7:

The time spent with Andy helped Woody clear his head. By the time Andy put Woody back in his room, two and a half hours later, he had made up his mind.

As soon as he was sure that his boy was downstairs, he crept to the room Molly was sharing with Maxie.

The rooming arrangements were thus: Andy and Mom in the room at the end of the loft, Emily and Fauna in the next one, and Molly and Maxie in the last.

Woody pressed himself to the wall before crossing the second bedroom. The door was open and he could hear the radio. Peeking around the doorframe, he could see raven-haired Fauna lying on her bed, writing in her journal. She was facing the door. No way could he go without her seeing.

The radio began to crackle and Fauna sat up. "Piece of junk!" She growled as she picked it up off the nightstand and fiddled with the station control.

Woody took his chance and ran across. He paused a moment before continuing, his hand resting against the wall as he took deep breaths.

His mind back on track, he continued to the last room on the loft. The door was partially cracked and he could see the toys inside moving around. He pushed the door open and let himself inside.

Bo was by the bed, reading a magazine and occasionally looking up to make sure her sheep were still in sight. Woody gathered all his courage and made his way toward her. She spotted him before he was halfway there. "Woody." It was more of a statement than a greeting.

"Hey." He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Can I talk to you about something?"

"Shoot."

He sighed. "Look, I know I was acting like a flake earlier, but I want you to know that…"

"Hey everyone!" A voice interrupted. Woody growled and looked toward the door. Booster was there waving. "Guess what? Mom invited Elsie's family over for a barbecue tonight! It's going to be a party!"

There were cheers. Woody felt his stomach sink to his boots.

Bo turned to him. "What were you saying?"

"Never mind." Woody rubbed the back of his neck. "Just…never mind."

Maxine stood in the kitchen in front of the counter, chopping up strawberries for a fruit salad. The knife made hard hacking noises as she struck the cutting board fiercely through the berries. "Stupid blonde princess with her nose in the…"

Andy came in the kitchen carrying a two-liter bottle of clear soda. His face became alarmed and he quickly put the soda on the counter and rushed over to Maxie.

"Stop it!" He cried. "Here, give me that!" Maxie turned red as Andy grabbed her hand to take the knife. "You make the Sparkly Juice before you cut off a finger! I'll make the fruit salad."

Maxie regained her composure. "Don't boss me around!" She snapped.

"Nobody likes blood with their fruit." Andy carefully placed his finger and thumb on the berry and sliced through the fruit skin. "Just combine half that bottle of soda with half that container of juice in the big pitcher. But make sure you put in the ice first."

"I know how to make Sparkly Juice!" Maxie groused as she pulled the bag of ice on the table and opened it. For a minute or two the only sounds were the clink clinking of the ice into the pitcher and the knife sliding through the strawberries and onto the board.

"Thanks."

"Hmm?" Andy stopped cutting and turned.

"I said thank you," Maxie repeated. "For making sure I didn't cut myself."

Andy shrugged. "I wouldn't want you to get cut, even if you are being grouchy. You're still my best friend."

Maxie smiled to herself.

"Anyway, I still don't get why you don't like Elsie. All you have to do is get to know her." Andy said casually. He picked up the board and let the fruit slide into a bowl already full of raspberries, bananas, and grapes. He picked up a wooden spoon and started mixing. "You'll see. She's really smart and she's the best skateboarder I've ever seen, and she's got a huge collection of Gameboy ga-AHHH!" Andy shrieked as Maxie pulled on the back of his collar and threw two ice cubes down his shirt. He jumped around trying to get them out. "What'd you do that for?" He screeched as the two cubes finally fell onto the floor.

Maxie ran out of the kitchen. "Just leave me alone!" She cried.

Andy looked stunned. "What'd I do?"