Chapter 10
A little R&R
Thursday at school passed swiftly, being a lot like Tuesday. After gymnastics practice they went to Munchkin's house. Practice was cut short by a disturbance in the Nether World that Kayura and the Warlords had to go see to. Since they all couldn't agree on what to do, everyone decided to split up into pairs and go do their own thing. The guys and the girls paired off. Kento and Penny, Jaya and Cye, Sara and Sage, Midget and Rowen, and Munchkin and Ryo.
Kento and Penny decided to go to a skating ring. There they met up with some other friends from school.
"Do you know how to roller blade," Kento asked Penny.
"No, I don't," replied Penny.
"Then come on, I'll show you," Kento said, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the counter. Penny laughed at his enthusiasm.
Kento ended up pulling her all around the skating ring for the first hour or so. After that they played the hoky poky in a tournament with the other people there. They also took first and second in the race the ring put on.
They skated until it was almost time to leave, laughing and teasing each other. Then they went to the snack area for something to eat. They both ate two foot long hotdogs each and shared a super sized soda. Both were munching on candy bars as they headed home. Kento walked Penny to her door.
"I had a great time tonight," Kento said seriously.
"So did I," Penny replied.
"I hope we can do this again sometime soon," Kento said hesitantly.
Penny smiled shyly as she said, "I think I'd like that." Then she raised up on toes and gave Kento a quick kiss. Whirling, she disappeared inside her house.
Kento stood there a minute, stunned. Then a grin came across his face as he started home. He found himself whistling cheerfully as he walked. I can't wait to tell Cye what happened. With this thought he hurried home, eager to share tonight's events with his best friend.
Inside the house Penny was already reaching for her phone. Just wait until I tell Jaya what I did.
Cye and Jaya decided to go to the Aquarium. They went from one tank to another, exclaiming over the sea creatures inside.
"Oh, aren't those tropical fish colorful," Jaya said with a sigh.
"Yeah, they're really beautiful," Cye returned with enthusiasm. Then he turned to look at her radiant face. "Just beautiful," he breathed with reverence.
Jaya, alerted by the change in his tone, looked up at him. Seeing the look in his eyes she blushed and looked away. "Let's go watch the dolphins' show."
Cye took Jaya to the show and got them front row seats to the performance. There they applauded the antics of the cheerful performers and laughed when they got soaked. At the end of the show they got to go over to the tank and feed the dolphins.
"I can't believe they let us feed them," Jaya squealed happily.
"I guess working here over the summer a couple of years ago paid off," Cye said with a sly smile.
Both forgot about the time as they enjoyed being together. Later they stopped to eat at Kento's family's restaurant. Then Cye walked Jaya home. At her door Jaya turned to look shyly at Cye.
Cye smiled back shyly, blushing a little. "I had a great time today," he said quietly. "I hope you did, too."
"Oh, yes, I had a wonderful time," Jaya assured him eagerly, then blushed.
"Would you like to go out again sometime," Cye asked, using all of his courage.
"I would love to," Jaya replied happily.
"Well, then goodnight," Cye said, a relieved smile on his face.
"Goodnight," responded Jaya.
Jaya turned to go back in but was stopped by his hand on her shoulder. Cye hesitantly kissed her on the cheek. On an impulse Jaya gave him a peck on the lips. They stared at each other in surprise for a moment. Then Jaya stammered another goodnight and fled into the house.
Cye slowly smiled to himself as he headed back to his house. He found himself walking quickly, anxious to get home and call his best friend. I wonder what Kento will think. Thinking about telling Kento had him blushing again. A song he had once heard came to mind, and he found himself humming it as he walked home.
Inside the house Jaya hurried up to her room. She smiled to herself as she reflected that she had never felt so happy. Automatically she reached for her phone when it rang. The only thing she could think of was telling her best friend Penny about tonight. Oh, boy am I going to surprise her.
Sara and Sage went to a bowling alley. There they quickly learned that both were pretty good bowlers.
"How long have you been bowling," Sage asked Sara.
"Three years," replied Sara. "Why do you ask?"
"Because you're good at it," Sage said with a charming smile.
"Why, thank you. You're not too bad yourself," Sara responded flirtatiously.
