I do not own any of the characters.
Kenji stood in front of the mirror staring down the zit on his chin. Why do they always show up at the worst possible time? Today he was taking his "friend" Hailey to the movies. It had taken a lot of nerve to ask her but he finally did it and she said yes! He glared at the zit as if he could make it go back down. He was sure his dad could do it.
Finally, conceding defeat he decided to slap a band-aid on it and claim he got it shaving… if he shaved. Anyway, if he didn't get going, he was going to be late. He grabbed his jacket gave his reflection one last look before leaving his room.
"Mom, dad, leaving for the movies." Kenji yelled as he ran to the door.
"Kenji, wait." Six said stopped him.
Kenji almost cursed. So close. "Yes, dad?"
"I just got a call. There's an incident in Manhattan. Uncle Rex and I have to go now." Six continued.
"Okay, have fun." Kenji was about to leave again.
"You have to watch Uncle Rex's kids." Six said.
Kenji did curse this time. He slapped his hand over his mouth and looked at his dad apprehensively. Six raised an eyebrow.
"I won't tell your mom if you leave immediately to go get Violeta and Rafael." Six said sternly.
"But dad, I'm going to the movies with Hailey! Can't mom watch them or Aunt Beverly and Uncle Caesar?" Kenji said looking pointedly at his dad.
"Mom is working today as well as Uncle Caesar. You know Aunt Beverly is busy with the baby. I'm sure Hailey won't mind you bringing your cousins along." Six said. "Now go… unless you want your mother washing your mouth out with soap. I know she's been working on an especially foul tasting one."
"Fine." Kenji grumbled.
0o0
Kenji knocked on Uncle Rex's door. Violeta opened the door.
"Hi, Kenji." She smiled at him. "What happen to your chin?
"Hey squirt, is your dad here?" Kenji ruffled her hair ignoring the chin question.
"Don't do that! Dad's getting ready to go." Violeta smoothed back her hair. She yelled at the top of her lungs. "DAAAAD!"
"Coming!" Rex came down the stairs. "Oh good Kenji, you're here. Thanks for watching the kids."
"Dad, didn't give me a choice." Kenji muttered under his breath.
"What?" Rex asked distracted.
"Nothing, Uncle Rex. Where's Rafael? I need to be going now." Kenji impatiently looked at his watch.
"Raffy! Come down. Kenji's here." Rex called upstairs.
Raffy came down holding his stuffed rabbit. He asked, "Can we stay home?"
"No, Raff, I'm taking you to the movies." Kenji said.
"No! Movies are scary." Rafael whimpered.
"No, it's not." Kenji insisted grabbing his arm to drag him out of the house.
"Don't wanna go!" Rafael went limp. Kenji grabbed him with both hands.
"Well, gotta go. Love you guys. Listen to Kenji." Rex formed his boogie pack and flew off.
Kenji turned to the kids. "You heard your dad. You have to listen to me."
Rafael screwed up his face and was about to cry.
"There's candy in it for you." Kenji stated.
"Okay." Rafael stopped mid yell and walked out the door. Violeta followed. Kenji shook his head and closed the door before walking after them.
0o0
The theater was a quick walk from Uncle Rex's house. Kenji didn't have his driver license yet; he only had a permit. Dad was giving him lessons but felt he wasn't quite ready for his road test yet. So they had to walk. Kenji wanted to be the first of his friends to get a car. That should impress Hailey.
Speaking of Hailey, she stood in front of the theater waiting for him.
"Sorry, I'm late. I had a change of plans. Dad wanted me to watch my cousins." Kenji apologized as they walked up to her.
Hailey's smile grew when she saw Rafael and Violeta. "Ohhh, you guys are so adorable." She knelt down on one knee so that she was eye level with Rafael.
"You are so cute; I could just eat you up."
Rafael's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to blast her. Kenji slapped his hand over his mouth and smiled nervously. "Hehe, excuse me." He pulled Rafael away from the group.
"Raffy, under no circumstances are you to blast my friend, understand?" Kenji snapped.
"She was gonna eat me." Rafael protested.
"It's a figure of speech." Kenji pinched the bridge of his nose. "Look, please don't use your powers today and I will buy all the candy you want, okay?"
Rafael's face brightened and he nodded vigorously. He walked Rafael back to Hailey and Violeta.
"And then Kenji ripped a giant hole in his pants and we could see his underwear had hearts on it." Kenji heard Violeta tell Hailey.
Kenji clamped a hand around Violeta's mouth and gave Hailey a nervous laugh.
"Haha, she's such a joker." Kenji said to Hailey who was hiding a laugh behind her hand.
"Let's go buy our tickets." Kenji said. Hailey walked ahead still laughing. Kenji glared at Violeta.
"Don't tell her any more stories!. Eww, yuk!" Kenji took his hand off Violeta's mouth and wiped it on his pants. She had licked him. Violeta stuck her tongue out and skipped over to Hailey. Kenji glared daggers at her. Rafael tugged on his sleeve.
"Where's my candy?"
0o0
They walked into the mostly empty theater. They had to pick a rated G movie since Rafael was too scared to watch anything else. It was something called "Life of a Bear". Hailey didn't seem to mind.
"I want to sit next to Hailey!" Violeta declared.
"Me too!" Rafael copied his sister.
"No, I am sitting next to Hailey." Kenji glowered at the kids.
