The sophomores are taking the CAHSEE! Yay! I won't be going to school until about twelve, so let's see if I can finish in time.

And thank you for all of those lovely reviews! You guys are seriously the best.

Tintin woke up to the dazzling sunrays shining on his eyes. He fluttered his eyelids and rubbed them, yawning luxuriously. The sleeping form of Milou yelped and fell out of bed from Tintin's indirect push, causing Tintin to suddenly snap his eyes open, realizing what he had done.

"Oh! Sorry Milou, I didn't mean to…" Tintin apologized, finally wide awake. The small terrier gave a forgiving bark and ran to his food bowl for breakfast. Tintin walked to the grand window, his bright mixture of blue, green, and grey eyes hazy, thinking of what had just happened over the past few days. The day he met Winter Rose Brimnings (unusual name indeed, he thought), when he was shot on the arm (painful, yes, but worth it for saving someone's life), and when he picked up 'The Anachronism'.

Tintin always had a peculiar and rare sixth sense for adventure, and that sense had pricked him the moment he touched that scrap of paper. "But what's very weird is that Winter claims she's from the future. But it's probably true, since Lanav stated that also…" Tintin thought out loud, doing a handstand for his morning yoga routines. "And I just remembered, we're having a masquerade ball tonight! I hope we find Lanav so we can retrieve 'The Anachronism' back."

Milou finished eating and trotted over to the overturned figure of Tintin, suddenly whining furiously. "You want to go for a walk now? But it's only seven…" Tintin groaned, doing a one handstand to check his watch. Milou gave the irresistible puppy eyes that always worked on Tintin since he had first owned him. "No, don't give me that… No… I said no, and that's final! Aw, c'mon Milou! It's only seven… Ugh! Fine." Milou yipped in triumph, and Tintin sighed, pouting in defeat. "But I want to get Winter so I can show her around. She hasn't been outside much either."

Tintin changed out of his blue-striped pajamas into his blue sweater he had left in his unused closet a while back for an emergency (in case if he stayed over at Marlinspike Hall, and considering the situation now…). He came to the bathroom and stared back at his reflection on the water-stained mirror while he brushed his teeth, checking to see if there was at least a little hint of a mustache or beard. 'How weird… I thought a teenage boy was already supposed to have one…' Tintin thought, frowning to himself. 'Only Capitaine Haddock knows about my real age though. I wonder if I should tell the others sooner or later…' Tintin rinsed his mouth and quickly dried his face. Running a few strokes with his comb through the stubborn quiff, he checked his face once more to see if there was anything wrong, and trotted to Winter's room.

"Winter, are you awake?" Tintin called out, knocking on the closed door. There was no reply, so he couldn't help it but to peek in. There Winter was, sleeping like a bear. Tintin laughed to himself as he tiptoed over to her bed, carrying a nearby chair to sit next to her. Her hair was like a bird's nest, and the dried drool that ran down her chin was present. He chuckled softly again, and rested his cheek on his hand. He stared at her, and absentmindedly reached his right hand out to gently nudge her awake. Tintin did not realize that Milou was sitting at the doorway impatiently, and let out a loud and shrill bark to notify him.

Winter woke up with a start, sitting up abruptly. Tintin quickly coiled back his arm, and a tinge of pink appeared on the tip of his ears. "Ah! Ahem… You're finally awake. I came here to wake you up so I can show you around outside. Get ready," said Tintin, grabbing his coat and running out the door. "I'll be waiting in the living room!" He shouted back.

Winter sat on the bed while squinting her eyes at the doorway, confused as ever. She was dreaming about eating a cupcake, and then heard a loud bark. Then, she woke up to Tintin running his hand through his quiff, looking like he was trying to flatten it. His ears were red, and he muttered something about showing her around somewhere, and he was going to wait in the living room. "Sometimes I think Tintin can be a little strange…" She thought aloud, climbing out of bed. 'Oh well… I shouldn't be saying anything myself. I admit, I am a little strange at times.'

"I haven't ridden a bike in ages!" Winter exclaimed, peddling as hard as she could and breathing in the fresh air as it whipped past by her. "And is it all right to let Milou go without a leash?" Tintin glanced at his small running terrier, but kept his focus on the road in front of him in case his bike would run into something. "I trust Milou. We've been together for a while back."

Winter nodded and fixed her maroon bow Bianca Castafiore had given to her the other day. It became silent between them, and she sighed loudly to break the tension. "Beautiful day, isn't it?"

"…Mhmm."

"…You're being an awful lot quiet today, Tintin."

"Well, I'm a bit nervous because we're going to find Lanav today." Tintin replied.

"Oh yeah, huh! I almost forgot." Winter said, scratching her head. "Anyways, where are we going now?"

