Chapter 6 - Dinosaur Birds

Michael stared up at the object before him, unsure of what it was. A loud screech came from the head of the creature. Michael then discovered Mcayla hanging on to the side of the bird like creature.

“HELP!” Mcayla screamed. Michael now feeling helpless, looked around and saw there were multiple giant birds surrounding him.

 “What are you creatures?” Michael questioned softly.

“MICHAEL!” Mcayla screamed as her grip of the feather started to slip. Fortunately, the giant bird took his column leg and picked her off his side and rested her safely on the ground. Michael ran to her in hope there was no harm done. Michael kneeled next to her with his hands on her shoulders,

“Are you alright?” Mcayla nodded while breathing heavily.

“YEE-HAA!” Both Mcayla and Michael looked up to see Jerrin falling from the cliff he was lifted up on, and landed on one of the birds. “GIDDIE-UP!” The bird started running in panic. “That’s right! I’m the king of the world!” Michael worried that his brother’s immaturity would get himself killed. Another loud screech came, but this time from all the birds. Michael and Mcayla covered their ears in pain. “AAHHH!” They turn to see Jerrin being thrown around as the bird ran in multiple directions.

“I swear…that kid doesn’t know when to stop.”  Mcayla took Michael’s arm in desire to comfort him.

“I don’t think these birds want to hurt us Mike.”

“Mike?” Michael thought. Pushing that off, Michael turned to her urging her to continue.

“The bird made sure I ended up on the ground safe.” Michael smiled at Mcayla, then looked worried again as he watched Jerrin recklessly ride the giant creature. The bird slowed down and screeched loudly as if he were replying to the rest. The bird stopped when he reached the group of others, and started shaking his feathers.

“whoa…what are you--” Jerrin started to lose his grip. “doing!?” Jerrin started to fall off when the bird caught him in midair with his column leg. Mcayla looked at Michael.

“Told you so.” Michael chuckled, then ran to Jerrin to check up on him.

“Yeah yeah yeah, I’m fine dude. Chill.” Jerrin confronted Mcayla. “That was sick! You should totally try it.”

“I’ve been up there already, and I’m perfectly fine here on the ground.”

“Afraid of heights are we?” Jerrin teased.

“As a matter of fact, I am.” Mcayla admitted.

“Oh. Well, you’re missing out.” Jerrin folded his arms acting tough. Michael walked over to them, and asked the golden question,

“Where’s Courtney?” Everyone came to realization and started calling out her name, and searching everywhere. Mcayla started to lose hope.

“Court fell into the floor. Jerrin’s eyebrows raised.

“Fell into the floor…” Jerrin repeated. “Is that even possible?” Mcayla put her hands on her hips,

“Anything is possible here Dumbo.” Mcayla looked up at the large birds and screamed, “Why did you even come here?! My sister is gone! Do you hear me?! Gone! Because of you guys!”

“Now Mcayla, we don’t know that,” Michael insisted.

“The birds came out of the cracks Courtney fell into,” Mcayla explained. All of sudden, Mcayla froze. “What’s on the back of my neck? What is it?!”

“CHRIS!!!” Jerrin exclaimed. Mcayla’s shoulders relaxed as she saw Jerrin get Chris from the back of her neck.

“Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to my friends, Dino Birds.”

“These are your friends?!” Mcayla asked.

“Dude…you have some sick friends!”

“They’re not sick. They’re quite healthy actually. They--”

“He means they’re cool,” Michael clarified. Chris shrugged with a smile. Mcayla came up to Jerrin and Chris and with a shaky voice asked,

“You haven’t seen Courtney, have you?” Chris’ smile faded. Mcayla sighed and softly shook her head, tears slowly started to fill her eyes. Everyone bowed their heads. Another loud screech came from one of the birds as it came from the back of the crowd. Everyone looked up with a ringing in their ears. The bird came towards them and squatted down beside them. From his feathers came a loud snoring. “Courtney?” Mcayla asked in hope with tears cracking her voice. The bird scratched his back with this beak, to find a young lady snoring loudly in her sleep. “COURTNEY!” Mcayla ran to the bird to find it was too high for her reach, and too slippery for her to climb. “Bird get her down!” Mcayla demanded.

“His name is Sebation,” announced Jerrin.

“What?” Mcayla turned around confused.

“Chris said the bird that’s holding Courtney captive is named Sebation.”

“I don’t care. I want my annoying sister back.” Mcayla turned back around to the bird and took a deep breath. “Sebation…” Mcayla said over exaggerating. “May I please I have my sister back?” The bird looked on his back at the girl, and picked her up by the back of her shirt, and gently rested her on the desert sand with his beak. Courtney starts screaming and acting like she’s falling. “Courtney, you’re fine. I’m right here.” Courtney opened her eyes to see she was safely seated on the sandy ground with everyone, including the birds standing around her. Her cheeks turned a bright red in embarrassment. “Morning sleeping beauty.”

“I thought I fell into the ground,” Courtney said. Mcayla helped her up.

“You did. I guess you fell onto one of these creatures. They came out of the ground through the cracks. The cracks became large enough to be a lake,” Michael explained. As they all stood there staring up at the birds. “What are these creatures anyways?”

“Chris says they’re called Dinosaur birds,” Jerrin explained.

“You mean they’re from the time of the dinasours? I thought they were extinct!” Courtney exclaimed.

“Chris said it’s just because they’re as big as dinosaurs,” Jerrin answered. Courtney’s expression went from excited and interested, to bored and disappointed.

Chris yells from Jerrin’s hand,

“Want to ride them?” Everyone just stared at Jerrin like he was insane.

“No,” Michael replied. “Everyone has been put in enough danger thank to you. If there is anything I want to do, that’s get away from you, these birds, and find our way safely back home. We don’t need anyone making our life more complicated. We’re lucky nobody got hurt.” Chris was speechless, he didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt or scared.

“I’m sorry. I guess I just expected you would want a ride on your journey. It’s a lot of fun. We can make them decent size for you if that’s what you would like,” Chris apologized.

“Decent size?” Mcayla asked. Chris smirked and jumped off of Jerrin’s hand, slid down his clothes, then landed on the ground. When he stood on the ground, he faced the birds grinning from ear to ear. He clapped his hands, whistled a tune, and tippy-toed around in a mini circle to the song he was whistling. The girls started giggling watching Chris dance around. After doing this, he jumped hard on the ground, creating a dent large enough to fit an elephant and chanted “zoola coola chang!” Immediately, the birds started squealing, and the ground started shaking. As everyone worked hard on keeping their balance, they watched as the birds started shrinking. They weren’t the huge dinosaur birds they once were; they were the size of a Clydesdale horse.

“All right!” Jerrin screamed as he ran to one of the birds, and started petting one of their heads. Michael shook his head in embarrassment, then turned to Mcayla,

“Mcayla, I---”

“Can we ride them Mcayla?! Can we?! Can we?!” Courtney interrupted as she went in-between Michael and Mcayla. Mcayla tilted her head with a sigh, and looked to the ‘decent sized’ birds.

