I'm so sorry guys that this is very late and kind of short, I've got lots of this going on for me right now.  X_x  Including death to Physics!!  X_X  This chapter is kind of dialogue prone and more directed towards Tala/Hru.  ^^  I don't think I've mentioned it before but there are two links on my userpage that lead to drawings of Carly and Holly by Lilo!  ^^  She's an amazing artist and you should check out the pictures!  ^^

Thx for all your reviews, I do love you all, but I don't have time to reply to all today, sorry!

Dandelion Wine: Omg, I missed you, I had to reply to this!  *hugz*  Don't feel depressed, if you ever feel depressed, email me and I'll cheer you up for sure!  ^^  *hugz*

Driger&Dragoon: Sorry, I finally understood what you were asking about the 'other' anime.  X_X Ack, I'd love to but I completely have NO TIME!!!  X_X  I'm already too busy for updating.  @_@

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Chapter 41: Practice Makes Perfect

         "The presentation's tomorrow," Hru mused, looking at their poster board thoughtfully after they returned home, "I should go over to Tala's place and rehearse with him, so we don't goof up tomorrow."  She picked up the big poster board and her cue cards.  "I'll call him...um...well...maybe not.  He wouldn't mind, it's not like he has anything better to do."  Skye leaped on her and barked, wagging her tail joyfully.  Hru shook her head, "Sorry girl, down girl, I don't have time to play right now, I've gotta finish this up.  See you later!"  She left for Tala's house.

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*Ding-Dong*

Tala groaned and looked up from his TV, "I'm busy, go away whoever you are."  He ignored the bell and turned up the volume.

Hru frowned as she heard the loud clashing of guitars obviously on a TV show, "Sounds like he's wrecking the place.  Hmph, answer the door, jerk!"  She pressed the doorbell again.

*Ding-Dong*

"Arghh!" Tala grumbled, he cranked up the volume to maximum and hoped that whoever was at the door would go away.

Hru winced at the loud crashing sound from inside Tala's house, "Gosh, is he trying to tear his house apart?  Why won't he answer the stupid door??"  She pressed the doorbell again as hard as she could.

*Ding-dong*

This time, Tala didn't hear it at all, over the loud music.  He settled on the couch in a comfortable position and then he lowered the volume after a few minutes.

By now, Hru was steaming mad, and she heard the music go down, "Okay, so you want to ignore me, huh?"  She pressed the doorbell again.

*DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!*

"Gosh, break my bell, why don't you??" Tala snapped, finally getting up and yelling, "SHUT UP!!!!"

Hru pursed her lips and kept pressing.

*DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!  DING-DONG!!!!*

"I'm coming!!!!" Tala yelled, stomping to his door and throwing it open, "What the hell do you want????"

"Hi Tala, nice of you to open the door for me," Hru said mockingly, smiling sarcastically, her eyes sparking, "By the way, nice shirt, looks real cute."

Tala blushed furiously, "Shut up Hru, I wasn't expecting company."  He was wearing a black sleeveless shirt and black jeans, which was very unlike his usual outfit.  Hru didn't deny the fact that he look totally gorgeous, she just didn't say it alound.

"Well, can I come in??" Hru asked sweetly, "Or should I test your doorbell some more?"

"Go ahead," Tala said, shrugging, "I was watching TV."

"So I heard," Hru said dryly, "I was pressing the doorbell and you kept on tuning up the volume.  Do you think you could tune me out or something?  Well, it's not going to work!"

"Sorry, I thought it was a salesperson or something," Tala said, "Is that our project?"
"Uh-huh," Hru nodded, "We need to go over our presentation."

"We do?" Tala asked, "Can't we just go up there and speak?"

"No, we need to rehearse!" Hru said, throwing the poster board on the table, "So we won't screw up."

"Okay, you take that out," Tala said, turning off the TV, "And I'll go change."

Hru gave a snort of laughter and took out her cue cards and shuffled them before Tala returned downstairs dressed in his normal outfit.

"Do you know what you're reading?" Hru asked him.

"Uh-huh," Tala said, and began reciting everything he typed out by heart.

Hru stared at him in amazement, "You memorized everything you wrote???"

"I didn't memorize it, I just sorta remembered," Tala explained, his voice trailed off weakly.

"And you're going to say it with more expression, right?" Hru added.

"No." was Tala's reply.

