"Hey! Can you two come over for a sleepover tomorrow?" Dipper asks us just before we leave the school. Pearl and I shriek and apologize to everyone around us who had to hear that.

"Sure! What time?" I ask, and Pearl jumps up and down next to me - sleepovers are the best.

     "How about 5:00?" She asks, and we start walking out together.

     "Yes!" Pearl exclaims, and Tamora leaves us to go get on her bus. As Pearl and I start walking home together, we discuss what to pack.

     "How about....... Well, obviously the usual, but maybe add in a Squishable or two." I think for a moment. "I'll bring Luna." (A/N Luna is my giant blue Squishable octopus.)

     "Then I can bring Constellation!" Pearl and I agree. "Then they can hang out with Moonstone!" (Constellation is Vicky's giant PINK Squishable octopus, and Moonstone is Christina's giant RAINBOW Squishable octopus.) Tamora laughs and agrees, and leaves us to continue our "fascinating" journey home.

     As we reach the house, our mom comes out and gives us hugs.

"Hi girls! How was your day?" She asks, smiling like we've just won the lottery.

     "Uhhh... Good? Why are you smiling?" I ask, and she just ushers us inside. "No, seriously, WHY are you smiling?" I ask again, and she finally tells us.

     "I got a call from Tamora's mom asking if you wanted to have a sleepover." Our mom answers, and we internally groan.

     "Oh, yeah, she asked us if we wanted to go over tonight, so we said sure." I tell her, and she nods.

    "Okay girls, just make sure that you've done all you need to before you go!" Our mom gives us hugs, and goes back to working on her computer. Pearl and I look at each other, and at once yell, "I CALL DIBS ON THE BROCCOLI!" and competitively run to the fridge. Throwing the door open, I grab the treasured vegetable and start cutting it up. Next to me, Pearl get some water boiling. Putting the broccoli in the pot, I cover it with a lid, and go to my room to start my packing. Hmmm... Let's see..... (By the way everyone, Vicky and I were actually eating broccoli while I was writing this...-dies of happiness) Hmmmm... I already have Luna by the front door, so now all I need is.... Everything else.

Looking through my pajamas from my dresser (I organize people. It's not just going to be in a laundry basket in a random corner of the room), I analyze all my choices. Well, I have my tie-dye pajamas I've made myself, my green pajamas, my people pajamas, my blue printed pajamas, my penguin pajamas, and my snowflake pajamas. Well, if we're swimming (let's be real, you can NEVER not swim when you have the choice whether or not to), I'll pack my swimsuit and towel, and scarves (don't ask, because you won't get an answer...), and let's see... Which flip flops? Eh, I'll just pack the purple ones, since they match one of my swimsuits. Then on to the sleeping bag.... Now where was I? Oh yeah.... Pajamas. I'll just use the ones I've made myself. That way, no one will ask where I got them from. (A real problem...) Moving on, I pack my fluffy robe, for my to-be-wet hair (seriously, I hate when my shirt gets wet because of my hair....), along with my other essentials. Putting that all by the front door, I quickly put up my hair, check my lip gloss (making sure I packed some...), and get ready to go.

But first - there's broccoli. Finishing it up, I dish it up onto a few plates. Checking up on Pearl, I let her know that the broccoli's done, and she nods, finishing up her packing. Running to the kitchen, we scarf down the broccoli, and our mom comes in the kitchen.

"You girls ready to leave?" She asks, and we nod, moving to get out things in the car. Carefully organizing everything in the trunk of the car (what? It had to be done...) and making Luna and Constellation look out the windows (you know all the drivers next to us want to see them staring) we head over to Tamora's.

     Ringing the doorbell, I start bringing my things to my usual sleeping spot in the living room - for those of you who know where that is - I called it first! -. I give Tamora a hug, and the three of us go to say hello to the puppies. (Christina please give them hugs and kisses for me!) Then I walk back to my sacred spot and start unpacking all my things. Let's see.... Pillow here..... Luna here........ Ginormous pile of books (what? You just can't NOT bring some....)......... Pool stuff here.........

"Hey Tamora! When do you want to go swimming?" I shout from across that house.

"Maybe in a half an hour! I'd like to eat a little first!" She responds, and I finish unpacking. When everything is organized and put how I want it, I meet them in the kitchen where they're eating pretzels.

"Mind if I have a few?" I ask, and they shove the bowl towards me. Taking a few, I shove the bowl back, and pretty soon we have started the game that we like to call "Bowl Hockey." (Those of you who go to my church, you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about, only with cups and water. ;) We should do it again sometime....) The rules are pretty simple: if the bowl flies off the table (and yes, it's still full of pretzels), a point goes to the other teams. (You are your own team.) If it hits the ceiling (which has happened way too many times before), the points go to no one. If the bowl flies into another room (again, it happens), whoever it is closest to has to go get it and re-start the process.

