sore, and bruised. Also, my self-confidence isn't very high at the moment so please don't yell at me too much.

This is where the exciting stuff begins to happen, so I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Vanessa POV

"That. Was. Delicious!" Perry exclaimed. "Better than anything I've ever eaten in my entire life."

I smiled. "I'll have to take you there again sometime."

Perry nodded vigorously with a huge smile on his face. "Yes, please do."

I laughed and Perry's grin only broadened. We walked in silence toward the park. It was a nice silence, not awkward or anything. With my hand in his, I felt as if nothing could go wrong. Days would always be peaceful and sunny. The breeze would always blow just the right amount of coolness so no one would get too hot. The trees would always be green and stand up tall and straight. Children will always run around laughing with not a care in the world. School would be out forever and I could spend my days going to Punk parties, reading books, listening to my favorite band, and of course, spending time with Perry.

Unconsciously, my smile widened. It had only been a day and already, I could see Perry was going to be a great friend. Though technically, it had only been a day with human Perry. I've known Perry himself, platypus included, practically all my life. Truth be told, there were many times in my childhood (before my parents got divorced) that I was talk to Perry. Granted, he was usually in a trap and my dad had ordered me to keep an eye on him while he went to the bathroom or got some food or did something, but I would still talk with him. And I always believed that he listened to me. It was a great psychiatric treatment. Since my mom would never believe me when I told her that dad was an evil scientist, telling someone that he was felt good. Even though that someone was a secret agent platypus who already knew my dad was evil, it still felt good. And I didn't just talk to him about my dad; sometimes it was problems at school, or my mom forcing me to wear something other than black, or even apologizing for my dad. Come to think of it, I never tried to help Perry escape from those traps. I looked up to Perry's soft chocolate eyes. Why did I never try to help you?

"Vanessa? Are you okay? Why are you looking at me?"

Perry's voice snapped me out of my haze. I blinked. "Oh… I'm sorry, I didn't realize." I probably should've looked away, but Perry's eyes were so memorizing. His face was full of concern. I looked at the person in front of me. Why did I never save you? Suddenly, Perry's hand went to my face.

"Vanessa, you're crying…" Even in his confusion, Perry's voice was full of worry. "What's wrong?" A tear fell down my face, but Perry's thumb wiped it away.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered.

"Why are you sorry?"

"All those times… I could've… But I didn't… And I'm just so sorry." The tears came like waterfalls now. I put my hands in my face and just cried. For one second there was stillness, but then arms wrapped around me, bringing me in closer to a warm body.

"It's okay." Perry's voice was soothing. "I forgive you."

I buried my face in his chest. "But you shouldn't; I don't deserve it."

"Yes you do," Perry whispered, he began rubbing my back. "There was nothing you could've done; you were only a little girl."

"But what about now? I could've-"

"Stop." Perry ordered. "Don't beat yourself up over something that's not your fault. Besides, the more recent ones, you weren't there. Even if you were, you father would've stopped you. I always escaped; there was nothing to worry about."

I could hear the unspoken words Until yesterday that is. But I spoke nothing of it. I didn't want to remind Perry of the horrible animal accident of yesterday. I stayed in his arms, listening to the sound of Perry's breathing. After a few moments, I calmed down. Slowly, I unburied my head and looked up at his face. There was a certain fierceness in his expression. He really believes what he told me I realized.

"I-" Whatever my mouth was about to say was interrupted by a loud noise that sounded like feedback.

"So sorry about that ya'll!"

I turned my head to town hall, where a tall, brunet woman in a yellow sundress stood at the podium. She looked familiar, but I couldn't remember from where.

"And now it's my greatest pleasure to introduce our one and only, the Mayor ya'll!" she said cheerfully.

I watched as the Mayor of the Tristate Area walked out from a curtain and was greeted by a wave of applause from the crowd.

"Isn't that your Uncle?" Perry asked. I nodded. I remember the woman now. Piper. She was my uncle's new secretary, all the way from the country side. "Let's go see what it's about." Perry took my hand and began walking toward the stage.

"…need more protection." My Uncle Roger said. "That's why I have invested in a-"

Suddenly a bright orange light exploded throughout the sky. I went blind; all I could see was orange. I couldn't hear anything but the screams of the people. Someone grabbed me and I tried to fight them off. As the orange glow decreased, I realized the person grabbing my arms was Perry. Duh…

"Are you okay?" Perry asked.

I nodded, "Yeah, you?"

He nodded. "What was-"

"HONK!"

"What?" I turned my head toward the noise. It was coming from the stage. My Uncle was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Piper; however, there was a goose in my Uncles tie and horse in a yellow sundress. "What?" I repeated.

"Oh no," Perry whispered; his grip tightened around my wrist. He sounded terrified. I looked around for whatever he was staring at. Then I felt terrified.

In the middle of the street, riding a giant machine was my dad.

"Greetings citizens of the Tristate Area!" he shouted into a megaphone. Somehow he managed to be louder than the screaming citizens. "I am now your new Mayor!" He was only greeted by screams. "Is that anyway to treat your Mayor?" My dad demanded. He set his hand down and an orange light hit a man in the crowd. When the glow faded, a panda stood in his place. "Opps…"

There was silence only for a few seconds, but then, pandemonium came. People screamed and ran all around in different directions, but my dad pressed another button and a bubble appeared around the entire Tristate Area. Then, a huge robot, whom I recognized as Norm, flew from somewhere.

"Please remain calm. If you do not resist, you will not change. Please remain calm." He kept repeating.

To make matters worse, more robots appeared. I looked over at Perry. He looked about ready to pass out. I grabbed his hand and followed what everyone else was doing.

I ran.

Okay, so I left you with a cliffhanger, but I gave you something so that's good right? Right? Well, I'm sorry to say that I have no idea when I'll be able to update next. Hopefully later on this week, but that will most likely be for my PJO story, The Ghost That's Not Really Dead. I might as well tell you now: I have one more week of dance intensive, which is from 8:30am to 5:30pm and then I have school immediately afterwards. It really sucks. But I will try. I promise.

So… Will you please review? I'd very much appreciate it. Please?