Note of sweetassery: Sparkling Diamond, you are too kind! You have encouraged me to write over my hurting, callaced fingers. (Don't worry, it's not from typing! It's from guitar!) Now it is my intention to sit down and play video games for several hours. (For joke behind this, go to http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail64.html)

Chapter Six

When Billy woke up that morning with the rug pattern embedded into his cheek, he had a hard time figuring out where he was. It had a salty smell, so that meant he was near water. He heard snoring, so that meant he was with someone else was with him. And when he saw a long foot hanging over his face with a hemp anklet, he knew. He was with the Waggners. Sitting up, he remembered he was still in the wrinkled sweater from yesterday, and, looking at his watch, he also realized he had five minutes to get to work.

Stretching, yawning, he tiptoed out of the bedroom and stretched the wrinkles out of his shirt. He looked around hoping Mr. Waggner wouldn't see him. But no such luck. Tod and George's greyish-haired father was in the kitchenette, wearing a pair of flannel pajama pants and pouring himself a bowl of shredded wheat. He turned around to see Billy dashing to the door.

"Oh, hi... Billy." Mr. Waggner's big eyes were darting from side to side, as if to say, 'Where did YOU get in from?'

Billy nodded. Then, face hot with embarassment, he sprinted out the door.

The sand was wet and dewy, the air damp and misty. Billy's Nikes sunk into the sand slowly, leaving a clear imprint. He hoped Carter Horton didn't come out this early, with his luck he would follow the tracks like a hunter and pound the pulp out of Billy before he even got to work. Life was just like that for Billy.

He smiled at the thought of the dimwitted Carter leaning close to the ground where the shoe marks were, stroking a rifle and saying, "Be vewy vewy quiiiiiet... I'm hunting Biwwy..." Then his mind travelled to Loony Tunes and he bangan to laugh.

Of course, Billy, being a guy, was not graced with the ability women have, to do two things at the same time. Caught off guard, he tripped on his shoelace and landed face first in the muddy sand.

For a second, he dreaded lifting his head up. He was so comfortable, he thought, 'I could stay here forever.' With the exception of the sand in his mouth, it was pretty sweet. There was a small burning scratch on his nose, and a tiny spider crawling on his hand, but he just didn't want to get up. He was definately deprived of his sleep last night, with Alex constantly muttering incoherant babble about an Ice Cream truck.

'Mmmmm,' he thought, 'Ice cream...'

"Billy!" someone shouted. It was a girl's voice.

Reluctantly, he turned over. "Yeah?" he mumbled. He opened his eyes to see a mess of blonde curls and a pink tanktop. The face was still unclear, but she was clearly strong, because she was able to yank Billy up by the foot of his sweater.

Billy's eyes finally opened wide enough to see that the blonde beach beauty was Terry Chaney.

"Oh, my gosh, Billy, what happened to you?" she asked, concerned, as she brushed the sand off of his shoulders. "When I came out of my tent and saw you here, I thought you were dead or something!"

That made Billy smile. He took in a deep breath. "Terrythanksalotreallybutihavetogettoworknowoakycatchyoulater! Bye!"

Terry only caught the 'Bye' part and waved mindlessly as Billy dashed to the tuck shop. Turning back towards the tent, she saw Erica peering at her. She rolled her eyes.

"Oh my God!" Erica exclaimed, "You actually like him? HIM? He's such a... geek!"

Terry beamed and smiled at her friend. "So am I!"

***

Clear's eyes fluttered open at ten that morning. Her cheeks were pruny under her eyes from crying herself to sleep. She didn't really know why she had cried so much last night, everything was just so unfamiliar to her. Every single thing here reminded her that her dad was dead and her mom had clearly moved on.

She rolled out of bed and realized she was still wearing her hat from last night. Last night? That was almost twelve hours ago! She and Alex and the Waggners walking around the woods, that was great. But when they got to the soccer field? Ugh! Carter Horton, Proffessor Dickhead! What business did he have telling her off when he barely knew her? And saying that she was Alex's girlfriend was SO fourth grade.

"Clear?" Maralynn's peppy voice rang, "Are you up?"

Clearing her throat, Clear put on her best cheery voice and replied, "Yep! I was just... deciding what to wear!"

"Good! I'm going out to see one of my girlfriends at the mall. Would you like to come?"

Clear shuddered at the thought. Like walking through the mall with a few wrinkled prunes would get her anywhere up the social ladder. Pretending she actually had to think about it, she called back, "Uh... you know, I'm kind of tired. I think I'll just go swimming!"

"Okay!" Maralynn shot back, and Clear could tell she was dissapointed, "Just be cafefull!"

'Careful,' Clear thought. Like being carefull would get her anywhere.

She stood in front of the mirror, looking at her face. She tried to think what something she would wear with a guy was. Maybe something sexy? No, how would she hang out with the guys in something like that. Besides, 'sexy' wasn't exactly her middle name. Maybe something a little tomboyish? Really, the most athletic thing Clear had was a baseball hat. Finally, after tossing all her outfits on her bed, she decided on a pair of low-rise jean capris and an orange tank top that said, "In-2-ition." She held her hair back with a blue bandana and slid on her ratty red canvas shoes.

She would never be a fashion maven like Christa, but at least she looked... well, she didn't look like Clear! That was the important thing!

She grabbed a yogourt cup out of the fridge and was eating it while walking towards the door. But before she could even grasp the knob, she was startled by three sharp raps. She peered out the peephole. It was George and Alex! Yes! They were exactly who she wanted to see!

She yanked the door open. "Hi, guys!" she exclaimed, maybe sounding a bit too eager, "What's up?"

George stepped forward. "Our underground sources tell us that Carter Horton is having a huge party tonight," he said with a grin, "And as an early birthday present, we're going to teach you how to crash it."

Clear's eyes widened. "C-c-crash a party?" she stammered. The last party she had ever been to was a slumber party when she was 12! "I, uh, well I don't think I have the guts to do that. And I'm not the smoothest person in the world." She heard a crash in her room. "What was that?" she asked, whirling around. She saw the shock on George's face. Alex ran to her window outside whil George followed her into the bedroom.

Tod was stuck in her window, his head just below the top bunk. "Goddamn it, Clear!" he moaned, "How do you slip through here the way you do?"

Clear couldn't speak. She noticed Tod's superior smirk as his eyes darted around the room, and she quickly tossed her quilt over her bras. "Get out of here, you smarmy dick!" she screamed.

Tod tried to struggle out. "In case you haven't noticed, Clear, I can't!" he grunted.

"George!" they heard Alex yell from outside, "I'm gonna pull him out--you two push him, alright?"

"Right!"

Outside, Alex grabbed ahold of Tod's foot and began to pull with all his might. Clear parked herself on the bed and pushed his shoulder while George smooshed his brother's head. "This. Isn't. Working!" Tod was screaming, "Be more gentle!"

Clear rolled her eyes. With one big push, she shoved his right arm through the window. George, copying her, did the same on the left. Finally, all that was left was his head. Alex took one last big pull and yanked his friend onto the ground. His puny klutz of a friend landed on the grass with a thud.

"Th-th-thanks!" he called with a waver in his voice. Clear shook her head and stuck her head out the window. "Let me give you a little secret, Waggner," she said superiorly, seconds before she slipped gracefully out the window, "You go feet first."

George looked at her admiringly. "I'll take the door," he determined.

***

Chapter is very short, but I think I managed to tide you over, right? Right? Now it is my intention to sit down and play video games for several hours.