Author's note: New Follower! I hope blueblade0007 and all my other followers and readers like this new chapter.

Chapter 5

The Next Morning…

I opened my eyes. Ben was still asleep. I got ready for the day. I noticed the girls were still asleep too.

We didn't have any breakfast yet, so I decided to check some nearby places. The café at the square had sweet rolls. They were good.

Alright, now how to make some money around here? I'm not allowed to do ink battles. Grizzco was offering a job.

I walked over to Grizzco.

"Hey, you're back!" Mr. Grizz recognized me.

"Yeah, I need a job." I told him.

"Well, ya've come to the right place!" He said. "Wait, are you level 4 yet?"

"No…why?" I asked.

"Sorry, can't take ya." He told me. "Too new. Can't have liabilities in my business. Come back when you're level 4."

"Aaaaww…darn it…" I groaned as I left.

Well, now what? I can't become level 4 unless I do Ink Battles, which I'm not allowed to do…maybe one of the other businesses can give me a job.

10 Minutes Later…

"No shopkeeper will even talk to me until I'm level 4." I lamented. "I mean, what gives?"

"Sorry to hear that, squiddo." Crusty Sean felt sorry for me. "Well, you just gotta level up."

"My mom doesn't want me to do Ink Battles." I told him.

"Your mom must have some real issues then." He wasn't entirely wrong, but still.

"I have to think of something though…" I said.

"…Well…I could use someone helping me with the fryers I guess…" He suggested. "I mean, it won't be as much as Ink Battles, but it'll be something."

"Really?" I looked at him. "Thanks, Sean!"

"Eh, no problem!" He assured me. "Grab an apron and I'll show you the ropes."

"Sure thing!" I quickly got inside the truck and put on an apron he gave me.

"I'll need to buy gloves meant for hands before I let you handle the food, so for now you'll just watch how I fry and clean what needs cleaning." He told me.

"Okay." I agreed.

It was a slow day and he let me leave after 3 hours. He said he'd start paying me when he figured out a schedule for me and I start helping him with the fryers.

Well, I have a job now…

Now what?

…I'll just walk around the city.

One Hour Later…

It was pretty interesting so far. I can see the amusement park in the distance, but I think I'll wait until I have more money.

Oh, a park. That'll be fun…right?

Well, the pathway was a good walk. Some people were walking their seaslugs and I got to pet a few of them. There was a nice little stone bridge where I could see some fish down below.

After about 20 minutes, I decided to head of the park. Guess I can…wait...I could try to learn how to play music. But where?

I decided to check the Square to see if I could find someone who knew where I could start. Judd seems wise. Maybe he knows.

I walked over and noticed Lisa and Ben next to Grizzco.

"Hey guys." I walked over. "Huh, where's Andrea?"

"We aren't connected by the hip." Ben told me. "She's playing Clam Blitz while we're gonna check out Grizzco."

"You wanna join?" Lisa asked.

"Can't." I told her. "I'm not level 4."

"Huh…sucks." Ben said. "Well, later…you coming, Lisa?"

"Just a second." She told him. "So if you aren't going to do Ink Battles, what are you going to do here?"

"Well, I thought I'd get into music." I told her.

"Well, find some band guys and ask them how to start." She suggested. "That's what I'd do."

"That might work…" I admitted. "But where would I find some bands?"

"No idea." She shrugged. "Oh, Benny's getting impatient. Bye Timmy."

"Right…" Well, I guess I'll start looking ar-"Oof!"

"Woah!" A surprised voice said.

I accidentally bumped into someone.

"S-sorry!" I apologized.

"It's fine…" She held her umbrella in a way that obscured her face. "You seem distracted."

"Yeah, I want to be a musician, but I don't know how to start." I explained.

"Why don't you try a music shop?" She suggested. "I mean, a lot of them are run by musicians."

"That could work…" I agreed.

"What kind of music are you looking to get into, anyway?" She seemed curious.

