Somehow she'd lost Lottie from the time they left the carriages til now. It was the crowd if nothing else. Eager younger students, all chatty and bright eyed and lying to themselves about being ready for the Headmistress' speech. After 6 years of speeches twice a year, the Gryffindor might have been immune to them, so immune that she snuck away from the crowd and headed for the kitchens real quick for some cookies and cupcake; the usual pre-feast ritual as of her third year. You just never knew how long you'd have to wait and she would no longer allow herself to be daunted.

Entering the Great Hall at last, she saw her own table had already begun filling up. Good to see how capable people were of order in her absence. She didn't plan to spend her last term babysitting.

Lex flopped down somewhere closer to the middle of the table, being sure to leave a spot in the event the Hogwartian made it to the table then plucked a cookie from her candy bag. Now to wait, yeah? The hall seemed a lot emptier now that the majority of her friends were off enjoying the rest of their lives.

Merlin.

FOOOOOOOOOOOOOD.

Emmylou didn’t realize how much she missed these hot uniforms until she didn’t wear them over the summer. She liked how all of the uniforms for all four houses looked the same but the colors were different because all the house colors were different and stuff.

The Gryffindor made her way over to her house table. Last year was her first year her so she had to do the sorting and stuff but right now there weren’t so many students in the Great Hall or at her house table so she got to pick her spot and she wanted to sit all the way at the front of the table so she could watch the headmistress’ speech closely. Emmylou was sad that she really didn’t get formally meet the headmistress because of her studies but this year was going too and all the rest of the professors that she hadn’t gotten to meet yet.

Emmylou was all smiles today well she was everyday but today she had a REAL reason for these smiles. It was back to school time what better than being able to go to a school like Hogwarts that was actually a really cool castle. The now fourth year knew that all muggles would just love to be in her shoes and she was really happy. In typical Emmylou style she took out some more muggle Nerd candies out of her pockets and munched on some while people were filing in.

Crunch. Mmm. Crunch. Yummy. Crunch.

It was officially the beginning of her second year at Hogwarts. The sun was shining, and it wasn't snowing in the castle. This was a good sign. This could be the start of a nice and peaceful year.

That was a lie though. AJ's mind flashed back to the train and carriage ride to the school. She was involved in a hot mess. One of her good friends had gone postal and tried to hex her. If it wasn't for Benny who knew what kind of state she would be in. AJ wasn't going to let all the drama spoil the feast. Maybe Ian would stay at his table. That way she wouldn't have to deal with him until classes started.

As she arrived to the table she noticed that she was one of the first ones there. Cool. That meant that she could sit wherever she wanted. The second year plopped herself down in a middle seat and waited for some familiar faces to show up.

The lion looked around and was surprised that Lex was already there, in fact AJ had practically sat down next to her. It was amazing what you missed when your train of thought was all over the place. "Hey Lex! Have a good summer?" Oh, how AJ looked up to the older lion.

This was the start a of a new Term. Connor Jones welcomed the new start, after last term and all of it's 'special moments' He was ready for this. In face Connor was hoping to make more friends in Gryffindor, he wanted to know his housemates better, he felt like he was never really around them.

He took a seat at the table, looking around to the others and the new Gryffindors, those transferring and the first years as well, it seemed very exciting. So here he was, ready for a new year and ready to make some new friends, this year would be a better one, he would be optimistic.

Oh wow, why was he so tired already! he felt like he could take a nap like right now!. I guess thats what 7th years felt like. Finding the table he sat down at the first sight of free bench he could see. But sadly due to the new badge on his chest he had to keep away and alert-ish. Putting his chin in his hands he watched the rest of the Lions come into the great hall!! he spotted a few that had already made their way in..

"hey Emmy, AJ and Connor" he said them in order which made him laugh… the only person he didn't say Hello to was Alexa because he had already with her for a while on the train..

"another good year at Hogwarts!" he said with a huge smile on his face… holding back his yawn he kept watching everyone.

Finally they were at the castle because Lux really needed to eat. By this time she was starving, even with all the Chocolate Frogs she had eaten on the train.

Heading over to the Gryffindor table, she smiled and waved to all the people already sitting down. "Hello, everyone! Hope you are all well." Spotting Emmy and Bay, she took the spot between them on the bench. "Now the food just needs to arrive," she said as her stomach started to growl. Hopefully the Headmistress wouldn't take too long to make her speech.

