I seriously didn't think I would be putting more chapters up since I'm a
little
cool towards FF.net, (numerous reasons, don't ask) but I'm going to
anyway, because I know some people still like it. And to the people who
don't
like it, either don't read it or read it and let me torture you... your
choice. D
Chap. 7: A Bright Future
Kasey rang the doorbell at the Pelekai house, tapping her foot impatiently as she waited for someone to answer it. She needed to tell someone about what happened last night, and what she should do, and Susan was just the person to discuss that with.
The door opened, and there stood Nani Pelekai. She looked confused by the appearance of Kasey at first but then she looked annoyed. "Lilo! What is an experiment doing at our door?!"
Lilo bounded up to her sister's side, and peered out of the doorway at Kasey. She smiled. "Oh, that's Kasey. She's Susan's friend. She probably came to visit."
"Lilo, I am not allowing another alien mutant to live in this house!" Nani exclaimed.
"Oh, no. She lives with Gantu, unfortunately. But she can still visit. Don't you remember when I told you? You were asleep, but you said yes when I asked you if she could visit." Lilo reminded Nani.
Nani groaned, but said to Kasey, "You can come in."
Kasey cautiously walked in, and jumped a little when Nani closed the door. She admired the house she was in, recalling the memory of when she was last there: at the dance. Then she cringed. That wasn't a very good thing to remember. The dance had been a disaster, and Kasey preferred to act like that chapter in her life had never existed.
"Hey, Kasey! What's up?" Susan's voice called, knocking Kasey out of her thoughts. Kasey looked up and saw Susan standing in front of her. "How have- --" Susan stopped speaking when she saw Nani staring at her angrily. "Sorry, we'll have to discuss this in my room. C'mon."
Susan led Kasey to her room, which was also Stitch and Lilo's room. But when they got there, Stitch was already in the room, looking at some sort of magazine. Susan shyly went up to him. "Um, Stitch? Would you mind leaving the room for a while? Me and Kasey would like to talk some things over." She blushed, looking away from Stitch's eyes.
Stitch's only reply was that he exited the room as requested, magazine in hand. Susan giggled when he had left. "Let me explain to you what's going on. You see... Nani found out about our secret party, and she grounded both me and Stitch. For a month."
Kasey's eyes were wide. "Whoa. I'm gone for a day or so on a camping trip, and everything happens! That's pretty harsh... but if Stitch is grounded, too, then isn't he supposed to stay in this room also? You sent him out! He could get into trouble!"
Susan shook her head. "Don't worry about Stitch. He sneaks out all of the time anyway. And so do I." Susan smiled slyly. "And what is this about a camping trip?! And what happened? Give me all the details!" Susan sat down in her crate bed, and Kasey made herself comfortable on Lilo's bed.
"Well, Gantu sent me and 625 away on a camping trip, and..."
"And what?!" Susan asked eagerly. "You're blushing! What happened?"
"I... I told 625 I loved him. And he said he loved me, too..." Kasey couldn't help the smile that escaped onto her lips.
Susan was ecstatic. "Oh! I told you he loved you! You two SERIOUSLY have to start dating! Heck, me and Stitch already had a date, and yet he STILL doesn't know that we did." She snorted. "Talk about slow."
"Just give him some time, Susie. He's sure to notice you sooner or later." Kasey smiled. "But anyway, I came to talk about me and 625. What do you think I should do?"
"What do you mean what do I think you should do? Follow your heart. That's what everyone is always saying about these kinds of things." Susan said simply.
"I admire you for your ability to be so straightforward. But it's not as easy for me. How can I follow my heart if I don't know what my heart wants?" Kasey told Susan.
"Don't be silly, Kasey. You know what your heart wants. You just have issues about admitting it. Now, you've already admitted your love for 625, so if you two happen to be in love, then you should at least go on a date. Maybe one date is all you need to become a couple." Susan said her last sentence in a singsongy voice.
Kasey folded her arms. "You would love to see that, wouldn't you?"
Susan looked surprised. "Of course! At least one of us should be happy."
"Oh, c'mon! Stitch will come around. And if he doesn't, there's plenty more fish in the sea." Kasey smiled.
Susan nodded. "Yeah. That would be the perfect summary for my life. I've had so many boyfriends, but nothing worked out with any of them."
"Well, you have to get lucky sometime, right?" Kasey pointed out.
"Maybe." Susan said while looking at her paws, then she looked up at Kasey. "But I know that you and 625 are meant for each other. Don't give up your chance to be with him. Because if you do, you could regret it for the rest of your life. You might not get another chance." They were both silent a while, then Susan continued speaking. "You might end up marrying the wrong person if you don't give 625 a chance. And what kind of life would that be for you? A miserable one!"
