Hello, everyone. Apologies for the long delay. I have no excuse except for life. Life got in the way and my love for this show took a toll, unfortunately. However, I'm trying to get back on the horse and continue this story until it's fully finished. I could use the break from my other projects anyway. I am continuing this story as I started way back in 2015. Forget about the final seasons. Forget about the movie. Forget about Future. This is my continuity. With that said, let's finally keep going.

The Boy with Soap Bubbles In His Hair

The alarm rings, 9am. Connie wakes up to a very peaceful, quiet environment. It's normally quiet, but in this case, the kind with no activity. Connie doesn't give it much thought and gets out of bed.

The shower-head turns on and Connie sits on the bathtub floor with her arms crossed onto her legs. Her mind still flashed onto the multitude of possibilities that could happen today. She had never been in a crowd of people before and this may possibly be the first of many. Oh jeez, many to come. No, she shouldn't go there. Just stick to this one day and go from there.

After her shower, she gets dressed in her regular attire; a green and white dress with a green bow tie and a blue sash around her waist. The attire is complete with salmon colored boots and her pink glasses. She then grabs a brush and combs out her giant puffy hair while looking at herself in the mirror. Once again, thoughts came up. Only this time, the future wasn't the only thing that was there. There was a new resident; insecurity. The Girl in the Mirror staring back at Connie now seemed… less interesting. Ordinary, bland, unoriginal. A girl with no style.

I still look… normal, she thought.

She looked down at the vanity, refusing to look back at the girl in the reflection. Question after question after question came down upon her like a hailstorm. Am I interesting? Would anyone like the same things I do? The shows I watch, the books I read, the movies I watch? I'm not… pretty like those girls from months ago. Do I even want to be? Would I even like me if I looked like that? Would anyone like me for me?

After a deep breath, she faced herself once last time. Connie, baby steps, she thought. Let's start with one thing and then go down the list one by one until each level is achieved. Yes, it's a video game for her now. With that new mindset, she raced downstairs.

After a bowl of boring bran cereal, the kind where Connie had to put the raisins in herself, she began heading towards the door. She spotted a note on the side table. It was normal to see instructions from her parents (i.e., her mother) waiting for her, just in case.

Constance,

Your father and I had some errands to run.

We'll call you when we get home so you

Can watch over the house while we're away.

Be safe and keep your phone on you.

Mother

She hated Constance. It just seemed so strict, like the name you'd give an aggressive headmistress of an all-girl private school. Connie at least sounded like a cute and innocent name. She loved how it sounded and it matched her, or at least the person she wanted to be.

And with all of that said, she was ready to face the world. She opened the door, locked it, put her helmet on, got on her bike, and sped off to the unknown that was Beach City.

The Beach City Boardwalk was alive as residents made their way towards it, filling up the area. Venders, balloons, popcorn, cotton candy, etc. all that fun stuff, stretching from there to Shellpoint.

Connie could hear the waves in her mind growing the closer she got. She took a deep breath and drove her bike right toward the crowd, diving into it anxiously. There were so many people, many of which were total strangers to her. This wasn't Shellpoint anymore, she knew that much. She also knew she didn't want to leave her bike with everyone so he found a secluded spot near an alleyway and locked it, away from the pool of residents. She snapped her helmet off and left it on one of the handles and went right back in.

Many conversations were being had, laughs, shouts, screams of joy, all the stuff that Connie only saw in movies, TV, and definitely in books, but has never experienced herself. Was this a good community? If so, why didn't she live here? Or would it have been too distracting for her mother?

"Popcorn! Get your popcorn here!" The sounds of vendors taking Connie out of her headspace.

"French Fries here!"

"Donuts!"

The aroma felt enticing to her but she knew her mother wouldn't forgive her if sugar became a part of her balanced diet and thus, found it extremely difficult to turn it down.

