Back at the Manor, Casper and Kat had started once again on trying to work with the clue they'd found for the Lazarus. "Okay, so it says here, 'Where flowers Spring even when it is not, you will find it in this unlikely spot.' ...Hmn, I wonder what that means...?" Kat raised an eyebrow and looked towards Casper. With his arms behind his back Casper paced the air, his eyes narrowed as he thought hard about the clue. This one was a tricky one! Where did flowers spring even when it wasn't...? Slowly he started to remember his mother had her own favorite place in Whipstaff! The sun room! J.T. had made is specifically for her and her alone as his mother loved flowers.
"That's GOTTA be it!" Casper gasped and smiled widely. "It has to be! It's the only place flowers can grow when it isn't spring around here!" Turning he faced Kat and motioned her to follow. "C'mon! I know exactly where this next clue is!" In an instant the ghost darted off down on of the hallways. Kat followed as quickly as she could and smiled to herself. She was happy for Casper and that he remembered something about his mother finally. She noticed that he never mentioned too much about her. So this would be a nice insight about his mother and how she perhaps acted. When they had reached a spot in the hall way they traveled up a set of the stairs that randomly branched off into the wall. "Hehe, weren't expecting that were you...? They are short but both my mother and I were really short so we could always find our ways through here! It was actually great to have during the war too! At least that's what my Dad said.." When they finally reached the Sun Room Kat's eyes widened. She'd never seen this part of Whipstaff yet! All of the plants that had been in the room of course had wilted and died off. But there was a sense that you could feel and see around the room. As the sun peeked through the dirtied windows Kat looked with wonder as she touched one.
"This is....beautiful.." Following the windows up she looked around at the architecture in the room. Everything in the room had been styled with carvings of flowers on the wall. The colors had all but faded over the years. So the once gorgeous bold colors of magenta, teal, and goldenrod had faded to tones of pastel. Suddenly an unexpected sound graced Kat's ears as she turned to look at Casper. She found him sitting at a Piano that had been placed in the room. His fingers quickly trickled across the keys as he played a very short snippet of a song his mother had written.
"My Mom always used to play this Piano. When she didn't... my Dad would... even Sloane.. er, Uncle Stretch." Lightly he laughed and looked over at Kat with a small smile. "They were the only three that really cared much for the piano. Uncle Stretch would never admit to it but, playing the piano always calmed him down from whatever bugged him. Mom played it as she LOVED the sound... she said it always reminded her of the wind as it danced through the flowers on a spring day.." Casper softly sighed and placed a hand on a box of Cigars that layed on the piano. "Dad usually only played it for mom...he wasn't that good, but it made mom smile. Uncle Stretch, when he played most of the time he didn't even know that he was being watched. More often than not Abigail, our maid... followed him in here to listen to the music he made. You could tell they loved each other, but there'd always been tension between them. Neither one wanted to admit that they were in love with the other...though you could tell. They could tell..they were both just scared.."
Kat smiled and started to look around the room. "So what do you think this "unlikely spot" is that your Dad wrote about..?" Leaning against the piano she quietly looked at Casper. The wheels in her mind had already started turning about this room. One way or another she'd spruce it up to make it back the way it used to be.
"Hmn, Actually that's hard to say! There'd be a LOT of unlikely spots my Dad could choose!" Floating around Casper started to check under pots and inside of pots. Up on top of a fan, in the garbage can it just didn't appear to be found! Sighing he looked to Kat who hadn't found it either. Sitting on the piano Casper groaned and stared at the cigar box. "Where could it BE?! I KNOW it's in here somewhere... but.....where?"
"Did your Dad and Stretch get along well....?" Kat questioned as she picked up the cigar box.
"Naw, they always bickered about something or another. It was a miracle that he lived here! There were nights where he slept at his bar just to get away from everyone.." Shrugging Casper watched her as she picked it up. When she opened it his eyes widened as they both started to grin. "HEY, You found it!! How'd you guess??"
"Well, if they didn't get along with each other, then.... I'm sure they never touched one another's items.. so..I dunno, I guess that makes this an unlikely spot...?" Kat smiled and held out the clue to him. Casper accepted it and laughed. That was something he loved about her the most. She was so clever and always thought of what he hadn't.
Back at the Carnival, Melle and Stinkie approached the Ferris Wheel. "He'e, let's go on dis thing! It's supposed ta be really great for romantics.." Wiggling his eyebrows he purred at her. Looking up at it Melle gulped and felt sick to her stomach.
"I..I dunno.... I ...I mean... I..." Slowlyy she shook her head and clung to Boomer hiding her face into his shoulder. Stinkie in turn stared at her hiding into his shoulder like that. Didn't girls normally eat this kinda stuff up...? Tilting his head he touched her cheek and focused her eyes with his.