Kasey chuckled. "I'm not ready to think about marriage yet. And besides, I'm just in love with the guy, I don't want to marry him."
"Yet." Susan finished. "You just wait and see. Besides, marriage is not the point right now. That's something to think about later. The point now is for you to snag yourself your first boyfriend: 625."
"Oh, I don't know, Susan..." Kasey looked doubtful.
"What? Don't you WANT to be his girlfriend?"
"It's not that... I just don't know if I can convince 625 of us being a couple. And I'm not sure if I have the guts to ask. Although don't tell anyone I'm admitting all this!" Kasey explained.
"Don't worry. I won't tell a soul that you don't really despise 625." Susan promised. "But, either you do something to get you and 625 to be a couple, or I'M going to do something. If you don't want me playing cupid, then you'll stop being chicken and get 625 to go on a date with you."
"I'm not a chicken." Kasey insisted.
"Sure. And grape suckers don't taste like medicine."
Kasey sighed. "All right, all right! I'll think of something."
Susan smiled. "Good. Now go put your plan into action!" Susan shooed Kasey out with her paws. Kasey got the message and started heading for the exit, then turned on her heel and smirked at Susan.
"I have a feeling you want to get rid of me." Kasey singsonged.
Susan blushed. "Well, don't think I don't enjoy your company, because I do... I just need some space to put my OWN plan into action."
"Another plan to get Stitch's attention?" Kasey guessed.
Susan shrugged. "What else?"
Kasey sighed. "Well, good luck. And stay out of trouble."
"I'll try." Susan giggled. "Good luck to you, too. And remember, try and be subtle when asking 625 for a date. It'll be less humiliating for you that way."
"Why must you know me so well?" Kasey complained. "I don't know how to be subtle when asking for a date."
"You'll figure out something. Now go. Part of my punishment was not to have a visit more than ten minutes." Susan shooed Kasey along.
"Wow, you guys got a harsh punishment..." Kasey observed.
"Yeah, well, when you secretly have a big party and especially when some things get broken, well... you can expect a heck of a punishment there." Susan explained.
Kasey nodded. "Yeah, I guess so. See ya!"
Susan waved. "'Bye, 625's girlfriend!"
"That was a really tacky thing to say, y'know."
"What're you doing still here?"
"Okay, okay, I'm going!"
The invisible wind lifted up golden leaves off the ground and twirled them around in the sky. Then they fell limply as the wind released it's hold of them, and deposited them amongst the damp, emerald-colored blades of grass. Kasey stooped down and scooped up one of the delicate golden leaves, and spun it around between two of her claws. She smiled as she admired the leaf and listened to the whistling wind that seemed to whisper autumn in it's wake.
"Autumn is so peaceful and lovely." Kasey said softly, her voice barely audible. "No wonder it's my favorite season." She sighed. "If only things could be as simple as they seem."
This was one of the hardest things that Kasey ever had to face. She had never had a date in her life and she had definitely never asked for one. How could she go about doing it, without humiliating herself? And how could she be subtle about it, like Susan had instructed? Sweetly subtle...
Expressing how she really felt was never one of Kasey's strong points, but she knew this was something she had to do. Susan was right. If she didn't take advantage of this chance now then the opportunity could slip right through her fingers. The only thing she had to do to catch hold of that chance was get 625 to go out with her, at least once... somehow.
Then she smiled slyly, and you could practically see the gears turning in her head, forming an idea. She nodded, letting the leaf escape her paw and watched it ride the wind once more. She knew what she had to do.
"625, there's... mail for you." Gantu seemed surprised, holding up a red envelope addressed to 625.
625, who was watching Kasey draw on a notepad, looked up and seemed just as surprised as Gantu handed him the envelope. He looked at it from front to back. "But we don't have an Earth address. How could we have gotten mail?"
"It was laying right outside, being held down by a rock, along with--- nevermind..." Gantu quickly started for the hall, but Kasey jumped up.
"He's got chocolates!" Kasey exclaimed, pointing towards a heart-shaped box of assorted chocolates that Gantu was trying to hide.
"Hey! You're sneaking off with my chocolates!" 625 exclaimed, folding his arms at Gantu.
"I... I was just watching over them for you." Gantu made up an excuse, and handed the box of chocolates to 625.
"Uh huh. Sure." 625 undid the ribbon on the box and lifted up the lid. He took out a sheet of styrofoam and poked through the chocolates. Then he picked out one and placed it into his mouth and chewed. "Caramel," he announced after he had swallowed it.
Kasey's eyes shifted to the letter, and she said nervously, "Are you not going to look at your letter?"
625 looked at Kasey. "Huh?" He licked chocolate off of his lips and looked down at the red envelope. "Oh. Maybe later."
Kasey looked annoyed. "No! Read it now."
