Hey, I told you I was gonna have this out pretty fast! Here is the fifth chapter, get ready for a bunch of stuff to happen!

Disclaimer: I'm running out of disclaimer ideas, so I'm just saying I'm not Rick Riordan.

Chapter 5: The Second 'Not Date'

Travis's POV

Gosh I'm so embarrassed! I don't know what to say about this.

What am I gonna do? I'm not gonna wait until Monday to say sorry for my very odd in-my-dream actions. That would just make it more awkward. So I text Katie asking if we could meet at the playground at 12:30. She says sure.

Oh crap. What am I gonna say? What is her reaction gonna be? Am I gonna be more embarrassed than her? Oh well, it happened, and I'll just have to go with the flow.

I start walking over at 12:15, even though it's like two blocks from my house, and just sit on the playground for a while. I'm surprised that there's no one here. It's a sunny, warm November Sunday, and Swensson Park is usually full. Though a bunch of people might be at the Lutheran church a block over. I check my watch. It's 12:35. Katie should be here already. Is she okay? Maybe she got abducted on the way over. Oh who am I kidding, no one can be kidnapped in Lindsborg, Kansas. All of a sudden I see Katie's truck pull up, and I straighten my orange polo shirt and khaki shorts. Yeah, I dressed up a bit, for Katie. But I'm wearing a baseball hat with my hair tucked inside so I don't look weird. I see someone hop out of the backseat on the driver's side before the truck pulls away. I look down to hide the fact that I was watching, and Katie walks up.

"Hey Travis." Katie says. I look up. Woah. My eyes widen at the amount of beauty in front of me. Katie is dressed in a pretty blue dress that matches her blue hair, that's not all that blue anymore and some silver flats. Her blue and brown hair is curled and makes her look magical. My throat goes dry, she looks so amazing. I think I've been staring at her for a while cause she gives me a funny look.

"Is everything alright Travis?" she asks.

"Wha? Oh yeah, I'm fine. Why are you all dressed up?" She blushes and looks down.

"My dad dropped me off here after we went to church over there." She gestures behind her. "I always go with my grandma, and then I go with my dad when he's not at the fire station. So I'm dressed up for church." I still can't stop eyeing her, she just looks so good in that dress! Okay, focus on what you came for Travis.

"Ahh. Well, you look really nice." She blushes and mumbles a thank you. I motion for her to sit down.

"I love church, really. Not just because of learning about God, but that I get to learn and grow with my best friends." she says. I can tell it's the truth. She looks really happy right now.

"Katie Gardener has best friends besides me?" She rolls her eyes at that. "I thought you didn't sit with anyone at school."

"Well, yeah, but that's because my friends at church are mostly homeschooled. I'm not really close with any of the boys at church, and a few of them go to school with us but then again I'm not close with them so I don't sit with them. My best friend Evie wondered what happened to my hair by the way. Now she wants to meet you and give you a piece of her mind." She laughs. "You should have seen her face when I told her I got you back. Hey, let's see how it looks!" She rips my hat off and I squawk in disagreement.

"Hey!" I say as I grab the hat back, though I don't put it on yet.

"Looks pretty bad. Just about as bad as my hair." she laughs.

"I thought you liked it after a bit?" she nods her head.

"Yeah, yours doesn't really look that bad. Maybe not with the orange shirt, but yeah, it's not horrible."

"You know, I definitely did not expect you to get me back, and especially not as quickly as you did. It was a big surprise, and I totally thought Connor did it. But you just went up a level in my book if you pranked the master." Even higher than you already were.

"Ha ha, thanks." she smirks and flips her hair. Is she flirting with me?! She never acts like this! While on this topic though…

"Speaking of last night, sorry if I freaked you out, with, well, you know." She blushes a little bit and it's really cute, but I try not to blush too cause just thinking about it freaks me out.

"So you saw the picture, I'm guessing? I wasn't gonna leave it there but Miranda did and told me when we got back to our house. But you would have known anyway, I have a little green strand from where my hair and yours mixed on the pillow. So now it's a little green." She holds up a strand of her hair and shows me the tips, where there is a bit of green.

"Really, I am sorry about that if it made you uncomfortable. I was feeling really embarrassed about it when I found out this morning. I actually kinda asked if you could meet me here so I could straighten things out, and apologize you know. And to hang out if you wanted to."

"Yeah, I figured as much. I actually am going to Evie's house at 1:30. I wanted to give her enough time to get settled before I came over, so I have to go back to my house and change before I go over. You can walk with me to her house though if you want, I mean she did say she wanted to give you a piece of her mind." she smirks. Oh, well I'll take what time I can spend with Katie that I can get. "If your girlfriend doesn't mind you walking me over, you know. I'm surprised that she would let you hang out with me though. I wouldn't let my boyfriend hang out and do movie nights with another girl, if I had one." I look at her surprised and confused.

"Katie, I don't have a girlfriend. I said there was a girl, but it's not there yet."

"OHHHH, that makes sense now." she laughs and blushes a little bit. "Sorry, I just assumed."

"It's alright Katie-kat. I can walk you over to your house. And your friends house if you want me to."

"Alright! We should probably head over now."

"Okay. Hey, you should tell me about your church friends while we walk! It sounds like Evie has a little bit of a temper, if she wants to give me a piece of her mind."

"Ehh, not really. She's just really protective of her friends, which is really nice. I'm really excited to hang out with her today, we haven't done this in a while. Her boyfriend takes up a lot of her time now. He's nice though. And he's good for her, so I'm fine with it. I mean we still hang out in groups and stuff, so I'm glad we still have that. Evie's a really fun person though, I think you'll love her. Just like I do!" she smiles.

