AN: Backeth! Oh my gosh you will not believe how stupid my computer is! I would type up a beautiful chapter and a whole chuck of it would suddenly disappear after I've saved! And don't get me started on spell check. Just hang on tight because I have no intention of not completing this story okay? I barely even started it! XD Watch out, I warn you that those 'ackward years' will happen and this is where the funnies really kick it in. You think they're cute now. Hahahaha...

Disclaimer: I do not own the 6teen gang so do not sue me, I'm borrowing them.

Pfft, as if someone would actually take me to court when I'm one in a thousand of people that write these fanfictions. Anyway on with the fic, I promise I'll make it extra fluffy this time.

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It was just another ordinary day at school, or so the gang thought. Jen and Nikki were quickly changing into their shorts and t-shirts while slipping on their sneakers in a hurried fashion. They were trying to make the two minute rule for changing in the locker room, lest they do five sit-ups. The gym teacher was an okay guy, letting them play dodgeball every Friday and giving them free time here and there to do whatever. Though he had some tough rules that were certainly followed by tough consequences.Today was Friday and excitment for a dodgeball game got the two girls out in a minute.

"Okay you kids, it's Friday and since last game the boys won, they get to choose which form of dodgeball we play." Said Mr. Gerret as he stood near in front of the cross-legged children listening to him attentively. He was a tall lean type of guy who was considerably young, probably around 25. He had a full head of hazelnut brown hair and his almond shaped eyes were green. Right now they were looking at the children with amusement as the girls rolled their eyes and the guys whispered amongst themselves. Finally theu had come to some sort of a conclusion as a timid boy spoke up. "We want to play boys vs girls Dr.Dodgeball." The girls had cheered, liking this choice too and Mr.Gerret gave a nod of aproval. With yet another cheer the girls went on one half of the gym and the boys another.

"Okay, who should be the Doc?" asked Jen as the girls huddled together, she always took team leader when it was girls against boys simply because she more than anybody wanted them to crumble. That, and she was pretty much born to be a leader anyway so the girls never said anything against it. Nikki, who was still getting used to the daily routine stayed quiet as the other girls kept on calling out 'Oh me, Oh me!'. Jen was wonderig which girl would be the most sneakiest when a girl named Emily spoke up.

"How about Nikki? This is her first time and the boys won't suspect her. And she's pretty sneaky too I guess." The shy girl said as she looked to the ground, obviously she wasn't the type to speak up when she had and idea. Nikki shrugged indifferently but a faint blush stained her cheeks as the eyes went to her, judging wether she'd make a good doctor for them.

"You know... That's not a bad idea Emily!" Jen cried but then quickly hushed as the heads turned towards them from the other team that was strategiesing on the other half of the gym. "Okay Nikki, this is what you do. If someone gets hit by one of those red balls they sit down. Now, the object of Dr.Dodgeball is that you have to try to find out who the Doctor is and get them out because the Doctor goes around touching the seated people and revives them so they could play. If the doctor is out then the other team can keep on getting the players and no one gets revived. that's why we need someone sneak like you." Jen grinned as she could just taste victory. "We'll have three decoy Doctors that will stick together and touch everybody at the same time and then break apart. The boys will know it's one of the four but they won't be able to tell who."

After more whispering, Mr.Gerret finally blew the whistle signaling the start of the game. Imediately the two teams picked up the red rubber balls and hauled them at the opposing enemy. The girls team stuck to the original strategy, making sure that Nikki was covered the whole time and that no one figured out she was the good ol' Doc. Nikki was beginning to feel a little crowded and desperately needed her personal space, so to her private relief the boys figured out who she was and the need for closure was gone. Soon her relief was followed by panic as 17 odd, hyperactive boys started to whip balls at her. She started to resemble a ballerina as she had to leap, duck and twirl to dodge those rampent blurs of red. Jen had gone into overdrive and that was probably why they won, because her aim got nearly everyone she wanted and through leadership skills she could only posses at that age, got the other girls pumped up aswell. That was the first time Nikki saw her friend being so intimidating and she sighed with relief, knowing that she was on her team so she wouldn't get the brunt of it.

"What craziness." she murmered to herself as she quickly tapped fallen girls over their shoulders to signify their 'revival' to the game. Truthfully there was no way she could get so worked up over such a pointless win. Who cares if we win or not?

Ah, as the game ended and the girls won, Nikki soon saw why as the battle of the genders came out full blow.

"We won fair and square!" Jen yelled to the chubby bully, which had gotten more than his fair share of beatings from Jen.

"No you didn't! You had more than one doctor!" He spat back and the girls 'Eewed!' and took a far step away from his spittle.

"In the game of war there is always one decoy you know!" Jen said in a matter-of-fact tone and she put her hand on her hips. The boy's eye's narrowed and stared her down.

"Girls don't belong in war anyway, or in sports or anything else!" he said and gave Jen a push and she stumbled down. Nikki and the other girls gasped, even the boys seemed a little taken back. "You are such a dolt Jen, you think you are allowed to do whatever you want. Well you know what. you're a he-she!" he yelled and folded his arms. Jen seemed at a loss for words, and started crying angry tears instead.

"No I'm not!" she nearly screamed and the boys started to snicker. A stab of pain hit Nikki as the familiarity of not being accepted snuck in through her stoic 'I don't care' barriers. Then she glanced around, where the heck was the teacher anyway?

