Chapter 3

"So let me get this straight, you're going to attend Echo Ridge Elementary for a while?" asked Luna. Her usual entourage, Bud and Zack, were sitting on either side of her in a booth at a restaurant.

"Yes…" replied Sonia, wearing her 'Melody' disguise. "I want to be around you guys more. Working takes a lot of time, and I meant what I said when I told everyone that you guys inspire my songs."

Bud and Zack sat up, hearts practically in their eyes. "Wow…" They both looked upward, thinking about what that meant.

"Friends… with Sonia Strumm…" escaped Bud, breathlessly.

"To think, we inspire her music… wow!" Zack looked up, lost in a daydream.

"Get a grip you two," said Luna. "Sonia is our friend, so we need to be there for her. That's why you're in disguise, right?"

"Yes. And stop calling me Sonia," she replied, "it sort of defeats the purpose of the Real Wave here."

"Oh, right, 'Melody,' I'm sorry."

"I want to see if people will know me for me, not just because I'm on a bunch of ads. Plus, remember what happened last time I hung around Echo Ridge?"

Geo let out an exasperated groan. "Don't remind me. We had to run off on the Wave Road just to get a moment of peace."

"Exactly. So really try for me while we're at school, okay? I sort of want to experience things without being approached as much… It gets sort of tiring."

Mega materialized himself next to the table. "Don't worry, we've had enough of all that too. At least the locals have sort of gotten used to MegaMan walking among them. For a few months there, it was nothing but interview after interview, people coming to the statue by Geo's house to take pictures… it was terrible."

Luna interrupted. "Isn't there also a book in the works?"

Zack replied, "There is, but the author is sort of lazy..."

At that moment, a Wizard carrying their order came around the corner. "And here are your sundaes, everyone. Anything else I can get you?"

"No thanks, we're good," replied Geo.

"Alright, glad to be of service, sir." The rather eager Wizard disappeared.

"Alright, sundaes!" shouted Bud. "First one to an ice cream headache wins! Go!"

At that, all of them started shoveling ice cream into their mouths. Zack choked. "Aaaah! I win! I win! Owwwww!"

"Sweet, sweet justice," muttered Omega-Xis.

"Huh? What?"

"Nothing, it's nothing."

The friends continued eating their sundaes, at a much slower pace this time. "So, anything else interesting happen over the winter?" asked Sonia.

"Not too much. It was nice to spend the vacation with dad back though," remarked Geo, "it's been a long time."

"I see… and the rest of you?"

Zack and Bud got worried looks on their faces. Luna replied, "Nothing much, just the usual. As the Student Body President, I had to make sure these two for sure stayed in line though!" As she shot them a look, they cowered further into their seats. Luna lowered her voice a few decibels, and whispered, "And you were on that tour lately, right?"

"Yeah! It was sort of hectic, travelling everywhere and performing. It's different when I go off with Lyra. That's quiet. But on stage, the whole place is full of energy! It's tiring, but it's worth it," replied Sonia. "Aah, this sundae is so good…"

Suddenly, Pedia, Zack's yellow and teal wizard, popped out of Zack's Hunter VG. "Pardon my intrusion, but barometric readings indicate there is a 90% chance of rain arriving within the hour."

"Rain? That's a bit odd…" Zack adjusted his glasses.

Luna looked annoyed. "Oh no! I don't want to get this outfit wet! Bud! Zack!" The two practically jumped in their seats.

"Yes Luna?"

"We're going. So- I mean, Melody, Geo, sorry to leave so soon."

"It's alright, Luna," said Geo. "We'll see you tomorrow!"

"Bright and early! Goodbye Geo! So- Melody!" And with that, the Prez walked out, with the big Bud and the short Zack in tow.

"She's got them pretty whipped, doesn't she?" joked Lyra as they moved out of earshot. The other three just stared at her. "What? I'm just saying it's not exactly a wonder why she and Ophiuchus were able to EM Wave Change." The others just groaned.

Geo turned back to Sonia. "So, actually, I just remembered something else. Apparently, someone moved into the house next door to me."

"Oh really?" asked Sonia. "What are they like?"

