Dodgeball Day was finally over. However, JP and Maney were not happy that no one listened to their protest or had learned nothing today because they had their heads stuck in the game.

So, after the kids that have been hit by the dodgeballs recovered, JP had no choice but to force them to apologize to each other for throwing dodgeballs at each other. But when some kids didn't want to, Maney had to go in angry horse mode at them, which scared them but managed to get them to say sorry.

She even kicked Kelsey in the butt for throwing a dodgeball at JP. "Ow! Okay okay! I'm sorry, Maney! I couldn't help myself! JP shouldn't have told Craig what I did, though!" Kelsey exclaimed when Maney kicked her again that she dropped to the ground, and then squished her cheek with the sole of her cowgirl boot. "Ah! Ow! Ow! Ow! Alright, Maney! I said I'm sorry! I get it! I shouldn't have thrown that dodgeball at JP, so you can stop now!" She shouted out in pain and soon started screaming as her loyal riding steed kept on tormenting her with more stomps on her face.

Luckily, JP came to Kelsey's rescue before Maney could crush her skull into pieces with her powerful "horse hoof." Maney looked down at Kelsey, who was unconscious from the last stomp. "Oops!" said Maney sheepishly as she lifted her boot off and left a deep bootprint imprinted on her friend's cheek. Kelsey twitched and groaned in pain.

However, the only kids that didn't want to apologize were Eliza and George, who were laughing at the sight of Kelsey getting kicked and stomped on by Maney until Maney glared up at the two Tea Timers and sent them, along with Beth, running and screaming in fear before JP could catch them and force them into the apology scene.

Meanwhile, sitting at the bench were Omar and Crag, who were watching Maney saying sorry to JP for hurting Kelsey and JP saying to her comfortingly that it's okay as the two helped Kelsey up and she thanks them before Maney apologizes for her rough actions, before JP then gives Kelsey a stern look and demands her to apologize to Craig as she lets out a groan. Craig smiled at his three friends when Omar started to ask him, "Hey Craig? You okay after taking that hit for Kelsey out there?" Craig faced Omar and felt a pang of pain on his chest that made him flinch when he turned. "Ah! Yeah, I'm all good. It's just my pride that's hurt." he replied with a slightly strained tone in his voice as he almost collapsed when Omar caught him. "Whoa! Careful man! Don't move so much! You'll make the pain worse!" Omar said, helping Craig up, then feeling his cheeks warming up at the touch of the mapmaker's body.

"Yeah, thanks!" replied Craig as he gave Omar a thankful look, then lifted his head up to face his friend. "What about you, Omar?" Craig asked back. "Are you okay? You seem to be thinking about a lot of things going on in your mind." he asked in concern, moving his hand on top of his that made Omar's blush deepen a bit. "Huh? Uh, yeah. I'm fine," Omar replied, glancing away from Craig to hide the blush. "It's just that, I can't believe we were so caught up in this dodgeball game when it was just to entertain Eliza, who wanted to watch us beat each other up." Omar recalled when he remembered seeing JP and Maney holding up signs to show that dodgeball was bad for everyone. "Maybe JP was right. Maybe we shouldn't have played dodgeball." He looked back down at the ground, downcasted as Craig joined in.

"Yeah. I guess he and Maney did have a good point. We should've listened to them before we even played the game." Craig agreed with a shamed face and sighed. "Maybe it really was all set up for Eliza to watch us fight each other for her usual sick amusement." He couldn't help but feel guilty about not just not picking Kelsey to be on his team before the game started, but also not listening to JP's protest about the dodgeball game and looking back at that sudden death round where the losers had to throw dodgeballs at the remaining kids. Then he looked back at the time the Tea Timers had tricked the kids that had been invited to their tea party to fight each other instead of getting a slice of the big, fancy Tiramisu cake– which turned out to be fake.

Craig then winced at another painful thought of the time when he almost had to cut Jason's badge sash off of him with an ax, when Omar resumed his talk. "Also, it's not just the dodgeball game I was thinking about. It's about Maya, you know my old friend who became Xavier's BFF three summers ago?"

Looking down again, Craig began to remember the time when they encountered Maya during their search for the boomerang arrow he shot by accident. He knew how close those two were, even though they became enemies after Xavier became crowned king of the Other Side of the Creek. "Oh yeah. I remember that you told me how you two used to be best friends until Xavier pitted you guys against each other to see who can be his best friend."

Craig looked up at Omar who was sadly looking away from him.

"Yeah. I did tell you that. But…" he paused and pressed his lips together as Craig nodded encouragingly to Omar, "Yeah. Go on." he prompted.

Omar turned to face Craig as he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Well… after today, do you think that she and I can really be friends again? You know, like you and Kelsey did after she won the dodgeball game?" he asked, feeling unsure when he last saw Maya walk away like before when the Capture The Flag war was over, only this time she waved goodbye at Omar without saying a word.

Just then, Craig brought his other hand and soon had both of his hands holding onto Omar's hand which made his blush deepen as Craig held them up between them and looked straight into his eyes in a meaningful way. "Omar listen," Craig began. "I know it's been three summers since you guys became enemies longer than you've been friends, but I believe you and Maya really can be friends again, now that Xavier is not the king anymore." He squeezed Omar's hands gently and sent him a smile.