"Hey bozo! she's not a he-she, she's a pretty girl that is nice and kind. Also, sports is for girls to so there!" Nikki cried out and helped Jen up. "You think you are all that George, picking on girls just becasue they are better than you. You arn't brave when you say those words, your a coward!" The boys stopped their snickering as they blinked at Nikki's tone. She was obviously not someone to mess with and right now she was mad. Also... they didn't know what a 'freak' would do to them if they started to argue.

George stomped his foot angrily. "A coward? I'm not afraid of freaks and wannabe's like you too. The thing is though, you all know I'm right when I saw you guys don't belong with normal people. She's not pretty and you wear too much makeup, got something to hide Nikki?" he asked and gave a sneer. Nikki held herself as she remembered to be calm. "I have nothing to hide, and I'm proud of who I am. So your words mean nothing to me." with that she took her sniffling friend to the locker rooms so that they could change in peace.

"They've been saying things like that forever!" Jen sniffled and Nikki gave her a tissue so that she could blow her nose while she try to hide the grimace that came with the disgusting sound. "My family teases me about it, the other kids do aswell... I'm sorry I got you into it, I wish I could be as confident as you."

Nikki smiled and offered to put Jens hair back into two pigtails that she had taken off for gym to put into a single ponytail. "It's not easy though, I know what it's like aswell. I'm a freak, that's what they call me, but I know that that's who I am and I'm proud of it. Being unique and different doesn't mean that you arn't as good of a person as anybody else right?" Jen nodded and gave Nikki the smile back when she was done styling her hair. "Good, now let's go out for recess and meet the boys, they are always fun to be with."

At Recess

"Okay, Jude has an annoucement for us today don't ya?" Wyatt said when they met at the field, sitting down on the grassy flooring. When Jude didn't speak up he gave him a sharp nudge.

"Ow! Okay okay Dude..." Nikki and Jen exchanged looks as he shyly looked to the floor. This wasn't the same kid who would greet them with a smile and a goffy saying. What was so wrong? Jude looked up at them with hesitation and then his eyes flickered for a second, caught between happy for a distraction and genuine worry. "Hey Jen, why are your eyes so puffy? Have you been crying?" he asked and frowned.

Jen had started to stumble and hastily rubbed her eyes. "No no, nothings wrong I guess I'm just-" Nikki sensed that Jen was going to lie so she interrupted her. "-That kid George had pushed her and called her some mean things. Dumb jerk." she said and earned a glare from Jen, who had obviously not wanted that little episode repeated to them.

Jude's eyes went wide and Wyatt looked disapprovingly at Jen's reluctance and that someone was bullying her. "Why wouldn't you tell us? George was in my class last year and he always picked on me. We're your friends and everything so we tell each other everything." Jen smiled and gave Wyatt a hug.

"Okay, but speaking of telling us everything... What was your little announcement?" she asked and Jude gulped, quickly tearing out of her hold. "Umm.. Well like, my birthday is coming up on Saturday and my mom said that you are all invited over for a house party and stuff like that." It was here he blushed a lot and took out the invitation cards from his pockets and handed them over to his friends.

"Judes embarrased about his family, really there is nothing wrong with them but he always gets like this when people are meeting them for the first time." Wyatt informed them as he opened his invite, a small card with a birthday cake and inside stated the time, date and address.

"So? My parents have the worst sense of humor and always embarrass me, trust me it's probably the same as your family." Nikki stated reassuringly. Jen just stayed quiet, looking over everything. She would definitaly go, but she just wondered what she should expect from people who left their son to do whatever he pleases and barely feed him. He didn't seem abused or anything but she had no way of knowing...

Saturday couldn't come slower. Jen had washed her hair and put it up in pigtails with her favourite sparkily golden bands with the red ornaments on them. She had a little yellow dress on with orange flower decorations that gave it more of a Sunday sundress appeal then anything formal. After all, this was a birthday party. She slipped on yellow sandals and packed a little blue bag of things she'd need. It seems that today she'd be staying the night over, almost like a slumber party but with boys aswell. She sat on her front porch as she waited for Nikki's parents to arrive in a black BMW as Nikki described. Her mother was away today and her sister couldn't take her because she had plans so she relied on her best friend to get there. Sure enough a black car pulled up at the turn of the street and Jen waved to them, signaling where she was. She got up and stood to greet her friend's family.

They pulled up at Jen's driveway and Nikki got out to give Jen a hug and introduce everyone. she was wearing her hair up into two oriental style buns that formed and interesting pattern with their wildly streaked purple hair She was wearing a balck dress with blue Kanji characters strewn wildly and she had her black alice slippers with the red and purple streaked stockings. Yup, even dressed beautifully Nikki was herself. Said Asian girl rolled her eyes as her parents gushed out of the car to throw compliments and embarress her.

"Oh! You must be Jen... Nikki's told us so much about how you've been kind to her, with her moving back here and being new and all.." Mrs.Wong said as she cooed over how pretty Jen looked in the sundress. Jen blushed and said a polite 'Thank you' and shook the hand Mr.Wong was holding out for her before they went inside the car. Nikki got into the backseat beside her and looked at the present she got for Jude.

"Do you think he'll like the T-shirt I erm, customized for him?" she asked and pulled out the homemade T-shirt and Jen couldn't help but stare. It was black and it had a collage of different skateboarding positions and writing here and there. The one message she giggled at was, "I may look like a cute kid, but inside me is a speed demon." In red Pooh writing. Nikki blushed when Jen complimented her on the sewn creation and told her that Jude would love it. "So where's your present Jen?' she asked and looked around her person to see where she could have stashed it.

