Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1

Dark clouds hung overhead as raindrops pelted windows in a rhythmic pit-pat fashion across a sleepy town in the suburbs. The melody prompted the frogs outside to sing their croaky song, while the flowers swayed to the beat. All the while, inside a large home, was a young boy who sat on a stool, gazing at the yard outside. His legs swished back and forth in tune with the grandfather clock as he watched the droplets drip down the window.

Sunny was bored, it was a Friday afternoon and he had nothing to do. His friends were going to come over tomorrow for their weekly Saturday cartoons and the anticipation made the rainy day all the more boring. His older sister, Mari, wasn’t even around to distract him from his boredom as she was out of the house. She was out for another one of her college prep classes, and Sunny could only grimace as he remembered there were only two years left before she left for college. It wouldn’t be for another hour or so until she came back.

Sunny put his feet on the stool and put his face in his knees to try and get those bothersome thoughts out of his head, but suddenly, he heard a splish and a splash as he watched someone in a pink umbrella walk across the sidewalk. He recognized that umbrella, after all, he saw that umbrella every single rainy day at school.

Indeed, he saw Aubrey carry an umbrella as she walked through the rain, although, the umbrella wasn’t being used in the way it was meant to be used. She walked along with the umbrella slung across her shoulder, while the rain drenched her. Every few steps, she made a loud cry as she swung her umbrella like she was going for a home-run. She also stomped in every puddle on purpose with no exceptions, getting drenching herself in the process.

Sunny jumped from his stool, bursted out the door, and ran outside.

"Hey! Aubrey!” Sunny yelled out,

That seemed to break Aubrey out of her mood as she turned to face Sunny.

“Oh, hi, Sunny,” she watched as Sunny ran out of the house up to her.

“Come here!” He grabbed Aubrey and started pulling her by the arm.

“Huh? W-“ Aubrey tried to say something, but Sunny dragged her into his home before she could utter a sentence.

Sunny stumbled a bit as he rushed them both into his home. Once he got both of them inside, he spoke.

“I’ll get some towels, um, sit there.” Sunny stumbled a bit with his words. He pointed to a spot on the sofa and he scurried away.

Aubrey was confused to say the least, but Sunny was already gone. She put her umbrella on the side of the coat rack and took off her shoes and socks. The sound of footsteps and the clattering of utilities and cabinets sounded out upstairs as she sat on the sofa. Once she sat, a squish echoed and Aubrey grimaced. The couch she was sitting on was definitely expensive. It wouldn’t do to damage something so nice. Instead, Aubrey got up and sat on a spot near the fireplace on the rug. It was very toasty.

A black ball suddenly jumped onto her lap, and Aubrey lit up with glee. Mari recently got a kitten named Mewo, and Mewo walked up to her and nuzzled her head into her stomach. She squealed a bit and excitedly ran her hands through Mewo’s fur, and Mewo gave the cutest purr in response.

Eventually, the rattling upstairs stopped, and Sunny came running down the stairs with a handful of towels, a blanket, a hair drier, and a bunch of stuffed toys.

“Here.” He handed Aubrey a bunch of towels, but they were clumped into an unwieldy ball much like an onion. Aubrey managed to peel away a layer from the towel onion and dried the rain off herself.

Mewo promptly jumped from Aubrey’s lap and tackled the towel onion. She attempted to defeat it but the many layers kept falling on the small kitten.  

Sunny was behind the TV, rustling a pile of wires. He could’ve sworn there was an open outlet behind here, but all he saw was a mess of power strips and dust.

“Found it.” The hair drier in Sunny’s hand came to life and he handed it to Aubrey. A loud noise erupted throughout the room and it drowned out everything else which scared Mewo away. The towel onion laid on the floor, undefeated.

Aubrey didn’t realize just how cold she was and that made the hot air from the drier heavenly. She ran it through her hair a few times and over the parts of her clothes that were the most drenched. After a few rounds, her brain slowly regained its functions and she realized she never thanked Sunny, and hurriedly turned his way.

“Thanks Sunny, but you didn’t have to do all that.” Aubrey said, but Sunny just shook his dusty head.

“You were going to get sick if you didn’t dry off.” Sunny explained.

“It’s not that big a –“ Aubrey tried to say, but Sunny cut her off.

“Remember when I fell in the lake and Mari dove in and helped me? We got really sick after that. Our mom yelled at us for hours. Also, today is Friday, if you get sick, then we won’t be able to hang out tomorrow.” Sunny held out the blanket. After a moment, Aubrey took the blanket and wrapped it around her. She took a seat on the rug next to the fireplace.

“Fine, but wipe yourself off as well Sunny, you’re dusty.” Aubrey peeled off another layer from the towel onion and threw it onto Sunny.

An awkward silence began to pass as the fireplace crackled and they both dusted/dried themselves off. Sunny had a number of questions, ‘why did you go outside in the rain’, ‘is your umbrella broken’,  ‘why were you so angry’, he thought for a while, but asked had to be asked.

“Are you okay?”

Aubrey mumbled a sound like a deflated bike horn.

“That doesn’t sound like okay. Um, want to talk about it?” Sunny sat down on the rug next to Aubrey, he patted the ground and handed her a stuffed toy with bushy eyebrows. “It’ll be like the park, I’ll hear you out.”

Aubrey huffed. She planted her face in her blanket and closed her eyes. After a while, she sighed, and pulled her head up.

Aubrey took a deep breath, “Today was awful! Bun bun made a mess of his room and Dad yelled at me for not cleaning up after her even though I was just about to. My favorite pen also disappeared and I couldn’t even find it after searching for a whole hour!”

“Is that it?” Sunny asked. It sounded bad, but he knew Aubrey well enough that what she just described wasn’t enough to make her that furious to run out in the rain.

Aubrey grimaced, she tried to think of another excuse but sighed, “Mom and Dad are fighting.” She said with a quiet voice.

“They were arguing again and they started screaming at each other. It went on for so long, and I’m not exactly sure what they were arguing about, but I couldn’t think at all. I don’t think they even knew I was there and I was really really scared,” Aubrey took a deep breath, “So… I just grabbed my umbrella and ran out. At first I was kinda sad, but then I got really angry. It’s not fair! Why can’t they just get along!”

Sunny stayed quiet.

Aubrey threw Sunny’s stuffed toy, Brows, to the side as tears formed in her eyes. It bounced harmlessly against the floor. Sunny handed Aubrey another toy, Happy the yellow gumdrop.

“Thanks.” Aubrey plopped down on the rug to stare at the ceiling and sniffled. She put the stuffed toy on her stomach and moped.

“I really want them to make up…”

Sunny had to think. He really didn’t know much about Aubrey’s home, she never did speak about it with any of them before.

“I don’t really know what anyone can do about mom and dad, but I do feel a little better after talking about it,” Aubrey squished Happy and played with it in her hands.

“Well… at least you have us don’t you?” Sunny said, “I know it’s not exactly the same, but Hero always says that it doesn’t matter what comes at us, we’ll be able to get through it, as long as we do it together. Remember you can always rely on us.”

“Hero does say that a lot, but isn’t he still afraid of bugs?” Aubrey giggled, “Do you think he’ll ever be able to look at a bug without freezing up?”

“Maybe if there’s hundreds of us between the bug and him.” They both laughed and made up a variety of other situations where Hero had to face his fears. From bunny-spiders, which Aubrey insisted would be adorable, to Hero having to battle giant bugs in a giant robot. They went on to discuss their classmates, their friends, and what they thought would happen next on the next issue of Captain Spaceboy.

Eventually, the grandfather clock chimed, and their conversation slowly died down, and Aubrey, exhausted, stretched her arms and made a big yawn.

“Hey Sunny, can you keep the thing about my parents a secret?” She said in a small voice.

“Why?” Sunny didn’t understand, if they were going to help Aubrey, they’d have to tell the rest of their friends.

“I don’t really want anyone else to know about this. It’s kind of embarrassing. I mean, it’s not that bad since dad always manages to calm mom down.” Aubrey covered her face with the blanket, “I’m having so much fun with everyone right now and I don’t want a thing between any of us to change.”

“I do too, but I don’t think anything will change between us,” Sunny managed to stumble his words. His face flushed at what he was about to offer next, “if you ever want to talk, you can always come to me.”

“Thanks Sunny,” She let out a sigh of relief and then she yawned, “that’s really sweet.”

Aubrey felt a lot better. She remembered that she should go home soon, but the rug was soft, and the blanket was comfy. Her heart felt a lot lighter, the air felt a lot fresher, and she couldn’t muster the will to get up. It… should be fine to close her eyes a little, Sunny wouldn’t mind. She curdled the blanket a little closer to her, and relaxed.

Minutes passed as Aubrey slowly drifted deeper into her slumber, and Sunny tried to figure out what to do. He stared at Aubrey’s face for those many minutes to see if she was asleep, yes, she was indeed, definitely asleep. And he shouldn’t have moved or else he might wake her up, that’s why he had to stay in place, especially because he was next to her.

Suddenly, Sunny heard something outside the front door, without a moment’s hesitation, he immediately dove himself headfirst into the rug. If anyone saw him, either his parents or Mari, staring at Aubrey’s face, he’d literally explode. His thumping heart was beating hard against his chest. He kept his ears open, he held his breath, but eventually the sound stopped and nothing followed. Sunny waited a few seconds just to make sure the coast was clear.

Sunny peeked one eye open and looked out the front window. He found Mewo splashing outside in a large puddle in their garden. He let out a sigh of relief, it was just a false alarm. He didn’t know how Mewo got outside, but if she could get out, she could definitely find her way back in.

Sunny let himself relax, and plopped his head on the carpet, staring up to the ceiling. He thought about what just happened. And thus, the more rational part of his brain took over.

He brought his hands to his face. Did he really just say all that to Aubrey? It was incredibly cheesy. He couldn’t help but squirm, and then he thought of nudging a little closer to Aubrey and squirmed some more. He was definitely happy to get to know her a little better, but he really hoped that she didn’t notice his crush on her.

Aubrey shuffled a bit in her sleep due to Sunny’s wild dance on the floor, and Sunny froze still. He didn’t dare move another muscle, despite all his nervous energy.

Sunny needed to calm down, He remembered what Mari told him about how to do so. He needed to close his eyes, empty his mind, and focus on his breathing.

Sunny laid on the soft rug, as the pitter patter of the rain sounded in the distance, as the fire gave warmth and crackled away. The environment made it extremely easy for Sunny to relax.

Breathe in.

Breath out.

Within minutes, his breathing was completely steady, his mind completely empty, and his eyes completely shut. Indeed, Sunny was maintaining a perfect still state. Fifteen more minutes passed and he kept the same position perfectly. Indeed…

The rug had claimed another victim.

The sun was finally starting to peek out after the long rainy shower the town had all day. A beautiful orange glow was shining upon every surface as the sun began to set. The pools of water reflected this orange glow. It was akin to being in a room filled with giant Christmas lights. Mari was briskly walking down the street, bag in hand, looking immaculate as always.

She was finally done with every single class for the day. College prep classes were definitely no joke, a single class was more exhausting than a full day of school. The classwork was intense, but she found satisfaction in achieving excellence.

Though it did leave her quite hungry, she wanted to get some fruit to refresh herself as an afternoon snack. She’d make sure Sunny would have some too, she always had to urge him to eat healthily. He always ate what was in front of him with no regards for a balanced diet.

She fiddled with the keys in her hand as she reached the front door of her home. The entirety of the home was a plain mixture of beige and white, she wondered if Dad would ever consider painting the house a few more colors. Mari heard a small mew and looked at the garden, there she found Mewo sitting in the garden soaked from head to toe outside the door like an adorable furry garden gnome.

“Aw, Mewo, did you get locked outside?” She cooed, “Let’s get you inside and dry you off.” She picked up the kitten by the neck with an experienced touch and put her into her arms. She unlocked the door in one swift motion and slipped the keys back into her bag.

Mari stepped into the living room and dropped her bag in surprise (but not Mewo). The sight made her break into the most manic smile. She had to suppress a squeal so she wouldn’t wake what she was looking at.

Sunny and Aubrey, some of the two cutest kids she knew were both lazily napping in front of the fireplace. A number of towels littered the floor as well as a small pile of stuffed animals surrounded them and Aubrey was cuddling one as well. Mari quickly wished that Basil was here to take a photo of this moment, she wanted to get this picturesque scene in as many megapixels and angles as she can get.

But Mewo made another cry and Mari remembered she had to dry her kitten off. She had to reorganize her priorities, and well, the two weren’t going anywhere. She peeled off a towel from the towel onion and the hair drier (she would need to remember to clean up before mom got home) and walked up the stairs to the bathroom.

         Once she got Mewo’s fur all glossy and soft, Mari walked down the stairs back into the living room. She may not have a camera on her, nor in the house, but she’d engrave this moment into her mind. Unfortunately, the same moment she reached the bottom of the stairs, the front door opened again. Mari’s mother walked in and she was unaware of the sanctity of the moment and made a miraculous racket. Her keys clanked loudly against the bowl as they were tossed in, the door slammed shut harder than Mari had ever heard before, and her mother stomped her way through into her room. Mari recognized those signs, her mother must’ve had an awful workday today.

She sighed as one of the two sleeping angels were roused from their sleep as a hurricane known as their mother swept through their home. Sunny was able to sleep through the most incredible rackets. Well, if her other plans were ruined, she might as well speak to Aubrey to catch up.

Aubrey groggily got up. She rubbed her eyes whilst holding the bright yellow plushie. Yellow? Wasn’t Mr. Plantegg purple? She began to notice more and more discrepancies and she looked around, from how the soft rug definitely wasn’t her bed, to the unfamiliar blanket, to the older girl watching her with a bright giga-watt smile. Her eyes focused on the older girl’s face and she immediately panicked, it was Mari! Aubrey’s brain jolted awake and she threw the blanket to the side. Mari giggled at the scene and put out a hand for Aubrey to grab and pulled Aubrey up.

“Wakey wakey sleepyhead!” Mari lightly poked Aubrey on the forehead. Aubrey made a cute murgle in response. “Good afternoon Aubrey! Did you have a nice nap? And more importantly, why were you sleeping on the floor? It’s not very good for your back.” Mari asked with a smile.

“Well, uh,” Aubrey paused to think of a believable excuse, “a car splashed a bunch of water onto me while I was walking outside, so Sunny got me inside to dry off. And it was really warm! The fire was really cozy! And your rug is really soft and comfortable! So, um, I fell asleep...” Aubrey ran her toes on the carpet enjoying the feeling between her toes.

“And you just happened to fall asleep cuddling next to Sunny?” Mari’s smile grew until it was as wide as her face.

“N-no! It’s not like that! Um, I don’t know when Sunny fell asleep but… wait no! I wasn’t cuddling with him!” Aubrey blushed, “Was I…?”

“Nah Aubrey, I was just teasing.” Mari laughed.

“Daww, it’s getting late though, the sun has already set. Have you eaten anything?” Mari wondered. Aubrey shook her head in response.

  “Then, you should stay here for dinner Aubrey! There’s only another hour before dinner is ready.” Aubrey lit up for a moment, but Mari continued, “If you’re going to stay though, we’re going to have to call your parents though, they don’t know you’re here right?”

“Oh, thank you, but my dad made dinner tonight.” Aubrey lied. It was honestly a 50/50 chance that he did. Aubrey glanced at the clock, “It’s getting really late, so I have to be home soon. I think I’ll go right now.”

“Phooey, I’d offer to walk you home, but I think I need to bring Sunny up to bed.” The boy in particular slept silently, and somehow managed to wrap himself with the blanket that was tossed away earlier in his sleep.

“Bye Mari!” Aubrey said as she left through the front door, umbrella in hand. She reached the sidewalk and turned around, “See you tomorrow!” and began to run home.

As Aubrey bounced down the sidewalk, she chuckled to herself,

‘Today wasn’t such a bad day after all.’

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

“Can you put down the picnic blanket already, Mari!” Kel nagged at Mari while he swung his arms shook Hector’s leash. Hector definitely wasn’t enjoying that. “You’ve been looking for a spot for like, 10 minutes already!”

“Hold on, I’ve almost found the perfect spot.” Said Mari. Honestly, my legs were kind of tired. Hopefully she’ll find it soon…

“C’mon Mari! Hector can’t wait to prove how superior he is to all other pets! He’ll completely sweep the ‘Best Pet Competition’!”

It all started after Kel started bragging about Hector in class. Aubrey argued that Bun-Bun was better than Kel’s dog, and they had another Kel and Aubrey fight. One word led to another, and neither would back down. Thus, Kel declared they’d have to have their two pets compete to see whose pet is superior.

Kel brought Hector on a leash. He had a bunch of dog toys stuff in his pockets and they kept falling out. Thankfully, Hector kept picking them up and bringing them back to him. It almost seemed like Hector was walking an over-enthusiastic Kel.

Aubrey held her pet bunny eloquently named Bun-Bun. Every once in a while she nuzzled her face in the pile of warm fluff in her arms.

I brought along Mewo. She had a real shot at winning the best pet contest. She was a good kitty. The best kitty. I stroked Mewo’s head, and she made a cute purr in response.

Basil brought a plant.

It was in one of those red-brown pots I didn’t know the name of. Everyone didn’t know what to say when he left his house lugging a flower in a pot. He said it was a chrysanthemum, and he was bringing it for the “Best Pet Competition”.

Kel was the first to point out the obvious; plants aren’t pets.

Basil laughed weakly, but was surprisingly adamant about admitting his plant.

He explained why plants were basically pets as we walked along to the park. Things like how much attention you had to pay to them, making sure you use the right fertilizer, and keeping track of time so each plant gets the right amount of sun and water.

He was quite serious about it, so we might as well let the plant compete.

Mari was to be our judge. She was wearing a sash with a colorfully written “REFUREE” in crayon.

Kel made it.

As we continued our trek through the park, suddenly, Mari’s face lit up and she jogged up to a patch of grass. She scanned the area with her hands shaped like a camera. After a full 360-degree turn, Mari opened her arms.

“Here! This is the best spot in the entire park during the fall!”

“So I can set this all down now, right?” said Hero. He was begging us all with his eyes to give him a break.

Mari nodded.

With a big oomph, Hero let go of everything he was carrying. He was carrying the blanket with his left hand, a picnic basket in his right, and everything else in a dark blue backpack on his back. He was pretty much carrying everything. They made a hearty thump onto the grass covered with yellowish leaves.

We offered to help, but Hero insisted, saying that it was his ‘responsibility’ as the oldest when we set off to the park. He immediately regretted his decision. Five minutes into our trip, he made some hilarious noises as he tried not to fall over.

“Is everyone ready?” Mari asked.

I nodded enthusiastically with everyone else.

“Then let the ‘Best Pet Competition’ begin!”

It turns out there’s not a lot of things a dog, cat, bunny, and plant can compete in against each other.

Our first competition, the cutest, was a simple vote.

“I vote for Hector!” shouted Kel.

“I vote for Bun-Bun!” said Aubrey.

“Mewo.” I raised Mewo into the sunlight and heightened his appeal.

“I, uh, vote for my plant.” said Basil. “Oh, but I think everyone’s pets are pretty cute too!”

Hero was the last vote. I turned to him and gave him my best puppy dog eyes. Everyone else was giving him a look too.

“Um, well, everyone’s pets are equally great.” Hero tried to brush over the issue.

“C’mon! Choose! And think about all the good times you’ve had with Hector!” said Kel.

“Well, haha…” As Hero began to stall, I lifted Mewo so that she’d make eye-to-eye contact with Hero. He would have to have a heart of steel if he could resist kitten eye-contact. Aubrey was doing the same with her bunny.

Hero’s eyes darted around, no doubt unable to handle the pureness of the kitty stare. His eyes met with Mari and I could see him begging for a way out. An entire conversation played out through eye contact, and Hero was clearly desperate.

I have no idea what they said to each other, but I was pretty sure Hero had just agreed to something terrible.

The look in his eyes was empty. Mari had a no-good smile on her face.

Mari told me what Hero promised her when I asked her later. They were both going to visit a haunted house in the nearby city. Mari had wanted to go there ever since they opened, but no one in our group would go with her. Not until Hero, who had just volunteered.

I’ll let Hero hold Mewo later. He’ll need it.

“Well, as the all-honorable referee, I judge that Hero’s vote counts as 1 vote for pet equality.”

“B-but-“ Kel tried to say something.

“No buts, the refurees judgement is absolute, and thus I declare, the first competition has ended in a tie!”

Our second competition was for which pet was the best at eating. Hero set out a bunch of snacks he had prepared in Tupperware containers all over the carpet. They were all prepared earlier that morning and were all catered to each pet. I didn’t even know chefs could cook special dishes for pets! Hero just left Basil’s plant in the sun.

“Here you go, everyone! It was honestly quite a novel experience cooking for animals. And don’t worry, I did some research on the library and everything is safe for them all to eat.”

There was an impressive assortment of scrambled eggs, chunks of chicken, veggies, and nuts for all our pets.

Kel was drooling at the assortment. Mari had to keep him away, so she slipped him some Orange Joe from the picnic basket.

While everyone’s pets were scarfing down their meal, I noticed a squirrel on the edge of my vision. Then I saw a second one. And then three more.

Before we knew it, a bunch of furry bandits had surrounded the cornucopia of food. And they were hungry.

The squirrels diving like football players, aiming for bits of eggs and nuts as they dashed across the yard. Hector especially took offense to this as he barked with an extreme fervor.

And before anyone could do anything about it, Hector took off to chase the squirrels. Unfortunately, he overturned the bowls and snacks as he ran, and so, the food flew all across the picnic blanket. Which included anyone who was near the picnic blanket.

An egg slapped onto my cheek, and yolk dripped from my chin. I peeled it off. It smelled delicious, but I wasn’t going to eat face food, so I tossed it into the trash bag Hero brought.

“Hector, noooooooo!” screamed Kel. He ran after Hector.

I rescued Mewo. Aubrey picked up Bun-Bun. They still ate their share, of course, but I didn’t want them fighting the food bandits. Aubrey waved around her bat with one arm and held Bun-Bun in the other to try. She was trying to scare some of the squirrels off, but it wasn’t working very well.

Basil hugged his flower away from the squirrels. Basil’s flower was untouched.

The situation was getting out of hand, and I did not know what to do. But before anything dangerous could happen, Hero stepped in! He grabbed a bunch of the Tupperware containers, which drew the squirrels attention. The squirrels were measuring him up, to see if they could take him, but then, Hero threw everything away!

The food spread everywhere on the grass, and the squirrels mobbed the chunks in a frenzy. I could finally let out a sigh I didn’t even know I was holding.

“Maybe this competition wasn’t the best idea.” said Mari as she laughed. She was picking some chunks of chicken off her hair and shrugged, “Let’s just hang out.”

We looked at the scene, Hector was still chasing the squirrels, and Kel was chasing Hector. Amazingly, none of them were tiring out. Hero was busy trying to clean up the food that spilled all over the ground so we wouldn’t have littered. Mari was doing her best to clean the picnic blanket from the splotches of eggs and egg yolk that dripped all over it.