"Aww that's cute. How long have you known each other?" I ask. I'm really glad that Katie has some good friends, besides me of course.

"Since we were like six. We went through our tough times but we got through them. Right now we don't talk that much, as I've been busy with school. I mean we talk, just not as much as we used too. But I'm glad I have you to talk to at least, and of course there's Miranda too."

"I'm glad I can talk with you too." James has been busy with Leah so I haven't had much time to spend with him either. "My best friend James got a girlfriend too and now we don't hang out as much."

"Well I guess we both understand. Hey, we're at my house. C'mon in and you can talk to dad or something while I get changed. Oh and by the way, I think he thinks that we're together. Like a couple. So be warned if a talk comes up. Though he should have known I would tell him if that happened. I always let my dad know when something important happens. " I nod. Us, a couple? A guy can only dream if the girl is as oblivious as ever, like Katie is. "Hey dad, Travis is here. He's gonna walk with me to Evie's house, but I'm just gonna get changed first." she yells into the kitchen.

"Hi Travis, how's it going?"

"Pretty good sir. How about you?"

"I'm doing good, thanks. I don't really appreciate what you did to Katie's hair, though it was pretty funny when I heard she got you back. Can I see?" I nod and pull off my hat. His eyes widen. "She really got you good, didn't she!" he laughs. "And such an odd color too, though it fits, just not with the orange shirt."

"Yeah, she's a crazy one isn't she." I put my hat back on.

"Yeah, but you got lucky Travis, she's an amazing girl and she deserves the best." I blush.

"Um, sir, we're not dating. We're just friends." His surprise shows on his face, and he laughs.

"Sorry for assuming, but it really seems like you are. Especially with the way you look at each other. Do you like her Travis? I won't tell her if you do, if you're not ready to tell her yet." I blush a little more.

"I do sir, and I already told her, but I think she's a little oblivious when it comes to that. I told her, well more like hinted, a few weeks ago, but she didn't seem to pick up that it was her. So I'm just waiting right now. I don't think she likes me back anyway, so I'll save myself the rejection. And maybe she's not ready, I heard about what happened in middle school with Brandon." He nods grimly.

"Okay. Well, I just want to let you know that I'm okay with you guys dating if you want to. It's smart to wait. You're a good kid Travis, I like you." he pauses. "But I don't think you'd get rejected." My eyebrows raise a bit, but before I can say anything, Katie comes in.

"Hey dad, Travis. Ready to go? It's almost 1:30."

"Yup. See you later Mr. Gardner."

"Later Travis." I wave and we head out the door.

"Did he give you the talk? I thought I heard my name at one point." I blush. I really hope she didn't hear anything specific.

"Yeah, he did, but I let him know we aren't dating." Yet. "He was surprised, but yeah. It wasn't too bad."

She nods, and we turn left at a corner. "Evie's house is right down there." I nod. And fix my hat so that no green sticks out.

"You know, she's gonna want you to take that off when you get there, so she can see the awesome way I got you back. So don't bother fixing it." She laughs and I smile. I always smile when she laughs, it makes me happy that I get to make her happy. We walk up to the door and it opens before we knock.

"Katie!" A short girl, well shorter than Katie, who seems to be about 5'5, with black hair bolts out the door and picks Katie up in a big hug.

"Evie, you do know that I just saw you at church, right?" Evie lets go of Katie and smiles.

"Well, yeah, but we're actually hanging out, for the first time in a while. So of course I'm excited!" She turns to me and her eyes widen.

"Oh my gosh is this the guy that dyed your hair? Travis or whatever his name was? The one who you talk about like-"

"Yes, this is Travis." Katie answers quickly. Oooh she's hiding something about me. This is getting interesting. Evie smirks and raises an eyebrow at Katie, and then turns to me.

"Ahh, you were right Katie, he is cute." Evie says with another smirk. Katie blushes furiously and I can feel my ears getting hot. Yeah, definitely interesting. Though I already know that I look amazing. "Alright Travis, lets see the hair." Evie says bossily. Katie goes in front of me and stands in her tippy toes to take the hat off. I can only dream of a different situation where she might do the same movement, except looking into my eyes rather than avoiding them. Evie's brown eyes widen. "Wow you really did get him good!" she laughs. "Katie Gardner, I never took you as one to prank somebody, but this is hilarious! Ask me to help next time, I like this side of you!" She laughs a bit harder and I just shrug.

"Well, I should be going. It looks like you two have a lot to talk about." I say.

"Wait, let me introduce myself first! I'm Evie, and I'm Katie's best friend." She holds out her hand for a shake and I shake it.

"Yes, and I am Travis Stoll, prankster extraordinaire, and Katie's best guy friend. Now since we have made introductions, I'll go so you can have your time together. Have fun!"

"By Travis." Katie waves.

"Wait, Travis, aren't you gonna give her a hug before you go?" Man, Evie is evil! She even has the evil smirk! Katie turns pink as I walk over and reach my arms out. She hesitations before she gives in, and my heart flutters a little as she squeezes me. I whisper in her ear, "Have fun Katie. I'll see you later." I smirk as I feel her shiver at my voice. I pull away and her warmth leaves me. I wave goodbye to them both, and then I walk home.

That was crazy, her friend is a little crazy, and evil too! She made poor Katie embarrassed! I don't know why though, maybe she just doesn't like hugs much. But she gave me that hug after the first movie we watched together… I have a lot to think about this afternoon.

So, I am almost finished with the sixth chapter, and I will have it published by Christmas, as a gift. It definitely counts as a gift, especially with what's going to happen. ;) Have a great holiday!