Chapter 37- Comforting Words and Ice Cream

Carey's words made Jojo's heart sink, he had been so worried this would happen. He lowered his gaze to his lap trying to not let the rejection sink in. he snapped his head back up. No, I'm not giving up yet! He looked over at Carey with new determination. She was biting her lip and her eyebrows were furrowed like she was thinking hard.

"Carey," his calm voice made her look over at him. "I really do like you, you are the first friend I've had in years."

"Jojo… I"

"I owe you a lot, I'm not the Who I was before I met you." He took a deep breath noticing Carey had stopped biting her lip. "You… you have changed me for the better, I can only hope I've helped you. If you don't wanna go to the dance... I understand… I'm nervous about it too."

Carey felt the fear and anxiety dying away. "I didn't know you felt that way" she whispered shyly. Jojo grabbed her hand.

"How could I not? I mean you are amazing and beautiful!"

"Stop, I am not." She rolled her eyes and he squeezed her hand.

"Yes, you are," he tilted her face to look at his. "Carey, I wouldn't lie to you. I'm not like the Whos back in Who Mexico. I really do care about you." At this the tears that Carey had been holding back let loose and she buried her face in Jojo's chest.

"Thank you, thank you so much." Jojo wrapped his arms around her and rocked them softly.

They sat like that for a long time just holding each other. Carey listened as Jojo hummed a soft tune, her tears has dried a while ago and now she felt warm and happy.

"Yes," she said breaking the quiet that had fallen. Jojo pulled away from her a bit.

"What?"

"Yes, I will go to the dace with you." A small shy smile had appeared on her face.

"Really?!... I mean you don't have to… I just" he stumbled over his words.

"I want to, I want to go with you and have fun and have the memory of the other dances I've been to blown away."

"Okay then, we will go!" Jojo laughed hugging her tight. "Hey do you wanna get ice cream?" he asked randomly.

"That sounds good!" He stood up pulling her with him and they made their way back to the main landing.

"I'm glad you like my observatory."

"Of course I like it, it's amazing! I've never seen anything like it, and you made it all by yourself!" Carey said enthusiastically. "Hey Jojo?"

"Yeah?" he turned after locking the front door

"How do we get out of here? I mean I'm pretty sure we can't leave the way we came up." This made Jojo laugh and point toward the back of the observatory.

"The way out is back there, come on, it's a lot less scary this time." Carey followed him as they waved their way around music instrument parts toward a small door. Once outside Carey saw a dark green slide that ended on the other side of the abyss.

"Yeah, this looks a lot safer," Carey laughed.

"It's still a lot of fun though, see you at the bottom" Jojo yelled before jumping onto the slide and disappearing. Carey watched till he hit the grass and then went down herself. It was the fastest slide she has ever been on and she yelled out of excitement all the way down. She shot off the end of the slid and rolled onto the grass laughing.

"I'm guessing you had fun," the dark haired boy said leaning over her.

"Yes but let's go get ice cream now!"

They walked down the hill talking about nothing in particular and by the time they got to Mr. Brown's ice cream shop the conversation was about whether or not a Wocket or a Grox would make a better pet.

"But really a Wocket fits in your pocket you could take it anywhere!" Carey argued.

"No, a Grox is cooler It could chase off people you don't like!"

"How much does a Grox cost compared to a Wocket?" Jojo opened his mouth to protest, but then shut it again. "I win!"

"Just because a Grox cost more doesn't mean it's not a better pet!" He said as a last ditch effort. Carey just shook her head.

"Nope, I'm right and I'm gunna get coffee Ice cream." She said and went to order. Jojo hung back for a moment smiling and shaking his head.

"And that's why I like you," he said under his breath.

They sat down in a table in a corner slightly away from everyone else.

"What kind did you get, I didn't hear your order?" Carey asked looking at the bright green ice cream in Jojo's blue bowl.

"It's called the Grinch Crunch… Its pistachio ice cream with nuts in it. It's pretty good." Jojo said spooning some into his mouth. He shivered shaking his head his hair creating a sort of black halo around his face. "Cold!"

"Awww poor Jojo, I'll go get you some water." She got up and walked over to the counter. The man smiled and gave her two cups of water. As she was walking back to her table she was stopped by an older lady with light pink hair.

"You and your boyfriend are quite cute together." She said smiling.

"Oh, we aren't really together… well not yet." Carey could feel the blush on her cheeks.

"You two go to Whoville High?" the other lady at the table with silvery white hair asked.

"Yes we do."

"Are you going to the dance with that boy?" this made Carey blush even redder. "Thought so" the pink haired lady said knowingly. "Well, then you are as good as together then. I wish you both luck." She smiled patting Carey's arm.

"Thank you." The small Who said and walked back to her seat smiling and feeling hopeful.

AN- That had such a better ending right… what do you think? Sorry this is so late school really got in the way and my computer has not been working lately. More to come soon!