Beginning Theme (Go to profile to listen)

Riley: Last time Ash, Sam and I informed our friends of what was happening with Kate.

Casey: And we were quite surprised that Kate had decided to stay in Celestia for a year or two. Which will totally stink but what can you do?

Ash: Then our teachers handed out a flyer for Eagle’s Annual Fall Carnival and my friends forced me to cave into going.

Michelle: Oh come on Ash it will be fun!
Ash: Says you since now you are forcing me to bring a cousin who I barely like!
Riley: Then Sam and I bumped into one of the new students named Corey Peterson.

Sam: -grumbles- Something tells me that she likes him.

Chapter 20: Carnival Fun

“Okay class now we are going to go over what you should have learned last year.” The 6th grade math teacher informed his students. “So open your books to page 10 and we shall begin.”

The class whispered quietly to one another as they opened their books so they could begin their lesson.

Once his book was open Sam went off in his own little thoughts, thinking about what had happened just before they came into this class.

‘The way she acted towards Corey she seems to like him.’ He propped his chin on his palm as he watched his teacher lecture them. ‘But she couldn’t be crushing on him, considering she just met him yesterday. So she doesn’t really strike me as someone to fall for someone on the first day.’ Something clicked in his mind and groaned at the memory of when his brother and him first moved here. ‘Though again she could have considering how friendly she was towards me when I first met her last year and considering of what she had told me that day.’

“Yeah, the rule book of Riley DeGrave.” She placed a hand on her hip and pointed her finger up in the air, “In the rule book of Riley DeGrave, you always have to talk to the new people to make them feel not so awkward being here, since that happens way to much for my liking.”

He glanced over towards Riley who was sitting in the next row beside him. ‘But still that doesn’t mean she…like likes him. She could just be trying to be friendly towards him, since in ways she is just like Kate.’

Riley hadn’t noticed Sam glancing at her or even been paying somewhat attention to the math teacher. She had been off in her own little thoughts remembering what had happened. ‘Oh I just can’t believe it! Corey Peterson just spoke to me! Here I thought the only thing I could do was watch him but he is certainly proving me wrong.’ She sighed pleasantly. ‘I like him so much.’

She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t even hear Sam groan in displeasure, which he didn’t even realize he had done.

“Hey Cayla!” Cayla hummed moving her gaze from inside her locker to spot Jamie rushing towards her.

“Oh Jamie, hey.”

“Look what’s coming up in three weeks?” Jamie told her best friend with a wicked smirk handing her a piece of paper.

Cayla eyed her suspiciously before grabbing the paper from her. She scanned over it. “Oh yeah.” She gave her friend back the flyer. “I’ve already heard about the carnival from my last class.”

“So are you going?” Jamie questioned her sounding a bit hopeful.

She grimaced at her friend’s suggestion. “I would love too but…I have family coming up to visit and my parents wants us all to be there to greet them.”
“Aw come on! We barely had anytime to spend sometime together since school started!”

Cayla grumbled at her friend’s exaggeration. “We have hung out plenty of time, during the summer and these past two days.” She shook her head. “School hasn’t kept us that busy.”

“Yeah but once the carnival comes we will have probably already been so swamped with homework that we would have probably had anytime to do something together.” Her friend brought up to her in a slight whine.

“I doubt it.”

“Doubt what?”

“Mm?” Cayla and Jamie hummed as they turned their attention towards Kevin, Charles and Jack as they appeared next to them.

“Oh hey guys.” Jamie greeted with a friendly smile. She waved her hand towards Cayla. “I was trying to convince Cayla to come to the Annual Fall Carnival this year.”

“Oh that’s right that’s coming up in three weeks.” Charles reminded himself. “That’s the only thing that these people have been talking about.”

“Well duh it’s one of the biggest things to ever happen here in Eagle!” She reminded Kevin’s friend.

Kevin tossed his glance from them to Cayla. “Why aren’t you going?”

She sighed while closing her locker. “I have family coming up so we basically have to be around to greet them.”

“Can’t you convince your parents to let you go?” She heard Jamie speak up pleadingly.

Cayla narrowed her gaze slightly. “Jamie you know my parents. When it comes to something like this they are hardly convincible.”

“Can’t you at least try?”

Cayla let out a frustrated her sigh. This was one thing she didn’t really like about Jamie she just couldn’t take no for an answer.

“Why don’t you just suggest to your folks that maybe the best way to spend time with your relatives is to bring them to the carnival.” She heard Kevin suggest causing her to stop growling to stare up at him.

He shrugged. “They may go with that.”

Cayla stared at her friends for a while before finally sighing in defeat. “Alright!” She tilted her head. “Maybe between my siblings and me we might be able to convince them but I can’t make any promises that they will go for it.”

“Don’t worry.” Jamie reassured her with a bright smile. “I’m sure they’ll go with it.”

Cayla just grumbled.

Three weeks have past and it was finally the weekend the days that the Annual Fall Carnival will take place.

Ash sighed as he laid out in the hammock staring up at the bright blue sky. ‘I just can’t believe mom and dad actually caved into our idea. At times they can be as tough as walls but other times they are so soft that you can easily knock them down.’ He then groaned reminding himself about that task he was now in charge of. ‘Great now I’m going to be stuck with that stuck up brat!’

Something bumped up against his hand causing him to break out of his thoughts to stare down at Jade whom was bumping his nose against his hand wanting to be stroked.

Ash sighed softly before giving into his dog’s suggestion. “Today is going to be real fun Jade I can feel it.”

“What are you being so sarcastic about?”
“Mm?” He hummed turning his gaze from his dog to find Alex floating towards him. “Whoa Alex.” He sat up to stare at the younger boy while Jade barked at him. Ignoring Jade’s bark and said to the boy. “Haven’t seen much of you lately.” He tilted his head. “Where have you been all this time?”

The young boy sighed. “Yeah well I’ve been watching my mom a lot more lately.”

“Miss her don’t you?” He stared down at Jade sternly saying firmly. “Jade quiet!” Jade immediately stopped barking.
“Well it is that but the main reason…she’s been dating this new guy…”

Ash glared sternly at him. “You haven’t been spying on them have you?”

“Oh what harm could it do? They can’t see me.” Alex defended himself while tilting his head as he returned the older boy’s glare. “And I just wanted to make sure this guy was right for my mama.”

