(A/N: hey peoples! I know some reviewers *coughNintEnzocough* don't want this story to go totally romantic, and I promise you it won't. There will be cute romantic-ish parts, but it won't be all over the place, and if it does, I grant you permission to slap me with a wet noodle! So enough talk, let's get this party started!)

Chapter 18: The Meeting

It took me by surprise, that's for sure. I was completely taken off guard. But before I came to the realization of what had happened, he stopped. The only thing I thought to say was

"What was that for?"

"For being the first one to care." Gale said matter-of-factly. It was surprising and confusing, his change of behavior, but I knew I didn't really want it to end. Well, reality has to catch up to everyone sometime; I stole a glance at my swatch.

"OH MAN! I am going to be so late! I promised Lina I would train with her today!" he was going to respond, but I had already taken off, and in a few minutes, I was out of the forest and heading in the direction that Nika took off with Crimson. I felt really guilty leaving Gale alone like that, but I had no choice if I was going to get that emerald. After fifteen minutes of searching, I found her and Crimson, having an all out war in a little clearing near HQ. Without stopping, I ran up to her, caught her in my arms and ran away, trying to make it back in time. I made it back to the entrance and went inside, trying not to show I had just been running for the last 20 minutes. I finally made it down to the basement lab, wanting desperately just to take the emerald and go…no such luck. Almost EVERYONE was in the infirmary, save for Swift, who was probably out enjoying his Sunday, and Shadow, for obvious reasons.

"H-H-H-H-Hi." I whispered, making a feeble attempt to act like nothing had happened. With all the racket I made, it was no surprise all heads turned to me when I entered. Chris stood up and made his way over to me, smiling, I had no idea why though.

"Hey Terry, we were just wondering where you went, we decided to have a meeting today, how about you and Nika sit down?" I nodded, a little shocked at him acting all calm about it. I sat down in the chair next to his, and he went into some big speech about I don't know what, but I wasn't really paying attention. The little incident just then reminded me of when me and Chris were kids, when I came over for a play date once…

My parents had brought me over to Chris' huge house to play, a regular occurrence back then. My aunt and uncle were having a garden party, and even though I had to wear a stupid dress and had to have relatives pinch my cheeks and gawk at me, it was worth it to have a play date. I have to admit, looking back; Chris was really quite dashing in his little suit and bow tie. But that day we decided to go in the back yard and play in the hedge maze, I don't think our parents would have approved, but we went to conquer it anyway. At the gate, Chris made me promise that I wouldn't leave his side, no matter what. I did, of course, and we ran through the gate, trying to get through the maze in record. I don't know how long we were in there for, but, as would be expected, we got very, very lost.

"Chris…I'm tired, can we go back now?" I whined.

"I don't know which way is back…" he admitted. I couldn't see the sun anymore; it had set behind the hedges. I was starting to panic; I really wanted to be back with my mom and dad right then. And then, it got dark.

"Chriiiiiiiiiiiiis…" I tugged on his sleeve, my eyes tearing up "Which way!"

"Uuuhhh, this way! Come on!" we headed in the direction he chose, to our left. When we turned the corner…I screamed. We were in the middle of the maze, where all the bushes had been trimmed to look like animals, but in the dark (along with the imagination of a four year old), they looked like monsters. I let go of Chris and fled, trying to find someplace to hide. Chris was calling after me, but I wasn't paying attention. I found a small dead end near the other side of the clearing in the middle of the maze; there I sat, waiting for someone to take me out of there. I started to regret my decision to leave Chris, a lot. I started crying, loud.

"Terry!" Chris said as he turned the corner and saw me. "What did I say?" he asked me, trying to mimic our parents.

"Not to leave you…" I sniffed.

"Right, now come on, we can do this, it's just like when we play Knights, right? Only there are a few more dragons." I wiped my eyes and looked up at Chris, who was holding his hand out, which I received gratefully.

"Right." I replied. That night we did it, we made it out of the maze, and the hedges took a bit of a beating in the process, along with our parents totally freaking out, Aunt Lindsey actually called in a P.I. on the spot, which gave us a lot of laughs later on…

I knew Chris wasn't going to let me off easy after the meeting, so I was prepared to take a beating when he called me over to talk to him after the meeting.

"Nika, why don't you get an emerald and go out to the field with Lina and Talia? Terry will come in a bit." My chao friend nodded, making her way to the emerald room with Miles. Chris offered me a seat at the now empty table and sat down next to me, I tried to avoid his gaze.

"Ter…I know I am not your dad, but I'd feel responsible if anything happened to you, so where did you go all day?" He said in a slightly demanding voice.

"Uuuhhh, I was out walking…" I answered, which was not a lie…entirely. Chris stared at me for a while, trying to discern if I was telling the truth, he sighed.

"Fine, I won't ask anymore questions, but next time you go out "walking", please tell me or Danny, OK?" I smiled; Chris was so funny when he was exasperated.

"OK Chris, I got you." Chris returned my smile, but it didn't last long because the ground started shaking. As we got up to investigate, Swift entered the room, his eyes wide, with an exclamation point over his head.

"Chris we gotta get out there, you wouldn't believe what's going on!"

(A/N: I don't have to say it but I will anyway…I LOVE CLIFFIES! But I think that will be the last of them for a while, the action is coming in the next chapter, you better be ready!)