Hru gave him a glare, "What do you mean, 'no'?  You can't go up and read as if you're bored to death.  Put some life in your voice."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tala demanded.

"You sound dead," Hru said, covering her giggles.

"No, I don't," Tala protested, clearing his throat and starting again.  He recited the stuff about Russian food in a monotone, sounding like someone sucked the life outta him.

"Tala!" Hru said, breaking down into laughter, "You sound like a robot!"

Tala stiffened, his eyes turned cold.  "I do not," he said quietly, but dangerously.

Hru sensed that she had touched a nerve and decided the steer clear of her previous comment, "Could you read with a little more expression?"

"There's nothing wrong with how I read," Tala said, relaxing a bit, "I have an idea, let's ask Carly, she's at Aquana's house, we can practice presenting to her."

"Good idea," Hru said, "Except I have to walk all the way back again, argh."

"I'll give you a ride," Tala said, motioning to his car.

"You're going to drive???" Hru demanded, "What makes you think I'm crazy enough to ride a car that you drive?"

"I don't drive like a manaic," Tala said, making a face at her, "It's pretty safe, I assure you."

"And that just make me feel so much better," Hru muttered, "Okay, if you kill me I'll sue."

Tala flashed her a wicked grin, "Deal."

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         "Come in," Carly said, looking half annoyed and amused.

"You sound like you own the house," Tala remarked, helping Hru with the poster board.

"Hi ya Carly," Hru greeted, "Hope we're not bothering you."

"You're not, I'm not doing anything anyways," Carly said dryly, "Tala, did you drive here??"

"Uh-huh," Tala nodded.

"Wow, cool, awesome, how come you've never told me you knew how to drive???" Carly bounced, "Are you going to take me for a spin sometime?"

"If you want," Tala said with a light shrug, "Sure."

"We were thinking of presenting our project to your guys," Hru told Carly.

"Sure," Carly said, heading into the living room.  Aquana and Enrique were talking while gazing into each other's eyes.  "Ahem," Carly cleared her throat loudly.

"Hey," Enrique said with a grin, "Nice project."

"Uh-huh," Hru nodded as Aquana waved, "Tala, read Carly your lines."

Tala grumbled as Carly sat down, "Fine..."  He started reciting again, sounding as monotonous as possible.

Carly nearly fell off her chair, hysterical with laughter.

"Stop it," Tala said, looking annoyed as Hru broke down into laughter as well.

"Tala, man, you sound as if you're attending a funeral," Carly remarked, straightening up, "You have to use intonation.  Like if you're acting.  Make your voice a little more lively."

"I don't see why I can't go up there and read like I do," Tala complained.

"Cuz it's a presentation," Carly said, "You get marks for how well you present and I don't think Hru will be too delighted if you guys get a lower mark cuz you sound like a zombie."

"You present yours," Tala snapped, "Let's see yours."

Carly sighed and rolled her eyes, "I'm not done, buddy."

"You're not done???!!!" Hru cried, looking shocked.

"Carly, it's due tomorrow!" Tala added, looking amazed at her boldness.

"I know, I know, I ain't stupid!" Carly snapped, "I'll get it done, I always get it done!  It'd be so much easier if Enrique didn't keep flirting with Aquana every 5 seconds.  It's hard to concentrate when he's always hugging her or kissing her or complimenting her or playing with her hair or putting his arms around her waist."

"They do that in front of you???" Tala looked disgusted, "Ugh."

"I don't mind if I didn't have this project!" Carly said, looking exasperated.

"Sorry, sorry," Enrique apologized, "I'll leave Aquana alone now."

Aquana giggled as he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

Carly rolled her eyes, "Just being here makes you distracting."  She pasted some pictures on her poster board, "Let's take a break.  Michael and Johnny are coming over."

The doorbell rang.  *Ding dong*

"Oh!  Look Tala, there's a TV," Hru said sarcastically, "Go turn it on and charge the volume up to 50, why don't you?"

"Ha ha ha," Tala said icily, "I told you, I didn't know it was you."

"Hi Johnny, hi Michael!" Carly chirped as they came in, tossing their project on the empty couch.

"Hey Carly," Johnny said, grinning at her, "Is it okay if we practice our presentation in front of you guys?"

"Sure," Hru said, "Let's see it!"

Johnny and Michael launched their presentation about Egypt and did a pretty good one too.  They clapped when the two boys finished.

"Awesome," Hru said, "Totally cool facts."
"Thanks," Michael said, beaming.