The older boy grumbled a bit not really approving him spying on his mother’s date like that but figured to let it slide considering the kid had good intentions along with it. He sighed crossing his arms as he leaned back on the hammock. “So was he?”

Alex just sighed. “Well he seems to be making her pretty happy and I like him so far.” He narrowed his gaze. “But once her next date comes up with him I’ll follow him home and see how his home life is like.”

“Stalker.” Ash accused him his gaze narrowed.

Alex stared at him oddly before tilting his head looking at him confused by his term. “Stalker? What’s that?”

Ash immediately mentally slapped himself. ‘Duh I’m talking to a seven year old.’ “Basically someone who spies on people.”

Alex grumbled at his term. “Oh so what? I’m doing it to protect my mama and nothing’s going to stop me from doing so!”

Ash just sighed, knowing the kid still didn’t understand the term. However though, he couldn’t find it in himself to argue with the ghost kid’s plan, considering he knew he would do the same thing if he were in Alex’s shoes. He raised his bored gaze up at him. “Well I guess I wish you the best of luck with that.”

Alex nodded glad that Ash gave up the fight with him. “Oh look the loser is talking to himself.”

“Mm?” Alex hummed as he turned his attention towards the patio doors. Ash growled in displeasure as he immediately recognized the voice and glared over towards the patio doors. “Oh great you’re here.”

There stood a teen boy looking to be the same age as Ash and was built almost the same way as him. Only the boy had silky shaggy blonde hair with his light chocolate gaze staring amusingly at the blue eyed boy.

“I was hoping you wouldn’t show up.” Ash went on bitterly.

“What and miss the chance to hangout with my favorite cousin?” The blonde boy mocked with a teasing smirk. “Sorry to disappoint you but I’d rather hangout with my cousin thank you very much.”

“Dream on Houston!” Ash retorted loudly. “We both know that you hate me! Besides I’d rather spend the day doing homework than being forced to hangout with you!” His gaze went hard. “And believe me I despise homework.”
Alex tossed a stare from the strange boy to Ash. ‘Something tells me that Ash doesn’t like him very much.’

“Well too bad loser because you are going to with me all day.” Houston reminded him teasingly pointing at him before aiming his thumb at himself. “So be prepared to lose at all the carnival games because I’m going to win them all.”

“And what makes you so sure that I would actually want to play them?”

“Oh I have my ways, since I know you if I get you good and angry you will break.”

Ash scowled softly knowing full well that he was right. When it came to a challenge he never backed down especially if someone had made him angry just to show them whom they were messing with and learn to never mess with him.

His glare only made Houston laugh before saying. “So what’s with you talking to yourself?” Ash flinched at that knowing he had come out right when he finished talking to Alex. He smirked teasingly. “What couldn’t make any friends and your only choice for socializing is with yourself?”

“For your information you ding-bat!” Ash retorted loudly immediately standing up almost looking like he would pounce on him. He glared at him. “I do have friends and they are going to meet us at the carnival!” He pointed at him as he scolded angrily. “So you better be nice to them or else!”
“Ha! Like I’m afraid of you.” Houston laughed out mockingly propping his hands on his hips. “Beside I know you are bluffing. So why not just admit you have no friends because you are a loser?”

“I will not!” Ash argued loudly as he pointed at himself. “Because I am telling you the truth!”
“Heh we’ll see about that dork.” He grunted out a laugh before going back into the house. “And be prepared to lose all the carnival games.”

Ash growled before shouting out. “Oh yeah!? We’ll see about that!” ‘There he goes again. Challenging me to something and making me want to pull my hair out once again!’ His body twitched responding with his anger. He took in a deep breath attempting to calm himself down, he wasn’t going to let Houston get to him.

“Jeez what was up with that?” He heard Alex finally speak up catching his attention. Ash watched the ghost boy as he floated by him tossing a glare towards the patio door. “That guy was a complete jerk!”

Ash sighed. “Tell me about it.” Alex observed the older boy as he sat back down on the hammock. “I’ve been dealing with him since we were kids and there was not one day when we ever got along.” He combed his fingers through his hair. “I swear one of these days that guy will push me too far and he’ll really regret ever messing with me.”

He let out a frustrated sigh that sounded more like a whine lowering his head. “I wish I could get him back. But I can’t unless I want to get in trouble.”

Alex stared at him as he watched the older boy complain about his situation and the ghost boy tossed a stare over towards the doors before smirking. He looked down at Ash. “Hey Ash?”

The kid’s voice caught his attention noticing Alex as he floated down to sit with him on the hammock. “What?”
Alex smiled up at him. “What me to pull practical jokes on him?”

Ash jerked his head back somewhat surprised by his suggestion to help him. “You would actually do that?”

He nodded. “Duh of course I would! I mean you and I are sort of friends now right?”

“Yeah in some weird way yes we are.”

“So then as your friend I want to help you get back at this creep for picking on you.” Alex narrowed his gaze. “That’s my job.”
Ash grumbled narrowing his gaze slightly. ‘Figured that would be the case.’

“So what do you say? Do you want my help?”

The older boy rubbed his chin as he thought about the ghost kid’s suggestion. He tossed the kid a stare. “On one condition…”

Alex stared up at him with big eyes as Ash pointed his finger at him. “Make sure it’s not me doing it. Since if it looks like I did it then Houston will tell my folks and I’ll be in big trouble.”

Alex smiled and gave him a soldier solute. “You got it captain!”

Ash couldn’t help but smile at the kid before giving him a small solute in return.

The Fullertons’ left their house around two o’clock and began strolling towards the park while also meeting up with Nathan, Jenny and Kevin along the way.

Ash was more in the lead considering he didn’t want to be anywhere near his cousin as he chatted with the older teens with Sam right beside him and Jade on the other side.

“Remember just bare him.” Sam told him warningly.

His older brother growled. “Yeah I know, which will be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life thus far.”
Sam’s only response was to sigh and shake his head. They finally made it to the main entrance to the park.

“Wow this is a clever way to get to the park.” They heard Houston’s mother say to her sister happily.

“Yeah and it’s the fastest way as well.” Amanda added with a bright smile.

Houston’s father tilted his head towards Roger. “Why did you allow Ash to bring the dog?”

Roger sighed. “He insisted on bringing him. He is pretty close to that dog considering we got Jade for him for his third birthday.”

