::Faded:: -1

Faded</i>

The night was quiet. The only thing audible was the wind gently blowing through the grass and crickets chirping softly. If you listened closely, you could hear faint music drifting through the air.

Zoey Clemmings sighed in content. She always loved taking walks at night. It was so calming, so relaxing, so soothing…

Like being around JoJo.

She smiled at the thought of him and quickened her pace, her wide smile growing softer as the old observatory came into view, the moonlight shining off its silvery surface.

She reached the end of the cliff and jumped into the bucket, opening the umbrella which lied at the bottom, sending her forwards. She put a rock she had been holding atop the huge boulder as she approached it, sending her shooting upwards.

Now being able to work the rubber band without being afraid of it, she easily made it to the bottom of the staircase protruding off of the cliff. She made her way up the steps casually, smiling slightly as the music grew louder with every step.

She opened the small door within the big door and quietly slipped inside, unnoticed by the small black and gray Who inside. Zoey smirked when she saw her best friend; JoJo McDodd. He had his back turned to her and was currently tightening a loose bolt on a giant keyboard-like-thing, humming along to the music playing around him. To Zoey’s amusement, he began singing along, apparently lost in his own little world, oblivious to the fact that someone had entered his private sanctuary.

“Girl, there’s something ‘bout me that you outta know… I never felt the need to just let go, always held on back and played it slow…But not this time,”

Zoey’s smirk grew and she had to fight back the urge to burst into a fit of giggles as JoJo began swaying back and forth, singing in a very high pitched voice. She had to admit though, he could actually sort of… pull it off.

“Baby, don't be gentle, I can handle anything!” His voice now went back to normal. “Baby, take me on a journey. I've been thinking lately, I could use a little time alone with you. Crazy, let's do something, maybe. Please don't take your time, you got me, right where you want—”

He turned around suddenly, stopping in mid-sentence as he finally caught sight of Zoey. “—me.” He finished, his face beginning to flush with color.

Zoey finally laughed out loud, walking up to the platform JoJo was standing on and shaking her head. “JoJo, what—in all of Whoville—were you doing?”

He blushed even deeper, looking down at his furry feet. “Um, nothing.”

She smirked. “It sure didn’t look like nothing.”

JoJo looked up, deciding to change the subject. “What are you doing here, anyway?”

Zoey shrugged, swaying back and forth slightly on her feet. “No reason, just wanted to see if you wanted to come over later. Mya’s coming over to show me some picture she just drew or something…”

JoJo bent down to tighten another loose bolt, nodding slightly. “Sure, just let me finish up here first. Can you help me set everything back up?”

She nodded and went around the observatory to set everything back in it original place. Being JoJo’s best friend meant that she knew her way around the place, along with where everything went. She put the kites back where they belonged, the marbles back into the large container which held them, and she (somehow) put the giant rubber band balls where they went. After she was done, she headed back over to where JoJo was still putting the finishing touches on his newest invention.

“So… what are you making?”

“A keyboard that plays all different kinds of sounds.” He replied from up under the huge keyboard thing. He pulled himself out from under it and stood up, making his way to the worktable where he put away all his tools. Zoey followed him.

“You wanna watch a movie at my house when we get there? My mom just rented Bloody Massacre II!”

JoJo made a face. He didn’t really enjoy the first one they watched at her house. “Um, sure… And when we get there I can show you guys a song I just wrote,”

“Is it the one you just sang?” Zoey smirked.

“No!” JoJo protested, looking at his feet again.

It was quiet for a second before Zoey finally asked, “Was it really?”

“…Maybe.” JoJo replied, not looking at her. She laughed, shaking her head as they made their way to the big red door and outside.

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