“Mcayla?” beckoned Michael. Mcayla looked at him, then at Courtney to see her child-like expression and asked,

“Can it wait Michael?” Michael sighed, yet kept a fake smile and said,

“Yeah.” Mcayla gave him a half smile, as Courtney smiled from ear to ear and too Mcayla’s hand to lead her to the birds. Michael just stood back watching the girls walk away. Michael bowed his head figuring out it was impossible to admit his feelings for Mcayla; as long as Courtney was anywhere around. Jerrin walked over to him smiling,

“Come on…girl problems can wait. Let’s ride some birds!” Michael smiled at him and nodded in agreement as they walked towards the birds.

After the boys helped the girls onto the birds, they got onto their own set of birds. Chris told them this is where he leaves them; they were on their own now.  As the four set off, said their goodbyes and journeyed North into the flaming hot desert.  

Chapter 5 - Meeting a Midget Life Form

             Around the time of midnight, Mcayla sat up in a jerk. She sat up without opening her eyes then screamed,

“HELP!” then laid back down. Everyone shot up like a bullet almost hit them. When they realized Mcayla was yelling in her sleep, they almost burst out laughing, but held themselves together. About a half hour later, after everyone had fallen asleep, for Michael woke. He opened his soft, narrow eyes, staring at the empty sky while thinking,

“I wonder if I should ask Mcayla out. But then, maybe I shouldn’t. Mom would understand that I have a girl I am interested in. Wouldn’t she? I wish I had those shoulder conscious people like in the movies. A little angel on my right shoulder, and a little dare devil on my left. That’d be awesome.”

He closed his eyes questioning what to do. As he opened his eyes and looked at Jerrin, Courtney then Mcayla, he took a long deep breath. He wanted to make the right move, and hoped it wasn’t too early to make such a big decision.

“I’ll wait until morning,” he whispered. He closed his eyes, turned over and fell asleep. During the night, he was tossing and turning making grumbling noises. At a moment during the cold night, Jerrin woke up hearing Michael making a lot of noise. So he walked gently over to Michael then shook his arm. When he turned onto his long skinny, yet very muscular back he opened his eyes to see Jerrin looking down at him. Jerrin explained that he was making a show while sleeping with all his grumbling and tossing. Michael sighed, realizing that even in his sleep he was stressing over asking Mcayla out.

“Are you alright?” Jerrin asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks. Hey, can I talk to you? I mean, I wanted to know if this was a good idea.” Jerrin nodded. They had gone through so much those past couple days, it worried Jerrin. Michael started to stand up and told Jerrin to follow him. Jerrin picked up his shoes, and puts them on, then follows. Michal stared up into the dark sky and asked him,

“Jerrin, have you ever liked someone, and you’ve been friends for some time now, and well---”

“You want to ask Mcayla out, don’t you?” Jerrin interrupted. Michal was silent for some time, then admitted,

“Well, yes. I was wondering, since we’re in a crazy, unpredictable desert, do you think that it would be appropriate to ask her? We barely know each other, but already get along great! And---” as Michael explained his thoughts, Jerrin stayed very attentive. Jerrin is usually someone who doesn’t like to listen to others troubles; so when Michael saw that he was being attentive, he took full advantage of it and kept talking, hoping that he would understand and give him good advice.

“Sure,” Jerrin answered when Michael finished. Michael was shocked.

“Really? You think I should?”

“Yeah. Wait a little though, or else she might think you’re rushing into a relationship.” Michael nodded.

“How should I do it?”

“When the time is right, you’ll know,” Jerrin insisted. Michael sighed, then started walking back to the girls.

 When the sun was coming over the sand dunes, Michael and Jerrin were just getting back to the campsite. When they arrived Mcayla wasn’t there, but Courtney was fast asleep. Courtney was all about getting her beauty sleep. Jerrin looked northward of the campsite and saw Mcayla sitting on one of the high sand dunes. The sunlight was hit her just right to make her look like she was an angel sitting on a cloud. Jerrin nudged Michael, and pointed toward her and said teasing,

“Doesn’t she look like an angel?” Michael blushed, and with a deep, relaxed voice,

“She sure does.” Jerrin just smiled.

“What’s going on? Why do people keep whispering here? What are you boys talking about?”

“Guess what? Courtney’s awake!” Jerrin announced laughing with Michael. Courtney stood up and marched right over to them and made a fist.

“Don’t test me!” the boys looked at her knowing she wouldn’t do anything. “Just remember, I won’t hold back next time. I will get both of you, if you start making anymore more rude comments about me.”

“But Courtney, I thought that’s unlady like,” a soft voice asked sarcastically. Courtney turns around to see Mcayla with her hands on her hips smiling.

“Oh my goodness! I can’t Believe it! I actually did something that’s unlady like? I can’t believe it. Goodness gracious! My word! I..I..I just can’t believe it! My, my, my! ME! Out of all people, it had to be me! see? This is what ordinary life does to me! Hanging out with ordinary people, and talking with ordinary people, and dealing with them and living in dirty places. why? why? why? I can’t stay like this! I have to get back to my regular life!” Courtney cried. Every started bursting out laughing. “What? What are you guys laughing about?” She asked pouting. While she watched them laughing, Courtney couldn’t help but laugh too.

About an hour after some talking, laughing and hanging out, they packed up and set out for another long day. They walked about 5 hours, then decided to take a little break. When they were about to sit down Courtney screams,

“WAIT!” Everyone turned to Courtney, just waiting for another prep class. “Lets put something down so we don’t get dirty.” Just to please the little toddler, they put down some little towels they brought. They laid down as they watched the clouds in the sky. Not too much time afterwards, they were all fast asleep. When Mcayla opened her eyes, she felt like somebody was watching her. She looked everywhere, but there was no one in sight.

“Hello? Is there anybody there? Hello?” Mcayla beckoned. Suddenly, there  was a tiny voice, that sounded like a squeak, but answered,

“HELLO! I’M DOWN HERE! STOP BEING SO LOUD! AND…WAIT…STAY! STAY!!!!! DON’T MOVE ANY CLOSER! STOP!” Mcayla had stood up, and looked to see who was talking. Mcayla looked down, and realized that the person that was talking was the size of an ant. Mcayla laid down on her stomach to look at him. She realized that it was a little man. Mcayla whispered,

“Hi, I’m Mcayla, and these are my friends. This is Michael, Jerrin and then this is my sister Courtney. She can be really obnoxious sometimes.” And with that, they became good friends with a start of a laugh. Jerrin woke up to see Mcayla whispering to the floor. He thought she was talking to herself, but when he realized that she was having a conversation with someone that he couldn’t hear, he remembered the little people who worked on Mcayla’s leg. Jerrin quietly turned over and shook Michael. Michael woke up slowly, figured something happened again during his sleep. Instead, Jerrin insisted,

“You must see this Michael. Michal, are you listening to me? Look at me,” Michael just groaned and barely opened his eyes. Jerrin clapped really loud in Michael’s ear. Michal sat up fast and yelled,

“OWE!” Mcayla was so into talking and laughing with the little man, she didn’t notice Michael or Jerrin.