“Yes so the two are pretty close to one another.” Roger’s wife commented with a warm-hearted chuckle.

Ash overheard them but decided to ignore their conversation and went ahead and stroked Jade on the head. He really had no idea why he was so attached to this one dog, but than again Jade has been his best friend since his parents first gave Jade to him. He had always loved dogs even as a child so he thought it was just his dog loving nature that was the reason for why he was attached to Jade. Also the fact that Jade understood him and Ash somewhat understood him also placed a factor to his attachment to the dog.

‘And right now he may be the only thing that can keep me from pouncing on Houston.’ Ash thought as he stared down at Jade.

The sound of rides, music and people screaming grasped his attention from his dog to the park. He groaned. ‘Please! Let the others be here as well!’

They stepped into the park and glanced around as they observed the area around them. Nathan smirked. “Awesome they have new rides this year.”

Jenny grabbed Amilia’s hand and pulled her away from her family. “Come on let’s go see the new rides.”

“Yeah I would like to see if we can go on that Gravitation ride.” Nathan put in smirking as he stared at the ride that looked like a flying saucer.

Amilia smiled. “Yeah wasn’t John going to meet us at the ride as well?”

“There’s also that.” Nathan replied as he looked back at her.

She chuckled lightly before looking over at her parents. “Catch you guys later.”

Roger and Amanda smiled. “Alright have fun.” Amanda encouraged her.

She nodded. “I always do.” With that she left with Nathan and Jenny.

“Kevin Cayla!”

“Mm?” They replied as the familiar voice grasped their attention. Kevin and Cayla spotted Charles waving them down as he stood at the zipper ride with Jack and Jamie with him as well.

They smiled before looking at each other. “Let’s go.” Kevin told her.

Cayla nodded before glancing back at her folks. “Uh…can I-”

“Yes you can go just don’t go getting into trouble.” Roger answered before she had the chance to ask her question.

“I hardly ever do.” Cayla reassured him before walking with Kevin towards their friends.

Ash sighed knowing full well that he was going to be the one that was left alone with Houston. ‘Just my luck.’

“Wonder if Riley and the others are here yet?” He heard his brother question himself. Ash glanced over at him to see him peering over the area. “We told them to meet us here at two.”

The older boy grumbled as he bent down catching Jade’s attention. “Jade find Riley.”

“What you are going to let that stupid mutt track down someone?” He head Houston loudly pointed out rudely. Ash growled as he glanced back at his cousin as he crossed his arms. “I doubt the dog even knows what this person smells like.”

“Shows how much you know about my dog.” Ash retorted sourly causing his cousin to glare at him in return. Sudden movement caught Ash’s attention and looked at Jade as he began sniffing the air. “Can you find her boy?”

Jade panted with his tongue held out before looking at his master looking like he was smiling as he wagged his tail. Ash smirked at that. “You caught her scent didn’t you?”

He watched the black dog as he hunched down in front of Ash like he wanted to play and barked as he jumped up on his hind legs to lick Ash.

“Ah! Okay okay I take that as a yes.” Ash laughed out gently pushing his dog back on the ground. He smiled down at the dog while scratching his ear.

“How the heck do you even know that the mutt actually found this Riley person?” Houston asked hostilely.

Ash tossed him a slight glare. “Because I trained Jade to sniff out scents and Riley has been around him long enough for him to recognize her scent anywhere.”

“Her?” Houston repeated arching a brow.

Sam smiled down at Jade. “Okay Jade lead us to Riley.”

Jade barked before racing off towards the food booths. “Hey!” Ash called out before racing after his dog, Sam quickly followed. “Wait up!”

Houston grumbled as he slowly followed in pursuit. His father looked at his older nephew oddly before looking over at his brother-in-law. “Has Ash really trained him that well?”

“Oh yes he taught Jade to do a lot of stuff. So Jade isn’t your typical dog anymore.” Amanda answered with a warm smile.

Jade continued to race ahead of the boys. “Jade! Hold up!” Sam called out to the black dog.

Ash noticed people approaching Jade’s walkway and gaped before shouting firmly. “Jade dodge!”

The dog’s ears perked up at hearing his master’s firm command and quickly obeyed and dodged the people that he was about to slam into. Jade kept running not forgetting to glance behind him to see if his masters were following him. He slide when he made it to the small road that had the food booths on and raced to the right. Ash, Sam and Houston were not too far behind him. Houston cast a glance towards Ash. ‘This guy is really a freak! Considering he can command his dog like that so easily.’

Jade smiled as he panted and barked catching a young girl’s attention before he pounced on her. “AH!” The girl yelped out in surprise.

“Jade!” Ash and Sam shouted out jerking at what he did.

“Heh looks like your dog knocked over some random girl.” Houston grunted out.

The Fullerton brothers ignored their cousin before racing towards their dog and the girl, which caused Houston to growl in disapproval. “Hey I was talking here!”

The two boys relaxed when they heard the girl beginning to laugh. “Hahaha Jade stop it.”

“Hmm.” They said as they recognized the girl’s voice. Ash and Sam appeared behind their dog and sighed in relief when they saw that the girl was none other than Riley herself.

Jade was licking her face since she had some ice cream dripped on her cheek. She was laughing as she tried to gently push the black lab away from her. “Okay okay I think you got the spot.”

“Aww Jade missed you.” Sam teased her with a smile as he chuckled at the scene.

“Yeah I missed him too.” Riley chuckled out as she stroked his head still attempting to get the dog off of her. She finally laughed out in defeat. “Guys get your dog off of me before he licks my face completely off.”

Ash smiled before gently grabbing Jade’s green collar and pulled him back. “Okay Jade that’s enough.” He smiled down at his dog. “I think you got your message across.”

Jade’s response was a loud happy bark as he wagged his tail happily. Houston stared at the scene with wide eyes. ‘The mutt actually found Riley? Wow first time I’ve seen the dog do something amazing like that.’

Ash ruffled the hair on the dog’s head. “Sorry about that. I told him to try finding you though I wasn’t expecting him to actually pounce on you.”

Riley just laughed as she stood up. “Oh that’s alright.” She dusted the dirt off of her capris before crossing her arms. “You know when it comes to dogs I’m a big push over.” She smiled down at Jade and knelt down in front of him and began scratching his ears. “Especially cute big dogs like him.”
Jade barked and licked her again. “Ah!” Riley yelped out playfully quickly moving her cheek away from him.

