Dear Isabeau,
[Congratulations, eh. If you are reading this author note, you have reached Chapter 5, Well, This Is Awkward, of Dear Isabeau, by cometsgirl, who, as you all know, is an author, among many others, at .]
By the time you're reading this, I'll be on summer vaca!
Disclaimer: Total Drama Island, Total Drama Action, and Total Drama World Tour are not under my control. Yet, I add. But soon, so very, very soon…
Now, I would like to thank The Kobold Necromancer for adding Dear Isabella, to his Story Alert subscription and his Favorite Stories list, eh.
I would also like to thank sithlorde1988 for adding me to his Favorite Authors list and Author Alert subscription and for adding Dear Isabeau, to his Favorite Stories list and Story Alert subscription.
Thank you, sithlorde1988 and The Kobold Necromancer.
Reviews: [:)]
Dear Athulis: I can't believe that you've reviewed every chapter I've posted! You are officially on my Good List, (which is good, because you certainly don't want to be on my Bad List.) You believe right, if by best you mean most dramatic. You need to factor in two more females, other than Izzy, all vying for Zeke's attention. Any guesses? During Izzy's flashback, I tried. Being out of character is one of a FanFiction author's worst fears. I'm also looking forward to their meeting; I have some ideas already planned.
Dear The Kobold Necromancer (yes, yes, I know! *squeals like the ecstatic fangirl I am*): First off, I would like to thank you soooooo much for reviewing! It means a lot to me that you'd take the time to review my story! And you're right; this ride is far from being over. All this has been the plot line climbing towards that gut-wrenching, stomach-flipping drop. Then it's all downhill from there. I'm pretty sure that Whitney scares everybody. And her role in this story is far from over. (Cue the dramatic music and ominous laugh)
Dear sithlorde1988: Thank you! You're right, about the part of having Ezekiel with any of the girls. If only he wasn't voted off first, we'd know more about who he likes. There's Ezekiel and Izzy, Heather and Ezekiel, Bridgette and Ezekiel, Gwen and Ezekiel (as you would know)… I think everybody's a little wary of Izzy, but she does have a license to kill. Or was she just joking about that part? And there really was no need to return the favor of me reviewing. That's not to say I don't appreciate it anyway! Everybody who's reading this story, check out sithlorde1988's underappreciated story Total Drama World Tour. You won't regret it!
Dear mikecheck: I agree. Justin Beiber is not exactly my favorite singer, if you catch my drift. But if you value your life, you wouldn't say that to any Justin Beiber fanatic.
Dear TotalDramaIslandFanatic: I'm glad you think so, but let's not be hating on the Duncan/Courtney stories. Some are interesting. I agree though, Ezzy is a much better pairing choice. Do you think – actually this question is directed to all readers – that if there were enough Ezzy stories, Fresh TV would make them an official pairing?
Now that those are taken care of, it's time to get onto the story!
Chapter 5) Well, This is Awkward
When the mailman approached Ezekiel's house, Ezekiel was already waiting by the mailbox. Despite the chilly wind and stormy clouds above, the homeschooled boy had been waiting there for the past hour, waiting there for the mail to come.
"Excuse me, mister, but I'm looking for the Martin's house," the mailman told Ezekiel.
"You're at the right place," Ezekiel answered his unspoken question.
The mailman dug around in his bag and found a couple home economics magazines for Mr. Martin and Willa. After another minute of searching, the mailman also found two letters, one addressed to a Miss Candia Martin and the other addressed to a Homeschool. The mailman handed over the letters, unsure why one said Homeschool and not a name.
Ezekiel happily received the letters and started walking back to his house. Had it been any other day, had that letter labeled For: Homeschool been written by anybody else, Ezekiel would have wondered why this new stranger was delivering his mail and not Olivia. As it was, he did realize something was wrong, but he pushed the feeling away.
Barely stopping to through the magazines onto the kitchen table, Ezekiel skipped into Candia's room. Yes, skipped. I bet you are just as shocked as Candia was.
"Ezekiel? What the hell? Did you just skip into my room? And why are you in my room?" she asked, looking up from her book.
Ezekiel didn't answer, just tossed Candia her letter and sat on her bed. He tore open the envelope, hearing Candia do the same to hers, and quickly scanned the letter.
