Hi, Happy New Year Everyone. I'm back from vacation. I wrote most of this on the plane on the way back. Thanks for your reviews on the Christmas stories. To the guest who asked about Rex and Circe's proposal… well, if I can think of one, I might write it but proposals are hard. I also don't necessarily want a stand alone story so it may be incorporated into a bigger story. Anyway, that was a round about way of saying …maybe. Hope you enjoy this in the meantime.
I do not own any of the characters.
"Mommy, can I stay up for New Year's this year?" Violeta asked.
Circe put down the book she had been reading. "I don't know sweetie. It's way past your bedtime. I don't think you've ever stayed up that late before."
"Please mommy?" Violeta gave her mom her best puppy dog eyes.
"Oh, come on Circe, what could it hurt? We're not doing anything the next day are we?" Rex asked.
"I guess not." Circe acquiesced.
"Then?" Rex prompted.
"Oh all right. But there's nothing interesting that happens at midnight you know?" Circe picked her book up again.
"Well, nothing that can be repeated." Rex smirked at Circe.
"Rex!" Circe blushed throwing a pillow at him.
"I'm going to stay up for New Year's, too." Rafael declared ignoring the interchange between his parents.
"Okay, fine, but the second I hear whining, off to bed." Circe announced still glaring at a snickering Rex.
"We won't whine." Violeta promised giving her brother a look.
"No whining." Repeated Rafael.
"We'll see." Circe said as she threw another cushion at Rex.
8 PM
"Okay, mommy and daddy are going to the New Year's Party. Kenji will be here to watch you guys. Be good and don't annoy him or it's off to bed." Circe said as she put her lipstick on.
"Okay, mommy," the kids said in unison.
The door bell rang. "Oh that must be Kenji now." Circe finished putting on her earrings. "Rex!"
"Got it," he yelled from downstairs.
Circe went down the stairs followed by her children.
"Kenji, thanks so much for baby sitting tonight." Circe smiled at him.
Kenji shrugged. "Sure, wasn't like I was planning on doing anything for New Years anyway." He grumbled.
"What's that?" Circe asked distracted while Rex helped her into her coat.
"Nothing," Kenji quickly said.
"Oh, the kids are allowed to stay up till midnight." Rex said as he put his jacket on.
"If they can stay up that late." Circe added. "If they complain at all about being tired it's off to bed."
"Sure," Kenji agreed.
"Thanks again, Kenji."
Kenji nodded. Circe and Rex gave each of their children a hug and kiss.
The three waved good bye as Rex formed his rex ride. Circe got on sidesaddle because of her dress. They waved before Rex drove off.
"All right you guys inside." Kenji shooed them in before closing the door. "So what are you guys going to do till midnight."
Violeta and Rafael looked at each other with a knowing grin.
"We're just going to play in our rooms." Violeta replied innocently.
"Fine, if you need me I'll be down here." Kenji walked over to the couch and turned on the TV. He tuned into the New Year's celebration.
9 PM
Violeta and Rafael snuck upstairs. From Violeta 's room they opened the window. She formed her boogie pack and together they leapt out the window. They flew through the cool night air. Violeta and Rafael went through barrel rolls and flips.
Finally, they landed on the top of the clock tower.
"What time is it?" Violeta asked stifling a yawn.
"I don't know. I have a hard time reading hands." Rafael said.
"I can't read upside down." Violeta said. She jumped off with her boogie pack. She faced the clock. "It's only 9."
"Aww, that's," Rafael counted on his fingers, "3 more hours to go."
"Yup," Violeta agreed.
"I'm tired." Rafael complained.
"Don't let Kenji hear you." She admonished.
"Well, he's not here." Rafael said rather crankily.
"You don't have to stay up if you don't want to." Violeta pointed out.
"Why are you staying up?" Rafael asked his sister.
"I want to see what happens." Violeta shrugged.
"Bobby Jenkins says that the whole sky explodes into a rainbow while music plays. Then the whole old year passes by as an old man gives a baby his sickle. What's a sickle?" Rafael said.
"Bobby Jenkins also told you that if you cut and buried my hair in the backyard it would turn into a snake." Violeta scoffed ignoring the question.
"Well, at least your hair grew back." Rafael replied.
Violeta frowned feeling her hair. "I want to be a grown up."
"I don't." Rafael shook his head. "I want to stay a little kid as long as possible."
"Why?" Violeta asked curious.
"What's so great about being an adult? You don't have time to play. You have to work and be responsible for things." Rafael pouted.
"Yeah, but you also can do more things." Violeta argued.
"I'm doing all the things I want to already." Rafael stated. "Besides I don't want to get older. Daddy's always telling me that I have to be brave and to do scary things when I get older."
"You can do it." Violeta noted.
"I don't want to. I'm already scared enough of the dark and of El Cucuy." Rafael shuddered
"You know he's not real." Violeta interrupted.
"How do you know? Where do all my missing socks go, then?" Rafael challenged.
"Why would El Cucuy steal your socks?" Violeta asked exasperated.
"So he can make a giant sock monster to come and attack me at night!" Rafael exclaimed as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Really? Giant sock monster?" Violeta rolled her eyes.
"Or it could try to give me the cooties." Rafael added.
"Well, cooties are possible." Violeta thought about it.
"Exactly." Rafael said emphatically.
"Don't worry hermano. I promise I'll protect you from any giant sock monster." Violeta patted her brother on the shoulder.
"How about cooties?" Rafael asked.
"That you're on your own."
"Fair enough. What time is it now?"
Violeta flew out again in front of the clock.
"It's 10. Wanna fly around again?"
