Elfbrat18: Wow, I'm surprised I even recieved reviews on this one.

Whistler: Whaddya mean?

Elfbrat18: I didn't think anyone would like it.

Whistler: I do!

Elfbrat18: That's because you've been helping write it. Ya know, this is one that I am definitely happy with. I mean I'm happy with all of the ones I have up, but I haven't had to change this one around much before I posted it.

Whistler: So what. dreamcloud516, thanks for the reviews! It was just a random thought that popped into Elfbrat18's head one day, so go figure. Oh yeah, please please please don't threaten us! LOL, it's cool, that might be the only thing that can get us motivated if we're having an off day. Thanks again for the review!

Elfbrat18: animeaddict99, wow. I feel so honored that you want to put me on your C2! What is that, anyway? 0.o; I haven't figured it out, yet. ; I'll be sure to check out your stories as well! Thanks for the review!

Jetlag, Pictures, and Spaghetti

The plane bound for West Palm Beach, Florida arrived sometime between 6 and 7 am. Among its jet-lagged passengers were two teens, desperate to get to their resting place to make up for lack of sleep.

As Willow gathered their bags and hailed a taxi, Tea found a vacant payphone and called her mother. "Hey mom? You awake? We just arrived. Who? Her name's Willow, she's a cousin of Rebecca Hawkins. Yeah. We're going to be staying with Rebecca and her grandpa. Uh huh. He's here for the summer busy with a project concerning Atlantis. Well...Willow's helping load our bags into the taxi. Yeah, turns out the plane was bound for West Palm Beach. Willow said that they're in Miami, so we're gonna take a cab part of the way to Fort Luderdale and Professor Hewkins is going to pick us up from there. Uh huh, we've got enough. Willow had an extra plane ticket so that saved some money. What? Oh no. What did they say? I was afraid of that. So only they know? Did they get the letter? I see. Okay. They did what! Know what? A small part of me is glad that they didn't make it. It would have been so hard for me to tell them goodbye." Tea turned her head to see Willow flailing her arms about for her to hurry it up.

"Mom? I gotta go for now. Willow's telling me that the cab is ready to go. Okay. Alright. Love you too, Mom. Okay. Bye." she said finally, hanging up the phone. She took a deep breath and let it out. Her mother and friends were practically on the other side of the world, and she wouldn't see them agian until the fall.

"It's alright. I can do this." Tea told herself as she ran over to Willow. "I'll be fine on my own."

Some five hours later, Willow and Tea found themselves even more tired when they finally made it to Fort Lauderdale. Tea stared out the window as the cab zoomed through the city while Willow talked to Rebecca on her cell.

"Tea?"

"Huh?"

"You okay?"

"Yeah...just tired is all."

"I know what you mean." Willow sighed, slouching back in her seat. "Well I just got off the phone with Rebecca. Hey mister, our stop has changed. It's going to be a little further, I'm afraid."

The brown haired rocker-type driver just nodded and said, "That's fine. Just tell me where I can take you two ladies. You want to know something? You two have been two of the nicest people I've picked up."

"That's because we're tired," Willow mumbled. "But yeah, thanks for the compliment; there are some jerks out there."

"So where are we going?" Tea yawned.

"Oh right. Our stop is going to be at the Waffle House on Main Street, mister...uh..."

"Just call me Bo." the driver replied.

"Huh, that's funny, Bo." Willow laughed. "After riding with you for five hours we didn't even catch your name unitl just now."

The cab pulled into the Waffle House parking lot and pulled into the parking space next to what looked like either a black or dark green SUV where a pre-teen and an old man were waiting.

Bo got out and popped the trunk as Tea and Willow slowly made their way out, wincing at the numbness in their legs.

"Grandpa! Rebecca!" Willow said, half-happy and half-tired as she embraced her grandfather and cousin.

"My, how are you Willow? I haven't seen you for at least two years! And how are you, Tea? Willow didn't go into much detail in her call." Professor Hawkins said.

"It's a long story..." Tea sighed as she paid Bo, giving him a generous tip for his going out of the way. She just knew she would have to retell her story again.

"And that's what happened." Tea said, finally taking a breath as she retold the story.

Professor Hawkins nodded his head. "I see. Tea, you are free to stay with Rebecca and Willow at the beach house if you wish. There are plenty of rooms."

"Thanks. But aren't you going to be there, Professor?"

"Nope. It'll be just us girls," Rebecca piped in from the front seat. "Grandpa's going to be staying with the rest of his group as they continue to work on an Atlanits project for the museum."

It was getting close to sunset as the SUV pulled into the driveway of the beachouse. The house was made up of two floors. On the bottom floor was the living room that branched off from a hall to the right, the kitchen was to the left, a hall closet and bathroom. The hall led to double doors, that when opened, shown the large deck and a pool off to the side. Upstairs was the bedrooms, and one large bathroom. There were four bedrooms, all around the same size-pretty big-but only one had a somewhat large bathroom. Two rooms to the left, and two to the right.

"Tea, you can take that room." Rebecca said, referring to the one with the bathroom as she helped her bring in some of her bags and place them on the bed. "You're going to be staying here all summer, right?"

"Yeah, I guess so." Tea said, stretching her sore limbs.

"Then this can be your room each time you come out here. My room is the one directly across from this one and Willow's is beside mine. Make yourself at home here. If you need anything, just ask."

"Thanks Rebecca." Tea said to her retreating form.

"Hey Tea..." she heard Rebecca say as she stopped at the doorway.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry. About everything."

Tea turned to face the window. "It's alright. I've put it behind me. Time to move on. I'm not gonna cry over him anymore."

"And Tea?"

"Hm?"

"What was it like when the Pharaoh kissed you?"

Tea felt the heat in her cheeks rise to an alarming temperature. "...it was nice..." she said at last.

"Nice!" Rebecca said, turning around to face Tea's backside. "Come on now! I can see you blushing from way over here! I'm not stupid, Tea. That kiss was more than 'nice' and you know it! Well, it's getting late. Willow's fixing some spaghetti for supper. She said it'll be done in maybe half an hour. I'll come get you when it's ready."

After Rebecca had left the room, Tea began to unpack her things. When she came to the photo album she had placed in her carry-on bag, she stopped and sat down.

As Tea opened the book, the memories came flooding back from each picture. I guess pictures really do tell a thousand words, Tea thought. It was then that she realized that she barely had any pictures of Yami.

"Yami..." Tea sighed. The way she said it was strained. She felt that she made a mistake in kissing Yami. What must he think of her now? Would they even be friends anymore? As she stared at the few pictures she did have of him, she regretted not taking the time to take more. I'll make everything up to him...someday, she thought as she heard Rebecca calling her from downstairs.

But at the moment, she was starving.

Elfbrat18: Here comes the end of another chapter.

Whistler: But don't get down. Just click that little review button and tell us what you thought of it.