"Well, I saw Off the Hook on the TV and thought maybe I could try being a DJ." I told her.

"Hm…" She seemed intrigued.

"Wait, are you in the music business?" I wondered.

"I-in a way…" She said. "You could say that."

"…Do you know a DJ with some time to spare who can teach me?" I asked.

"…Nope!" She seemed to have to think about that. "Well, I shouldn't be keeping you from wherever you're going, so I'll just let you go now."

She sank down a manhole she was standing over. That was weird, but helpful.

Now to find some music shops….

Zander's Beats…

"Sorry kid." The Octoling clerk said. "While this shop was founded by a famous musician, he's been dead for years."

"Darn." I groaned. "Well, do you know anyone who can teach me to be a DJ?"

"Not really." She shrugged. "Also, while some Octolings become DJs, some others have mixed feelings towards DJs."

"Why?" I asked.

"…Do…do you not know?" She seemed confused.

"I grew up in Cirrina Countryside." I told her. "I wouldn't really know."

"Cirrina, wha…?" She seemed more confused. "How?"

"Mom doesn't like to talk about it." I said. "Well, I'll try elsewhere. Bye, uh…Clair."

As I left I noticed she only looked more confused.

Maybe I should turn in for the day and try some shops tomorrow…

I went back to the apartment. I found Andrea had already come back as well.

"Hey." I waved.

"Oh, hey." She was unpacking bags.

"Whatcha got there?" I asked.

"I bought some groceries." She replied. "We can't eat out all the time."

"Oh, okay." I said. "Need some help unpacking?"

"Nah, I've got this." She told me.

"Okay." I walked over to the TV and flipped it on.

I watched a couple Ink Battles while she packed the food away.

"…So are Ben and Lisa a couple or something?" I asked. "They always hang out together."

"Was it not obvious?" She sat down on the couch and decided to flip channels.

"Well, it kinds was, but I just wanted confirmation." I shrugged.

"Y'know, this is the most I've heard you talk…ever." She said. "Then again, last time I tried your crazy mom chased me away."

"Please don't call her crazy." I practically begged at this point. "She just has some issues."

"Like what?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Well, for starters the fact that I don't have dad in the home." I replied.

"What happened?" She sat up.

"All I know is he died before I was born." I told her. "She never really talked about it. Only that I look a lot like him."

"Can't really tell when you're wearing those goggles." She remarked. "Why do you wear those, anyway?"

"M-my mom doesn't want anyone seeing my eyes." I explained. "She says people won't like me if I do."

"…Let me see." She leaned forward, reaching for my goggles.

"N-no!" I brushed her hand to the side. "Didn't you hear what I just said?"

"I'm indifferent to you." She leaned forward to reach again. "Seeing those won't change that. Now let me see."

"I'm not showing you my eyes!" I pushed her back.

She thought for a second, then looked at me and grinned.

"Would you do it for a kiss?" She leaned forward.

"W-what?!" I leaned back.

"Come on." She leaned closer. "It's a fair exchange, right?"

I leaned back, unsure of what to do while she kept leaning closer.

"I…I'm not sure…" I said. "I mean, I've never kissed anyone but my mom. And that was only on the cheek."

"Tim, you ever get a girlfriend, don't say that." She sighed. "Now would you like to go through with the exchange? Eyes for a kiss…"

Her face got eerily close to mine. As much as I didn't want to do this exchange, I wasn't exactly fighting it. Her hand was about to move my goggles when someone started unlocking the door. Andrea immediately got off of me and acted like nothing happened.

"Hey Andrea." Ben said as he and Lisa walked in. "You watching TV with Goggles boy?"

"Flipping channels." She told him. "You guys are home early."

"Got tired of fighting Salmon." He said. "What's with you, kid?"

I looked at Andrea, who gave me a "Don't tell them" face.

"N-nothing…" I said.

Great...this will end well...