"It's great!" Carly said, "See Tala?  You have to use intonation like Michael and Johnny did.  Did you hear how Michael's voice went sorta up and down, that makes it more lively.  And Johnny stressed the important points of his part, that's why you need to learn.  Great Johnny, Michael.  But when you do go up there, Michael, I hope you're not going to keep tossing that baseball up and down, I don't think baseball had anything to do with Egypt."

"Let's see yours," Johnny said to Carly.

"I'm not done," Carly said in frustration, "Stop asking, people."

"Not done????" Michael exclaimed.

"But it's due-" Johnny started.

"TOMORROW!!!!!" Carly yelled, "I know, I know, I know, I know, I know.  Tell me something I don't know."

"Well, that's that," Johnny said, "Anything we can improve on?"

"Ooh, ooh," Carly waved her hand in the air, "I've got a question.  Did you figure out how curses work?"

Johnny snorted, "Give me a break, Carly, don't ask that tomorrow."
"Why not?" Carly asked innocently.  She turned back to her poster.

"Why don't we see yours?" Johnny asked Hru and Tala.

"I refuse to read anymore," Tala said coldly, "You're just going to laugh like the rest of them."

"Why would we laugh??" Michael asked in confusion.

Just then the doorbell rang.

"Kai!" Carly said, "What a surprise.  What are you doing here?  Did you come to visit Aquana?"

Kai made a face, "Yeah, right.  Not really.  I was just passing by and I saw Tala's car and so I decided to see what all the fuss is about."
"Project," Carly said, pointing to hers.

"You're not finished yet???" Kai exclaimed, "But it's due tomorrow!!!"

"I KNOW!" Carly exploded, "You're the third person to say that to me today!"

"I was done ages ago," Kai said, "Emily wouldn't leave me alone until I finished.  I still have to memorize the rest of it though.  She left 30 messages on my answering machine telling me how to say every line of my part, I left Kailee at home so she could delete all those messages."

"Ask Tala for help," Hru said, "He memorized everything he typed."

"You're not serious!" Carly gasped, "I SO don't believe you."

Hru gave Tala a push, "Show her."

"You're just trying to get me to read again," Tala grumbled, but he started reciting anyways, word for word off the essay he typed.

"Are you trying to make me look stupid?" Carly demanded.

"Of course not," Tala protested, "It just comes naturally.  I'm - you know, the 'c' word."

"Oh yeah," Carly nodded sympathetically at the trapped look on Tala's face, "Aw, forget about it pal.  Let's drop that."

Hru was sure the 'c' word was cyberized, but they steered clear of the subject before she found out anything interesting.  //Rats!! I'd ask him myself, but I don't think I know him well enough to ask such a personal question and he gets so touchy every time it comes up!//

Carly was jumping around, printing out pictures and her essays while trying to decorate her board as well.  Everyone else sweatdropped.

"Take it one at a time," Johnny told her, taking the scissors out of Carly's hands, "You're going screw up.  Do you want some help?"

"I'm spontaneous!" Carly argued, snatching the scissors back, "I don't need help, it's my project.  If you really want to help, see if you can detach Aquana from Enrique!!"

"I heard that," Enrique announced, "Sorry, sorry."

"Enrique, why don't you go work on your project?" Kai suggested, "That way you won't be so distracting."

"I'm not doing it," Enrique said glumly, "Courtney's not going to do anything anyways and I don't want to work with her."

Carly dropped her scissors with a clatter, "You can't fail this project, it's worth a good chunk of your mark!"

"There's nothing I can do," Enrique protested as Aquana gently touched his shoulder in comfort, "Forget about it."
"No way," Carly said stubbornly, "Aquana and I are almost finished, after we'll help you out."

"I should get going," Kai said as Michael nodded in agreement.

"I'll stay," Johnny said, "I have nowhere to be."

"Are you going to walk Carly home?" Hru teased, failing to resist to urge.

"Shut up," Johnny snapped, going red.

Tala's bright eyes were thoughtful, //It's obvious that Johnny likes Carly, but he's too chicken to tell her.  If he doesn't make the move soon...//

"I'm going to go too," Hru said, "So I don't look like a complete idiot next to Tala who has his lines all memorized."

"Where's his expression?" Carly asked innocently.

"Forget it," Hru said, "Forget it, I don't care."

"I'll give you ride home," Tala offered, "Let's go."

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