Chapter 9

Hey peoples! What's up? I am hyper right now because I just had a lot of sugar! I LOVE sugar. If any sugar haters are reading this, then I have to say, something is seriously wrong with your taste buds!

Okay, enough about sugar.

In the morning, Nikki and Ryan were arguing over who got to have the last of the Froot Loops.

"I got kidnapped! I have more right to it!" said Nikki.

"I got threatened by your boyfriend!" said Ryan. "So give me the goods!"

"Stop making fun of Max! You're the one whose girlfriend has an IQ that equals my shoe size!"

"What is your shoe size?"

"Six."

"Erin's IQ is less than that. And FYI, I dumped her."

Kory watched her kids argue casually. It was just so normal. But it was now the normal time for an intervention. She grabbed the Froot Loops away.

"Since you two can't decide who gets to have the cereal, I'm going to let neither of you have it," said Kory. She flew up and put the Froot Loops in a cabinet so high, even the 6'5" Ryan couldn't reach. (Why do those kinds of cabinets exist? My house has some of those. I hate them.)

"Mom!" exclaimed Ryan. "That isn't fair!"

"Yes it is," said Kory.

"No it's not, because Nikki can fly!" argued Ryan.

Sure enough, Nikki had flown up and was about to grab the Froot Loops when Kory flew up and grabbed them first.

"Nice try, Nikki," said Kory. "But you forget whose powers you got."

"Mom!" cried Nikki.

"Actually, I'll eat this myself," said Kory. "You kids can eat the generic sugarless cereal in the pantry. It's supposed to be very healthy."

""But, Mom! That stuff has no flavor!" protested Ryan.

"Then buy your own Froot Loops. You're almost eighteen," said Kory.

"Fine. I'll eat the sugarless," grumbled Ryan.

After Nikki and Ryan started choking down the cereal, Kory called Richard.

"Richard, it's Kory," said Kory.

"Hi. Is Nikki okay?" asked Richard.

"She's arguing with Ryan about Froot Loops, that is normal Earthling behavior, yes?"

"Does she usually do that?"

"Yes."

"She's fine. But can you bring her over, just to make sure?"

"Are you going to do weird tests on her?"

"No, Kory, I'm not. I'm just gonna hang out with her."

"Okay."

"Oh and Kory? You know last night?"

"You're still a really good fighter. Anyway, Ryan's gonna drop Nikki off. Bye."

Kory hung up.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Richard was frustrated. He hadn't meant anything about rescuing Nikki at all! He was talking about when he accidentally on purpose kissed Kory! Obviously, it wasn't even memorable enough that Kory yelled at him for it. She just didn't care.

Richard needed to forget about Kory. Maybe Kory didn't hate him, but she was not interested in getting back together with him. He needed somebody else.

Richard tried to think of a girl he should date. And Kory's face popped into his head.

Darn!

Ding dong!

Richard answered the door. Nikki and Ryan were there.

"Hi Dad. I know you only wanted Nikki to come, but I came anyway. Can I hang out?" said Ryan.

"Sure," said Richard. "You like Gamestation, right?"

"Yeah, but I can't play it until next week because I lied to Mom," said Ryan.

"It'll be our little secret," said Richard.

"Oh, and Dad?" asked Ryan.

"Yes?" said Richard.

"How do you get a girl?" asked Ryan.

"I don't know, I only get the girls I hate," said Richard.

"Me too!" said Ryan.

"Like Erin Hellene," said Nikki. "What did you see in her?"

"Erin Hellene?" asked Richard. "Are her parents named Fang and Kitten?"

"Yeah!" said Ryan. "How do you know?"

"Once, I went on a date with Kitten Hellene, except when I dated her she was Kitten Brat. Made your mom real pissed," said Richard.

"You used to like Erin Hellene's mom?" asked Nikki.

"No, she forced me to date her," said Richard. "It was horrendous. Ryan, this is the Gamestation. Do you like Crash Bandicoot?"

"Love it!" said Ryan. He set up the Gamestation and began playing.

"Nikki, do you want cookies and milk?" asked Richard.

"I'm not five you know," said Nikki. "I'm fourteen. I prefer cheese and crackers, with peanut butter."

"What?" exclaimed Richard.

"Sorry Dad, Nikki's a weirdo," said Ryan.

"It's not that… I'm a sucker for cheese with peanut butter," said Richard.

"Really? All my friends think I'm gross!" said Nikki.

"You are gross, Nikki," said Ryan.

