1 Virgil flopped down onto his couch and grabbed the tv remote. It was only half way through Saturday and he was already bored. He turned the tv on and started flipping through the channels, but he wasn't really paying attention. He paused on a random channel, too absorbed with his thoughts to see what he had landed on.

"Wow, Virg," a voice said from behind him. "I didn't know you were into opera."

Virgil whirled around to see Zeke standing behind him with a small smile on his face. "What are you talking about, Zeke?"

Zeke just nodded at the tv. Virgil looked back and saw that the channel he landed on was playing an opera performance. He laughed. "Oh yeah," he answered sarcastically. "I guess you found out my secret addiction!"

Zeke smiled. "Sorry to, uh, interrupt. Your mom let me in."

"Don't worry about it. Not like I was doing anything anyways!" He turned off the tv. "Go ahead and sit down."

Zeke did sit down and he looked over at Virgil.

"So, what's up?" Virgil asked.

"Uh, a lot," Zeke answered softly.

"You know you can tell me if you want to."

Zeke smiled a little. "Yeah, I know." He laughed. "Man, you thought we landed in munchkin land when we went into that black hole. I think I somehow got myself there again."

Virgil had no idea what Zeke was talking about, but he laughed. "Are the munchkins as annoying as they were then?"

"Never thought I'd hear myself say this, but they don't seem to be half bad. At least they don't ask me if maccaroni is a vegetable."

"Do you still have your grappling hook just in case anything goes wrong?"

"Hey, you making fun of the hook again?"

"No man, just making sure you have it. Who knows when it'll come in handy!"

"Need I remind you, Virgil, we could be stuck in the past if not for my grappling hook. Then there would be two of you to live down the 'incident.' Now that could be weird."

The two friends started laughing. Virgil was relieved that the tension between them was gone again. Things got quiet after a few seconds and Zeke's face became more serious.

"Listen, Virgil, I came over here to tell you something."

"Ok, what is it?"

Zeke sighed then looked straight at Virgil. "Look, I am not the kind of guy that tells everyone what's going on in my life, as you've seen. I hate telling people how I feel or being 'open' or whatever you want to call it. But I am sick and tired of keeping everything from you and Charlie. I want to tell you guys about my life, at least a little bit. I want you to know what's going on and I want to be able to tell you things in the future."

"All right."

"Can you guys come over to the house I'm staying in on Monday after school? Sorry to word it like that, I know it sounds weird, but it's always been weird for me to call the place I'm staying my home."

"Yeah, that's fine. We'll be over."

"Ok, I'll email you the address. Sorry, but I should probably get going." Zeke stood up off the couch.

"Zeke?"

"Yeah, Virgil?"

"Thanks for coming over." Virgil smiled.

Zeke smiled back a little bit. He started to leave, then turned back. "Oh, Virgil?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't be surprised if Jeanette is over there too."

"What?!"

Zeke laughed. "I said don't be surprised."

"Uh, ok." Virgil gave Zeke a confused look, but then he smiled. "See ya on Monday, Zeke."

"Later."