Jen giggled, "It's in my bag, you'll see when we get there 'kay?" she said and changed the topic to what they'd do at the sleepover. They had talked about so many things that they didn't even noticed they arrived to a nice neighborhood and parked outside a big white house that had a beautiful wooden front porch decorated with plants..

"Kids, were here!" Mr.Wong called out from behind the wheel. The two girl hurried out the car. "Bye Mr. and Mrs.Wong! Thank you for driving me here!" "Bye mom, by dad, see ya tomorrow!" And then they ran up the stone steps to the door. Nikki pressed the doorbell and heard the echo of it from the inside. They waited paitiently as they heard a pair of footsteps approaching quickly.

There they saw Jude fling open the door, wearing an oversized navy blue T-shirt and black jeans. He was smiling and looked happy to see them, "Hey Jen, Hey Nikki!" he said in a chiper tone as he stepped back to let them in, opening the door even wider. The two girls hustled in and looked around. The place had nice furniture and each room was painted a different colour. The livingroom was huge and had an oak coffee table filled with snacks. The colour was a light green and the couches were yellow microfibre material. Plants were strewn around from the ceiling and on various corners and there was even a mini waterfall wall that was made out of crystal glass. There was a big banner in front of them with "Happy Birthday!" on it. The two girls gasped at everything, it was odd yet in an exotic way. They saw Wyatt who was wearing a yellow shit with green bugs and light blue jeans. He smiled and waved at them from the couch, eating munchies and pizza.

Gathering her wits as Jen continued to stare at everything Nikki turned to Jude and held out her birthday bag to him. "Happy Birthday Jude!" she said and he smiled. "Thanks Nikki!" He took the bag and put it on another table beside the 'water wall' that was littered with presents already. Jen snapped out of her momentary lapse and blushed.

She quickly took the present out of the bag, one a small box with a red ribbon and the other a card. "Hey Jude, Happy Birthday!" she said and gave him a hug when he turned around to thank her. Nikki giggled and Wyatt made a goofy face at Jude's blush. "Uh.. Thanks, I'll take that and we'll open the presents later." he said and gave a happy yet really goofy grin as he set the two items on the table.

"Honeybear I thought I heard the doorbell ring, are more of your friends here?" came a voice from behind them. Everyone turned and saw a woman with long blonde hair walk in to smile at them. Her voice was kind and soft and her face was oval shaped and fair. She had teal eyes and full pink lips, with a frame fit for a model. She was wearing a forest green shirt and a long sirt that was dark brown and crinkled in a fashionable way. Her blonde hair reached to her lower back and framed her face with the long bangs. Jen blinked but then smiled at the woman and Nikki in turn did the same. "Oh my what sweet young girls... I'm Jude's mother." she said bending down and putting her palms on her thighs while smiling at the two flabbergatsed girls. "I'm so glad you could come, I know Jude appreciates it very much, don't you dear?" she asked her son and he nodded back, a blush intact on his face.

She then turned around to look at Wyatt, who was blushing so much the he couldn't look at anybody in embarrassment and opted to look down at his hands. "Why hello young Wyatt, I hope you are comfortable?" she asked in a naturally sweet voice. At first Wyatt tried to say 'Yes' but only managed to stutter out nonsense, so he nodded his head vigerously and didn't dare meet her eye. Nikki had never seen Wyatt this way and looked to Jen to ask if this was normal with him. apparently not because Jen looked just as confused. They both looked at Jude he didn't seem to care as he played with the water flowing into the stone basin of the water wall.

"I'll go call your father to see when he'll be arriving, okay my precious gem?" Jude shrugged but smiled regardless. When his mother left he once again blushed. Nikki grinned at Wyatt slyly as he started to fidget.

"Why do I have the feeling Wyatt has a crush on Jude's mom?" asked Nikki teasingly as she watched Wyatt's blush grow. He opened his mouth for a retort but Nikki beat him to it, "Because after all, she is pretty and I bet she's sooooo nice to you!" she giggled and winked at the embarrassed child. She then looked over to the birthday kid to see if she weirded him out but as always he seemed happy and relaxed.

Jen got a party plate and filled it with some chips and goodies, not excluding the wonderful veggies and dip that laid partially neglected, before sitting down next to Wyatt on the couch. Nikki followed suite as they all munched on snacks going over the plan for today. Jude sat down on the bamboo chair opposite to the couch near a weird statue that resembled a sign of Zen. "Okay when I'm done greeting guests and all my cousins come we can play a few board games and things like charades. Then when my dad arrives we are going out bowling. That should take a while and we'll create teams and stuff so we get to have a small competition." he looked at Jen instinctively who had a big grin plastered on her face at the mention of competition. 'When we come back, the birthday cake and other stuff will happen and then we open presents. After hanging out and playing a few more games it will be time for the movie and we can watch in my room while we set up the sleepover thingy." he looked at them to see if there were any objections and found none. The doorbell then rang. "Oh, here comes my cousins now." he said and got up to greet his relatives.

His cousines were nice, one could say. Some of the boys were a bit lively but otherwise they were well mannered kids. They had been introduced to each other as everyone was getting their snacks and munchies. The oldest was Ben, who was a ten year old boy that looked the least like anybody from the Lizowski family at all. He had red hair and brown wide eyes that were hidden behind thick rimmed glasses. He was not really tall for a ten year old and he was the know-it-all type that used big words that really had no real meaning. The second oldest was Alice, who was a sweet girl but was too silly. She was nine years old and she acted like she was five! The youngest was a 6 year old boy who looked like Jude the most. He had blonde hair and green eyes that were wide like Jude's. Like his older cousin he was on the taller side of the family.