"Shut up. I'm not the one who has leftover pizza under the bed," said Nikki.

"I'm not the one who likes mint-frosting pizza!" said Ryan.

"I'm not the one who slobbers all over his dates!" said Nikki.

"You and Max do slobber all over each other!" said Ryan.

"Not in public!" said Nikki.

"You too argue a lot, don't you?" asked Richard.

"Sorry, Dad," said the Grayson siblings simultaneously.

"So Nikki, I'll get you your cheese and crackers and peanut butter… Ryan, do you want anything?" asked Richard.

"A Coke. And pizza if you've got it. But no anchovies. Or mushrooms. Or pineapple. Pineapple does not belong on a pizza. It's better fresh," said Ryan.

"Is pepperoni okay?" asked Richard.

"Pepperoni's perfect!" exclaimed Ryan.

"Okay, kids. I'll be right back," said Richard.

Richard came back carrying a box of pizza, a box of crackers, a bag of cheese, a jar of peanut butter, and a huge bottle of Coke.

"Whoa, that's a lot of food!" exclaimed Ryan.

"I go shopping every month," said Richard. He set the stuff down on the coffee table. "So Nikki, what did Slade do to you?"

"He told me to listen to him and that everyone in my family was a certified loser and stuff like that. Then I wouldn't listen to him, so he got all pissed off. So then he tried to hypnotize me, and instead, it knocked me out, and then I woke up and Max was there, and then you know what happened from there," said Nikki.

"Max? Max Fists?" asked Ryan.

"No, Ryan, it was the mailman, Max Goldstein," said Nikki sarcastically.

"The mailman rescued you?" asked Ryan. "How do you even know the mailman's name?"

"I was being sarcastic, you idget," said Nikki. (Note: In Scottsdale, AZ, where I live, an idget is another word for idiot, but it's more fun to say.)

"Fists rescued you? I thought Mom and Dad did," said Ryan.

"Max insisted on helping us," said Richard. "Quite charming young man."

"Dad, Max Fists is evil!" said Ryan.

"Well, you thought I was evil, so I can't really believe your supposedly expert testimonial on who's evil and who isn't," said Richard.

"Ryan, what did Max do to you anyway?" asked Nikki.

"Why, it all happened in preschool," said Ryan. "Max had been hogging the Legos for hours, and I wanted to play with them. So I took the Legos and started playing with them. Then, that jerk hit me and then—"

Ryan was cut off by Nikki's laughter. She had fallen off the couch and was curled up, giggling so hard; she had tears streaming down her cheeks.

"What's so funny?" asked Ryan.

Nikki tried to respond, but she couldn't stop laughing

"Your sister is laughing because she thinks it's ridiculous that you and Max have this huge rivalry all because of Legos. Have you ever thought your whole Legos rivalry is a little… stupid?" asked Richard. He was trying hard not to laugh.

"It is not stupid!" protested Ryan. "Okay, maybe the whole Legos thing was dumb. But don't you get it? It proves Max is a mean, selfish jerk, who—"

"Ryan, how old were you when this incident occurred?" asked Richard.

"Four. But that's not the—"

Ding dong!

"Dad, I'll get it for you," said Ryan. He opened the door.

Ryan couldn't believe his eyes. Standing there was Crystla White, Ryan's crush forever, long before Erin Hellene or Joanna Rosser. The only girl he didn't see as a walking, talking Barbie doll (in other words, pretty, but totally fake). He doubted Crystla even wore makeup. Yet, there she was, at his Dad's front door.

Her long, slightly wavy brown hair shimmered to perfection, her fair complexion just perfect, not too oily, not too dry, and completely free of zits. Her large, hazel eyes were framed by long, dark lashes. Her teeth were perfectly straight and white. She was just the right size; not too skinny, but not too fat, not too tall, but not too short, just perfect. He even liked her fashion sense. Today, she wore a filmy, dark green scarf that made her eyes pop, a black tank top, a denim mini-skirt, and black ballet flats. She smiled at him.

"Hi Ryan. What are you doing here?" said Crystla in her toffee- smooth voice.

"Uhhhhh…" Crystla's arrival made him completely forget everything! "My dad lives here," he said.

"Oh. I'm his next door neighbor," said Crystla. "I feel kinda dumb now, because I've been Mr. Grayson's neighbor for years, and I didn't even know you were his son."

"You're not dumb. You're one of the smartest people I know."

"Thanks. I'm not that smart, you know. But thanks anyway." There was an awkward pause.

