Chapter Four:

Suki and I entered the kitchen cautiously. Mrs. Archer was slamming dishes around, Ian was sitting at the table with Gabe. When he saw us he smiled.

"Come sit down you two." Ian said.
I took a seat beside him, Ian smiled again.

"Ian get over here and help me." Mrs. Archer snapped.

Ian rolled his eyes and got up and walked to his mom.

"Wow what a warm welcome." Gabe whispered to me.

I nodded, "Yeah."
"Ready to chow down?" Ian asked placing a dish in front of me.

I looked up, Ian stared down at me. I smiled.

"IAN!"
Ian rolled his eyes and turned back to his mom.

LIDILIDI

We were all sitting at dinner chewing, quietly when Mrs. Archer cleared her throat.

Ian looked at her, "Yeah mom?"
"When are your friends planning on leaving?"
I choked on my drink.

"What?" Gabe cried.

"Mom!"

"What Ian?"
"Mom! Uh, when it's safe and when they have a family!"
"Uh huh."
"MOM! You said they could stay."
Mrs. Archer rose from the table and tossed her dish in the sink, "Well till they leave, they can help around the house."
Then she stormed out of the kitchen.

"Does that mean I have to do dishes?" Gabe asked.

Suki, Ian, and I turned on him, "Yes." we said together.

"But Suki, you know you love doing dishes."
Suki stood up, "Yes master."
She walked towards Gabe and raised her hand.

"What?"
Suki hit him across the back of his head.

"Ow!"
I laughed.

Ian smiled, "Gabe, you should know better."

Gabe leaned back in his chair, "Should, but don't."
Suki shoved his arm, and he toppled back.

"I'm cool!" He cried jumping up.
I burst out laughing.

"Hey Gabe, I'll make you a deal, I'll clean the dishes you do my laundry." Ian said.

Gabe made a face, "Uh how many dishes?"
Ian pointed to the sink with was filled with pots and pans.

"I think I'll take you laundry!" Gabe said, placing his chair back.

"Get started buddy."
"Okay." Gabe headed upstairs.

"And I thought Gabe was the only one with hyper-suasion." I joked.

"Well, you are going to help me with the dishes." Ian told me.

Suki giggled, "I'll be upstairs helping Gabe."

"Okay." I called after her.

"Now time for some dishes!" Ian cried raising his hands in the air.

"There just dishes Ian, no need to go crazy about them." I said as I stared to fill the sink with soapy water.

"What if I love dishes?" Ian asked coming to stand behind me.

"Then you are crazy." I said reaching for the first dish.

"Then I am!" Ian said, he reached into the sink and splashed water up on me.

"IAN!" I cried grabbing the sink sprayer.

Ian dived and missed being shot.

"Your stupid power!" I cried.

Ian laughed and splashed me again. I pointed the sprayer at him again.

Ian ducked again and grabbed me around my knees lifting me up.

"IAN!" I wailed.

"Haha!" Ian cried.

I pointed the sprayer at his back. It hit his shoulder.

"HEY! I can't see behind me!" He yelled.

"I don't care!" I cried.

Ian was still holding me around my knees.
"Ceej?" He asked, suddenly soft.

I wrapped my arms around his neck.

I leaned down, Ian stretched up. Our lips met.

When Ian pulled back a minute later, I didn't let go of him and he didn't let go of me.

I searched his face, and smiled. Ian had one strong feeling that was sticking out above the others.

"Ceej?" He asked.

"Ian I can read it on your face."
"Your stupid power," he laughed.

"So are you going to tell me?"
"Tell you?"
"Yeah."

"Ok," Ian said, "Ceej, I love you."
I smiled, "Love you too Ian."

Then we leaned back to each other and he gave me a kiss, again. I swear, that was the best kiss ever!