When Michael finally recovered from his shock, he turned to Jerrin with a very mad, curious and misunderstanding face and asked him with a low voice so nobody would hear him,

“What in the world do you think you are doing? I am trying to---”

“SHHHH!” Jerrin interrupted. “Look.” Jerrin pointed down to where Mcayla was lying down next to her friend talking.

“What is she doing? Why in the world is she talking to s---”

“Quite!” Jerrin whispers loudly. “Mcayla is talking to one of the tiny people! Look as close as you can.” Michael stared at what Mcayla was looking at and he realized there really was someone, or something there. Once he saw it, he stood up about to go to her, but Jerrin grabbed his arm. Michael realized that Jerrin was probably doing the right thing. When he let go, Michael went right ahead. He decided he would improvise.

When he walked up to her, the little guy screamed that another giant was coming. Mcayla spun around quickly, and saw Michael standing before her. Michael reached out his hand to help her up. When he thought she was starting to like him more than a friend, he was pulled down quickly, and realized that his hand wasn’t being held anymore. He felt disappointed. About 5 minuets later, everyone had become friends, including Jerrin. As for Courtney, she didn’t wake up before the sun had come up all the way.

Soon enough Jerrin and Mcayla were talking about how cool it was to have found such a discovery. Michael was over talking to the little midget, whose name was Chris, Chris Titatick. Chris made a good point to Michael. He told him that he should take his time with Mcayla, don’t rush. Show that he cares for her by doing the simple things. Don’t jump out and surprise her with the heavy weight of romance; become good friends first.  Michael understood, but felt a little disappointed. When he stood up he smiled sweetly as he watched Mcayla talking with Jerrin. Chris, with his light blonde hair smiled as well knowing that Michael was a smart young fellow. Michael reached out his hand and helped Mcayla stand up and told her,

“Mcayla, I…I have something important I need to tell you.” Mcayla urged him on. When Michael was about to admit his feelings for Mcayla, Courtney came up from behind him and gave him a little push.

“Why didn’t you wake me up?! I didn’t know we had visitors! Come on Mcayla,” Courtney grabbed Mcayla’s hand. “introduce me to your friend!” As Courtney dragged Mcayla to Chris, Mcayla looked back at Michael to see his head back in disappointment. As Mcayla and Courtney sat down talking to Chris, Mcayla looked at Michael every now and then. She became very curious about what Michael was about to tell her. It had seemed very serious. It bugged Mcayla so much it just swarmed her thoughts. Chris told Courtney he had something he wanted to show them. The girls followed him as the boys stayed at the campsite. All of a sudden, the girls felt the ground moving beneath their feet. A crack formed in front of them, and to their surprise, Chris jumped right into it. Mcayla stopped thinking about Michael and screamed,

 “CHRIS!” afraid something happened to him. Courtney just stood there confused. “CHRIS!!! Courtney, don’t just stand there dazed, help me!” Mcayla went towards the crack to see if she could see Chris. Courtney yawned, then as she was about to follow, the ground started shaking again below her feet.

“Mcayla…” Courtney lost her balanced and fell into a crack that formed below her. Mcayla turned around just in time to see her sister disappear into the ground. “COURTNEY!” Mcayla raced over to find Courtney gone into black darkness. Tears formed as she screamed for Michael and Jerrin.

The boys came running to see what was wrong. When they saw only Mcayla, and with tears in her eyes they started to panic. Mcayla started to explain what had happened, when the earth started shaking again. “It’s happening again!” Mcayla prepared. Michael and Jerrin ran to Mcayla so they wouldn’t be separated. Mcayla started sobbing afraid for their lives. Trying to calm her down, Michael hugged her and said,

“Shhh…it’s ok. I’ll keep you safe.”

“How will any of us be safe in an earthquake?!” Jerrin asked. Michael rolled his eyes.

“You’re not helping Jerrin.” Jerrin turned around to see how scared Mcayla was.

“Well I don’t know about you, but Mcayla is the only logical thinker here. We’re dead meat,” Jerrin insisted. Jerrin lost his balanced and fell to the ground, but instead of going under like Courtney and Chris, the ground lifted upwards. “Wooaaahhhh!” Jerrin screamed as the ground lifted him towards the sky.

“JERRIN!” Michael screamed. “HOLD ON!”

“WHAT ELSE WOULD I DO?!” Jerrin held on for dear life. Eventually it stopped traveling up.  “I CAN BARELY BREATH UP HERE!” It looked as if he was in the clouds. Mcayla’s tears dried up as she wiped them with her hand.

“Maybe he’s right…” Mcayla whispered. “There’s no hope.” Michael turned to see Mcayla staring at the ground in surrender. As happened before, the ground started to shake again. Michael turned around to see two rough tan columns in front of him. He followed them from floor to top to find a creature of large stature.

“What the…” Michael just stared up at what had come before him. He then realized the creature was in Mcayla’s place. “Mcayla…MCAYLA! Mcayla where are you?!”

“Up here!” Mcayla yelled. Michael looked up to find Mcayla looking over the fluffy creature holding the two columns together. The creature started to move, and made Michael lose his balance. As the columns turned around, Michael saw the head of a parrot on the fluffy base.

Chapter 4 - Tumbling into Danger

After everyone had been walking for a while into nothing but sand, the sun finally decided to set. The girls set out their sleeping bags, and the guys took their backpacks off and used them as pillows. Courtney tossed and turned a good couple hours before she dosed off to sleep.

Early the next morning they woke up with a chill. They felt triples of water on their long bodies. All looked up really tired, and down came the rain. They start to smile from ear to ear.

“RAIN!” everyone screamed at the top of their lungs, except for Courtney. Everyone got up, and started dancing with their arms and tongues out. Courtney starts freaking out about her outfit getting all wet.

Mcayla tumbled to the ground in a groan. Everyone crowed over her, worried.

“Ow! My ankle hurts really bad!” Mcayla whined. They all looked at each other nervous. Michael asked,

“When you move it, does it hurt so bad, that you can’t even move it a muscle?” So she tried to move her leg.

“Ow! It really hurts!” She started rubbing her leg, and then said it even hurt to touch it.

“Then it’s broken?” Courtney asked.

“But it can’t be broken,” Mcayla interrupted. “I didn’t do anything bad enough to break it. This is nuts!”

“Calm down,” Michal insisted. “Stay calm. Take some deep breaths.”

 “Easy for you to say,” Mcayla whined. She tried to stand up, but she just flopped back on the ground with more pain.

“Calm Down. You need to calm down Mcayla. I know something that might help.”

“I wish our cell phones would work out here. There are probably no signals, since WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT! I wish that we would all be safe while we are here in the desert,” Courtney complained.

“That’s it!” Jerrin yelled. “I’ve had it with you girls complaining all the time!”

“That doesn’t help Jerry,” Michael insists. “We do have our phones though, so we can call 911.”

