Chapter Eight
�Oh, I hope this weather doesn�t close up the carnival tonight,� Rainbow said worriedly, looking up into the cloudy gray sky.
�I doubt it will � unless it starts pouring rain � which is unlikely,� Ocean replied, looking up from her book.
�I hope you�re right.� Rainbow smiled. �It�s been forever since JC and I have gone out on a date.�
�I can relate,� Ocean said dryly.
�But it�s like I love him so much, that doesn�t even matter,� Rainbow said happily. �He keeps telling me to call him Josh, cuz you know, that�s his name ��
�But you feel weird calling him by his real name when you�ve called him JC forever and ever,� Ocean finished.
�Exactly. I mean, he�s been telling me to call him Josh for the past month or two��
�That shows you two are close,� Ocean replied.
Rainbow nodded. �Yeah�I hope we have fun tonight.�
�You will � maybe he even has a surprise planned for you,� Ocean suggested.
�Like what?� Rainbow asked.
Ocean bit her lip in thought. �Maybe�he�ll ask you to marry him.�
Rainbow laughed. �Haha, yeah right. Unless there�s something you�re not telling me��
Ocean put her hands up in surrender. �Hey � if JC is planning anything, I�m just as much in the dark about it as you are.�
JC tapped on the door. �R, you ready to go?�
�Yup, hold on a sec,� Rainbow called.
Ocean stood up and hugged her best friend. �Have fun tonight, Rain.�

The weather at the carnival was beginning to take a turn for the worst � it was becoming cold and windy. Despite that, Rainbow and JC were having a great time. JC was in disguise as usual, wearing a dark blue baseball cap.
They were standing in line to get on the Ferris wheel when Rainbow smiled. �I remember back in high school whenever Osh and I would get on the Ferris wheel, we would scream. Cuz you know when the person stops the ride to let other people on?�
JC nodded with a smile.
�Well, the seats would rock back and forth and we always freaked out thinking the seat would rock so far that we would fall out, so we screamed,� Rainbow said, shivering slightly as a gust of wind chilled the both of them.
JC laughed and put his arm around Rainbow, pulling her close to him. �I would�ve liked to have been there.�
�It was crazy. People looked at us like we were psycho,� Rainbow said as she felt a raindrop hit her nose. �Uh oh.�
Before JC could say anything, the rain began to come down in sheets.
�Folks, we�re sorry about the inconvenience, but we�re going to have to close Bob�s Fun Land due to the sudden change in weather. Once again, sorry for the inconvenience.�
�Oh man!� JC exclaimed. �I really wanted to ride the Ferris wheel!�
�JC, it�s okay -  we can come back when it�s not raining,� Rainbow said.
JC nodded sadly, his head hung in disappointment as they walked out the gate slowly. By now, they were both soaked. JC�s head suddenly snapped up. �Who needs the Ferris wheel?�
�Huh?� Rainbow asked as JC stopped and turned to face her. �What are you talking about?�
JC was getting down on one knee and fishing something out of his pocket.
�What? JC! What are you doing?� Rainbow asked.
JC grinned and opened a box to reveal the ring from the commercial. �Rainbow, will you marry me?�
Rainbow looked at JC in shock, then glanced over both her shoulders. �Are you talking to me?�
JC nodded. �There�s only one Rainbow standing in front of me.�
�Are you asking the right person?� Rainbow asked. �Are you asking the right question?�
JC nodded. �I am positive. Never been more positive in my life. Rainbow, will you marry me?�
Rainbow was silent a few seconds, then she broke out into a smile that made her pretty hazel eyes shine, even through the rain. �Yes, Josh, I will marry you.�
JC�s face broke out into a huge grin that stretched from ear to ear and slipped the ring onto Rainbow�s finger. He jumped up and lifted her off the ground in a huge hug. �I love you, Rainbow!� JC yelled.
Rainbow laughed. �I love you too, Josh.�
�And she called me Josh!� JC hooted and some people walking by looked at him strangely.
�I could get used to it,� Rainbow said and smiled as JC gave her a kiss.

Ocean and Lance were cuddled up on the couch facing the ocean in Bridget�s house. Justin and Bridget were snuggled on the other end, and Joey and Chris were in the recliners.
�Geez, this is a really bad storm,� Joey observed as he watched the waves crash angrily on the shore.
�I hope Rain and JC get back okay,� Ocean said worriedly.
�I�m sure they will � Bob�s Fun Land should be closed by now,� Bridget replied.
�What a name � Bob�s Fun Land,� Chris said. �It sounds like loads of fun.�
�It may have a corny name, but it�s actually a pretty cool place,� Eric said, climbing up the stairs.
�We should all go sometime,� Justin suggested.
�Yeah, next week maybe � before Rain and I leave,� Ocean said.
�Oh, you have to leave?� Bridget asked.