"Well what's gotten you in a snit all of a sudden? I'll look at it later. Why should it be any of your concern?" He popped another chocolate into his mouth and looked satisfied with himself.
"All you care about is stuffing yourself! Gimme that!" Kasey snatched the box of chocolates right out of 625's paws.
"What is it with you and stealing my food?! I was eating that! Give it back!" 625 reached for the box.
"I don't steal!" Kasey protested. "And I'll give it back if you read that letter!"
"Why in the world is this stupid letter important to you?!" 625 held up the envelope. "It sure isn't important to me! If you want to know what it says so badly, then YOU read it!" He handed it to Kasey.
But she pushed it back toward him. "No. I want you to read it. Please? I won't give you back your chocolates otherwise. And there's some pretty good ones in here. Caramel, coconut, fudge, strawberry, coffee, peanut butter, butterscotch, even lemon and orange flavored..." She picked up one of the chocolates and put it into her mouth, smirking slyly. "You convinced? Or do I have to tell you how delicious this one tastes in excruciating detail?"
This obviously worked as you could tell that 625 was trying hard to keep from drooling. "Okay, okay! I'll read the dumb letter. But you'd better give me back the chocolates afterwards! You don't know how much you just tortured me."
"Well, now you know how everyone else feels. Now read the dumb letter!" Kasey exclaimed.
"Aye aye, Captain." 625 saluted and opened up the envelope. Then he pulled out a folded-up, yellow piece of paper. He unfolded it and scribbled all over the paper was a very fancy type of writing, bordered by pictures of roses. "'Dear 625, I've admired you from afar and I'd really like to get to know you better. I think you're really something special and I'd really like you to be mine, and only mine. Please meet me at the local park tomorrow at noon. We could have lunch together. It could be sort of a... date. I'll be looking forward to it. I hope you enjoy the chocolates. I'll see you then. (Heart) Your Secret Admirer." 625 shrugged and tossed it aside. "Okay, the chocolates as you promised?"
Kasey ignored what he said. "Well? Aren't you going to say anything?"
"What?!" 625 was becoming annoyed.
"Are you... going to go to the park tomorrow at noon to meet... um, this girl that likes you?" Kasey hung her head to hide her embarrassment.
"If it'll get me the chocolates then yes I'll meet this stupid girl at the park tomorrow!" 625 exclaimed.
Kasey stared at 625 angrily. "If all you care about is your stomach being satisfied, then fine! Have your precious chocolates! Marry them for all I care!" Kasey pushed the box into 625's lap and stuffed one of the chocolates into his mouth, then she stormed out of the room.
625 swallowed the chocolate. "What's her problem?!"
The sun was at it's very height the next day at noon, although the chilling wind still blew the leaves around. The setting is a Hawaiian park, and so far there is no one there but the wind and leaves. Then a shadow appears on the ground, then you see the owner of the shadow: 625. He looks around cautiously, looking like he's regretting that he came. He is about to leave when another shadow joins his.
"Wait." says a female voice. "I'm here."
625 looks up, and looks a little taken aback. "It's you!"
"Yes. It's me. Want lunch?"
625 nodded. "Yeah. That's why I came. Not to see you!"
The voice sighs, and then you see who it is: Kasey! (You knew that, right?) "Not JUST to have lunch. We really need to talk."
"The only thing I want to talk about is lunch!" 625 told Kasey.
Kasey shook her head, and brought out a brown paper bag from behind her. "Okay. Here's lunch. But there's still something important I want to discuss with you, whether you want to or not." She led him over to a park bench and they sat down. She took a hamburger and french fries out of the bag. "I stopped at a fast food restaurant," She quickly explained.
"Excellent." 625 took a bite out of the hamburger, ignoring what Kasey said about the fact that they had to talk.
Kasey looked a bit miffed. "C'mon, 625! We HAVE to talk about this. You know what I'm talking about. You can't just act like it's not there."
625 looked confused. "Like WHAT's not there? I have no idea what you're talking about!"
Kasey sighed. "Oh, I think you do. Don't you remember? When we were camping, we admitted it. How much we love each other. I know it's not something we would even think of talking about before, but we have to. We need to talk about what we are going to do."
625 looked away. "That's an easy answer! We'll eat lunch, then go home and get on with our lives."
"Be serious!" Kasey exclaimed. "You can't just act like it never happened! We need to decide what we're going to do. Either we become a couple, or... we just become friends, despite the fact that we have romantic feelings for each other."
625 swallowed. "Do we REALLY have to talk about this? And now?"
Kasey nodded. "Yes! Our whole future depends on it, you jerk!"
"Since when did you start caring about our future? I know I don't care about it." 625 was about to take another bite out of his hamburger, but Kasey stopped him.
