Chapter 2

"I just can't believe her!" Coraline complained to her best friend, Wybie Lovat, as they walked to the well. They'd just finished the movie and were free to do as they pleased, which meant; nothing. "I mean, she didn't even ask if it was okay with me! Urgh! I can't believe she let that little monster into my inner sanctum!"

"I-inner sanctum?" Wybie snickered.

"Even worse, your nerdy-ness is rubbing off on me," she said punching him in the arm teasingly.

Wybie laughed, "Still, b-be nice to the kid, r-r-remember he was adopted."

"Still, he's a intruder in my house and I don't like it," Coraline continued, talking as much as Wybie without the stuttering, "I just don't like it at all! I wish I could just get a refund for him and take him back to wherever while mom and dad are away at that convention this weekend."

"That's a little harsh d-don't you think, I mean he is your b-brother," Wybie stuttered.

"He's not my brother!" Coraline snapped, "he's just some kid who I don't even know."

"Okay Jonesy, what ever you say," Wybie surrendered, knowing it was useless. When Coraline was angry like this, it was just better to back off and let her blow off some steam. Even if she could hold a grudge.

. . .

"I can't believe her!" Austin complained to his best friend, Gunner, over the phone, "Jenny just ships me off to some weird place called the Pink Palace and expects me to accept this weird, blue-haired freak named...uh, Caroline."

"It can't be that bad," Gunner's voice spoke.

"Yes, it is, I hate it here and I haven't been here a full day yet!" Austin went on. That was the good thing about Gunner, he was a great listener, even if Austin wasn't, "How's New York?"

"Loud, I stepped out of the apartment building and was automatically swept away, in three minutes I was three New York blocks away from home," Gunner complained, "Well, good luck. Over and out Nitsua."

"Over and out Rennug," Austin said and hung up.

Gunner's the lucky one, he get's to be in New York, while I'm here in Ashland, the place where boring is an understate, Austin thought to himself, I might as well look around. Mrs. Jones said there was a crazy blue man and two ancient wack-job 'fortunetellers'.

Austin walked quickly down the stairs, at the door her shoved his feet into his black and green sneakers and slipped on his loose, blue jeans jacket over his large, hand-me-down hockey jersey, but he didn't even like hockey. He stepped off the porch, a light fog was collecting low to the ground. Austin couldn't even see where he was stepping.

At least I can go exploring around here, he thought, that's one thing this place hasn't taken from me, my natural curiosity.

He continued walking until he saw Coraline walking with a boy with wild, curly brown hair. Austin thought of this as the perfect opportunity to give her a look on how things would be going. He quickly scavenged up a banana slug, this'll do just fine, he thought mischievously.

Coraline and, who Austin assumed was, her friend came closer, Austin crouched down and hid in the fog. He silently snuck up behind Coraline and gently pulled back her jacket collar.

"Good luck little guy," Austin reassured the banana slug and slipped it into her shirt.

The reaction was almost instant, Coraline screamed, jumped, and started beating the back of her shirt. Austin stifled his snickers, and skillfully caught the banana slug as it slithered out of her shirt.

Coraline glared at him, "You're dead twerp!"

"Catch me if you can, Caroline!" Austin mocked before he darted to the front door of the Pink Palace.

Coraline ran after him, her anger clouding her thoughts, leaving only one thought in her mind, Kill that kid!

A/N: Okay, two things.

Jenny was Austin's foster mother.

And no banana slugs were harmed in this chapter, just in case you were wondering.

R&R please!