Ocean nodded. �Yeah, we have to get back to LA � the new season starts in a month or so and we gotta start rehearsing and stuff.�
�We�re gonna miss you and Rain,� Joey said.
�I�m gonna miss all of you guys � this has been the coolest summer,� Ocean replied with a tiny smile.
�Guys, we�re back!� Rainbow called from downstairs.
�Rain, we�re up here!� Justin yelled back.
�Kay, I�ll be up in a sec.� Rainbow changed into dry clothes and brushed her wet hair, admiring the new ring on her hand. �Rainbow Chasez�I like that.�
�With a grin plastered on her face, Rainbow went upstairs and sat on the floor. �Hey guys.�
�Did you have fun?� Ocean asked.
Rainbow nodded. �Yeah.�
Ocean saw the ring on Rainbow�s hand. �Hey, where�d you get that ring? I�ve never seen it befor.�
�JC,� Rainbow said happily.
�Why did he�oh! Oh! Are you serious?� Ocean squeaked. �Did he�?�
Rainbow nodded excitedly. �Yeah.�
�Oh! Rain, I am so happy for you!� Ocean exclaimed.
�Congratulations, Rain,� Bridget said with a smile.
�Thank you guys so much. I cannot even believe that he wants me to marry him!�
�He�s just a lucky guy who can�t believe his girlfriend is going to marry him,� JC said, coming up the stairs.
�Go JC!� Justin cheered as JC sat next to Rainbow.
�So � how was the Ferris wheel?� Lance asked.
JC sighed and shook his head. �It started raining before we could even get on.�
�So how�d you do it?� Joey asked.
�Outside the gates of Bob�s Fun Land,� JC said with a grin. �Yeah, some people looks at us weird, but who cares.�
�Exactly,� Eric said.
�Oh shoot � I have to make a phone call,� Lance said as Ocean sat up so he could stand. �Oh man! My cell phone is at Justin�s.�
�Oh, you can use the phone over there,� Bridget said, pointing to the phone on the counter.
�It�s kinda a private call,� Lance replied.
�Oh, well then, you can just take it in the bedroom,� Bridget shrugged.
�Are you sure? It�s a long distance call,� Lance warned.
�Go for it.�
�Okay, thanks, Bridget.�
Ocean smiled. �Oh my gosh � I cannot believe you guys are getting married!�
�Neither can I,� JC said with a grin. �I�m just happy she said yes.�
�Like I could say no to you?� Rainbow replied.
�Hey you guys � what�s up with Eddie?� Chris asked, referring to Ocean and Rainbow�s best guy friend back in LA.
�He�s working at that BMX shop,� Ocean said with a smile. �It�s a snowboarding shop too��
�That�s right � you guys still have to take us snowboarding,� Joey said, glaring at Rainbow and Ocean.
�We will. Once our schedules allow all of us free time at the same time, then we�ll go,� Rainbow replied.
�We could�ve gone this summer,� Justin said, grinning.
�Oh yeah � all dust terrains � the true snowboarding experience,� Ocean said with a laugh.
�Justin�s kinda right though � we could have gone to Mount Hood. It�s open all year,� Rainbow said.
�Yeah, but that�s mostly for boarding camps,� Ocean replied. �But we�ll go sometime this winter, I promise.�
Joey, Chris, Justin and JC nodded. �Cool.�
Lance came out of the bedroom grinning.
�Got your business taken care of?� JC asked.
Lance nodded as he took his place next to Ocean. �Yup � I�m good to go.�
�Who�d you call?� Ocean asked.
�Umm�my mom,� Lance said.
�Oh. That�s cool. I haven�t talked to my mom for awhile,� Ocean replied.
�I don�t know how you can do that,� Justin said.
Ocean shrugged. �I wasn�t ever that close to my family.�
Chris yawned. �Well, the rain�s letting up � I think I�m going to head for bed.�
�Yeah, me too,� Joey agreed. �I don�t want to get soaked.�
�You know, that�s a good idea,� Lance said. �I�m going to go with the guys.�
�Come to think of it, I better go too before the rain starts up again,� JC said. �I don�t really want to get soaked again.�
�Of course. Go,� Rainbow urged as JC stood up then kissed her softly.
�Good night, you guys!� Chris and Joey called on their way down the stairs.
�Night!� Ocean and Rainbow called.
�See you in the morning, Osh,� Lance said, kissing Ocean.
�Okay.�
After JC and Lance left, Eric stood up and stretched. �I think I�m going to hit the sack. Night all of you.�
�Good night, Eric,� Rainbow, Ocean, Bridget and Justin called. After awhile, Ocean and Rainbow went downstairs too, leaving Bridget and Justin alone.
�I�m getting kind of tired myself, Bridgey � are you going to be okay alone?� Justin asked.
Bridget nodded with a weak smile. �Yeah.�
�Are you sure?�
A pause. Then she shook her head. �No.�
�Do you want me to stay?�
�Would you?�
�Of course � how can I say no?�
Chapter Nine
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