EZEKIEL: PART TWO


Food Planet

1:30 p.m.

In five days time the blonde had learned a lot about the sexist Ezekiel. For one despite being labeled as such, he was never sexist to begin with. On the contrary he was quite shy and more often then not mixed up his words, for better or for worse.

Had the prairie boy actually survived the bonfire ceremony, those little details might have made themselves known in time instead of being eventually discovered through his diary. That misunderstood book…so many things had been discovered from within its pages.

However some things had to be learned first hand in the hardest way imaginable. Despite Courtney's vast warnings about not upsetting the prairie boy, it had still happened. And unfortunately Ezekiel had one heck of a stubborn streak.

"Ezekiel can't we talk about this?" Bridgette pleaded for the umpteenth time only to once again receive silence in return. "Please?" She tried again trying adamantly to reach the homeschooler on the other side of the beige door.

I'M NOOT COOMING OOT!!!

The venomous accented words made her wince and the blonde let out a heavy sigh as she thought back to earlier.


After the collision in the candy aisle, the surfer and the nerd had chased after the terrified farm boy as he ran frantically through the store trying to get away from them. And in the process there had been several close calls.

Ezekiel though was so intent on running away that he completely missed Trent walking out of the automotive aisle and Geoff diving under a table in an effort to remain incognito. While Harold had abandoned the chase heading towards the musician and party boy with a frown, she had not.

And the chase had gone on until Ezekiel sought refuge in the men's washroom knocking Tyler to the ground in the process. Any further attempts to get inside were futile. Ezekiel had locked the door.

Bridgette let out another heavy sigh before she tried again. "You've been in there for 30 minutes. You can't hide in there forever. Sooner or later you're going to have to come out and talk to me."

Silence was her only reply.


Ezekiel's House

2:00 p.m.

Car 1

Gwen, Trent, Tyler, Geoff

But the truth remains you're…gone…gone…gone…BRIDGETTE!

Yeah 9 is my lucky number. And it was the 9th store and the 9th aisle. I mean it was just coincidence that Ezekiel almost ran into me and then Tyler by the bathrooms right in front of the 9th register. He didn't see us and that's what's important. Right? Gwen?

BRIDGETTE!!! *sob*

What do you mean you're in the same car with HIM?! If that handsome poser tries anything I'll mess him up! But Linds…fine. I'll mess up his photos then!

BRIIIIDDDDGGGGEETTE!!!!

"I have NEVER been so glad to be out of a car in my life." Gwen muttered out loud closing the raven black door with a slam before turning around to face the farm house. Already people were coming out to greet them, both familiar and not.

The most enthusiastic of the bunch was a chocolate skinned female wearing a beret. Squealing happily, the unknown teen raced over and before Gwen could protest, she found herself trapped in her grip.

"You must be Gwen! I recognized you by the pale skin. Are you familiar with Sunrise Tanning? I wouldn't be surprise if you hadn't since that's a trade secret for those in a talent agency, but since you're friends with Shawnie and possibly me I figured-"

"I take it you must be Jezzabelle." Gwen commented dryly as she forced herself from the female's death grip. "It's Jasmine actually." Jasmine corrected with a slight frown. She then proceeded to run over to Geoff, likewise bombarding the still sniffling male with questions.

Gwen shook her head at the scene while Cody chuckled as he walked over. "Don't let her bother you. Jasmine's just a little obsessed with getting on the 2nd season of Total Drama Island." Gwen gazed back with a deadpan expression. "She does know that's not happening right?"

The technogeek shrugged. "We keep telling her that, but she's stubborn. I think she's left over 200 audition messages in the Traveling Cam already!" He chuckled again, but the goth doesn't join in and stared at him in horror.

"What Traveling Cam?"


Traveling Cam

By the Old Shed

Gwen is sitting on the wooden seat her eyes wide with shock before she scowled.

Gwen-Great. This is just great. But it's Christmas. Well…almost so I'll bite my tongue. But if you think you're getting me on another season Chris you've got another thing coming!


Lap of Luxury Hotel

Hotel Pool

Chris McClain is reclining on a lounger watching the irate goth girl on a television screen. "Oh I don't know…I just we'll just have to wait and see folks. We'll just have to wait and see." The host chuckled before he reached over to click to another channel.


Food Planet

2:30 p.m.