When Tamora is ready to begin the game, we stop her, making a thousand and one reasons why we need a referee. (It gets WAYYYYYY too intense without one) Drawing a bow tie on a water bottle, we stick eyes and a nose on the lid, and tape forks and yarn to plates making cheerleaders. (Hey, when you get as bored as we do, you find anything to use and draw all over it) Then the game begins. Shooting the bowl at Pearl, she blocks it, sending it to fly at Tamora. She bats it away, sending it between Pearl and I. At the same time, we make the bowl fly into the air above Tamora's head (if it doesn't hit the ceiling, it's valid) and falls to the floor. The point goes to both Pearl and I.

Just then, Raie (short for Stingraie) comes in, gaping at the pretzels on every inch of the floor. Then she glares at us. Looking at each other, we shrug, and look back at her with "What? Oh... That?" faces. She sticks her tongue out and runs away to go play with the puppies. It is at that time that the three of us decide that we can wait to play more Bowl Hockey until we are done swimming. (It is too hard to ignore a pool right outside the window when you can go in it....) Sorting through my pool bag, I pull out my swimsuit and go in the bathroom to change.

When I'm done, I go back into the main room and brush my hair out so its all smooth. Looking around, I wait for Tamora and Pearl to finish changing before I head out. After a few minutes, I get bored enough to head upstairs and go complain to Tamora about my boredom. As I approach her room to knock on the door, I hear voices coming from inside - Wait. Who else would be in there? And.... Is that a guy's voice? - Right before I knock, I pull my hand away and sit outside the doorway, listening in on the conversation. Next to me, Pearl walks up and I give her the "shush!" sign before she can talk to me. She raises her eyebrows, and I point to the door. She nods, and sits down next to me. The voices her louder.

"Ha ha ha, Aaron you are so funny!" Tamora laughs, followed by a set of really obnoxious laughter. No wait - scratch that. Really creepy laughter. I don't know whether or not she was faking it, but either way it was really creepy. We hear some shuffling around and then Aaron spoke a little softer.

     "Tamora, I feel like I should tell you something. Over the past few weeks I've felt something I've never felt before. Tamora, will you go out with me?" Our mouths drop. We wait for the response.

     "Aaron, I have to tell you the truth. I wasn't expecting this. But yes, of course I'll go out with you!" Looking at each other, Pearl and I start silently freaking out and have to stuff our faces in pillows to keep from being heard. Screaming into the pillows, we get up and start partying. (No, we didn't make any noises....) Then we hear something we REALLY don't expect.

    "Aaron, like you said before, I have also felt something for the past few weeks. Could it be... Love?" We stop partying and run downstairs and go out in the backyard. Then the laughter starts. Shrieking, we collapse on the grass, and the puppies run up to us. Still laughing, we play with them for a bit, and Raie comes up to us.

     "What is so funny?!?" She asks, clearly amused. Telling her what we heard, she bursts out laughing.

     "Hey Raie, wanna join us? We were just going to go in the pool. Well, we were waiting for Tamora..... But.... She's currently occupied." I offer. She smiles.

     "Sure! I'll go change in my swimsuit and we can go in then. But...... While I change I may 'accidentally' listen in. I'll let you guys know what I hear. Now please, stop laughing so loud. They might hear and come out!" She runs into the house, and we calm down a bit. Running around with the puppies, we hear Raie's window open. (A/N Her bedroom is right next to Tamora's, and they are on opposite sides of the house. Basically, both have a window leading to the roof.)

     "Hey guys!" She whispers out, climbing onto the roof. (Yes, they can do that. Have I tried it before? NO - it's dangerous. Please, do not try that at home if you don't have to.) "They're being all..... Lindsey-appropriate! I'm dying! I'll come down and let's try and lock the door from the outside so we don't have to deal with them!" (A/N Lindsey-appropriate is a way of saying...... Well, I'm sure you can get enough of an idea) Scurrying back inside, she is out a few minutes later. We lock the door, and Raie puts down her towels and sunscreen. Once we're done putting the sunscreen on, we put in seats and tubes and take turns diving off the ladder into the pool.

     After about a half-an-hour, we finally hear Aaron leave. (The pool is in the backyard) Raie shushes us, and we sit on the edge of the pool listening in.

    "See you tomorrow smoochie-poo!" Tamora calls.

    "Bye love bug!" Aaron answers, and then it goes silent.