He'd been sorted.

He was a Gryffindor.

He couldn't have been more surprised now. He'd been certain that if he was going to go anywhere it would probably be Hufflepuff... Maybe Ravenclaw... As far as he was aware he wasn't exactly brave, which still left him wondering how on Earth he'd ended up in this house.

But he still smiled, he was actually quite happy with this. Moving to the table where the other members of the house he had been sorted into, he sat himself down somewhat uncomfortably.

Now what should he do?

Noms. Candy, candy, candy. NOMS!

This girl was happy with just people watching. It was fun to see everyone getting sorted and there were already a few new students. This was amazing. Then Emmylou saw her best friend Bay! He was a very super important person this year. VERY IMPORTANT. Would she get into trouble for talking to him? He's a Prefect but he's not perfect. GIGGLES. Did she just giggle out loud? The blue eyed girl beamed at her friend. "Bay! You're important now." Emmylou blinked! She didn't mean to say it like that! "I mean not that you weren't important before." Smooth Emmylou, smooth.

O_____________________O

What was Luxness doing here? This wasn't her table. Then Emmylou remembered that they could visit tables and such. She's only been to one other table and that was Hufflepuff because Kace was there...and so was Lux. Emmylou hoped up from her seat and hugged her best friend tightly. "I missed you." Even though she had just seen her on the train not that long ago. Emmylou gave Lux a kiss on the cheek.

Isla couldn't believe what was around her at this point. Candles were hovering above her head with an amazing scenery up above and students everywhere. It was chaotic but charming in a way. She couldn't get over it. She kept on looking up, staring at the ceiling when she felt herself trip over something and fall; landing right behind a person who was sitting down.

That was two times in a day that she had fell down. She really needed to look where she was going. The new Gryffindor stood up and brushed the dust off of her new robes. She looked over at the....cute guy who she had fallen right behind and blushed. "Um...sorry, did I hit you when I fell?" She said with a remorseful look.

Well Kace was finally here. He was at the great hall. He always loved the opening feast because he could pig out like no one's business and no one would care. He wouldn't have his mother nagging him to watch what he ate. Anyways off to find his friends. He figured he would check the Gryffindor Table. I mean he needed to see his girlfriend after all. He spotted the blondie (Emmy) before even walking over to her. He decided to surprise her. He crept up behind her and gave her a hug from behind. He whispered in her ear just for her, "Hey beautiful.." He kissed her on the cheek. "I see you found some candy.." he grinned and took one and popped a candy in his mouth. "They are good too.." he kissed her again with food in his mouth. Now onto checking with the others.

He saw Prefect Bay in all his glory. "Hey mate nice badge you got there.." he pointed to it. He winked and then he saw his cucumber girlfriend Lux. "Well well well look who it is, it is my favorite cucumber friend.." he teased her a little bit. Now where was Cinna? Eh she was usually fashionably late anyways. But he was smiling to be here with his gang.

Wait? Didn't the little-mermaid-haired-girl say she was in a different house? She thought for a moment as she made her way over to her new table. Sure, she might have been nervous but it wasn’t like anyone could tell. She was practically strutting her way over there.

Even swaying her hips slightly. Who knew? There might be cute guys in Gryffindor? She wondered then glanced around the table. Sure. There were some – but it was kind of clear wasn’t it?

Dimples was obviously the little mermaid’s boyfriend…whatever she had said his name was.

”Lux!” She grinned over to the girl right – she’d have to tell her that she’d gone sans pet for the term…she didn’t want to clean something’s litter box. Ew. Just like she’d sworn she’d never go to a Cat Café in her life…and so far she hadn’t.

”is this the boyfriend you told me about at the Menagerie? Such a shame for a guy like…dimples here to get so sick? Sorry about that.” and right. She had called him dimples. Well. If the shoe fit.

And then she heard it, the crunch.

WAS SHE EATING NERDS? Her stomach was so loud right now it was ridiculous.

She wanted them. She NEEDED them was more like it.

Oh so…Dimple’s name was Bay? She wondered and glanced over to mermaid Lux and smiled. ”Good job hun he’s cute” she whispered to the girl and continued to grin.

Okay….if she never learned the nerd eating girl’s name she’d just call her giggles…well in her head that was. ”I see you like nerds!” she grinned,
my favorite are the orange ones – I’m Puck by the way” she grinned at the girl and shook out her hair…for everyone else really. She was like a horse preening of course. People needed to seeeeee her.

