Wow, this story is getting a bit popular, isn't it?

Reviewer Thanks

Jyushi girl: Yep, there's always a different story behind the fairytales! (and I agree-- it is hard to picture someone in suspenders… unless it's Steve Urkel, lol)

starspring: don't worry, more action will come

I have to admit, I'm used to waking up to my alarm clock, my cousins yelling, or from a freaky nightmare, so I was a bit shocked when I woke up to an older man yelling, "Who are you?! How did you get in here?!"

It was Geppetto. He stood in the doorway, eyes wide with surprise at seeing someone rather than Pinocchio in his son's bedroom. I sat up, fumbling out of bed. "Uh, um, sorry!" I stammered. "You see, I needed a place to stay for the night and---"

"Bluskyrobinaquamarine?!" Geppetto adjusted his glasses, recognizing me. "Well, now, what brings you here?"

I hated it when people called me by my whole name, so it was hard for me to keep from glowering. "Pinocchio let me spend the night." I kept my voice steady, though.

"Ah," His voice was understanding--- but not the kind of understanding like, 'Oh, I get it,' but the kind, 'Ooh, I get it (wink wink),'. "That explains why he slept on the couch last night."

"Yeah, I was having trouble with my cousins, so he offered to let me stay the night. …Well, Wolf brought me over and asked, actually."

"Oh." There went the 'ooh' understanding.

I cleared my throat and grabbed my bag. "Well, I guess I'll be going---"

"Oh, you don't have to! Please, stay for breakfast! You are our guest, after all."

At that moment, I thought about that song from "Beauty and the Beast" and let out a chuckle. "Um, thank you," I returned to my serious self.

"No problem at all," Geppetto let out a chuckle.

I followed him downstairs where-- as Geppetto said-- Pinocchio was asleep on the couch. He was hugging my teddy bear, and he had pulled off his suspenders and funny-looking hat. …I couldn't help but wonder: why would a 14-year-old kid be dressed like he was getting ready to polka? Then again, he and his dad had lived in Switzerland, so it was probably the only thing he had to wear. (The poor kid).

Geppetto walked into the kitchen to prepare breakfast, so I decided to help him out a little and wake his son up. "Hey, Pin, wake up," I said, poking him.

He opened one eye and looked at me. "Not now, Blu, it's too early…" he said groggily, then snapped awake once he took a second glance at me. "Blu! Oh, man, you'd better get out, before my dad sees---"

"He already has. Don't worry, he's not very mad. Now, c'mon, he's making breakfast."

He sighed with relief. "Okay, good." He pulled his suspenders back over his shoulders, and grabbed his goofy hat. "So, you planning on looking for a different place to stay?"

I shrugged. "Pretty much. …I mean, no offense, your house is pretty cool, but I can only take so much hospitality."

"I can understand that. I have a good idea on where you can stay, anyway."

"Really? Where?"

"Kids, breakfast is ready!" Geppetto called from the kitchen (wow, he cooks fast!).

"I'll show you after breakfast." Pin said.

I followed him into the kitchen. It was pretty simple: a large, round wooden table in the center, a window that showed the street outside, and your typical kitchen appliances from an oven to a refrigerator. The floor tile was checkered blue and white, and the wall was light blue. I sat down at the table, where there was a pitcher of orange juice, a large stack of pancakes, syrup, butter, bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast… Geppetto might as well have set up a Vegas Buffet.

"So, what do you two kids plan to do today?" Geppetto asked us as we began to eat, cutting into his pancakes.

"Oh, just the usual," I said. "Walk around town, find something to do," …And a new place to live. "I thought about letting Pin come with me, if that would be okay,"

"May I, father?" Pin asked (good Godmother, was he always so polite?).

"Of course!" Geppetto replied, smiling. "I can manage the shop on my own. You need to get out more, anyway, and have some fun."

Pin smiled. "Thanks."

Within that short conversation, I had devoured my entire breakfast-- eggs, three slices of toast, two large pancakes, five strips of bacon, and a glass of orange juice. Hey, it was the first whole meal I had to eat in… well, ever! "Might I use your bathroom?" I asked Geppetto.

"Yes, you may," The toy-shop owner replied. "First door on the left, upstairs."

I left the table, walking up the stairs into the bathroom. Once I was in there, I looked in the mirror. My hair was greasy from going three days without a shower, so I grabbed a ponytail out of my bag and pulled it up, leaving my bangs to hang in my face. I then grabbed some soap and washed my hands and face, wishing that I had done so earlier, rather than looking like a hobo in front of Pin's dad. But, oh well, I always looked like a hobo to everyone, no matter how clean I was. I stepped out of the bathroom to head downstairs, when I heard a voice, "Have a good night's sleep?" I looked down and saw Jiminy Cricket, arms crossed and giving me a stern look.

"Yes, thanks for asking," I didn't mean it to sound polite… which it didn't. I sneered at the bug. I walked past him, heading down the stairs.