     "NO! Why does he have to come back tomorrow?!? I won't be able to survive through it again! Whyyyyyy....." Raie wails, and we shrug and give her smirks. Irritated, she splashes us, and soon it is a 1v1v1 in the newest pool game, "If You Get Splashed When You Come Up For Air, You're Dead".  (Actually, that game is awesome, since I'm so good at holding my breath that I almost never have to come up) About ten minutes later, Tamora comes out (from the front, since the back was locked...) and puts her things down, giving us a big smile.

    "Hey, Tamora, what took you so long?" Pearl asks, and we all nod. "Even RAIE was waiting for you." Raie agrees and Tamora just stands there smiling, not responding to anything.

     "Okay, Tamora, what's wrong?" I ask, because I "clearly don't know".

     "You'll never guess what!?!" She shrieks, and we pretend to be in awe.

     "What???" We shriek. Then we start asking questions.

     "Did you get a new puppy?" "Did my limited edition Squishables come in?" "Did Mom make us snacks?" "Did your swimsuit break so you had to get a new one and you bought us some too?" "Did the pizza guy deliver to the wrong house and we got free pizza?" "Did you get us all really expensive custom-made tails so we can be like real mermaids?" "Did the window in your room break and now your room is like Hawaii?" "Are you taking us to Hawaii?" "Are we all going on vacation?" "Are you taking us on vacation?" "Is someone taking us on vacation?" "Did you die and we get all your money and bank accounts and room?" "Did we die?" "Did someone die? - oh wait, you wouldn't be happy about that." "Did you get new books?" "Did you get us new books?" "Is someone getting us new books?"

     "DID BRUNO COME OVER?!?" Raie shrieks. We all stop and look at her. "What? It just so happens that I like a guy named Bruno." She shrug, and turn back to Tamora.

    "No, none of that!" She shrieks.

    "Awwwwwww....." We sigh.

    "But guess what!?!" She smiles.

    "Uh, do you really want us to start that over again?" I asks, and she shakes her head.

    "No, I guess I'll just tell you." She begins the story. "While you both were changing, Aaron come over asking to talk to me. I hadn't  changed yet, so I let him in and took him up to my room. We talked for a bit, and then.... Guess what........?!?" We stay silent. "Fine, I guess then you won't guess. Aaron asked me out!!!" We pretend to be in shock.

    "Well, what did you say?" Pearl asks, mimicking an interrogator.

"I said..... YES!" She screamed, and all the neighbors outside turned to look at us. "Sorry!" She calls, and they just nod and smile. I guess they get it a lot. Instead of the cheering, Raie, Pearl, and I just stare at Tamora. "What? Is it something I said?" She asks, and we shake our heads no.

"Tamora..... What exactly were you doing with Aaron in your bedroom?" Raie asks, and Tamora looks horrified.

"We just talked! Nothing else happened? Who do you think I am - Lindsey? No, just - gosh! - nothing happened!" She bursts out, looking a little sad while saying it. What, did she want something to happen? The three of us turn around and swim to the other side of the pool to discuss. She waits patiently for our responses. Swimming back, we tell her what she wants to hear.

"Tamora, we approve of you going out with Aaron, so long as he is NICE to you and I also nice to us. Also, as long as next time your bedroom door is OPEN so Mom can watch you two." Raie snickers, and Tamora gives a big smile.

"Yay! Thank you guys so much!!!" She screams, and the neighbors turn again. "Sorry!" They just smile and nod, returning to their business. Tamora then jumps in the pool, and we begin our game all over again. (See words above)

After a few hours of swimming, we are finally (and sadly) done in the pool and go inside to dry off and change. Taking off my swimsuit and changing back into my clothes, I put on my fluffy blue robe and brush out my hair. This takes a few minutes, since my hair is really long and takes FOREVER to get right. When I have finally finished with that deadly long task, I go back into the main room and lay down on my sleeping bag, reading Wattpad. Outside (I'm by the windows) I hear a car door slam, and I get really confused. Did Tamora invite someone else over it stay the night? Who could that be? I use shrug to myself and go back to reading. Let's see...... Awwwwwww.... Jerome asks Flit to be his girlfriend! And she said yes! Awwwwwwwwww...... (A/N Go check out my other story, The Magic Between Them, to find out what happens with Jerome and Flit!) The doorbell rings, and Tamora runs downstairs to answer it.

"Oh..... Hi guys...." She sighs, and I stop reading to peek outside through the curtains. -Wait- What are Ethan and Grayson doing here?

    "Hi Tamora. We were wondering if we could -umm....- talk to Pearl and Sapphire?" Ethan asks hesitantly.