“Okay Jade stop licking her.” Sam laughed at their dog grasping Jade’s attention. “You’ve licked her enough already.”

Jade just barked. “Cool you brought Jade!”

“Mm?” They hummed as they looked behind Riley to spot Casey, Jason and Michelle approaching them.

“Yep that I did. Figured it would do him some good to hangout with all of us for a change.” Ash replied with an amused smile. His cheerful tone caused Jade to bark wagging his tail as he rushed up towards the group.

They chuckle smiling before each of them stroked him. “Yeah you know what they say.” Jason began smiling over at Ash. “The more the merrier, even if he ain’t human.”

Casey smiled at Jade before crouching down in front of the dog and scratched his head and neck. “You are such a good boy.” Jade barked before licking her.

She laughed before hugging him tightly. “Yeah he seems to be in a licking mood today.” Sam warned them with a light chuckle.

“A bit late on that warning Sam.” Michelle laughed out before going to stroke Jade.

“Yeah I know but figured to tell you anyway.” Sam commented with a light shrug.

“Jade!” Ash called out grasping the dog’s attention. He gently tapped his thigh. “Come here boy.” Jade just barked before rushing up to his main master to get rubbed by Ash.

“Uh you know…” Jason spoke up warningly catching his friend’s attention, “You could get in trouble because you don’t have leash on him.”

“Oh boohoo I don’t need him on a leash.” Ash remarked cockily. “I’ve trained him well enough to know that he should listen to me.” He tilted his head. “Besides Jade has always stuck by me when we were in places with huge crowds even if he was on a leash.”

“Yeah but he has more friends here.” Michelle brought up.

Her words only caused Ash to roll his eyes. “Listen I know my dog.” He met their gazes. “And I know when he should or shouldn’t have a leash and believe me this ain’t a time for him to have a leash.”

Jason shrugged shaking his head sighing in slight disappointment. “Okay just don’t come crying to us if you get in trouble.”

Ash only glared at him. “So where’s your cousin Ash?” He heard Casey bring up catching his attention.

He grumbled before opening his mouth to answer her. They then heard someone clear their throat grasping their attention back at Houston.

He smiled at them as he walked up beside Ash. “Well that would be me.” He waved slightly. “Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Houston Bowler.”

Ash snorted. ‘Damn kiss up!’

Houston waved his hand towards them. “And you guys are…”

They raised a brow at him, this was definitely not the cousin that Ash and Sam had described to them.

‘He seems very nice.’ Michelle thought staring at Ash and Sam oddly. ‘Where did they get the idea that Houston was a jerk?’

Riley tilted her head. ‘Sam and Ash seemed so serious that this guy was someone not to like. He doesn’t seem like it but then again he could just be playing us.’ She shook her head snapping herself out of her thoughts. She gave him a small smile before placing a hand over her chest. “I’m Riley DeGrave.” She waved her hand back towards the three behind her. “And these guys are Jason Harrison, Casey Long and Michelle Rogers.” She looked back at him. “And we are obviously Ash and Sam’s friends.”

“Well it’s nice to meet you guys.” Houston replied happily. ‘Wow looks like Ash really was telling the truth.’

“There is another…” He heard Casey speak up catching his attention, she sighed softly, “But she’s not here right now.”

Houston raised a brow. “Where is she?”

“She’s at camp.” Ash lied giving his cousin a blank angry look. “She signed herself up for camp so she won’t be here the whole summer.”

“Heh I see.”

His friends and Sam raised a brow at him. ‘Why did he go and do something like that?’ Riley thought questionably. ‘I’m sure he knows who I am and Kate is.’

“Wait a minute.” Houston spoke up again grasping her attention as he stared at her oddly before pointing at her. “Did you just say your name was Riley DeGrave?”
“Yes?” Riley answered him cautiously. “Why got a problem with that?”

Ash groaned. ‘Damn I was hoping he actually didn’t watch the news like he always does.’

“Then you’re that angel!” Houston gaped out staring at her with wide eyes.

The red angel narrowed her gaze. “And again do you have a problem with that?”

He jerked slightly when he noticed her glare and quickly shook his hands. “Oh no I don’t have a problem with it.” ‘I’m just surprised by cousins are actually friends with one of them. Heck maybe even the other one as well.’ He grunted softly. ‘My cousin surely knows how to pick them doesn’t he?’ “It’s just…strange to meet at least one of you face to face.”

Riley grumbled while crossing her arms. ‘Okay I don’t know if I should take that as a complement or as an insult.’

Ash noticed his stare and snorted as he glared at him. ‘Oh yes you do have a problem with it don’t you Houston?’ He crossed his arms. ‘But I won’t bring it up to him. He can think whatever he wants just as long as he doesn’t say anything then we won’t have to kick his little behind.’ He then sighed catching his friends’ attention. “Okay so you guys all met now can we get some fun going on here?”

His friends smiled as they chuckled lightly. “Definitely.” Jason answered him pointing a finger at him in agreement.

“You know your cousin seemed very nice.” Jenny pointed out to Amilia as they waited at the Gravitation ride for John to show up. Jenny crossed her arms. “I don’t get how Ash could find him as an enemy.”

“Oh trust me Houston may act nice but in reality he’s nothing but a brat.” Amilia replied with a blank expression. She sighed as she crossed her arms. “And he’s always managed to get Ash in huge trouble.”

“Like what?” Nathan questioned her curiously with his arm around his girlfriend’s waist.

Amilia pointed her finger up. “Like this one time when we were kids every time Houston would make a crack at Ash. Ash usually never said a word, but his crack went a little too far and Ash react and bit him.”
“Bit him?” Nathan repeated before chuckling in amusement. “Ash actually bit him?”

“Yeah that kid has a really hard bite, trust me I should know.” She responded but soon sighed. “But when Ash finally stood up for himself Houston would cry to his parents and say that Ash started it.”

“And they actually believed him?” Jenny asked finding herself somewhat disgusted by Houston’s actions.

“Well Houston is an only child and he is extremely spoiled so yes of course his parents believed him.”

“What? Are you telling me even your parents believed him?” Nathan asked with slight disgust in the boy.

“Well no but they had to punish him or else his parents wouldn’t shut up.”

