New Beginning (Pearlshipping-AshxDawn)

Chapter Five

Alex and Julia were walking around their house, showing Melissa and Jake their home, since they were their only friends who had yet to see it.

"And this is the study." Alex said, opening the door.

"Wow...this has to be the neatest study I've ever seen. My dad's study isn't this neat." Jake said.

"And here's the backyard. We've only used the pool once since we've moved here." Julia said as the four walked out into the yard.

"We had an end-of-the-summer pool party. It was the first time that our other friends had seen our new house." Alex explained.

"It was really fun. I wish that you guys could have came. When it gets warm again, we'll definitely have another pool party and you two can come." Julia added. It was Fall now and too cold for the kids to get into the pool.

The four walked back into the house. They walked into the kitchen to see Dawn getting things out for supper.

"Hey mom, could Jake and Melissa stay for supper?" Alex asked.

"Of course, if they want to, and if their parents say that it's okay." Dawn replied.

"What are you fixing?" Melissa asked.

"Spaghetti," Dawn said.

"Her spaghetti is amazing! You'll love it." said Julia.

"Alright then, we'll stay for supper." said Jake and Melissa nodded.

Jake and Melissa called their parents to let them know that they were eating supper with the Ketchums. The four friends then walked into the living room and sat. Jake was sitting on the floor, Melissa was in one of the chairs, Julia was laying on the couch, and Alex was in another chair.

"So what's it like being related since your parents married?" asked Jake.

"Yeah, 'cause I had a friend at my old school that had a stepsister and they didn't get along at all." Melissa said.

"It's been easy. It's the same as it was before our parents got married." Alex replied.

"You see, our families were very close from day one when the Ketchums moved here. We all cared about each other like we were family even before our mom and dad fell in love." Julia added.

"Both me and my dad and Julia and her mom were going through a tough time when we met each other. But we all found comfort in each other because both families understood what the other was going through and everything basically fell into place."

"Over time, we saw how much our parents cared for one another. They loved one another, but they couldn't see it themselves. So Alex and I gave them the push that they needed by setting up dates for them to go on and before we knew it, they were dating regularly and, well, here we are now. Our plans worked."

"You two set your parents up? Wow, that's just...wow." Jake said.

"That's sweet of you to do that for your parents." Melissa said.

"But wait...did you two ever tell your parents that you were the reason that they ended up together and why you're all a family now?" Melissa asked.

"No, we never told them. It's our secret." Julia answered.

"And besides, our parents may have already figured it out. We don't know, since they never told us. And what's the point in telling them, anyway? They're together and everyone's happy, so it doesn't really matter." Alex added, shrugging his shoulders.

"So how did your parents meet, Melissa?" Julia asked her friend.

"My mom used to be a personal trainer, helping people exercise and stay in shape. She met my dad one day while working out at the gym. They started working out together at least once a week, which brought them closer and eventually, they started going on dates. Over time, they fell in love, got married, and I was born a few years later." Melissa explained.