"Okay, so what should we play?" The birthday boy asked his friends and family as they made their way to another room in his spacious house. This room was almost like a separate entertainment center and more technological as opposed to the naturalistic livingroom they were just in. It had a big plasma t.v hanging off the wall and it with a metal pad for Dance Dance Revolution. The room was a burgendy brown that looked nice because of the different coloured wall lamps giving it a homey yet funky feel. There was a pool table on the left side of the room and in the middle was a small Japanese table and behind it small bean bag cushion that was used for sitting. There were many more electronics like PS2 and Xbox, and even a pin ball machine. The three friends looked in awe where as the relatives who were obviously used to such magnificence ran towards a certain wall.

"PIN THE TAIL ON THE DONKEY!" they cried. Nikki looked at Wyatt who shrugged, "That's what they play every year to begin the fun, it's a tradition. It also isn't your average paper on wall. If you get it on the horses.. bum." Jen giggled and Nikki rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh sush, if you get it there than it makes a 'Yehaw!' sound. If anywhere else, it goes 'YOWEEE!' It's actually really fun." he said with a smile as he walked over to the wall. The two girls followed.

It seemed to be a plastic pad with the picture of a donkey (obviously) on it withh a dessert background. Jude took the tail and a blindfold out of a box beside it. "Okay, we shall do ineey meeny miney mo between the six of you and that will determine who get's to go first. The rest will be alphabetical order and since I'm the birthday boy-"

"Birthday boy goes last!" Alice cried happily and Jude giggled. "Yup, what she said."

They did the little rhyme and Nikki, who never played the game before, was first. She took the tail by the back of the pin and freaked out a little when they put the blindfold on her, not that she's let it show. Like a blind person she stretched out one arm to feel around. The others were shouting "Left, no no right! There there! A little closer.." she pined it and nearly jumped out of her skin at the loud "YOWEEE!" she took the blindfold off and saw she was so close but she got it on the upper leg not the place she was supposed to.

"Aww it's okay Nikki! That was really good for your first try." Jude said. Regardless, said girl was beaming. "That was so much fun! I can't believe I never played that."

Birthday boy grinned. "Okay Alice, you're next!" The girl in the blue dress quickly put on the blindfold, making sure that her dirty blonde bangs were out of the way. She spun herself three times and wobbled over to the pad. Without feeling around, by pure chance she got it on the end on the donkeys bum. "YEHAW!" Came the loud response and the children cheered. Alice grinned happily and took off the blindfold. "Okay Ben, it's your turn!" The boy huffed and said, 'Oh this will be easy"

Without letting Jude help him with the blindfold, he quickly (yet sloppily) put it on himself. he spun around and simply tried to walk up to the pad and thought that if he did it like Alice did, then he'd get it aswell. He put the pin on and grimaced at the loud "YOWEEE!' The children giggled behind him and he took off the blindfold. It seemed that he got it on the donkey's eye. "Good try!" the others said between giggles and Ben just huffed again and put a nose up in the air, walking back.

Jen went next who allowed Jude to put the blindfold over her eyes. She felt him brush the bangs away from her eyes before he did that and giggled, "Hey, that tickled!" Alice nodded behind her, "Yup! It's funneh!" Jen spun around three times and tried to get a sense of what was straight. She felt around a bit, taking suggestions from the others behind her. she hesitated for a second and got confused at the mixed signals they were giving her so she just quickly pinned it on a random place. She was not surprised when the electronic donkey cried out "YOWEEE!" she took it off and giggled when she saw she got it on it's back. "Oh well, I tried." she said, not wanting to be a competitive spoil-sport on Jude's birthday.

The congradulated her and Wyatt was next. "Okay.." he said before Jude put on the blindfold for him. He spun around and walked at what he thought was straight before they called out "TURN AROUND!" just in time before he hit a speaker. He felt around again, feeling the texture of the plastic pad before going all the way left and brought it back a little more. He pressed the pin down and took a deep breathe. "YOWEEE!" Wyatt backed away and squealed at the sudden loudness. He took the blindfold off and saw he was soo close, just a little more up and a little more right and he would have gotten it.

Zeek, who was the six year old cousin went next. Jude had kindly brought the pad down lower for him so that he could reach the donkey everywhere and be given a fair chance. He spun around giggling and then wobbled over, quickly pressing the pin on what he thought was the end of the donkey's bum. He was right, and gave a cheer when he heard the loud "YEEHAW!" The girls gave him a hug at the irresistibly cute smile he gave them when he took the blindfold off. The boys cheered and gave him a pat on the back. Since he was the youngest they were making sure he felt welcome amongst the group of older children.

Jude went next and it seemed with years of playing this game he developed a strategy that made him win. He just walked up to the plastic cover blidfolded, and pinned the tail in the donkey. A loud "YEEHAW!" came and Jude smiled as the kids cheered extra loud for him, clapping. He took off the blindfold and turned to face them.

"Okay! Since Zeek got it this time and he's the youngest bro, he gets to pick what game we play next." Zeek looked around the room and put a small hand to his chin. "Hmm.. How about that metal thingy over there?" he pointed to the metal pad hooked up to the t.v's system. Jude grinned and Alice gave an aproving nodd. "Dance Dance Revolution it is!"