“Have you people been ignoring me? We’re half way in the desert. WHERE would we get a signal?” Courtney kept saying.

Michael took out his cell phone and dialed 911.

“Hey, I got a signal! I got a signal,” Michael exclaimed excitedly.

“Hello, what’s the emergency?” the operator asked.

“Hello, this is Michael. We believe we have a broken leg, and she can’t do anything, not even…hello? Hello? Great. Lost signal and…wait. Oh brother. My phone died.”

“So did mine,” Mcayla admitted. “Jerrin?” Courtney asked.

“Dead.”

“Courtney?”

“I have one bar left, but I want to save it for an emergency.”

Everyone looks at Courtney in unbelief that she would say such a thing.

“Courtney, use your phone now. This is an emergency,” Mcayla argued. Courtney rolls her eyes and looks at her phone. “Oh bother, I don’t have 911 on my speed dial.”

“COURTNEY!” everyone yelled.

“Fine, fine, fine.” She rolled her eyes again then dialed 911.

“Hello, what’s your emergency?”

“Yeah, my sister’s hurt. My phone is going to die. So, you better hurry up, cause I need this for an emergency.”

“This isn’t an emergency young lady?” the operator asked.

“I don’t believe so, but…hello? Hello?”

“Great…now they don’t think it’s an emergency. Thanks Court,” Mcayla complained.

Michael glared at Courtney then walked over to Mcayla. When he was at her side, he squatted down beside her.

“Are you okay? Do you feel dizzy or anything?” He asked concerned.

“I’m fine. I just need to calm down like you said. But how did you know what to do in a case like this? Not calling 911, but with the breathing, calming down and stuff. It’s usually a woman that knows all that info.”

“So you’re calling me a girl now?” Michal joked.

“No, no, no. I was just saying that it is unusual for a guy to know even the basics. I guess you could just call yourself unique.”

“I like that word,” Michael admitted. Mcayla started to smile with him. Then after about 5 sec. Courtney realized that they were starting to look at each other in a way, Mcayla never looked at someone before. A Way of Love, Courtney called it. Courtney’s eyebrows raised. She was very confused. She thought that Mcayla told her she would never fall in love with someone, and just help others.

“Now that Mcayla is falling in love, means that she’ll probably let me fall in love now,” Courtney thought to herself. So she started to stare at Jerrin in a loving way. When Jerrin looked over at her he blushes, and then looked the other way. Courtney just smiled and then looked back at the other two love birds.

Out of nowhere they heard a small sound,

“Ring roo…ring roo.” They look everywhere for to see what was making that noise. They looked down, and saw a small ambulance; as small as a thumb.

“Are one of you the one with the broken leg?” They all looked at each other thinking,

“This is the ambulance we called?”

 “Yes, I am the one,” Mcayla answered tired of hurting.

“Alright everyone in formation.” All the little people got out of the ambulance and went straight for Mcayla’s leg. Six of them went to Mcayla’s shoulders, three on her right side, and three on her left.

“Lay down please,” they asked her. Once Mcayla was down, the 6 on her shoulders gave her some medicine. When she was asleep, the people down at her leg started to work.

When Mcayla woke up she saw that Jerrin and Courtney weren’t there, but Michael was looking over her when she opened her eyes. When she came to full conciousness, and realized how Michael was staring at her, she started to blush. She sat up embarrassed and asked,

“Where did the little people go? Are they done? What are they going to do with--” she looks down at her leg and sees that she doesn’t have a cast on it. “I thought when a bone gets broken, you are supposed to put a cast on it.”

“Well,” Michael began. “They somehow completely healed it. Try moving it.” Mcayla tried, and there wasn’t any pain.  She was able to touch it, move it and walk on it.

“Wow! There’s no pain whatsoever! Wait a second, where is Courtney and Jerrin?”

“Oh yeah, they went out to walk with the little people back to their hospital to pay the bill.”

“But Courtney doesn’t have any money, and neither do I.”

 “That’s okay, Jerrin and I have money, we’ll pay for it.”

“Okay, then I’ll give you the money when we---”

“No. We are paying for it.”

“But---”

“No buts, ifs or what’s about it. We are paying.”

“Alright, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Michael looked up ahead and asked her, “When we do get back to our houses, would you like to get together sometime?”

“Sure, I’d love to,” Mcayla answered excitedly. When she agreed, Michael looked down at her softly smiling. Mcayla’s face turned a soft pink, and realized he wanted to be a little more than just friends. She didn’t know what to do, so she just looked the other way blushing.

“What’s wrong?” Michael asked confused. Mcayla looked back quickly.

“Nothing, I…I…I just like the view, that’s all. It’s beautiful.”

“You can’t pull that one on me Mcayla. It’s a desert.” Mcayla gave him a cheesy smile as Michael just looked at her even more with puppy eyes.

“I don’t get pulled in with puppy eyes Michael. So don’t even try it.” Michael was shocked. Every girl fell to their knees in high school whenever he pulled that trick.

Michael didn’t know what to do anymore. He was disappointed, but decided he would try again later. He did a soft sigh, then sat next to her and started a conversation about their interests.

About fifteen minutes later, they see two people coming towards them. It was Jerrin and Courtney. Once they got really close, they saw two little people walking with them; they were helping them find their way back to Mcayla and Michael. Courtney told Mcayla,

“I asked them if they had seen a forest anywhere close, but they said I was crazy. But the hospital is actually not that far from here. We just got a little busy talking, and finding out what to do incase we had another incident.” Jerrin rolled his eyes.

“Right…Courtney’s the only one that got busy talking.”

“Yeah right,” Courtney corrected. “You’re the one that held us up. You kept talking and talking, longer than I did. I admit, I talk forever, but you talked even longer.”

“Alright, that’s enough. We don’t need any more problems,” Mcayla argued. Jerrin and Courtney just rolled their eyes.

“Fine,” Jerrin and Courtney said. Mcayla told them,

Courtney started whining, “Now what do we do?! We’re stuck out here in the desert!”

“Stop your complaining,” Mcayla commanded. “I can’t concentrate with your blabbering. So zip it.” Mcayla started pacing while everyone else thought quietly to themselves. “Maybe it really is hopeless.” Mcayla stood up and stared at her cell phone. “Our phones are dead, and no one seems to know about the forest out here.” Jerrin walked over to Mcayla as he put his hand on her shoulder and assured,

“I’m sure we’ll find a way out of here, for where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Everyone smiled at each other, then sat down. Once everyone was sitting, Jerrin whispers in a concerned voice, “stay extremely still. Don’t move a muscle.” Both girls looked behind them with sweat rising from their brows. Right behind them was a quarreled rattle snake. Mcayla looked at it closely, without getting too close. As she looked at it, she took out a pencil from her pocket and poked it softly to see if it would strike.

“It’s asleep. Everyone needs to back off very slowly, and be very quiet.”

“How do you know it’s asleep?” Courtney beckoned.

