*sings* I call her Lollipop, Lollipop, Oh Lolli Lolli Lolli...

(i know, I've been wondering how to start it up again )

Annaleah crept down the motel stairs as quiet as a cat, not wanting to wake anyone up at the late hour. It couldn't be much past two in the morning. Where was he? She'd woken up to a clash of thunder and the pitter-patter of rain. Cricket had left.

She tried not to worry. Maybe he just needed some fresh air. Except it was raining. Maybe he just needed a drink of water. Except there was a sink in their room.

She just made it to the lobby. No one was at the desk, and she continued to the door. She jumped when a bell chimed as she opened it.

Zachery woke up groggily, and looked around, remembering he was in his room. He sighed, silently depressed because Stephanie wasn't there with him. He hated it when he was away from her. He just couldn't handle it. He quickly got dressed, hurried as quietly as he could downstairs, and opened the front door to find Stephanie on the other side. He looked down at her, and blinked before smiling, and embracing her. She returned his hug, pulled back from him, and mouthed Hey, handsome.
He grinned, "Hey there, beautiful. How are you?" Good, and you? He sighed, "I missed you." It was her turn to blink in confusion, and then she smiled, and pecked him on the lips, Same here...you think I could stay the rest of the night? She didn't mean anything well...yeah. "Of course you can." (Hmm...where'd Cricket go anyway, or do I have to read to find out?)

(to be honest I'm just improvising, I have a couple places in mind but I can just work off of what you're doing. I think he's going to be near the park, though. What're your charries doing, or do I have to find out on my own?)

She was careful to shut the door quietly on her way out, and shivered at the sudden cold. The rain was horrible. She nestled further into her jacket, looking fearfully out into the downpour for a figure. "Cricket," was all she could get out at first. Then she yelled "Cricket!" into the black.

(They're just kind of chatting right now is all.)
Zachery snapped his head into the direction of a girl's shout. He peered into the darkness, and made out a shape that he had sworn for one second was Annaleah. He took Stephanie's hand as he said, "Let's see what's wrong." as he led her to the blackened figure. He called as he approached, "Anything wrong, miss?" Since he wasn't sure who it was.

Annaleah: She thought at first that it was Cricket, but no, it was a different boy. Wait a minute...it was Zach. Zachery and Stephenie. "Have you seen Cricket?" she called out.

Zachery replied while struggling to see her in the thick, dark nothingness, "No, why?" Stephanie was starting to get worried. Why would she ask that? Did he leave?

Annaleah: She looked worried, but her voice was controlled to be calm. "He's gone. I woke up, and he wasn't anywhere to be seen."

Stephanie tugged on Zachery's sleeve. He couldn't read her lips, but knew she might've known where Cricket was. He told Annaleah as Stephanie started to led him to the park, "I think Stephanie might know." He called Cricket's name a couple times as they got closer to the park.

Annaleah: she called along with him. The park? Why would he be there? Minutes passed, and still no sign of him. They called, their voices drowned with the rain. Then a new voice sounded from behind. " 's a'right, I'm 'ere! I'm a'right." Annaleah whirled around to see Cricket, his hair plastered to his forehead with water, looking a bit bedraggled. His expression was reassuring, trying not to create a fuss.

Stephanie let out a small sigh of relief, even though Annaleah should've been the person doing so. Zachery smiled feebly as he wrapped an arm around Stephanie, trying to keep her warm because of the cold rain. Her blonde hair was now brownish, her clothes wet like his were. "What're you doing out in the rain?" Zachery asked, concerned.

Cricket started to answer, but was cut short when Annaleah flung her arms around him in a hug. He softened in her arms, and smiled. She echoed, "What are you doing out here? You nearly gave me a heart attach! Are you alright?" He didn't answer right away. He wasn't sure how, all of this probably seemed very unusual.

(I think I'm going to go off for the night.)
Both Zachery and Stephanie patiently waited for a reply. Zachery whispered to her, "How'd you know he'd be out here?" He felt her shrug, and assumed she mouthed, I'm not sure.

(kay, night)

Cricket: "Well..." let's see, how to explain this. Annaleah looked up at him expectantly. "I...had a bit of a run-in with some old friends o' mine."

Annaleah mouthed so they couldn't hear, Ghosts?, talking about his 'friends' from home. A gang he was stuck in. He nodded in return. "What's the occasion?" she asked.

Cricket: "A family reunion on my part, if I resist." He emphasized the double meaning. Annaleah's expression grew concerned. His family was dead.

Zachery furrowed his eyebrows, but then somehow he understood what Cricket meant. "You mea-...?" He wasn't too sure how to phrase it correctly. Stephanie jabbed him with her elbow, and glared at him. A look that definately read, What do you think you're doing?!

Cricket looked at Zachery, and nodded slowly, then looked down at Annaleah. "It's a bit complicated. Seems I'm in a bit of trouble."

Annaleah: she bit her lip and nestled into his chest. "What do they want?"

Cricket: "Take a guess."

Annaleah understood, but she didn't want to. She was used to Cricket being in trouble, but this time it was different. She was the one who got him into this mess.

(Hm...I'm not very sure how to reply to that...)

:/ sorry, not very engaging I know. *sigh* I want to continue this but I'm not sure how...that was too dramatic for this thread, Annaleah's all flat, and ugh. So many little glitches. My bad!

(Well, no, it's kind of engaging, I'm just not sure how Zachery or Stephanie would react...)

:/ Doncha hate it when that happens?

Any way I can help? Sometimes I get centered around my own stroy too much when it comes to chats, so I take the blame

(Hm...I think I got something...)
Zachery wasn't sure what they would want with Cricket, so he asked, "So, what do they want, if you don't mind me asking?" This time, Stephanie didn't bother to stop him.

Cricket: he looked at Annaleah. He may as well tell them. A Ghost was probably near enough to hear, but he didn't care. He wouldn't get in any more trouble than what he was in already. "Just a book. An' me, too, I think. I think they're bluffing, they wouldn't...well, you know."

Annaleah: she looked at him in a way that said, you're confusing them. And then her expression slipped back into a mix of concern, anticipation, and guilt.

Cricket: He sighed. "It's a long story, you might 'ave guessed." he paused, thinking backand forth whether it was worth telling.

Zachery asked, furrowing his eyebrows, "What kind of book?" Stephanie stood next to him, and leaned against him slightly.

Cricket: he thought for a second more. It wouldn't make sense if they got the whole story.

Annaleah: "Cricket, you don't have to..." she murmered, but when Cricket looked back at them there was a determined glint in his eyes.

Cricket: He spat it all out in a hushed tone. "Before I say anything, keep in mind that I would never do anything to hurt you, or anyone close to you. And I'm not crazy. But, I'm a robber. Always 'ave been. My papa, b'fore 'e was hung, gave me this little book. I lost it, Annaleah found it, but she actually knew how t' read th' thing. Well, half of it. Th' other half is in symbols, like I showed you. Turns out, I'm part of an infamous family. According to the journal, they've been stashing away their riches for generations, and now, under slim circumstances--" Annaleah blushed a little at that. She was the circumstance. "--the government an' my gang are now determined t' find it." He took a breath. "Whole new view o' me, aye?"

Stephanie shook her head as Zachery denied, "No, I don't think differently of you." Stephanie mouthed with a soft smile, I'm not one to judge. Zachery blinked, then back-tracked, "The government? It's that serious?"