They played three games. Sara won the first game by twenty points. Sage demanded a rematch, and he won by thirty. Then Sara challenged him to another and won by ten points. The pair drew an audience from everyone around them, but neither noticed until they heard clapping. The crowd was cheering for Sara. She had just gotten four strikes in a row and Sage was pretending to be jealous.
"I can't believe you get cheers the one time you come here and I get nothing. I have been bowling here for years," Sage said with a fake frown.
"I guess it is because they know real talent when they see it," Sara said with a grin. Wow, I have never felt so comfortable around a guy before.
After the last game they decided to call it quits and go get something to eat. They stopped at a nearby restaurant. Then Sage drove Sara home and walked her to her door.
"I've had a great time tonight," Sage said. "I'd love to go out with you again sometime."
"I had fun, too," Sara replied. "And I'd like to go out with you....again."
Sage smiled. "Would you like to go out?"
Sara smiled at him. "Yes, I would."
Both were close to laughing. A strange sort of excitement was coursing through their veins. They knew they were flirting with something new here and it made them want to be both reckless and cautious. Sage leaned down to kiss her at the same time Sara went up on her toes. The kiss lasted only a minute, but it's impact remained. Slowly they pulled apart.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Sage whispered softly.
"All right," Sara answered softly. She gave him a smile as she whispered goodnight and went into the house.
Sage was smiling to himself as he got into his car. He sang along with the radio as he made the short drive home. There he went straight to his room, wanting to savor the memory of the night in peace. I can't remember when I last felt so good.
Sara went up to her room, passing the den where the rest of her family was. At her dreamy expression her parents exchanged amused and tolerant grins. The others made faces, but they left her alone. She went to her room, glad that she didn't have to share with anyone. Tonight she just wanted to sit and remember the evening. There is something special between us, I can feel it.
Midget and Rowen had decided to go star gazing. They had dinner first at Midget's house. Then they got a blanket and went out to the park. Spreading the blanket on the ground beside a tree, they sat with their backs propped against it's trunk. Together they watched the sun set and the stars come out.
"It's such a beautiful night tonight," Midget said quietly. "There aren't any clouds in the sky and the moon is only a sliver. The stars seem so much brighter when it's like this."
"You're right," Rowen agreed softly. "Look over there. There's the big dipper."
"Oh, wow," Midget responded in a hushed voice. She turned to Rowen with an excited expression. Shyly she asked, "Would you show me how to recognize the constellations?"
Rowen smiled endearingly as he nodded. For the next few hours the two sat together, talking about the constellations and their mutual love of astronomy. At eight they went back to Midget's house for a snack. As they were eating they talked a little about their childhoods.
"When I was old enough to understand what an experiment was Doc. would bring me to the lab," Midget said, smiling fondly. "I would sit and watch with fascination as he and some of the other scientists ran their tests. I used to love going to the lab with him. When I started to go to school, the Doc started taking me with him less and less. Now I only go every now and then I still listen to him talk about it. I just don't go watch anymore. I guess that's because my interests aren't the same as his."
"I know what you mean," Rowen assured her wryly. "Once my parents divorced my father spent more time in his lab. At first I went with him pretty frequently, but now I usually only go to ask him something. When he's home we talk before we go to bed, which is most of the week. Still, it's not the same, but my interests aren't the same as his, either."
Midget glanced at the clock. "Uh-oh. It's already eight forty. I guess you'd better head back home."
"Yeah, I guess I'd better," he answered. He walked with her to the door, then hesitated. "I wanted to ask you..."
"Yes," she asked, a bit hopefully.
He looked into multi colored eyes and found himself saying in a rush, "I wanted to ask you if you would go out with me." Then he mentally hit himself. I'm sure that sounded good.
Midget found herself smiling stupidly. She felt almost as if she would lift off the ground in happiness. "Yes, I will go out with you," she told him shyly.
Rowen blinked in amazement. Then he began to smile idiotically. He was so overcome with happiness that without thinking he pulled her into his arms for a hug. She hugged him back and he thought that he'd never felt like this before. Almost reluctantly they pulled apart. "I'll see you tomorrow morning," he whispered softly.
"See you tomorrow," she answered back.