Jude went through the instructions and Nikki grinned. She had definitely played this game and was ready to school all of them in it. Wyatt shrugged, knowing that he wasn't the best in it but smiled because it was a lot of fun. "okay, who goes with who?" Birthday boy asked them. Before anyone could even ponder over who to go with Ben suddenly cried out, "I want to go with Jen." he stated, not meeting the girls questioning eyes. Jude smirked and waggled his eyebrows at his older cousin. Alice immedietly launched herself onto Nikki's arm. "Then I go with her!" Nikki grinned and nodded to the excited girl.

"Alright, Wyatt can you go with Zeek then?" Jude asked and Wyatt nodded and gave the kid a high five.

"But what about you?" asked Jen and Ben snorted lightly.

"Aw don't worry, I get to go with everybody and the winner gets to have a real face off with me." Jude said, but not smugly at all. He had a twinkle in his big blue eyes and his relaxed smile in place. Ben rolled his eyes carelessly.

"Jude is the master at this game, that's why we face him off." Ben said and Jude stuck his tongue out at him. "It's only because he practices so much."

"Well prepared to be de-throned Jude, because everywhere I go I kick butt at this game." said Nikki with a competitive wink. Jude smirked and nodded to his confident friend.

"Well alright dude!" he said with a laugh, "Let's get this hooked up then." He turned on the game and the big Sony screen turned on and a blast of J-pop music assaulted their senses and pretty coloured lights blasted into their eye sockets. "Okay, since Nikki's so confident she and Alice can go first." the two nodded and hopped up onto the metallic pad. After Jude ajusted it, they started with the arrows and quickly started to 'Dance'. Well, it looked funny from the back where it looked like they were stomping on ants at a syncronized pace. But soon as the arrows got more twisted and difficult Nikki was riding the waves solo as Alice promptly messed up on them. Thus Nikki was the winner.

"See, told ya I'm good." The others smiled at her confidence and Alice winked and stuck out her tongue. "Oh you're good alright but watch out, I'll get better."

Wyatt and Zeek volunteered to go next. Wyatt was so bad and since he obviously knew Zeek, he wasn't surprised at how good the kid was. Only Jen and Nikki seemed a bit shocked at how professional the kid was. Left, right, up up, down, right; this kid was good! When it ended the two surprised girls cheered to teh kid who beemed happily. Wyatt gave a laugh and ruffled the six year old's hair. "Beat me again eh? Next time I'll get you." The kid gave a doubtful look and everybody laughed.

"Alright, Jen and Ben-hey that rhymes! You guys go next." (I actually just reliesed that, honest. ) Jen gave a raised eyebrow and Jude laughed, "Okay okay, guy and girl, you're next." Jen hopped on and waited for it to start. Ben took off his glasses, looking better without them and a bit older than the eight year old persona he had with them on, gave them over to Alice and hopped on aswell.

"I've never actually played this game." Said Jen as she looked down at the arrows. She hated to lose, and she was up against an experienced ten year old. The two digits! He was WAY older than her and she would probably get embarrassed and look silly.

"It's okay Jen, just have fun and try your best! You take gymnastics and tennis right? Well that has a lot of footwork so you'll be fine." Jude said encouragingly. Jen nodded and he started it for them.

Jen was tripping over her feet in an attempt to get all the arrows and ben was taking it smoothly. She had missed an arrow and to her surprise Ben quickly put his foot over to her left square so that she could continue. Pretty soon, as Jude predicted she was getting better because of the footwork she had grown accustumed to. Ben and Jen were going in sync and by the time it ended, Jen won. Though what Ben wouldn't tell her was that he let her win.

"Alright Jen! You were good for your first time." said Nikki said and gave her best friend a hug. Zeek looked confused for a second and before he opened his big mouth to tell her that Ben lost on purpose the oldest cousin clamped a hand over his mouth.

Jude grinned. "Okay my turn. Zeek, Jen and then Nikki go against me since they won. So let's go Zeek." he said and the two got on. Jude turned it on and he quickly started to get the arrows right. He put it up on the hardest level and the arrows seemed to come at them all at once. The relaxed stance still in place, Jude quickly started to move his feet. Nikki's mouth dropped open and she quickly took her words back as the skater boy was hitting the highest score. Zeek sighed as he missed two or three arrows and didn't manage the perfect that his cousin was getting. When it ended Zeek hopped off and let Jen replace him.

They smiled at each other in good sportsmanship and Jude gave her a nod, "Don't worry Jen, you can school me in bowling when this is done." he said encouragingly and Jen giggled, "You bet I will!' she challenged and waited for the onslaught of arrows. They came harder than before and Jen tried desperately to copy his moves. She managed a good but the king of games still hit all around perfects. Jen knew she wouldn't beat him, so she continued to have fun trying her best. The scores popped up and once again, Jude won.

"Wow, you really are good Jude!" Looking at the score board Jude smirked casually, "Not good Jen.. Perfect. You're the one that's good. see you got a B, not bad." she smiled and gave Nikki a thumbs up. "Do me a favour and blast this guys cool mojo for me." Nikki nodded and hopped on when Jen got off.