"I know you DO care about it, and it is about time you admitted it. I just did, even though it leaves a bad taste in my mouth." Kasey stuck out her tongue to prove her point. "Now you're going to give me an answer, because I didn't waste my time talking about this to embarrass myself! So what's it going to be?! Just friends, or a couple?"
"Well, if it's that important to you, then why don't you decide?!" 625 exclaimed, annoyed.
Kasey groaned. "You KNOW it doesn't work like that. You have to decide, too. Now, what do you want, to be friends or boyfriend and girlfriend? And please give me a straightforward answer!"
625 was silent. He looked at his half-eaten hamburger and sighed. Then he looked up, right into Kasey's questioning brown eyes. Then he leaned toward her and their lips locked in an affectionate embrace. Then he pulled away and touched her nose lightly with his. "Does that answer your question?" He then got up, avoiding eye contact, and finished his hamburger.
Kasey got up. "So..." Her mouth twitched, fighting back a smile that wanted to show itself. "Does that mean... I'm your girlfriend? And you're my boyfriend?"
"That's what you came here for, isn't it?" 625 threw the hamburger wrapper into the park trash can.
"Yeah, well, I guess..." Kasey's mouth twitched again, and this time she couldn't help but let her smile play across her lips. "I can't believe it... I have my first boyfriend..."
625 pivoted. "But I want you to know that this doesn't mean I will no longer make fun of you, because I will. In fact, I've gone back to my theory that you're a vampire and I plan to get some evidence on it."
Kasey laughed. "Well, I don't plan to cease making fun of you, either. I still think you're an ungrateful jerk."
"It takes one to know one, Sweetheart." 625 smirked.
Kasey sighed. "You never change, do you? So, do you want to like, walk home holding hands or something?" Kasey scrunched up her face, as if she thought that idea disgusting.
"No. Because my girl will mind her own business and let me get there before her." 625 replied, grinning.
"Yeah, well, my guy will..." Kasey looked around, as if making sure no one was watching, "...eat my dust!" With that, Kasey ran off quickly in the direction of home.
"Hey! That's not fair!" 625 called after Kasey. "I thought couples were supposed to be equal! You're not very good for my image, you know."
"You don't HAVE an image!" Kasey called back.
625 shook his head. "Curse whatever-it-was that made me fall in love with the undead."
"Oh, and would you mind getting me a glass of water, Freak Face?" Susan smirked. She was sitting on the couch in the "living room" of Gantu's ship and was happily ordering Gantu around.
"Yes, my love." Gantu, who was once again under Susan's charms, went to go get her a glass of water. That's when Kasey ran into the room.
When Susan noticed, she looked up and smiled. "Hey! What's up? Are you and 625 a couple yet?"
"Hold on." Kasey picked up a watch that just happened to be on the table beside the couch. "Twenty-eight, twenty-nine..." 625 came into the room, panting. "Thirty. Right on time, O' Boyfriend Of Mine."
Susan squealed. "So, you ARE a couple now?!"
Kasey put her left paw on her hip. "Yeah, but I'm thinking of sending him to Canada to see if they can find a use for him there."
"A couple?! You and HER---SHE's your girlfriend?!" Gantu asked 625, laughing. "Well, just as I thought! You weren't able to do any better than her!"
625 looked embarrassed, and Kasey looked angry. "HEY!"
Susan simply smiled. "Oh, Gantu..." She singsonged, "where's my water?"
Gantu instantly melted. "Anything you desire, my darling..." He headed for the galley to retrieve the water.
Kasey looked more than grateful. "Thanks. The last thing I want is to be embarrassed in front of Gantu." She eyed Susan suspiciously. "What are you doing here? Aren't you grounded?"
Susan nodded. "Yeah. But things were getting boring, so I snuck off when no one was looking. I decided to come here to see what you were up to, and when I found you weren't here, I decided to wait for you... while getting free service from," she feigned a gag, "Gantu."
"You know. You could get another week's worth of grounding for sneaking off like that." Kasey pointed out.
"True. But it was worth it to get to find out for sure. You have a boyfriend! Yeah, you who hasn't had a date your whole life finally is a couple with someone, and I, who am designed for automatically attracting guys can't even get myself a boyfriend! If only Stitch wasn't in love with Angel. What has she got that I don't?"
Kasey tightened her lips. "Well, apparently, Stitch." Susan groaned. "I'd give you my boyfriend, but he's nothing without me."
"Hey, I was ALREADY nothing without you! Wait..."
Kasey and Susan laughed at 625's remark. "Nothing could be better," Kasey smiled.
THE END
To be continued
Okay, sappy chapter, but that's what you get when you write Romance. As I've said before, (I have said it before, right?) I don't really like sappy stuff, I just write it because my life is disturbingly ironic. Anyway, I hope that despite the sentimental junk that I write, I hope you'll still stick around to read more. If not, well, the story of my existence. And that's one story you don't want to read. (Believe me.)