"So after you sent me that present I started to question things. I mean you were sexist right? And guys like that don't change. But then there was stuff about you that just didn't add up. And then after your diary-"

Bridgette's eyes suddenly widened in horror and a hand flew to her mouth, but the damage had already been done. Also sitting down on the other side of the beige door Ezekiel frowned. "How did you knoo I had a joornal eh?"

Hearing the nervous chuckle from the surfer girl, Ezekiel's mood darkened. "So you joost went ahead and read it then eh." Though Bridgette didn't speak, the silence spoke volumes. The homeschooler nodded in acceptance.

"I doon't knoo why I'm surprised by this. After all my time on the shoo has been noothing boot a big joke to everboody. I joost was the only one noot laughing eh." Hearing the sharp gasp on the opposite side of the door, he paused while he waited for the ponytailed female to speak.

Finally she did. "How could…I would never…I can't believe that you would even think that!" A bittersweet smile touched the brunet's lips and he looked down at the bathroom tiles absently as he replied.

"Yoove'e read my joornal so you've seen through my eyes…noot literally of coorse. How would you react in my boots eh? There was another long gap before the surfer girl let out another deep sigh.

"I would be angry. And confused and hurt…and…well…just a little afraid. After what happened on that show…and then at the resort…well I would need time to heal. And naturally I would lock the book on that chapter of my life. But…if people from that painful time cared enough to travel all this way to try to remedy their actions…I wouldn't be exactly pleased, but I would at least try to hear them out."

More silence followed Bridgette's speech before there was the long awaited click of a lock turning. The surfer perked up and scrambled quickly to her feet. Or rather she tried to. The door opened and the loss of balance caused the blonde to fall backwards right into Ezekiel.

With a slight thud both fell onto the tiled floor; Bridgette to her embarrassment and mild amusement had landed on the homeschooler's lap while said homeschooler looked back with tired red rimmed eyes as he weakly attempted a smile.

"Foor the record yoor the one who fell on me eh." Bridgette nodded back. "Agreed." She said simply getting back up to her feet and reaching a friendly hand down to Ezekiel. The prairie boy eyed the gesture warily before gingerly accepting.


Car 3

Justin, Lindsay, Beth, Heather, Eva, Courtney

2:40 p.m.

The rolling hills, steep climbs and drops were slowly wearing down on Beth. The poor farm girl had hardly been in the back seat for more then 5 minutes before her carsickness started to act up and the glow in the dark monster was forced to make an emergency rest stop.

Not long after, Courtney, much to her displeasure had very reluctantly given up the navigation job in favor of the greater good. Meaning keep the vomit prone teen happy and they would stay on task and more importantly on time.

Despite the large fitness buff taking the wheel, the backseat was still crowded making it impossible for the former CIT to relax. "Beth, please tell me we're at LEAST remotely close to the farmhouse by now."

"Ummm…Let'sth see…looks like we should make it by 4 p.m. 4:30 if the traffic is bad." Courtney nodded before dialing a number on her cell phone and holding it to her ear. "Car 2 Report in! What is your status Car 2?"


Car 2

DJ, Noah, Katie, Sadie, Duncan

"Cramped, the brickhouse refuses to let me drive, the egghead won't turn the radio onto any station besides that classic crap, the car smells like a bakery and the twins have been babbling nonstop about Homeschool."

Shooting another glare at the giggling girls, Duncan continued. "Apparently Sadie's decided that her counterpart is the "mysterious" crush girl and she's been trying to give her dating advice for the last 3 hours.

Before Courtney could reply to her boyfriend, someone else spoke up involuntarily setting loose a ticking time bomb.

Uhhh…I know this might be hard to take Kally and Sandy but Ethan is sooo crushing on my BFF Beth. I mean they both live on farms with all those little animals! It totally fits!

Umm Lindsay…actually Ezekiel livesth on a fruit farm.

Really? But anyway it is sooo Beth!

"Newsflash to Clueless…its Katie as in MY BFFFL." Sadie said yanking the phone away from the startled punk. "Uhh…Sadie we're not exactly sure on that yet." The larger BFF stared at her friend in shock.

"Don't say that! Ezekiel is like totally crushing on you! And like it's stressful enough trying to get you ready to not only see him again, but also to pass the sacred of all sacred tests…the best friend test!"

Noah took his eyes off the map to stare at the larger female behind him. "The best…friend…test?" The know-it-all commented dryly receiving an energetic nod in return. "Oh it's like the toughest test there is!"

