Chapter 2

Crash himself couldn't believe who was on his doorstep. Was it Pasadena, or could it be his imagination that desperately wanted to see anything other than his family? She looks different, he thought.

Pasadena was slightly shorter than Crash. Not only that, but she looked different from the last time they met. She wore her blue racing jacket, but it was unzipped, revealing a grey sweater beneath. She wore blue jeans and wore a similar pair of shoes like Crash wore, except they were grey instead of brown. Crash also noticed how she wasn't wearing her helmet and saw she had short, wavy blonde hair that reached her shoulders. Pasadena's left bangs covered a small portion of her left eye.

She really looks different, thought the orange bandicoot.

Pasadena: Crash, is that you? You look different. Did you do something with your hair? And you can talk?

Crash did look a bit different over the past year. Crash was wearing blue jeans with a slight fade and a few rips. He still wore his dark brown canvas sneakers. Not to mention Crash still had his tattoos on his hands and forearms (which Crash got expanded so they covered half his forearms). Crash had found his old fingerless gloves and wore them again. The only few differences was that Crash's hair now covered most of his head, getting rid of his old mohawk hairstyle and giving him a short, somewhat spiky shaggy hairstyle. The other only difference was that Crash now wore a string necklace with three white beads on each side of the center pendant, which looked like a miniature Power Crystal, except that instead of being amethyst, it was a bright sapphire.

Crash: (rubbing the back of his neck) Uhhh…well, not really. Yeah, I can talk. A while ago, my sister built this collar thing, put around my neck, and tah-dah, I can talk. But anyway, hey! How you've been?

Both walk and pull each other into a hug.

Pasadena: It's been awhile fuzzy boy.

Crash: (blushing, but looking away to cover his face) Yeah, a while. Come on in, you probably have loads to tell.

Pasadena: A bandicoot with manners, that's the first good thing all day.

As Pasadena walked in, Crash followed behind and closed the door. As they walked into the living room, Pasadena took a look around while Crash walked toward the couch and sat down.

Pasadena: You have a nice place, Crash. It feels very homey.

Crash: Yeah, well it's ok, but enough about me. What about you? Is the Motor World still running?

Pasadena: Yeah, business is booming. VC's just opened another Motor World around here. That's why I'm here. Unfortunately, my car broke down and I walked about a mile and a half before I was on your front porch.

Crash: Wow, that's great. Wait, did you say your car broke down?

Pasadena: Yeah, why?

Crash: Hehe, well unless you've been training for a marathon, you're stuck out here. The next car station is not for another 22 miles.

Pasadena: You're shitting me, right?

Crash was surprised by her sudden swear. Never had he heard another curse in front of him. (Well, besides himself. When you've been silent your whole life, people will be surprised to hear what you have to say.)

Crash: I wish I was kidding around, sweetheart, but I'm not. Well, look at the bright side.

Pasadena: What bright side?

Crash: I was kinda hoping you knew what the bright side was. This is your problem, not mine. So I say, (laughs).

Pasadena: Yeah, very fucking funny, Bandicoot. I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere with a smart-ass marsupial.

Crash: Whoa whoa whoa, slow your damn role. I didn't mean to be mean and what gives you the right to call this beautiful island, "the middle of nowhere?" This is paradise. You should be happy.

Pasadena: You're right. I'm sorry. It's just been a stressful day. My car broke down, I walked a mile and a half, and my feet are killing me.

Pasadena walked over to the couch and sat down next to Crash, resting her head on the bandicoot's shoulder. Crash looked over at the possum and saw her trying to snuggle up to the marsupial.

Pasadena: I'm just really tired.

Crash: (jokingly) Poor thing.

Pasadena: It's not funny.

Crash: I know, I'm sorry. Let me get up, I'll make something to eat for the both of us.

Pasadena: Thanks. I'm sorry for what I said earlier. At least there's still one good thing.

Crash: Yeah, what's that?

Pasadena: I'm staying with a good, kind bandicoot.

Crash: Thanks.

As Crash left the room, Pasadena snuggled against the couch and waited for the bandicoot to return with their meal.