“Damn his parents are pathetic.” Nathan replied sounding a bit bitter towards her aunt and uncle.

She sighed softly. “I know I may be jumping to conclusions about my own aunt and uncle but…I’m getting the feeling that they hate Ash and Sam.” Amilia voiced out her opinion.

“What? No. How could you think such a thing?” Jenny asked her best friend as her eyebrows rose not believing what she heard come out of her friend’s mouth.

“Well that’s what I believe!” Amilia defended herself loudly with a shrug. “I mean ever since Ash was born they had been real jumpy and the same with Sam. Whenever the two asked them things when they were little the two would just look down at them trying to be nice but you could practically see the hate in their gazes.”

“I think you are just imagining things.” Nathan voiced in eyeing her oddly.

“I don’t think so because out of all our cousins and relatives Ash and Sam are the only ones they act very distant from.”

Jenny and Nathan groaned, their friend sounded so serious about her observation. But they couldn’t help but doubt her opinion, no one could be that cold hearted to hate two young boys, considering they had a child of their own.

“Whoa you guys actually waited for me?”

“Mm?” They hummed as a familiar voice grasped their attention. They saw John walking up to them with an amused smile.

“Oh John.” Amilia greeted acknowledging his presence. She nodded smiling up at him. “Yeah we waited her for you. Since we knew it would be no fun without you here.”

John just laughed. “Well then I greatly appreciate it.” He then clapped his hands as he smiled at his other two friends. “Well then shall we have some fun?”

Nathan smirked. “You bet!”
“Let’s get in line.” Jenny ushered them as she waved her hand towards the line.

“Okay who’s going with who on the zipper?” Cayla questioned their friends with her hands propped up on her hips.

“Mmmm.” She heard them all hum trying to think of whom should go with whom.

“Well obviously one of us has to go by themselves or with some random stranger.” Charles brought up glancing at each of them. “Considering we are out numbered.”

“Yeah no shit.” Jack commented rolling his eyes.

“Well I guess I could go with Charles.” Jamie volunteered glancing up at him with a questioning gaze.

Charles smiled. “Sure.”

“I’m going with Kevin.” Cayla volunteered looking up at the boy next to her. ‘Since I don’t really like Jack all that much. He irritates me so easily it’s sickening.’

“What!?” Jack gaped out offensively. “Are you telling me I’m going to be the one that’s going either by myself or with some strange person!?”

His friends shrugged. “Guess so Jack.” Kevin replied. “Sorry dude.”

Jack grumbled narrowing his gaze at them. “Some friends you guys are.”

Cayla returned the glare. “Oh suck it up you big baby.”
He growled before snapping loudly. “Aw shut up Cayla!”
Jamie, Charles and Kevin sighed in slight disappointment drooping their heads. Kevin combed his fingers through his hair. ‘They haven’t even been together for more than a minute and they are already fighting. That’s got to be a record.’

“Okay uh…” Jamie spoke up catching the groups’ attention. She waved her hands towards the ride. “Can we please get on the ride before it gets crowded.”

Cayla and Jack grumbled before tossing a glance at one another before snorting as they turned their heads away from each other. Their friends just sighed with slight frustration.

“This is going to be fun.” Jamie said sarcastically crossing her arms.

“Yep real fun.” Charles responded blankly.

“So what ride do you guys want to go on first?” Michelle questioned her friends whom were behind her.

It was just Jason, Michelle, Casey, Ash, Jade and Houston at the moment. Sam and Riley separated from them to find Travis and Amanda and hangout with them.

“I don’t know.” Ash replied crossing his arms with Jade close beside him. “Whatever rides looks cool and fun.”

“Which would probably be the zipper.” Jason voiced in his suggestion. “That was fun the last time we went on.”

“Yeah…” Casey glanced over towards the ride and grimaced, “It looks crowded though.”

“Mm?” Jason hummed out and groaned out loudly when he saw a huge line at the zipper. “Aw man! I was so hoping to get on that ride first!”

“Well…” Michelle shrugged, “Maybe we can get on it later on today.”

“But if the ride is this crowded right now it’ll probably still be crowded later on.” Jason pointed out as he began to sulk.

Ash rolled his eyes at his friend’s words. “Well if you keep acting like that then it will.” He caught Jason’s attention as he stared sternly. “Usually if you talk like that then most likely it will stay crowded.”

He raised a brow. “How would you know?”

Ash sighed. “Because that has happened to me a lot of times in the past.” He nodded agreeing with himself. “So I’ve learned since then to never talk like that about a ride I really want to go on.”

“Aw that is such a child’s way of dealing with things.” Houston spoke up gruffly causing Ash to growl softly and glare at him. Houston crossed his arms as he returned the glare. “I swear you haven’t matured one bit since the last time I’ve seen you.”

“Says you who’s always cried to mommy and daddy whenever something never went your way.” Ash brought up bitterly. “And you let them fix the problem instead of yourself.”

“I do not!”

“Do too.”

“Do not!”

Ash just growled before turning his head away from him. “Aw just shut up Houston your voice sickens me.”

Houston only growled in response and opened his mouth to argue when he heard Jade growling catching his attention. Jade was crouched down slightly growling at the boy showing his fangs.

The dog’s reaction caused the boy to jerk back and quickly stepped away from Ash and Jade.

Ash heard and grunted as he stroked the black lab. “Good boy.”

Casey, Jason and Michelle grunted as they stayed in front of them. “Man you can really tell they hate each other.” Jason grunted out suddenly feeling a chill from the two.

“Oh yeah you can definitely feel it.” Michelle added softly.

‘Well at least Ash is trying to keep his temper under control.’ Casey thought as she glanced back at the two. ‘And I call that impressive considering how edgy he has been lately since he had come back from Celestia.’

Ash closed his eyes trying to keep his temper under control. ‘Stay calm Ash. He’s just a brat trying to get under your skin and he won’t be able to because you know better than that.’

“Psss!”

“Mm?” Ash hummed as the sudden voice grasped his attention. He noticed Alex floating in one of the booths winking at him and giving him an okay signal. Ash just grumbled nodding understanding what the ghost kid was telling him.

‘Now things will get interesting.’ Ash thought turning his attention towards his friends.

“Man you cousin gave me the creeps.” Riley told Sam after getting cold shivers that went up and down her spine.

“Well I don’t find him creepy…I just find him a huge brat who needs to get that stick out of his behind.” Sam replied as he walked beside her.

