Authors Note: Sorry it has taken me sooooooooo very long to update this story. To tell you the truth I was beginning to doubt I would ever find reason to update it again, for you see I had lost my muse. I have had no one mention my story in months and had basically put it on permanent retirement, yet due to the reviews of one very kind girl, who managed to read this whole story so far in less than 2 days, my writer's spirit, which had gone dry, is now rekindled. I also read a few of her wonderfully written stories to give myself the inspiration to create this chapter which will better lead to the ultimate end I have planned for this segment of the series. So, to stop my rambling I end with this.

This one's for you Dracori thank you for you're kind words of encouragement, and I hope the length better suits you.

Disclaimer: I do not own "As Told by Ginger" or any part thereof, please do not hurt me.

Chpt. 6 – Breakfast of Tears

Blinking as light filtered through the curtains, auburn hair was brushed out of view rather clumsily by a bandaged hand. Startling upright Carl Foutly looked down upon his now well wrapped appendage and wondered at why it appeared as it did. Recognition crossed his face as the event of the past two days sunk back into his conscious mind. The annoyance, the love, the passion, the torture, it all came rushing back like the lighting to metal, and then there were tears. It's not like he had never been without Blake before, in fact, he normally rejoiced at the absence of his one true rival. Yet in only two days his entire reality was flipped on its head, leaving a middle school boy to wonder why love has to hurt so much.

Finally regaining some of his ever-waning composure, Carl made his way down the staircase toward the kitchen. Only upon reaching the main floor of the household did Carl even become aware of the fact that he was still wearing the cloths he had on yesterday, wrinkled and disheveled from his troubled sleep. Entering the kitchen, Carl found his mother in her usual position above the sink washing the dishes she had just used to make breakfast.

"Did you sleep well?"

The question from his mother caught Carl off guard, and caused him to pause, if only just slightly. The voice that carried the tone was obviously that of a mother, yet it seemed worried, it seemed like there was something more…

"Yeah, just fine"

His voice was dull and lacking emotion, maybe she wouldn't notice, but already she seemed to know more than she should. It almost seemed as if she were hiding something.

"Carl…"

Here it comes,

"I know about you and Blake..."

Carl's jaw drops in amazement. That was definantly the last thing he had expected to hear form his mother, but how could she know, he never said anything, and despite their constant quarreling he knew Ginger would do the same, unless…

"…and I'm sorry for everything that's happened."

Lois finished her sentence and it was as if the world had suddenly crashed in. Darting across the room Carl wrapped his small arms around his mother's waist and proceeded to bury his now tear streaked face into her apron. Holding him gently, Lois ran her fingers through her little boy's hair as she proceeded to utter small reassurances and comforting words that only he would ever hear. As Carl once again regained his composure he looked up towards the loving eyes of his mother and smiled.

"Thanks…"

"No thanks necessary kiddo, now why don't you go upstairs and put on some decent cloths. Hoodsy called and should be over any time now."

Suddenly it hit Carl, today was Sunday. He normally loved Sundays because they are the day before Monday which meant that they were also the allotted time of the week for Hoodsy and himself to get together and plot their weekly pranks. Bidding his mother goodbye he proceed to grab a piece of toast and return to the room from whence he came, all the while temporarily placing the back of his mind all that had happened with Blake.

As he exited the kitchen he nearly plowed over the now yawning form of his older sister who had just entered the room clad in a nightgown. Muttering his apologies he sped from the room.

"How long were you there Ging?"

"Long enough…"

and with that being said, the phone rang…

40 minutes later inside the doghouse

Cramped into the clubhouse situated in the Foutly's back yard, Carl and Hoodsy begin their weekly planning session. Falling into his weekly routine Carl is allowed to momentarily forget about all the troubles of the world that is his and revolve solely about causing havoc to the worlds of others. That is, until…

"So what should we plan of old 'goody Gripling' this week"

Carl's eyes go suddenly dark at the mention of the one who has been so unfairly torn away from him. Glancing down at his crossed legs Carl's silence begins to worry his long-time best friend.

"Yo, Carl, what's up man?..."

Carl's ever persistent silence makes him nearly impossible to read, even to one so close to him as Hoodsy. Tilting his head even further forward, Carl's bangs fall in front of his face, casting a shadow upon all from the chin up. Unexpectedly a single tear falls from said chin to shatter into a thousand liquid shards upon the floor below.

"That's it, what's wrong, I'm your best friend, out of all the people in the world I think I have the right to know what goes on inside…"

His words are cut short by the sudden outburst from the other.

"YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND…"

With a flash of movement Carl is gone as he storms from the doghouse and, sobbing, makes his way into the back door of his true home. Stumbling, confused, from the clubhouse, Hoodsy follows to the back door and, opening with caution, finds only Ginger seated at the kitchen table, now clad in caprices and a pink tank-top that says "princess"

"Does someone want to tell me what's going on with Carl? …"

Ginger looks down at the drink she's holding then back up before motioning to the seat next to her. As Hoodsy climbs up onto the chair Ginger begins what will certainly be a long tale.

"How do I say this Hoodsy…Carl's…in love…"

Just a reminder to all of my like 3 devoted fans, I am still in school and am currently taking time out of my sleep time to write this, please do not be mad if it take a good while for the next chapter. (You can help the chapters to come faster by encouraging me with reviews, they make me happy) until latta.

MK