Tintin suddenly peddled faster, his ginger tuft lapping in the air. "Just follow me. It's a surprise! Up, Milou, up!" Milou jumped onto Tintin's lap, and gave an unmistakable teasing yap to Winter. "Hey! HEY! Wait up! Gosh, people these days…" She yelled, pushing her legs as fast as they could go.

She gazed at the street laying in front of her in awe. Lined up closely together were neat, little gift shops. The cobbled street was peaceful, with an occasional car passing by, and pedestrians having an early day stroll. The sun was shining brightly, and the weather was just in the middle of scorching hot and freezing cold. "Welcome to Braine-l'Alleud, Winter Rose Brimnings. My favorite town; besides Brussels, that is."

"…Wow. Aha, just wow."

Winter was lost in her words, and jumped off her bike to look through the windows of the stores. She studied a feathered hat, lost in her thoughts. "…Hey. Tintin?" He seemed to busy looking after Milou, who was jogging around and craving attention from the passerby. Winter, still facing the window, began to unnoticeably stare at Tintin's reflection. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat. Brown eyes wide, she gripped the handles of the bike. Winter then fully realized that Tintin, was, well… good looking.

"What's wrong, Winter?" She jerked, surprised, and accidentally dropped her bike, leaving the echoing of a clatter sound. "Holy crap…! Uh, nothing's wrong. Nothing at all." Winter muttered, fumbling on her legs to haul it back up.

Tintin walked to the opposite side. "Here, let me help you." She looked up at him, and scratched her head. "Er, thank you." He pulled it up with one hand with no trouble at all, and gave Winter a warm smile. "I see you're very clumsy." She snorted and covered her mouth. "You should say, Tintin!"

They both fell back, lost in their world of merry laughter. "Hah, I'm not that clumsy. It's just because-"

Tintin abruptly stopped his words and grew red. She stopped giggling and slapped him on his shoulder playfully. "Why? Come on, you could say it! I won't laugh." He gave her an unsure expression, and puffed his cheeks.

"Well… I … er… need…" He blew out. "…Glasses." There was a pause, and Winter gave him a puzzled look. "Now may I ask why this is embarrassing?" He then turned scarlet and ran his hand through his hair. "It looks ridiculous on me! Look!"

Tintin pulled out a pair of glasses hidden in his pants pocket and wore them. They were round-rimmed, and were actually pretty normal. "They don't look that bad," Winter suggested, shrugging her shoulders. "I've seen worse. And when I mean worse, I mean worse-worse!" He shook his head in denial, and took them off before being seen by anyone else. "Anyways, I want to show you something."

Tintin grabbed her arm and pulled Winter with him, leaving the bikes behind and urging Milou to follow them. "It's the best place to eat breakfast." Tintin stated, walking a little faster. Winter realized she actually was hungry, since she hadn't eaten dinner the other night. They met an alleyway that was narrow. But it wasn't the creepy and unwelcoming type; overgrown tangles of leaves and violet bell-flowers hugged the walls, and dips of sunlight occasionally seeped through the quivering trees towering above. Winter wondrously took in the sight, mesmerized at the spot. "Gosh, Tintin. How do you find these kinds of things? You really are wonders." She said, slowly taking her steps. Tintin smiled, hearing a compliment. He whistled quietly, but cheerfully, as he followed Winter's footsteps and let her go her own pace.

"Hey! Let's take a picture." Winter said, turning around. Tintin arched an eyebrow. "How are we supposed to do that? We don't have the equipment-"

"With my phone, my phone! Sheesh, technology did improve loads…" She mumbled, pulling out the cell. "What are you standing there for? Come here! And get Milou too." He clapped his hands and bent down to pick up Milou, and strode over. "Okay, one, two, three, smi-"

"WINTER! TINTIN! There you two are! We need to go back to Marlinspike Hall, NOW!"

Winter pressed the button and turned around. Tintin blinked, and Milou jumped out of his hands. "Capitaine Haddock! How did you find us? And why are you in such of a hurry?" It seemed like the captain was out of breath, and stuck out a hand and planted it on the wall near him for support. "We need to catch the plane to go to France. It's going to leave in thirty minutes! Blistering barnacles, actually twenty! Vite! We haven't got any time to lose!" Tintin and Winter looked at him in astonishment.

"Where are we going?" Winter asked, placing a hand on her hip. Captain Haddock groaned, tired of the unnecessary questions. "To Castafiore's party! Or masquerade, or whatever it is… But if you choose not to go, that'll be nice too!"

Please read!- This chapter in my opinion is more like a filler… The next chapter is the first climax of this story! So please stay tuned, alright? I'm so sorry that it took so long though... Forgive me!

See you on chapter seven!