Hanging out was probably for the best.

We all took a break and started eating the lunch that Hero had prepared. He made some really good sandwiches today! I had no idea what was in them, but he said he made a special sauce he just learned the recipe for. It was delicious! It was kind of savory and kind of sweet and made everything in the sandwich all the more delicious.

In between bites, we all talked about the competition. There were a bunch of highlights from each of our pets, though there wasn’t much to say about Basil’s flower. And it was pretty obvious on Basil’s mopey face that he felt bad about it.

“I shouldn’t have brought a flower, I thought it was kinda dumb to bring it for a pet competition from the start.” Basil mumbled.

He shouldn’t feel bad, the competition wasn’t really that big a deal. Maybe he’ll feel better if I pat his back. Unfortunately, my friendly pats had little effect on his mood.

“Then why’d you bring it?” asked Aubrey.

“Um… well… uh…” Basil stalled, but Aubrey’s inquisitive eyes drew the answer out of him, “I didn’t want to be left out.” He mumbled in a tiny voice.

I redoubled my patting.

“Don’t worry, Basil, we’d never exclude you from anything! You’re our friend!” she went and pet his head while my hands were still patting his back.

“Thanks, but can you guys stop? I kinda feel like a pet…”

“You can join the contest then! You have a real shot! It’s going to be super hard to beat Bun-Bun though.” said Aubrey.

“The competition might just be too fierce for me. Look at Bun-Bun’s sharp, uh…” Basil stared at the rabbit, “teeth? I’d be destroyed!” Laughed Basil.

“And I probably won’t be able to beat the squirrels…” He trailed off.

The squirrels had raided most of the bounty Hero had set out. They gave the nuts no quarter, as the bowls laid as empty as Kel’s toy wallet. They had scampered off after there was no more treasure to plunder.

Yeah, there was definitely no beating the squirrels…

If I had to pick a favorite season, it would probably be summer. Summer had so much, it couldn’t be beat, summer vacation with my friends, I was born in the summer so it’s when I have my birthdays, and ice cream in the sweltering heat is something that could rival any meal in existence.

But fall wasn’t too bad either. Fall leaves are always pretty and the weather lets me wear my favorite hoodie. Basil says fall makes reading a lot more fun, but I don’t really get it. Books are the same no matter the season, except for the Captain Spaceboy Christmas Special. That was always more fun to read when Christmas was coming up.

I took a seat on the picnic blanket and watched the scenery. There was a beautiful mix of reds, oranges, yellows, and greens that covered the entire park. Every once in a while, a strong wind blew, creating a small tornado of leaves, and eventually a breeze reached the picnic blanket I was on.

The breeze felt great. I closed my eyes to feel it with all my senses, the smell, the cool chill, it’s a wonderful sensation. It was the kind of breeze that refreshes the soul unique to the beginning of Fall. Mari really had set up her picnic blanket in the perfect spot. Despite Kel’s nagging at how long it took for her to find it, it was completely worth it. Everything was perfect, and I had my bubble of space. No one nor no thing could disturb it.

“Uh, you okay, Sunny?”

I opened my eyes to see Kel leaning into me and disturbing my bubble; he was leaning way too close. There was only an inch before we would’ve butted our foreheads. I backed away gracefully. I did not lose my balance and fall on my back. Indeed, it was completely my own choice to lie on the ground and stare at the clouds.

“Whoops, sorry about that Sunny, heh heh. Does it hurt?”

I had to think about it a little. The pain was a weird pain; it teetered between the line of pain and mild discomfort, like the pain was doing a strange ballet recital between the two lines. It just left me with an awfully uncomfortable sensation.

After I got up, I shook my head. It wasn’t a big deal, and the pain was pretty much gone. Kel made a sound that was probably relief, picked up some leaves, and ran off into the distance. Kel said he was trying to create the largest pile of leaves and create a leaf explosion.

I’m definitely not going to be around when he hops in.

Instead, I wanted to put myself into a prime position for the next breeze, so I looked for the perfect spot. A place with a bit of distance from the others, actually. No one would surprise me like Kel again.

Mari and Hero were sitting next to each other on the opposite side of the picnic blanket. They were both having some more sandwiches Hero cooked up. They were eating them peculiarly as well.

Mari held the sandwich in her hand in front of Hero.

Hero gingerly took a bite out of it. His face was red as he swallowed.

Mari giggled and nudged his arm. She signaled for Hero to feed her this time.

Hero did so, and as she chewed, she whispered something in Hero’s ear.

“You… squirrels… pretty… cool… think… fell… love again.” I couldn’t really make out much of what they were saying, but it was probably something mushy, considering how much Hero was blushing.

They thought they were being so sneaky, feeding each other and whispering like that when no one was looking.

But I saw it all.

Y’know, Mari isn’t as sharp as she usually is when she does when she does this stuff with Hero. I wonder why? She would catch me staring any other time. I would ask her, but she probably wouldn’t give me a straight answer.

Do relationships do that to people? I’m going to have to test this hypothesis, but if it’s true, after so many years, I finally found one of Mari’s weaknesses! Of course, as her good little brother, I wouldn’t do anything with it. I’d only slightly tease her with it!

Kel was off in the distance and his leaf pile was getting pretty big. How was he able to stack up all those leaves? And why isn’t the wind blowing them away? Questions for later.

Basil was off to the side in the shade with his plant. He was reading a book but couldn’t concentrate on the pages. Mainly due to the wind. It kept flipping the pages, making Basil lose his place, no matter what he did he concentrate. Oh, he noticed I was looking his way and waved to me.

I waved back.

I’m pretty sure that he read that book before. I remember it because Basil kept egging me on to read it as well. It was pretty interesting. The details were fuzzy to me, but it was a murder mystery novel where a detective was examining a suicide case. But there was a twist! It was actually a murder! Basil told me a sequel to the book was coming out, so he was building a theory about what’ll happen in the next book. His book was chock-full of colorful post-it notes. Hopefully Basil will lend me the sequel when he’s done with it.

Aubrey was in the field trying to be a Disney princess. Mewo, Hector, and Bun-Bun surrounded her as she twirled and sang a song I’m pretty sure was from one of their movies. It would’ve been better if she wasn’t devastatingly off-key.

Aubrey’s off-key singing did not cause the animals to break out into a chorus, and they instead did what animals do, and wander off. Hector searched for food, Mewo did what cats do, and Bun-Bun, for some reason, approached me.

I readied myself. Why was this rabbit approaching me? To be honest, I didn’t like the fluffy creature.

It’s not like he did anything to me, but I was frankly sick of hearing anything about Bun-Bun during our talks. We’ve been having secret talks in the park for a while now and we both spoke, I mostly listened, about whatever.

It was nice.

I could usually listen to Aubrey talk about almost anything for the whole day.

Except for Bun-Bun.

Something about all the stories that describe how his ears twitched or how he ate something in a cute way really annoyed me. If I had to listen to one more story about the habits of rabbits, I’d knock myself out. Even I had limits to my patience. The stories about Aubrey cuddling Bun-Bun were the worst.

A summer day flashed into my head. The rumbling of a car, the smell of sand, and an instance where I accidently nodded off to Aubrey’s shoulder. Weird, why was I reminiscing about this? It wasn’t even that relevant right now.

Thankfully, before the rabbit got close to me, Aubrey ran up and picked him up. Still rankled me a bit, though.

“Where are you going, Bun-Bun?” Where indeed. I glowered at it to make it turn the other way, but the rabbit was unfazed and tried its best to hop in my direction.

“Oh! You want to go to Sunny?”

Unfortunately, all my efforts were for naught as Aubrey was running towards me with the rabbit in her arms.

“Sunny, look! Bun-Bun wants to play with you! Isn’t she so cute! She’s so soft as well!” She held out her arms to show me. I saw none of the aforementioned qualities. “Try rubbing your face on her stomach!”

I would’ve said no, but Aubrey was looking at me with such excited eyes. I… I didn’t want to disappoint her… But I feel like I’d lose something important if I cuddled the rabbit just because Aubrey wanted to see it…

“Sure.” I picked up the rabbit and gave his stomach a few fluffs. I gave the best smile I could under the circumstances. Aubrey smiled back.

I chose her smile.

I felt a bit warmer afterwards.

“You two having fun?” Mari asked with Hero as she popped up behind us. I stumbled a bit but immediately caught myself. Is everyone going to sneak up on me today?

“Yeah!” said Aubrey, “Sunny just wanted to play with Bun-Bun a little, he’s said so much about wanting to meet him!” Lies. Those words have never left my lips.

“I can see why. Bun-Bun is quite cute.” Mari tried getting the bunny’s attention, but the bunny instead sniffed Aubrey’s hair.

“Isn’t she?!” Aubrey lit up. “Want to fluff her stomach, Mari?!”

“Oh, I’d love to! Just give me a sec.” Mari walked up to me, “Here Sunny, have another sandwich, you could always eat a bit more.”

I took the sandwich as Mari petted the bunny. It was kind of annoying seeing Mari smother the rabbit, so I focused on my sandwich instead. I wasn’t really hungry, but food is food. I closed my eyes and focused on the sandwich. Oh wow, the sandwich is good even when it’s smushed and cold.

“So Sunny, you like rabbits more than cats? Mewo would be devastated.” That was a weird question. She should know that Mewo is number 1. Obviously.

“No,” I said as I swallowed, “I don’t really…” A took a quick glance at Aubrey. She had the face of a kicked puppy. I had to change my answer, quick! “...like cats that much more than rabbits!”

Hero looked betrayed. Look, I know, I’m sorry Hero, but if you could just learn to disappoint people every once in a while, you wouldn’t be stuck in those situations where you just can’t please everyone. I’ll apologize later.

“I see, I see.” Said Mari. A grin broke out on her face. “So what about Aubrey? Do you like her more than Mewo and Bun-Bun? That reminds me, didn’t the two of you snuggle up the other day?”

Some sandwich got lodged in my throat. I started choking and eventually I got the sandwich out. I could finally breathe again. Why did Mari have to bring that day up? I repressed the aftermath of that day from my memory. Mari gave me an insufferable and wry smile that whole week before she let it go. But what do I say?

The truth?

No way. That’s too embarrassing.

“We didn’t!” It came out with more force than I intended. My face felt hot. “That’s not a fair question!”

“Fine, fine. But I’m curious, how’s the relationship between you two?”

How much does Mari know? My poker face is pretty good, so I don’t think she knows about my crush. Okay… okay… she definitely doesn’t know about when we meet at the park. If I play my cards right, those meetings can hopefully be kept a secret.

“We mainly talk at school about anything with Basil and Kel.” I really hoped Mari wouldn’t see through me.

Aubrey was looking my way, and if she pointed out my lie, I’d explode on the spot. But her correction never came.

Wait, don’t tell me… does she want to keep our meetings a secret? Our eyes met.

She gave me a nod.

We’re on the same page! I don’t know why Aubrey’s helping me, but I can do this!

“Oh, I see them together on the swings at the park a lot. They stay there for hours.” A leaf-covered Kel said as he popped out of nowhere.

I can’t do this.

Dang it Kel, shut up...

“Dang it Kel, it’s not like that!” shouted Aubrey more audibly. She approached Kel as she winded up a headbutt. Hero broke them up before any actual fighting started, but it meant the three of them were preoccupied, and that meant that it left me with Mari.

“Oh, really?” Mari’s face lit up like it was her birthday. “A secret rendezvous, huh?” She poked my cheek, “You go lil’ bro, you’re growing up so fast!”

“It’s not like that!” It may kinda sorta be like that, but I won’t ever admit it to Mari.

“Huh? What’s going on?” Basil appeared to the side of me as he noticed the commotion. He marked a page with a pressed-flower bookmark and finally closed his book.

“It turns out that Sunny and Aubrey have been meeting up in secret!” Mari laughed as she spoke.

Basil took a moment to process the information before turning to me. I nudged his arm, and hopefully he got the message. Save me, Basil!

Come on, Basil! I can count on you! Diffuse the situation, please!

He smirked instead.

“Wow, should I get Sunny some flowers to help him woo Aubrey?”

Basil, no! How could you betray me!

Basil just looked back with a small smile.

The two of them were tag-teaming to tease me. This is horrible. I have to distract myself to weather all the damage they were doing to me. Beyond twiddling my thumbs, I checked with Aubrey to see how she was doing. I think she was doing better than I was; she was explaining to Hero and Kel about us in a flurry and waving her arms frantically.

“So… you meet up with Sunny because the two of you trade stories about what will happen in the next Captain Spaceboy?” Asked Hero.

“No fair! Why didn’t you invite me?! I love Captain Spaceboy as much as both of you two!” Complained Kel.

“Well, um, “ Aubrey took a moment, “Your stories are kinda stupid.”

“No, they’re not! Think about it! The next story of Captain Spaceboy could have him fight giant alien cows as they shoot him with milk guns!” said Kel, his eyes closed and his mind no doubt envisioning a battle between bovine and boy. Yeah, I’m not really sure if that’s a good idea, Kel.

Personally, I had my own ideas about Captain Spaceboy’s next adventure. Captain Spaceboy in love sounded really fun.

“That’s dumb.” Said Aubrey, and that just started another argument.

Well, at least Aubrey somehow distracted the two of them.

“You don’t have to be shy, Aubrey.” Mari finally let up on me and joined in Aubrey’s ‘conversation’.

“S-shy? Shy about what?” Aubrey asked.

“Well…” Mari looked to the rest of us, “maybe this is best reserved for girl talk. Go on everybody else, shoo shoo.” She fanned her arm at us, and that was the sign to leave the two of them for a private conversation. We all took the familiar cue and drifted away like leaves.

Off in the distance, Aubrey whispered something into Mari’s ear. Mari said something back, and Aubrey covered her face. I had no idea what the two of them were saying. Oh shoot, Mari is turning my way. She’d give me the scolding of a lifetime, if she found out I was eavesdropping.

Kel, the nosy tattletale, was talking to Basil about his book. I hope a leaf gets stuck in his underwear. Let’s talk to Hero instead.

“Hey Sunny. It’s a great day today, isn’t it?” I nodded. Small talk with anyone was always weird, but Hero makes it natural somehow. As expected of Hero.

“You’ve been practicing for the recital with Mari, right? The music bleeds out of your house when you two practice. I’ve heard the song you two play so much that it’s stuck in my head, but I’m still looking forward to your performance. You both sound great!”

Only Mari sounded great. It’s been weeks, but I still can’t get the song down. Mari only took like a day or two to perfect the song, and I’m just stuck playing the same song over and over again, and making the same mistakes. She hasn’t even messed up since the moment she learned it.

The recital. It was coming up in just a few weeks, but it just left me with a pit in my stomach. It’s why today was so great. Today would be a break from all the practice, where I could hang out with my friends and have fun.

“Oh, don’t worry Sunny, you’ll do fine. I know how hard you’ve been working, and it’ll pay off.” Hero noticed my face scrunching up and did his best to reassure me.

“I’m fine.” I turned away from Hero, and came to the sight of Mari hugging Aubrey, who was squirming in her arms. Ah yeah, sometimes Mari’s hugs smother you too much and it gets hard to breathe. We should probably help.

“Well, she just said something great and super cute! I just had to hug her!” Mari started.

“Stphh fhat!” Aubrey could barely make a sound. Mari just giggled and ruffled Aubrey’s hair with her chin.

“Let up on her Mari.” Hero went to save Aubrey, and Aubrey could finally breathe once more.

“So what did Aubrey say?” Kel noticed the commotion and jumped in to find out more.

“Well, wouldn’t it be super great if Aubrey was everyone’s sister?” Mari gave the stupidest, largest grin I’ve seen all day.

Aubrey as a sister? That seemed weird. I’d prefer not to happen.

“Bleh, I don’t want Aubrey as a sister, she’ll give me cooties.” Kel stuck his tongue out.

“Um, Aubrey doesn’t have cooties.” Basil corrected Kel.

“Well, she has something girly in her bones, and I don’t want that anywhere near me!” Kel moved behind me and made me a human shield.

I turned around and exposed Kel towards the girly energy. I was very peeved at Mr. Tattletale, so perish and fall under the girly aura!

“Sunny! Nooooooo!” Kel fell to the ground. His unmoving body closed its eyes and stuck its tongue out. The very picture of a corpse.

“Is he okay?” Basil asked.

“It’s Kel. He deserves it.” Aubrey glared at the corpse.

“Don’t say that, Aubrey.” Scolded Hero. “Though the way the two of you fight are already kind of like a sibling relationship.”

“What! There’s no way we’re like that!” Aubrey did her best to look disgusted. I tried my best not to laugh, but I couldn’t stifle the giggles that came out. And unfortunately, Aubrey noticed my laughter. Her face reset, turned red, and she looked away. Sorry Aubrey…

Basil hadn’t spoken up in a while, I should probably check up on him. He was off to the side, his eyes were darting around. I’ve noticed that he always does that when he’s super unsure of himself. What’s bothering him this time?

“Basil.” His eyes snapped to me, and I gave him a nod. He got the message, but he took a second to gather up his courage. He took a deep breath and spoke.

“W-well, all this talk about siblings makes me kind of wish I had a sister or brother…”

“Don’t say that! You’re part of our family too, Basil!” Mari interjected.

I agreed. Basil always had a bad habit of excluding himself. We always had to remind him that there was no way we’re leaving him alone.

“Thanks.” Basil’s face grew red, his mouth moved into a smile, and scratched his cheek.

Though Basil as family… I wouldn’t mind Basil as a brother, though. Even though I’m pretty sure nothing between us would really change.

The sun began to set, and I could feel the energy in the air peter out. Everyone was sitting on the picnic blanket. Quietly watching the sunset. Well, except for Kel. He was lying on a pile of leaves which he was calling mi casa.

“I’m bored. Sunsets are boring.” Kel bluntly stated as he rolled on the blanket of leaves. His mom is going to give him a huge scolding for getting his clothes and entire body all dirty like that. Kel didn’t seem to care, and his dirt-covered fingers went into his mouth and he whistled.

“Hector! Here, boy!” The whistle echoed through the park along with Kel’s voice.

I saw Hector over. In his race to run over to owner, Hector lost all grace and awareness of his surroundings. He became a Kel-seeking missile. Thus, he kicked up dirt; he jumped over the roots of a nearby tree, his leg got caught in a pot, and I winced.

Hector couldn’t exactly run with his leg hindered like that, so he whipped his leg out. Unfortunately, that sent Basil’s flower flying.

The flower flew through the air, and it hit the ground hard.

The pot shattered all over the grass. The flower’s petals contrasted heavily with the leafy ground.

Everyone’s heads turned over to the crashing sound.

“Hector!” Hero shouted. He went up to the plant and picked up the pieces. From what I could see, the flower hurt too bad, but it lost a noticeable amount of its petals.

Basil just stood there silently.

His eyes were getting watery. This is bad.

“I’m sorry, Basil!” Kel immediately apologized, “Don’t cry! Um, I’ll get you a new pot! Promise!”

“I-i-i-t’s f-fine, K-kel…” said Basil, but his sniffling and watery eyes told a different story. His breath was quick, and he was only a push away from completely bawling.

Mari, Hero, and Aubrey went over to do their best to comfort him. Kel stood off awkwardly to the side. His guilt was apparent on his face.

This was strange.

I knew Basil. He had a big heart and would usually forgive anyone of us in almost an instant. He may have loved plants, but not to the extent of crying over them like this, since well… I sound so arrogant when I say this… he loves us more. So his tears were strange. There’s something more going on.

“Basil, is everything okay?” I did my best to put some emotion in my voice. I don’t know what’s troubling him, but it’ll be better if I can get him to talk about it. I looked him dead in the eye.

“Y-ye-“ Basil was about to default to his typical response, but his eyes met mine.

“You should talk, I know it’ll help.” As the certified good listener in our group, my friends really liked using me to vent out their feelings. I’m proud that it always seemed to make them happier afterwards.

“U-um guys, I need you to hear me out.” Basil caught his breath and steadied himself.

“Huh? What is it, Basil?” Hero was always the first to lend an ear to someone. Everyone else gave Basil their full attention.

“Well, it’s… it’s about, um, my grandma.” Oh, Basil’s grandma. I’ve met her a few times when we went to Basil’s house. She reminded me a lot of Mari. She always had some chocolate chip cookies ready in the oven and was super strict about anything relating to her flowers. Kel was scolded many times when he came over. Basil really loved her.

“She recently got really sick, and she had to go to the hospital. The doctors say she’s going to be okay, but… what if she doesn’t? The flower I got was a chrysanthemum, and it’s supposed to be a good luck charm in getting better, and I wanted to give it as a gift while she was in the hospital and… and…”

Aubrey went up and gave him a hug before Basil could say anything more.

“C’mon Basil, let it all out. It’s okay to cry.” She said. And Basil let it all out.

“Group hug!” Hero called out as soon as he saw the two hug. He added his arms to the hug that was already going on between Aubrey and Basil. Mari added herself soon after.

I would’ve gone over to hug Basil immediately, but uh, if I went in for a hug now, I’d be pretty much directly hugging Aubrey. It was like a 50/50 split between the hug coverage ratio between the two of them. Mari would totally tease me about this later, but after not a moment more, I went in for the hug.

Our friend was more important than that.

“Come on, Kel, join in.” I said. Kel was probably feeling unsure if he should join in. Hugs first, guilt later. Great words to live by.

We kept hugging until the sun had fully set, and for a few more minutes after that. Basil fell asleep between the warmth of six people and the exhaustion from crying out so much. That signaled it was about time for us to all go home. Hero carried Basil back to his house, and thankfully Basil’s home wasn’t empty. His parents had hired a caretaker to make sure Basil was taken care of.

Kel tried to lift everything that Hero brought with him today. He was struggling under the weight, but he said it was his punishment for making Basil cry. But after he dropped the blanket and a few other things a bit too many times, Mari picked up after him and helped him along the rest of the way. Aubrey picked up Basil’s plant and did her best to keep it whole.

Which meant it left me carrying both Mewo and Bun-Bun. The two warm fluff-balls in my arms were serviceable. I think I’d have to revise my opinion on the bunny; the fluff was okay, but I still didn’t see what the big deal was. Even if the way she squirmed felt really soft.

Even Hector seemed to feel sort of guilty as well, and he carried back Mari’s picnic basket back home. It was a really funny sight watching Mari’s face scrunch up as dog slobber got on the handle of the picnic basket.

As we walked away from the park, I couldn’t help but feel some sort of pride in all six of us. We truly were invincible as long as we all stuck together.

Chapter Text

“Okay, once more from the top. 3… 2… 1…” And the piano began to play. Slow, gentle notes echoed throughout the room. A break came, and the piano began anew, with a renewed pace playing a jaunty tune. It was perfect.

I listened for the notes that came right before my entrance. There was one measure left.

I readied the bow of my violin, took a breath, and played. It was okay, I could do this.

Notes hummed out into the air, as I followed along the sheet music I had read oh so many times today.

I always start out fine. Every note was hit, each movement of my arm was deliberate, and I was able to play out each sound in proper time. I practiced this part so many times, for so many nights, My ears were perked as I focused on the piano. If I didn’t, it would leave me behind.