“Well I see as more of a player than anything else.” Riley grunted in disapproval.

Her friend chuckled. “So I take it you don’t really like him?”

The red angel sighed as she shook her head. “No.” She looked up at him. “I mean I’m sure I’ll tolerate him if I must but I’d preferred it if he would just leave.”
Sam smiled and patted her on the back. “Well Ash will seriously love you! If anyone doesn’t like Houston then he appreciates you way more than usual.”

She smiled knowingly. “Let me guess…that happened to you I gather?”

“Yep.” Sam replied proudly with a nod. “But then again…” He lowered his gaze with a low wondering stare, “I’m getting the feeling that neither of his parents really like me and Ash all that well.”

“Mm? Why would you say that?” He heard her question him sounding puzzled by his statement.

He raised his gaze to meet hers’. “Well…”

“Oh wow what a coincidence this is.”

“Huh?” Riley and Sam chorused not expecting the sudden voice to jump in on them.

Riley gasped. “Corey?!” Corey smiled as he walked up to them. She looked up at him with wide surprised eyes. “What are you doing here?”
Sam instinctively narrowed his gaze and crossed his arms as he stared at the other boy with unknown anger. ‘Great what is he doing here?’

The other boy laughed at the red angel’s question. “What do you think I’m doing here? I’m here to have some fun like everyone else.”

“But how…oh wait…” She then chuckled rubbing the back of her head now feeling stupid, “Yeah that’s right you must have gotten a flyer at school about it.”

“Yeah who wouldn’t know about this carnival with how much people had talked about this over the past three weeks?” He questioned her with an amused smile.

“Hehehe that’s true.”

Corey noticed Sam and grunted. “Oh hey you’re Sam Fullerton right?”

“Yeah?” Sam replied gruffly and arched a brow. “Got a problem with that?”

“No.” He shrugged with no interest. “I just wanted to make sure that was really your name.”

“Ain’t that hard really.” Sam remarked roughly.

Riley gasped softly as she suddenly felt a huge tension going on between them. She glanced at each of them. ‘Oh boy what’s going on now? These two are so tense it is making me nervous.’ She then laughed out weakly waving her hands as she got in between them. “Okay okay guys.” She caught their attention as she smirked. “Let’s not wait around here all day let’s go find Amanda and Travis.”

The two grumbled nodding their heads before following her.

Laughs were heard coming from Cayla, Kevin and their friends as they just got off of the zipper.

“Oh man that was awesome!” Cayla exclaimed happily subconsciously holding onto Kevin’s arm as she felt a little tipsy.

“You sure you are okay to walk Cayla?” Kevin laughed out in concern as he smiled. “We did spin an awful lot.”

She gently smacked his arm. “Oh I’m fine. I can handle those spins no problem.”

He shrugged. “Hey just making sure.”

“So was it really that bad that you went on the ride with a complete stranger?” Jamie asked Jack with a bright smile.

Jack sighed softly. “No, actually him and I are going to met up at the cotton candy stand later.”

Charles arched a brow. “You became friends with the guy?”

He nodded. “Yep the guy was actually very amusing.”

“Boy that was fast.”

“Yeah but it made the ride more enjoyable, especially when it was more willing to spin than most people.”

Jamie laughed lightly. “Yeah that’s true.”

Kevin and Cayla smiled back at their friends glad that everyone was getting along and that Jack was in a way better mood than he was a few minutes ago. That’s when they noticed that Cayla’s arm was wrapped around Kevin’s. They gasped and stared at one another before letting out another quick gasp before quickly pulling apart and slightly turned from one another hiding their slowly creeping blush.

The three chuckled behind them. “When do you think they will actually admit to one another that they like each other?” Jamie asked Charles eyeing him curiously.

He shrugged. “Who knows. But I’m sure it will be soon, since I’m sure it’ll blow up in their faces soon enough.”

Jack just grunted as he stared at the two in front of him.

“Aw man was that ride awesome!” Jason exclaimed as they got off the Gravitation ride. He stretched out his arms behind his head. “I must say I never get tired of that ride.”

“I found it quite boring though.” Houston put in gruffly with his arms crossed. “All you did was walk up on the wall.”
“Yeah but what ride allows you to slightly move around when it’s still in motion?” Jason argued in friendly manner as he pointed a finger at him. “I tell ya which ones none!” He closed his eyes as he turned his head forward in victory. “So I rest my case.”

Houston just grunted before glancing at his cousin. “Your friend really annoys me.”

Ash rolled his eyes. “Everything annoys you so what’s the difference.”

“Not everything!” Houston argued. “Just certain things annoy me.”

“Yeah and those certain things always have to do with me and how I live my life so to me everything annoys you, especially when they don’t go your way.”

“Yeah so? Got a problem with that?”

Ash growled. ‘I swear this guy has no heart at all!’ Jade ran up to his master after sitting by a tree while they were on the ride and rubbed his head against Ash’s thigh to try and comfort him.

His friends sighed roughly. “I swear those two just don’t know when to quit.” Michelle began to complain while rubbing her templates.

“What would you expect from two people who practically hate each other?” Jason questioned her with his eyes still shut.

“Oh come on they can’t honestly hate each other that much to keep fighting like that.” She went on. “I mean Ash and Sam argue and fight all the time but you know they don’t hate each other.”

“Yeah but then again Sam knows when to shut up when needed.” Jason voiced in his opinion. He narrowed his gaze. “This guy just doesn’t know when to shut up. I mean I’ve noticed that every time he says something it’s very crude.”

“Yeah no kidding but still that doesn’t mean that they should keep fighting like they do.” Michelle agreed. “I mean come on I’m sure if they actually try they could get along quite nicely.”
“Though I must give Ash some credit.” Casey spoke up grasping their attention. “Ash has been keeping his temper under control. So at least he’s trying to have a good time even with his least favorite cousin here.”
Ash heard them but didn’t bother to say anything to them, since it sounded like they were somewhat siding with him.

“Pss Ash!” Alex’s voice caught his attention. He watched the ghost kid wave his hands before shrugging signaling him of what he was doing.

Ash mumbled knowing the kid was waiting to pull a joke on his “evil” cousin. He glanced at Houston before glancing around hoping to find something so Alex could start pranking on his cousin.

