Her Fate

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone from ADJL; I only own those who I make up.

Rating: PG-13

AN: CelloSolo2007, in regards to your review on Solution, yes I did vote already. I voted for Eye of The Beholder. So I know the link, I like to play the games, thanks anyway, though. I can't wait until Saturday! XP Anyway, here's chapter twelve.

Gracie's New Job

Gracie entered the shop, quietly. Didn't shops normally have little bells or something to let the owner know someone came in?

Raising an eyebrow she looked up, well there was a bell. But it seemed to be useless. She reached up and took it down. It was easy to do, she was nearly six foot.

She looked at the bell, 'Might as well tell the shop keep while I'm here.' She thought to herself. She looked around but no one seemed be around. "You'd think for a shop that needs help, they'd have someone here to talk to the appliers." She muttered to herself.

She was about to walk back out the door when she heard voices. She followed the voices into the back room. She peeked through the cracked door.

There was a short old man talking to a wrinkly grey dog. The old man was looking through papers.

"I do not understand. Why is my shop failing?" the old man asked, shaking his head.

Gracie's eyes widened slightly as the dog stood up on his hind legs and said, "Maybe it's 'cause you spend more time with dragon training than this rusty thing. Ya can't do both anymore. Maybe you're gettin' a little old there, Gramps."

After her initial surprise, Gracie shrugged her shoulders. She'd seen stranger sights. "Maybe it's 'cause ya'll ain't got no one out here to take applications." She spoke up as she walked through the door.

She watched in amusement as the old man's eyes widened and the dog instantly got back on all fours and 'woofed'. Gracie laughed and shook her head at them.

"Now, don't ya'll worry 'bout me. Unless that's what it takes to get a job, in which case, worry away." She told them smiling.

She watched the dog eye her suspiciously, "Ya know, normally humans freak out at least a little when they see a talking dog."

"Well, normally, humans are humans. I'm a changeling."

The dog blinked and then shrugged, "That explains it. Not many changelings in New York, where you from? Tennessee?"

"Nah, I'm from Texas. Best damn state in all of the U.S. of A."

"Who are you?" the old man asked her.

"Name's Gracie; Gracie Connors, now do I talk to the old man about a job or the doggy?"

"You will speak with me, Ms. Connors. I am Lao Shi and this is Fu Dog." The man answered.

"Ya can call me Gracie, I'd prefer it."

"Very well, Gracie. Tell me about yourself."

"Well, I got me three siblings, my little sisters and a little brother. They still live in Texas with Mama and Daddy and I'm livin' with my cousin. And I'm twenty one."

"I meant what experience you have. Have you any experience in shop work?"

"Not professionally but I take orders and do as I'm told."

"Ah, just give her the job, already. The girl needs the job and it ain't like ya got people barging through the doors beggin' for jobs." Fu stated.

"I suppose. You seem like a nice young woman and you already know of Fu Dog so we wouldn't have to worry about keeping it a secret."

"So I got the job?"

"Yes, you have the job."

"YES!" she squealed, "Thank you, so much! I won't let you down. Oh, by the way, your bell doesn't work." She handed him the broken bell.

FLASH

"So… um, call me." the pretty blonde blushed as she gave Jake her phone number. "You got it, sweet thing." She blushed even more before running back to her friends giggling excitedly.

Jake shook his head and chuckled as he walked back to Trixie and Spud. "Dude, who was that foxy- Yow!" he yelped when Trixie dug her elbow into his stomach.

They were at a diner, enjoying their lunch before they had to go back to the shop. Only Jake worked there as Trixie already had a job tutoring and Spud… Well, Lao Shi wasn't desperate enough to hire him.

"She said her name was Carrie."

"Jakey, have you ever considered dating someone who isn't a blonde bimbo?"

Jake raised an eyebrow, "They're not bimbos."

"Shoot, what about Maria, Jenny, Candice, Amanda… the list goes on. All blonde; all slutty bimbos."

"Gina wasn't." Jake countered.

"One out of thirty, Jake. That's not good."

"Carrie might be different." He said in defense.

"Jake, did you not see her giggle like an airhead?"

"Aw, c'mon, Trixie, Jake's heart is a complex muscle. He looks for a replacement for Rose in every blue eyed blonde girl he sees."

Trixie and Jake stared at him with dumbfounded looks. The guy was a total idiot one minute and next thing you know he's all insightful.

Jake shook his head. Not that he'd tell his friends, but there was some truth in what Spud said. Ever since Rose disappeared, Jake was only attracted by blonde girls with blue eyes.

It was kind of dumb, still being hung up over a middle school crush… But that's what he did. He never found what he was looking for, though. Every time he looked at one of his girlfriends, he always looked for Rose.

But none of them fit. They were all ditzy, slutty, high maintenanced, or too bubbly to be her. And their eyes were never right. Only Rose had those perfect blue eyes that looked like two oceans.

Not to mention that being the American Dragon always screwed everything up. Gina was the closest he ever got to Rose. Her wavy blonde hair, although her eyes were still wrong as light blue, she was smart, she could be funny… But she didn't have the fire.

It was funny. He actually looked for Huntsgirl too. After all, Huntsgirl was Rose… the old one at least. He always liked the fire and strength in the old Huntsgirl. He only wished that she wasn't trying to kill him all the time.

He figured Trixie was right; he really should try someone who didn't resemble Rose... especially since he'd never find anyone like her.

He shrugged it off, "Yo, you're outta your mind." He laughed and looked at his watch, "And I'm late!" he yelled as he ran out the door.

About fifteen minutes later he, Trixie and Spud arrived at the shop. The first thing he heard was his grandfather, "You would think that as you grew older you would have become more punctual." He looked at Lao Shi, who was glaring at him.

"Sorry, G, lost track of time."

"I do not have time for scolding, right now. You must meet your new co-worker." He gestured to a pretty brunette sitting at the counter.

"Howdy! I'm Gracie."

"I'm Jake." He smiled and shook her hand, "This is Trixie and that's Spud, they tend to hang here."

"Nice to meet ya'll."

"You too. You from Tennessee or somethin'" Trixie asked.

She gave a blank look, "Why does everyone assume I'm from Tennessee? I'm from Texas."

"Oops, sorry, girl."

"No problem." Gracie waved it off. Her eyes widened, "You said your name is Jake?"

"Yeah, Jake Long. Why?"

"And you're the American Dragon?" she asked.

"You know?" he asked back.

"It is alright, Jake. Gracie is a changeling and she will not tell anyone your identity."

Gracie rubbed the bridge of her nose, "Yeah, ya ain't got nothin' to worry about. My lips are sealed."

Gracie couldn't believe it. It was one thing that she knew she was going to meet the American Dragon and wasn't allowed to tell Rosie. But now she knew the American Dragon was the very same boy who stopped talking to Rosie for no apparent reason before she left and she couldn't tell her!

She groaned inwardly. She was going to have to buy a lot of aspirin.

That's the end of that. Yes, it's very boring and I'm sorry for both that and the long wait. The next chapter will be better! Rose goes out for her first night as the Protector. Poor Gracie, she knows a big secret and she's not allowed to tell her cousin. Damn her for being so trustworthy. XP Just kidding, it's a good quality. Anyways, please review and chapter 13 will be up within the next two days, guaranteed.