Rowen bent down and kissed her softly. Then he dropped his arms from around her as he stepped out of the door. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Midget said quietly as she slowly shut the door.
Rowen headed down the street, walking leisurely. His feet almost seemed to be walking on air. He couldn't remember feeling like this ever before. Spending time with Midget felt so right, as if they belonged together. A smile was on his face as he headed home. I think I'll wait awhile before I tell anyone else. I want to enjoy this feeling on my own for a while.
Midget hurried up to her room. Doc was still in the basement and she didn't want to discuss what had happened just yet. Once there, she turned around and leaned back against the door with a tender smile. The night had been unbelievable. As she got ready for bed she told Anubis and Star about her evening, forgetting that Anubis had been there. He decided not to mention that as he smiled at her happiness.
Munchkin and Ryo went to the zoo. Together they wandered from one cage to another, discussing the animals inside. They lingered over cats the longest, discussing their own animal friends.
"I can't wait to see what Flame and White Blaze think of each other," Munchkin told Ryo with a grin.
"Me, either," responded Ryo. "I don't know if White Blaze has ever been near a female cat."
"I'm pretty sure Flame hasn't been near a male cat yet," Munchkin replied. "It should be interesting."
The pair meandered lazily along the designated paths. They talked about their interests and their hobbies, finding that they had a lot in common. Time seemed to fly by and crawl at the same time. When the zoo closed they went to a fast food place to eat.
"Your not really going to eat that thing, are you," Munchkin asked Ryo, eyeing his 'Monster' burger with everything on it.
"I sure am," Ryo replied with a grin. "Why?"
"I thought you liked to eat healthy," Munchkin responded, still looking at the burger incredulously.
"And I thought you liked to eat junk food," Ryo returned teasingly.
"All too true," she said with a grin as she started eating her fries with relish.
They laughed and joked throughout dinner, teasing each other about what they were eating. The subject of their diets was one of the few things they differed on. Both had agreed to keep an open mind, though. That was why they were sitting in a fast food restaurant, eating junk food. Later they walked back to Munchkin's house. At the door they paused for a moment.
Ryo looked at Munchkin, standing in the moonlight, and decided that now was the time to ask. "Munchkin, will you go out with me?"
Munchkin was surprised. She hadn't really expected him to ask so soon. Still, she knew there was only one answer she could give him. "Yes, I'd be happy to go out with you."
Ryo got a huge grin on his face. "All right," he practically shouted. I don't think I've ever been this happy before.
Munchkin laughed. Then the door opened and the Capt. looked at them. Seeing the blush that came across both faces, he smiled in amusement. "Oh, sorry. I thought I heard something so I decided to check and see what it was. I didn't mean to interrupt anything." Then he went back inside, pausing to wink at them. Both turned a deeper shade of red as he laughed and closed the door behind him.
"Well, I guess I'd better get inside before he starts wondering what we're doing," Munchkin said softly, struggling with her embarrassment.
"Yeah, and I'd better be getting home," Ryo told her, squirming slightly. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, tomorrow," Munchkin responded faintly.
Ryo leaned down and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "Goodnight," he said hurriedly, then turned and walked quickly down the street.
"Goodnight," Munchkin called after him, waving back when he waved.
Ryo's pace slowed down when she went inside. The night seemed to have an almost dream like quality. He found himself wanting to think back over tonight and memorize every detail, as if that would make it all real. How did I get so lucky? There was a huge grin on his face as he walked into his house. After giving his amused Grandmother a kiss on the cheek, he went to his room and got ready for bed, still thinking of Munchkin and that last kiss.
Munchkin went inside and headed straight for her room. The Capt. saw her pass by with a dreamy expression on her face and decided not to bother her. Oblivious to his amusement, Munchkin went to her room and got ready for bed distractedly. I hope we get to go on another date again soon. I've never had so much fun at the zoo before.
Just then Flame walked over to her young friend. She began to pester Munchkin for details. Girl and tiger stayed up for awhile, discussing the day's events. Thoughts of Ryo and their kiss followed Munchkin into sleep. Her dreams that night were sweet, filled with a knight in shining red armor who swept her off of her feet. It was the perfect end to a perfect evening.
To be continued....