"Sure... oh, can we ride in your bike instead?"
"Okay."
10 PM
Violeta flew them to the ground.
There she formed her rex ride and Rafael got on. She pulled the helmet off her head and placed it on his head. It was a little big but Violeta made sure it was on tight. She then reformed one for herself.
"Hang on."
"Okay."
They tore through the neighborhood streets. It was strangely quiet and deserted. They stopped at a red light when a red corvette pulled up along side them. The teens in the car looked at them, then the engine revved. Violeta looked over. She knew what that meant. She revved hers as well. The light turned green. Both racers peeled down the street. They raced along side each other neither gaining ground. Then the corvette made a sudden sharp turn down a side street. Violeta skidded and dangerously dipped to the side before she righted herself and followed after the corvette.
"Hey, no fair! He tried lose us!" Rafael protested.
"Don't worry, hermano, he won't get away that easily." Violeta said determinedly. She revved her engine and zoomed through the street. The corvette's riders were snickering in the car thinking that they had lost the little biker. But then a cloud of smoke arose in the rear view mirror.
The occupants stopped laughing as Violeta breezed by. She gave a two finger salute before passing them. Rafael stuck out his tongue.
The corvette sped up. The race was back on. They sped through the serpentine streets weaving back and forth through the lanes. Luckily, the streets were empty. They drove near the warehouse district where large crates were stacked along the side of the buildings. The streets grew narrower. The corvette tried to crowd out the bike but because of her size and maneuverability Violeta managed to stay side by side to the car. Then the corvette managed to steer slightly ahead of Violeta and then pulled in front of her causing her to steer away to avoid colliding with it. She jumped the sidewalk and headed straight for some crates. A bumper grew out from the front of her bike and she rammed through the wooden boxed with ease.
"Awesome!" Rafael cheered as they flew through the debris.
"Hang on! I have an idea." Violeta yelled her brother. She raced on the sidewalk.
"Violeta, were're losing them." Rafael said worriedly.
"Trust me." Violeta's tongue came out the side of her mouth in concentration.
Some aluminum sheeting was haphazardly leaning against some crates.
Violeta drove straight for it. Riding it like a ramp she flew over the other crates and landed on the boxes, driving now on top of the crates parallel to the corvette. The teens in the car stared at them with their mouths' open. They should have looked where they were going because a wall of crates loomed overhead. Splinters and rolls of fabric covered them. Violeta stopped to make sure the teens were alright before she and Rafael drove off.
11PM
"What time is it now?" He yawned as the adrenaline wore off.
Violeta glanced at the clock. "11." She announced.
"That's it?" Rafael asked incredulously.
"Come on let's go home. Maybe Kenji will let us watch TV with him."
"Violeta! Rafael!" They turned as they heard their names called.
"You guys are in so much trouble." It was Kenji and he looked mad. He stood on the rooftop. He must have been looking for them.
"Uh-oh, we're gonna get it now." Rafael muttered.
"Maybe not." Violeta spotted someone familiar on from the top of the crates. "Come on!"
They jumped off the crates and sped down the street ignoring Kenji's cries to stop. As they rounded the corner they saw Hailey who waved at them.
"Hey, guys what are you doing out so late on your own? Isn't Kenji watching you?" She asked.
"He is. But we came to get you so he could spend the New Year's with you." Violeta said quickly.
"Really? That's so sweet." Hailey put her hands over her heart.
Kenji rounded the corner. The scowl on his face disappeared when he saw Hailey.
"Oh uh hey Hailey." He stammered.
"You came all the way out here to see me?"
"What? Oh yeah, of course." Kenji glared at Violeta who gave him a blank look in return.
Hailey looped her arm around Kenji. "Well, it's almost midnight."
"I need to get these guys back. Do you want to come along?" He asked glad it was dark.
"Sure. I'm sorry I couldn't go to the party tonight but my boss was a real pain about me working tonight." Hailey continued.
"Hey, no problem." Kenji was still glaring at Violeta and Rafael's back as they marched back home.
12 AM
"Well, it's almost midnight." Hailey said as she sat down on the couch of Rex and Circe's house.
"It is?" Rafael asked excitedly.
Kenji switched on the TV. The people were counting down. " 10…9…8…7…6," The people chanted, "5…4…3…2…1… HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Violeta and Rafael looked at each other.
"That's it?" Violeta asked disbelievingly.
"That's it. "Kenji announced.
"Well, not quite it. " Hailey blushed as she leaned in and kissed Kenji.
Kenji turned bright red.
"Eww, Kenji has the cooties!" Rafael gagged.
Hailey laughed as Kenji turned his glower upon the kids. "Okay now, you saw the New Year. Get to bed."
Violeta and Rafael walked slowly up the stairs.
"Well, that's a big disappointment." Violeta grumbled a little older and wiser now.
"Not really. I had fun." Rafael said.
Violeta thought about it. "Yeah, I did too."
"Can we do this again next year?" Rafael asked hopefully.
"Maybe." Violeta said noncommittally.
"Hey Violeta?" Rafael hesitated a little.
"Yeah?" Violeta was about to enter her room but turned to her brother when he said her name.
"Thanks for being my sister." He said shyly.
Violeta looked at him for a second, "I'll always be your sister, no matter what, hermano."
"Promise?" He asked.
Violeta chuckled, " Well, the fact that we have the same parents means we will always be brother and sister, but I promise I'll always be there for you."
"Great!" Rafael said with relief. "Because I ate the last of your Christmas chocolates. Good night!" He slammed the door.
Violeta stared at the door for a second before going into her own room. A small smile ghosted her face. With Rafael the New Year will be an interesting one.