She had to escape the temptation, at least for now. She entered a small store, the small bell chiming with the doors movement. The Store Vendor appears from behind the counter. Connie immediately noticed how… colorful he seemed. This did not bother her, she was used to seeing individuals like this in her town.

"Good afternoon! May I help you?" The vendor joyfully spoke. This must've been her first customer since he opened.

"No." Connie said out of breath. "I'm just…"

"Trying to get away from the chaos out there?" The vendor asked. "No, I get it. Well, take a look around. I'll be here if you'd like."

He seemed like a nice guy. Was everyone like this? She then thought, while she was already here, she might as well look at what this small location had to offer.

Mainly knick-knacks and cheap toys. Toy soldiers, marbles, snowglobes, etc. It wasn't the most lively store but there was a sort of comfort to it. To many, this may seem like a cheap dollar store type location but not to this man. He found joy in selling the little things in life. Connie could respect that.

As she got closer to the register, she noticed some baskets filled with colorful objects she rarely saw. Glowsticks in one basket, and glow stick bracelets in the other. They came in blue, green, purple, red, yellow, and bright shade of pink. This one caught Connie's eye. It seemed like a very unique color. Not many objects came in pink, particularly this sharp of a shade. She picked it up and examined it.

"I see you found our bracelets." The vendor chimed in. " Those are pretty popular around here."

"They are?" Connie asked.

"I'll tell you a little story." The vendor began. "You see, hundreds of years ago, back when all of this was just a small community and not a thriving town like it is today, it was said that a man, a loner making his way from wherever and found a ring about this big." He formed his hand to figure the size. "And it glowed the most beautiful shade of pink imaginable. No one knew what it was made of but to him, it was like that bracelet. Later that night, he went to small gathering, like a party, only not as…"

"Chaotic?" Connie added.

"Crazy." The vendor said, then continued. "It was there where this man found a beautiful woman with a long bush of hair and brown eyes. Immediately, their eyes met, they formed a connection, and they started dancing. Oh, it must've been so beautiful!"

The vendor realized he was dancing with an invisible partner, and that Connie was looking at him, ready to giggle. The man composed himself and finished his story.

"Anyway, he gave her the bracelet and it was said by those who were there that their eyes glowed stars and diamonds. They were in love. So you see, because of that, people here believe that if they bought one, then they'd have to give it to someone special, someone life-changing, not just anyone. That's the most important part."

"Did they live happily ever after?" asked Connie.

"I think so." The vendor said. "No one really knew their names. We just know it happened because it's a story our grandparents have told us."

Connie looked at the small cheap looking bracelet again after hearing the man's story. Could this small object really do all of that? Be given as a sort of symbol of love? It didn't seem that out of the ordinary for her, not in books anyway.

"Has it ever worked?" Connie asked.

"I think so." The vendor answered. "It's our biggest Valentine's Day seller, I'll tell you that."

Connie blushed. If there was a miracle, maybe it was here.

"How much?"

"Well, I normally ask for a dollar but for you, how about a quarter?"

Connie reached into her small bag, pulled out a quarter, and handed it to him.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Thank you, kind sir."

Connie then turned to face the door, exiting the building.

" Good luck!"

"Thanks!"

She was back in the abyss again. Only this time, it didn't seem so crazy. Not to her, anyway. She looked at the bracelet again and formed a small hopeful smile. She cracked it, connected the end of it to the top part, and placed it on her wrist. It seemed a little too big for her, but it did look nice on her small hand.

"Okay."

Connie excused and pardoned her way toward the crowd until she got to the front facing the rope that separated the crowd from the road. She looked around, uncertain, not really sure of what she was doing. Should she talk to someone? Would she interrupt them? She didn't know. Then she saw someone. A boy. A small boy with poofy hair, a red shirt with a star, and pink sandals. Was he looking at her? He seemed happy enough, but at what? She looked around more at the possible chance that he was smiling at someone else, maybe someone cuter or cooler than her. It just didn't make sense. However, the second she went back to face him, he had disappeared. Who was he? She shook off the confusion and focused on the parade finally commencing as the crowd got louder and the music finally filled the air.