"Hold it right there, Miss Blu!" I stopped, clenching my teeth. (I despised it when people referred to me as 'Miss'). He hopped on top of my shoulder. "I don't know what Pinocchio sees in you, but I've heard enough about you to say that you'd better not take him down the wrong road!"

"What makes you think I'd send him down the wrong road?"

He glared at me. "Because you're riding down it. If you want to get my trust, I'd suggest you straighten yourself ou--- Ack!"

I flicked him off my shoulder. "FYI, I don't need your trust to hang out with Pin. And if I were you, I'd mind your own business and let him hang out with whoever he wants. Good day to you, Cricket." I walked down the stairs, feeling him glower at me, but I shrugged it off. "Damn overprotective bug."

I met Pinocchio in the living room. "Ready to head out?" he asked, looking eager.

"Um, Pin? I hate to sound rude…" though I always did. "But, don't you have something else to wear?" I was referring to his polka-getup.

He sighed. "I look like a nerd, don't I?"

"Well… yes. No offense, but yes."

He let out a grunt. "I knew it! I'll go up and change,"

"Ah, c'mon, you don't have to!"

He looked at me and shrugged. "It's okay." he leaned close to me, whispering, "Between you and me, I'm sick of this outfit. My dad just makes me wear it in the shop to entertain the little kids." He winked at me and walked upstairs.

I kept myself from laughing, picturing what a 21-year-old Pin would look like in suspenders. I noticed my teddy bear on the couch, and put it back in my backpack as I waited for him to change. I sat on the couch and turned on the TV, flicking through channels to see if anything good was on. I turned it off, finding nothing to watch.

"Okay, I'm ready," I heard Pin call from up the stairs. I stood up and looked at him, and I swear, my jaw almost dropped.

He was wearing a thin-striped flannel red button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a pair of blue jeans with a black belt, and a pair of white Nike sneakers. His black hair was combed, though it remained a bit poofy. He actually looked… well, good! "Wow, Pin, you really know how to clean up," I said, keeping my attitude visible for the sake of my reputation.

"Yeah, well, it's just something I've had in my closet for a while, so… Shall we head out?"

And we walked out the door.

There was one thing I hated more than my cousins: swamps. Just my luck, Pin had to take me through one! If I'd had known I'd be walking through a marsh, I'd have worn boots and a commando outfit to blend in.

We began a walk on a dirt-- or mud-- road, out of the bayou. "I'd hate to guide you through the bog," Pin said. "It would be too dangerous, what with all the creatures in the water and all."

"Where exactly are you taking me?" I asked with irritation as a I swapped a mosquito away from my face.

"You'll see, once we're out of the swamp."

What a relief, I thought. I thought he was going to make me stay out here!

A frog croaked on a log, a few dragon-flies buzzed around (one of them became a meal for the frog), and a couple of alligators sat at the bank of a mucky pond, vegetating. We kept far away from them, no matter how slow our Science teacher said they moved. They looked at us, one of them opened its mouth and let out a growl, but they didn't chase us, which was just fine by me.

Splurk, schlop, A bubbling noise erupted from the bog, causing everything to turn silent. The alligators hurried into the pond, the frogs hopped away, and every other creature in the bayou hid and kept quiet. Pin and I froze, looking at each other, thinking the same thing: Shit, not good!

"Run?" I asked dumbly.

"Run," Pin said, nodding once.

We took off running down the road, but a large, grimy wet foot slammed down in front of us, blocking our path. "Who dares trespass on Morlog's land?!" A booming voice asked.

I gulped and we looked up, seeing a large, slimy being with a nose the shape of a gourd, pickled-green skin covered in warts, yellowed fingernails and toenails, three hairs on its lumpy head, fangs sticking out of its bottom jaw, piercing violet eyes, wearing brown pants and an old 'NSync' concert T-shirt. It was, what we'd call in Fairytale Land, a giant troll. And we were on its land… something trolls didn't like too much.

"Um, pardon us, s-sir!" Pin said nervously. "We're just passing through."

"No one is allowed on Morlog's land!" The troll, Morlog, shouted. "Why you think Morlog set up those 'No Trespassing' signs?!"

"We didn't see any signs!" I scoffed.

"Oh, yeah?!" Morlog pointed to a few "Beware!", "Stay Away!", "Run For Your Life!", "Keep Off The Grass", etc. signs that were nailed to the trees.

"Funny that we could have missed that," Pin muttered.

"Not to him," I sneered, pointing up at Morlog. "Look, troll dude, we're just looking for a place to stay, so---"

"Place to stay, huh?" Morlog boomed, rubbing his chin. He grabbed us both with his large, gross and slimy hands. "Morlog have just the place!"

"Um, no need!" Pin stammered. "We've already found a place so---"

"Shut up, puny boy!"

The troll carried us through the bog, deeper and deeper into the darkest part of the swamp.

Did I mention I hate swamps? Because I really do.

A/N: Yikes! I wonder how they'll get out of this mess! Okay, you know what to do, and if you don't, here's a hint: REVIEW!!! (but skip the flames).