Eventually, I slip up. Maybe I played the note half a measure too high, maybe I was late by a quarter of a second, maybe I held down the string just a centimeter too low. It’s a small mistake, nothing I should worry about. I’ve made these kinds of small mistakes all day and I just needed to play through them.

But… I could hear laughter somewhere. A small snort that should’ve been impossible to hear with all the music that filled the room.

Can’t you see that I’m trying my best!

But that small mistake slowly snowballs into something more and more. I’m late on the next note. I play the note incorrectly. The rest of my music just spirals into further disarray. I try to focus again, but I already lost where I was supposed to be. The next C note sounds too sharp, and I winced. My arms started to ache and my fingers hurt.

But the music reminded me that there was something more urgent. Even after practicing for so long, I couldn’t remember the next part.

Desperately, I tried to find where I am on the sheet music, but I was so lost. I listened to the piano and noticed that I had to turn the page four seconds ago.

My hand snapped forward, and I tried moving to the next sheet. However, my hand hit the rest of the other music sheets, and they fluttered all over the floor. I heard another impossible-to-hear snort. There was a pit in my stomach.

The music didn’t stop. I kept playing by memory. I sounded awful. I made mistake after mistake after mistake.

The piano was still absolutely perfect.

It made no mistakes. It was like nothing could ever mess it up. Between me and the beautiful tones, I heard a horrible dissonance. That made it so much worse.

I pressed the bow deep into my violin as I continued to play. My mind screamed at me as I worked through the pain in my fingertips and worked to keep myself from crying. It sounds awful, and it’s all because of me.

Why wasn’t I good enough, why doesn’t she stop for me, I hate this, I should’ve never taken lessons, why doesn’t she notice, I’m miserable, I just want to hangout, this isn’t fun, I want to cry, it’s hard to breathe, my fingers will fall off if I keep playing, why do I have to play…

I desperately tried to keep it all down, to just keep playing, but then…

Something snapped.

The piano stopped.

Mari was saying something, but I didn’t want to hear what she had to say. Her words entered my ears nonetheless.

“Sunny, are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?” she said.

Now? You’re worried now?! I was about to say something, but I had to open my eyes to face Mari, and I saw what she was actually worried about.

The strings on my violin had split. My violin looked like a broken spider web.

“Do we have any spare strings around the house?”

“No.” I lied. I had a set at the bottom of my toy box. “I’ll buy some tomorrow at Hobbeez.” The hobby store carried music items as well.

“Tomorrow?” Mari’s head shot towards the window. “Oh shoot, it’s this late already?”

The stars were high in the sky, and the moon towered above them all.

“Yeah, we’ll have to stop for today.” Mari pushed down the piano key coverings. “School ends early tomorrow, so let’s practice when we both get back. Don’t worry, we’ll get it down before the recital.”

I doubt it. I’m just going to keep messing up and keep failing. I don’t even want to look at my violin.

And you want to practice as soon as we get home? Well, looks like I won’t be running back home tomorrow. It’ll probably be a slow crawl, as if I forgot how to walk.

“Oh, you don’t have to buy the violin strings, Sunny. I’ll go buy them for you.” How much does she want to practice?!

“It’s fine.” No. Mari would head straight home if she bought them, and then there would be nothing to delay her.

I needed an excuse. Something to just delay the practice for ANY reason whatsoever.

“I don’t remember the name of the strings I use. I know how they look like though.”

“Shoot. I guess you’ll have to buy them then.” Mari sighed. She picked up my music sheets that had fallen on the ground. She straightened them against a warrant chair and handed them back to me.

I restrained myself as I gently took the pages back. I wanted to tear up the pages in my hands. But all I could do was aggressively fold the corners back and forth.

“Well, I’ll leave some money on the kitchen table tomorrow morning, so don’t forget it, lil’ bro.” said Mari as she shook her hands. She told me they were wrist stretches. She was always super punctual about stretching. “I’m going to get something to eat, you want some Sunny?”

I shook my head. The queasy feeling in my stomach wouldn’t go away, and I didn’t think I could eat anything at all.

“Oh right, good practice Sunny.” she said as she walked out the door.

What. What? How was that in any way… WHAT?! That has to be sarcasm, right?! But before I could manage to say anything, Mari walked into the kitchen.

I needed to say something, anything, but I could barely manage a coherent thought anymore. The rest of the night was a blur. I couldn’t think. My head was on fire.

I didn’t know whether to cry or scream.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4 

An icy wind blew through the town and made me eat my hair. Bleh!

My teeth were chattering and I couldn’t even feel my cheeks. They felt like metal sheets and I could barely move my lips.

I didn’t think it would be this cold outside! Why is fall so cold! Wasn’t that reserved for winter! Why didn’t I bring a hat! I should’ve worn a hat instead of my bow. A part of me wanted to put my arms through the sleeves of the other arm to at least warm my hands a little. But that would make me look like someone from an insane asylum to everyone on the street…

I let out a sigh.

There was nothing to do. It wouldn’t be for another couple of hours before dad came home. I walked down the street, just to look at the lawn decorations everyone had put up. It only took five pink flamingos and stupid-looking lawn gnomes before I got sick of it. Isn’t there anything to do?

I looked around and saw the park about a block away.

Eh, might as well waste time at the park.

I waved to the apple juice guy right outside the park, though I ignored him when he tried to get me to buy some juice.

I went through the park gates and looked around to see if anyone was around. The only person I saw was a kid that ran past me. He was in a dead sprint towards the sandbox, and when he reached it, he took a deep crouch. Then, he jumped and dove headfirst into the sandbox.

But why, though?

Eventually, he pulled out his head, and sand flew everywhere. If that wasn’t enough, he began to hack up sand in a coughing fit that seemed to go on for too long.

Is he choking? Can people choke on sand?

I picked up my pace to go help him, but before I could help him, the boy jumped back up. And then he began to skip away.

I guess he’s fine?

But just as I was about to let him be, he turned around on his heel and sprinted headfirst into the sand once more. This is the kind of thing Kel would enjoy.

I mentally named the kid, ostrich kid, and walked past him to the swings. Swings were fun. But the swing was cold today. It was really uncomfortable to sit there, but it eventually warmed up a bit. My legs dangled, and I kicked every once in a while just to move a little.

The park was barren, so I guess I could enjoy the quiet?

Nothing was happening, though. Quiet is boring.

I gripped the chains, flung myself back and faced the sky. A cloud covered sun, so I could stare at the sky without blinding myself. I wonder, could I spot any birds? Have they all migrated for the winter already? Maybe I can find a few if I just check the trees…

I could’ve sworn I saw a bird near the entrance of the park. As I focused on the trees, I noticed some movement. My eyes checked for a bird, but instead slowly focused on a boy walk down the sidewalk.

He was walking with a violin case around his back, and a small plastic bag in his right hand. He staggered left and right in a super exaggerated manner while stomping on the ground.

Is that kid drunk?

My eyes slowly focused in on the boy’s face.

Woah, that’s Sunny! What happened?

Oh god, Sunny didn’t somehow get his hands on alcohol, did he? Is that what’s in the bag?! I need to check! Alcohol is bad, Sunny! You’ll become an unresponsive husk that just lays there on the couch!

With a quick tug, I picked myself up and jumped from the swing. I landed with a deep thud as sand splashed around me. Ack! Sand got in my shoes. Gotta remember to empty them later.

I could be wrong, but to be sure, I needed to look in the bag.

I ran closer and closer towards Sunny, but he didn’t notice the sounds my footsteps made. Anyone who didn’t notice me by now had to be drunk. I can’t believe it, he really does have alcohol!

This calls for something drastic! My running pace made my hands super numb and frosty, but they gave me an idea. They were about to get warmer.

Sunny passed the park gates. I slowed down so I could move quietly. With my stealthy tip-toe, Sunny was still completely oblivious. I was ready to pounce.

“Sunny!” and my hands latched onto his neck. Sunny responded by jumping in shock like a startled cat.

“Bwaaah!” he cried.

Sunny turned around and I looked him dead in the eyes.

“Aubrey!” He didn’t look back at me, he looked at the ground instead. He avoided direct eye contact! That must be a sign of his guilt! “Get off! Your hands are cold.”

My chilly hands will help me shock Sunny! I had to scold him until he swore off alcohol!

“I can’t believe you could do this!” I wriggled my fingers. That made Sunny squirm.

“Do what?” He was trying to play dumb!

“You’re drinking! What would Mari think! You’re only 13!” I was going to have to stage an intervention for Sunny. The TV show proved that they always work.

“No, I’m not!” Sunny’s face puckered up. It wasn’t like Sunny to lie like this. The boy I used to know was changing.

“Then what’s in that bag!” I kept one of my hands on Sunny’s neck as I used the other to swipe the plastic bag in Sunny’s hand. It was surprisingly light. I opened it to show the evidence. “Look!”

Inside the bag was a colorful square with some writing on it. Err, where was the bottle?

An awkward silence began to pass. There was a niggling thought at the back of my head, as I broke the silence.

“Um, what’s that?”

“They’re violin strings.” Sunny said in a flat voice.

“So… you’re not drunk?”

“No! Can you let go of me now?”

And it was like a cold bucket of water dropped on me. Then, I finally noticed the position I was in.

The thing I didn’t realize about wrapping your hands around the neck of a boy you know is that… you need to be close to him. I could look into Sunny’s (not drunk) eyes, in much more detail than usual. They were a really nice shade of brown. The other thing is that our faces were only a small distance apart and I could feel his breath.

I let go. My hands were finally warm and I could feel my fingers. My face was on fire. It was the cold. The cold made my face red. I screamed inside.

I messed so bad! I want to run away! But it’d be awful of me to do all that without apologizing.

“I’m so sorry about that Sunny!” Please forgive me! I didn’t mean to do all that!

“It’s fine.” Oh thank goodness, Sunny didn’t seem to mind too much. I think he’s embarrassed for me, his face was red as well... “Though, what are you doing here Aubrey?”

Right. I was at the park alone.

I didn’t know how to answer. I can’t say I had nothing to do. That’s a boring answer, and it would also sound like I was at the park, just waiting for Sunny to come.

“I was, uh,” My eyes darted around, looking for something to use for a believable excuse. I remembered ostrich kid. “training my headbutt. So if Kel ever takes Mr. Plantegg again, he won’t survive what comes next.”

His silence was telling. I could feel my cheeks reddening again. Okay, time to force the conversation along!

“So, what about you!” I begged Sunny with my eyes. Please! Just brush over what I said!

“I was at Hobbeez buying stuff. It’s where I got the violin strings.” He complied, thank goodness.

“They have violin strings?” Wasn’t Hobbeez like, for comics and toys only?

“The shopkeeper has a really weird collection.”

I didn’t even know violins could break. Wait, does that mean other parts of the violin could break?

“The violin is okay, right?” It’d make me sad if the violin that everyone worked their butts off all summer got damaged. Everyone worked really hard to buy the violin.

“Yeah. It’s fine.” Sunny murmured. His tone was awfully negative. He must’ve felt bad that the violin broke. He really shouldn’t worry, it was just some strings snapping. I should help.

“Hey Sunny, can I help you fix your violin, to apologize for earlier?” It would beat just sitting around, looking for birds.

“I don’t need help to fix it.” Dang, there goes that plan.

“Right, you need to go home to practice…” I sighed. Mari could probably do a better job than I ever could to repair it.

“Actually, you can help!” Sunny changed his mind? “Follow me.”

He walked over to the swings and put his violin case over his lap. I took the swing next to him as he opened the case and pulled out the violin. I leaned in to get a better look. The violin looked like it was trying to get a tv signal. The strings were all attached to the violin as well. How were you supposed to get them out then?

Turns out there really wasn’t much to repairing a violin. Sunny twisted the knubs on the violin to remove the strings. Then he got the new strings from the rainbow square in the bag, and threaded the strings onto the violin.

I held the violin up the entire time. Yay teamwork!

When we finished, Sunny picked up the bow and began to play a few notes.

“Play a song!” I didn’t get to hear Sunny play all that much outside of the few times I watched him practice with Mari. I really want to hear what it sounds like.

Sunny looked like he swallowed a bug.

“Pleeeeeeease!” I know I’m being a bother, but I really want to hear what everything will sound like for when the recital comes.

The recital was in just a few days, and I’ve been super excited about it. Hero was really annoying with how much he talked about how he gets to listen to the two of them play all day! At least Kel doesn’t make a fuss about it! Think about how Basil and I feel!

Sunny relented and stood up. He readied his bow and placed his violin onto his chin. He began to play.

It was beautiful.

A song echoed throughout the park. A madder red sky lit up behind Sunny as music poured from his violin. I didn’t recognize the song, but it was wondrous. It was hypnotizing. He was graceful as he made his music.

The song wasn’t quick, but it wasn’t slow either. It made me kind of sad. The melody and the fact the only instrument playing was the violin. I wanted to fill the silence a little, so I hummed along. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but it felt right.

Sunny turned to me immediately. Am I messing up the song? It was kind of embarrassing how he stared at me. I almost wanted to shut up, but I was enjoying myself too much to stop.

I closed my eyes so I could concentrate on the violin. I swayed with the beat and I felt myself smiling all the while. The air smelled like leaves and autumn. The only thing I heard was the lone violin and my own voice. I felt my tongue tingle as I kept humming all sorts of random notes.

I followed the violin as best I could, but I messed up a lot. I think I made up with it for enthusiasm, though.

Every once in a while, the violin and my voice would sync up, and those moments were magical. It didn’t happen at all at first, but as I got used to Sunny’s violin, I harmonized with it more and more.

The violin was like Sunny’s voice, and it was singing with me. The sad song from the violin was more cheerful and lively when it mixed with my voice. It was really fun.

A not very good, clashing, completely random duet from the two of us played in the park.

Eventually, Sunny finished his song, and I stopped with him. I gave him a big round of applause.

“You were amazing!”

Sunny hid his face. I think I saw a blush there.

“Sorry if the humming was distracting.” Hopefully Sunny didn’t find me a bother.

“No, it was… pretty.” Oh. Um. Right. He’s talking about my voice, yeah. “I should’ve tried to match you more…”

“No way! It’s more fun if you do your own thing as well! You’re a lot better than me anyway, so you should sound good at the very least.” It’d be awful if Sunny played badly on purpose for me. It wasn’t supposed to be serious, so a lack of consideration would be a good thing.

Sunny didn’t give me a response. He just put away his violin back into its case and he sat back down on the swings. A silence awkwardly formed between us.

Sunny was moping. Something obviously upset him, I could figure out that much. But what? Was it something I said? Will he talk about it? Would he even open up?

I knew what I had to do. We were on the swings. Sunny usually heard out my problems, now it’s time I hear out his!

“Sunny, earlier, you were really upset. What was that about?”

“I wasn’t.” He tried to close himself off immediately.

“Stop lying.” Even after all those times we talked… “Tell me what’s bothering you.”

“I… just don’t want to talk about it.”

“That’s not fair. I tell you what I’m worried about, all the time. You can tell me, we’re friends right?”

That was the clincher. Sunny began to twiddle his thumbs and eventually let out a aggravated sigh.

“I’m not good enough to play with Mari.” His head was turned to the ground. “I practice and practice, but I’m not getting any better. It’s so frustrating. All I get is to spend less time with everyone on Saturdays, and a bunch of callouses on my hands.”

Sunny kicked and swung back and forth. He was barely holding back tears.

“It’s miserable to play the violin.” He said.

“What? That’s… but…”

I wanted to bring up how everyone had pitched in to get that violin, how everyone did all that for Sunny. But, I held back. Sunny wanted someone to understand him, not to force him to do stuff.

“Sorry for making you play earlier then.” He must’ve felt awful being forced to play.

“Don’t. I had fun that time.” That’s a relief, at the very least.

“If it makes you feel any better, I would love any way you play. Everyone knows how hard you’ve worked.”

I know just how much you wanted to play the violin, Sunny. On that Christmas day, when we gave you the violin, we lied a little. We said it was Basil’s idea, but really, it was mine. I just had Basil propose the idea to everyone else about it, because, well, it was embarrassing to reveal that I was watching you.

But I saw how you played with your toy violin. I watched you get all sad when you talked about how Mari was busy doing other things, instead of spending time with you. I noticed how you sometimes look at the piano room, wishing you were playing music.

Saying that you hate the violin, that just can’t be true.

“Does it even matter if I still sound awful?” He still doesn’t get it!

“It does matter! I know it sounds stupid from me, the girl who doesn’t even play an instrument, but it should mean something if you’ve worked for so long! You’ve poured your heart into playing the violin! Mari knows that too! That’s why I love hearing you play it! Don’t lose heart! I’ll be your fan forever!”

Sunny didn’t speak. He stared out into the distance while I recoiled from what I just said. After what seemed like forever, he spoke up again.

“Thanks Aubrey.” And then Sunny smiled. Wow. Um. That’s really really really cute. I’ve seen him smile before, but this one felt different.

“You’re welcome Sunny.” Glad I could help you for once. “So, what should we do now?”

“If I go home, I’m going to have to practice with Mari.” Sunny looked away, “Can I stay here a little longer.”

“Sure, why not?” And Sunny gave me another smile! That’s unfair! That’s a weapon! It’s a weapon of mass destruction! You shouldn’t bring weapons into the park, Sunny!

Did this count as a romantic moment? The teasing from Mari was still fresh in my mind, and I’d be damned if anyone caught us here again.

I checked for Kel, or if anyone else we knew was being a nosy busybody. I checked all around the park and when I turned back to Sunny, he was doing the same thing.

Our eyes met. I looked at Sunny and he looked back at me. We were both worried about the same thing, huh? Sunny began to chuckle, and I laughed with him.

Eventually, we both fell into the same-old routine. We just sat on the swings, making conversation with a bunch of silly conversations about what happened throughout the week.

“I didn’t think you’d be able to hum that well. I kinda thought you were tone deaf.” Said Sunny.

“What! What would make you think that?”

“I saw you sing at the park with our pets.” Ohhhh right. I did butcher that, didn’t I.

“Disney songs are impossible.” My voice was already kind of husky for a girl’s, and their songs want you to go as high as possible. It was a foregone conclusion, no matter how much I tried.

“I want to see everyone sing a song together.”

“That sounds great!” Though I’m pretty sure Kel would ruin it.

“We’ll be like those caroling families during Christmas.” Sunny tilted his head. “Though, we’re kinda already like one.”

“I know what you mean. Sometimes Hero feels more like a dad than my own dad.” I couldn’t help but laugh when I pictured Hero with my dad’s mustache.

“Kel would be the younger brother.”

“Blegh, Kel would the most annoying brother. I don’t know how Hero deals with him.”

“Kel is fun. And he’s great at making friends.“ That was probably true. If Kel were here, he’d be sticking his head in the sand like an ostrich with ostrich kid.

“Mari is the most adult though. Though, sometimes she gets too touchy.” I knew she had to stop exercising after her knee injury. I just didn’t expect Mari to still have that much arm strength. Her full-power hug was devastating.

“And Basil would be another younger brother.” Sunny said as he nodded.

“Isn’t he older than you?” Basil’s birthday was before Sunny’s by a good three or four months.

“Yeah, but he’d like being a younger sibling more.”

“And…” we’d be siblings too. I couldn’t bring myself to finish that sentence. It… just felt wrong to say. “Never mind.”

But why did it feel wrong to say?

My words hung in the air, and Sunny looked like he wanted to finish my sentence. I hoped he didn’t. Instead, he reached into his pockets and handed something to me.

It was a bright red orb wrapped in plastic. Oh, it’s candy.

I unwrapped it and popped it into my mouth, and Sunny picked out a different one and popped it into his. It was watermelon flavored.

The air grew quiet, and we began to watch the sunset in silence while eating our sweets. I should really fill the silence, but I was lost in thought. I was in a trance, eating candy, and thinking about the two of us again.

Why couldn’t I say we were family?

Well, I already kind of knew why. I’ve went over it so many times in my head, but maybe I’ll get a different answer this time…

I didn’t.

I like Sunny.

I’ve liked him for a while now. I feel fuzzy and happy when I’m around him…

But what exactly was our relationship?

We’re definitely closer than normal friends, I know that much. So, would that mean we were family?

What even is family?

Families stick together. Everyone’s together, supporting one another, and always being there for the other. But I didn’t want to consider Sunny as a brother or something like that.

It sounded great! It should’ve been everything I wanted since I was little. I finally had close friends that would always stick together!

So why did I want more?! Why can’t I just accept what I had!

Deep down, I’m just scared.

What if he didn’t like me back? What if he just thought of me as another sister and just couldn’t think of me that way? If he rejected me, it would be impossible for things to go back to the way they were before.

And even if he accepted me, and we became a couple…

I would lose the relationship I had now. Closer than friends, further than lovers. It was comfortable, yet cloying at times. It still makes me happy.

If I didn’t keep this distance, would it just all fall apart, would everything fall apart?

When they were younger, Mom and Dad used to look so happy in their photos. They told me stories about how they met, and how they were so in love. Now, they both argue so much. Now, all they do is fight and ignore each other. Would that be us someday?

I really hoped Mari and Hero would stay together. I hoped they’d never fight in the future. I hoped their relationship would last forever. The both of them were perfect, the both of them had to be able to make a relationship work.

If I got any closer to Sunny, would I lose everything that I loved about our relationship? The long talks at the park, the ways we greeted each other, all the memories we shared.

Everything I had now and all the things that came with it were just too precious. Spending time with everyone was almost like a dream compared to the days where no one would play with me.

That should be enough, right?

I… didn’t want to risk this. I couldn’t risk this! I can’t change a thing or I might lose it all!

I’ll swallow what I felt. And lock it deep inside me.

I was about to swallow the candy, but suddenly, something shook me.

“Aubrey.” said Sunny.

He was grabbing my shoulder! He’s looking directly at me! My heart isn’t ready! What do I do?!?

“W-what?” My voice hitched, but at least I replied. Why was he so close?! Augh! My brain was mush! Why did I have to think embarrassing thoughts?!

“It’s getting dark. You okay? You were kind of out of it.” It’s nothing special! It’s just a normal thing to care about a friend like that! Stop reading into it!

“I’m f-fine! Let’s go back home.”

The moon began to rise. The night wrapped everything in a deep shade of blue. Thank goodness. The blue helped hide my red face.

I couldn’t look at him anymore. My heart was beating out my chest. I needed to go away and get some space. Why did I have to think about our relationship here and now?! I’m making things so awkward!

There was only one solution to mushy brain: peace and quiet. I’ll get that at home.

We walked together until we reached the corner of Sunny’s street. I took the time to calm down a bit, so I could finally look at him again. Sunny looked a lot better to how he looked when I first saw him today. But, his hands were locked in a vice-grip around the handle of the violin case.

He must be nervous about going back home. I know that feeling all too well.

“Hey Sunny,” I knew just the words to say.

“Yeah?”

“You’ll do great.” And with the best smile I could muster, I gave Sunny a push, and waved him goodbye.

Oh. The candy finally dissolved into nothing. Only the aftertaste was left in my mouth.

It was sweet.

