I wake up and yawn. I went to stretch, and then realized that Sprig had his arms wrapped around me from behind.

Guess I'll be stuck here for a bit...

About 20 minutes went by, and I was pretty much wide awake. I then began to realize how comfortable it was sleeping in here... Well..I guess it'd make sense...

I pull down one of my long gloves, to reveal four fingers, and a stubbed finger; most of my arm layered in a mucusy indigo blue skin. Just like my other arm, and my legs. I've also shrunken about a foot, but nobody's seem to notice yet. this has been happening for a few days now, and it's been spreading quicker...

I sigh, but then feel Sprig slightly shifting against my back, automatically making me pull up my glove in fear.

I was having nightmares, and then all of a sudden, I was just having..a dream. Anne said that she wasn't leaving for a while..we hugged, and then we ran out and had an adventure. I was surprised when I woke up and found Anne in my bed with me.

"A-Anne??" I croaked nervously. What happened? What time is it..morning? So, how'd I get back to the house?

..Anne...

Did she hear anything?

Why'd she stay?

Why...am I clinging to her?.......

I quickly unwrap my arms from around her back, and I sit up.

"I assume that means you're awake now.." Anne chuckled, also sitting up.

"Yeah..." I cleared my throat, "what happened?" I asked.

She nervously chuckled a bit, and faced towards me, "Well... you ran off last night, so we all tried to find you. After wondering through the dark woods, I found you asleep on a rock...and..well..I-I carried you back to the house, and you seemed to be having a nightmare, so I decided to sleep with you. I've been up for about 20 minutes, but I didn't want to move and wake you.."

Her face turned a bit red, "so, yeah. That's what happened.."

"Alright..well-"

There was a knock at my door.

"You two up yet?" Hop Pop asked, opening the door.

"Yup!" Anne said.

"Okay, breakfast is downstairs.." he said softly, walking back out of the room.

"What's up with him?" I asked.

"He feels bad for what happened yesterday. I do as well...we shouldn't have done that, especially since we forced you into that situation.." Her expression changed, and she looked saddened.

"No, it's alright. You just, got excited...I don't know why though. Why would it be such a big deal if I liked Ivy?" I asked.

She shrugged, "I don't know..my Earth friends always were breaking up with their boyfriends..but you're such a nice boy, and Ivy's such a nice girl..I just wanted you two to be happy.."

And there she goes about her Earth friends..every time she tells me something about them, I find more and more reasons to not like them. They use her, manipulate her, and treat her like she's an object. I may not have had too many friends, but I know that's not how you treat a friend.

"Well...you're a nice girl as well..." I chuckle, "So, why haven't you told me if you've liked anyone? You like looking at other people's relationships, so why not your own?"

Her face turned as red as a tomato.

"Well...all I've really had were a few crushes.."

"Oh? Do tell." I chuckle.

"There's not too much to tell about.." she laughed, " I haven't had too many..and they normally ended up with my friends anyways.."

What?!

"Did you tell your other friends that you liked these people?" I asked.

"Well, Yeah. But they knew that I wouldn't have been with my crushes anyways.." she shrugged.

"No, that's not cool!" I couldn't contain this any longer. How dare they! "Excuse me, but those other friends of yours..they're not true friends! True friends don't just take your favorite shoes, true friends don't use you, and true friends don't go after the person you like!"

She poked me in the stomach.

"Look at you, giving me some relationship advice.." she chuckled, and gave a weak smile, "I know that they're not the best of friends..but they're the only ones I had back at home. I just, wanted to have friends. Really bad...but, I have you now." She chuckled, and punched my arm. "Corny, I know." She stood up. "Come on, breakfast's probably getting cold."

I nod, and stand up, following her.

As Sprig and I walked down the stairs, an old piece of wood snagged my right glove; nearly pulling the entire thing off. The glove slid passed my elbows, and nearly off of my hand, but I caught it just in time and pulled it back up.

Stupid old house..

We got down to the kitchen, where Hop Pop and Polly were already sitting.

"Good morning kids. How'd you sleep?" Hop Pop asked, standing up and getting us plates with breakfast. He then sat back down.

"Good.." Sprig chuckled, sitting down next to me.

"Great! Now TELL THEM HOP POP!!!" Polly said excitedly, nearly scaring Hop Pop off his chair.

"Huh? Oh, right! You two might've not known this, but the lake had been closed for a few weeks now." Hop Pop started.

Hehehe..oh yeah...the lake...with the fricken snake from helllllllll!!!!

"Well, anyways.." Hop Pop continued, "The town deemed the lake safe again, and is having a cookout to celebrate it! I thought that we could go!"

Sprig shot up from the table excitedly, "Really?!? Yay!" He cheered.

"Alright, Alright, settle down now" Hop Pop laughed, "eat your breakfast, and then we'll start getting ready, Alright?"

Sprig sat down immediately and quickly started shoving food in his mouth, making me laugh hysterically.