Chap. 7: A Bright Future
Kasey rang the doorbell at the Pelekai house, tapping her foot impatiently as she waited for someone to answer it. She needed to tell someone about what happened last night, and what she should do, and Susan was just the person to discuss that with.
The door opened, and there stood Nani Pelekai. She looked confused by the appearance of Kasey at first but then she looked annoyed. "Lilo! What is an experiment doing at our door?!"
Lilo bounded up to her sister's side, and peered out of the doorway at Kasey. She smiled. "Oh, that's Kasey. She's Susan's friend. She probably came to visit."
"Lilo, I am not allowing another alien mutant to live in this house!" Nani exclaimed.
"Oh, no. She lives with Gantu, unfortunately. But she can still visit. Don't you remember when I told you? You were asleep, but you said yes when I asked you if she could visit." Lilo reminded Nani.
Nani groaned, but said to Kasey, "You can come in."
Kasey cautiously walked in, and jumped a little when Nani closed the door. She admired the house she was in, recalling the memory of when she was last there: at the dance. Then she cringed. That wasn't a very good thing to remember. The dance had been a disaster, and Kasey preferred to act like that chapter in her life had never existed.
"Hey, Kasey! What's up?" Susan's voice called, knocking Kasey out of her thoughts. Kasey looked up and saw Susan standing in front of her. "How have- --" Susan stopped speaking when she saw Nani staring at her angrily. "Sorry, we'll have to discuss this in my room. C'mon."
Susan led Kasey to her room, which was also Stitch and Lilo's room. But when they got there, Stitch was already in the room, looking at some sort of magazine. Susan shyly went up to him. "Um, Stitch? Would you mind leaving the room for a while? Me and Kasey would like to talk some things over." She blushed, looking away from Stitch's eyes.
Stitch's only reply was that he exited the room as requested, magazine in hand. Susan giggled when he had left. "Let me explain to you what's going on. You see... Nani found out about our secret party, and she grounded both me and Stitch. For a month."
Kasey's eyes were wide. "Whoa. I'm gone for a day or so on a camping trip, and everything happens! That's pretty harsh... but if Stitch is grounded, too, then isn't he supposed to stay in this room also? You sent him out! He could get into trouble!"
Susan shook her head. "Don't worry about Stitch. He sneaks out all of the time anyway. And so do I." Susan smiled slyly. "And what is this about a camping trip?! And what happened? Give me all the details!" Susan sat down in her crate bed, and Kasey made herself comfortable on Lilo's bed.
"Well, Gantu sent me and 625 away on a camping trip, and..."
"And what?!" Susan asked eagerly. "You're blushing! What happened?"
"I... I told 625 I loved him. And he said he loved me, too..." Kasey couldn't help the smile that escaped onto her lips.
Susan was ecstatic. "Oh! I told you he loved you! You two SERIOUSLY have to start dating! Heck, me and Stitch already had a date, and yet he STILL doesn't know that we did." She snorted. "Talk about slow."
"Just give him some time, Susie. He's sure to notice you sooner or later." Kasey smiled. "But anyway, I came to talk about me and 625. What do you think I should do?"
"What do you mean what do I think you should do? Follow your heart. That's what everyone is always saying about these kinds of things." Susan said simply.
"I admire you for your ability to be so straightforward. But it's not as easy for me. How can I follow my heart if I don't know what my heart wants?" Kasey told Susan.
"Don't be silly, Kasey. You know what your heart wants. You just have issues about admitting it. Now, you've already admitted your love for 625, so if you two happen to be in love, then you should at least go on a date. Maybe one date is all you need to become a couple." Susan said her last sentence in a singsongy voice.
Kasey folded her arms. "You would love to see that, wouldn't you?"
Susan looked surprised. "Of course! At least one of us should be happy."
"Oh, c'mon! Stitch will come around. And if he doesn't, there's plenty more fish in the sea." Kasey smiled.
Susan nodded. "Yeah. That would be the perfect summary for my life. I've had so many boyfriends, but nothing worked out with any of them."
"Well, you have to get lucky sometime, right?" Kasey pointed out.
"Maybe." Susan said while looking at her paws, then she looked up at Kasey. "But I know that you and 625 are meant for each other. Don't give up your chance to be with him. Because if you do, you could regret it for the rest of your life. You might not get another chance." They were both silent a while, then Susan continued speaking. "You might end up marrying the wrong person if you don't give 625 a chance. And what kind of life would that be for you? A miserable one!"
Kasey chuckled. "I'm not ready to think about marriage yet. And besides, I'm just in love with the guy, I don't want to marry him."
