Okay guys, this is important. I've seen THREE stories that are pretty much the same as mine, Kali and all. That is PLAGERISM, and is ILLEGAL. If you would like to use Kali, email me or ask in a review, don't just steal her. It makes me angry.
Chapter TEN
When a bright beam of light awoke Kali on the twenty-second of Fall, her first thought was that whoever was shining that flashlight in her eyes was going to die slowly. Muttering under her breath, Kali flipped onto her stomach and buried her head under her pillow, eyes still closed. There were a few quiet whispers as she made herself comfortable and sighed in warm contentment, and then Kali heard a soft rustling noise. About to yell at the intruders, Kali was beginning to push herself up when suddenly her bed decided to roll over. With an enraged squeak, Kali found herself on the hard, cold floor, trapped under her mattress. Hysterical laughter resounded through the room, and Kali could clearly make out Ann, Cliff, Elli, Popuri, and Gray. Sighing in discontentment, Kali began to wriggle her way out from under the bed. When she appeared from under the large mass, she instantly snuggled up against the floor, covering her head with her pillow.
"Will you guys leave me alone?" she asked in a muffled, sleepy whisper, her eyes closed again. Suddenly the room was filled with bright light, and Kali shrieked, bolting into a sitting position instantly.
"Happy birthday, Kali!" Kali looked around in surprise, eyeing the small part of Mineral Town that was currently in her room. The balloons that floated around the ceiling caught Kali's eye as Ann came forward and placed a party hat on the befuddled birthday girl. Gray came forward then, carrying a circular multicolored cake on a plate. The lights suddenly went out as the cake was thrust toward her, candles shimmering. Kali yawned and stretched, blatantly ignore the cake and everyone around her. When she finished stretching, her eyes half-closed, she raised her head and finally acknowledged the cake.
"Wassthisfor?" The merry grins slid off some of the villager's faces, and Gray raised an eyebrow as his smile grew.
"Your. . . birthday, Kali. It's your birthday," he said slowly, grinning all the while.
"Hmm," she stated, staring at the cake. "Isn't cake for lunch or dinner?" Ann was suddenly on the floor next to Kali.
"Just blow the candles out. We can eat it later. Stop being such a party pooper!" Kali yawned again and feebly blew toward the cake. The flames bobbed a bit, and resumed their happy burning.
"I don't wanna," Kali told Ann matter-of-factly, yawning again. "Gray'll do it for me, won't you Gray?" Gray obediently blew the candles out and handed the cake to Ann.
"You're eating this for lunch," she warned as she headed out, followed by Cliff. Everyone slowly left after wishing Kali a happy birthday, until only Gray and Kali were left. As soon as the last person left, Kali's eyes popped open and she shook her head energetically.
"I hate surprises, you know," she told Gray, who nodded.
"You've told me many times."
They stared quietly at the overturned bed.
"Was that really necessary?"
". . .yes." After a few more seconds of silence, Gray continued. "I have the day off. What do you want to do?"
"Well, first I need my coffee, because I can't function without my coffee. And then we can figure something out." Kali decided, standing up and heading to her clothing chest. Gray stood and began to fix the overturned bed.
"Kali," he said, amused, "you don't even drink coffee." Kali waited until his back was to her, and began to change.
"Now's a good time to start, I'd say," she told him as she pulled on capris. Gray finished making the bed and sat on it, still facing the opposite way.
"You done? I have a few . . . surprises for you," he said reluctantly. Kali sighed indignantly from behind him, straightening her shirt.
"Surprises," she scoffed as he turned and met her gaze.
"You'll like this one," he assured her, "I promise." Kali slid her feet into orange sandals that clashed horribly with her outfit and followed Gray as he led her out of the Inn. When they reached Mother's Hill, Kali stopped.
"Where are we going? I'm not properly equipped to go hiking, if that's what this is," she gestured innocently toward her sandals.
"Just a little farther," Gray urged, and they continued up the mountain. They turned the corner and Gray stopped.
"What . . ." Kali trailed off slowly and followed Gray's gaze. A few yards from the lake stood a completely wooden house, surrounded by planted flower beds. Kali gasped in awe and stared, taking in her dream house.
"Happy birthday, Kali," Gray said quietly as he looked proudly over their new home. Kali flung herself into his arms and hugged him furiously.
"Thank you Gray. Thank you, thank you." Gray laughed feebly as the air was forced from his lungs.
"There's one more surprise," he warned as Kali let go and stepped hesitantly toward the house. Almost as if on cue, the door opened.
"Hullo, Kali!" Standing in a frilly pink apron was Kai, holding a plate of fresh cookies. He waved with one hand, beaming. "I was just making sure your cooking equipment worked- OOF!" Kai held the plate of cookies over his head and hugged his crying sister awkwardly with one arm. "Hey, hey, stop crying. Do the cookies really smell that bad?" He sniffed one and shrugged. "I think they smell okay. . ."