"Oh, it's okay. I don't mind." Hailey settled herself into a seat and Rafael and Violetta sat on either side of her. Kenji wanted to face palm… better yet he wanted to face palm the kids.
"Can I please have candy now?" Rafael asked Kenji. Kenji sighed and reminded himself that they were just kids.
"Ok, Raff come with me. Would you , umm, like any popcorn?" He asked Hailey nervously.
"Oh sure." Hailey smiled and Kenji felt his stomach do a flop.
"And soda!" Violeta added peering over Hailey's side. Kenji scowled at her but said nothing.
He and Rafael walked over to the concession stand. He ordered a large popcorn and a small soda. He turned to Rafael. "What candy do you want?"
Rafael looked at the choices… and looked… and looked.
"Pick something!" Kenji yelled exasperated. "Not that!"
Rafael had put his finger up his nose. He had a wide grin.
"That's it, "Kenji turned to the man working the stand. "Just give me a box of Raisinettes and Sour Patch kids."
Finally, they got back to their seats and Kenji distributed the food. He settled into his seat and eyed Violeta and Rafael enviously as they snuggled up to Hailey. The lights dimmed.
"Too dark! Too dark!" Rafael buried his head into Hailey's arm.
"Oh, it's okay, sweetie. The movie'll start and it'll get light again, okay?" Hailey said in a soothing voice. Rafael nodded but still buried his face in her arm. Kenji wanted to smack his cousin.
The movie started and Hailey coaxed Rafael into watching it. After a bit he was enthralled at the bear cubs frolicking in the river.
Kenji had to admit it wasn't terrible and soon he was also engrossed in the story of the bear cubs. In the middle of the movie, he turned to ask Rafael for some popcorn when he noticed that he was gone!
He looked around him, on the floor, the next row.
He whispered to Hailey, "Where did Rafael go?"
"Huh?" She asked still watching the movie.
"Rafael, did he tell you he was going somewhere?" He said a little louder.
"Shhhh," someone shushed him from behind.
"Sorry, " Kenji mumbled.
Hailey looked over to her side, "Oh no where's Raffy?"
Kenji felt a tinge of panic rising. What would his dad do if he lost his cousin? What would Uncle Rex do? Actually, he was more worried about Aunt Circe.
"I'll be right back." He whispered to Hailey. "Watch Violeta."
Hailey nodded.
Kenji ran out of the theater. How did he leave without him noticing? Could he be in the bathroom?
He ran to check the men's room. Nope, no one there. He checked the concession stand, the lobby, and the hallway.
Where was the little twerp? He wouldn't walk off with a stranger, would he? He ran back to the theater. Rafael must still be in the theater. He just had to be! How was he going to find him? He walked down the aisle.
"Here Raffy, Raffy. Here Raffy, Raffy." Kenji felt like he was calling a dog. "I've got candy."
When he got to the front row, he called again not really expecting a response.
"Hi, Kenji!" A head popped out of the second row.
"Auughh!" Kenji jumped.
"Shhhhhh!" Came voices around him.
"Sorry," Kenji muttered clutching his chest. "What are trying to do? Give me a heart attack? What are you doing here anyway?"
"I wanted to see the bears closer." Rafael said as he sat back on the floor. That's why Kenji hadn't seen him. Kenji sat next to him in a seat.
"Why are you on the floor?" Kenji hissed at him.
"I like sitting on the floor." Rafael replied.
Kenji didn't want to think about how dirty and sticky the floor was. Well, that's his parent's problem.
They sat together until the movie was over. This time Kenji kept one eye on him.
As the light came on Kenji got up and looked at his cousin. Well, they ruined his date with Hailey but when his cousin went missing he realized how much he cared about them.
"Come on, Raff let's go home." He held onto his cousin's hand firmly.
He walked back to Hailey and Violeta.
"Where did you go?" Hailey asked Rafael. "We were worried about you."
"Wanna see the bears close." Rafael answered.
"Did you like the movie?" She asked.
"Yes!" Rafael declared.
They walked out of the theater. Kenji sighed. "I guess I'll see you at school. I have to walk them home."
"Oh, I can come with you." Hailey said nonchalantly.
Kenji was surprised but let her come along. He watched as Violeta and Rafael vie for her attention as they told her what part of the movie they liked best. She smiled at them as she gave them her full attention. Kenji smiled. They were cute.
When they got home, Circe was just walking into the front door.
"Hey, perfect timing." She said as Violeta and Rafael ran to greet their mom. "Everything go all right?"
"Fine, Aunt Circe." Kenji said.
"Can Kenji take us to a movie next week?" Rafael asked.
"You took them to see a movie?" Circe looked at Kenji in shock. "Raffy hasn't been able to sit through a single movie yet."
"Well, he sat through this one." Kenji neglected to mention the fact that he had briefly lost him.
"Wow, Kenji. I'm impressed. Well, guys let's go inside. Thanks again, Kenji." Circe herded her kids through the door.
Kenji turned to look at Hailey. "Umm, can I walk you home?"
"Sure." To his surprise she slipped her arm around his. "Your cousins are so cute and you're really good with them."
Kenji smiled. Maybe his cousins hadn't ruined his date after all.
"By the way what happen to your chin?" Hailey asked.
I updated today for Rainbow Colours. Happy Birthday. (Also for thereal13thfirewolf if she reads this, happy birthday to you too.) Inspired by the trip we took to the movies yesterday as well as Judy Blume's Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.