“Because it is laying very still, and I just poked it with my pencil. But it is coiled up, so you can never be sure. They don’t have eyelids. They have these special type of eyes that lets them fall asleep with their eyes open. Well, to us they are open,but to the snakes they are closed. The only reason you see the snakes eyes open, is because they always are open. But they are protected by immobile, transparent scales.”

“What are transparent scales?” Jerrin asked.

“Lets move away from the snake, then I’ll tell you.” So they started walking the opposite way of the snake for about five minutes, just to make sure they were far enough away from the snake. Once they were far enough away from the snake Mcayla told explained,

 “Transparent means that it is capable of transmitting the light so that objects or images, is able to be seen as if there was no intervening material. And then you should probably know what scales are, but I’ll tell you anyways. Scales are one of many small plate like dermal, or epidermal structures. They characteristically form the external covering of all sorts of fish, reptiles, and certain mammals, which there aren’t many of.”

“Wow, how do you know so much?” Jerrin beckoned.

“Because I study all the animals in the forest. And there are snakes in the forest after all, just different kinds; but that doesn’t make them a different type of reptile.”

“That’s amazing,” Michael admitted. “How long did it take you to learn all the information about the forest and animals? Plus memorizing?”

“One animal with all their information took about a month, and with how many animals there are, that took a long time. Then I did the same for the plants. I don’t really know how long those took, but I do know that it took a really long time.”

“Amazing,” Michael and Jerrin whispered.

“You know what is really amazing?” Courtney asked trying to get attention. “I remember all the names of the animals, and plants.”

“That’s pretty amazing,” the boys admitted.

“I know I couldn’t do that,” Jerrin said.

 “Can you remember all the information too?” Michal asked.

“Well, uh… what’s so important about it anyways?” Courtney tried to brew away from Mcayla’s ability. 

Mcayla looked at Courtney in a smirky smile. The smile of nice joke, now back off. Courtney replied with a death stare.

“Sorry,” Courtney apologized. “It’s just that…Mcayla, plug your ears.” Mcayla did just that, but partway opened them. Courtney continued on, “Mcayla is much more mature, and she makes it seem like memorizing is so easy, and when I tried, I just couldn’t do it. She is much better at things than I am.”

“Did you practice as much as she did?” Michael asked her.

“Well, I…” Courtney bowed her head. “Not really.” She looks up and her face looks like it is about to explode. “But what does practicing do anyways? Mcayla doesn’t practice. Every time I see her, all she does is look over one page of her book every day for weeks. And then she closes her eyes, and when she isn’t looking I look at her book.”

 “Well,” Michael taught. “Mcayla was practicing. She looked over the exact same stuff every day. Also, if you want to learn something, you have to practice; otherwise you won’t really be able to remember all of it. You may be able to memorize one word, but you will never remember all the things you wanted to learn. That is why Mcayla is so good.” Courtney rolled her eyes.

“We’re done Mcayla,” Courtney said. She removed her hands from her ears. Courtney looked at her. Mcayla started walking toward her, took her hands and told her,

“If you just told me that you wanted to learn my material, you should’ve just asked me to help you. Maybe you would’ve caught up to me, while I was still studying.” They gave each other a warm, giving hug.

“Let’s go see the Eifel tower,” Jerrin joked thinking anything is possible, since the two girls are getting along so easily. The girls looked confused as they broke apart their hug.

“He’s just joking since you two are getting along so easily.” Michael explained. The girls put their hands on their hips, and shook their heads. Jerrin put his hands on his cheeks and cried out in sarcasm,

“Oh no! I’m in trouble! Help me! Two girls are going to slay me! Oh no!” They all laughed.

“Jerrin’s ticklish,” Michael lipped to the girls. They got one of those evil smiles starting to grow onto their faces. Then, they start whispering into each other’s ears. Once Jerrin stopped his blabbering, the girls had on their revenge smile.

 “You know what? Two girls really are going to slay you,” Courtney admitted with a little giggle in between her words. Jerrin’s eyebrows raised.

“Oh are you now? With what?”

“Like we’d tell you,” Courtney said. Courtney started to back up, and Mcayla walked to the side of Jerrin. Jerrin just stood here thinking he was untouchable. He thought to himself,

“These girls are ridiculous. Go ahead, try to tare me down.”

Courtney was about 10 feet from him while Mcayla was about a foot away from him. All of a sudden, Courtney started running towards him, with a big happy smile across her face. Mcayla just started walking, with that little smirk on her face. BAM. Jerrin fell to the floor laughing his head off, while Mcayla held him down and Courtney tickled him.

 “Alright, alright, you had your fun,” Michael announced. “But it’s not over yet.” Everyone looked confused.

“Because it’s my turn.” Jerrin got real scared. Things were about to get tricky.

“Michal went to Mcayla’s ear and told her to go behind Jerrin, and pin his shoulders down. Then he went to Courtney and whispered in her ear to pin down his feet. The girls smiled as they went to their places.

“Oh great,” Jerrin thought. When the girls were at their places, they didn’t pin him down quite yet. Jerrin asked,

“What are you guys doing?”

Don’t worry,” Michal started.   

Then, out of nowhere, Michal yells,

“NOW!” At that time, Jerrin was sitting up so, Mcayla pushes him down while Courtney held his feet, practically sitting on them. Right after he was pinned down, Michal bounced to the right side of him, and started tickling with all his might, while the girls keeping him down. (At least trying.) He tickled in all of his most ticklish spots.

After about 2 minuets of tickling him, Michael and Jerrin got up with laughter in their throat. Mcayla and Courtney stood up from their positions and went over to the boys laughing. When the girls got to the boys they overheard them talking about staying here over night, since the sun was already setting. They all made a nice shady place for them to sleep under their umbrellas. It made a pretty good place to stay over night. They all fell asleep very quickly, except for Mcayla. She was still shocked that such little people were able to fix such a big leg, and not even a cast was needed. About an hour after thinking it over and over, she finally thought herself to sleep.

Chapter 3 - Getting trapped in an Open Spaced Maze

“Hey guys, come look at this!” Mcayla screams. Everyone comes running because they think something is wrong. “Look at this! My leg disappears when I put my leg in this part of the forest.”

“I don’t know if we should go in there,” Jerrin started. “It could be dangerous. I’m not scared. I’m just being protective.”

“You remind me of mother,” Michael announced. “But, Mcayla he’s right. No one should go in there.” Mcayla just nods her head, but doesn’t back off. She starts putting her right hand in ready to walk right into it. But right before she puts her left hand and foot in, Michal grabs Mcayla’s long skinny arm and tells her,

“I just said don’t go in there. Didn’t you hear me? You nodded your head, but it didn’t seem like you understood what I said. I said don’t go in there.”

“I heard completely what you said. It’s just that---” Then Courtney interrupts,

“She always goes for adventures Mike. You should know this by now. I mean really. I went through rough hard crunchy leaves, soaking my heels and my feet half to death.”

“Then you shouldn’t have worn heels silly!” Mcayla giggled. “Okay, I get the point that it could be dangerous, but this might be something that could be a real mystery. A lot more than just finding a monkey we’ve never seen before! I’m glad I brought my camera! Now we can all go for a real adventure! Come on, don’t be a scardy cat!”