"Let's do this." she said and they gave each other a nod. Jude turned the switch on and they started to dance. Jude was definitaly perfect, but Nikki was just as good. They even started to do do little stlyes and grooves to outmatch each other. Nikki crouched low and put her hands on the up and down arrow, kicking her left foot up while the other stayed on the right square. the children 'oohed' and 'ahhed' as Jen cheered for her friend. Jude, still relaxed as ever, took no threat to this and he looked uo at the arrows. he smirked, seeing a perfect combo for his next move.

Surprising everybody the x-treme sportest broke dance on the pad crazily, twisting on his right hand in a sideways handstand as his mid-air legs clicked together in a bent postition before he hopped up of his hand and let his feet fall onto the apropriate squares. Nikki stared in awe as she tried to keep up with the fast paced arrows. Jude had crouched down like she did moments before and started to break dance on the squares. There wasn't a mouth shut closed in that room as all their eyes widened. Not only did he continue his perfect streak he did it in style with breaking only a minimal amount of sweat. The king was so not de-throned.

The kids cheered and hugged the semi sticky boy and Jen pouted cutely. "Well.. Me and Nikki will beat you in bowling." Nikki clapped him on the back and nodded, "Yup and YOU have to teach me those wicked moves sometime." Jude grinned and nodded.

"Jude sweety!" his mothers dreamy voice called from the other room, "Your father is here to take you to Planet Bowl!" Once again, the sugar pumped kids jumped up and down happily. Jude smiled at the mention of his dad. Fanning out his shirt, reliesing he worked up a bit of a sweat he called out to his mom.

"Tell him to wait in the van for a bit! I'm just gonna go to the washroom!" he said and excused himself from his friends as he went out the room, telling them to wait there.

"Since when did Jude care that he was sticky and sweaty and stinky?" asked Nikki wrinkling her nose slightly. Wyatt and the cousins looked at each other.

"Jude's dad is a great guy and all, but he's majorly strict about how Jude is presentable infront of others. He'd get a scolding for being all sweaty like that." Ben said with a shrug. Wyatt saw the glances cast between the girls and quickly waved his hands. "Oh don't worry, he's REALLY nice and funny! He's like an average dad." he said and the girls shrugged, but looked down at themselves. Jen was okay, she was the cute happy girl in her sundress that any parent would coo over. Nikki was a bit more nervous, she had the whole 'outcast' look and probably wasn't presentable at all! Bitting her lip in worry she told herself she'd just have to take anything that was thrown at her.

Jude came back refreshed and ready. It seemed all he did was air out his shirt and was his face and neck. His mother had caught him coming back and dabbed some rose lotion on his neck, face and hands so he had good luck. The boys thought that it was funney but refrained from calling him girly. Jen had admitted she liked it and Jude asked his mom to give her some. She got some lavender one dabbed behind her neck and hands while the rose one she liked was dabbed on her cheeks. Mrs.Lizowski smiled at the cute girl and told her to run along with the others to the van.

Jude was waiting for her like a good party host would. She walked out into the sun, bringing her blue bag with her. Her socks were inside for the bowling shoes and some extra cash incase she wanted to play at the arcade that was there. Jude's father came in veiw as he was helping the children get in, smiling at them and talking a bit. He was a tall man with black hair with the same shape and volume Jude's had and he was wearing an average attire. He was the buisness man type, one could easily see but in his red t-shirt and men's navy jeans he looked like that 'great guy' Ben was telling them about. Jude ran up to his dad and gave him a hug.

"Hey son, Happy Birthday. Sorry I couldn't make it earlier, the stocks were rising and falling so we had to make a stable plan before I could leave work." he said and ruffled Jude's blonde hair. The nine year old boy giggled and pulled Jen's hand so that she could come over.

"This is my friend Jen." he said and Jen waved to his father sheepishly. The father laughed at how these girls that Jude picked up seemed to be so shy around him.

"Don't worry, I'm not as mean as you would think. It's nice to meet you Jen and I hope you have fun." Jen nodded happily and got inside the dark blue van who was quickly followed by Jude. It seemed that the two had to sit in the back where an extra seat was in the empty trunk. They were pretty much riding with their backs to everybody watching the cars behin the van from the trunks window. (It's fun, I do that even if the regular seats are empty.) They turned themselves around to be able to partake in the conversation happening infront of them.

The car started and they headed towards the infamous Planet Bowl where they would be doing the glow-in-the-dark bowling by request. "I'm okay at bowling, though usually I get a gutterball instead of a strike." Nikki said to Alice sitting beside her with Zeek. Ben was riding solo up front where he was happiest beside Jude's dad.

"I'm not good at all. I always get a gutterball no matter what. Only once did I ever get a pin down." Alice said with a sigh and looked at her brother Zeek. "He's okay but the ball usually slips." she said on his behalf. "Ben is actually really good at bowling and he's able to get a strike in two turns."

Jen smirked and bit her lip from giggling. Jude leaned his chin against the soft materaial of the seat infront of him. "I'm good too, but I don't get strikes all the time." Nikki tilted her head back to look at Jen.

"What about you?" she asked noticing the happy smirk that was Jen's signature expression when she was confident. "You seem like you know you're better than all of us." she said but not in an accusing manner, it was actually more like a question in the tone.

"Oh I'm not better than anyone, you guys are all probably great and don't give yourselves enough credit. I'm just happy to bowl because I'm pretty great at it." she said with a smile. The car came to a bump and the two J's fell back against the car's floor and laughed.

