Here is the next chapter. Enjoy!

Shelby stared at the dark sky,thinking about things and trying to get used to living in her new home and living by herself. Shelby lived inside the large hole in a big rock in a forest,sitting on moss. The forest had all sorts of plants and trees that looked a little scary at night,but Shelby wasn't scared of the dark,she was scared of the reptiles that eat grasshoppers like herself or any other bugs.

"I wish my parents didn't die." Shelby said to herself,still staring at the nighttime sky, "if that human didn't kill my parents then I wouldn't be stuck here now,I mean come on! I'm only eight years old! I can't take care of myself!"

Shelby sighed as a tear slid down her cheek,and wiped it away.

"I wish I didn't leave Hopper." Shelby said, "I now miss him and I wonder if he misses me too."

"I also wonder how my brother and sister are doing." Shelby said.

"Carson." She raged, "If he didn't argue with me,then the three of us would stick together."

Shelby layed down on the moss,eyes growing heavy,she slowly fell asleep.

(Shelby's dream)

Shelby and Hopper were sitting next to each other in a grassfield,watching the sunset.

"I'm so glad we're friends,Hopper. I wish I didn't leave you." Shelby said.

"I'm glad we're friends too,Shelby." Hopper said, "and I missed you."

"I missed you too." Shelby replied. "And do you know what the sunset makes me think of?"

"No,what?" Hopper asked.

Shelby sighed, "The sunset makes me think of you."

Hopper perked up, "Really?" He said.

"Really,really." Shelby said, "what does the sunset make you think of?"

"The sunset makes me think of you." Hopper said, "because it's beautiful and bright. Like you.'

"Aw,you're so nice." Shelby said.

"You know something?" Hopper said.

"No,what?" Shelby asked.

"I've had a crush on you since the day we met." Hopper admitted,putting an arm around her.

"I had a crush on you too." Shelby admitted. "And there is something that I wanted to do since we met."

"What is---?" Hopper asked,but it was interrupted by her lips over his.

Hopper kissed back and they pulled away.

"This is what I wanted to do." Shelby said, "I know that we're too young to do this,but I just want to keep you in my memory forever."

"Yeah." Hopper said, "I want to ask you something even though we're too young."

"Hopper,this is a dream." Shelby pointed out.

"Oh yeah,that's right." Hopper said, "Well I want to ask. . ."

"Yes?" Shelby said, "Tell me."

"Will you be my girlfriend?" Hopper asked.

"Yes!" Shelby said.

(End of Shelby's dream)

"Hopper!" Shelby exclaimed,waking up and panting.

"Oh." She said sadly, "it's just a dream,but it's still sweet."

It was morning and the sun was shining through the trees and the birds were tweeting happily. Shelby sighed as she got up to look for something to eat for breakfast.

"Hmm,what should I eat for breakfast?"Shelby wondered.

Then Shelby spotted some berries that bugs can eat and no humans could.

"I think this'll do." Shelby said,hopping on one of the berries and she pulled the stem off and the berry fell to the ground.

Shelby hopped down from the bush and feasted on the berry. After she was done eating she said, "This berry is making me thirsty,I need to find some water."

Shelby walked to find some water and what a surprise! She found a small river and she drinked out of it.

A male grasshopper nymph was so thirsty. He,too had no parents. Well he used to have parents,but they were eaten by birds. The male grasshopper nymph was dark green,sort of yellow, and had blue eyes.

"Man,I'm so thristy." The male grasshopper panted, "so much for not having parents,and having to take care of myself."

The male grasshopper nymph then suddenly saw a small river and across from him,he saw a sort of blackish-gray grashopper nymph and it looked like she had pink stripes across her back and she had brown eyes the color of chocolate.

"She's pretty." He thought as he saw a stick above her, "I'm going to surprise her."

The male grasshopper walked away and he grabbed on to the long stick that was over Shelby. Shelby stopped drinking for a moment and looked around to see if there was no danger then she went right back to drinking.

At the right time,the male grasshopper nymph held his breath and hopped in the water which made a splashing sound. Shelby looked up again and she looked at the left and she looked at the left,shrugged and she went back to drinking. The male grasshopper nymph continued swimming underwater and when he got to where Shelby's reflection was, he dived out of the water. Shelby heard it and she screamed.

The male grasshopper screamed too and pretty soon,both of them stopped screaming and Shelby put a hand over her heart.

"What was the big idea?You almost gave me a heart attack!" Shelby panted.

"Yeah,I'm sorry." The male grasshopper nymph said.

"Is that the way to meet a lady?" Shelby said angrily.

"I said I'm sorry." The male grasshopper said, "I didn't know how to greet you."

"You could at least say hi to me instead of startling me." Shelby shrugged.

"Darn it." The male grasshopper nymph mumbled.

"Who are you?" Shelby asked.

"My name is Rusty." The male grasshopper nymph said, "What's your name?"

"My name is Shelby." Shelby said, "What brings you here?"

"Well,I was thirsty, and my parents died a couple of weeks ago,and I was looking for a home so I can take care of myself." Rusty explained.

"Hey! My parents died yesterday!" Shelby said, "Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"No,I'm an only child." Rusty sighed.

"Oh,I have an older brother named,Carson and a little sister named,Ellen." Shelby said, "but we separated."

"Why?" Rusty asked, "Did the three of you fight?"

"Yes and it's a long story which I don't want to talk about." Shelby replied, "because it makes me sad."

Rusty settled by a tree stump and relaxed on it,putting his upper hands behind his head with his lower arms across his chest,and put a right leg over his left leg.

"So how old are you?" Shelby asked.

"I'm eight years old." Rusty answered. "How old are you?"

"I'm eight years old too." Shelby said.

"Cool." Rusty said.

Shelby frowned at him, 'This grasshopper looks suspicious,but I'm still going to be nice to him. I just hope he doesn't do something bad to me;I know he's my age,but STILL.' Shelby thought.

"I feel sad." Shelby responded.

"What's wrong?" Rusty asked.

"I just miss Hopper." Shelby sighed.

"Who's Hopper?" Rusty questioned.

"He's my friend." Shelby replied. "And he's a grasshopper that's one year older than us."

"Oh." Said Rusty.

"I left Hopper because I was an orphan and it was filled with too many memories." Shelby explained before Rusty could ask.

"I see." Rusty nodded.

Shelby didn't feel like talking anymore. She now felt sad,talking about Hopper. Rusty didn't ask anymore questions,he continued to relax and soaking in fresh air. Shelby was sensing what Rusty was thinking and she shivered at the thought of what Rusty was thinking. Shelby shooked her head slowly and stared at the surroundings,ignoring Rusty who was staring at her.

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