“What!? We aren’t scardy cats,” Jerrin pushed.

“Calm down bro. She’s just trying to persuade us.”

“Are you persuaded?” Jerrin asked

“No. What do you think Courtney?”

“Well, as long as I’m not left here alone, and I don’t have to go in there then I’m fine.”

“Well then,” Mcayla started. “Let go of my arm please and lets go.” Michael slowly let go of her arm, and took a deep breath. Mcayla then completely disappears. Michael follows, then Jerrin. Courtney went ballistic when she saw she was left alone. She started screaming, panting, and throwing her arms everywhere.

“Hey, I said I don’t want to be left alone! Hello, is there anybody there? What’s going on? Hello? Great, I guess its sound proof too! Just Wonderful! I don’t want anything dealing with those guys again. I guess, if I don’t go in there, I’ll just get lost if I try to find my way back home. I guess it is a time to uh…” Courtney takes a big gulp. “…go adventuring. Not actually any part of my thing. I can’t believe I just said it’s time to go have an adventure. What will my clique think? Well, here goes nothin.” She stuck her hand in and was quickly pulled in by Jerrin.

As soon as she entered her eyes got so wide Mcayla was afraid they’d pop out. There was nothing but desert all around them. The sun was shining like there was no tomorrow.

“Come on slowpoke. It will take forever to go exploring in this gigantic maze.” Jerrin expresses.

“A really hot maze,” Mcayla corrected while fanning herself with her hand.

 “How did we get into sandland when we were just in a rainforest? This kind of heat will give me pimples. Let’s just go back into the rainforest, where it is nice and cool, and go back home to our loving, not wet, or extremely hot home,” Courtney insisted.

“Stop acting like a five year old again Courtney,” Mcayla whispered. “Grow up and have fun. Maybe you can even start to like this place, and will want to come back.”

“Yah right, like I’d want to come back here. Things look like a flat, boring, regular desert.”

“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” Michael told her.

“It’s not a book Michael. It’s a desert.”

“Is she always like this?” Michael asked Mcayla.

“Usually, but I don’t see why she goes to the best school of the arts, when she doesn’t even listen to the teachers when their teaching. She should go to a regular school, and from what it seems, go to elementary school and learn some details in life that will help her with---”

“Stop talking, and start walking,” Jerrin interrupted impatiently.

“What’s with you?” Michael asked.

“Look, I’m feeling like Mcayla right now. I want to go have an adventure.”

“Alright, I may want to have an adventure,” Mcayla corrected. “But I don’t want to be rude. And to me, not trying to make you mad, but when you interrupt like that, that is being very rude.”

“I’m sorry,” Jerrin apologized. “I’ll be more po-lite next time, Miss ‘always polite,’” Jerrin apologized saying every syllable.

“Okay, look,” Mcayla started. “Lets not get into fights. Hey Courtney, in your backpack didn’t you bring your tennis-shoes and socks?”

“Oh yeah, I did! Thanks for reminding me for more beauty tips.”

“Uh…sure,” After Courtney put her walking shoes on, they start walking out into the hot, melting desert.

About a mile out into the desert, Courtney screams bloody murder. Everyone turns around quickly to see what had happened. When they all looked, their eyes turned to bug eyes. Courtney had fallen into a deep trap.

“Courtney!” Mcayla yelled. “Courtney! Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“My ankle and bottom hurts!” Courtney yelled from deep within the hole. “I landed partway on my ankle, and landed the rest on my bottom. It hurts!” she started to cry.

“Don’t worry Court! We’ll find a way to get you out!” Mcayla reassured Courtney.  How will we get her out Michael?! Jerrin?!” Mcayla starts pacing. “Wait, I have an idea. Michael how strong are you?”

 “Pretty strong, why?”

“Jerrin, how about you?”

Strong, but I’m sad to say, not as strong as Michael. But I’m still pretty strong. Why?”

“Okay…Michael you’re going to grab Jerrin’s ankle, and Jerrin you’re going to grab my ankle, and then we are going to go down slowly into the trap. I’ll grab Courtney’s hand. Once I have her hand firmly, this will mostly depend on you two for pulling us out, and it will be my responsibility for making sure she doesn’t get loose. Understand?”

“Fine by us,” both of the boys answered. So they did exactly as Mcayla’s said and it worked. They pulled her out safe and sound. Courtney was surprised that it actually worked. She had seen movies where someone needs help and Mcayla makes this plan up really quick. On the TV they say to call them and tell them what they should do. Mcayla always calls them and tells them her idea, but when they try it out, it never works. Courtney was very glad that her idea finally worked for her benefit.

“Alright, lets go check out this open space maze, shall we!?” Mcayla questioned excitedly.

Chapter 2 - A Cryptical Biome

            The next morning, Mcayla and Courtney set out on their journey through the rainforest. When they were about 20 feet into the rainforest, Mcayla all of a sudden yells to Courtney,

            “STOP!” Courtney stopped as quickly as she could with all equipment on her back.

“What’s wrong? Am I about to step on a…….EWE! A green little monster! EWE!” She was going to step on something green, but not a monster. It was a little tree frog.

“Hey, he’s not a monster, he’s a little green frog. I don’t want you to kill him.”

“Why would you care for something that gross and slimy and weird?”

“Because he is a living creature like us,” Mcayla answered.

“Whatever. YUCK! Those things give me the----” Then out of nowhere, someone says,

“Frogs aren’t yuck. They’re actually quite interesting.” Courtney and Mcayla turned around. There, behind them, were two, tall, brown haired boys staring at them.

“Well hello,” Mcayla said.

“Hi. My name is Michal; Michal Stream. And this is my younger brother Jerry.”

“Michal,” Jerry groaned in a soft whisper. “My real name please! Jerrin.”

“Right, right. Sorry, his real name is Jerrin. Jerrin Stream. We just call him Jerry for short.”

“I’m Court---”

 “Sh…,”Mcayla covered Courtney’s mouth, and whispered. “Remember, mother said don’t talk to strangers. I’m not quite sure if we can trust them.” Mcayla and Courtney turned so their backs were facing Micheal and Jerrin so they could talk in privacy.

“But look at them, they’re hot! I’m serious, they look like great guys.”

“Of course they look like good people. But you never know what people might disguise themselves as. Let me ask them a question real quick, and see what we are going to do.”

“But you said don’t talk to strangers Ms. ‘I’m going to talk to them anyways, because I’m the older one.’”

“Calm down. I’m just going to see how old they are.”

“Fine. But then can I tell them who we are?”

“I’ll see. May I ask you guys a question?” Mcayla turns back to the two guys.

“Sure, go right ahead,” Michal answered.

“Alright, I’m just wondering, how old are you two. If you are an adult, don’t worry about answering, I don’t want to--”

“Don’t worry about it,” Michal interrupted. “We’re not adults. We may want to, but we’re not. I’m seventeen, and Jerrin is fifteen.