Finally they had arrived after half an hour of singing, "This is the song that never ends!" The car was parked and it was already 6:00, since the party had started at five and time was going by real fast. The children got out quickly and took eachother's hands when crossing over the parkinglot. Mr.Lizowski hurried with them and they crossed safely. Entering the building with the neon pins and bowling balls, their eyes took in the luminescent lights and the glow-in the dark theme. They made their way to the shoe exchange person, Jude's dad stating the reservation birthday party stuff and how long they'd be here.

The children took their shoes off and exchanged them for a pair of bowling shoes, quickly slipping them off and reserved alley. Mr.Lizowski sat down at the mini computer they had and started writing in the names. Glancing over to the children waiting patiently he chuckled, "Okay so who's on team 'A' and who's on team 'B', wait I think I know the answer to that. Alice you always take team A and Ben team B right? Zeek you always go with Ben so you are in team B aswell." The three cousins smiled at their uncle, he seemed to know them well enough. Especially because that was how it went Every. Single.Time.

After talking it out Jen ended up on team B, Wyatt did too. Nikki and Jude had joined Alice in team A and the game commenced.

It had started out very simple, Zeek would go and get a few gutterballs than Alice would do the same. Wyatt went next and did fairly well, knocking a few pins down here and there. Nikki went and got a strike in two turns giving team A a lead. Ben huffed and waggled his eyebrows before rolling the bowling ball towards the pins and in two tries he too got a strike. Jude went next and rolled the ball forward managing to get six pins in his try. Jen moved up to the lane and smiled, holding her small blue bowling ball with confidence. Rolling her ball with force down the middle she managed to get a strike in one shot.

Ben looked a little miffed that his torch had been put out by a girl but said nothing. The others congradulated her and Alice complained that she should have been on her team. They played some more before they got thrirsy and each got a soft pretzal and drinks. They all settled on coke even the health concious Jen--after all it was Jude's B-day.

It apears Team B won, Jen having the highest score tieing with Ben and Jude and Nikki tied for second. The glow in the dark theme and techno music had made the party a great experience and they got some time at the arcade. Jen had lost poorly to Nikki and got the lowest score in contrast to the highest one she recieved earlier. This lightened Ben up considerably and Nikki was the one to actually see that.

"What's up with Ben?" she asked Wyatt as they were battling it out over a space game.

"Oh you noticed that too? He's about as competitive as Jen is so being shown up by a girl is upsetting for him." Wyatt answered and smiled whne he beat Nikki by 500 points.

"Rematch?" Nikki asked and Wyatt nodded, "You're on."

The kids made their way back and the time they had spent flew by. It was already eight and the kids had played pool and slurped on icecream sundaes. In order to still make it for cake they went home and continued their previous song of "This is the song that never ends!"

At the house

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Jude.. Happy Birthday to you!" Jude smiled and blew out the candles after they sang the birthday song. When he managed to blow out all the candles everyone cheered. His mother plucked out candles and took a wet knife, starting to cut the cake into sqaures. Since Jude loved chocolate, they had a triple chocolate icecream cake. They all got a slice and sat down eating happily as Nikki and Alice talked about DDR, Jude and Ben having a fork competition and Jen and Wyatt talking in hushed tones.

"You know what, I just don't get it..."

Wyatt looked at the girl who was now mushing her icecream cake all over her paper plate. A little confused Wyatt asked Jen, "Get what? The cake? It's icecream cake, it's supposed to melt like that..."

"No no no! Not the cake!" Jen whispered back in a rushed voice. She looked at Jude for a moment before looking back to Wyatt. "It's about his family... I don't get it. They're rich and happy, really nice and look like they baby Jude! Why would they send their ownkid with no money and let him go to the mall by himself?" she asked with her eyebrows low and her pouty lips pursed in with thought. Relisation stuck the nine year old boy as he sipped his soda in thought.

"You know, I know what you're thinking. You thought Jude was either poor or being mistreated didn't you? Well as you can see he's not. It's just that his family is a bit weird... Like, his dad is too busy to be around and his mother is a hippy. She thinks her child can be out in the world as a baby cub running free or something like that. Oh, and she does make breakfast but..." Wyatt wrinkled his nose in disgust. "It's all natural... Jude refuses to eat it and waits for lunch to be fed."

Jen blinked, then blinked some more. "That's it!" she said a pitch higher than normal and her volume going up a bit. "I was worried over that, he just didn't want to eat breakfast and his mom has no real rules! Didn't it ever occur to him to just get some money?"

"What are ya guys talkin about?" asked Jude as everybody could now here the shrill whisper from Jen. Blushing she shook her head as Wyatt calmly ate his cake.

"Nothing nothing! I'll tell you later 'kay?" Jen said as she felt the eyes on her. Woah, temper check... With a small inhale she smiled and ate her cake aswell. Shrugging they went back to their conversations. Nikki leaned in closer to the now cheerful brunette and whispered urgently in her ear.

"You're so gunna tell me later right?"

"Totally."

It was presant time! That was the last thing they would do for the day before the cousins had to go and the overnite party could begin for the four friends. They sat down in a bean bag circle next to the waterfall that had some sort ofzen rug that the presents were put on for Jude to open. He sat down in the center with the presents as the all watched him open them eagerly.

"Okay my awsome friends! Let's open up the first present which is from... Wyatt!" He took out a nicely wrapped box that was really big and a total eye-catcher. Smiling wide she ripped the white birthday themed wrappings and his eyes danced across the cover of the box. "Wow! A racecar set! Thanks Wyatt, so you were listening when I told you I wanted this on that commercial we saw... Or was it on a billboard ad?" Jude asked in thought. His answer was a giddy laugh from his best friend.