I opened the door and turned on the lights. Dad wasn’t home yet. I passed by the couch and blaring television. I almost tripped on a random bottle. That could’ve been dangerous…

…

I turned back and put it in the recycling bin.

Finally, I climbed the ladder to my room, and I took a breath of fresh air. I could finally relax myself.

My mind was reset! Time to reflect on what I did today!

Aaaaaand everything hit me like a truck. I plopped myself onto my bed and smothered myself with my pillow.

Okay, if I just take my mind off things, I can rid of this nervous feeling in my stomach!

Sunny spoke a lot today.

He thought of us as a second family and I winced. He didn’t explicitly say he thought of me as another sister, but I think he does. How can I even compete with Mari…

I’m thinking about him again. I plopped onto my bed and smothered my face with my pillow. I screamed into the pillow to let out some of the feelings in me. My voice sounded weird.

But Sunny thought my voice was pretty ehehehe…

I need to stop thinking about him! How am I going to make our relationship not change, if I can’t even look him in the eyes!

He had really cute eyes that made his face super cute…

Stop it, brain! But my brain didn’t comply. I redoubled my efforts to suffocate myself with my pillow. It would be a mercy if it actually worked.

It sort of did.

I started feeling woozy, and my mind began to wander off. It was good that my bed was nice and soft.

There was a white two-story house on a beautiful hill. A pink-picket fence stood out in front, and a wonderful assortment of flowers and plants covered it.

Inside that home was a fully furnished living room and kitchen. There was a lit fireplace that was the perfect temperature, and the kitchen was full of warm chocolate chip cookies. There was even a giant fridge stocked with watermelon and all sorts of food.

Upstairs housed a massive bedroom with an adorable mountain of plushies and soft things. The bed was specially made to be jumped on, and when you laid on it, it was like floating in a cloud.

To the side, there was a music room filled with any kind of instrument. Across from it was a pet room dedicated to Bun-Bun and all sorts of other animals..

The backyard had a massive treehouse and a shiny blue pool. There was also a much larger garden in the back, filled with rows of unknown but charming flowers.

I was there in the living room, sitting on a giant beanbag.

My hair was pink, my eyes were blue, and… I was wearing a ring.

The ring was beautiful. Holding it up to the light just made it glitter all the more.

And then Sunny walked in. He was in a full tuxedo with a rose in his chest pocket and… wore a matching ring on his hand.

Sunny offered me his hand, and I took it.

We stepped outside into the garden. Our faces were lit under a blanket of stars and moonlight, and with both hands interlinked, we began to dance.

We moved with grace. A slow and lovely tune wrapped around us as we danced, but we didn’t notice it. We only saw each other.

As we spun and stomped, our faces began to move closer and closer. Just as our lips were about to touch…

“Aubrey! Dinner!” Dad called out from downstairs. That snapped me out of it.

… Dang it.

The bow dragged the final violin note to completion.

I took a deep breath and took my violin off my chin.

“Woah! You improved so much, Sunny!” Mari used hers to lavish me with praise.

“Mmm.” My feelings were mixed, Mari had never ever praised me to this extent, but… it was also the best I’ve ever played, even I knew that. We just played through all the songs in the setlist and almost nothing went wrong. There were still a few small mistakes, but I felt ready to iron them out.

“It was probably from replacing the strings.”

“No way! I could hear so much emotion in your violin! That’s all you lil’ bro.”

Was it? I couldn’t tell if I sounded differently.

What changed?

Well, I finally had the peace of mind to think while playing. For the last song, I reflected on my relationship with Mari while playing. That helped me make my notes all the more full.

Mari truly cared for me.

But she still tries too hard to be perfect…

“What did you use to bring out the emotions in the song?”

“I thought of us.”

“Heh, me too, Sunny.” A smug smile plastered itself directly onto Mari’s face. “Oh, but the song before that was absolutely perfect. What were you thinking then?”

That song was what Mari called, ‘a sap song’. It was chock full with slow notes. It’s where a musician can express their feelings.

“Nothing much, I was just in the zone.” I lied.

I must never let her know that I was thinking of my biggest fan.

“Hm, it’s getting late. You want to stop now, Sunny?”

“Can we practice a little more?”

It was kind of funny. Last night I wanted practice to end as soon as possible.

But now, I want to give her the most wonderful show she’s ever seen.

“Sure. Let’s go lil’ bro.”

The duet filled the neighborhood with song that entire night.

Chapter Text

Chapter 5

The final note hung in the air.

The deafening silence came.

A thunderous applause sounded.

It was like a dream.

The lights above were blinding.

All I saw was an endless sea of non-descript faces.

But I could make out one face.

That one stood next to me.

She was going to go away some day.

But today, she came up beside me and grasped my hand.

I squeezed back.

My hands hurt from playing, but the pain assured me.

She was there with me.

We bowed.

The clapping grew in sound.

One section was screaming.

The lights dimmed.

The curtain closed.

I let go.

Chairs are the absolute best. Mankind’s greatest invention has got to be the chair. My legs applauded me when I presented them with this magnificent creation.

This chair, in particular, managed to elevate itself above its other contemporaries, all thanks to a plush backing and two arm support beams.

My bed just lost its job.

I’m sorry bed, I know you’ve been with me for 12 years, but…

The cool leather soothed my back in ways a bed could never satisfy.

If only I could sink into the chair and become one with it in body and soul.

But before I could become demi-furniture, a set of footsteps walked right outside the door to the backstage room and threw open the door.

I should probably sit up, buuut… I had a big day. It doesn’t matter if anyone sees me like this. Rest comes first.

I did spare my right eye to look at who came in. I saw a girl clad in a long purple recital dress and she slumped awkwardly as she stumbled towards me.

She took the seat next to me with a big sigh of relief. Next, she kicked off her shoes, and sunk back into the soft, cool leather. Judging by her face, she arrived to the same truth I did.

The bed economy was probably in for a sharp downturn.

We sat in silence, though I glanced at her every now and then. Mari reminded me of a cat with how she curled in her seat. Too bad Mewo wasn’t here.

Though, I wasn’t sure how she looked like she was more exhausted than me! Like, she sat on a chair the entire time!

Eh. I couldn’t get mad. The chair was just too comfortable. My body agreed with my brain as I slumped further into the chair. The chair kept taking more control of my body, but before it could reach full chair assimilation, I discovered a hurdle.

My tie was in the way. The knot pressed against my windpipe as I slid my head down into the chair. Why did I even have to wear one in the first place? All it’s doing is suffocating me. I might as well take it off.

I latched onto my tie and started to wriggle it to give me some breathing room. How was I supposed to but before I could loosen my tie to a comfortable position…

“We’re going to take pictures later, Sunny, don’t take off your tie.”

What? Why not!? She’s basically doing the same thing I am!

“You’re not wearing your shoes.” Mari had her knees to her chest, and her feet flat on the chair. I could understand, the floor was hard and uncaring. I understood that, which is why I didn’t raise a fuss that she took off her shoes!

“I can slip them back on easy. But, you don’t know how to tie your tie, I had to tie it for you. Also, I don’t want to move from this spot.”

Mari started to reach for her water bottle, but it was out of her reach. It was in mine though. Mari moved her head between me and the water bottle. I got her message.

I responded to it by slouching further into the chair. Our eyes met. The rules were set. The first one to get up, loses.

It’d be hard for Mari to win. The chair holds incredible magnetic force. Mere human will cannot overpower the comfiness of cushion. My body will remain firmly attached to this chair at all costs.

Though, I would appreciate it more if I didn’t feel like I was being choked! I should’ve worn a clip-on…

Just as I was figuring out how to avoid ties for the rest of my life, outside the break room, I heard chatter from some very familiar voices. The door sounded with two heavy knocks.

Mari looked my way with a raised brow. I will not get that Mari.

Another small knock, which was then followed by a BANG BANG BANG. It sounded like a steel drum.

Mari sighed and slipped on her shoes and walked to the door. Yay. She got up first. I win.

All our friends walked in. Well, Kel ran in.

Kel was just taking in the sights, looking at the backstage like he wouldn’t see it again. It’s a bunch of mirrors, lights, and chairs, Kel.

Basil came next with his signature camera around his neck. He waved at me.

My position only allowed me to nod back to Basil. Nothing would move me.

Then there was Aubrey…

Slouching like this hurts my back, so I straightened myself.

…and Hero. He was hiding something behind his back.

Something’s wrong though. I didn’t know what, but it was strange. It’s that feeling where you know something’s wrong, like looking at a painting that changed somehow, but you don’t know what.

Either way, everyone looked super fancy.

Me and Mari had to look our best for our performance, so we spent a lot of time on our appearances.

Mari had her hair up in some kind of regal bun, with a long purple dress and shoes she looked very uncomfortable in.

I had my hair combed back. I had a dress shirt on with a sweater vest, dark dress pants and leather shoes, with a tie that was doing its best to kill me.

Everyone else looked great too.

Aubrey had a pink dress, and she did something to her hair that made it all wavy and stuff. She still wore her signature bow, and she gushed over how amazing Mari looked.

Sure, Aubrey said some stuff about the two of us. She said nothing about how I looked. She looked my way a few times, but she turned away whenever I looked her way.

Did I look bad? I thought I looked good today…

My heart felt like someone had kicked it. I’ll talk to Basil instead.

Basil wore a dress shirt with a green sweater vest and his camera around his neck. He didn’t have a flower hairpin on today. He looked pretty uncomfortable. I guess the camera was really weighing down on his neck.

Wait. Now that I’m looking closer at him, that sweater vest is the same one I’m wearing, but green. Down to the brand even.

On a second glance, he’s pretty much wearing the same clothes I’m wearing, but there’s a camera around his neck instead of a tie! The heck Basil?

“H-hey Sunny, we’re matching huh?” Basil noticed that I noticed and tried to laugh it off as a coincidence, but with the ways his eyes were swimming…

Let’s not think about it. So Basil was a bust. I’ll look at what Hero and Kel are doing instead.

The both of them were both in suits, and the most surprising part about the two of them was their hair! Hero actually fixed his bed hair and hid something behind his back. Kel had his hair combed back!

I finally figured out what felt so off since they entered the room!

Kel hasn’t said a thing since he entered!

Is he dying?

No, is the world going to end?!

I panicked until Hero explained why Kel was like this.

“Kel lost his voice from cheering for you two.” Oh thank goodness, so there isn’t an incoming apocalypse.

“I soooound like a lizza-rd persoon.” It sounded like poured sand down Kel’s throat. And it looked like he couldn’t be happier.

“Kel! You need to rest your voice!” scolded Hero. He didn’t look very imposing, with his hands still behind his back. “Oh Sunny, can you come here?”

Nooooo, I don’t want to leave the chair, but leaving Hero like that would definitely be too cold. I guess all good things must come to an end someday.

I stood in front of Hero.

“Anyways,” Hero cleared his throat. “Mari, Sunny.” He nodded at both of us as he pulled out what he hid all this time.

He walked up to us, and in one cool-as-heck flourish, twirled something and gave them to us. A bright mix of all sorts of flowers appeared in front of me! Hero brought out a bouquet!

“Congratulations you two!” said Hero with his signature smile. I grabbed a bouquet from his hand and Mari did the same.

They wrapped it in a white sheet with a blue ribbon for us. Both bouquets looked identical, from the flower arrangement to the flowers used. Although there was a singular difference between the two. A silver-trimmed card signed by everyone sat on top of my bouquet, which read, “Congratulations Sunny!”. Mari had a gold-trimmed card on top of her flowers.

I took a whiff of the bouquet. They smelled kind of funny. I don’t know how people find the smell of flowers pleasant. The smell keeps reminding me of my old plastic dinosaur toys.

Let’s just seal that thought away into the depths of my mind. Basil would probably break into tears if he ever heard me say that.

Anyways, the flowers were pretty great. Basil talked about flowers a lot, and I’ve listened to him speak about them endlessly. It got to the point where I could name most of the flowers off the top of my head. There were blue roses, white tulips, bright yellow sunflowers, pink gladiolus, purple lilies, but one last orange flower I couldn’t name.

“Both of you were great!” congratulated Basil.

“Basil made the bouquet himself!” said Aubrey.

“The flowers represent everyone here! It took a lot of planning to make sure everything bloomed at the same time. It’s my best work yet!” Basil moved closer and started to point out how each flower corresponded to everyone. He was also fiddling with the flowers to get them in a more ‘presentable’ state. Hero had messed up a little from twirling them.

Suddenly, Basil backed away. What was he doing? Mari looked at him as well.

*snap*

He took a photo of the two of us, flowers in hand.

“I wanted to take a picture to celebrate.” explained Basil. He had a dopey grin on his face.

“Oh, can I hold the flowers?” asked Aubrey.

It was an open question to the both of us. The plastic crinkled as I fiddled with my bouquet. Okay, you can do this. Just let Aubrey see your flowers! Simple!

“Here you go Aubrey, all it costs is your smile!” Mari made her offer first.

“Thank you!” And Aubrey paid Mari.

Aubrey’s eyes sparkled as they gazed upon the flowers. She leaned so far into the bouquet that the flowers began to brush upon her nose and took a big whiff. It looked like she really liked it.

I was robbed.

I sniffed my flowers again. They still smelled like my old dinosaur toys but, maybe there was something good about that?

“Whiiiiich one am I? asked Kel, as he leaned right over my shoulder. He coughed into his sleeve as he pointed to the flowers.

“You’re the cactus.” Said Bail, over my left.

“Whereeee?” Kel slipped off my shoulder and poked his face into my bouquet. Let me rephrase, he did not ‘bring his nose near the flowers’ to get the smell. No, he buried his head completely in the bouquet. The plants are going to prick him. But maybe I should just let it happen. He just stuck his head in something that he was just told ‘has a cactus’. Maybe he’ll learn from his. Maybe.

I looked to Basil.

“Oh, you’re thinking of the plant parts of the cactus.” Basil chuckled. “No, I used its flower for the bouquet instead. It’s the orange one.” Good job Basil, you just saved Kel’s life with your planning.

“Nea-“ I don’t know if Kel stuffed a flower in his mouth or he just pushed his voice too far, but he started coughing uncontrollably straight into my bouquet.

Reflexively, I pulled the bouquet away from him as fast as I could.

Kel’s head moved back at the same moment, and I think the thorns on the flowers or something, latched onto his hair. In one swift motion, the flowers flew out and rained onto the room.

Kel fell onto his butt. He was eerily silent as he laid on the ground.

Was Kel okay? Is he choking? Did he get a flower stuck in his throat? I watched his stomach; it moved in and out at a steady rate.

Phew, he’s breathing. Eventually, Kel got up, his head full of flowers, and starting shaking his head left and right. Now, petals were also raining onto the break room.

Oh shoot! The flowers! Did I just ruin the bouquet?!

Some of the flowers were bent, and while they weren’t damaged, it was a far cry from how serene the bouquet first looked.

It looked like a mess. Hopefully, Basil wasn’t crying about it. I should apologize for ruining his present, but he wasn’t paying attention to me… instead, he was looking to Kel and… trying not to laugh?

What’s so funny? I turned around to where Kel stood.

A flower stood alone, firmly imbedded into Kel’s hair, to the point where no amount shaking could ever get it out. It was the orange cactus flower that Basil said represented him.

Kel checked himself in the mirror. His face was blank until it transformed into a grin.

“Well? Am I… beautiful?“ Kel spun around and struck out a pose. His best one yet. His hands were behind his neck and he was down on one knee while making a kissy face. Beautiful.

I bursted out laughing, and so did everyone else. Well, except for Hero.

“Oh, oh! Basil, take a picture of Kel!” said Aubrey.

“O-oh sure, let me just get my camera ready.” Basil readied his camera and began to take photos.

*snap* *snap*

Kel really enjoyed getting his picture taken. In fact, Kel took a different pose between each shot. He was a fashion model that lived for the camera.

“You aren’t pushing your voice, are you, Kel?” asked Hero. Oh, he’s right! He stopped sounding like a lizard person when he posed! If I were to compare his voice from before, Kel voice quality improved from super rough sandpaper to tree bark.

“I think the flowers healed me!” Doubtful. Flowers can’t do that. Can they?

Basil gave me a shrug.

“Me next!” Aubrey took one of the pink gladioli that fell on the floor and stuck it straight into her hair. “Take a picture of me Basil!”

“Me too!” Mari followed along and plucked out a lily out of her bouquet and fastened it into her hair

Hero tried to do the same with a blue rose, but he couldn’t get it to stick.

“Erm, Mari, could you…” Hero held out a rose while on his knee. He was taller than Mari, so that’s pretty considerate of him but, does… does Hero even know how he looks right now? It was like he was from one of those bad dating shows mom likes to watch. I think Aubrey liked them too, so I glanced over.

Aubrey’s eyes sparkled like searchlights. Yup.

Mari put in the rose for Hero while taking care not to mess up his hair. Honestly, with the way she did that, they looked like an old married couple.

Basil agreed and wasn’t going to miss the opportunity as his finger shot towards the shutter.

*snap*

That moment of the two being cute was now immortalized. It became something they’d never get to forget. It became proof that the two of them shared a special relationship.

Could I get a picture like that with Aubrey?

Did I even want one? I wasn’t the biggest fan of getting photographed. They always say you look best in photographs when you smile, but I’m not good at that. I’ve seen myself smiling at myself in the mirror. It always looks weird and off-putting so I avoid cameras.

Today is special though. A picture or two can’t hurt, and I don’t have to smile. I’ll just keep my lips glued to a neutral line.

I picked out one tulip that hung in my bouquet and prepared to fold it. When I fold the stem here and hold it down, do a loop, and voila! The stem transformed into a knot that hung onto my hair.

Basil taught me how to tie this knot. It could tie anything to anything. He had a whole book about knots, and I think he picked up every single one. I should borrow it sometime, if only to make sure I could be free if I ever had to wear a tie again.

Basil grabbed a sunflower and tied it on with only a single hand. I couldn’t even see his fingers move. He wasn’t even looking!

His attention was solely on trying to get find ‘perfect’ scenes. Basil kept his eyes on everyone, looking for the perfect shot. It was like watching a director shoot a movie.

“C’mon Basil! You can’t only take pictures. Let someone else take some of you!” called Aubrey. Yup, yup. You can’t be the only one avoiding a picture, Basil.

Basil enjoyed getting photographed as much as I did. He’s all cheery behind the camera, but when you surprise him with his camera, he gets all flustered. How do you think I feel Basil?!

“Who would take the pictures then?” He tried to weasel out of it. Wow, looks like I have no choice but to generously take over picture duty. Too bad it means I won’t be getting my picture taken.

Just as I was about to make my very kind offer known to everyone, a thought stopped me.

If I just took pictures of everyone, I won’t get a picture with Aubrey. The dilemma held my tongue.

In the silence, the door clicked open. Mom and Dad entered the room.

“Oh, Mom, can you take some pictures for us?” Mari snapped into action and cut off Basil’s path of retreat.

“Oh, I’d be delighted!” And Basil was surrounded on all sides. His eyes swam, and he had to raise the white flag. He handed the camera over to Mom, and she started fiddling with the camera.

“First, let’s get the stars of the show together!” said Mom with a smile. Mari was already ready, and Dad pulled me right next to her. I can do it by myself! Everyone’s watching! I grumbled silently.  

Mom was taking her sweet time, positioning herself for a “perfect” camera shot. I wanted to get this over with already. The looming stares from everyone made me uncomfortable.

My hands and legs began to fidget. I need to steady myself so I don’t ruin the picture. Breathe in. Breathe out.

‘It’s just a photo, it’s just a photo.‘ My mantra didn’t do much to calm me down. But it did a little.

“Say ‘cheese’!” I refuse.

“Cheese!” said Mari.

I stared straight into the camera. Mom’s finger pressed the shutter button, and a snap sound came from the camera.

Suddenly, all I saw was white.

She turned on the flash function! When did she even turn on the flash function?! The light blasted my retinas, and I had to hold my hands over my eyes. It took a full three awful seconds for my vision to come back.

“Mom, turn off the flash, please.” Mari, also, didn’t appreciate being blinded.

“What? But it’ll look terrible if you don’t have a camera flash.”

“No… um, that’s not true.” said Basil.

“Just… look at the picture, Mom.” said Mari.

With a few clicks and a bit of whispering from Basil, Mom’s face scrunched up. That’s probably going to do it. Hopefully, Mom learned the cardinal rule. Flash made everything look awful. Not a single good thing about it.

“Err… yeah. Let’s just turn that off.” A small click emitted from the camera. “Okay! One more time! You two ready? Say cheese!”

No.

“Cheese!” said Mari energetically. My mouth didn’t utter a word as the camera took the photo.

“Sunny…” Mom sighed. “I know you can smil-“

Kel pulled Basil right in front of my mom.

“Take a picture of me now, ma’am! Basil too!” Kel pointed to the camera, then to himself, at a rapid pace.

“Okay, fine, fine.” My mom gave into Kel, so Mari and I stepped out of the way and let the two get their photos taken. “Oh right, thank you for letting me use your camera Basil.”

“Oh! Um, it’s nothing ma’am.” Basil scratched his cheek and looked away.

I watched as Kel posed in front of the camera while Basil stood there and tried to switch to his best smile. Emphasis on the word ‘tried’. It looked like one of those smiles you gave to a hungry shark when you ask them not to eat you.

Meanwhile, Mari took a page from Kel’s book and pulled Hero to the sides to prep for something.

When Kel and Basil were finally done, Mari and Hero stepped up like it was the most natural thing in the world. It looked like it too. They had a surprise shot from Basil, but I guess they wanted a more formal one this time.

They stood together, shoulder-to-shoulder. They looked wondrous.

Dad grumbled a lot about it, but Mom just had to glare at Dad. That got Dad to go quiet.

Next, Mom wanted a picture of the rest of us. Aubrey, Kel, and Basil got ready, but as soon as I went to join them, I scratched my back and realized something horrible. My hands were moist and a cold chill ran down my back. One very important fact made itself known.

I’ve been sweating. I’ve been sweating a lot.

This is bad. If I get too close when we take a picture, someone would notice how absolutely drenched my back was. I mean, it’s not like it’s noticeable, nor like I smell…

Do I smell? I desperately checked myself for anything that could’ve made a scent. I mean, all I did was sit down on that chairrrrrrrr…

I rubbed myself against a chair that looked old and smelled funny! The chair scent would’ve latched onto me!

I have to get out of this. But how? I looked around for an answer, for inspiration! But I couldn’t find anything that could make a reasonable excuse.

My eyes met Kel’s. He motioned to hurry up. No. That’s the worst thing for me to do in this situation. Kel was looking annoyed, and that probably means he’ll force me if I don’t come up with something quick. But nothing was coming to mind!

“Don’t move.” Someone whispered as they sprayed something down my back. I shivered as something cold went down my back. I touched it and smelled it, it smelled… like flowers?

Who was that? I turned my head, and I saw Mari. She gave me a smile.

“It’s antiperspirant.” She whispered. In that instant, I could see angel wings and a halo manifest behind her.

“Thanks.” I whispered back.

Mari is the best sister ever.

