A/N: ok, sorry for the short chappie, first of all. 2nd, I'd like to thank the following people: lilix, and Shaedowe! Now, I've got to ask for some help on a few things. First, how the hell do you do bold and italics and underlining and stuff?!?! I have Microsoft Word, btw. Second, the original version of this story was Rockie/Kai... but it was way different from any Kai/OC I've ever seen before. Like... well, ok, I won't tell you any more, cuz I don't wanna give it away. Anyway, I COULD change it to another person besides Kai, but it would be a lot of work, and I really don't want to, because of how the plot is. But I'm going to take my readers opinions on the subject. If you want me to change it, then I need to know whom you would rather it be, and why. If you're okay with the original pairing, then just say so! Ok, thanks bunches and bunches!! Bye!

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((3rd person POV))
When Rockie got home, Missa was waiting in the driveway.
"Thank Gods you're back!" Missa yelled, hugging her friend.
"Are you SURE you've checked everywhere?"
"Everywhere within reason..."
"Carlie doesn't usually do things the reasonable way, you know that!" Rockie threw her book bag in the front door, and took off at a jog toward Carlie's house.
"Judy! Judy, hello?" she yelled, as she walked through the door without knocking. Missa was right behind her.
Carlie's mother came into the room from the kitchen, drying her hands. "Hello, Rockie. What are you doing home?" her words were cheerful, but her eyes looked exhausted.
"Missa called and told me about Carlie. I came home right away!" Rockie hugged the woman tightly. "Don't worry, Judy. We'll find Carlie."
The girls started to leave the house, but Rockie turned around. "Hey! You have the same first name as my biological mother. That's kind of funny!" then she left, laughing.
The two girls went across town and picked up their other friends, the brother and sister, Ichiro and Kimi. The four of them rechecked the whole area; no Carlie.
"I told you she was gone!" Missa said exasperatedly.
"Don't give up, Miss," Rockie said. "She'll turn up. Remember when she ran away last year? She was back the next day."
"But it's been longer than that..."
"Missa's right. I'm not sure..." Kimi said quietly.
"Argh, am I surrounded with pessimists?!" Rockie yelled.
"No, I haven't given up," Ichiro told her. He pushed his unruly dark purple hair out of his face.
"Did you ever think maybe she doesn't want to be found?" Kimi added. "Maybe..."
She was going to continue, but suddenly, Carlie walked up out of nowhere. "Hey, guys, what's up?"
"CARLIE!?" everyone yelled, with a major sweatdrop.
"Uh, yeah, hi..." she said with a popping vein on her forehead.
"You made me fly all the way back home just so you could pop out and say hello?!" Rockie growled.
"I wanted you to come back!" she grinned.
"You little..." Rockie reached out for Carlie's throat, but Ichiro and Kimi held her back with nervous little grins.
"Rock, it's ok, dude," Ichiro said with a bit of a laugh in his voice.

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A/N again: Sorry about the shortness and stupidness, but I had to get this outta the way.