Heck she could thrust her chest in the air if she wanted to but that...that might be a little too forward for the first day meal thing? Right? Didn't want to give the wrong impression now did she?

KACE HAD ARRIVED!

"HEY! Kace that's not a Case!" she threw him a wicked somewhat lopsided grin. "So where is this amazing girlfriend you told me about?" and then the hug thing happened. Ooooh. "Oh nevermind. That - You i mean must be Emmy? Right! I met your boyfriend in Diagon Alley before a date of yours he's cool..." she nodded.

Even as she sat there, the table was starting to fill up. There would be far more to come before the night was over but you got the point. Further down the table she spotted that Emmylou girl who'd been a new lion last term. No doubt she'd found her rawr by now. Her eyes would have drifted further down the table were it not for the voice to her other side.

"Aubrey!" Lex grinned at one of her favourite ickles. How was the kid already a second year? Merlin, they needed to slow down. "I had a brilliant summer for the most part." Considering she'd promised not to let the visit with her grandparents ruin everything. "Never stayed in one place too long and spent it all with friends." That was perhaps the best way to spend any holiday.

"What about you? Got into any trouble worth bragging about?"

Oh look, Connor had arrived at the table too. Lex gave a small wave to Jun's friend before she spotted Bay. Didn't take him too long to get here. Neither did it take his little girlfriend (Lux)that long either. This was starting to seem more like an every feast sort of thing, but after this one she'd be none the wiser and didn't think she cared enough to dwell on it so......--OH LOOK NEW KID.

Alexa shimmied a little in her seat before reaching across the table to poke him with her wand. "Hi! Lemme officially welcome you to the best house in the entire castle." Gryffindor. She meant Gryffindor. That had to be obvious enough, yeah? "The name's Alexa, Gryffindor in Charge and you are?"

Funny how she'd introduced herself as such just about every year and now it was actually TRUE.

This one....wasn't so hard to miss. Falling kinda made you a target for everyone, you know? Like full sight and all so for a moment Lex just stared. Would the girl get up? Circe imagine dying on the first night? It was hardly fair getting yourself killed before the castle got a whack out of you.

"Hey, hey you." She...didn't actually know her name....YET. "How many fingers am I holding up?" Lex asked, raising three. Had the be sure the girl still had her wits about her and all...that was what responsible people did apparently.

"Also, welcome to Gryffindor." BEAM. "You too." She said, turning to another new one, this one clearly more comfortable than the first (Puck). "You're among champions, you should know this." And a super solemn nod to boot. Rawr.

Connor looked up at the sound of his name, it was Bay. He didn't know the older Lion too well but he hoped that would change, He seemed like a nice guy and well read enough to have a good literary discussion with.

"Hey, Nice to see you, Bay. Nice badge!" He didn't know Bay would be the male prefect this term but that was good to know, it was at least someone he liked.

Connor spotted the wave from Lex too, he waved back of course, he spotted her badge as well. Ahh she was Head Girl, that would be interesting for Jun. Connor offered her a smile as well. She seemed nice enough, but Connor only knew what Jun had said about her, which wasn't too much to him.


The fifth year heard someone fall behind him and turned his head. "Are you okay?" His subtle New Orleans accent coming out just a bit as he looked over the girl to make sure she was okay. "Oh, no i'm fine. You weren't hurt will you?" He asked and offered her a smile and then gestured to the seat next to him.

"You were just sorted into Gryffindor, right? I'm sorry i don't remember your name, i know they just said it." He chuckled a little. "I'm afraid i'm no good with names."

Adi was here! Of course he had to drop by here. Besties belonged to this awesome House. He spotted AJ instantly, speaking to Lex. Neither Benny nor AJ seemed to be there as yet which didn't surprise him. He figured they were off together sorting out their problems. Whatever they were. He made a mental note to ask AJ what had happened between those two.

The Hufflepuff plopped down beside AJ before tugging lightly on her hair. "Hi.'' Oh yesh. Must greet the Head Girl and Bay even though he had seen them on the Train. "Hey, Lex. Hey, Bay.''

Adi glanced up at the Staff table. New faces, old faces. He grinned to see Professor Morgan. He was really looking forward to her classes. And Professor Domingo's. He was super pleased she had stayed on to teach. There was his beloved Professor Head of House too. It was great to be back indeed.