Omar squeezed Craig's hands back. "You really think so?" he asked with his eyes starting to sparkle with hope, although they did have something else in them: an admiration for Craig. Omar just kept staring at Craig, who gave him a knowing nod but not taking his eyes off him. "Yeah, but I don't think so, I know so. However, Maya will need more time to think. Maybe that's why she walked away after the Capture The Flag war." he suggested. "So don't worry, Omar. It might take long, but Maya will go back to being your best friend again. Just let her take her time, and sooner or later, some things will go back to the way they used to be." Craig advised, and Omar glanced down for a moment to think.

Finally, after three seconds have passed, Omar let out a sigh. "Yeah. You're right, Craig. She does need time, so I'll give her all the time she needs. Thanks." he said softly, and smiled back as Omar brought out his free hand to place it on top of Craig's hands and the two boys shared a moment with each other. But as they were about to get lost in the moment, Craig looked down at what he was doing to Omar's hands and gritted his teeth while feeling himself blush. Omar's eyes followed Craig's gaze down at their hands being held together as well until his face became completely red. Quickly, Craig took his hands away and Omar turned away to scratch the back of his head in embarrassment.

There was an awkward silence between the two blushing boys as they turned and looked down at the ground again.

Whoa! That was weird! Why the heck did I just do that? Craig thought, rubbing his hands. Is it because I… no way! I couldn't like Omar that way! He shook his head doubtfully and planted his left hand behind him on the bench while he wondered. Could I?

Wow! I can't believe Craig just held my hands like that! And I just held his hands! Omar thought excitedly, feeling himself grinning from ear to ear, but for a second when he realized he was acting like some idiotic fanboy. Wait! What am I thinking? He bit down his bottom lip hard until it hurt as Omar glanced over his shoulder at Craig, who also glanced over and sent him a shy smile. He sent a shy smile back.

"Hey, by the way Omar," Craig responded slowly. "Thanks for having my back when that dodgeball was about to hit me. I owe you one."

"Heh heh. No problem, Craig. It's what friends do– they look out for each other." Omar replied back. "Also, thanks for picking me as your teammate. I gotta say, it was fun being on your team… even if there were painful consequences in the end." he let out another chuckle as Craig nodded, then frowned slightly. "It's nothing. By the way, Omar… would you be mad at me if I never picked you like Kelsey did?" he asked in worry.

Omar slowly moved his hand over to Craig's hand, and held it gently to comfort him. "No. Of course not, Craig. I wouldn't mind if you didn't choose me to be on your team if it was Dodgeball Day again. Besides, I would rather be happy for you than get mad and throw dodgeballs at you since you've been selected as team captain."

Craig sent a soft smile at Omar over his shoulder. "That's good to know." he said, then squeezed Omar's hand again as Omar squeezed back again as well.

After a few minutes, their blushing stopped and they let go of each others' hands when Craig heard JP, who was acting like a father, ordering Wolfgang and the Squashinator to apologize to each other. "Top Hat Tommy! Squashinator! Say you're sorry!" JP demanded as Wolfgang was about to protest and shout out his real name when JP snapped out "Say it like you mean it!," then added as he pointed at his chest "And say it from here! The heart!" Maney gritted her teeth while nostrils let out some steam as Wolfgang and Squashinator shivered and did as the two wanted them to.

Seeing JP and Maney acting that way made Craig shake his head and sigh in annoyance "Oh JP." with a sideways frown.

As Craig got up from the bench, he turned to Omar with his cheeks turning a slight red again as he looked down at the ground for a second before looking back at him. "Hey, um, Omar. If you feel like it, you can help me get JP and Maney to chill. I think they're scaring everyone more than getting them to say sorry." he said as Omar looked over at JP and Maney and the two scared kids. Omar blinked and answered with a half smile, "Yeah, sure. Just give me a few more minutes to think, okay?"

Again, Craig sent Omar a smile and nodded patiently. "Okay. Just don't take too long to think a lot though, Omar, or else your brain might explode." he pointed out as Omar let out a light chuckle. Craig began walking to JP and Maney, but then stopped to turn to Omar again. "And hey, maybe after this, we can go grab some Choco Rolls from the Trading Tree. Sound good?" he added, waving his hand at Omar. Omar waved back, his cheeks still a bit red. "Oh uh, yeah sure. All that dodgeball throwing has made me hungry anyway, so I'm in for a Choco Roll."

Craig nodded at Omar, then went off to try and calm down JP and Maney by telling that there is no need to force everyone to say sorry or even kick Kelsey, then promised him that they will have a Creek Council meeting tomorrow to talk about whether to ban Dodgeball Day or not.

As Craig was busy talking to his friends, Omar let out a deep sigh when Keun Sup ran by his side with a teasing expression on his face. "Uh oh." he said with a grin as Omar sent him a confused look. "What?" he replied in question when Keun Sup poked him on the cheek. "Looks like somebody's in love." Omar sucked in his lips and felt his cheeks burning again when he heard what Keun Sup just said. He released his lips and blurted out, "What? No way, come on! That's ridiculous! I mean, it's not like I'm gonna stay up all night thinking about him!" And by him, Omar meant Craig. He let out a nervous laugh.

But later that night, Omar was lying awake on his bed still thinking about Maya and Craig. However he was mostly thinking about Craig. "M'uh oh." Omar muttered to himself with a frown as shadows started forming under his bloodshot eyes.

THE END