A dinging noise reached his ears and caught his attention towards a game where the customers hit the ball towards a lever and dunk the clown in the water. A smirk spread across his face as an idea began to form.

“Uh hey Houston?” He spoke up catching the other boy’s attention along with his friends’. Ash smirked at him. “Want to play one of the carnival games? Winner gets to sleep my bed.”

Jason, Casey and Michelle’s jaws dropped at their friend’s suggestion. “Did I just hear what I think I heard?” Jason questioned his friends as he pointed at Ash.

“Yeah…Ash is actually willing to play one of those games and…being nice to Houston.” Michelle answered him sounding puzzled.

“Good then I’m not just imagining things.”

Houston blinked before eyeing him. “What’s your game Ash?”
“Nothing. Whatever gave you the impression that I was up to something?”

“I know you. You wouldn’t even dare play those games with me unless I got you angry enough to do it.”

“Well hey this time I actually want to play one of these carnival games. Considering we are still figuring out sleeping arrangements so I thought this might be the best way to see if you get my bed or I get my bed.” Ash replied. Alex smirked getting the message of what the older boy was trying to do. ‘Point taking Ash.’ But he stayed put just in case Houston didn’t agree to it.

Houston continued to eye his cousin he was up to something he knew it, but he decided to give in. “Okay fine.” He pointed at him. “But no funny business! I swear if there is any I’ll tell on you!”
Ash grumbled at that. ‘Just like the little tattle tail you are.’ He sighed roughly. “Yes I promise you there will be no funny business.” ‘At least at my end.’

“For your sake there better not be.” Houston grunted out bitterly.

“So what game are you going to challenge him too?” Casey asked him catching their attention as they walked up to them.

Ash smirked and pointed towards the game. “That game.” The others followed his finger.

Houston smirked. “You have got to be kidding me!” He tossed a stare over at Ash. “That’s a game I always beat you at whenever there’s a carnival. You honestly want to challenge me to a game that’s like my specialty?”

“Hey there could be a chance you could lose.” Ash reminded him with a slight shrug.

“Heh yeah right. Since that’s the game you choose I will gladly accept your challenge.” He started to walk pass him and snorted cockily. “So be prepared to lose.”

Ash grunted and muttered. “Don’t count on it.” Him and his friends followed him towards the game. Ash looked over towards Alex and nodded signaling him to begin their plan.

Alex smirked. “Yes!” He then flew over towards the game. ‘This is going to be great!’

They arrived at the game just when the person before them finished but unfortunately they weren’t able to dunk the person. “Sorry sir maybe next time! Alright who’s next!”

“Us two.” Ash volunteered raising his hand.

The host of the game glanced at him and his cousin nodded. “Alright but one at a time.”

Ash rolled his eyes. “Yeah yeah we know. This isn’t the first time we’ve played the game.”

“Alright which one of you is going first?”

“I’ll go first.” Houston raised his hand volunteering himself with a cocky stare. He glanced at him. “Just so my cousin here can see how much I have improved.”

Ash glared at him. “Alright boy pay up and begin throwing.”

“Right on it sir.” Houston replied as he took out some money and paid the man and grabbed one of the balls.

Ash glanced over to notice Alex right next to the lever. ‘Alright Alex don’t you dare let me down.’

Houston tossed the ball up and down before throwing it. Just as the ball was about to hit the lever Alex smacked the ball knocking it onto the ground.

“What?” Houston breathed out surprised at what just happened. Ash smirked. “Looks like the wind got a hold of it.”

Houston grunted as he glared back at his cousin. “Don’t worry that was only a rusty swing.” He stretched out his hand. “I’ll loosen up once I get back into the swing of it.”

Ash just grunted as he continued to smirk. ‘We’ll see about that.’

Casey, Jason and Michelle glanced over at him and found Ash’s smirk cocky like-like he knew something was up. But they shrugged it off, how could they think their friend had anything to do with what the wind did.

Few minutes later…

Houston stood in front of the booth shaking with his jaw dropped. “How…how could this be? How could I have missed the target nine times?”

Ash continued to smirk while his friends blinked not believing that the wind had actually made him miss all nine times.

“You’d think he’d actually get one.” Jason whispered to Michelle.

“Yeah considering how serious he was when he told us he was a pro at this game.” She replied softly.

Casey hummed as she arched a brow suspiciously. ‘Something is definitely not right here. This can’t be the winds doing, considering most of the time there wasn’t even any wind.’ She glanced at Ash. ‘And something tells me that Ash knows what’s going on.’

“Ah that sucks Houston.” Ash commented as he appeared next to him. He smirked. “Now let’s see if I can get anything.”

“If I could hardly hit the target what makes you think that you could hit it?” Houston questioned him bitterly.

He shrugged. “Who knows. There’s always a first for everything.”

“Okay Ash is getting way to cocky for his own good.” Michelle pointed out softly narrowing her gaze. “Something is definitely up.”

Ash picked up one of the balls and stroked Jade as he stood beside him panting mentally wishing him the best of luck or asking if he could have the ball. Ash kept his full attention on the target. ‘Okay Ash don’t screw this up. This may be your only chance to really outshine Houston.’

Once he had finished his encouragement he pulled his arm back and using all the strength he could muster threw the ball. The ball swooshed in the air like a bullet ripping through the air. Alex quickly jumped to the side. “Whoa!” He watched the ball fly. “Talk about fast ball.”

CRASH!
Everyone gasped when they witnessed the ball completely tare off the lever dunking the clown. Everyone’s jaws dropped at the sight, not of the clown dunking, but at the fact that the lever actually broke off was what shocked them.

“Whoa.” Jason said with wide eyes.

Ash stared with shocked wide eyes with his mouth ajar. The host began shaking his jaw dropping in panic. “Oh no! How did that happen!?” He looked back at Ash. “How were able to do that!?”

“I…I don’t know.” He replied lifting his hand up to stare at it. He then began rubbing it. “Guess I don’t know my own strength.”

“Kid do you know how much that’s going to come out of my paycheck!?” The host shouted at him and grabbed him by the collar. “I tell ya everything!”
“Whoa chill out dude.” Ash replied quickly pushing himself away from him and glared at him. “It’s not like I broke it on purpose.”

“Yes have you ever considered that you needed a new lever?” Michelle asked him before pointing at him. “Since those things can get pretty rusty and break off if you’re not careful.”