The scent of flowers fought off the cloying feeling in my stomach. All that’s left is the picture…

Is there somewhere I’m supposed to stand for these kinds of photos? Should I bring the bouquet?

There were too many things I didn’t know! I was just so confused, and that nauseating feeling rose up again. Do I really have to get my picture taken?

“C’mon Sunny!” Kel finally decided he had enough of waiting and grabbed me by the wrist. He threw me over to everybody in one big swing. That’s dangerous, Kel! I could barely stop myself from colliding headfirst into Basil.

“Everybody ready?” asked Mom.

“We’re ready ma’am.” Said Basil.

Kel tried to move behind me, but I blocked him. I know what he’s planning. It’s literally the first thing everyone does in a group photo. He wants to put bunny ears on me and someone else! Not on my watch! I will make this photo session as short as possible!

Kel was a slippery one. If I used my hands to grab him, Mom would immediately notice. Then I’d have to let him go. But it also meant Kel couldn’t use his hands, either. So, we used our bodies instead.

Kel and I were exchanging positions at a rapid rate. He swerved left, and I almost completely moved that way, but I saw a glint in his eye. He turned on his heel, and spun to the right, but I was ready for him and moved myself into his path! Kel managed not to crash into me by taking a few steps back, but that just meant he had a lot more space to move now. It doesn’t matter though, I’ll stop him.

We made eye contact. We were in a deadlock, a standoff. But just as it began, it suddenly stopped.

Aubrey grabbed both of us by our collars.

“Stop playing around!” she said. Kel’s locked in place! Good job Aubrey!

Aubrey pulled the two of us next to her, and Basil leaned into us.

The camera snapped at that exact same moment. That sound was the trumpet that signaled my victory. Victory was sweet. It also felt kind of warm and smelled nice.

“That was good! Everyone smiled in that picture! See Sunny! I know you can smile!”

I did?! Oh no; I got too caught up in the competition… I hoped the photo didn’t look too weird.

At least I got a picture with Aubrey.

Kel and Aubrey ran up to Mom to look at the picture.

“I look so awesome! C’mon! Take another picture of me! You too Hero!”

Kel pulled in Hero for another picture. Hero was more than happy to oblige.

While they were busy doing that, I went to hang out with Basil for a bit.

“Sorry about the flowers.” Hopefully, Basil wasn’t too down about it.

“Oh, it’s fine, Sunny, I got a photo, and I still have more flowers back home, so I could always make another one and send it later.” That’s a load off my shoulders.

“Oh, let me get the two of you together!” cried out Mom. She must be done photographing Kel and Hero.

Basil and I walked over, but we were both pretty nervous about the picture.

Basil held onto the hem of my shirt, but waved with his other hand. I waited for the photo with a face of stone.

“Huh, aren’t you two wearing the same clothes?” Oh, looks like Mom noticed.

“No! I mean, we are! But uh… “ Basil started fiddling with his fingers. “I’m sorry, it’s weird. I thought we’d look like best friends if I did this.”

Disregarding however the heck Basil figured out what I was going to wear, when I hadn’t ever shown him these clothes, he’s worrying over nothing.

“We’re already best friends.” I patted Basil on the back.

“Sunny…” He smiled, and I gave one back.

*snap*

“Good photo you two!” A second photo of me smiling was taken. I felt used. Did Mom somehow plan this when she said the thing about clothes to Basil? Did she plan this with Basil?

One look at Basil gave me the answer. His face was red too, so he walked off to the corner to sit on the chairs. I probably shouldn’t tell him that that was the chair I sat on, or he must just die.

“Let’s do Sunny and Aubrey next!” said Mari as she pulled Aubrey along by the arm. It sounded great! Though one though absolutely bulldozed through my head.

DOES MARI KNOW?!

It sounds nice, but is she doing it for me because she knows about my crush? I mean, why else would she suggest it, but like, sometimes she just does that, but didn’t she just take a picture with Hero that was a lot like this, and if she knew, her teasing would be on a whole other level, wouldn’t it?

My brain was having a meltdown. Then Mari led Aubrey right next to me. So now it was now primed to explode.

For the group picture, my embarrassment was manageable because everyone else and Kel helped distract me the sick fuzzy feeling in my stomach.

But this, this was somehow so much more nerve-wracking.

I stood next to Aubrey. I felt something warm brush my skin every now and then, and all I smelt were flowers. Everyone’s eyes were on me, and I couldn’t handle the fire burning in my face. It was to the point where even looking at Aubrey put me at risk to collapse.

Everything about her stunned me. How she looked from a distance couldn’t even compare to when she was next to me.

My only option was to focus on my breathing.

Both of us were silent. I really should say something, but what? I need to get it over with already. And why isn’t Mom taking the photo?!

I looked at Mom. She was fiddling with the camera for some unknown reason. How hard can it be to just press the shutter button!

“Uh, you look good, Sunny.” Aubrey broke the silence with her whisper.

I had to resist pumping my fist.

“Thanks. Um, you look good too.” I just returned the compliment, but it was probably the wrong thing to do. The weird silence came back.

“Okay, you two! Get a little closer for the camera!”

I took a tiny shuffle to the left. Aubrey did the same. We were a lot closer now. The space between us could fit a grape at most.

“A little more please!” Mom urged.

And so we crushed that grape together. Our hands were touching. My heart leapt. The back of my hand felt a little ticklish, but it also felt a gentle warmth.

“Okay, perfect!”

All my senses were overwhelmed. It was all I could do to stand still instead of shake uncontrollably. I wanted Mom to take the picture and get it over with, yet last I wanted it to last forever. My embarrassment fought with my happiness.

I should stare straight at the camera, but I couldn’t help sneaking glances to my side.

Mom’s finger finally pressed the button.

Then Kel slid in front of us. He pulled his cheeks and kicked up a leg. I heard him waggle his tongue, making a leroleh sound.

I tried reaching out my hand to grab him out of the way but…

*snap*

“Ahahaha! Gotcha!” cackled Kel.

“Kel…” moaned Hero.

“It’s no big deal, just take another photo!”

Then, the door opened and a staff member walked in. They tapped on their clipboard with their pen and spoke in a husky voice.

“Sorry, but the next recital going to begin soon. The performer needs to use this room, so you all have to go. You have 1 minute.”

Kel jinxed it!

“Ah, whoops.” he scratched his head.

Kel’s birthday was coming up. I had been kind in the previous years, and didn’t collect on his debt of birthday punches, even though Kel has given me a few every year so far. It would be time for repayment soon.

“I think we have time for just one more picture.” Dad checked on his watch.

“We need one with everyone together!” said Mom. Her arms wildly waved everyone to group up.

So, everyone gathered around the two of us.

Hero and Mari, being the tallest, stood behind all of us.

Kel leaned onto my right shoulder, while Basil was to Aubrey’s left.

Me and Aubrey stayed in place. Though, the space between us grew to the size of a watermelon. I looked over, and well, Aubrey gave me a small smile. We probably had to keep this distance.

I felt a pang, and I kind of wished…

No, no. This is fine.

All my friends had warm smiles behind me. Their warmth comforted me.

I’ll treasure them forever.

*snap*

The camera snapped up the memory.

It was perfect.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6

Dear Basil,

So my first two months as a sophomore went by so fast. Nothing’s sunk in though. I’m not sure if that’s just the school or me.

So, how’s your new school treating you? I hear schools on the west coast were super strict about everything. Can you still wear your flower?

Anyways, I finally read through those books you said to read. I really liked the tournament in the fourth book. I want to go to a magic school too.

I want to fly…

Do you want to fly Basil? If you could fly, you could visit everyone during lunch. We have a space at our new lunch table just for you. Also, we changed lunch tables. We can’t exactly hog a circle lunch table anymore. We all moved to one by a window in the cafeteria.

Aubrey and Kel still fight, but now that Hero and Mari aren’t around to stop them, they’ve toned it down a bit, and they can even make up on their own! It’s a miracle, really.

We don’t have the same classes anymore, but we make up for them in our lunch sessions.

Kel’s been practicing basketball a lot more, and he keeps trying to rope the rest of us to play with him. There’s no way I can win. He’s taller than me by like, a foot and a half!

Aubrey has been getting into baseball, well, not really baseball. She just chucks things and hits it with her bat. At least Mari’s old bat is being put to use somehow.

Speaking of Mari, she’s been calling every day from her college. It’s really annoying. All she does is ask questions and questions like ‘how I’ve been’ and ‘have I been eating right’. She worries too much. I’m already fifteen.

Hero sent everyone a test batch of some new cookies he made! He tried to send you some too, but the shipping costs would’ve forced him to subsist on a diet of flour for an entire week. Mari stopped him before he mailed it, thankfully.

Hope your grandma gets well soon. I looked up the hospital she got admitted to, and they’re super famous for taking care of old people, so she’s guaranteed to recover.

When that happens, you’d be able to visit for the summer, or maybe as early as spring break! Let’s have some cookies then. Your grandma can make some for us!

It sucks that you aren’t around, but everyone is still getting along fine------

Shoot. My pen flailed in my hand and that made my ‘e’ looked like it was shooting a beam.

The bus shook back and forth to a stop. Why does the bus shake more when it stops than when it moves? If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t have lost control.

On the bottom of the letter, I swirled my pen, signed my name in a fancy font, then put my pen into my hoodie pocket. The bus rustled and shook some more. Honestly, I shouldn’t even be trying to write right now.

I just needed to do something instead of waste away my time on the bus. My college prep classes today absolutely chewed me up. Their classes are so pointlessly hard and stupid, it’s like they made it for the sole purpose to annoy people.

Mom made me go. I had no say in it. I’d leave if I could, but I’m stuck going three times a week.

I sighed and glanced over my letter. Any mistakes? Hm… well, each line sounds good enough. I’ll send this to Basil.

Though the last line needed some touching-up. Looks like this is a job for white-out! Where’d I put that again?

I had my bag tightly secured between my legs. I left the top zipper open for easy access. Too much of a pain to close it and have to open it back up again, case in point. I fumbled around in my bag, looking for the all-familiar bumpy cap of the whiteout. My nails scratched against the familiar grooves and I picked out the small white container.

After unscrewing the cap, I held the white-out bottle in a death-grip. My other hand grabbed the brush-cap, and with the precision of a master surgeon, applied the white-out to the afflicted area. I placed the cap back on and left the whiteout on my lap. Then, with great care, I fanned the letter in the air. The white-out would dry faster this way..

I picked out an envelope from the side of my bag and slipped my letter inside. The corner was crumpled a bit from walking with it all day, though the 25 cent stamp of Spaceboy attached to the corner stayed clear of any creases.

The bright yellow stuff on the tip of the envelope tasted familiar, but I could never place it. As my trek through the memories of everything I’ve eaten bore nothing, I sealed the letter. Annoyingly enough, there were bumps and lumps in my fold. How in the world do people do this cleanly?

Bleh, no one would notice. I shuffled my hands into my front hoodie pocket and put it parallel to my stomach. I patted the air out of my pocket to make sure it wouldn’t crease the envelope.

In hindsight, I focused too much on the letter.

Suddenly, the bus jumped up and my hands pushed forward. Then, the worst thing that could ever possibly happen, happened. My hand knocked over the whiteout, and in slow-motion, I watched as its blanky fluids dribbled all over my hoodie and pants.

I didn’t twist the cap back on…

WHYYYYYYYYY. I screamed. Silently, of course.

I couldn’t make a scene here. Too many eyes, and someone from school could be here. I’ll have to scream at home.

How far away from home am I? The dirty bus windows filtered my view as I looked out.

A house with a red roof and yellow windows stood right outside.

I knew that house, a kid I used to know got the Guinness world record of fastest 1000- piece puzzle completed lived there. My stop would come up in a few seconds.

I zipped my bag and slung it over my shoulder. Thus began my walk of shame. Well, it was more like a power-walk. I slouched over so I could hide the white splotch all across my front side, but it didn’t do enough. Each head that turned my way felt like a spear that stabbed through me.

Finally, I got to the door and jumped off the bus. Now, to run. The faster I got home, the better. The consequences of going too slow would mean the complete loss of my clothes. There were about seven blocks between my bus stop and home.

Ready. Set. Go.

While I was running, I lost myself in the zone and ran as fast as a bullet train, is what I would’ve liked to say. But it was surprisingly difficult to maintain a tunnel vision on sprinting home. Stupid questions just kept popping into my brain as I ran.

Did the white-out seep into my letter? I pulled it out and pulled it close to my face. The letter was slightly soaked due to how wet the white-out was, but none of it actually landed on the letter, so at least the letter wasn’t ruined. I put it back in my hoodie pocket.

Did any of my books fall out? Each step bounced my backpack and shuffled everything in my bag, and I couldn’t help but worry that I would damage my textbooks. They were expensive.

Am I going to run into anybody I know? I tried to map out who would be around to see my desperate sprint home, but I barely knew anyone in the area, so I’m worrying over nothing.

I passed by house by house, street by street as I ran. I could feel my heart thumping like an engine. My legs started to give out and my breaths were growing heavier and heavier. Why is the bus stop so far away from my house!

Must… keep… going…

An epic battle waged on inside me. It was my will paired with the energy I could muster with each heartbeat versus the exhaustion coupled with the cruel clock of in a fight to the death. It almost sounded like a superhero show I used to watch.

But life isn’t a TV show, so the goodly forces of my heart eventually lost and exhaustion won out.

My back knocked against the grass on someone’s lawn as my lungs gasped for air.

If only I didn’t have to carry all my books. I totally could’ve made it if it wasn’t for all these heavy pointless textbooks.

Today was a bust. My clothes had been consigned to the fate of being ruined. This was my favorite hoodie as well! I’ve had it for years, and it’s going to take forever for any new hoodie to get that same old-hoodie patented comfort.

I tossed a strap of my backpack over my shoulder and dragged my feet the rest of the way back home. Back stained with grass marks, the front stained with splotches of white paint, look at me go.

I saw my house, and the flag on the mailbox was raised high!

Maybe there’d be something for me in the mailbox. A letter would help turn this day around. My fist knocked the side of the mailbox and it *clanged* open. Then the mail fumbled to the floor. Great job. Really hitting all the bases today.

Might as well sort through the mail while I’m picking it up.

Let’s see, junk, junk, junk, Dad, Mom, Mom, and a brightly colored envelope!

I tore it open immediately. This seems just the kind of letter Basil would send!

It read:

Congratulations winner!

You have been chosen to receive a lifetime supply of LIFE JAM, as you must’ve already heard by our extensive ad campaign, it the non-processed, no-sugar, no-additive, jam!

I’m sure you’re very excited to obtain this wonderful delicacy that stocks every kitchen on the coast of America!

Please respond to claim your fabulous surprise of a lifetime supply of LIFE JAM.

LIFE JAM! It really works!

I’ve had life jam before. Once. That day… they gave me a free sample… when I took a bite… it tasted like a punch to the face. Then came the barrage to my guts.

This cannot be allowed to exist. Mom loves a good deal, and if she finds out that she can get a lifetime supply of anything, she’ll take it, horrible consequences or not. I tore the letter up and scattered it onto the street. If I had my way, I would’ve burnt the scraps.

The rest of the important letters were for Mom and from their bank. I’ll leave those on the kitchen table.

So, there was no letter for me.

My keys jingled as I pushed open the door. The distinct smell of my home wafted over me, but the lights were all off.

The stairs creaked as I went to my room and changed into a long-sleeved t-shirt and sweatpants I had lying on the floor. No one nagged me about keeping clean now, so I freely store my clothes on the floor now. Next is to check the extent of the damage.

One look at my hoodie, and I could already tell it was ruined. A splatter streaked across the dark-gray hoodie. It wasn’t even like a cool splatter; it was like a worm covered in white paint lazily walked over my hoodie and then exploded.

I need to save it. My other clothes didn’t fit me like my hoodie did. But how do I clean white-out?

When in doubt, add water. I went into the bathroom, flipped the light, and cranked the faucet. A *psshhh* sounded out as warm water filled up the bathtub. I let go of my hoodie. There was a *crinkle* as it hit the bottom of the tub.

Crinkle? OH GOD NO!

The letter is still in my hoodie!

My arms snapped forward and snatched the hoodie out of the bathtub.

Bases loaded, and I scored the clean-up home-run of screwups.

A quick check over my hoodie and only the bottom waist part remained soaked. The hoodie pocket stayed clear.

Oh, thank god. I rummaged through my hoodie and got the letter out. Can’t risk screwing up again.

Might as well clean out my hoodie pocket while I’m at it. Hm, it’s a lot more cluttered than I first realized. A pile formed in front of me. The pile contained random pieces of colored hard candies, a handful of pencils and pens, and lint that I really should’ve been cleaning out.

The bath filled up halfway. So after a quick shake to make sure I didn’t miss anything, I tossed my clothes in. They floated on top of the water, and it formed a cloth bubble, so I made sure it stayed down by pressing on the bubbles they formed.

…

I picked the letter off the sink and left the bathroom. The scent of the water put my head in a weird space.

I dropped off the letter on the counter for Mom, right next to the bills. She’ll bring it with her to work and mails it for me.

Basil would be thrilled to get a letter, so at least I’m making someone happy. Maybe the day will change from awful to just okay.

I can already picture him smile when he reads it.

Basil left at the end of the summer. His grandma’s condition became super serious, so she had to be moved into a hospital for intensive care. It was really tough on Basil. We tried to console him, but his grandma’s sickness really weighed on him.

Then, I met Basil’s parents for the first time, and well, it wasn’t the best first meeting. They said they wanted to move Basil’s grandma to a more funded, state-of-the-art hospital that had a reputation for treating old people. The catch was that it was on the other side of the country.

They gave Basil a choice. He could move with his grandma so he could stay with her, or he could either stay here in Faraway.

I wanted him to tell him to stay, but; I didn’t. Basil listens to me, and I don’t want to pressure him into forcing him into a decision. If it was Mari… Honestly, if I were in his position, I didn’t know what I’d choose.

The choice weighed on Basil for days, but Basil made his decision. He would go stay with his Grandma. We held a giant going-away party to see him off. As far as parties were concerned, not that great. Farewell parties never were.

Basil sobbed into my shirt. I almost cried too, but I sent him off with a smile. We promised to keep in touch through letters.

I know he still misses us, and he might be getting homesick or worried about how we’re doing back at home. Thankfully, any worries of his will be smushed when he gets my letter that everyone in Faraway is still getting along.

I sighed.

It’s just too bad that I had to lie about that.

I sat on my bed. It felt a lot emptier now that Mari had left for college. The alarm that always woke me up an hour before school started left with Mari, and even though I was getting more sleep, it just didn’t feel as wonderful as oversleeping did.

The corkboard that used to be filled with all sorts of papers and calendars was empty. I had nothing to put up there.

The same went for the rest of the room.

I mean, I tried to make the room seem not so empty. I put some of my stuffed animals in all sorts of places to give the room some life. It sounded sad, but it did beat back the horrible monster of emptiness.

Happy hid between the leaves of the potted plant, playing hide & seek with Brows and Bangs.

Bangs sat atop the computer, trying to get a bird's-eye view of where Happy could be.

Brows tried looking into the gaps of the room and stuck himself into a gap between two books. It was a really narrow squeeze, so when he finally figured out Happy wasn’t there, he couldn’t get out. No one’s been able to since.

Nose reigned like a king in the lampshade. He was super fond of his shiny new throne as he gazed upon the land of ‘Nosehair’(self-proclaimed).

Bun sat in a drawer below Nose’s throne and happily swam in a sea of shirts.

My stuffed animals were their own circle of friends. Each of them supporting and building upon each other.

How everyone used to be.

I plopped on my bed.

How did things even get like this? I’ve asked myself this question over and over again.

We were a system.

Everyone balanced each other out and when we were together, we meshed perfectly and could function without error.

But life got in the way. College came, people moved away, and suddenly, everything wasn’t perfect. The system fell apart. All that was left were a few empty cogs that spun aimlessly.  

A pillow found its way into my arms, and I mashed it.

It all started when we went back to school. The school year started great. I went to school with Aubrey and Kel. Three of us instead of the riot that were the six of us that previous year. But, even though there were some obvious gaps in our friend group, I thought we could patch them up easy. We may have to change up the dynamics a bit, but our relationships could probably take it.

In the past, most of our fights start when Kel would say something to annoy Aubrey, and Aubrey jabbed back. It would’ve gone back and forth for a while until Hero or Mari made them make up.

But the both of them are now in college. That meant there was no one left to stop them. Aubrey and Kel kinda knew this, so their arguments stopped half-way.

Maybe that would’ve been the new normal, maybe the gaps in our relationships would mend together naturally.

I should’ve known better. Things wouldn’t just fix themselves.

Two months into the school year, like a bolt from the blue, the fight happened.

A fight started and what started as annoyed words slowly became a yell. Their voices slowly raised in pitch until they were shouting at each other non-stop.

And me? I didn’t pick a side; I didn’t try to calm the two of them down. I did nothing.

I should’ve.

Like I was off in my own little ignorant world, I just sat there, plugging my ears away from the argument, and just… waited for it all to end.

But it didn’t, and now Aubrey and Kel wouldn’t even speak or look at each other.

Then, they got new friends.

Kel made friends with all the jocks and people who played sports.

Aubrey had new friends too, and from how the teachers were whispering, they were a bad crowd.

Fuck.

They replaced me.

There isn’t even a reason for them to stay friends with me. All I did was sit there, so of course they got sick of me.

Two weeks later, and all I’m doing now is mindlessly thinking of all the what-ifs, and maybes of what I could’ve done.

I held back the tears.

A meow echoed outside the door. Mewo’s here. So, maybe I’m not completely alone. Mari didn’t bring her to college. She worried Mewo wouldn’t be able to adapt to an unfamiliar environment, so at least I have company.

She prowled into the room and jumped up onto Mari’s bed and made herself comfortable on her blankets.

I picked her up by her fluffy stomach and brought her to my face.

“You miss Mari too, huh?”

I put Mewo on my stomach and daydreamed about a perfect solution that would solve everything and make everyone get along again.

I closed my eyes.

But if Mari was here… she’d swoop in and fix everything effortlessly. Hero too. Someway, somehow, we’d could all get along again.  

We needed them. I needed them.

There were two months until December. Two months before she comes back.

I prayed our relationships didn’t break any further than this.

It’s rumored that the Faraway Fountain was built 20 years ago after the most brutal series of town hall meetings the town had ever seen. They say the meetings were about how to spruce the town up. Many ideas were proposed, from building a skate park, to creating a campground, but no idea could ever gain a majority vote. It became hours of name-calling and screaming, which wasn’t helped because it took place in the scorching summer weather. They didn’t even have air conditioners back then.

There were all sorts of tales about how those meetings went. From the fights that broke out, to the people breaking down mid-speech. There was even a rumor that one day, it devolved into a rap battle with all the cheering and jeers attached.

It’s not clear whether people actually wanted one, or maybe they were just sick and tired of arguing, but they eventually agreed on building the Faraway fountain.

Even though it was a giant fight, they were able to resolve it and come to a resolution, so why can’t I do the same?