Katie likewise nodded. "Finding a good boyfriend is like only part of it. You also have to seriously get along with the best friend of said boyfriend and likewise that best friend has to get along with both his girlfriend and her best friend."

The thinner girl let out a whimper and her body shook slightly. "And Ezekiel's best friend is Izzy! Sadie…I don't know if I can do this…I mean sure he's cute, but Izzy can be so like serious scary with the snakes and the sharks and the-"

Katie shivered again while Lindsay in the other car laughed. Before the buxom blonde could add any more of her two cents, Courtney took control again.

Look. We're estimating 4:30 at latest. Since YOUR car LEFT before OURS you SHOULD be almost there by now right?

Noah examined his map again before holding his hand out for the phone which Sadie quickly relinquished. "Imminent interval is 3:50 at latest. DJ is driving." Without waiting for an answer, Noah hung up the phone.


Food Planet

2:50 p.m.

Bridgette's lazy green eyes were wide in shock as she watched the toque wearing brunet retrieve item after item. Despite the various attempts to slow Ezekiel down, the distractions had gone unheeded for the most point, until they passed an end cap filled with marshmallow packages and hot chocolate boxes.

"Hey look, marshmallows!" Harold commented happily picking up a bag. The cheerful look on the homeschooler's face faded almost instantly and a faint look of hurt replaced the smile as he stared silently at the package.

LeShawna and Bridgette recognized the danger signs immediately and quickly and discretely signaled for the auburn haired male to squash the conversation. Harold though was completely oblivious to the hints.

"And since you have the fireplace in the living room we can roast marshmallows as we watch Christmas movies on television. All we need is a few long wooden sticks, not to mention the bars of chocolate and graham crackers."

"I knoo you put the white thing on the stick, boot I doon't get wot why you need the other things eh." Ezekiel questioned his curiosity overwhelming his hurt for the most point. Harold looked up and he cringed. "You've never had marshmallows before have you?"

Ezekiel shook his head causing the rest of the group to wince, particularly Bridgette and there was an uncomfortable silence. It was broken when the homeschooler took the bag from the auburn haired nerd.

Without saying a word, Ezekiel poked his fingers through the plastic roughly opening it. Taking a marshmallow out he slowly bit off half. It was an action he had seen done by a many a camper.

"It's kinda loike a sponge. Except it's all white and sugary and stuff eh." Popping the other half in his mouth, he continued to chew thoughtfully. "I wonder if it would taste with sally omi or peanut butter…"

Ezekiel wondered out loud to himself, before realizing where he was. Smiling sheepishly at the rest of the wide eyed group he held out the open bag. "Soory I tend to do that at tyimes when I taste different foods eh."

The trio only nodded as they accepted the puffy treats. Placing the open bag inside the full cart, Ezekiel pushed it forward humming cheerfully. Harold, LeShawna and Bridgette followed though they deliberately lagged behind.

"Okay potential problem triumphed and precious minutes gained. We're still running out of distracting time! And distractions." LeShawna nodded. "My sugar baby's got a point. And the way that white boy is goin, there is not much more we can do to stall him."

Bridgette suddenly snapped her fingers. "I got it." Running ahead, she quickly caught up with the absorbed homeschooler. "Hey Ezekiel…I can't tell you how gratefully I am that I can stay with your family for Christmas."

Ezekiel turned around and smiled at the surfer girl. Before he could reply, Bridgette continued. "And you already have sooo many of us staying with you guys already! And I honestly don't mind sleeping on the couch or the floor, but could we please stop somewhere and pick up a sleeping bag? Or maybe even an air bed? I won't take long I promise!"

Partially hidden Brown eyes stared at her in a mix of curiosity and confusion. Running over her last words in her head, the surfer girl giggled from the realization. "Yes you can sleep on air; no you won't fly away and yes they're comfy."

The homeschooler grinned. "I doon't think we need one in my house with Mom's collection, boot I doon't mind stopping foor an air bed as long as it's quick eh. We still goota get all this food home befoor dinner."

"No problem! I know exactly where to find them and I swear I'll be as fast as I can…wait…what does your mom collect anyway?"


Ezekiel's House

3:00 p.m.

"So we figured we'd apologize, hang around here for a couple hours and drive back to the hotel?" Tyler explained looking nervously at Annabelle. Ezekiel's mom had her back turned to the brunet as she stirred one of the many pots on the stove before replacing the lid.