"Is somethin' wrong...?" Scrunching his cheek up to his eye, he looked concerned for a moment.
"I'm afraid of heights... I ... I dunno if I can do it... I...I'm so sc..." Remembering who she was with she stopped in mid sentence. Like he'd care if she was frightened about heights. Stinkie's eyes widened and his mouth elongated into a frown as he heard those words. Well at least he knew what one of her fears were for sure now! A part of him wanted to act upon it and cause a riot, while the other half smacked that personality trait into the holding bin.
"O-oh.. I didn'...Hmn, W-Well y'dun have ta worry! I mean, I promise I won't let anythin' happen to ya's! I'll take good care of you on dis ride. You can cling as tightly as y'need ta to me. C'mon... wontcha jus' try it...?" With his arm extended they climbed aboard and started their ride. As they got higher and higher he felt her grip on his arm get tighter and tighter as she looked around. Pulling her close he gently grabbed her chin and moved forward to plant a kiss on her lips. "Maybe....dis'll help..." his lips trembled as he inched them closer to hers. Just before they touched their cart started swaying back and forth badly. "WAAGH!" Both of them fell to the floor of the cart. Boomer was draped across Melle and found his lips planted against the steely wall of the ride. As his sun glasses sank down his nose he narrowed his eyes and twiddled his fingers. Well that hadn't gone as he had hoped it would. When the cart hadn't stopped swaying Melle turned over and hugged as tightly as she could to him.
"DON'T LET ME FALL! PLEASE, DON'T LET ME FALL!" The girl shivered all over and started to cry. Staring at her Stinkie felt a pain go through his chest. Tightly he pulled her to him and eyed the cart around him.
"I won't.... I won't, I promise I won't...! We're gonna be okay... y-you'll see.." His 'created' heart pounded roughly as he stroked her head softly. When they finally managed to get off of the ride Melle's legs were too weak with fright to even stand. So gently he picked her up and walked with her in his arms. " See...? We're fine, we're back on da ground now! I promised dat I wouldn' letcha fall an' ya didn'! Hehe..." Looking at her face he noticed that she still didn't seem to be happy about something. "Hmn..... I KNOW! Dey should be havin' dat race right around now! Y'wanna try...? I bet I could beat da pants off dem!"
Thinking about this for a moment Melle grinned to herself and moved to her feet. "You're ON! If anyone's going to do any beating, it's gonna be ME!" the two laughed and dashed off towards the race. Sighing with relief that the subject had easily been changed, Stinkie smiled again. Though it bothered him to know that happened to them. Never had he experienced something like that unless he'd haunted it.. That was IT! It had to be his brothers... it had to! He didn't have any proof but he'd sure be on the look out. He figured maybe they'd felt left out of the whole act and just wanted to play a part some how. However, this also caused him to become a little angered in some ways. This day was supposed to be only for him and Melle! He planned it out so perfectly and his stupid brothers had to go and ruin everything!
Once they arrived at the race it took another 15-20 minutes to get everyone situated for the race. Yes, the garbage bins were FULL of garbage, but the winner would get a heaping $150! So not many of the contestants really cared whether or not they stunk by the time they were finished. When the raced started both Boomer and Melle pushed off and grinned over at each other from time to time as they desperately tried to beat the other contestants. Stinkie chuckled as he pushed his and Melle's bin and laughed carefully working his way around the corner of the path they were on. "Oh you will NOT beat me!" Melle looked at the trash in her bin and grinned to herself. As they caught up with the guy in lead, she started to toss out some of the trash behind her to slow the racers down. Soon enough Stinkie and Melle were tied with the lead guy and they eyed each other down. The guy tried to bump their bin off of the path but it hadn't worked. In fact it only caused Stinkie to give a wide grin as he aimed a banana peel in front of the guys wheels. The man cried out in fear as his bin moved all over the road. However, he managed to get back up with them and stuck out his tongue as they rounded the next corner. Growling Stinkie looked at Melle and smirked as he leaned over while she hadn't looked and blew his breath towards the guys face.
The guy coughed and hacked and wondered if a skunk had died somewhere close by. "HAHAHA, Dat oughtta slow 'im down!" Winking at Melle he moved next to her. "We've got dis one in da bag! Dey nevuh said we couldn' fight doity!" The two of them laughed as the man gained back beside them. "HRMPF, Well dat didn't woik... I guess I'd bettuh try somethin' a little more powerful!" a very dark grin formed on the ghosts face as he stood up.
"W-what're you gonna do...?" Melle raised an eyebrow at him.