Now, an eight-foot tall fountain graces everyone who visits the series of shops that line Faraway Plaza. A wonderful monument that can do things like squirt and drip water. And uh… not much else.

Why do people like fountains again?

At the very least, it’s a distraction. I couldn’t take how still and stale and suffocating the air was back home. Even though going out for the second time today sounded exhausting, I took the lesser of two evils and went out for some fresh air.

I went to the plaza and had a slice of pizza at Gino’s. Then I just roamed around the super-market, staring and poking at the both kinds of oranges, grapes, and apples. The candy shop would’ve been the most interesting place to look at, but the lady that works there is frightening. Turns out that window-shopping in a supermarket is really disappointing.

I hadn’t bothered to enter Hobbiez yet because the shop-keep’s hungry gaze locked onto any suckers that entered his store. I think he’s aiming for a super-limited-mint-condition figure that someone is auctioning, so his business sense had flared up and he’s been giving no mercy to anyone who entered his shop.

Last time I went into Hobbiez, the shopkeeper tried to push me to buy a pet rock.

No way. It’s just glorified rock-paper-scissors. Why would I ever spend $20 dollars on that?

A poor soul entered the shop, and I overheard a very enthusiastic sales pitch that would make late-night salesmen on the TV weep.

I tuned him out as I sat on the bench, humming the duet Mari and I practiced for our recital.

“Hey kid,” An unfamiliar voice called out to me. “You play the violin, right?”

Who’s that?

Chapter Text

The basketball flew up to the rim and bounced away. 

Dang. I could’ve sworn that would go in. The ball flew straight back at me. 

I walked up and gently snatched it out of the air. I held it in my hands like a baby and spoke to it as it was my child. You’ll go in the hoop for me, won’t ya, son? 

My feet skid as they passed the free-throw line. I got into position and threw my child to the 10-foot high steel pole.

*swish*

Nothing but net. He made daddy proud.

The basketball coach said that I should aim for about a 70% free-throw rate or more, and I got 28 shots in. So, I’m doing great if I shot under… uh…

Oh no! Math! My worst enemy!

Oh well, I’ll just get someone else to defeat it for me. I gotta make sure to remember this. Hmm, I made 28 shots out of…

A number didn’t appear in my head. Huh. Just how many times did I shoot? 

Let’s see, at the start of practice, I know I did amazing. When I started, I hit 5 out of 5 shots in a row! 

And then, I missed the next shot. Then, I made the shot after that and counted six.

Whoops.

Aw man. I totally forgot to count the shots I missed. I’m probably doing great though, I could barely remember missing! Heck, I’m sure I didn’t miss more than the number of fingers I had! 

Would having more fingers make me better at basketball? Dah, not the point! Figure out your free-throw rate! 

Let’s say I missed ten times, 

…carry the two, change the three, swap the lines… 

that would mean I have a fraction. 

If I really thought about it, the times I missed were because of things that were totally out of my control. There were sudden typhoon that only shifted basketballs two feet to the right or giant bird that snatched the ball away like pterodactyls, so if I don’t count the acts of god and nature that messed me up, I had a 100% free-throw rate!

Perfect! Kel does it again with his perfect deduction skills! Get him a detective hat and one of those fancy pipes!

I chuckled.

Yeah right. I’m not that delusional. There’s still lots I gotta practice before I can call myself good.

If math, nature, and god have all failed me, all that is left, is my last resort! Reset everything to zero and try again!

I picked up my child from the bottom of the hoop and went back to the free-throw line. I dribbled it twice, all the basketball players do that for some reason, and got into my shooting stance. 

I held the ball steady with one hand and pushed it with the other and watched the ball soar.

The ball hit the backboard, but bounced off to the left. Miss.

Bad start, but that means I’ll hit the next one!

The ball wobbled on the rim, but eventually fell out. Miss.

That’s just me being unlucky. C’mon, get your head in the game and focus.

The ball rattled the backboard and not much else. Miss. 

…

The ball didn’t even touch the backboard or the rim. Miss.

Zero out of four. 

Wow! That was awful! If that happened in a real game, I’d probably get booed off the court and kicked off the team. Haha! Hilarious!

I took a deep breath.

Keep your head up, Kel! You can’t let this get you down! You never let anything get you down! Not even that time when you tripped and dropped your birthday cake on the floor! You just ate the half that didn’t touch the floor! You’re unstoppable!

There’s still time to get better. You have a lot more free time now, so you can practice and get good. Failure doesn’t bother you. You’ve failed all the time, so you know how to roll with it! 

But that voice… it still nagged in the back of my head, like a piece of gum stuck in my hair.

It said the same thing everyone didn’t say to me, but I knew they all thought it.

It’s what Aubrey put into words, and I couldn’t forgive her for that.

I guess it all started that summer. That summer, a miracle occurred. The miracle called puberty kicked in. It kicked in hard! It kicked down my door and smashed me through the window!

Like in one of my comic books, I sprouted an entire foot! Many tests and experiments were done with help from my dad! He didn’t really do much, but he was the perfect measuring stick! He stood exactly six feet, so all I had to do was measure myself next to him until I was taller! I did that every day that summer, but when the last day of summer ran around, my height still lost to dad. That’s fine, I still had room to grow. 

Even if I wasn’t six feet tall, my new height made me awesome! Every time I played basketball, my movement, shooting, and dribbling were like a hurricane! Heck, I could almost dunk!

And people noticed! When I went to the park, the guys at the basketball court invited me to play with them, and I made some quick friends through that. 

I made new friends, and I had to see my old friends off.

Basil moved away so he could stay with his grandma, and Hero and Mari went to the same college together. 

Man, when Hero revealed that he was going to the same college as Mari, everyone got so shocked, especially Mari!

Hero was ready to pursue his dreams, and he wasn’t going to be a doctor or a lawyer. 

Mom really pushed back hard on that decision. 

A few months before Hero made his college decision, he and Mom waged a war. The two of them did some super sneaky things to “subliminally influence” each other. I didn’t even know that was a thing until Hero told me!

Mom left those super sad commercials on the TV and mumbled about if only someone would help them. I couldn’t even change the channel, if I did, the guilt would eat at me too much.

Hero did that kind of sneaky stuff, too! He started making breakfast for Mom and Dad, and made super fancy stuff like breakfast burritos and super fancy pancakes. They were just soooooo goooood! Way better than what Mom makes! Though she won’t ever hear me say it. Hopefully.

Dad made sure Sally didn’t have to witness the sneakiness.

But eventually, the day for Hero to submit his college decision came. There was no more room for sneakiness, so Mom got direct. She didn’t truly have a say in what college Hero chose for his future, but Hero is way too Hero to disappoint Mom and Dad without trying to make them understand why.

That day, I saw Hero psych himself up a ton in our room. He kept leafing through a bunch of pictures from Basil and took deep breaths. His focus was so strong that he didn’t even react to the spider that crawled next to him. I made sure to remove it before he noticed. Didn’t want his courage to be shattered. He left the room and called Mom and Dad downstairs.

I followed soon afterwards.

I saw the three of them were in the kitchen and they all had faces I had never seen before. Well, never seen on Hero. I knew Mom’s face, it’s the one she uses when she yells at me. Dad too, but he doesn’t get mad as much. But that was the first time I saw all three of them angry like that!

As the little brother, it’s my duty to eavesdrop on important family decisions! Because I’m an honorable little bro, I pressed my ear against the wall in the living room! It made me feel like a secret spy in a movie, so I loaded and got my finger-guns into position if I needed to make a get-away.

Well, I probably didn’t even need to eavesdrop. They were yelling over each other and I’m pretty sure our neighbors overheard everything too. At the very least, the door to Sally’s room was shut, so Sally didn’t wake up the entire time they fought. 

And fight they did. 

“It’s because this is what I want to do! It’s been my dream to cook for so long!” I’ve never heard Hero scream before.

“That’s no career! You can’t pay the bills and mortgages on smiles, Henry! Get a serious career and secure your future!” Ah, Mom used Hero’s actual name. 

“Cooking is serious! People need food no matter what! Why can’t you accept that!”

“I’m concerned about your future! Your scholarships and accomplishments in high school mean so much more when you’re 18 and not 25! You have so much more time when you’re older, so leave cooking for later!

“But, that’s not what I want to do! I don’t want to waste years of my life studying something I can’t put my heart into! This is my dream Mom!”

They argued in circles for what felt like hours.

It didn’t help that Hero had actually gotten an offer from a cooking school. 

There was no end to the argument in sight. They were dead-even. I remember Mari taught me a chess-term about that. Uhhh, right! Milk-crate! The two of them were in a milk-crate! That doesn’t really make sense. Chess is weird and milk is nasty!

The milk-crate showed no signs of breaking. So Dad stepped in, cleared his throat, and gave it his best shot.

“Hero, let me ask you, if you did have a career as a chef, in ten years, what would a perfect day of that be like?”

“He’ll be stuck in a dead-en—”

“Let him say what he thinks dear.”

“Well,” Hero took a deep breath and closed his eyes, “I’d wake up early in the morning to prepare the dough and baked goods. Afterwards, then the smell of coffee would envelop the cafe when I turn on the coffee machines. At that point, the cafe would be open and I’d serve everyone who comes in with a smile, and they’ll smile back. As the customers come in, I’d sit around and chat with them. A bit of conversation with their meals and they’ll be smiling the whole time.“

“Tha—” 

“Let him finish.”

“Then, later on in the day, the lunch shift would come and I’d have an entire system set-up to manage it quickly and effectively. After that’s over, my friends would come over and help out or hang around and tell me all about their day.” 

That sounded pretty great! I gotta make sure to be there. I can already imagine all the food I’ll be able to mooch off! And it’d be free! Food always tastes better when it’s free!

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Henry, but do you really need to go to a cooking school to open a cafe?”

“Yes! It’ll let me get better at cooking, so that I can guarantee that everyone who eats my food will eat it with a smile on their face. At the very least, I want to work towards my dreams right now.”

“Well, your lamb chops are delicious…” Wrong thing to say, Dad, I didn’t even need to see Mom’s face to know that she was giving him the look. 

“Paul!” That’s two for two on first names now. I kind of wanted to poke my head out now, y’know, to complete the whole set. Though, getting in trouble right now would be pretty bad. Mom’s already super mad, so I might just get grounded out of nowhere…

“I know, I know, but… Henry’s serious about this. Being a chef definitely isn’t the most secure occupation, I can say that much, but he really wants it.”

“That’s not an argument! The world doesn’t care if you ‘want’ it! It chews up the mediocre and spits them out!”

“Henry is more than mediocre-”

“I know that! He can be more than just a chef! He shouldn’t just squander off his potential!”

“But that’s his mistake to make, isn’t it? I know you’re worried about Hero, but you said it yourself, Hero can be more. And I want you to give him a little trust he can be more than just a chef. “ He turned to Hero. “But Henry, I think you’re letting your dreams cloud what it really means to be a professional.”

“How?”

“I kind of knew this was coming, so I asked a couple of chefs around town to see what culinary school and their jobs are like.”

“What did they say?”

“They said the work is exhausting, they work for long hours, and the pay is quite awful if you aren’t a head chef. Can your arms even handle that Hero?”

“I don’t know, but I’m still going to try.”

“You should, if you really want to be a chef. But there’s still a lot of things that can go wrong, so let’s compromise.”

“What do you mean?”

“Henry. I’m not telling you to go to medical and become a doctor, but I’m also worried about you becoming a chef. When I spoke to those chefs today about their jobs, their eyes were dead. They may have had a passion for cooking at some point, but it’s all faded after years of life grinding down on them.”

“…”

“And well, the clincher was when I asked them about how much they got paid. If you tried to make a living on that salary, you’d probably have to work for a decade or two before you could really set up your own shop.”

Hero’s eyes drifted down to his feet.

“You want to open your own cafe right?” Hero nodded. “Alright. When you open up this cafe of yours, I’ll help pay for part of it.”

“Really?!”

“On one condition though, If you go to a business school and study all there is about 

“Is that really okay? That’s a lot of money and I know you want to retire soon…”

“Hey, it’s just an investment. If you’re as good as you say you are, you’ll make it big and give it back twofold, won’t ya?”

“Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!!” Hero hugged Dad. Dad patted Hero’s back.

But what did Mom think? I glanced over to her and Hero did as well.

She didn’t look angry, in fact, her lips were puckered and her eyes were squinted. I don’t know what that could mean. Maybe she went into a super anger form, where she can’t even show her anger on her face…

“Fine,” Mom sighed, “I can’t force you to be a doctor, and I guess understanding business would be a good enough back-up plan.”

Hero let go of Dad, and latched onto Mom. Mom hugged back.

“Heck, you could even study at the same college of that girl you like.” Nudged Dad.

“Hwuh?”

“What? Didn’t think I’d notice? You two gush over each other like your mom and I used to!” Oh no! I’m being mentally attacked! The images in my brain, they’re so disgusting! This kind of attack should be banned!

“Dad!” Hero’s covered his red face with his hands.

Mom laughed, and the glint in her eye meant she was ready to tease Hero for hours as well. If I wanted to, I could bail out Hero by entering the kitchen to get food. If I wanted to.

I went upstairs.

It’s great that Dad stepped in and solved the fight between Mom and Hero. That was probably the first time Hero got his way in something. I felt proud, Hero finally stepped up for something he wanted. He could do anything he set his mind to, because he’s not mediocre.

The mediocre, huh…

I saw Hero and Mari off with a hug as Dad drove the two to the airport.

It was lonely without them, we all spent so many years together, but I didn’t mind. I knew I’d see them again soon! Their jaws will drop when they come back and see me shine! It made me giddy with excitement. A bunch of people on the basketball team told me I had crazy amounts of potential and I should try out for the team!

So then school started, and I gotta be honest, the first few months went on like normal. I sat with Sunny and Aubrey during lunch, dozed off in class, and played sports afterschool and during gym. Except this time we didn’t all have the same classes. Thinking about it, it was probably a miracle that we all shared the same classes last year. 

But I had a goal now. 

Every day after school, I would be in the park or playground, honing my mad skillz and getting gud. Sometimes, a couple of basketball players would practice with me and invite me to hang out during lunch we were done. 

Sunny and Aubrey didn’t want to help me get gud. I invited them to practice with me and all, but Aubrey preferred hitting things with a big stick (Baseball) and Sunny liked moving about as much as a rock. 

I mean, I still hung out with them at lunch, so what’s there to be sad about?

That’s how the days went. I sat around with Aubrey and Sunny, went to class, slept in class, practiced basketball, and then went home.

As the days passed, the guys at the basketball team kept inviting me to eat lunch with them. I always felt kind of bad for always refusing them, and well, ti couldn’t hurt to just eat with them just once.

I just had to tell Sunny and Aubrey about it. 

That was a mistake.

When I told the two, Sunny nodded, but Aubrey’s seat rattled as she stood up.

“You’re ditching us!”

Sheesh, talk about an overreaction. I’m just having lunch with some other people.

“Why though?!” 

They invited me, so I was going to sit with them. I don’t see what the problem is. 

“Just turn them down!”

But I’d feel bad. They invite me all the time and I keep saying no. They’re still kind of my friends, so I should hang out with them every once in a while.

“You barely even know them!”

I know enough that I want to hang out with them. They played basketball with me all over the summer!

“Oh wow, look at you. You play ‘basketball’ now.” Aubrey air-quoted basketball with her fingers, “So, now you’re too good for us then.” 

I scrunched up my nose. That’s not what I was trying to say at all. What’s wrong with Aubrey today! 

“Nothing. It’s you!”

Is this just about basketball?! What could be wrong with that! She doesn’t even play it, so what the heck would she know!

“It’s a stupid and pointless game!”

So what! I like playing it, that should be all that matters! Doesn’t she know how everyone says I could make the team! 

“Yeah, sure you are.”

I will! Just watch me!

“I don’t need to. You’re going to screw it up at some point.”

No, I’m not! How could I possibly screw up huh?!

“I’ve known you long enough that I know you will! You screw everything up at some point, Kel!”

Those words were like a heavy punch to my guts. My head was burning. My cheeks flushed as my eyes stung. My throat hitched while my fists clenched. 

Then I said something I shouldn’t have.

I don’t remember what happened after that. I know I screamed and cried and she screamed and cried, and someone pulled us away before anything happened, but my anger made it hard to remember what happened.

And now I’m here.

The basketball bounced away from me slowly. No matter how many times I went through it in my head, I could only come to one conclusion. Aubrey started it, so it’s her fault.

For all those things she said, for the way she made me feel, I’m going to ignore her until she apologizes. 

And that meant avoiding her… and Sunny.

Sunny. I didn’t know how to feel about him. He was there when we fought, and he hid away. I don’t think I could blame him, but I really wished he would’ve taken my side. 

He said nothing, and that said everything. And that really hurt.

He probably thinks the same things everyone else thinks. That I’m just plain old Kel with nothing special or interesting. Someone who is too stupid to realize when he’s screwing something up.

It felt like a curse.

When people don’t expect anything of you, they treat you differently. Because they expect nothing from you, they talk down to you, and even if you do something a little better than usual, even though you tried so hard, they brush it off like it wasn’t a big deal. 

I can’t even say it’s not true. I’ve tried so many different things, to find something I could be better than everyone else in, but I just kept falling short and could never get far.

Mom and Dad don’t even seem interested in my future, and they seem fine to just let me do whatever I want.

Not even they thought I had something unique. 

I know Mom and Dad don’t really mean anything by it, but the way they treat Hero, the way they think so much of him, it’s annoying that they don’t do any of that to me. 

But I’m going to prove I’m special in my own way too. 

There has to be one thing! One magical thing that only I could do that would make me special. And I think that it’s basketball, nothing else has ever clicked like basketball for me. 

Some people can do everything, and they make it look so easy. Frankly, I’m jealous, but I know they worked hard for it. I’ve seen Hero go through that very process so many times. They didn’t start off like that, so they had to put in a lot of work to get to the point where they were. 

Which just meant that I need to put that same amount of work in basketball to escape being ‘average’ and to become awesome. Though I wish I could’ve started earlier.

But back then, I was fine being normal and kinda dumb. But I need something for my future, something that will make me special instead of being the .

I still don’t even know if I would play basketball as a career for the future.

But I’m going to prove I’m special in my own way too. 

I can change. I even drink milk now! Even if I have to mix it with a stupid amount of strawberry powder. I’ll break six feet in height yet!

And I’m going to prove everyone wrong. I know I will be someone absolutely great. The days of screwing things up are no more.

Try-outs are in six weeks.

I shot, and I missed.

That’s fine.

I just need to get better.

Chapter Text

Everything was perfect. Together, we were greater than the sum of our parts. Something so magical, I couldn’t believe it existed.

It was like a dream. But dreams were dreams, they had to end someday.

August 23rd,

“Thanks guys…” Basil sniffled.

We were holding a farewell party for Basil. He was going away soon, so everyone got together to say goodbye in one last get-together.

I tried my best to send him off, but…

A part of me still couldn’t accept it.

Basil had to leave Faraway to stay with his grandma so she could be treated in a fancy hospital.

He had a choice between leaving and staying with us. And he chose the to leave.

It’s… probably for the best. I’d never be able to look him in the eyes if he stayed, and his grandmother passed while he wasn’t there for her.

But deep in my heart, some part I could never let show wished he would’ve stayed. I’ll miss him too much.

I couldn’t help but sigh, this morning I even promised myself that during this farewell, I would stay strong and support his decision. I wouldn’t cry either. I didn’t want to see Basil off with tears, but with a smile and eagerness for when he returns someday.

Someday.

It’s going to be a while.

It’s going to be harder than it sounds.

The thought of it made me tear up a little, but I didn’t cry. I caught myself and reeled my tears back in.

That was close.

Though this kinda seemed familiar. Ugh, I’m getting the worst sense of dejavu. Wasn’t this… wasn’t this a lot like how we first met? It was, wasn’t it?

I was just 8 years old and I met Basil.

Basil was one of my only friends before I met everyone else.

All the kids in the park were screaming and laughing as they played with each other.

All except for me. I just watched them far away, holding my stuffed toy, on a bench.

I kicked a rock. It didn’t go very far and bounced back towards me. I pressed my hands to my face.

All those other kids were playing together with their dart guns and I couldn’t join in because I didn’t rbing one.

I kicked another rock.

My house didn’t really have the money for a toy like that. All I had was Mr. Plantegg, and don’t get me wrong, he’s great! He’s the best stuffed eggplant-person a girl could ask for! But everybody else doesn’t react the same way whenever I introduce him at school.

What’s so good about a dart gun anyway! Can you hug a gun?! I don’t think so, well, not in a fun way at least! Mr. Plantegg has a round(?) face that’s the perfect shape for you to snuggle your face into! Maybe if I chuck Mr. Plantegg super hard at someone, everyone will understand how he was not only a great stuffed vegetable, but also a fantastic projectile!

Just as I was planning on nailing the closest kid with stuffed vegetable justice, the bushes behind me ruffled with noise!

“Hmmm, there has to be one around here somewhere…” a high-pitched voice came from the bush.

I jumped away from the strange rustling.

It’s alive! It’s looking for something! Dad warned me about weird people looking for things in bushes at the park!

I got ready to run, but… all the other kids didn’t know the weirdo was here right now.

If I… if I stop the fishy person right now, I’ll be a hero! The other kids will want to play with me then… right?

Change of plans.

The strongest defense is a strong offense! Okay Aubrey, time to be a hero!

I lifted Mr. Plantegg high up and readied myself to whack the weirdo til’ he fainted.

I stepped into the bushes and attacked!

“RAGH!”

“Waa!” The weirdo brought up their tiny hands to protect their face.

Tiny? That’s not a weirdo trait. I stopped my swing half-way so my target only suffered a small tap. Let’s take a closer look at who I was about to devastate with Mr. Plantegg.

He had blonde hair the same shade of caramel and blue eyes that looked like blueberry lollipops. They were a kid my age!

“You’re not a weirdo.” I stated the obvious. Unless…

“Oh! Hi?” He tilted his head “Um, thank you for the compliment?”

“So, who are you?” I need more information.

“B-basil.” He looked down to the ground. He wouldn’t look me in the eye, is he hiding something?

“Basil? Like the plant?”

“Mh-hm.” He nodded.

“Why were you crawling around in the bushes?”

“Uhm, uh, uh, uh” Basil babbled as he looked away and started twiddling his thumbs.

“You were shuffling around in a bush, that’s fishy. Maybe you are a weirdo…” There could be small weirdos that roam around bushes…

“I’m not!” That would be exactly what a weirdo would say!

“.” I lifted Mr. Plantegg between us to create a barrier. He would protect me from this strange person.

“Um, I like your doll.” Huh?

“You don’t think he’s weird?” Hope blossomed in my chest. Could it be?

“No! That’s an eggplant right? Eggplants are cute.” He understands! Oh thank the world, I finally met someone who understands the greatness and beauty of Mr. Plantegg.

Anyone who likes Mr. Plantegg can’t possibly be weird!

Oh no! I still haven’t introduced myself to my new favorite person yet!

“He is, isn’t he! I’m Aubrey and this is Mr. Plantegg!”