"Well, Ezekiel? Who, what, when, where, why, and how?" Candia asked.
"Huh?" was Ezekiel's answer.
"The letter, dear Brother, the letter," she replied in a condensing voice.
"From Isabeau – uh, Izzy from Total Drama Island, eh. It's a new letter, replying to the one I sent her. I go'ot it today. From the mailbox. And she was answering my letter. The mailman delivered it."
"What does it say?" Candia demanded.
"Um…" Ezekiel was unsure to tell her, but then decided too. "She said I was funny, and she said I could spend the night at her house tomorrow. She told me she got the reunion letter too, and that she can't wait to see me."
Candia, being the romantic fourteen-year-old she was, cooed and sighed happily. "Well, let's go and tell Father and Willa," she rolled her eyes at the name, "that you have somewhere to spend the night."
Together they trooped across the hall and banged on the door. A bleary-eyed blonde opened the door, still dressed in her sleeping gown.
"Good morning, Ezekiel," she yawned, "and Candia. What are you doing up so early?"
Candia just elbowed her way past the blonde, and Ezekiel followed, but not before he saw the look of hurt on her face.
"Father?" Candia called out.
"Candia, it that you?" a tall brown-haired man walked out of the bathroom, a toothbrush in his hand.
"Yes."
"What do you need so early, eh?" he asked.
Candia nudged Ezekiel forward, saying, "Ezekiel here has something he wants to ask you."
"I do?" Ezekiel whispered back.
"Yes, Ezekiel?" Mr. Martin asked.
"Well, you know how you and Willa –" began Ezekiel, before Mr. Martin interrupted: "Ezekiel – and Candia too – please don't call her Willa."
When he was met with two stony stares, he just sighed. "Continue, Ezekiel."
"Since you and Willa are leaving tomorroo' for the home economics and will be gone for the night, Candia and I need to spend the night with someone, right?" Ezekiel asked.
Mr. Martin nodded.
"I was wondering, eh, if I could borroo' the car and drive down to The City [1] to spend the night with a friend." Ezekiel continued.
There was a moment of silence while Mr. Martin and Willa looked shocked at the mention of 'a friend', Candia just stood there, and Ezekiel waited.
"Ezekiel, honey, who is this friend of yours?" Willa asked, uncertain.
"Isabeau," answered Ezekiel.
"None of your business," answered Candia at the same time.
"Well, eh?" Ezekiel asked again.
"Fine, Ezekiel, as long as you don't damage the car," Mr. Martin answered.
"Okay, thanks Father," Ezekiel said, and Candia added, "Bye, Father."
Without even looking at Willa, they walked out of the room.
The rest of the day went by in a flash. Ezekiel ate breakfast, went for a walk, read books, climbed a mountain, and fed his pet moose. Eventually, the end of the day came, and Ezekiel started to pack.
"Candia, should I bother to bring some food?"
"I would bring some snack food, maybe some Trail Mix or Granola Bars."
"Okay. So I have clo'othes, a sleeping bag, food, a toothbrush, some duct tape, and some rope, eh."
"Duct tape? Rope?" Candia asked.
"You never know with Isabeau – I mean, Izzy."
"So what are you going to do?"
"I doo'nt know, eh."
"I watched her on Total Drama Island, and I just want to say, one thing, Ezek. Be careful." Candia warned.
"I know, Candia. I am."
"Okay, Ezekiel. I'll see you tomorrow morning, then."
With that, Candia bid farewell and walked out of Ezekiel's room. He shoved everything into a bag, and turned the lights off. He quickly fell into a dream-less sleep.
In the morning, Ezekiel jumped up. He couldn't wait to meet Izzy again. He grabbed his bag and walked into the kitchen. Much to Ezekiel's surprise, he slept in past his usual early 7:00. The clock blinked back at him 8:58. Ezekiel reached for a piece of French toast and walked out the door.
He got into his dark green car and drove down the road. Again, the same mailman was there, dropping of the mail. Again, the fact that it wasn't Olivia escaped Ezekiel's noticed. He drove of his property.
The thirty minutes flew by quickly. Ezekiel soon left The Town and was bordering on The City's outskirts when doubt struck him.