"Oh, I almost forgot," said Crystla. "Does your dad have any flour? We're baking cookies and we're out."

"I'll check," said Ryan. Ryan went back inside, and looked in the pantry. Sure enough, there was a small bag of flour in there. He got it and gave it to Crystla.

"Thanks Ryan. I guess I'll see you around." She turned to leave.

"Crystla, wait!" Crystla turned around.

"Are you doing anything tomorrow night?" asked Ryan. Was he actually getting up the guts to ask Crystla out? Something he hadn't ever been able to do since sixth grade, when he met Crystla.

"No, why?"

"Do you want to go to Uncle Bob's Burgers with me?"

"I'm a vegetarian."

"They serve veggie burgers."

"What about Erin?"

"We broke up."

"Okay." Crystla kissed Ryan's cheek. (You are probably all screaming at me for not being romantic enough, but I didn't think it was a good time for a fluffy lip lock). "Bye."

Ryan just stood there, not believing his luck. Then, he went back inside.

Richard had finally calmed Nikki down. But when she saw Ryan, she started cracking up all over again.

"What is so funny?" asked Ryan.

"XYZ," said Nikki.

"What?"

"Examine your zipper."

"What are you talking about?"

"Look down."

Ryan looked down. His fly was unzipped! Did Crystla notice? How mortifying! He immediately zipped it up.

"Ryan, why are you blushing?" asked Nikki suspiciously.

"No reason," said Ryan.

"Who was at the door?" asked Richard.

"Your next door neighbor, Crystla," said Ryan. "She needed flour. Is it okay if I gave her some?"

"Sure. I never use it anyway," said Richard.

"Ooooooo, Crystla," said Nikki.

"Shut up, Nikki," said Ryan.

"Ryan's liked Crystla White since sixth grade," Nikki told Richard.

"She's going to UBB with me tomorrow night," said Ryan triumphantly.

"I thought she was a vegetarian," said Nikki.

"Yeah, they serve veggie burgers," said Ryan.

"Okay," said Richard. "I really don't want to hear about my kids' love life. Anyway, it's getting late. You better get home."

"Okay," said Nikki. "Ryan, start the car."

"Ryan, start the car," Ryan mimicked.

"Stop being a jerk," said Nikki.

Ryan grumbled, but went to start it.

"You look exactly like your mother, you know," said Richard.

"That's what everyone says. I'd prefer to have my own identity, but Mom's really pretty, I mean, Ryan's friend, Dave asked her out, but she said no," said Nikki.

"Nikki, let's go!" said Ryan.

"Okay. Bye, Dad," said Nikki.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Nikki and Ryan got home in about five minutes.

"Hey, Mom!" said Ryan.

"Hi, Mom!" said Nikki.

"Oh, good, you're home, Nikki. Your Uncle Victor called and said you need to baby-sit Jasmine," said Kory.

"What? This is just great. Why? Why?" complained Nikki.

"Because your Aunt Bee's cousin just had her baby and they have to see the baby," said Kory.

"Why can't Ryan baby-sit? Ryan never does anything!" said Nikki.

"Ryan does a lot of things," said Kory.

"Like what?" asked Nikki.

"Ummmmm…" Kory couldn't really think of anything.

"My point exactly!" cried Nikki.

"Don't get your panties all up in a knot, little sis. Tomorrow, I'm gonna spend every penny I have to make sure the beautiful Crystla White is happy on her date with me," said Ryan.

"You want to spend money on Crystla, though," said Nikki.

"Nikki, you are going to baby-sit Jasmine," said Kory. "Ryan, drive her."

"But, Mom…" said Ryan,

"No buts. Or no date for you tomorrow," said Kory.

"Fine," said Ryan. "Nikki, let's go." Nikki looked slightly happier now that Ryan had to drive her against his will.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

The phone rang. Kory picked it up.

"Hello?" said Kory.

"Hey, it's Richard," said Richard. "Are the kids okay?"

"They're fine," said Kory. Then she remembered something. "Richard? You know how last night, you ki—"

"You know, Kory, I gotta go for now. See you around," said Richard.

"Richard? Hello?" Kory realized he hung up on her.

Kory stared at the phone for a while. Then, she realized something. Something that she had subconsciously known all along but hadn't really faced it until now.

She was still in love with Richard.

Poll:

Rate this chapter.

What was the funniest part of this chapter?

Will the Ryan/ Crystla thing be a fling or a meaningful romance?

What is your favorite food?

Review or DIE!

Love Always,

Chelsea :)