    "How did you even know they were here? How do you know where I live?" She asks, a little creeped out.

   "We got the address from their mom. We went over there first, and since she said they weren't home, we asked where they were." Grayson answers, and I curl into a ball on the sofa, not believing what I was hearing. Why would Grayson want to talk to me outside of school and go all this way JUST to do it? It must be really important..... I turn my iPad off just as Tamora begins to let them in. Snatching off my robe, I run around the into the kitchen so they won't see me. As I sneak around to the stairs, I hear Tamora comment on my disappearance.

    "That's weird... I could have sworn Sapphire was here just a minute ago..." I slowly sneak up the stairs, and Grayson sees me in the mirror. I give him the "shhhhh" sign, and he nods, letting me sneak up the rest of the stairs unnoticed. When I have reached the top, I run over to Pearl, bursting in on her writing.

   "Pearl! You're never going to guess!" I half-whisper.

    "What?" She asks, and I shush her. "Why are we whispering?"

"Uhhh... Ethan and Grayson are downstairs looking for us..... And.... Tamora let them in." I say.

"WHAT?!?" She whisper-screams. "Why? This is like the worst time! Couldn't they have come over tomorrow when we weren't having a sleepover?" She seems a bit annoyed.

"Well? Should we go down and talk so we can shoo them out faster?" I suggest, and she nods.

"Just give me a few minutes to finish this paragraph, and I'll be good to go!" She says, and I comply, laying down in the bed and staring out the window. Within a matter of two minutes, Tamora runs upstairs, out of breath.

"You guys are in here? I've looked EVERYWHERE for you both! Now go downstairs and kick them out before I throw you down there myself." Tamora pants, and pulls me off the bed. Groaning, I get up off the floor and head downstairs with Pearl. As we get to the bottom, we see Ethan and Grayson lounging in the couches staring at each other. Okay then...... As I approach Grayson, he takes his gaze off of Ethan and on to me.

"Hi." He says, smiling.

"Uh.... Hi....." I say back, a little uncertain of why he was here.

"Sapphire, can I talk to you for a second?" He asks, taking my hand and leading me into the room with the puppies. Okay.... He's holding me hand... 'What do I do what do I do what do I do?!?' I mentally scream at myself. Letting go of his hand, I open the latch and hold the door for him. We both go inside, sitting on the floor. The puppies run over to me, knocking me over in their happiness to see me.

"Awwww, I've missed you guys too. What's it been - an hour?" I talk to them, petting their really fluffy fur. Grayson doesn't say anything, he just watches me play with them. After a few minutes of being stared down, I turn back to Grayson.

"Sorry, what was it you wanted to speak to me about?" I ask, still ruffling the puppies fur and throwing toys for them to run after. He takes a deep breath and begins.

"I know this may come as sudden, school only being a few weeks in, but I feel like you've been a really good friend to me, and well, I was wondering..... Would you go out with me?" He pulls a rose out from behind his back. Well then. That's a bit of a shock... I take the rose, smiling.

"Yes, Grayson, I'll go out with you." The puppies bark, this time running over to him and knocking him over. I put the rose on a nearby table, and move over to sit next to the puppies. Picking one up, I gently put in on my lap, and the other decides to become fascinated with the food and water bowls by the fireplace. Grayson gets up and puts my head on his shoulder, absently petting the puppy along with me. Ethan and Pearl walk up then, and Pearl snickers.

"I take it that it went well?" She asks, and Ethan laughs.

"She said yes Gray?" Ethan asks, and Grayson just nods, looking at me with a weird expression I've never seen before on a guy's face.... I take it from Pearls expression that she got asked the same question and had also said yes. Tamora comes in the room, and takes a look at us.

"Okay guys time to go home. We have some serious sleepover things to do!" Shoving them out the door, they're gone before I can even say goodbye to Grayson. Shutting the door, we all go and sit down on the couches in the sleeping-room, and Tamora is the first to speak.

    "Now, then, girls, this is when the real fun begins."

     Hi everyone! I am so sorry that I have not been able to update in so long, but I am extremely busy with performances and staying after school usually until 5:30 (Orchesis) as well as over six hours of homework. I am sorry if there are any typos, as for the past few months I am lucky to get three hours of sleep a night. (Yeah, I am pretty much dead) I hope all you amazing readers have an awesome holiday season and new year! I look forward to updating again soon (It may take a while, though - read above message-). I know I say this in every chapter, but thank you all for the tons of support you guys give me and the ambition to write more. You all make my day over and over again when I read over the comments and all that you guys say. That said, I will update as soon as possible again when I have the chance! Thank you everyone and happy holidays! <3

~Chrissy