Maybe Isabeau's parents made her write back to him. What if she lied? What if Isabeau realized she didn't like Ezekiel? What if… What if… What if Ezekiel realized he didn't like Isabeau?
It was too late, though. Mr. Martin and Willa are already on their plane, and Ezekiel was already turning onto Izzy's street. There's house 234, house 233, house 232, and, at the end of the street, Izzy's house: 231.
Ezekiel whistled; it was an impressive house. Several stories, spiraling towers, decadent staircases. Next to that house was a handmade tree house, looking very out of place. Ezekiel parked his car on the street outside the house, reached for his bag, and stepped out of the car. He walked up to the door and rung the doorbell, one of those long, chiming bells.
The door quickly opened, and Izzy flew out of the house. She tackled right into Ezekiel, a wild grin on her face, and caused both of them to fall down on the porch.
"Hi, Homeschool!"
"Uh, hi Isabeau, eh."
Izzy sat up. "Come on; let me show you were you can drop your stuff off!"
Izzy yanked Ezekiel up and pulled him along after her, heading not for the house, as Ezekiel thought, but for the tree house. Izzy started climbing a vine – how it got there, Ezekiel never knew – while Ezekiel decided to take the normal way up – the stairs.
"So here's my bed, and this bed is yours," Izzy pointed towards a bed with lime green sheets and a bed with dark blue sheets. "Just drop your stuff off here."
Ezekiel walked over to his bed and looked around, and then he walked back towards Izzy. No one said anything for a couple minutes, with Ezekiel staring at his shoes and Izzy glancing between her fingers and Zeke's face. The tension in the air was so thick you could almost taste it. Finally, Izzy broke the ice.
"Well, this is awkward."
Ezekiel couldn't help himself; he looked up into Izzy's face and smiled. When Izzy smiled that wild grin back at him, Ezekiel started to laugh. Izzy joined him. Soon, they were both laughing, all awkwardness gone.
"I've missed you, eh," Ezekiel told Izzy.
"I've missed you, too, Homeschool!"
"I've forgoo'tten how funny you are," Ezekiel confessed.
"So what do you want to do today?" Izzy asked.
"I doo'nt know yet, eh, I was kinda hoping you knew."
"Well, we could always walk around The City and – oh, I know! Homeschool, there's someone I want you to meet!"
"Does she knoo who…? Well, who yoo' are, eh?" asked Izzy.
Izzy glanced at Ezekiel, knowing in her eyes. "She does. I know she won't squeal. If she told someone, wouldn't the paparazzi be here already?"
"That's cool, that you have a friend who understands yoo'."
"She's not the only one, Homeschool." Seeing his look of confusion, she explained. "There's also you, silly!"
"Oh" was all Ezekiel answered with.
"So come on! I told her I'd bring you to her in The City where I last saw here!" Izzy grabbed Ezekiel's hand and pulled him over to the tree house exit, where Izzy slid down the vine like it was one of those firehouse poles. Unfortunately, Ezekiel was left to fall out of the tree house. Izzy looked up just in time to catch Ezekiel. She grinned at him.
"So nice of you to drop in, Homeschool!"
"So nice of yoo' to catch me, eh," replied Ezekiel.
Izzy dropped Ezekiel, and he fell to the ground with a thud. She then offered him a hand, which he warily took.
"Come on, Homeschool, this way!"
"Eh, coming Isabeau," Ezekiel followed Izzy down the driveway.
"It's not that long of a walk to The City, so you can just leave your car here," Izzy told Ezekiel when he started to open his car door. He shrugged and closed it.
"It's so awesome you have your driver's license!" Izzy gushed, skipping and jumping circles around Zeke as they both headed towards the towering buildings and bright lights that shown even in the early morning.
"I go'ot it about a mo'nth after Total Drama Island ended, eh. Father and Willa," if Izzy noticed the disgust in Ezekiel's voice at the mention of that name, she didn't say anything, "were tired of driving Candia – she's my younger sister, only fourteen – and me aro'ond."
"Mr. Wright never let me get my driver's license. He said he didn't want any accidents. But it's not my fault if someone else drives into me, is it Homeschool? But I guess having a license to kill is good enough for me." At the last part Izzy mimicked holding a gun and pretended to shoot imaginary birds in the sky. Then she seemed to remember that Ezekiel was there with her, and she lowered her arms, her face turned downward. She mumbled something Ezekiel couldn't here.