"Yet." Susan finished. "You just wait and see. Besides, marriage is not the point right now. That's something to think about later. The point now is for you to snag yourself your first boyfriend: 625."
"Oh, I don't know, Susan..." Kasey looked doubtful.
"What? Don't you WANT to be his girlfriend?"
"It's not that... I just don't know if I can convince 625 of us being a couple. And I'm not sure if I have the guts to ask. Although don't tell anyone I'm admitting all this!" Kasey explained.
"Don't worry. I won't tell a soul that you don't really despise 625." Susan promised. "But, either you do something to get you and 625 to be a couple, or I'M going to do something. If you don't want me playing cupid, then you'll stop being chicken and get 625 to go on a date with you."
"I'm not a chicken." Kasey insisted.
"Sure. And grape suckers don't taste like medicine."
Kasey sighed. "All right, all right! I'll think of something."
Susan smiled. "Good. Now go put your plan into action!" Susan shooed Kasey out with her paws. Kasey got the message and started heading for the exit, then turned on her heel and smirked at Susan.
"I have a feeling you want to get rid of me." Kasey singsonged.
Susan blushed. "Well, don't think I don't enjoy your company, because I do... I just need some space to put my OWN plan into action."
"Another plan to get Stitch's attention?" Kasey guessed.
Susan shrugged. "What else?"
Kasey sighed. "Well, good luck. And stay out of trouble."
"I'll try." Susan giggled. "Good luck to you, too. And remember, try and be subtle when asking 625 for a date. It'll be less humiliating for you that way."
"Why must you know me so well?" Kasey complained. "I don't know how to be subtle when asking for a date."
"You'll figure out something. Now go. Part of my punishment was not to have a visit more than ten minutes." Susan shooed Kasey along.
"Wow, you guys got a harsh punishment..." Kasey observed.
"Yeah, well, when you secretly have a big party and especially when some things get broken, well... you can expect a heck of a punishment there." Susan explained.
Kasey nodded. "Yeah, I guess so. See ya!"
Susan waved. "'Bye, 625's girlfriend!"
"That was a really tacky thing to say, y'know."
"What're you doing still here?"
"Okay, okay, I'm going!"
The invisible wind lifted up golden leaves off the ground and twirled them around in the sky. Then they fell limply as the wind released it's hold of them, and deposited them amongst the damp, emerald-colored blades of grass. Kasey stooped down and scooped up one of the delicate golden leaves, and spun it around between two of her claws. She smiled as she admired the leaf and listened to the whistling wind that seemed to whisper autumn in it's wake.
"Autumn is so peaceful and lovely." Kasey said softly, her voice barely audible. "No wonder it's my favorite season." She sighed. "If only things could be as simple as they seem."
This was one of the hardest things that Kasey ever had to face. She had never had a date in her life and she had definitely never asked for one. How could she go about doing it, without humiliating herself? And how could she be subtle about it, like Susan had instructed? Sweetly subtle...
Expressing how she really felt was never one of Kasey's strong points, but she knew this was something she had to do. Susan was right. If she didn't take advantage of this chance now then the opportunity could slip right through her fingers. The only thing she had to do to catch hold of that chance was get 625 to go out with her, at least once... somehow.
Then she smiled slyly, and you could practically see the gears turning in her head, forming an idea. She nodded, letting the leaf escape her paw and watched it ride the wind once more. She knew what she had to do.
"625, there's... mail for you." Gantu seemed surprised, holding up a red envelope addressed to 625.
625, who was watching Kasey draw on a notepad, looked up and seemed just as surprised as Gantu handed him the envelope. He looked at it from front to back. "But we don't have an Earth address. How could we have gotten mail?"
"It was laying right outside, being held down by a rock, along with--- nevermind..." Gantu quickly started for the hall, but Kasey jumped up.
"He's got chocolates!" Kasey exclaimed, pointing towards a heart-shaped box of assorted chocolates that Gantu was trying to hide.
"Hey! You're sneaking off with my chocolates!" 625 exclaimed, folding his arms at Gantu.
"I... I was just watching over them for you." Gantu made up an excuse, and handed the box of chocolates to 625.
"Uh huh. Sure." 625 undid the ribbon on the box and lifted up the lid. He took out a sheet of styrofoam and poked through the chocolates. Then he picked out one and placed it into his mouth and chewed. "Caramel," he announced after he had swallowed it.
Kasey's eyes shifted to the letter, and she said nervously, "Are you not going to look at your letter?"
625 looked at Kasey. "Huh?" He licked chocolate off of his lips and looked down at the red envelope. "Oh. Maybe later."
Kasey looked annoyed. "No! Read it now."
"Well what's gotten you in a snit all of a sudden? I'll look at it later. Why should it be any of your concern?" He popped another chocolate into his mouth and looked satisfied with himself.
