A/N~ This is probably one of my funnier chapters, especially near the end... 
Chapter 4~ This Is Your Conscience
Ann looked at Popuri, too stunned to speak. The look on Doug's face was one Ann had never seen before, and the Doctor looked slightly... purple.
"Paint?" he finally stuttered. "
Paint? This whole time we were worried you weren't going to live, and you aren't really covered with blood, but red paint!"
Popuri looked confused. "Huh? Not going to live?" She giggled. "Of course I'll live, silly! Why would you think--" She stopped in mid-sentance, looking startled. Her hand slowly reached up to her head and her face slowly paled. "...I remember..." she said quietly, almost trance-like. "I was walking over to the Clinic to pick up Mom's medicine, and I was walking just past the Inn... then, something hit my head hard, and all I saw after that was blackness." Her eyes were scared and she was trembling slighty.
In a rush of sadness for the other girl, Ann came up and hugged Popuri. Suprised, Popuri smiled, looking like her usual self.
"Don't worry, Popuri, we're going to find who did this to you. Obviously they want to hurt and scare people, but without killing thier victoms." Ann declared.
Doug nodded. "I think Ann's right. But, for her theory to be correct, we just need to wait and see."
Popuri was looking dazed at the use of all these scientific words. She had learned, by now, to ignore them and just act like yourself. "Well, since that is over with, can someone help get all this paint out of my hair?"
)()()()(
And hour later, Ann and Popuri came out of the Clinic, both looking normal. Popuri's hair was free of all paint and was its natural candy-pink once again. She still had a slight bump on her head, but the Doctor said it should be healed by next week. She was not to run into anything.
"...Manna really thought that I should go visit Jack, because she thinks he might be interested in me." Popuri continued talking like the chatterbox she was. "But then I saw him talking to Karen when I got there and decided that he really liked her!"
The talk about Karen and Jack had a bad effect on Ann. She didn't talk as much as she had before that conversation, but Popuri didn't notice.
"...So now I think I'm just going to stick with Kai, no matter what Rick says!" she continued, pouting slightly. "He can be so mean! I can't believe he hates Kai so much! Why can't he just accept that I like him and its none of his business! He says he's trying to protect me but I really think he just doesn't want me to be happy!"
Ann pondered that for a moment. "Well," she began, "brothers, especially older ones, are like that. They are overprotective of thier sisters because they are afraid something will happen to them. And I think since your father is gone, Rick is just trying to do what Rod would do." Ann added more softly. "He has a lot of responsibility, taking over after your father left to find the flower to heal Lillia."
Popuri sighed. "I guess you're right, Annie," she said, not looking at her. There was silence for what seemed like hours.
"Well, thanks for all your help, Ann." Popuri said at last.
Ann just smiled weakly. She was about to say something when she saw Cliff rounding the corner.
"Hi Ann. Popuri," he said shyly. "I'm glad to see you're better."
Ann smiled. "Hi, Cliff! You'll never guess that Popuri really wasn't--"
Popuri looked curiously at the two of them talking, and something in her mind clicked. A little voice in her head said,
Popuri, I know I don't click often, but this is really important, like the time when you almost burned your house down... "Get on with it," she mumbled out loud.
I think Ann and Cliff like each other, her mind said.
"I like Cliff, too! And Ann! They're nice." Popuri whispered to herself.
No, I mean like you like Kai, her mind told her, sounding exasparated.
"Ohhhhhh," Popuri said, a bit too loudly.
So, maybe you should leave them alone to talk, her mind, which she had named Click, finished proudly.
"Oh, okay. I get it," Popuri said with a giggle. "I'll go home! Thanks for the advice, Clicky!"
Ann and Cliff both stared at Popuri curiously. She just giggled and began to walk away. "Click thinks I should leave you guys to talk, so I'm going home now! See you tomorrow!" she called before giggling hystarically and dashing out of sight, leaving Ann and Cliff to wonder who Click was.
***
holy cow! what happened to popuri?! 