"Did yoo' say something?" Ezekiel asked.
"Nothing, Homeschool," Izzy muttered back, her long fire hair hiding her face from Ezekiel's view. "Nothing at all."
"No, really, Isabeau, what did you say?"
"I'm not crazy," she whispered back. Much to her surprise, Ezekiel just laughed. "Yes, you are crazy, Isabeau, but it's a good kind of crazy."
Izzy laughed again and looked at Ezekiel's face. "Just call me Izzy. Or E-Scope. Or Explosive. Or Kaleidoscope. Or Esquire. Or –"
"How aboo't just Izzy for now?"
"That works too, Homeschool, that works too."
"You can call me Ezekiel –"
"I shall call you Zeke, and you shall be mine, and you shall be my Zeke!" [2]
Zeke looked a little uncertain, but smiled none the less. "Zeke it is."
"So, I told Winter –"
"Winter? Isn't that your last name, eh?" Zeke wondered.
"Silly Zeke, my last name is Winters, not Winter."
"Oh," Zeke scratched his toque, "continue."
"So, I told Winter that I would meet her today."
"Where?"
"I assume where I last saw her."
"And where was that, eh?" Ezekiel asked.
"Towards the outskirts of The City, next to a red brick abandoned building."
"That's very… descriptive, I guess."
"So, come on! This way!" Izzy grabbed Ezekiel's hand and yanked him into the towering City. She led him down several blocks and turned towards the left. Another minute, and Izzy and Ezekiel were standing in front of a rather tall red brick building with wood boards blocking off the windows and entrances. Izzy looked around but she didn't see the blue-eyed blonde from three days ago. Winter appeared to be nowhere in sight.
"Izzy, do yoo' see her, eh?" Ezekiel asked, also looking around.
"She'll show up. I doubt Winter would let pass a chance to meet another celebrity. If every fan is a dedicated as Winter is, then I wouldn't be surprised to have a second season, in a month or several. Chris will wait until Total Drama Island's fame is dying down before he'll poke the fire. I did that once, did you know? My figure hurt so bad afterwards, it was all red and blistery –" Whilst Izzy was explaining one of her many stories to Zeke, it didn't fail to escape his notice that she was still holding his hand. She hadn't let go, and he wasn't going to remind her.
"Zeke, look!" Izzy pointed down towards the end of the street, where two people were walking towards them. One had her blonde hair in a ponytail, and the other let her short black hair down. Izzy and Zeke both squinted down the street, Izzy staring at the blonde girl, Zeke at the black-haired girl.
They both exclaimed at the same time, "It's her!"
By this time, the two girls were only a couple feet away from Izzy and Ezekiel. The blonde was smiling, but her eyes kept glancing between the girl next to her and Ezekiel, concerned. The other girl turned her olive-colored face away from Ezekiel, using her black hair to curtain her face. Ezekiel stared at his shoes, until he noticed Izzy was swinging her hand, still holding his, back and forth. She was the only one of the four that seemed at ease.
"Hi Winter! Long time no see!" Izzy said, the only sound in the silence. Winter glanced at Izzy and offered her a big smile, even though her eyes still betrayed how worried she was.
"Hey there Izzy. How have you been?" she asked.
"Fine, fine. Just up to the usual, plotting the end of mankind and all. So who's your friend?"
At this, the black – haired girl glanced up into Izzy's green eyes. She said, "Hello Izzy. It's always nice to meet a celebrity." Then she turned towards Winter, saying, "I'm going to go now."
Izzy frowned. She could tell something was up. "You won't tell the paparazzi about me and my buddy, will you?"
The girl looked back into Izzy's eyes, and she bit her lower lip, hesitant to make any promises. "I'll think about it."
Before Izzy could protest, she was gone, already halfway down the street.
And not once did her bright grey – almost silver – eyes meet Ezekiel's.
There was a couple of seconds of awkward silence before Ezekiel said, "Well, this is awkward, eh."
He and Izzy looked at each other and started laughing. Winter smiled too, if only at the sight of these two getting along so well.