“Hi Mr. Plantegg.” Waved Basil. That sealed it.

“Would you like to be my friend!?”

“Yes!” His eyes sparkled.

“C’mon then! Take a seat!” I sat on the bench and patted the spot to my left.

“Thank you.” He ran towards me and plopped down quickly.

Woo! I made a friend today! Today is a great day! The sun seemed to shine brighter and the sky looked a beautiful shade of blue. Even the air smelled fresher.

“I was looking for flowers.” said Basil.

“Hwuh?”

“What I was doing in that bush. I was looking for flowers.”

“Flowers? Do the bushes in the park even have flowers?” I know that some bushes are filled with flowers in Spring, but, I looked behind me, those bushes are just the green, plain, flowerless variety.

“I think they do! I read that sometimes people drop their flowers in the park bushes.”

“Why would people do that? And why a bush?”

“I don’t know.” Basil ruffled his hair. “The book wasn’t very clear on that.”

“You read?” I never met a kid that liked to read before. I couldn’t call myself a big fan of reading either. Just sitting around in my house for so long seemed so boring.

“Yeah, I read a lot!”

“I don’t really read so I don’t get it. What’s so fun about reading?”

“Well, reading is fun to me because,” Basil crossed his hands over his chest. “I learn about all sorts of things they write about in books. Like the flowers lost in bushes. I thought it’s just too sad if flowers are left behind, so I kinda hoped that I could take them back home.” Wow. That’s so nice.

“That’s really sweet Basil." I started patting Basil on his blonde hair. He deserves it. “I’ll help!”

“You will? Let’s look over there then!” He pointed to some bushes further off. We spent the rest of the day looking for flowers as friends. We found a bunch of normal ones, we never found one in a bush.

From then on, I went to Basil’s house to come and play, though he didn’t really like going outside that much. It was fun to look at all the flowers he and his grandma raised but I wanted to run and play tag or some other game instead of sitting inside.

I never met his parents either. They were never around, and even I have Dad. But his grandma is nice, she gives me some flowers every now and then!

But I could never convince him to go outside that much.

There’s a plus side though! Basil is pretty great at brushing and braiding hair. Whenever I visit, I walk back with the most adorable braid over my shoulder.

Future plan! Let’s find something that will make him want to leave his house more. I’ll do it! I swear on the sun high in the sky, Basil will go outside more!

As I finished reminiscing on my childhood memories, a terrible revelation struck me.

WHAT THE HELL WAS BASIL READING!? How did he get his hands on that kind of stuff when he was only eight years old!?

The innocent, pristine image of Basil from my childhood days shattered into a pile of stained glass.

I looked over to him, new horrific revelations in mind, and how he went over to Sunny to talk. I watched his face light up, grow sad, and go through the entire range of emotions, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Questionable reading choices aside, he’s still Basil, and he’s still one of my closest friends. Even if he’s going away.

Because after this, I’m not going to see much of Basil ever again.

He’ll visit sure, but there’ll be that strange invisible weight that would change th87 e relationship we had now.

I swore to myself that I would stay strong and that I could get through this farewell without breaking, but I couldn’t help feeling lonely.

But… it’s going to be so much harder for him than it is for us. I mean, I still have everyone else, but Basil’s everyone else will completely change.

When Basil goes to his new school, he’s going to be all alone again. I still remember what it’s like to be lonely, and he should too. We were both peas in a pod in the past, yet here he is, keeping up a brave face for the rest of us. He must be terrified about having to be all alone again, and when I think of it happening to Basil again, I teared up.

I hugged Basil. And let go.

“Aubrey?”

“Stay strong. You can handle whatever comes your way. I know it.”

“Thanks.” And Basil hugged back.

And said goodbye.

August 27th

My eyes kept wandering around Mari’s room. Well it was Sunny’s too, but tomorrow, she wouldn’t be around anymore.

All the more reason to take in the place while I can. I took a seat onto Mari’s bed, and m an, the mattress felt so soft. But once I got my head out from how comfortable the

The most noticeable thing in the room has got to be the computer. Mari made it seem like a big deal, but for all the things she told us about it, it just seemed boring. It’s just a slow box that can play cards and that you could read off of. It won’t ever replace the TV.

I leaned back onto my arms and took a wider look at the room. I couldn’t help but laugh a little, you could tell which side is Sunny’s and which side is Mari’s just by looking how messy each side is.

I couldn’t shame Sunny about that though. My room is just as messy, maybe even more, but that’s thanks to Bun-Bun kicking all her grass around the room. It’s really hard to clean when that stuff gets between the floorboards.

Maybe I should learn how to clean up better for the future.

Hero was baking stuff downstairs so we all went up to Mari’s room to see it for the last time.

Kel snooped around the room for any hidden secret treasures. Sunny watched him like a hawk and he kept flinching whenever Kel moved in a certain direction. There must be something he doesn’t want Kel to find.

I’m sort of curious too, but Sunny deserves his privacy. My eyes wandered at a few hiding spots though. That basket looked suspicious.

Though I could’ve sworn he looked my way a few times. No. No. That’s just you being too self-conscious. I turned to the empty wall and shook my head. Get your head back on Aubrey, don’t make things weird.

Boxes and boxes of Mari’s things filled up the room. They all contained everything Mari needed for college and they were marked with scotch tape labeling the fun things inside them. Like stationary, or lamps. Intense college stuff.

Mari cleared her throat and everyone’s eyes snapped to her.

“I’m going to miss this room.” Mari said as she put her hands on her hips. “Especially going to miss my bed. The one I have at my dorm isn’t nearly as nice as the one right here. My matress is soft, and my covers were so comfy, they feel doubly nice when you have someone warm to hug on it.”

“You hug someone in bed? Who?” I asked.

Well, I sort of knew already. It’s gotta be Hero, but I want to hear Mari say it!

“Uhhh…” Mari drawled off… and her eyes wandered.

And they eventually landed on Sunny.

I took a moment to process that.

No way. My head whipped between the two of them and Sunny saw that.

And he understood what I was implying.

“No I don’t!” said Sunny. But with his face red as a tomato.

That only made it sound more like the truth!

That amazing truth!

Sunny sleeps in the same bed as his sister!

My surprise was immense and Sunny curled up into a ball in embarrassment. But my surprise was overwritten by another sudden emotion hit me like a train.

Jealousy!

That’s right! I’m jealous! I want to sleep with Mari! Why did I choose to sleep on the couch downstairs in our sleepovers! I could’ve cuddled with Mari for all those years! Dammit past Aubrey! What were you doing!

“Food’s done!” called Hero.

Kel’s ears perked up and he bolted out the door and sprinted down the stairs.

Mari followed suit.

I jumped off the bed and checked behind me. Sunny still kept himself curled up.

“You coming Sunny?”

“Later.”

Well, I can’t blame him. I’m plenty jealous, but I do understand how it could be embarrassing. I’d jump out the window if I felt like he did, so he’s stronger than me for staying around.

Either way, I need to go down before the cookies get cold!

I went into the kitchen and saw a panther leap onto their unsuspecting prey. The poor deer was completely unprepared for the 65 inch predator that caught themselves their greatest catch.

Hero almost fell as he caught Mari.

It looked so rehearsed though because Hero caught Mari and they began to spin. They spun around and Hero finally got Mari off of him. It looked so adorable.

Mari giggled with a million gigawatt smile all the same.

When Hero told everyone that he was going to the same college as her, she literally erupted in joy.

Her enthusiasm hadn’t decreased a bit since.

I wonder what changed for Hero? Everyone knew how strict his parents were about going to a college for doctors, but I’m pretty sure the college Mari Is going to doesn’t have a cooking school nor were they good for doctors.

Maybe he did it all for love?

My brain kicked into full throttle.

My fantasies went into overdrive. All sorts of romantic situations the two would get into during college overwhelmed my brain.

I wish I could be there to see it.

My cheeks started to hurt from smiling from watching the two.

I’m just happy he’s choosing to stay together with Mari! I’ll cheer them on for the rest of their lives!

Eventually, Hero broke out of their lovey-dovey stupor and piled up all the cookies from the baking pan onto a plate.

He made a cookie mountain.

“It’s the last batch, so I made as many as I could.” He gave us shis signature Hero smile, “Eat up!”

The last batch of chocolate chip cookies, huh.

I grabbed a plate on the kitchen counter and pushed down the melancholy. If my negative feelings affected the cookies, I couldn’t ever forgive myself.

A part of me said to take as many as possible, but I shushed that down immediately. That’d be rude. It’s the final batch of Hero’s cookies so everyone should get their fair share. Of course, Kel did not care, or did not think, probably the latter, that it was everyone’s last batch of Hero cookies and began to scarf them down like the cookie monster.

I could hear a insufferable om-nom-nom as he gobbled down the cookies.

“Stop eating so many Kel! Leave some for everyone else!”

“But they’re sooo good!” Kel said. Or at least that’s why it sounded like he tried to say. I could barely make out a word with his face stuffed full of cookie.

The rate of cookie loss grew to unacceptable levels, so I did what anyone did when an important resource grew to scarce levels.

I stockpiled.

A small mound of cookies formed on my plate.

Kel noticed, but he couldn’t do the same because he put the cookies from the pan directly into his mouth.

That’s right, you don’t have a plate, you caveman!

“Hey! You’re taking more cookies than I am!” he said while spitting out crumbs.

“I’m saving these for Sunny!” I even look like I have better manners when I did so! But Kel does not care for manners, so I needed some defence for my stockpile.

I put up my cookie guard. My arms wrapped around my cookie plate and I pulled it closer to me and Kel eyed up my fortress for any weaknesses.

“Jeez, you two, you don’t need to fight.” Said Hero.

Hero doesn’t get it. It’s really one of his only weaknesses. He doesn’t undervalues himself and the things he does. But, these cookies are a treasure. If I sold these cookies, I’d be a millionaire, but I won’t. It’s a cookie eat cookie world out there, and the queen eats baked treats.

“These are our last cookies for a while.” I explained.

“I’m just hungry.” Kel gave a Kel answer.

“You don’t have to fight.” Hero sighed and went back to the oven, “I made more.” And he brought out another tray of cookies.

And so a peace summit had been established. Now I had could enjoy my cookies in peace.

Until a destabilizing force appeared. In a perfect surgical strike, Mari snatched the plate from Hero’s hands and scampered off with it out of the kitchen.

Kel’s grubby hands came close to my plate and I swatted them away.

War has come again.

The hours ticked by too fast. The days in Summer are supposed to last longer, so can’t I just have a little more time? C’mon Sun! You can hang in there for a few moments more, can’t you?!

But the sun had set, and Sunny’s Dad in a dinky red car and he honked the horn.

It’s time for Mari and Hero to go.

Mari’s dad got out and began to load up all their luggage. Each box, a part of her going somewhere far away.

There’s nothing else to do.

I told myself that I could see her in six months. It’s a conveinent lie that made me feel safer, but there’s no time left.

So I stopped stalling, and walked up to Mari for our last conversation for a long time.

I gave Mari my present.

“Here Mari.” I put a pink pinwheel in her hands. “I wanted to give this to you before you went away.”

It’s a pinwheel that had the same design as the one she gave me when I first met everyone.

She was having bad day.

Her right shoe fell off while she was crossing the street. She wanted to go back for it, but before she could, a car drove by and ran over her shoe. It got dragged around the cragged pavement and it ended as a rag.

She really loved those shoes. Her mom and dad went together with me to the shoe store and let her pick it out. They were cheap, but she loved that pair. They very rarely ever went out as a whole family. It became a symbol of a precious memory.

She wore that pair everyday, no matter the occasion. In retrospect, using them that frequently meant they were bound to break apart sooner than later.

But it happened.

To some, it wasn’t as big a deal, but well, the girl was young, and she cherished them, so it broke her heart. The loss of something she so wholeheartedly cherished. As she picked up the rag that was once her shoe, she dragged its So she just sat there in a daze on the sidewalk while small rocks dug into her socks. The pain just reminded her that it wasn’t a dream.

As the reality of the situation set in, she couldn’t help but cry. At least she managed to cry silently.

Then, her life changed.

An older girl and her friends walked down the sidewalk and noticed a small figure hunched over. As they got closer, they saw the tears run amok on the girl. They didn’t have to check up on her but the older girl went up to her without a second thought.

The older girl gave her a toy to cheer her up. A pink pinwheel. She didn’t want it. It could never replace what she had lost.

She wouldn’t stop weeping, and with that small speck of pity, everything that had happened to her became too much to bear. So, she began to sob instead.

She expected the older girl and her friends to leave her alone, to ditch the ungrateful girl who refused their kindness and just wanted to be miserable.

But they stayed.

As her tears flowed, she spoke of all the little things that wore on her heart.

The loss of her treasured shoe, how alone she sometimes felt, the ways she felt fundamentally different from other kids, to the small annoyances in her day. Though with the way her tears and other fluids were spilling out, she wasn’t speaking very clearly.

The sun slowly fell into the horizon as she spoke. Her complaints and tears slowed as well. And yet the group still sat around her.

Then the older girl hugged her. The hug felt warm and soothed all the welts and barbs she endured throughout the days.

The older girl told her not to worry because she wouldn’t have to be alone anymore.

The girl looked up from her tears and saw their faces.

The gentle older girl who fixed her hair.

The smiling oldest boy who rubbed her head.

The tanned boy with a chipped tooth who pat her on her back.

And the quiet youngest boy who listened.

They all smiled at her in their own awkward ways, but it looked so bright to her.

And with that, she lost all energy in her body. Her eyes felt heavy and her limbs felt sore. But, she managed to get out two last words before she fell asleep.

Thank you.

They even gave her a piggy-back ride.

It’s not like that was my most favorite memory of everyone, the birthdays and holidays and outings all held places in my heart more special than our first meeting, but it felt the most significant.

A pink pinwheel and a promise, completely changed my world.

If it wasn’t before, it probably solidified pink as my all-time favorite color.

After that, I found new friends that I spent so many unforgettable days with.

Heck, I even brought in Basil into the fold and he found his own place there too with Sunny.

But things changed, or to more accurately say, time goes on.

I know it’s a ridiculous wish that couldn’t come true, but I wanted everyone to stay together forever.

I said goodbye to Basil last week, so my dream was already gone.

Even though I know we’ll see each other again, I’m scared. When we all meet again, will things stay the same? Will we change?

It’s kind of rude to Hero, but I’m going to miss Mari the most. I never really got to have a girl friend, and Mari is one of the best! Her style is great and she could always fix any problem that came her way.

First Basil, and now Mari and Hero are going too.

“I know it’s sad, but we had to go someday.”

“So let’s have one last hug then.”

Kel didn’t hesitate and jumped straight into Hero’s arms, Sunny jumped into Mari’s.

Eventually Kel let go of Hero. He went straight to Mari next.

With Hero free, I gave my last hug to him as well.

Always reliable Hero. He always tried to be the mature one out of our group, but that just made all the times where he stumbled in situations all the more funny and endearing.

He never chose anything for himself, rather, he gave as much as he could to others, and it’s a beautiful trait, but as his friend, I’m so happy he’s doing something selfish for his dream.

He can do it though. Hero can do anything he set his mind to.

I let go.

My hug took longer than I expected. By the time I let go of Hero and let Sunny have his hug, Mari’s arms weren’t hugging Kel and instead watching me. She gave me that wry smile of hers.

There’s nothing to feel embarrassed about with! Being sentimental about saying goodbye to a friend is perfectly natural.

But Mari’s smile has a way of stoking your shame.

I stretched out my arms and… didn’t take a step forward. Huh?

Unlike my hug with Hero, I couldn’t step forward. I froze in my tracks.

What’s wrong with me?

Mari started walking towards me, and I took a step back.

Once this hug is over, it’ll all be over and we’d see each other a lot less.

Things will change between us as college and time changes Mari. The bond we have right now… it won’t stay the same.

I didn’t want that!

The fear that I thought I put down deep in my heart resurged and gripped my body with an icy chill.

I was about to take another step back, but Mari scooped me up in her arms.

Right, beyond how much she loved to tease people, she had such a wonderful gentle side to her too.

The warmth of her hug felt so familiar and wonderful.

“I’ll miss you Aubrey.” Her smile looked so gentle.

“I’ll miss you t-too.” My words barely came out. My tears were in the way and I couldn’t speak properly. Mari rubbed my back to soothe the aching in my chest.

We hugged for a few long minutes, and I could feel all the frost in my heart melt away.

I let go.

No matter what, Mari is going to be Mari, and college won’t change that.

And looking at the way she’s glomping Sunny once again, maybe college will help reign in her embarrassing tendencies.

Will we be fine without Hero and Mari? I don’t need to know.

Let’s just shove those problems for later, I needed to focus on this moment.

We had one more group hug at the end.

I watched the car drive the two of them away. And I felt like I had become that girl once more.

I sat on the sidewalk and cried.

At least, the girl sobbing on the sidewalk isn’t sobbing alone anymore. Two other kids were by her side, and they had tears fall like her as they watched the people they love leave.

October 2nd,

286.

286.

286.

I whispered that number to myself while I kept made the same number with my fingers. They say it helps you memorize things, and well, I’d be screwed if I ever forgot it.

With how it changed everyday, it just made it even more of a pain to memorize. What am I even supposed to do with it all?

A particularly loud scream made me reflexively look across the lunchroom. It’s just some dumb joke someone made and someone found it way too funny.

How stupid.

The sounds of the cafeteria were grating. The chatter and the murmurs made me lose focus on my memorization. I swear it’s a lot more annoying today than any other day. Everyone, please shut up!

If I had a magic lamp, I’d wish for some kind of duct tape I could pull over everyone’s mouth to get of this shrill laughter and the wild screaming to stop.

The seat across from me rattled. I looked up from my hands and saw Sunny carrying his lunch tray. He plopped himself in the seat across from me.

My annoyance for the entire school body bled away as I mentally prepared myself to chat with Sunny.

Yeah, let’s shelve the depressing things for now, at the very least I have my friends right now. That’s something good for once.

“He-* cough*- ey Sunny.” Ugh, my voice hitched.

He nodded back.

“Sorry, my voice is kind of sore.” It felt like it held an entire desert.

“Here.” And then a cup of water plopped in front of me. An oasis.

Sunny… didn’t drink out of this yet, did he?

Well, I guess I have no choice because it’d be rude to refuse a gift.

I downed the whole cup.

As it swashed down my throat, the cool water contrasted against how warm I was. Refreshing.

“Thanks.” My voice came out a lot better. The dinky squeaks and coughs of a caterpillar have transformed into a chippy singing butterfly!

Aaand the conversation died right then and there.

It’s been a month since everyone else moved away, and to say that we couldn’t feel the effects of it, would be a lie the size of an ocean.

I could ask him about his lunch! But, uh, it’s right in front of me. Some kind of chicken patty with melted cheese on the side. Supposedly.

I tried to say something, but decided against it. It’s just another conversation that’ll go nowhere.

I took a bite of my apple.

I couldn’t count just how many times I tried to have a conversation about absolutely nothing.

Sunny never starts a conversation on his own, and well, I kind of burned through all the other things I can talk about. There’s only so many times I can talk about the reality shows on TV. After listening to myself talk about it so much, they all sounded so similar, but that’s okay, I’ll still love them.

TV is bust. What else is there to talk about? Drama? I barely know any drama between our classmates and…

There’s one thing though. I knew, there was one thing I could definitely talk about.

I stamped that thought down immediately. This is not the place for that. How many times do you have to remind yourself of that you idiot!

School is where you get away from all that other stuff, and where you spend happy times with your friends. Keep. Them. Separate. Aubrey.

So I said nothing. And we sat in silence as we ate lunch.

And then Kel came over, thank god. I could breathe easier now. At the very least, Kel never runs out of stupid topics for us to mess around with. Probably the best thing about him really.

He walked up to our table but didn’t sit down. Weird.

Did he read something that said chairs are bad or something?

Now everyone that’s still in Faraway is here! And I made myself sad by remembering everyone else now.

We are all eagerly counting the days Mari or Hero can come back to visit.

We’re pretty lonely.

But despite everything, at least we still have whatever our group is now.

And then, Kel tried to ruin it.

“Hey guys, is it fine if I sit with the guys on the basketball team today?

What… what is he saying?

I looked at Kel. Maybe this is some kind of awful prank he’s setting up again.

His face wasn’t laughing. Kel would never be able to keep his face straight when pranking someone. So that meant…

He’s not kidding?

He’s trying to ditch us. Why? Does he not want to be around us anymore?

Even though we should be protecting hat we have left, he just left us the moment he saw greener pastures!

Why?

Why?!

A burning sensation filled my gut.

How could he leave us like this?

“You’re ditching us!”

“No… I’m just eating lunch with them.”

And then what? What next? It may just be today, but what happens once will happen again. And it’ll slowly escalate until the bonds between us will have changed. In the end, we’ll just be casual acquaintances that he hangs out with out of only obligation!

Everything will change!

We were supposed to stick together as the three of us!

If he leaves, then it’ll just be the two of us.

A dark pit formed in my stomach.

There would be no reason for Sunny to stay with me when I can’t even carry a conversation with him nowadays. He’ll drop me too.

And then there would be one.

Just Aubrey who can’t even keep her friends together.

All because Kel chose to leave us for some dumb jocks who throw balls.

Why? Why?!

“Why though!?” I had to ask.

“Because… they invited me? Like, I hang out with them cuz they play basketball with me.”

Is that it!? Just basketball!? How is that more important than our friendship! Years of experiences, of birthday parties, of farewells and one month in, he throws it all away for some dumb sport.

So what, now that he plays basketball, he’s too good for us?! That he doesn’t want to associate with us anymore!

I glared at Kel.

“Oh wow, look at you. You play “basketball’ now. So, you’re too good for us then.”

“What’s wrong with you?!”

What’s wrong with you, he says.

It’s laughable.

“Nothing. It’s you.”

What is with him! Doesn’t he get what he’s doing! He’s literally destroying this friendship! In what world is that okay for a person to do!

Kel’s an idiot, but I never expected him to give up friendship for a dumb sport.

In what world does anyone think that’s a good idea? What kind of person would you have to be to make that trade in a heartbeat.

Who could ever predict he could be this dumb. Leave it to an idiot to destroy something incredibly precious for a game.

A stupid and pointless game.

Can’t he see that?

“What’s wrong with me playing basketball? It’s not like you care!”

Why should I care about it?

How could hours of chucking balls through hoops be more important than all our memories together. In comparison to all those years, basketball is meaningless.

“It’s a stupid and pointless game!”

“I play basketball because I like it! I could even make the basketball team! What don’t you get about that!”

And what will he accomplish from it?

I’ve seen Kel try so many things, but he’s never stuck to a single one of them. So why is basketball the one thing that he’s willing to sacrifice our bonds for.

He’s going to give this up in a few months or so, but by then, every will be different.

“Yeah, sure, and you’re going to be so successful doing that.”

Kel tried to say all sorts of meaningless words to try and justify his decision.

I shot them down every time.

“Shut up! At least I have other friends!”

I completely stopped.

All I could hear was a buzzing noise.