“Hey, we’re the same ages!” Courtney told Mcayla. “You’re seventeen, and I’m fifteen.” Mcayla turned back around to Courtney.

“What a coincidence.” Mcayla put on her concerned face. “You know, something is going on here. I’m not quite sure if we should talk to---” She looks to the side of her, and Courtney wasn’t there. She turned around to see Courtney scaring poor Jerry half to death. Courtney was being her normal self and started making herself look like a complete loser. Courtney took Jerry’s hand, started rubbing her boney head on his tuff shoulder, and started humming. That was when Mcayla started getting really angry and embarrassed.

“COURTNEY ELIZABETH STONE! Come….here….right….now,” Mcayla beckoned gritting her teeth. Both boys looked up and saw that her face was turning a light red. Not even Courtney had ever seen Mcayla like that before. She got a little surprised with her reaction, so she let go of his hand and walked toward Mcayla embarrassed.

“Why do you always have to embarrass me all the time? It’s not fair.”

“Look who’s talking. You’re the one that is embarrassing me! You are my sister, and thank goodness I’m the older one! I’m not the one that is rubbing against a cute strangers’ arm.” Courtney started to blush. “I think you owe someone an apology.”

“Fine. I don’t understand what you’re fussing about, but I don’t want you making me look like a loser in front of him, so I will.” Courtney walks back over to Jerry. “Sorry Jerry. I got a little carried away.”

“It’s fine, but you have to promise you will never do that again.”

“Alright,” Courtney sighed.

“You must understand,” Mcayla said. “She is a very overdramatic woman, and has no idea on how to treat cute guys. I’ve tried teaching her, but things are always plays the, ‘I’m just the older sister being bossy’ card,” Mcayla explained using air quotations. “And our parents are busy most the time, so please forgive my sister. She’ll be better. Right Courtney?!” She glares at Courtney.

“Uh, right.” Courtney comes out of day dreaming about her and Jerry together to answer Mcayla’s question. “How annoying. My own sister telling others sorry for me, and telling them that I’m a complete dummy,” Courtney thought to herself.

“It’s alright,” Michal stepped in. “He’s been through lots of this stuff with girls at school. I can see why he still has problems with it. He hasn’t really found the one he likes. Of coarse, all the girls ask him to go on dates, but he always tells them no, and gives the face of why are you asking me!? So it’s no big deal. Things will work out. Hey, I was wondering, may Jerrin and I walk with you girls? You know… around the rainforest and get to know you girls a little better?”

“Uh…just a minuet, I got to talk to Courtney.” She turns around and looks at Courtney and they stare at each other for about a minute in silence, just thinking about whether they should allow them to join or not. They were acting like they could read each other’s minds. All of a sudden, out of now where, Courtney yells,

“WHY NOT!?”

“Because,” Mcayla replies. And she whispered it into Courtney’s ear, which no one really knows what she said, but it only got Courtney madder. Then, they got into a really big fight. The boys started talking and Jerrin said,

“Well, mother was right. Girls really do have catfights.

“Very funny,” Michal replied. Then they both started chuckling softly.

About ten minuets later, the boys stepped in and proclaimed,

“Alright, cool it. I’m guessing you guys are still making up your minds.”

“Well, yes,” Mcayla announced.

“Well, since you guys still are,” Jerrin started. “Then me and Michal will be right back, we have to go somewhere.”

“We do?” Michael asked confused.

“Yes….we do!”

“Ok...I guess we will be right back, while you girls are making up your minds.” Michal and Jerrin walk off about 2 minuets into the rainforest.

“What is it?” Michal asked when they were a little ways away from the girls.

“Well, I just wanted to ask you a question. Do you think Mcayla is cute? Is that why you asked them for us to come along? Or is it because you are bored, and you just want to hang out with girls all of a sudden?! For your whole life, you have never wanted to hang out with girls.”

“Now look, I see where you’re going with this. You think I have a crush on Mcayla. I don’t even know her. Sure, she may be a little cute, but I don’t know her, so that is why I was wondering if we could walk with her, so I can get to know her. Now what about you? You didn’t say anything when I asked them. Do you like one of them? Maybe Courtney Perhaps?”

“What!? No, psh…me and Courtney? Never, I mean she is, uh, let’s just put it as rediculous.” Michal rolled his eyes.

“What?”

“You know what. You just don’t want to admit that Courtney is the one that you think is---”

“Don’t even say it. She is not cute. Well, alright, she is a little bit. But not enough to where I would ask her on a date, or walk with her. I don’t mind getting to know her better; but seriously…do we have to walk with them? We could do something much better than walk and talk with girls. Girls can be really weird.”

“So can us guys. At least according to mom.”

“Is that why they are arguing? Whether we are allowed to walk with them, or because we are just plain weirdoes?”

“Who knows, they’re girls.”

“Good point.” After Jerrin agreed they both started cracking up. About a minuet after they had their laughs, they went back to the girls and it looked like they had an answer.

“Alright, we’ve made a decision. Sorry it took so long,” Mcayla apologized. “You may come along, in one condition.” When she announced that, Courtney rolled her eyes, and the boys’ eyebrows rose. “You have to promise to never stop us when we want to do something; and let us take as long as we want when we are looking at something. Such as if we’re taking pictures, or admiring something. Is that okay with you boys, or do you---”

“Fine with me. How about you Jerrin,” Michal interrupted.

“No problemo. As long as we can at least talk when you’re taking pictures; or, is that a no no?”

“That’s fine.” Mcayla agreed.

“We will do as you ask, if you do something for us. Will you please stop arguing?!” Michael asked.

“I will, but it’s Courtney you have to worry about.” Courtney shook her head in unbelief.

“It’s okay. We get in fights too!” Jerrin admits. “ I’ve just never really understood why girls have catfights so much. What’s wrong with Courtney?” Mcayla looks over at her, and it seems that Courtney turned around and was folding her arms, with an angry, disappointing face.

“What’s wrong Court? You seem discouraged.” Mcayla asked.

“What do you think ‘Ms. Perfect?!’” Courtney exaggerated with air quotes.

“Seriously? That’s what you’re upset about? You’re really acting stubborn, it is really getting embarrassing!”

“You always get what you want,” Courtney argued.

“Well, for one thing, I don’t always get what I want. That is you. Second, you need to freakin calm down, Okay?!”

“Fine.” So they turn around, and they saw that the boys were talking too. But they weren’t just talking, they were whispering.

“I wonder what they are talking about. I mean really, they know that you get out of hands sometimes, but I wonder what has to be whispered,” Mcayla questioned herself. Michal then asked,

“Out of curiosity, what are your names? You know ours, but we don’t actually know yours.”

“Oh, right,” Courtney said. “My name is Courtney, and this is my older sister Mcayla. She is seventeen, and I am fifteen. What a coincidence, right?! Because that means, that I am Jerrin’s age, and Mcayla is your age, Michael.” Mcayla took a deep breath of embarrassment while shaking her head.