"All you care about is stuffing yourself! Gimme that!" Kasey snatched the box of chocolates right out of 625's paws.
"What is it with you and stealing my food?! I was eating that! Give it back!" 625 reached for the box.
"I don't steal!" Kasey protested. "And I'll give it back if you read that letter!"
"Why in the world is this stupid letter important to you?!" 625 held up the envelope. "It sure isn't important to me! If you want to know what it says so badly, then YOU read it!" He handed it to Kasey.
But she pushed it back toward him. "No. I want you to read it. Please? I won't give you back your chocolates otherwise. And there's some pretty good ones in here. Caramel, coconut, fudge, strawberry, coffee, peanut butter, butterscotch, even lemon and orange flavored..." She picked up one of the chocolates and put it into her mouth, smirking slyly. "You convinced? Or do I have to tell you how delicious this one tastes in excruciating detail?"
This obviously worked as you could tell that 625 was trying hard to keep from drooling. "Okay, okay! I'll read the dumb letter. But you'd better give me back the chocolates afterwards! You don't know how much you just tortured me."
"Well, now you know how everyone else feels. Now read the dumb letter!" Kasey exclaimed.
"Aye aye, Captain." 625 saluted and opened up the envelope. Then he pulled out a folded-up, yellow piece of paper. He unfolded it and scribbled all over the paper was a very fancy type of writing, bordered by pictures of roses. "'Dear 625, I've admired you from afar and I'd really like to get to know you better. I think you're really something special and I'd really like you to be mine, and only mine. Please meet me at the local park tomorrow at noon. We could have lunch together. It could be sort of a... date. I'll be looking forward to it. I hope you enjoy the chocolates. I'll see you then. (Heart) Your Secret Admirer." 625 shrugged and tossed it aside. "Okay, the chocolates as you promised?"
Kasey ignored what he said. "Well? Aren't you going to say anything?"
"What?!" 625 was becoming annoyed.
"Are you... going to go to the park tomorrow at noon to meet... um, this girl that likes you?" Kasey hung her head to hide her embarrassment.
"If it'll get me the chocolates then yes I'll meet this stupid girl at the park tomorrow!" 625 exclaimed.
Kasey stared at 625 angrily. "If all you care about is your stomach being satisfied, then fine! Have your precious chocolates! Marry them for all I care!" Kasey pushed the box into 625's lap and stuffed one of the chocolates into his mouth, then she stormed out of the room.
625 swallowed the chocolate. "What's her problem?!"
The sun was at it's very height the next day at noon, although the chilling wind still blew the leaves around. The setting is a Hawaiian park, and so far there is no one there but the wind and leaves. Then a shadow appears on the ground, then you see the owner of the shadow: 625. He looks around cautiously, looking like he's regretting that he came. He is about to leave when another shadow joins his.
"Wait." says a female voice. "I'm here."
625 looks up, and looks a little taken aback. "It's you!"
"Yes. It's me. Want lunch?"
625 nodded. "Yeah. That's why I came. Not to see you!"
The voice sighs, and then you see who it is: Kasey! (You knew that, right?) "Not JUST to have lunch. We really need to talk."
"The only thing I want to talk about is lunch!" 625 told Kasey.
Kasey shook her head, and brought out a brown paper bag from behind her. "Okay. Here's lunch. But there's still something important I want to discuss with you, whether you want to or not." She led him over to a park bench and they sat down. She took a hamburger and french fries out of the bag. "I stopped at a fast food restaurant," She quickly explained.
"Excellent." 625 took a bite out of the hamburger, ignoring what Kasey said about the fact that they had to talk.
Kasey looked a bit miffed. "C'mon, 625! We HAVE to talk about this. You know what I'm talking about. You can't just act like it's not there."
625 looked confused. "Like WHAT's not there? I have no idea what you're talking about!"
Kasey sighed. "Oh, I think you do. Don't you remember? When we were camping, we admitted it. How much we love each other. I know it's not something we would even think of talking about before, but we have to. We need to talk about what we are going to do."
625 looked away. "That's an easy answer! We'll eat lunch, then go home and get on with our lives."
"Be serious!" Kasey exclaimed. "You can't just act like it never happened! We need to decide what we're going to do. Either we become a couple, or... we just become friends, despite the fact that we have romantic feelings for each other."
625 swallowed. "Do we REALLY have to talk about this? And now?"
Kasey nodded. "Yes! Our whole future depends on it, you jerk!"
"Since when did you start caring about our future? I know I don't care about it." 625 was about to take another bite out of his hamburger, but Kasey stopped him.
"I know you DO care about it, and it is about time you admitted it. I just did, even though it leaves a bad taste in my mouth." Kasey stuck out her tongue to prove her point. "Now you're going to give me an answer, because I didn't waste my time talking about this to embarrass myself! So what's it going to be?! Just friends, or a couple?"
