Dr. Maronkep's school for the mentally unstable (cleaned up

"Noo....Now just isn't the time. ;P"

"You."

"What about me?" asked Milo, with a smile.

"Ehh, you really better come around soon then..." said Cole coldly.

"I don't like daylight. I like darkness. <3"

"Just...you." August smiled and laughed a little.

"Then maybe tonight." said Cole with a dark smile.


"I...don't know what to say to that....." said Milo "Could you please explain?"

"I can't really explain it. Sorry."

"Maybe."

"Why not?"


" Eh, we talking sneaking through the kitchen.....think it's possible?"

August shrugged.

Laurel giggled "Nothing is Impossible. <3"

"Well, I won't press you for it." said Milo with a shrug.


"Then let's get off our lazy asses and head to the kitchen."

the wagon bumped a long.

((heheh))

Laurel giggled again. She didn't think Cole was funny, she just thought giggling made her more adorable.

August accidentally slid towards Milo. His eyes widened, "H-hi...Th-there."

Cole smiled. He felt like some sort of mastermind. "we're going then." he said, as he stood up and headed for the door.


Milo made no effort to move away. She laughed a little,but otherwise didn't react to much.

"Bumpy...cart...thing and...yeah.."

Laurel skipped after Cole.

Milo smiled. "Yeah, sure is bumpy...."

In a matter of minutes, Cole's group was stealthily waiting outside the kitchen door.

Laurel fluffed her hair in the reflective window in the kitchen door.

August blushed.

Milo really to ask why he was blushing, if everything was okay, and what made her so funny. but instead she just gave a small, apologetic smile.



"You ready guys?" asked Cole, trying to sound cool as a cucumber. He sounded a little dorkish.

Laurel giggled "Never." She stuck out her tongue at him.

August was dying of embarrassment on the inside.

Cole scowled. "The coast is clear." he said, as he took a cautious step in.


The wagon abruptly stopped. sending everyone in the wagon sprwaling towards the front.

August smashed against whatever was in front of him.

Laurel followed Cole.

what was in front of him happened to be Milo, who flushed a deep shade of scarlet.

The kitchen was chilly, but unremarkable. It had an ice chest and an ancient refrigerator, a few sinks, and a cupboard full of fresh, but dull colored, fruits and veggies.

Laurel stuck her head in the ice chest, when she removed it, her hair, eyebrows and eyelashes here dotted with ice. "It's c-c-c-cold in there!" she shivered.

August promptly apologized and went back to his seat,

"Over there...." said Cole, pointing to a door marked 'staff loung.'


slowly, everybody got off the wagon, andLucius, Milo, and August got there first full glimpse of Dustlund. The houses looked like they were part of some medieval fantasy video game, one in which the world was breaking down. There were no cars, justcarts pulled by horses. there were really only about four major buildings, and they were centered around a town square, with a strange looking fountain. Beyond the buildings, there were a few small houses. the whole set up was lit by gaslights, because, even though it was mid-afternonn, the thick tree canopy blocked all the sunlight out.

August tripped on a cobblestone.

Laurel giggled "Shouldn't it be spelled 'Staff Lounge'?!"

Milo helped him up. As she did, the three became aware of a boy with dark unruly hair, and a look thart that could only be described as 'postmodern grunge rock star' staring at them from the fountain......



"The 'E' looks scratched out..." said Cole. "Should we go in?"

((this is the boy's look:))

August flipped his very "ruly" black hair out of his eyes. "Thanks..."

"Yes."