“This is the most embarrassing day of my life,” Mcayla thought. “I wish I just agreed on the mall shopping! Sheesh!” Once Courtney was done and smiled with her eyes closed, the boys smiled.

“Well,” Michal started. “Looks like we’re off to a good start. We met some cute girls, we learned a little bit about each other, and we will probably find some cool stuff!”

“Tally-ho!” Mcayla announced. “There’s no need to just wait around, let’s get started with searching! I can’t wait to find so many new things! I brought my camera with me, and I thought that maybe we will be able to find a…well, a sloth, a toucan, an iguana, and so many more! Oh…I just can’t wait!”

When Mcayla was done expressing her excitement, they were on their way crunching through the moist and beautiful leaf floor. When they were just starting to have fun talking about the forest, Mcayla puts her right foot in front of her, and it disappears.

Chapter 1 - Talking of tomorrow’s big day

One beautiful starry night, Mcayla and Courtney were talking about what they would do the next day.

Mcayla suggests, “Let’s go down to the Flower Garden, plant some of our own, and become part of the park committee.” Courtney didn’t like the idea, for she would have to get her hands dirty. She suggests,

“Why don’t we go shopping, then go and get our nails done?” Mcayla didn’t mind doing that, but they just did that last week, so she wasn’t too thrilled.

“I have an idea that,” Mcayla announced. “Why don’t we go into the rainforest, take pictures of all the beautiful creatures and sights in there, and then camp out there overnight?”

“Are you nuts?” Courtney screamed. “The last time I went in there, I fainted because of all the weird and gross things in there. No. I will not go. Anyways, here is one thing---”

 “Just a minute, what about telling me what you would like to do, and then we can find someway to work it out.”

“Well, as a matter of fact,” Courtney said rudely. “I was going to tell you what I wanted to do, before you rudely stepped in.”

“Oh, sorry. It’s just that you usually don’t want to know what my idea is, and you just want to do everything your way, and never mine.”

“Well, this time will be different if we find a way fair and square. Anyways, my idea, is going to the mall to go shopping for lots of wonderful things, and get each one of us clothes, to look like….well, TWINS! What do you think?”

“I think it is an okay thing, but you just went shopping this morning, and aren’t we a little old for dressing exactly alike?!”

“So? I love shopping! It is my job! Remember? And remember mother said that we are never too old for something fun.”

“Well yeah, but you already have tons of clothes to sell. And this is a different situation.”

“I know. I just like shopping and spending all of dad’s money for me! And fine, no twins, but close to the same. Okay!?”

 “What do you mean? You know that is just selfish, right? And fine, if you get your way, we will only do it close to the same.”

“No it’s not. It’s just love for work and clothes.”

“Alright, we need to solve this fairly, cause cheating only causes problems.”

“What’s wrong with cheating?”

“COURTNEY!”

“Yeah yeah yeah…Loosing friendship, getting kicked out of school; which I really don’t have to worry about since I’m not IN school. I’m home schooled, and a lot more things as well.”

“Exactly. So, let’s try to figure out who’s idea to do tomorrow. Hey, what was that thing that we used to play when we were kids? Rock something,” she asked while hitting her left hand with a her fist.

“I know. Rock Paper Scissors!”

“Let’s play that game. We’ll play best out 5. Whoever wins gets to do their choice for tomorrow.                                                

 “I don’t want to play,” Courtney whined. “I always loose! I want to win for a change. That is why we stopped playing it, because I never won! Not fair. I want to do mall shopping! Come on…” Mcayla just rolled her eyes thinking,

“Here we go again. Courtney’s thinking all about herself. Selfish brat. ” Then Mcayla tells her, “Stop whining like a baby. Grow up.” When she realizes that she won’t stop, she screams at the top of her lungs, “Stop being a little selfish 5 year old.” Then she stops, and they stare at each other in silence for about 30 seconds trying to cool down. Courtney was just quiet, because she was trying to figure out what was going on, since the last time Mcayla screamed at her, she took one of Mcayla’s picture of her x-boyfriend.

“I really don’t see how she can get so mad at me,” Courtney thought. “She always spoils everything for no reason. Come on, there has to be a better reason than me embarrassing her. Whatever, I just hope she didn’t wake up all the neighbors.” After the silence, Mcayla asked her,

“Are you ready to be work with me? We need to do this now, because we need to go to bed if we want to do something fun tomorrow. It is 1:30 A.M.! So, let’s get started.” They started playing their game. In the end, just as Courtney had said, she never wins the full battle. Mcayla won. Courtney won twice, and Mcayla won 3 times. Courtney was surprised that she even won twice, because she usually only wins once, or not at all. So, she was partly proud of that.                                                 

 “Okay, okay. You won, and I better be a good sport or else you might lose your temper.”

“Me? Loose my temper!?” Mcayla announced. “I’m not the one that started crying like it was all about me.”

“Alright alright. Cool your jets. I was just saying. Be glad I’m doing this. But you have to make a promise. Do you promise to do what I ask you to do?

“It depends on what it is.”

“I want you to promise, on no sleeping overnight. Please. I will DIE if I sleep in there.”

“Fine,” Mcayla groaned

“Just a quick question though. I know that you know this whole entire forest, but… if we do get lost, what will we do? What if it leads us to more than one day?

“Well, looks like we are still packing sleeping bags just in case.”

“Ughh…” Courtney groaned. “Well at least it is better than sleeping on the floor. Um, Mcayla?”

“What?”

“Should pack up now, so we can just get up and go and get this over with?”

“Okay, good idea. The thing is, I’m way ahead of you. I already got my backpack filled with my goodies, and my sleeping bag is right by the door,” Mcayla said laughing from the front of their house door. It looked like Mcayla snuck up their when Courtney was talking, and starting packing, since she knew that Courtney was just going to say things that were able to keep her away from the woods.

After they were all done packing, they did their goodie check.

“I guess it’s my turn to do the check, right?” Courtney questioned.

“You bet it is. Make sure to stay quiet, because Mom and Dad are still sleeping.”

“Right-ee-oe. Okay, here it goes. Two flashlights?”

“Check.”

“Two knives?”

“Check.”

“Two bananas to feed the monkies?”

“Check.”

“Two Bathing suites to bathe in the river? Yuck” Mcayla chuckles.

“Check.”

“Two, what? Uh….two cup leaves to drink water out of? Okay then.”

“Well, we get them in the forest for when we are thirsty.”

“You mean we have to drink out of the river? EWE! Gross!”

“Keep going.”

“Two umbrellas?”

“Check.”

“And a can of bug spray”

“Check. Alright, that’s all done,” Mcayla said exhaustedly.

“I….th…think it’s t…time for bed,” Courtney said stumbling over every other word, during a large yawn.

“Good idea. I think my adventure, and pictures will be fantastic tomorrow. Especially since you’re going to be there.”

“Oh goodie,” Courtney said sarcastically. So they went to their rooms and fell right to sleep. They had to sleep in their day clothes, because they packed their pajamas and were too lazy to put on their other pair. Their pack was all set and were getting their beauty sleep for their adventure.