Isla couldn't help but be completely embarrassed but when she looked up she noticed a girl was trying to get her attention. The girl looked important with that shiny badge. She smiled as the girl asked how many fingers she was holding up. "I think maybe...seven?" She laughed. "I'm kidding, you're holding up three, but thanks for checking on me."

Oooh her first welcoming into Gryffindor. "Thanks! Are you the official greeter or something?" She asked, completely serious. Maybe they had those here who knows. "I'm Isla Reeser by the way."

She turned back towards the guy who she had fallen behind and nodded. "I think so. Luckily I didn't break anything yet. That would be horrible on the first day." She said, looking back down at her robes to see if there was still any dust. Isla was happy to hear that she hadn't hurt him because if she took down another person while she fell, that would be out of this world embarrassing. "But no, I didn't get hurt. These robes seem to have protected me." She laughed.

"Yeah I was." She smiled. She looked and saw he had the colors that she had on her robe now. So they were in the same house then! She wondered if he would be a good candidate for pranking.

Oh. He didn't remember her name? "Oh that's okay. I'm Isla Reeser. Fifth year." She said, taking a seat next to him. She could have asked but...there didn't seem to be anyone around that he was talking to exactly so she was going with it. "What's your name then?" She smiled at him.

Leonard was startled for a moment as he looked at the wand that he'd been poked with, he was still a tad too uncomfortable to touch his until they actually got into a class. When trying his wand he'd accidentally blown up a table multiple times, and even though this one had chosen him he still felt a bit uncomfortable around wands.

But she was an older student... she knew what she was doing right?.

"Uh thanks" he responded, wondering if that was even how you were meant to respond to being congratulated to something like being sorted. For now he figured that would just have to do. "I'm Leo" he introduced himself... but still he felt like he was meant to say something else.

Not knowing exactly what he just smiled at the older girl though.

With all the craziness that had ensued during the carriage ride, Benny had forgotten about the flowers he had chanced to bring along rather than leave with his belongings the fourth year hadn't wanted them disturbed and manhandled in anyway before they had gotten to who they were supposed to be given to. And by the time Angel had gotten into the carriage with them, things had still been rather awkward between them so he had delayed it all for virtue of a better time.

Which might be the feast, although the Gryffindor had nearly forgotten the snapdragons on the carriage, returning to retrieve them. And by the time he had, the rest of his group had gotten lost in the shuffle so he meerly continued the walk into the castle on his own. Following the flow of people into the Great Hall.

Finally...HOGWARTS!

Benny turned to his left inside the entrance and made his way over to the table belonging to the lions, noticing it already starting to fill up. He gave a nod to Bay and then Lex as he noticed the two prefects, well prefect and head girl. "Congrats..." he decided to say since the added achievements were worthy. He then looked around for more familair faces and spotted AJ there...no Angel....and Adi already joining the fray so he moved to take a seat across from the two them, placing the potted plant on the bench to his left.

"Run from the Hufflepuffs already?" he teased his bestie.

Connor grined. "I'm glad you didn't get hurt, then." He said and then laughed a little. "I think getting hurt during the feast would be like a bad omen or something." Mmmhmm sure would be. The boy wasn't superstitious, but he certainly believed in plenty of things.

"I guess that's one good thing about wearing such heavy robes." He would go back to normal clothes the first chance he got, the robes weren't bad but he was more comfortable in his muggle clothes.

"Cool! Welcome to Gryffindor, Isla. I'm Connor Jones, Sixth Year." Good, someone to sit with. She seemed very nice, and he was more than happy to have new friends.

Look, it was the older dude who was almost eaten by the chorts last year. He seemed to look all patched up now. AJ was sure that he had a super awesome story to tell. She was still a little peeved that she wasn't allowed to go on the chort hunting adventure. AJ was a big bad second year now, so things would be changing round these parts.

"Hey Bay." He had a shiny. "Congrats on prefect, man." AJ would have to feel him out to see if he was the sort of prefect that would snitch or not. Her own bestie said that he would turn her in. The nerve.



New lions. They had new lions. AJ wasn't the new kid on the block now. It was only polite to go up to the kid and introduce herself. She knew she had so many questions when she was a first year, and now she could be the one answering them. My, my, my, how the tables have turned.

"Hey there. Welcome to Gryffindor. You just got sorted into the coolest house ever. How are you liking Hogwarts so far?" Let him breathe. That was the one thing that she kept forgetting about. "I'm AJ, by the way." That was the other thing that she forgot. Introductions were a must.