The floats began arriving one by one, many of them promoting businesses that were unfamiliar to Connie. She felt a little swallowed up by the crowd but tried her darnedest to prove that she wanted to be there. She clung on to the rope as tight as she could while taking in what the parade had to offer.

Then the phone rang…

Oh, no. Not now, she thought.

Connie went through her bag and got her cell phone out. She flipped it open.

"Mom?"

"Constance, I need you to come home now."

"Mom, the parade just started!"

"I don't care. You promised you'd take care of the house while we were gone."

Connie looked at the parade, and at the sea crowd around her. She didn't belong here. She seemed… small compared to everyone else. She stood out. No one else was wearing white and green, and especially not a single bright pink bracelet. Did the clerk lie to her? Wouldn't be the first time someone did. Connie took a deep breath and continued on the phone.

"Alright, I'm coming home."

"Thank you, sweetie. Bye bye."

Connie closed the flip phone and placed it back in her bag. She took another look at the parade, a sad defeated look in her eyes. As she turned, she saw it. A unique van labeled "Mr. Universe" with a row of pink balloons taped to the sides. A middle aged man with long hair, a bald spot, and a beard was driving it and atop the van… it can't be.

The same kid?, she thought. He was wearing a small purple jumpsuit with MR. UNIVERSE embroidered on the back. He also had… soap bubbles in his hair? What's he supposed to be, a scrub brush? Her mind laughed but her melancholy remained. The boy was turning towards her and waved in her direction. Their eyes locked and time slowed down.

This boy seemed so… happy. To her. So he was looking at me earlier. Why was he so happy to see me? What does he see in me? I'm nobody! Still, he seemed so… sweet. Naive, but sweet. He was still waving at her. Should she wave back? It's the least she can do. With that, Connie mustered up a small awkward smile and waved back timidly at the nice boy on the float.

This must've done something to him because he was blushing, hard. This made her blush a bit, her head looking down to not show it though. The boy then started waving to other individuals in the area. Connie's breathing quickened and she took off running past the crowd. The bracelet however let go of her small hand and fell onto the ground, Connie not even registering what happened. She was too focused on just getting out of there.

She ran as far as she could until she reached her bike. The lock came off, the helmet strapped on, and away she rode back home, not even looking back. This was not her scene… or was it? So confused was her head.

Connie made it back to Shellpoint. She was nearing her home when she realized something. Something was off. She felt… naked somehow. She kept looking at her hands for some reason. Then it hit her.

Oh God.

WHERE'S THE BRACELET?!

The brakes were slammed hard, complete with skid marks, sound, and everything.

Connie's eyes scanned every possible direction she could. On the ground, behind her, on her bike, nothing. She must've dropped it back in Beach City. Her hands grasped the handles tightly, her face gripping in anger, sadness, regret, remorse, every single negative emotion she was bottling up today, now suddenly, unleashed, into an obscenity that will not be discussed here.

Tears entered her eyes. Today was supposed to be the first day of the rest of her life. Today was supposed to be a day of conquering her fear, meeting a friend, and go out to see the world. Nothing was accomplished, not to her anyway. She did see that boy however. They never actually met but he saw her. But… what makes her think that he'll even remember her or even know who she was? No name was given, no other information even. He was a stranger, pure and simple, a once in a lifetime opportunity that just floated away with her confidence. Besides, that story the guy told me was probably just bull. A cock and bull story he tells customers to sell his products.

Maybe this life isn't meant for me.

Defeated, Connie took her bike and entered her home through the garage.

If this was life, she didn't want it.

A/N: Thanks for reading, to those who are still here. If I gained any new readers, I hope you're currently enjoying it. Don't worry, no more five year hiatus. My new priority is to finish this story. Thanks again for still being here! :)