"Open ours next!" Alice said and Jude happily obliged. It turned out to be a kareoke machine and all the kids gushed over it. It seemed that Jude's cousins were pretty wealthy themselves. Though according to Nikki's interrogational skills they weren't nearly as successful as Jude's family.

Nikki had embarassedly given him her handmade shirt design.

"It's nothing much, but I spent a lot of time on it and was thinking about you when I made it... If you don't like it then you always have that gift card in the birthday card to umm... You know get another one and-"

"What are you talking about my talented friend? I love it! Wow Nikki, I don't have a shirt as cool as this and I'm so honoured that you spent the time and effort to make this for me. Thanks." he said and gave the insecure girl a hug. She blushed and whispered a 'your welcome' before regaining her spunk and giving him a nuggie over the head, messing up his blonde hair.

Jen smiled and took out her present from her blue travel bag. In her hands was a small black box and an evelope. She gave it to Jude with a giggle as he took it from her and preformed the goofy face. With his tongue just peeking out of the corner of his mouth as his eyes screwed up in front of him to peek inside the tiny silver ribbon box. He smiled wide and held out the silver chain necklace with 'Jude' etched on a skateboard figure.

"Open the birthday card" Jen said as Jude was about to say thank you for his gift. Nodding his head he opened the envelope and took out the card. Inside were two tickets and confused, he read the birthday card message outloud.

"Dear Jude, hope you have a happy year and emjoy being nine. To make it more enjoyable, I bought two tickets for you and me to go watch the x-treme sports convention next Saturday. P.S: bring your Skateboard and bathing suite!--♥Jen ♥" Judes eyes widened and a big grin was placed on his face. "Aww thanks Jen!" Jen smiled back and stuck her tongue out at the boy.

"No problem, just no teasing me about how I'm still eight kay?"

"Can do dude!"

------------------------------------------------

Creeping silently into the dark halls a cackle is heard from below in teh basement...

"Wh-who's there?" asked a teenaged red head as she slowly crept down the stairs. A light huff was heard and the cackling was heard. Without a flashlight or anything at all, the girl tried to peer inside the pitch black basement. "Hello? Micheal if that's you..." She took a step inside the darkness...

"No you dummy! Don't go inside! Go back, go back!" Jen stuttered as she took a bunch of popcorn and stuffed it into her mouth, eyes bulging wide and fixed onto the screen.

"What are you doing without a flashlight are you mad! That could be a bad stranger and you wouldn't even know!" Nikki cried, grabbing onto Jen's arm as the eight year old girl started to panic. "STOP THE MADNESS!" Nikki cried out and the two girls huddled together in fear...

"MWUAHAHAAHHAHAHHA!" SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMM!

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" The two girls screamed along with the latest boogey-monster victim and hugged each other, closing their eyes tight against the horrifying image.

Wyatt hid under Jude's covers and pulled the girls under, as if he was afraid that the t.v monster would pop up and eat them right then and there. Jude poked in after then as they all huddled together and shivered from the newly evoked fear. They paused for awhile undeaneath the white comforter before Jude, the brave one peeked out.

"I think it's safe..." he said and Wyatt looked out along with him. "Yeah... It's okay now."

The movie ended and the four fell back against Jude's bed in relief. The boogey-man horror movie that Jude had insisted they watch scared the heck out of the poor youngsters. Staring wide up at teh ceiling the two girls knew they'd have nightmares.

"Well.. I guess it's time for sleep?" asked Wyatt and looked at the birthday boy who had a happy grin on his face.

"Yup! That movie was awsome! Well, goodnight everybody!" he said as the three friends got off the bed to go into their own spleeping bags. Getting snigged in tight as Jude walked over to turn off the lightswitch, they each gulped and answered back...

"...Goodnight."

The lights went off.

There was no sound...

"Psst... Jen?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm scared."

"Me too."

"Can I come over to your sleeping bag?"

"Yup!"

Shift, ruffle, zip

"Uh.. Jen?"

"What is it Wyatt?"

"Can I come too?"

"Yeah, I have room..."

Shift ruffle zip

"Nikki?"

"What's the matter Jen?"

"...I'm still scared."

SNORE

"Ahhh!"

"Shhh! You'll wake Jude up Wyatt!"

"Oh, that was him?"

"Yes."

"Sorry Nikki."

"Oh my gosh we are sleeping right beside the plece underneath Jude's bed, on the floor! The boogey-man comes right out from there!"

"Jen's right! What are we going to do?"

Shift ruffle zip

"Jude?" all three asked as they held their stufed animals tightly. Jude woke up to see his friends peering anxiously over to him and his queen sized bed.

"Yeah?" he asked getting up slightly. Jen blushed and held her "Curious Goerge" stuffed toy close to her frame in fear.

"Can we sleep with you tonight?" she asked with a pout and Nikki nodded, joining in with the puppy dog face they were all giving him. He laughed and nodded before yawning. Smiling, they all crawled under the cover as Jude shifted more near to the wall.

"Goodnight!"

"'Night"

Then they fell fast asleep...

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AN: Now I know all of you are thinking, "What was all this about! Where the heck is Jonesy?" oh.. He's here alright, I just need to dedicate a chapter totally to him and I wanted to get out what's up with Jude's family before that. I thought this chapter was cute even though it's really long and pointless. R&R please! Next chapter will be up really soon since I fixed the problem with my computer!