"Okay, so who was that girl? Because the tension in the air was so thick, I swear, I could taste it. Don't even think of lying to me, Zeke, Winter. You don't want to end up like that last guy who lied to me." The humor in Izzy's voice told them she was joking, but the seriousness in her eyes let them know that she wanted her question answered.
"An old friend," both Winter and Ezekiel chimed at the same time.
"Zeke?" Izzy asked. He just looked at her and shook his head, mouthing "later".
Izzy dropped the subject, and Winter started laughing.
"What is it, eh?" Ezekiel turned so he could see Winter better.
"It's just, a week ago – no, more like four days ago – if someone had told me I would be meeting two – not one, but two! – Total Drama Island camper celebrities together, and I'd actually get to talk to them, I would have asked what drug they were on!"
Izzy and Zeke laughed with her, too.
"I guess that goes to show you, you can never be sure what side the coin lands on until you've flipped it," Izzy said reasonably.
"What does that have to' do with this?" Ezekiel asked, confused.
"Nothing. I've just always wanted to use that metaphor!" Izzy answered with a grin.
"So Ezekiel, can I have your autograph? Please, oh please, oh please, oh please?" Winter begged, holding out a sheet of paper and a pen. Ezekiel glanced at the paper and saw the name Izzy Winters scrawled at the top of the paper. He raised an eyebrow at Izzy.
"I couldn't say no! Besides, I've always wanted to autograph something!"
After Ezekiel finished signing the paper, Winter tucked it away.
"So, Winter, Zeke, what do you want to do today?" Izzy asked, gesturing dramatically with her arms the entire City. She directed the next part towards Winter. "Zeke here is spending the night with me!"
Winter glanced towards Ezekiel, amusement in her eyes. He raised his hands in defense, but smiled. "Father and Willa," again, if Izzy or Winter noticed the way his voice changed at the name Willa, they didn't say anything, "were oot of town foo' today and tomorrow. I had to go somewhere, eh."
Winter and Izzy just shared a glance and a giggle, the way girls do that annoys boys so much.
"We probably can't go anywhere you two might be recognized. I mean, I like fame as much as the next teenager, but being caught with two elusive, famous Total Drama Island camper celebrities would bring on all sorts of questions I don't want to answer."
"Yes, that's what we are! Two elusive, famous Total Drama Island camper celebrities! Ain't that right, Mr. Zeke?" Izzy asked, poking Ezekiel in the stomach. She had let go of his hand right about when the black-haired girl left. Ezekiel wasn't sure to whether or not to be happy or disappointed.
"Infamous is more like it," Zeke argued. "For me, at least."
"Come on, Ezekiel! You don't think girls are still mad about what you said, do you?" Winter asked.
"Well, all of the girls I've met are." Ezekiel glanced at Izzy, and added, "Well, most at least."
"Maybe you just haven't met the right kinds of girls," Winter purred at him and winked. Izzy subconsciously reached for Ezekiel's hand with her own and silently growled. Winter just waved her off, saying, "I'm joking, Izzy! I personally like redheaded glasses-wearing Bass."
At this, Winter and Izzy laughed, with the harshness gone from the latter's tone of voice. Izzy still kept her hand in Ezekiel's, who had no idea what just passed.
"But seriously Ezekiel, all the girls at my school are so over that. Half of them think you're cute, and almost all of them think you shouldn't have been voted off first," Winter continued talking.
Izzy ever so slightly tightened her grip on Ezekiel's hand, as if to remind him that he was there with her. She hadn't needed too though. "I'm ashamed of what I've said, but I'm trying no'ot to care what people I've never met and never will met think of me, eh," Ezekiel explained.
Izzy smiled at him. "Izzy is so proud of Zeke for learning a valuable life lesson on his short visit at Camp Wawanakwa!"
"Izzy is talking in third person again! Winter likes to talk in third person with Winter's friends!" Winter laughed.
"Ezekiel thinks Izzy and Winter are rather crazy, eh," Ezekiel added.
"Izzy agrees with Ezekiel."
"Winter agrees with Izzy and Ezekiel."
Ezekiel shook his head at the oddness of his two friends.
"Winter knows of a cool gift shop with amazing shit and even more amazing prices!" Winter told them.
"Izzy says let's go!"