Had Geo caught on to Sonia's teasing tone, he might not have said "I don't know, I haven't met them yet."

"Ah, that's interesting then…"

"Oh, So- er, Melody, speaking of which, if you…" Geo suddenly trailed off. Suddenly, his thoughts were rushed with a familiar feeling, the same one he had felt before at Vista Point. Wait, what am I doing? I just… I'm… freezing up? Why? He looked intently into the girl's eyes.

Sonia tilted her head, confused. "What's wrong, Geo?"

"N-nothing." Why is my voice so shaky? And my heart's pounding…

"So what were you going to say?"

"I was… I was just going to say that… well… if you ever need a place to stay while you're here, my house is open for you!"

"Oh, thanks! But I do have a place to stay, Geo. You don't need to worry about me!"

"Ah… that's good then." But somehow, Geo felt a slight sinking feeling, a feeling like those were words he didn't want to hear despite the good news. "Well, I guess we should head back too."

"I'll walk home with you, if you want, Geo." Again, Sonia used a teasing tone.

"Oh, you don't have to do that," he replied.

"Oh, you'd think that wouldn't you?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Without answering, Sonia motioned for Geo to follow her, giggling again. Geo's heart almost skipped a beat. Calm down, Geo, he thought to himself, what's up with you? He followed Sonia to the Wave Liner that would take them back to Echo Ridge.

Sonia was practically vibrating with excitement as the Wave Liner pulled in to the Echo Ridge station. "Good old Echo Ridge, back once again!" As they disembarked, Sonia turned to face Geo. "Right, so my house is down this way.

"Looks like we're walking together then." Geo looked down at his Hunter VG. "Mega, you've been sort of quiet. You alright?"

Mega, who had been quietly whispering to Lyra the entire time, broke his silence. "Oh, yeah, just kinda… uh… reading a thing! About weird weather patterns! Yeah, that's it!" In actuality, the AM-ian had been speaking to Lyra without them hearing. "Oh, but I will say this – you're in for another surprise today!"

"Really? What?"

"That wouldn't make it much of a surprise, would it?" Omega-Xis looked less than impressed with the boy's cognitive abilities.

Geo sighed. "Fine, but you better not be hiding anything crazy."

Sonia, meanwhile, had a big grin on her face. "And here we are!"

Geo turned and looked where Sonia was standing. Then he looked to his left. Then he looked back at the house in front of him.

"Surprise! I'm your new neighbor, Geo!"

Geo almost tripped again. A shocked expression slowly melted into a gaping smile. "You mean you're the new neighbor?"

"Of course, silly. Who else would be able to get that abandoned lot, anyway?"

"I figured it was going to be one of Luna's relatives or something, with how much the place was selling for!"

Mega and Lyra materialized behind them. "Well," said the blue alien, "there goes the neighborhood."

The harp's pink flames burned just a little brighter for a moment. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Urk-! Sorry I said anything. I'm going to go hide now. Later." And with that, Mega promptly jumped back into Geo's Hunter VG, earning a good laugh from everyone.

"I went and bought this place as a vacation home in between tours. I'll be able to hang around here a lot more often now!"

At that, Geo's heart began pounding in his chest. He started feeling light, and wavered slightly, but caught himself. "Sonia… that's amazing! I'll be sure to visit whenever! Do the others know yet?"

"No, just you. I was going to tell them, but they ran off before I could bring it up."

"Figures. Prez sort of does what she wants, doesn't she?"

Drops of rain began falling from the sky. "Hate to break it up, but you two might want to get inside. It's starting to rain out here," said Lyra.

"Aah, I don't have my hoodie today! Alright, well, see you at school, Geo!"

"You too, Sonia!"

With that, Sonia ran for her door. Geo ran toward his house, taking off his now slightly wet shoes as he entered. "Mom, I'm home! You'll never believe who the new neighbor is!"

"Oh really?" replied Hope. "Who is it?"

My internet's been out the past couple days, so I've been sort of stuck writing, too. It's been nice, actually. I'm trying to tap back into my creative side, if it ever existed in the first place. Hopefully I can start kicking this sucker up a notch soon. Perhaps even in the next chapter! We'll see.