"And how far away is this hotel oof yoors eh?" Annabelle asked pleasantly as she opened the oven door to check on the turkey. "Ummm…almost five hours?" Tyler flinched as the older woman studied him with an unreadable gaze.

"The tyime is 3 in the afternoon eh. Noot counting in winter trooble the rest oof yoor group woon't be here until almost 5 am I right?" Tyler nodded. Annabelle turned around briefly to close the stove door before continuing.

"So take in account thoose factors you would noot reach the hotel until at least after 10 noot including the tyime you teens spend talking to oor trying to talk to my Zeke." Tyler only nodded back dumbly and Annabelle sighed.

"Call the rest oof yoor group and tell them there staying here foor the holidays. I'm noot having teenagers lost in a snoostorm oor woorse joost cause they decided to be stubborn eh." With that Annabelle turned back to her dishes.

Not long after the silent dismissal, Goth, Athlete, Musician and Party Guy stared at the guest rooms in shock. "Okay 2 bunks in that room, 1 bunk 1 bed and 2 cots in the other guest room and in Ezekiel's room there's his bed, another bed and 3 cots. Oh man…Izzy was not kidding."

Trent said while the others nodded. "A bed collection." Gwen mused. "Well at least it works out to our advantage. The goth added with a smile. "No kidding! This place is like bed haven!" Tyler added before looking at the others. "So who goes where?"

Geoff tapped his chin in thought. "Well Homeschool's dad will go off the deep end if we "guys" take the bunk room so we'll leave it for the others. Unless…you or Bridge want it." The goth rolled her eyes.

"And risk having to be bunkmates with HEATHER? Thanks but I'm going to bunk with LeShawna and Izzy and…Jasmine. I'll take crazy girl and the overdramatic actress over the backstabber any day. And let's just put Bridgette in here."

Trent smiled. "That's my girl…cutting down the confusion and chaos before it starts." Gwen smirked. "Let's just call it an act of mercy. Having HEATHER, Eva and Miss CIT in the same room is enough to drive anyone crazy."

The group laughed.


Car 3

Justin, Lindsay, Beth, Heather, Eva, Courtney

4:00 p.m.

Courtney let out a sigh as she closed her ever present cell phone. "Well the bad news is that we're all STAYING at Se-Ezekiel's house for Christmas. The good news is that apparently his mom collects…beds so not ALL of us will be camped out who knows where."

"So who gets the beds?" Justin commented as he shot a dazzling smile at the CIT. The bossy female flushed a bit as she answered. "According to Geoff, there's only one room left available. And there are two bunk beds and a cot in it."

Justin grinned. "And is it based on a first come first serve basis? Or does beauty play a factor?" Courtney scowled. "Mr. Sexist's Dad made it clear…that is a girl only room." The CIT then smiled.

"Meaning gender wise, only one of us females has to sleep on the couch or floor. As for the guys…sorry but rules are rules." Justin frowned and Heather smirked. Before the queen bee could make a snide comment Courtney's phone rang again.

"Hi! This is Courtney!" The overachiever announced cheerfully while waiting impatiently for the other person to answer.

Hey Princess.

"Ogre. I take it you and the rest of Car 2 has finally arrived at the farmhouse then. There was silence. "Duncan…have you…Katie…Sadie…DJ…and Noah arrived at Se-Ezekiel's house or not?"

Actually we've run into a bit of a road block.

"A roadblock? What kind of roadblock?

The nerdy, loudmouth, surfer, toque wearing kind.

Courtney blinked in confusion before shaking her head. "Duncan you're not making any sense! What does nerdy loudmouth surfers have to do with anything?! I mean snowstorms I can understand, but that?!"

What I mean Princess is that Harold, LeShawna and Bridgette did a lousy job distracting Homeschool! If Katie didn't take that wrong turn we would never have seen them!

The CIT pinched her forehead as she fought to remain calm. "Duncan…where EXACTLY did you see them?"

On the stupid forest path you need to go through to reach Ezekiel's house. Katie was backing up the car when this green pickup drove by us packed with shopping bags and Homeschool at the *Beep*ing wheel!

WHAT!!!!!!!!


Imagi's Ramblings: For once I don't have any idea what to say. ;)

Thanks for the reviews everyone and YES the crush girl will be known very soon. ;)

Imagi