Was it just her or was Lex happy to see her? Aww.. her little second year heart skipped a beat. She had missed going on adventures with Lex. The lion was glad that Lex had a good summer. "Sounds like a good time." Her summer... where to begin? "Mine was fun. I spent A LOT of time in the sun." Who could blame her after a term like that?

Trouble was pretty much AJ's middle name. It wasn't as if she went looking for it, it just sort of happened. "I whacked one kid with a bat during a game of baseball because he got cheeky. My mum was furious, but it wasn't my fault." She shrugged. It was just a love tap... in the head. She didn't even hit him that hard. AJ decided to keep the hexing and toe stomping that happened on the carriage ride over her to herself. Lex was totally cool, but she knew that she was the head girl, and she didn't want to make any trouble for herself. "Congrats on getting to rule the school."



It wasn't long before her favorite person at Hogwarts plopped down beside her. "Hey there, prefect." She gave him a one armed hug and good squeeze. "Got your puffs are sorted out over there?" AJ was glad that he was able to still come visit her at the lion table.

Whatever weirdness was there on the train ride was completely gone. They were back to their old selves once more. Thank goodness. What could you expect though when things completely hit the fan on the carriage ride over? This was going to be a very interesting year.



Once Benny joined them, the gang was almost complete. AJ wasn't sure how she ended up losing her sister once more. Or why she seemed to be lagging in everything that she did lately. Hopefully she would have answers to that tonight.

"Hey Benny." Apparently AJ was calling him by that nickname now too. She would call him whatever he preferred after he saved her. "Cool flowers." Or was that a plant? AJ was all that hip on the flower/plant front.

A hug! Adi liked being hugged. Especially by AJ. He returned her one arm hug. "I think so. I've made a couple of new friends already.'' He was quick to do that no matter where he went. Which was a good thing because unlike others, he happened to like people. "Mari's there to help, too.'' Plus he would keep an eye on the Puffers from where he sat. He could see Ian still sitting at the end but he didn't say anything. Didn't need to bring up that unpleasant happening from earlier. "I'm starved. Still got your massive appetite, AJ?'' Adi would not be forgetting the taco thing anytime soon.

And there was the other bestie. Finally! "Where were you?'' Adi asked, noticing Benny had the potted plant with him. "Where's Angel? Did you two fight again?'' This Hufflepuff and his questions. LOL. ''They're for Angel,'' Adi told AJ.

Eeep! Benny was making a joke. That did NOT happen often enough. "They didn't want to let me go, man. I almost died escaping.'' Hehe.

Thankfully the next person didn't poke him with a wand... he looked at yet another older Gryffindor and also smiled at her. At least everyone seemed really friendly.

"I'm Leo" he said, immediately going to the introduction in order to give himself a few extra seconds to think about Hogwarts. He'd never seen a school quite like it and so far it seemed to be quite amazing... aside from the fact that he had no clue what anything was. "It seems pretty amazing actually... but I'm not sure what to expect really with classes and all that..." he admitted trailing off.

And he didn't like the sorting hat.

Nope he didn't like that one bit!

"Hey..." Benny echoed as AJ greeted him. The boy noticing the use of the nickname which actually felt normal. All those months trying to protest it from Adi and now it didn't feel so weird. Go figure. Another gradual change in his life. He glanced briefly at the snapdragons as they were mentioned and simply nodded, unsure of what to reveal about them at the moment. The hufflepuff in the lion's den allowed him to be pulled away from the thought.

"I had to go back and grab the plant," he explained easy enough. "I don't know," Benny added with a shrug. "I lost everyone when I tried to make the move back to the carriage." Fight? Again? He didn't think they had actually fought in the first place. Unless Adi had heard something differently. The lion couldn't help but glance between his bestie and AJ almost curious just as Adi explained about the flowers.

"They better know how to share." He wasn't giving him up the Puffers all because of the badge.

She was just going to assume Adi and Aubrey were super good friends, otherwise the hair tugging and the like could have been questionable. If he'd been bothering her little lion, she might have had to pop him one and send him back to his table with a shiner, badge or no but nah, they were buddies from what she could see so..."Hey." No comments on the Puff table being Prefect-less. She was the last person to go off about responsibilities.