"But what if we're recognized –" Ezekiel began, before Izzy interrupted: "Izzy says Zeke should talk in third person! Lead the way, Winter!"
As the three of them started walking down the sidewalk, with Izzy in the middle, Zeke on the left, and Winter on the right, they kept talking. In third person, of course.
"But what if Ezekiel and Izzy are recoo'nized?" asked Ezekiel.
"Winter has an idea. Ezekiel, give Izzy your hat."
As Zeke took off his hat, he muttered, "It's called a toque."
Izzy put the hat – my bad, the toque, on her head. It wasn't much of an improvement, but it would work.
"So what kind of amazing shit does this gift shop have?" Izzy asked.
"And what are the even more amazing prices, eh? Because Ezekiel didn't boo'ther to bring a lot of mo'oney…"
Izzy stopped walking, causing Winter and Ezekiel to stop walking too. Izzy glanced between both of them and said in a serious voice, "Zeke, if there is anything I can get for you, you only have to ask. I mean anything. My parents left me – I mean, I have so much – no, it's just… Take the damn money! I don't want it!" Izzy started shouting at the last part, and then calmed down, banging her head against the wall of the building next to them. "I'm sorry. It's just… memories. Painful memories."
Ezekiel and Winter nodded; they had some of those too.
"And that goes for you too Winter. You were one of my few friends. If you're ever in trouble, or you need a place to hide or stay, or you can't afford something, you just have to ask." Izzy gave a shaky laugh. "Izzy has so much damn money; Izzy doesn't know what to do with it all."
And Ezekiel remembered just this morning, when he arrived at Izzy's place. Apparently it was as expensive as it looked. Ezekiel tentatively reached his hand out to grasp Izzy's. She glanced over at him and smiled.
"So, aboo't that shop with the amazing shit…?" Ezekiel trailed off, trying to lighten the mood. It worked. Izzy and Winter both started laughing, and once Ezekiel realized they weren't laughing at him, he joined in.
They started walking again, three friends without a care in the world. The exact opposite was true, however. Each of the three were lost in their own painful memories, so lost that they were startled when they almost walked straight into a wall. Ezekiel rubbed his head, Winter blinked her eyes, and Izzy (who was used to walking into walls) just glanced up at the sign.
"JT's Gift Shop," Izzy read. Winter perked right up. "This is the cool gift shop with the amazing shit and even more amazing prices. I hope you two realize that when I say amazing prices, I don't mean amazingly cheap."
Izzy linked her arms with Winter's and Ezekiel's, and together the three of them marched into the gift shop. Once inside, Izzy stopped, sure that her jaw was hanging somewhere around her knees. Ezekiel had the same awestruck expression. There were rows of countless shelves filled with sparkly and flashy trinkets of gold and rubies and diamonds and all sorts of other expensive stuff. Winter was the only one who seemed at ease here; she walked right up to the cash register and said, "What's up, JT?"
A man in his early twenties walked out of a back door and answered her question. "Not much, Winter. Business is slow as usual, no surprise there. What's this? I see you brought me to more valuable customers. It's okay; most customers have the same facial expression when they first seem the store. You can look around."
And look around they did. Ezekiel found a small shot glass that – were it at any normal store – would have cost no more than a couple dollars, and it would have been made only of glass and paint. Here at JT's though, the cup was solid diamond, decorated with gold lining and miniature buildings made out of rubies. Ezekiel checked the price tag. The sight of all those zeros quickly made Ezekiel put down the cup.
Winter came across a bucket – solid silver, of course – filled with gold pens. She didn't bother asking, but pulled out her notebook. She scribbled with the pen across the page, and marveled at the silver lead.
But it was Izzy who made the most important discovery. She gasped, which seemed to echo across the room. JT didn't bother moving from the register; he had another customer to deal with. But Winter and Ezekiel gently dropped their findings and scampered on over to Izzy. She was staring at what seemed to be a keychain of a cake. Ezekiel picked it up.
The ring was solid diamond, the cake a gorgeous emerald. But it was the words engraved on the cake that entranced Izzy: Party of the Pretty and the Famous, Year 2006 [3].