“I highly doubt that.”

Ash wasn’t listening to their argument and continued to stare down at his hand and flexed it back and forth.

“I want a rematch!”
“Huh?” Ash quickly reacted as he heard the voice shout in his ear. Houston glared at him with his arms crossed. “This was a tie!”
“What?” He yelped out before glaring at him. “That was so not a tie! Unlike you I was actually able to dunk that stupid clown!”

“Yeah but you broke the lever! So that doesn’t count!”

“Only you would say that because you lost!”
“No that’s not true!”

“Oh you bet it is!”

“No it’s not!”

“Will you two just shut up!?” Casey shouted causing the two cousins to jump startled by her sudden interference. Her eyebrows twitched as she rubbed her temples. “Okay this one didn’t turn out all that well. So yes let’s have a rematch.” She glared at them. “And this time whoever wins that one came will decide where to sleep.”

Houston and Ash grumbled. “Fine.”

“Argh!” Houston shouted as his parents helped him wash out some whipped cream from his hair. “Whoever got me with that pie is going to get it!”

“Oh sweetie will you just come down or it’s going to take forever to get all of that out.” His mother told him firmly as she helped him wash out his hair.

“I tell ya Ash had something to do with it! I just know it!”

“Honey I was there and Ash didn’t throw that pie at you.” His mother replied.

“But it wasn’t just the pie that got to me! It was the whole day! Everywhere I turned something managed to hit me or get dumped on me and I can’t believe I lost to all of those stupid games!” Houston continued to complain. “And I hardly ever lose at those games!”
“Houston stop complaining and get ready for bed.” His father told him firmly.

Ash and Alex were laughing hysterically in the backyard. “Oh man you throwing that pie was so perfect!” Ash laughed out as he sat in the hammock and this time Jade was inside the house.

“Hehehehe I wasn’t even planning on doing that. But I saw it in a cartoon once and figured why not.”

The two gently smacked their hands together as they smirked at each other. “Good work soldier.”

“Heh aw it was nothing.”

Ash snorted as he let go of Alex’s hand and laid down in the hammock. “Ah man that revenge was sweet.”

“Oh yeah it felt good to throw things at him.”

“Yeah it must have felt good.” Ash tossed him a stare. “I mean I wish I could have been the one to do it but…”

“Hey Houston’s a tattle tail right? So you had to stay good unless you wanted to get grounded.” Alex reassured him with a shrug. “Not much you can do when he holds your freedom in his hands.”

Ash smiled before staring back up at the stars. “Heh I’m really starting to like this new friendship of ours.”

Alex smiled at him. “Yeah me too.” He chuckled wickedly. “Since I get the chance to pull pranks on someone.”

“Well only to people who deserve it and trust me Houston deserved it.”

Once he had said his words Ash and Alex had a moment of silence remembering everything that had happened earlier today.

Then something came across Alex’s mind. “Say Ash?”
“What?”

“What happened to you today at that dunk the clown game?”
Ash mumbled remembering what had happened. “Don’t know. Though I doubt I had anything to do with that lever breaking.”

“Yeah but could there be a chance that you could have broken it?”
“How the heck should I know!?” Ash yelped out loudly sitting back up as the ghost boy flinched at his sudden outburst. Ash glared at him. “All I know was that I threw that ball like I throw any other ball. So again I highly doubt I was the one that broke it.”

“But that ball was flying way too fast for it to be just a regular throw.”

“How would you know anything about that?” Ash asked him brutally causing Alex to flinch yet again.

“I don’t know…I just don’t think balls should be flying that fast.”

Ash groaned knowing that the boy did have a point. Even he had to admit that ball went way too fast than normal balls should have. But it just wasn’t possible, how could someone like him manage to break a steel lever.

He sighed as he laid back down and kept his stare on the stars. “I don’t have an answer for you Alex. I wish I did…but I don’t. I have no idea of what happened and I doubt I ever will. So don’t bother asking anymore questions, because I won’t answer them.”

Alex grumbled, he hoped the older boy would give him some juicy information. But it would appear that he had none.

Ash ignored the young boy’s disappointed stare and glanced around at the twinkling sky. He sighed softly. ‘Kate things down here have been so weird lately, especially with me. I’ve never that ever since I came back from Celestia my stomach hasn’t stopped turning and lately I’ve been getting this real painful headaches and considering what happened today…I’m beginning to think that they’re could be something wrong with me. I have no idea of what’s happening to me.’

He tilted his head. ‘I hope you come back soon…things…are getting way to complicated without you here.’ A sharp pain appeared in his head, he grimaced and began rubbing his head. “Damn not another one.”

He lowered his head but what he failed to notice was a black crow staring at him with blood red eyes. The bird tilted it’s head before taking off and flying towards it’s home.

‘Hmm there’s something strange about that boy. This is the first time I’ve seen him with aura.’ The dark voice grunted. ‘But right now he’s not my concern. My main concern is that one angel…Kate.’ The crow lowered it’s head. ‘But it would appear that she is not with them at this point. Well…then I’ll just have to wait until she returns to make my next move.’

‘And then soon my sister will finally be released!’

Ending Theme (go to profile to listen)

Casey: Man these last few years have been a blast.

Jason: Who knew that this part of the story would end!

Riley: But don’t worry every body we’ll be back in the next story. And this time we are bringing back someone.

Ash: Kate!?

Riley: And we’ll be introducing new characters, new rivalry and going on a new adventure.

Sam: Not that I'm really looking forward to it.

Michelle: So stay tuned and see ya in the next story!

Again sorry for the late update, if it really is late. Things have just been getting in the way. Now I know you guys are wondering what’s with the name change and the summary change and why it is suddenly ending. Well…I’ve been thinking to make Kokoro into three parts now. You know to break them down into three separate stories and plot lines so they are easier to follow and won’t take forever to get to the main part of the plot. I also wanted to do this to make it even more easier on myself especially when it comes to the characters. But looking back at the majority of the chapters they have basically been about Kate and Riley discovering about their powers and learning how to use them and somewhat learning about the bad guy and their struggles to get through the sudden change. So really I have no idea what chapter they are actually going to learn about Yasuno in. So please tell me this is a good idea if not then…I’m sorry. But I pray you will still read the story once the next one gets up since the story will get better as it goes on.

Well hope to see you in the next story.

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