"No problem." Lex said with a grin. Girl had a sense of humour, that was already working in her favour. "Can't have my lions outing themselves, got a big cup to win at the end of the year and a couple faces we need to shove said cup in." Oh, and caring about overall well being too...sure...we could add that if it made a difference. " 'Sides, you lose your senses now and you'll never be able to keep up with the adventure that is Hogwarts." Quite the adventure it was too. Everyone counted themselves lucky to make it home each year.

Good stuff.

As for official titles and such. "Nah, don't reckon we have one of those. I just like talking to people is all, especially new ones. I'm Lex." She shuffled around the bag in her lap for a moment then extended it to the girl. "Snagged some treats for the feast if you're interested."



Leo...she'd have to remember that. "Tell you what, Leo. I like your face. It'd be a shame for it to go missing, so later when I'm leading the Firsties up the stairs, you stick close, yeah?" It'd be just dreadful to have some of them going missing first night. She could only imagine how terrible that would be, and the damper it would put on the plans for later.

With that important bit gotten out of the way, she dipped into her candy bag once more, this time fishing out a cupcake. "Have it. It'll be a bit of a wait before the Headmistress starts her speech." She herself wouldn't be subjected to starving. Not even. The food would get here, naturally, it was always just a matter of when.

"So, excited for Gryffindor?" And yes, there was a wrong answer.

At first, she'd been too busy watching Leo to notice, but after Benjamin spoke, her eyes drifted over to him and she offered him the widest of smiles. "Thanks, bud." Many saw it as a cause for some celebration and she wouldn't take that from them...no matter how much she dislikes the new badge. "Good summer?"



Lex chuckled at the mention of the summer with SUN. "I think everyone in their right mind spent their summer with a lot of sun. If I never see snow again it'll be too soon." But she wouldn't hold on to any form of hope, they were afterall, in Scotland. Bleak weather was a guarantee and it often included snow. No big deal so long as they didn't have another snow in.

Oh, bat action. "Epic. Don't reckon you knocked him unconscious too?" That...might have made a mother far more furious, if not concerned about a law suit. People worried about those from time to time from what she'd heard. "Baseball though, were you in the States?" That would have been quite the coincidence given she and Lottie had visited the States over the summer as well.

"I'm exceptionally proud of you, even if Society says I shouldn't be....so long as he deserved it but I trust your judgement and you wouldn't have if he didn't."

"Hey Leo." That would be easy enough to remember. Some of the names these people had were a mouthful. How on earth did they expect her to remember them all? Her eyes twinkled as he talked about Hogwarts. "It is really amazing. You will definitely want to go exploring." There was still so much that she needed to see as well.

"The classes are actually really fun." Last year they got a lot of hands on experience and that was always fun. "I even got to ride a unicorn."
Well, she wasn't allowed and she actually got in trouble for it, but there was no reason to go into details. "Was this the house you wanted?" Or was he muggleborn like her, and had no earthly idea about the whole house business?




You know what? AJ was really liking the whole contact thing with Adi. If only she had realized this a bit sooner. No matter. All was well in the world and she told herself that there wouldn't be anymore stressing over things. She was officially going with the flow. Whatever happened, happened.

He was already making new friends and that didn't surprise her at all. "It's because you are so charming." It was a true statement even if she was saying it in a joking manner. AJ laughed when he brought up her appetite. She knew that he was thinking about that taco incident. "That hasn't changed."

The plant was for Angel. "Awww! Benny that is so sweet of you. Angel will love that. She is SO into plants and flowers." Of course he probably already knew that hence the plant.

Benny had a point. "Yeah Adi, you are ours." AJ wasn't very good at sharing when it came to certain things. The lion eyes the hufflepuff table for good measure. "We could totally take them, Benny."



Mmmhmm. Lex was speaking nothing but straight truth. "If we get snowed in again, I will flip the table." What were the odds of that happening again though? Slim to none, surely.

"No, he was still awake. I mean it took him a few minutes to remember who he was and where he was, but that could have been just because he was dumb." He wasn't the brightest crayon in the box. "Not this summer. I have been to the states several times, and that is where I fell in love with baseball. I forced the kids in my city to play with me." Charming wasn't she? "Now every summer we all get together and play the game."

See! Why couldn't everybody else be like this? "Thanks Lex." AJ couldn't wipe the goofy grin off of her face. Lex was proud of her. Did anybody else happen to hear that? "He had it coming. If anything he should have thanked me for knocking some sense into him." But nooo, people didn't have manners nowadays.