"Just keep ya eyes on da road, doll face! I'll take care of da competition! Whatever you do, do NOT look behind ya!" When he was sure she wasn't looking, he flew behind the bin and put on 'the gas'. This not only left the guy shocked, scared and last, but also passed out as the bin landed in a ditch close by. The guy hadn't been harmed, but at least him and Melle were sure to win! When he finished with the power boost he hopped back into the bin and next to Melle who laughed so hard she cried! She hadn't seen it but just from the sounds and what happened to the guy she could easily imagine.
"OH MY GOD YOU DIDN'T!!!" She cried out as she laughed and fell to the bottom of the bin holding her stomach. "TH-THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL!! HAHAHA!!" Covering her mouth she tried so hard to stop laughing but just couldn't.
"Really?? Y-Ya mean dat....?" Grinning smoothly he looked back at her for a moment as the both of them crossed the finish line.
"Y-Yes~! Ahahahaha.... That was totally.... oh my god... I can't believe you...~!" The poor girl continued laughing right through the whole announcement that they had won the money. Luckily Stinkie managed to stop laughing as he snagged up the prize money. This whole thing had been part of his plan. He had known about the prize money, which he desperately needed if he was going to take her out to dinner as he planned. That's right, he hadn't actually had the money earlier, he only hoped to win it!
"You're the BEST!" Melle finally hugged onto him after she'd caught her breath. "I love you~!" Doing a little spin she walked backwards and looked at him. "S-So what's next?"
Hearing 'I love you' come her, his eyes darted to the ground. Both of his cheeks filled in deep red as he slowly looked up at her. It was now or never! "Well, since you mentioned 'love'.... What about..the tunnel of love...?" Swallowing nervously he waited for her answer as they neared it.
A soft blush filled Melle's cheeks as she gently grabbed onto his arm. "...Okay..." she spoke softly, rather embarrassed and nervous about the whole thing herself. With a loving smile he lead her onto the boat ride and pulled her close. As they entered the tunnel the two looked around at all of the dimmed lights. The romantic atmosphere was really kicked up for this ride. Huffing Stinkie looked down at her and placed an arm around her waist. "Y-Y'know... I love it that you're not afraid to... be yourself around me. The gas....the jokes... the.... I just... I ..love it that you're...so open.." grabbing his free hand Melle nuzzled her cheek against it. Stinkie's hand trembled gently as a nervous feeling swept through his whole body and to the pit of his stomach.
"I... I wish you'd... be dat way...a little more....wit me.. I mean, not afraid ta... be yerself, yer belches...or.." Stinkie's eyes caught hers as they shimmered in the dim-light as they had the night before. For a moment the two just kept their eye contact. Both of their lips trembled as they started to speak, but neither could get anything to come out. Slowly the two looked away from each other. After a few moments the two looked back at each other and started to speak. Every time they tried to say something they'd end up laughing and stopped. Sighing Stinkie started to kick himself why had he suddenly turned so SHY...? Earlier he was ready to kiss her full force and now he suddenly couldn't find the courage. Melle gently streaked her finger through the water as the ride continued. Out of both of them she was probably the most nervous as she was confronted with letting him kiss her or backing out of it. After all, she wasn't entirely sure whether it was a trick or not! Finally after minutes of wrestling with it Stinkie snagged up Melles hands and peered into her eyes. "Melle... I.. I love.......y.." His lips inched closer and closer to hers. Melle in turned closed her eyes waiting for those lips nervously to touch her own. Though they would never reach. Just before the two touched both parties found themselves tipped overboard into the water. "AACCCK!" Stinkie cried out as he flailed about and grabbed a hold of Melle tightly. "GOTCHA!"
Both now stood there soaked from their waists down. "Heh....looks like dese rides have somethin' against lovers..." Frustrated Stinkie growled lightly and eyed towards his brothers who he watched snicker and fly out of the tunnel. "I..."Pausing with his words Stinkie felt where his arms squished and gulped. Melle who was still stunned about what all happened just stared and blushed deeply.
"Thanks for saving me.... PERV!" Melle smirked and smacked him across the shoulder. Sticking out her tongue at him she smiled after to show it was no hard feelings. The two then laughed a little and climbed on out of the water finishing their way to the end of the ride by foot on the side-lines. Once they made it out they borrowed some towels from a few of the workers and explained what had happened. When everything had been said and done Stinkie slowly stood up and offered Melle his towel.
"Heh, here, I'm gonna go check on somethin'. You take dis an' I'll be right back... promise.." Leaning in he softly kissed her head then sped off. Melle touched the spot and cuddled into the towels. She was a little saddened that they hadn't managed to kiss just yet, but she figured maybe it'd been meant for another time. When Stinkie found Stretch and Fatso a growl erupted from him as he charged at them. "WHAT DA HEE-HAW ARE YA TWO DOIN'!? YER RUININ' EVERYTHIN'!!"