Chapter 1
"Okay, so are we all packed up?" mom called inside the airport. I was feeling queasy already. With a huge rolling suitcase in one hand and Opal's pet cage thingy in the other I followed my parents to the ticket place. I waited with Kenton near the end of the line as we bickered on and on about tiny stuff. When mom and dad came back, we headed to the plane. I had my backpack with all my books, stuffed animal, video games, and pencils and a sketch pad in it.
"I feel sick," I complained.
"Come off it, you're just feeling bad cause we're moving," Kenton rubbed it in.
"No one asked you Kenton," I hissed back.
He shrugged in reply as I took my seat next to the window. I wasn't really scared of heights, just that feeling at the end. Surprisingly, I was asleep most of the plane ride. Just woke up a few times to see what time it was or dinner time or to read a few books. Kenton was playing a video game from my backpack with earphones on. I sighed and tugged on my blanket and kicked off my shoes, then fell back asleep. The next time I woke up, people were getting their luggage and heading out.
I hurriedly gathered my stuff and followed my parents out of the plane. I looked around after getting all of our suitcases and saw my parents waving. I tried to see who, but my height kept me from even looking over my parents' shoulders. Then, I saw two other arms waving back. As soon as I found Opal, we reached the pair of hands and I found that it was a man and woman, and a boy with them.
"Hey Echizen!" dad greeted the man and shook hands. "It's been a long time."
"Hi there," my mom smiled and greeted his wife.
"Hi Kai, Rowen," the man, whose name was apparently Nanjiro Echizen, said to dad and mom. "And who are these little guys?" he looked at Kenton and me.
"Kids, this is Mr. Echizen," dad introduced him. "Nanjiro, this is my son and daughter, Kenton and Reyna."
Kenton grinned and I smiled faintly and we both bowed half way. Opal was mewing inside the cage wanting out.
"Oh speaking of which, this is my son, Ryoma," Mr. Echizen introduced the boy.
Kenton said hi. Ryoma replied and looked at me. I waved a little and held Opal's cage tighter in my hands. She mewed and poked at the door.
"You have a Himalayan too," he spoke and caught me by surprise.
"Uhh, yeah, her name's Opal," I replied.
"I have a Himalayan too, named Kalpin or Karupin in Japanese," he shrugged.
I thought he'd have sort of an accent but his English was accent-free. "I'd love to see him sometime."
"Come to my place and I'll show him to you. You can bring Opal if you want," he shrugged again and turned.
There was a cocky attitude within him, and I saw it right away. I raised my eyebrow a bit and followed along with Kenton who looked bored already. Other than that, I had to admit, he was pretty cute. Our parents were talking like crazy and that annoyed me but who was I to judge. They were friends for a long time. After a while later in the car, the kids were sitting in the back, me in between the other two. Opal was on my lap purring away contently. I wanted to start up a conversation while the parents were motoring their mouths away.
"So, I heard that you were a good tennis player," I said.
"I guess I'm okay," he continued looking out the window never turning his head. Finally he turned as if bored. "Can I hold Opal for a second?"
"Oh, sure," I picked her up and handed her to him. She blinked for a second at Ryoma and then lost interest in him and went back to sleep, this time on his lap.
"I think she likes you," I laughed quietly.
"She looks almost exactly like Kalpin," he looked down at the napping Opal on his lap. His mouth curved up into a tiny smile.
"You must really like your cat, earlier, it seemed that you didn't care for anything," I grinned, teasing him.
Ryoma turned his head towards me and raised an eyebrow, "Oh really?"
"Yes really," I replied and heard Kenton snore softly next to me.
When we got to the Echizen residence, Mr. Echizen said that we were allowed to stay until we found a house to live in. Nanako, Ryoma's college cousin, showed me to an empty room right across Ryoma's. I thanked her as she left and put my suitcase down. It was a big room, bigger than my old one, and I liked all the new space. There was a closet, bed, desk, chair, lamp, a window above the desk, and a comfy looking armchair. I already knew that the armchair would be my favorite spot in the room. There was a knock on the door and Kenton stepped in.
"Big room you got here, I got an even bigger one," he grinned as if trying to get the better of me.
"So? I like this room," I replied and shrugged him off.
"Whatever," he muttered and went back to his room.
"Jerk," I grumbled and sat down in the armchair.
"Who me?" Ryoma pretended to look hurt. "What did I do?"
"Oh sorry," I mumbled quietly. "I was talking to Kenton."
"He's not here," Ryoma replied. "Are you like delirious or something?"
"I know he's not here and no I am not!" I was on the verge of throwing my backpack at him.
"Whoa jeez... Calm down, didn't mean to piss you off," he laughed.
"Well, if you tried, it's worked," I sighed. "Or it did."
"Yeah, whatever. Dinner's ready in 15," he shrugged and walked out of the room.
I jumped onto my bed and groaned. "Great, there's two annoying people here," I grumbled and shifted my body so it was facing the wall. Just then I heard a meow from the doorway and I jerked up. Opal was there and she jumped onto my lap when another Himalayan followed. "Oh, you must be Kalpin!" I put Opal down and Kalpin sniffed my fingers before letting me hold him. "You are cute, and you do look like Opal," I whispered and smiled. "Adorable you two," I laughed as Opal and Kalpin left the room.
"Well, dinner time!"