"I'm so glad you're back, Kai," Kali told him, stepping back and wiping tears from her eyes. Gray appeared next to her and slung an arm around her waist, grinning at Kai.
"I think she liked it," he said, nodding. Kai grinned and held his plate out.
"Cookie?" Kali took one and shoved it into her mouth, grinning tearfully.
"This is great," she said. Kai smiled.
"Why, thank—" he trailed off as Kali walked up to the house and touched it carefully, as if it might break. "Oh." Gray laughed at Kai's expression and joined his soon-to-be-wife.
"I've been working on it for ages. I wanted to get it just perfect," he explained and Kali peeked inside.
"It is perfect, Gray. Can I go in?"
"Unless you want to live on the roof, you probably should go in," Kai told her sarcastically, cradling his cookies carefully. Kali ignored his tone and stepped into the house, shrieking in happiness.
The downstairs was separated into two parts; a kitchen and a small living room. The kitchen's floor was a dark wood, and the walls were covered in white tile. Occasionally a bit of writing covered a wall tile, and Kali crept closer to inspect. Each colorful tile was signed by one of her or Gray's friends, accompanied by a joke or memory.
"It's just like my room," Kali said breathlessly, referring to her old room on the boat.
"It is," Kai agreed, setting his cookies down on the marble counter. Gray stood in the living room and surveyed the dark red walls lovingly as Kali ran her fingers over the smooth kitchen tiles.
"I'm glad it came out so well," he murmured. He sat on a black couch and sank into it, closing his eyes happily. There was another black couch on the opposite side of the room, a glass coffee table in between. A fireplace sat facing the table, parallel to the couches. An oriental rug covered the wooden floor under the table and couches. Behind the couch opposite Gray, a staircase led the way upstairs.
"I like the upstairs the best," Kai put in awkwardly, watching his two friends. Kali stepped away from the tile reluctantly.
"Show me the way," she grinned, and followed her brother upstairs. Gray followed slowly after them. The staircase led directly to Kali and Gray's room. As soon as she saw the room clearly, Kali laughed.
"Gray and I talked on the phone for awhile to figure out how to decorate it. He said I could either do this room or the bathroom myself," he told her proudly. The carpeting was black, and the walls were painted a cheery blue color. The large bed was in the middle of the room, against the back wall and had a black comforter, black pillows, and blue sheets that matched the walls. A large, light colored wood dresser sat in a corner, next to the bed. Kali continued to giggle as she looked at the pictures the decorated the walls. Most were beach scenes, but some were pictures of family and friends.
"It's great, Kai," she told him honestly, falling onto the soft bed. Gray shook his head, although smiling, from his position at the top of the stairs.
"Oh, and the bathroom too!" Kai exclaimed like a small child, and bolted to a door next to the dresser.
The walls were covered in wallpaper that suggested a beach scene. White tiles made up the floor, and a shining white sink stood next to a new looking toilet in one corner. Across from the two sat a bathtub/shower with a tropical shower curtain. A fake hibiscus plant hung from the ceiling, its bright flowers almost reaching Kali's head. She laughed in excitement.
"This is wonderful! Definitely the best birthday present ever," she exclaimed, heading back to the bedroom to find Gray.
"Wait, wasn't I the best birthday present ever?" Kai hollered toward her back before following.
Gray was lying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. When he heard Kali enter, he turned toward her, grinning.
"I don't know how I'm ever going to be able to sleep in this room. It's way too bright." Kali sat beside him and surveyed the room.
"You shouldn't have given Kai the option of the bedroom. He probably would have been slightly more color coordinated if you told him to do the kitchen. And I like it, anyway," she decided, lying back next to Gray.
"Mmm," Gray agreed. A sudden thought crossed Kali's mind and she bolted upright.
"Hey Kai?" she called, and the said brother appeared from the bathroom door. "What . . . what about you?" Gray snickered from the bed, and Kai walked out of the bathroom smugly. Carefully, he pulled a box from inside his pant leg and lifted the top. Inside sat a perfect blue feather. Kali grinned at him.
"Popuri'll say yes for sure."
"I know," he grinned back, replacing the feather in his pocket. "I told her to come to the Inn for lunch, and that's where I'll do it." Gray sat up, checking his watch.
"Speaking of which . . ." he began, standing, "we have to be back at the Inn in an hour for brunch."
"Oh!" Kai's eyes widened. "Hurry up, slow pokes!" Kali and Gray watched him take off down the stairs, and continued to sit on the bed.
"Hey Gray?"
"Yeah?"
"After eating, we're moving in."
"That's what I thought."
"Good."
