Chapter 3: Support
First off, let me just say, HOLY CRAP! xD I finally got the time to read all these reviews people were sending in. And most of them have the same question: Why did you get rid of Rose? I will tell you why…
I want the focus to be more about Jake and Paula. And her parents will be a big part too, but I had no role of Rose in this story (well, she plays a minor role later on) so I didn't want her to be just one of those characters were she has no absolute purpose in the story. So, I cut her out xD. I'm sorry, but it had to be done. (Note, I made this decision RIGHT when I was writing it…)
Note: Some parts will be set another 22 years in the future, others in the current future from the last two chapters…
Little Ashleigha and her brother Jake ran onto the couch next to their mother. Both little kids were in their pajamas, and waiting for their mother to tell them a bedtime story.
"Please mommy!!" Ashleigha begged her mother, just this only night is what would usually come next, but even her mother knew that was a lie.
"Yeah mom, just a quick story and we will go to bed." Jake grabbed his twin sister's neck, and the two gave cheesy smiles.
Knowing exactly what her kids were doing right now, she couldn't help but give in. "Alright, alright. One story, then you two goes to bed, promise?"
"Promise!!" The two stood up, and saluted. "Wait!" Ashleigha sat down, she had an idea. Jake looked at her, puzzled. "Can you tell us how you became the American Dragon?"
"Yeah, like you said you would!!"
"Guys, that's a long story…" She sighed. After a long time, a mother needs her rest. But hearing them plea more and more, she had to give in. "Fine. Dominic can you had me my journal…"
A minute later, her husband came back with a giant book. She opened the first pages, and skimmed over the pages. "Mom, what is that?"
"Its brail, I translated all my journal entries in brail, so I can read it." Suddenly, she found the page. "Ah-ha, here's the page! Let's see….I had a hard time becoming the American Dragon, especially since I'm blind. But if it wasn't for the help of my friends and family, I don't I could have gone through it…"
Sitting gently in her room, Paula was joined by her test best friends, Hope, and Tasha.
Hope Lawrence isn't actually all that human. She derives from an ancient magical creature called 'sensorals'. By just hearing the name, you could guess what their magical ability is. They have the power to sense out people's moods, by the touch of their hand. Their facial expression changes rapidly by the feeling of the person they are touching.
Tasha was the only one out of the three who was actually human. But, unlike most people, she was fully aware of the existence of magical creatures. Mainly through the stories of her heroic grandfather and grandmother that used to team up with Jake's grandfather (you might also know them as Trixie and Spud. Yes, they got married and had kids, who had grandkids.) Because of this connection between Paula's grandfather, and both Tasha's grandparents, the relatives of the Spudinskis and the Longs have always remained friends.
"So are you really going to try to be an American Dragon?" Hope asked her best friend.
Paula messed with her feet on her bed, nervous at all the outcomes. "I want to really…but do you really thing I could pull it off?" Paula had many puzzling questions in her head, preventing her from making an actual decision.
Tasha moved herself up from the floor, and sat right next to her. "You know that I have faith in you girl, but how can you save the city if you can't see?"
"I know!" Paula shoved her face in her pillow. "I just don't want to get my hopes up…"
Sensing Paula's fear, Hope grabbed up Paula and faced her forward. "Paula, you're the one who always said that you could do anything you set your mind too, right?"
"Yeah but…this is-"
Hope interrupted her. "You're the one that said that you wouldn't let a small think like sight get the way of your dreams?"
Paula swayed her head slowly, thinking about what Hope was telling her. She was absolutely right. She was setting her abilities too low, she knew somewhere she could do it. "You know what, your right."
"And your grandfather believes in you, and he is the American Dragon. I think that counts as something." Hope ended her persuasive argument.
Standing off from her bed, Paula stood up loud and proud. "I'm gonna try this, and I know I'm going to make it!" She cheered.
Joining in, Tasha and Hope all stood up to show their enthusiasm for her. "Paula if you really want to give this a shot, me and Hope will be there to help you along the way." Tasha put her arm around her friend's shoulder.
"Thanks guys," Paula smiled, she loved how so many people believed in her. But just then, a loud timer went off in her room. Hope and Tasha looked over at her alarm clock that was blinking 4:00. "Oh, it's 4:00! Thanks guys for coming over, but Gramps wants me to start dragon training a bit early from now on." She quickly put on her shoes which she set right under her dresser everyday, and pressed on out of her room.
But then Hope grabbed Paula's shirt, to prevent her from leaving yet. "Here, how about we walk you to your grandfather's shop? Not that far from Tasha's house."
Tasha and Hope led Paula down the street to her grandfather's electronic shop. This shop was a business shop passed down from each generations of the Long family. Jake currently owned it, but William worked their part time only to inherit it once he has the time between his other job as a finance adviser. The shop wasn't very profitable, but it was enough to keep the American Dragon debt free.
Paula walked into the recognizable shop, sitting in her usual spot on the couch. She heard a pitter, patter noise on the hard wood flooring, and knew exactly who was coming in the front of the shop. "Hi Fu Dog." She called out.
"Hey kid, how's it goin'?" Fu answered her call. Fu, almost a 700 year old Shar-pei, has been Jake's animal guardian since he had started dragon training. Now that Paula started training, eventually Fu would be responsible for her.
"It's been good…" Her voice had a bit of hesitation to it. "I've been working on my fire skills,"
Fu jumped onto the couch, next to her. "That's great, how's the flying…?"
Her face went downward. "Ehh…not so good."
"That's okay Paula, your still getting used to your dragon powers. Sooner or later, you'll be just as good as Jake."
"Don't even kid, Fu." She smiled.
Just then, the two were joined by someone else. Jake moved the purple rug blocking the backroom, and grabbed Paula's hand. "You ready for dragon training?" He inquired.
"I guess so…" She sighed. Paula stood up, and followed Jake to the roof of this building.
I will try to finish this story before school starts...hopefully I can xD