"Well, if it's that important to you, then why don't you decide?!" 625 exclaimed, annoyed.
Kasey groaned. "You KNOW it doesn't work like that. You have to decide, too. Now, what do you want, to be friends or boyfriend and girlfriend? And please give me a straightforward answer!"
625 was silent. He looked at his half-eaten hamburger and sighed. Then he looked up, right into Kasey's questioning brown eyes. Then he leaned toward her and their lips locked in an affectionate embrace. Then he pulled away and touched her nose lightly with his. "Does that answer your question?" He then got up, avoiding eye contact, and finished his hamburger.
Kasey got up. "So..." Her mouth twitched, fighting back a smile that wanted to show itself. "Does that mean... I'm your girlfriend? And you're my boyfriend?"
"That's what you came here for, isn't it?" 625 threw the hamburger wrapper into the park trash can.
"Yeah, well, I guess..." Kasey's mouth twitched again, and this time she couldn't help but let her smile play across her lips. "I can't believe it... I have my first boyfriend..."
625 pivoted. "But I want you to know that this doesn't mean I will no longer make fun of you, because I will. In fact, I've gone back to my theory that you're a vampire and I plan to get some evidence on it."
Kasey laughed. "Well, I don't plan to cease making fun of you, either. I still think you're an ungrateful jerk."
"It takes one to know one, Sweetheart." 625 smirked.
Kasey sighed. "You never change, do you? So, do you want to like, walk home holding hands or something?" Kasey scrunched up her face, as if she thought that idea disgusting.
"No. Because my girl will mind her own business and let me get there before her." 625 replied, grinning.
"Yeah, well, my guy will..." Kasey looked around, as if making sure no one was watching, "...eat my dust!" With that, Kasey ran off quickly in the direction of home.
"Hey! That's not fair!" 625 called after Kasey. "I thought couples were supposed to be equal! You're not very good for my image, you know."
"You don't HAVE an image!" Kasey called back.
625 shook his head. "Curse whatever-it-was that made me fall in love with the undead."
"Oh, and would you mind getting me a glass of water, Freak Face?" Susan smirked. She was sitting on the couch in the "living room" of Gantu's ship and was happily ordering Gantu around.
"Yes, my love." Gantu, who was once again under Susan's charms, went to go get her a glass of water. That's when Kasey ran into the room.
When Susan noticed, she looked up and smiled. "Hey! What's up? Are you and 625 a couple yet?"
"Hold on." Kasey picked up a watch that just happened to be on the table beside the couch. "Twenty-eight, twenty-nine..." 625 came into the room, panting. "Thirty. Right on time, O' Boyfriend Of Mine."
Susan squealed. "So, you ARE a couple now?!"
Kasey put her left paw on her hip. "Yeah, but I'm thinking of sending him to Canada to see if they can find a use for him there."
"A couple?! You and HER---SHE's your girlfriend?!" Gantu asked 625, laughing. "Well, just as I thought! You weren't able to do any better than her!"
625 looked embarrassed, and Kasey looked angry. "HEY!"
Susan simply smiled. "Oh, Gantu..." She singsonged, "where's my water?"
Gantu instantly melted. "Anything you desire, my darling..." He headed for the galley to retrieve the water.
Kasey looked more than grateful. "Thanks. The last thing I want is to be embarrassed in front of Gantu." She eyed Susan suspiciously. "What are you doing here? Aren't you grounded?"
Susan nodded. "Yeah. But things were getting boring, so I snuck off when no one was looking. I decided to come here to see what you were up to, and when I found you weren't here, I decided to wait for you... while getting free service from," she feigned a gag, "Gantu."
"You know. You could get another week's worth of grounding for sneaking off like that." Kasey pointed out.
"True. But it was worth it to get to find out for sure. You have a boyfriend! Yeah, you who hasn't had a date your whole life finally is a couple with someone, and I, who am designed for automatically attracting guys can't even get myself a boyfriend! If only Stitch wasn't in love with Angel. What has she got that I don't?"
Kasey tightened her lips. "Well, apparently, Stitch." Susan groaned. "I'd give you my boyfriend, but he's nothing without me."
"Hey, I was ALREADY nothing without you! Wait..."
Kasey and Susan laughed at 625's remark. "Nothing could be better," Kasey smiled.
THE END
To be continued
Okay, sappy chapter, but that's what you get when you write Romance. As I've said before, (I have said it before, right?) I don't really like sappy stuff, I just write it because my life is disturbingly ironic. Anyway, I hope that despite the sentimental junk that I write, I hope you'll still stick around to read more. If not, well, the story of my existence. And that's one story you don't want to read. (Believe me.)