Gone

[Butterscotch]

But then I heard a faint noise, sounding like giggles, coming from the back room.

I certainly hope that whatever is making them giggle isn't anything...naughty!

[Candyapple]

admin said:

But then I heard a faint noise, sounding like giggles, coming from the back room.

I certainly hope that whatever is making them giggle isn't anything...naughty!

lol, thats just what I was thinking. now hurry up and get the next chapter!

[Firefly]

admin said:

I certainly hope that whatever is making them giggle isn't anything...naughty!

-Dies- I didn't even think of that! No, its not, don't worry... you people have such sick minds!

[Butterscotch]

pineapple said:

admin said:

I certainly hope that whatever is making them giggle isn't anything...naughty!

-Dies- I didn't even think of that! No, its not, don't worry... you people have such sick minds!

I don't have a sick mind!

[Firefly]

Chapter 14

I stood there, dumbfounded. Rick was tickling Ann. I was really not expecting that.
"Uh..." I began, but couldn't think of anything to say. Ann's head shot up, and she continued to laugh.
"H-hi Popuri!" she stuttered through giggles. "W-what's up?"
I felt like laughing, too. I had never seen my brother so... laid back. He was always so 'work is the only thing in life'. I had hardly ever seen him smile, especially after Dad had left.
"Oh, hi there, Popuri," Rick said good-naturedly. My jaw almost fell open. Had this huge change occured in the few short hours I had been away? I had been trying to make him laugh and relax since I had been little!
"What is it?" he asked.
I cleared my throat and found the words to speak. "Um... Mom wants you to come home to dinner."
Rick looked surprised. "Dinner already?"
"Its almost seven o'clock."
"Oh. What's for dinner?" he asked. I was getting slightly annoyed. What happened to the old Rick, the one who shrugged and followed without a word?
"We're having fish." I answered.
"Fish? Mom went fishing?"
Great. Now he was laid back and oblivious. "No," I snapped. "Jack caught it for her."
Rick's face turned purple. Purple. "So that little sneak thinks he's going to hit on my mom! Even after you and Karen! I should go over there right now and teach him--"
I stopped listening. So her still had his famous temper. But he was so... different. More outgoing. Not so Rick-ish. "Rick, its fine," I interrupted. "He's not hitting on Mom. He was thanking her for selling him some medicine at a fair price."
He didn't listen.
"Sure he was!" he shouted. "And he was just thanking you and Karen for being so nice to him by showering you with flowers and cake!"
At least the old Rick was back.
Ann was trying to calm him down. "Its fine," she cooed. "Listen to your sister. She wouldn't lie."
He looked like he was going to reply, but thought better of it.
"You should go home. It probably is getting late," Ann continued.
Rick sighed in defeat and hugged Ann. "See you," he whispered.
Ann smiled brightly. "See you on Sunday!" she called with a wave. Rick smiled at her. I walked off.
"What's your problem?" he asked. I almost exploded right then and there. What was my problem? What about his? Just five hours ago he was Mr. Serious. Now he was laid-back and calm about everything? This change was too drastic.
"Geez, Popuri, if you were going to be so jealous than you shouldn't have set me up with her." he said casually. I whirled around.
"Well, maybe I didn't know you were going to change your whole personality!" I shouted and stormed off.
***

[Firefly]

Chapter 25

Dinner that night was... strange. Rick and I didn't speak at all, and we only answered to Mom, who senced something.
"How was your day?" she asked Rick with a smile.
"Great! I 'changed my personality!' " he answered with a smile I knew was fake. He was mocking me.
Mom wasn't finished. "And you, Poppy?"
I cleared my throat. "I was questioned repeatedly about the stupidist things," I lightly replied, and gave Rick a withering glance.
Lillia was oblivious to the wall between us. "I hear you have a new 'friend', huh, Rick?"
"Yes, actually, I do."
"And Popuri, May told me you played with her and Stu today! That's very kind of you, dear."
I smiled gratefully at my mother. Rick couldn't possibly make a snide remark about that.
I was wrong.
"It suits you, Popuri," he sneered.
I didn't understand. "What suits me?"
He twirled his fork on the plate. "Playing with kids."
It hit me like a brick, and hurt like one too. I felt angry tears welling in my eyes, and I stood up. "Dinner was great, Mom, but I'm full." Before anyone could answer, I rushed up the steps, knocking the chair over as I did. I heard Rick say,
"Really, she's being such a baby. It was just a joke."
I threw myself down on my bed and sobbed, face in my pillow. I wanted to curl up and just lay there forever. Why had he done that? Sure, he was annoying sometimes, but saying ornery things like that just wasn't like him.
I rolled over. So what if I went from house to house on the Pumpkin Festival, hoping to get candy? It was because I believed not only kids should get candy!
Or... was it?
I layed in my bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking hard. And so what if I played with Stu and May? Parents play with thier kids, and nobody calls them babies. Anyway, I could do what I wanted, right?
Right?
I could play house and make mud cakes. I could play with Stu and May in the afternoon. I could collect candy and chocolate from people around town on the Pumpkin Festival, right? I always had. I had never given it a second thought. It was no big deal.
So, why was it such a big deal now?
***

[BorderWolf]

Great chapters! More please.

[Butterscotch]

More, more, more!

[harvested]

Great chapters next chapter ;D

[Firefly]

Chapter 15

When I opened my eyes again, they were filled with bright sunlight. I sat straight up. I had fallen asleep while crying. Now, I looked around and saw that I was the only one still in bed. I quickly dressed and combed my hair before rushing downstairs.
"Good morning!" I said to Lillia. She turned around in surprise and came over to hug me.
"Oh, Poppy, you worried me last night!" she told me. "When I went upstairs to check on you, you had already fallen asleep! Now," she sat down, "what happened that made you so upset?"
I hesitated for a second, but decided that I would tell her the whole story. She was my mom, anyway.
After I had finished, Lillia was nodding, looking very thoughtful. "I did notice the change, but I really don't think it had anything to do with Ann."
I was surprised. But it had to! He had been at Ann's for hours yesterday, and when he came back, he was... different!
"Think about it, honey. Does Ann act at all like your brother did last night?"
I slowly shook my head. "No. Ann is very nice and happy and outgoing all the time. She hardly ever gets mad." And it did make sence. It couldn't have been Ann's fault. Not entirely, anyway.
"So we've got that part figured out," Mom said thoughtfully. She stood up again. "Today I want you to go around town, and find out everything you can about what happened yesterday. I want to know what's wrong with my son!" She walked to the kitchen. I followed. "But first, I'm going to make you breakfast."
I didn't argue.

An hour later, I had finished eating and now was getting instructions from Lillia.
"...understand?" she finished. I nodded. It was easy. I would go to every shop and house around here, then go up to the area around Carter's house all the way to Anna and Basil's home. I would go to the Winery afterwards, and only to the Inn as a last resort. A very last resort.
"Good luck, honey. Figure out why Rick is acting so strange." Lillia urged me.
I forced a smile. Hopefully, Rick was acting strange. If this was his new personality, I don't know what I would do.
***

[harvested]

Another great chapter by pineapple Keep it up can't wait for the next one ;D

[Candyapple]

YAY!

[Butterscotch]

Great chapter, keep 'em comin'! ;D

[BorderWolf]

Indeed, a great chapter.

[moko]

really nice chapter! ;D