Everyone knew what the Party of the Pretty and the Famous was: one of the most expensive and hard to get into parties in the entire Canada. Only the richest and most influential people got an invitation. Every year, there was another Party of the Pretty and the Famous, and another keychain was made. They were rare, beautiful, and above all else, expensive.
"Aye, that be one of the finest in the entire story."
Izzy, Winter, and Ezekiel jumped and turned around, the latter almost dropping the keychain.
"Is it for sale?" asked Izzy quietly.
"It's the only one left in the entire city, perhaps the entire province. It's secondhand – the owners of the keychain are gone – but if you got a couple million C$, I might let it part."
This announcement shocked them. No one had that much money to spend on a keychain.
"That's what I thought." JT gently placed the keychain back on the shelf and walked away to talk with another customer. As soon as he was gone, Izzy whispered fiercely, "That keychain is mine."
"Huh?" Winter exclaimed.
"Quiet, eh. We doo'nt want him coming back o'ver, do we?" Ezekiel reasoned.
"Huh?" Winter quietly exclaimed.
"That keychain, the couple million C$ keychain, belongs to me," Izzy explained.
"Like, it literally belongs to you?" Winter asked.
"It – It's hard to explain, but I – I'll tell you later. Once I have that keychain," Izzy said.
"Do yoo' have a coo'ple million C$ to spend on a keychain, eh?" Ezekiel wondered.
"I doo'nt – sorry, I don't have to buy it. Izzy isn't restricted by the laws that normal people are restricted by." Izzy grinned.
"You doo'nt mean you're gonna steal it, eh?" Zeke whispered, afraid that JT would come storming over there and arrest them.
"I'm going to get that keychain one way or another, and I certainly can't afford to buy it. So, in that sense, yes I'll be stealing it, but JT already stole it from me." Izzy argued. [4]
"But –" Ezekiel protested.
"Izzy –" Winter added.
"Zeke, Winter, I'm getting that keychain whether you're with me or not."
"Of course I'm helping, eh. Did yoo' think I'd let yoo' do this all by yoo'rself?" Ezekiel said.
"I… I don't know, Izzy. I would do it, except if we got caught, you and Ezekiel wouldn't be punished because you are two elusive, famous Total Drama Island camper celebrities that have a reunion in a week or so," Winter said, nervous and hesitant. "I don't have a Total Drama Island reunion in a week or so, nor am I an elusive, famous Total Drama Island camper celebrity. I would get sent to jail, no questions asked.
"Besides, how would you steal it?" she continued. "The front and back door exits are guarded with those metal detectors that will alert JT and possibly the police if something unpaid for goes through the doors."
Izzy thought about this for a moment, and then she looked up. She grinned. On habit, Ezekiel and Winter took a step back. Izzy said, "Guys, look up."
They did, and what did they see? Izzy said, "I spy with my little eye an air conditioner vent."
"But how does that help us?" Winter asked.
Izzy raised her eyebrow. "Us?"
"Well, you know, I might be able to help you, as long as I'm not directly involved with the stealing."
"Don't think of it as stealing. Think of it as returning to its rightful owner," Izzy smirked.
Ezekiel hadn't said a word yet, because he was thinking of a plan. Finally he decided on a reasonable idea. "Winter, does this air vent coo'nect with the roof somewhere, eh?"
"Uh, yeah. This air vent connects with the roof," she answered.
"And Izzy, how good are yoo' at climbing through air vents?"
"Very good, Zeke," Izzy answered.
"So how aboo't this? Winter, you go and distract JT, eh. Ask him questions, and stuff like that. Izzy and I will go onto the roof and climb do'wn into the air vents. I will tie a rope aro'ond Izzy and loo'wer her into the shop next to the keychain, eh. Izzy will snag the keychain and I'll raise her up into the air vent. We will then climb down fro'om the roof and stand in fro'ont of the entrance door. That will be yoo'r cue, Winter, to leave."
Winter and Izzy thought about this for a couple seconds before both of them smiled.
"Nice one, Ezekiel!" Winter said.
"You're learning, Zeke!" Izzy added.
"Now let's go, eh."
Winter walked over to the cash register and stood behind a snotty looking woman. Izzy and Ezekiel quickly walked out of the store. Once outside, they found the fire escape staircase. Ezekiel gave Izzy a boost, and she grabbed hold of the railing. Once she had a secure footing, she leaned over and helped Ezekiel up. They quietly climbed onto the roof and found the air conditioner vent Winter was talking about. Izzy unscrewed the vent, and they slipped down into the air vents.
"This is so awesome! I've always wanted to do this!" Izzy whispered back to Ezekiel, as they crawled on their elbows and knees down the vents.
They kept crawling until they reached the vent. Izzy peered down, and saw the keychain. She whispered back, "This is the right vent."
Ezekiel retrieved the rope from his backpack (he knew it would come in handy) and was about to tie it around Izzy when she said, "Ezekiel, I trust you. But if that strange girl with the black hair we met earlier today tells everyone I live here, I'm not sure I could trust you again. I know you and her have some sort of history, and I don't expect you to tell me it know, but I think I deserve to know."
Ezekiel sighed and nodded his head. It was Winter's loud voice that reminded them of their mission: "Hey JT, I saw this gold pen, and I was wondering if it was solid gold…"
Ezekiel quickly tied the rope around Izzy and lowered her down into the gift shop. Izzy could see Winter showing something to JT on the other side of the store. Izzy tiptoed to the shelf and snagged the keychain. Once she had it securely in her hands, she gave the rope a quick tug. Ezekiel pulled her up.
"Perfect, Zeke," she whispered to him, as they set the vent back in its place.
Together, they snuck back up to the roof and down the fire escape stairs. When Ezekiel and Izzy reached the ground, Ezekiel walked into the store.
"So, JT, how much did you say this cost?" Winter was asking JT.
"Look, Winter. I know you might be eager to learn about all of these shiny and glittery and expensive gifts, but I do have other customers," JT responded.
Ezekiel walked up to Winter and JT and said, "Hey Winter, Beau just finished using the restrooms, and we're ready to go when you are."
"Okay, bye JT." Winter and Ezekiel walked out of the store and met up with Izzy. They walked normally until they were several blocks down. After that, they broke into a run.
"That actually worked! My respect for you two has gone way up!" Winter gasped when they stopped outside the abandoned redbrick building.
"Have some confidence, Winter," Izzy laughed.
"That was perfect, guys, eh!" Ezekiel added.
"So, did you get the keychain?" Winter asked.
In answer, Izzy pulled out the keychain and dangled it. The gems caught the light and sparkled.
"I did," she answered.
"Wow, eh."
"I know, Zeke, I know," Izzy said.
"Izzy, Ezekiel, it's been really fun hanging out with you guys today, but I need to go."
"Bye Winter! Hope to see you soon!" Izzy called out to the blonde haired girl walking away.
"See yoo' later, Winter, eh!" Ezekiel waved. Soon, she was gone from their sight.
"Oh, Zeke, I'm so glad I have this back!" Izzy gushed, staring at the keychain. "Thank you so much for helping me."
"It's no proo'blem. But why did yoo' want it in the first place?"
Izzy sighed and gestured to a nearby bench. They walked over and sat down.
"It's a long story, Zeke."
"So is mine, Izzy, so is mine, eh."
And there they sat, the prairie boy and the wild child, both caught up in the past.
The End!
Or is it?
No, it's not really. A few more chapters, though…
This chapter's recommendation comes from Athulis, and he recommends…
'Love Ain't Easy, It's Ezzy' by The Kobold Necromancer!
It's another Ezzy story, a really good one, and if you like this story, you'll be sure to like Love Ain't Easy, It's Ezzy.
[1] = Ezekiel's home will be referred to as The Town, and Izzy's will be referred to as The City.
[2] = This line is a spoof of a popular line from a popular underwater animated movie. Whoever guesses what movie will win something really cool!
[3] = I choose this year for a reason. Izzy was 16 when TDI aired in 2008, right? Well, she was 14 when that party happened. Party of the Pretty and the Famous is not a real party.
[4] = I do not recommend stealing a keychain. And Izzy doesn't strike me as a thief, but in the next chapter you will see why she took it.
I'll leave you with these questions…
Who was that strange girl with the black hair and grey eyes? Why did Izzy steal the keychain? And what are you more eager to learn: Izzy's past or Ezekiel's past?
Find out next time on… Dear Isabeau,!
Still Writing, cometsgirl, eh.