The world slowly began to tumble around me.

I said something.

I had to leave school early that day.

My palms bled from my nails digging into their skin.

Everything’s ruined.

One by one. They all go away. They won’t stay. Not for me.

But I want them to. It’s awful of me to wish for it. It’s awful of me to want to hold them back.

But please, can’t they just stay by me a little longer?

Please.

3 days ago,

This had to be some bad dream. I’m just dreaming.

Even though I knew it was going to happen, I couldn’t see it coming. No. That’s a lie. I just chose not to see it coming. I covered my eyes and pretended everything was okay.

He’s leaving.

Down the ladder, he’ll leave this faraway town and never come back.

I looked out the window and saw him stare back at the house. Like he was waiting for something.

I couldn’t go down to see him. I didn’t deserve it. Not after what I did to Dad.

Over the entire summer, and maybe even the entire year before that, their problems just got worse and worse. Fights about their habits. Fights about money. Fights about the things that had to be done. Fights about secrets. Fights about everything.

I shut my ears to it all.

I was scared, so for the entire summer, I went out. For the entire day. It didn’t matter where I went, as long as it helped to distract myself from it. If no one had time, I just hung around the park.

Maybe, if I stayed home, I could’ve done something about it.

I should’ve done something about it.

Because I did nothing, I did something terrible.

They were fighting again. The quiet days were slowly being outnumbered by days of screaming. No matter how much I wanted to ignore it, I could hear everything from the thin walls. Thankfully, the static from the TV helped muzzle what they were saying.

Today was particularly bad. Usually, they fought until they tired each other out and then they go to bed. It was almost a routine. But they went off the script today. They were supposed to stop about an hour ago, but they were still fighting. Instead, Dad called me to come downstairs.

He never did that. He always went up to my room when he wanted to talk to me.

I must’ve misheard them. Maybe they were calling for someone whose name sounded a lot like mine.

They called me a second time. They were calling for me. But I didn’t want to go. Dread built up in my heart because I understood this couldn’t be anything good. I didn’t move a step from my seat.

The static from the TV droned on as no third call came.

Instead, I heard the sounds of someone climbing my ladder and saw Dad poke his head out.

“Aubrey.” I remember that tone, it’s the same tone he used when he told me Bun-Bun went missing. Thankfully, she was only hidden in a hole behind the TV. “We need to ask you something.”

‘We’.

That’s a new one.

My legs felt like lead as I climbed down the ladder.

I dragged my feet as I went into our kitchen/living room. My stomach churned and my heart leapt throughout it all.

Okay. Maybe they discovered something terrible that I did that I don’t remember doing and they thought that they would have to both talk to me and get me to apologize for that thing I didn’t remember doing.

I could live with that.

Dad would get stern when I did something he didn’t really approve of. He got stern a lot, but he cares at least.

Mom did whatever.

I sat on one our kitchen table chairs and Dad cleared his throat.

“Aubrey.” Dad looked straight at me. “Your mother and I have decided that we’re going to divorce each other.”

I’d been expecting that. Really.

It’d be hard to miss it with all the signs that pointed towards it. The long fights, the way they never smile in the same room, and the way how they lived seemed to completely clash with each other.

Really, it was so obvious.

So why did it sting so much?

“I want you to understand that this is in no way your fault. Your mother and I have changed too much,” Or Mom has completely changed, “and it’s going to be better for both of us if we went out separate ways.”

“We’ve been going through the process for a while now. You’re old enough to make decisions by yourself so…” Dad clammed up.

“What?”

“If you had to…” Dad took in a big breath, “Do you want to stay with me, or your mother? Your Mom will have the house here, and I’ll be… I’ll be moving away. Far from here.”

Right. Of course. If they were divorcing, then they wouldn’t be living together anymore.

Between the two of them, I’d choose Dad in a heartbeat.

But… that would mean that I would have to leave Faraway. Leave everyone else.

I’d leave them like Basil and Mari and Hero did. That’d make Sunny and Kel and the rest of the group feel the pain I felt when everyone else left.

And if I went away, when would be the next time I’d be able to see them all again?

Plane tickets cost money. How many times would I be able to come back to them? Will I miss the birthdays, the holidays, and all the celebrations with everyone if I left?

If I moved away, who knows when would be the next time we’d all be able to get together. Maybe everything will change when I’m not here, and we’ll never all come together again.

I had to stay. I wanted to see everyone once again. To all meet up again and rekindle all our memories together.

I just had too many memories in Faraway.

I couldn’t go.

“I…” Dad looked me in the eyes. The next few words hurt to say, “want to stay.”

Dad looked down and clenched his fist. I hated the small narrow breaths was taking. I had never seen Dad look like that.

“oh…”

It was barely a whisper, an incredibly small voice. He didn’t sound mad. He just look hurt.

I did that.

I was the one who made him like that.

He walked away from me and went into the bedroom.

That small sound was the last thing I heard from him before he left.

It’s just me and Mom now.

Dad lived 9 states away.

Mom has the house and I’m still in Faraway.

I could barely remember the two of us even having a conversation.

Now that it was the two of us, it made the things I felt towards Mom all the more apparent.

Mari told me that I shouldn’t hold grudges. She says people can subconsciously feel things like that, and in response, they tend to respond to negative feelings with more negative feelings. Is that why Mom could never bother?

If it was, I… need to put past all the things she’s done over the years, and clear the slate.

Maybe the divorce would be good for her, Dad thought that, didn’t he?

I have to give her a chance. She was better when I was young, so there must be some part of her that can do it.

“Aubrey.” She didn’t raise her voice, but it easily carried through the entire house.

I walked down and she gestured for me to take a seat. She remained standing, but she didn’t look at me.

“I have to work.” I looked at Mom’s face.

“There’s no time. I’m sorry.” And she handed me a wad of cash.

“Use it to take care of yourself. I have a shift now.” She opened and walked out the door.

“You don’t need to get me anything for dinner.” And she shut it.

The money didn’t feel real in my hands. It’s more than I had ever held in my life, but it felt dirty.

Is that it?

I’m sorry that I was such a terrible mother, so here’s some money and do whatever you want now?

That’s it?

This is who I chose Dad over. This thing who can’t even fucking bother to take care of her child.

Just give her money like it’s pet food and let the god damn goldfish take care of itself.

I counted the wad of bills in my hands.

All in tens and twenties.

If I threw it all out, how would she react? Would she get mad? Would she cry?

Or would she do nothing and let me starve?

I hated how much that last thought scared me.

310 dollars.

Chapter Text

Chap 9

They say ‘time heals all wounds’. That no matter the injury, no matter the damage, it’ll heal.

That’s a load of bull.

Time doesn’t heal wounds. They make the wounds close up, and fester, and tear you up on the insides for days afterwards.

What they really mean is that time will numb all wounds. All the pain, all the suffering just become insignificant specks of the past and numbs us to all of it.

Speaking of numbing, December is fantastic at numbing us to all sensations. It kicked down the door from chilly November weather to going full-on stupid cold.

Going outside becomes miserable, leaving your bed becomes the hardest task of the day, for some reason, static electricity attacks you from everywhere and if you spend enough time out in the cold, you won’t be able to feel a thing.

General Winter is unforgiving.

General Winter demands burly coats and woolly hats.

But that doesn’t seem to stop half of everyone in my classes from wearing t-shirts and shorts though.

Their refusal to take refuge in the comfy clothing cave is a courage I’ll never have.

But even with all my warm and plush clothing, I can’t defeat the cold.

When I play the violin, my fingertips will slowly freeze up the longer I play.

I can’t use mittens. My fingers would become too gangly and large, and I’d soudn terrible, so I must endure all the sore fingertips and cold strings.

Frankly, I already cannot wait for Winter to be over. Spring sounds amazing when you’re dealing with mid 30-degree weather. Warm skies, bird sounds, and blooming flowers haunt my dreams.

Where am I going with this?

Oh right.

If time numbs all wounds, and thanks to time, we will get December.

Then December kicks you from every direction, and if you last, you get to Spring where everything isn’t terrible and you recover from how horrible December was.

So, I guess it’s a little true, maybe time really does heal.

The pain from having all my friends leave me has dulled. So if my analogy holds, I’ll be healed next.

I’m waiting.

Despite my freezing fingertips, I drew out the last measure of the song with the cleanest sound all day. My chin almost stuck to the violin from the cold, but friction solved that quickly enough.

I took a deep breath of the fresh crisp air. It dried out my throat, but man, it felt like the air cleansed my body.

The guitar besides me finished strumming out it’s own last notes for the finale, and we both took a bow.

With that, I started packing up my own gear.

I popped open my violin case with a kick and put everything in it’s velvety confines.

Looking behind me, I saw our audience begin to thin out. A small group of squirrels and pidgeons were our proud regulars to our regular 2-man shows.

Everyone was there, from Manny the wispy squirrel, to Chuck the obese pigeon.

The pigeons and squirrels shuffled against each other as they finally finished the bread I tossed out for them.

We didn’t get a single dollar into the donation case today, but it wasn’t as if our music’s bad. It’s just that everyone else didn’t understand it yet.

Someday, the genre of Acoustaclassical will take the world by storm and we’ll be famous. But the days where we don’t even get a single person to stop and listen usually stung for the rest of the day.

Not today though.

Even if today was a bad day, I could still hold my head up high.

My good mood today could handle literally anything.

“Well, someone’s happy today.”

I nodded and looked back to my performance buddy. Michael wrapped himself up in a scarf, several layers of striped polo shirts and had some weird finger gloves that he used to hold down the strings and hold his pick.

Of course I’d be happy. After months of waiting and months of school, something good is finally coming!

Mari’s coming back!

Streamers popped and balloons floated up. Some high tempo party music came on. A giant cave levitated inside, while a choir of ghosts began to clap. I began to dance. The one-man party in my head went into full swing.

“Well, what happened?” asked Michael. He leaned in closer.

“Mari’s coming back.”

“Your sister’s going to be back? She’s finally home from college huh?”

Huzzah for colleges letting people out from school two weeks early!

“Yup. When she comes back to Faraway, everything can go back to normal.”

“Normal? So you’re going to leave me for your sister huh?” Micheal clutched his heart, “Oh woe is me, I’m partnered with an ungrateful violinist who’ll ditch me for a piano player in a heart-beat. My music teacher was right, it’s a tale as old as time.” He drew a tear down his face.

I winced at that joke.

“Ah dang, my joke didn’t land.” Said Michael as he scratched the back of his head.

It’s not as if his joke wasn’t funny, but it’s just hit a bit too close to home with what happened with Kel and Aubrey.

“Reminded me of something sad.”

“Ah, sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. Mari will fix it.”

Michael looked at me like I had a bug on my face, but shrugged and swung his guitar over his back and looked to the sky.

“Woah, it’s getting dark out. We should break soon.”

We should. I could barely make out where Michael was until the streetlights turned on.

“That’s our cue, see you on tomorrow Sunny.”

Micheal walked off with his back turned and waved my goodbye without looking back. I don’t he realizes that it’s not as cool as he thinks it is. I won’t tell him though, he’d be on the verge of tears if I told him the truth. He does his best to play it cool despite being such a dork. I’ll let him have that.

Michael was a good guy. But even then, I didn’t tell him about what had happened with everyone else.

To be frank, we barely knew each other. It’s only been a month, even if I thought he was pretty nice. Like, I’m thankful he broke me out of my slump. I really needed that. Between this and cram school, it’s really helped take my mind off what was going on.

He didn’t even pry into why I felt so sad in the first place. It’s small things like that, that makes hanging out with him enjoyable in a way.

He managed to pull me into his music sessions and music helped me distract myself from my whole situation.

Also the fact that having someone to talk to makes my day a lot less sad.

We first met about a month ago, and he said that he knew Mari. At the time, I couldn’t help but be skeptical. I never saw him around in high school. Instead, the only times I ever saw him were when he played his music in front of Hobbiez back in middle school.

During those years, I thought he was a wandering vagrant who didn’t even go to school and made his life on the road going from city to city.

Nope. He lived four blocks away from the local supermarket. Admittedly, that was dumb of me to assume that, but it’s the fault of cartoons for poisoning my expectations.

Turns out that Mari and Michael have known each other for a while. He told me that they were taught by the same music teacher in elementary and middle school. He even went to Mari and my recital, where he discovered that our family had another musician, me.

Then jump to a month before today, and thanks to being in the right place at the right time, namely in the park where he always played his music, and the right time being me being miserable, somehow, he managed to rope me into playing music with him. Well, more like perform for tips. Any money we’d made would help him raise money to go into the big city and ‘become famous’.

Don’t quote me on that.

He bugged me to play music with him, and I was pretty sketchy on the idea at first.

Music will help you clear your mind, he said.

Playing music is a joy in itself, he said.

Should’ve never believed him.

Now I play with Michael afterschool for half the week. Cram school takes Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. So I play with Michael on the free days and on Saturday.

Leave it to Michael to play music for literal hours on end. It’s like like we play songs non-stop, we talk a bit between each song and that’s nice. But turns out there’s not much overlap between songs a guitar guy and a violinist.

Beyond the literal mountain of sheet music, I’m literally learning two or three new songs a day!

It was almost like a job…

I didn’t even get a paid! Or a cut of the donations. If I did, I would be like three or four dollars richer!

I should threaten to unionize. It’s an idea that’s been rolling around the back of my head. Only two or three more musicians reside in Faraway, and I know Michael has no idea who they are, with all that, I could fight for sub-minimum wage!

I’d totally do that if we made any money at all. Maybe if we didn’t play in the middle of nowhere we’d make more money, but I’d rather not move. There’s something cool in being a underground band, or uh, in this case, a suburban band that people with actual taste have to discover.

And for all that talk of not being paid, I’ll grudgingly admit learning his original songs are fun. Michael’s taste in music is actually not awful!

Well, between this gig that doesn’t pay and cram school, at least I had something to do after they let me out of school.

Also, yay cram school.

To think, at the beginning of the year, I hated it. But if it wasn’t for it taking up a few hours every day after school, I’d be in my room, hugging my knees, openly drooling on my bed, practically brain dead from how bored I’d be.

Yup. I can finally appreciate cram school all thanks to me losing my childhood friends. Now, the only person I can talk to is a guy who plays guitar in the street.

Ha. Ha.

Ow.

Speaking of, Kel’s still playing basketball. He pretty much embodies basketball now. He has the whole look and everything. It’s been an orange basketball jersey for this entire month and the month before. Everytime I pass by the basketball court when I return home from cram school, I see him sweating it out in that jersey on the court. He’s usually alone while he practices. But sometimes with one or two others.

I was jealous of them. It’s petty as hell of me to be jealous of people just playing basketball with him. Seriously, they’re just helping him out. What kind of person gets mad about that?

And y’know, Kel’s been really committed to basketball, and he’s been getting better everyday. Well, as far as my wimpy noodlely-armed self could tell anyway.

Aubrey’s around too. Though, you could barely recognize her compared to a month ago. She has blonde hair now! I didn’t recognize her until I saw her ribbon.

Outside of school, she hangs around a bunch of hooligans that mess with the neighborhood on their scooters.

All the rumors I kept hearing about her from the adults made my mind wander. It feels like with every passing day, she’s changing into someone I shouldn’t know.

But that doesn’t matter, because Mari is coming back.

With her here, she’ll be able to fix everything in a blink of an eye.

She’ll get Aubrey and Kel to make up. She’ll get Mom to get me out of cram school. She’ll make Gino’s pizza taste like actual food again instead of a terrible greasy pile of cheese on a rock.

The sky began to fade into a light navy blue. The one thing I’ll give to winter are the beautiful shades of the sky it gives out. Sunsets are great. But they don’t last very long, but those few minutes are mesmerizing.

My keys jingled as I fiddled them out and unlocked the front door of home. A warm breeze ushered me in. Kicking off my shoes, I rushed to the one place that’ll make my frosty fingertips less numb, the fireplace!

The smoky aroma and warm waves healed my cold, cold, heart.

The heat was nostalgic. During the winter months of yesteryears, everyone hung out by the fireplace when they came over to my house. We all always wanted to make s’mores but never had the right stuff to roast the marshmallows.

Mari wouldn’t let us use tree branches. She said they were dirty from all the rain and squirrels. Admittedly, squirrels are not to be trusted.

Aubrey came that one rainy day too didn’t she? I don’t really remember what we said, but the time we spent then was comfortable.

I ruffled my hand through the carpet. Yeah, it’s just as soft as it had been in the past.

I let the carpet overtake my body as I counted the tiles on the ceiling.

How nice it would be to do this with everyone.

Too bad it’s not happening anytime soon.

And now I made myself sad again by thinking about the whole problem again. Man, I’m really good at self-destructing.

The phone rang in the dining room. At this time of day, there was only one possible caller.

That must be Mari! One-hundred percent!

I pushed myself up and began to run, but instead of feeling of my weight being shifted between my two legs, I felt a falling sensation.

Shit.

I didn’t let my body prepare before my brain told it to run. At this rate, I’m going to trip onto my face.

But I can adapt.

Before my face kissed the floor, I pushed myself up with my arms, brought my knees in, and began to sprint for the phone. Thanks to my socks, I could keep building up speed as I dashed across the wooden floor to the phone. I zoomed as I got ready to turn the corner where the phone was.

Now to turn! I turned my body to face the phone!

It kept going in a straight line.

What?

I looked to my left.

Oh shit, that’s the wall, isn’t it?

Huh. It is. Mental note, people don’t turn like cars.

The wall began to approach my face menacingly, and frankly, I was out of ideas.

The only thing I was sure of was that with how much momentum I had, I was about to smash a hole into the wall.

I could see it now. There’ll be a hole reminiscent of a cartoon and then right beside it is going to be mom. Where she will then destroy me. In both the cartoon and real life.

My brain decided it didn’t want to live anymore, so my body took things into it’s own hands. Literally so. My hands slapped the wall and I stubbed all ten of my fingers, but it killed my speed so that instead of crashing a giant hole into the wall, I just hit my head against a wall and fell on my ass again.

I held my head as I did my best to endure the painful haze in my head and fingers until it went away.

At the very least, no one saw all that.

The phone was still ringing as I got back up. Let’s walk on two feet like an actual human being this time.

I picked up the phone.

“Hello?”

I could recognize that voice from a city away.

“Hi Mari!” It’s Mari! Yay!

“Hey Sunny!” She cooed, “How’s Aubrey and Kel doing.”

“They’re both fine.” I think. I haven’t told Mari about what happened yet. There’s really no real point to telling her about how I let everything fall apart. If I told her, she’d worry about her everyone, but she can’t really do much from all the way across the country.

“Oh that’s good to hear." I couldn’t see her, but I was sure she was smiling.

“So Mari, what time are you coming back tomorrow?”

“Well, the thing is, I’m not really sure.”

Hm? Does she still need to pack?

“Why not?”

“Well, I’m don’t really know how I’ll make it back tomorrow.”

Oh right. The airports must be crowded with everyone coming back for either the break or Christmas. With all that traffic, all the taxis must be taken as well.

“Does Dad have to pick you up from the airport?”

“Probably not.”

“Do you need money for a plane ticket?”

“No, no, I have the money.”

“Then, why not?” I’m so confused.

“Well, the thing is, you see…” Mari kept drawling on and off.

“Mari.” It’s not like Mari to be so avoidant.

“Look, Sunny, what I’m trying to say is that,” Mari paused, “I don’t think I’ll be able to come back for the winter.”

“What?” What is she saying?

“There’s been a freak snowstorm for the past couple of days and all the planes this side of the state froze over.”

“Wha…?“

“I know, ridiculous right? All the planes have to be repaired and they say it’s going to take a few weeks before any flights start back up again.”

A few weeks? But that means…

“So… you won’t be coming back?” My fingers clenched the phone. The pain from holding something tightly with jammed fingers were excruciating. But the hurt inside was worse.

“Yeah. Tell Mom and Dad that I won’t be able to make it back for the holidays. Sorry lil’bro, also, stay strong. You can last one Christmas without me.”

And with a click, she hung up.

This… this can’t be happening.

A horrible ringing rang out in my ears. The weight of what she said ran down my throat like a cactus.

Oh.

This just had to be a nightmare. I must be dreaming. I’ll go to bed, and I’ll wake up, and Mari will be home.

My legs were awfully shaky as I climbed the stairs, but that’s okay. Dreams just make walking weird.

I climbed into my bed and let my blankets overcome me.

This just had one awful dream.

It wasn’t.

Mari isn’t coming back.

Chapter Text

Chapter 10

Gravity is one of the four fundamental forces in our universe. I learned that in my Physics class some time ago.

What goes up, must come down. It’s almost beautiful.

But there’s one thing that flagrantly refuses to adhere to this basic sensible law and breaks it everyday.

Airplanes.

Giant metal machines that are somehow able to fly despite being much, much fatter than a bird could ever be.

Yet despite their enormous size, they’re incredibly sensitive to literally everything!

Oh, a small bird feather got into one of the engines? Guess the plane is out of commission for a full hour until the engineers come fix things up!

Oh, the pilot flew for 5 hours already? We can’t have that. We have to switch things up and get a new pilot on the plane in a process that will take two more hours! What great fun!

And why do people even travel? What’s the point? Do you really need to go twenty thousand miles away from home just to see some kind of interesting rock formation?

What about your own home?!

Work on your own city and neighborhood so that you can be proud of your home! Don’t forget your god dang roots and plant a tree or something.

And all these souvenirs are just wastes of space and money. There is not a single interesting souvenir anyone could ever bring back across an airplane because there’s a ninety percent chance they just bought it at the awful gift-shop in the airplane.

The king of these terrible gifts must be postcards.

No one needs a vague blurry out-of-focus overpriced picture that depicts a stationary distant landmark that everyone has already seen through textbooks or movies.

It’s just a picture!

A picture can barely compare to what a TV show can show. A TV will do it with multiple angles and can provide an actual experience! A photograph is just a footnote and five seconds of people going ‘huh’.

In conclusion, airplanes are the embodiment of wastefulness and the entire industry should be scrapped. No one should go anywhere because it’s 100 percent better both morally and economically to make the place you already live in better.

Despite the shackles the airline industry puts on the economy, the song I played came out in a clean and crisp fashion.

Even if I was pressing on the strings of my violin harder than I usual. I could already hear my violin tutor scolding me to treat my instruments better.

But, you see, this violin is mine, so I can do whatever the hell I want with it.

I could cut all the strings, I could scratch the wood, I eat it if I so wished.

Hell, I’m not even obligated to make the music pleasant for people.

I rammed my bow against the strings and let it loose.

A horrible screeching sound echoed throughout the plaza and I watched all the squirrels and pidgeons scurry away from my song of freedom.

I put my arm down and stretched. My neck made a nice popping sound.

“Uhh…” Michael stared at me.

“What.” I looked Michael dead in the eyes. I could do what I wanted, he has no no say in what I did.

“Nothing.” He looked away. That’s right. You can’t stop me.

I popped back my violin into it’s case and took a seat by the benches near the fountain.

I let my head lean all the way back onto the bench and crossed my arms.

It felt pretty stupid to hold this pose, but then I reminded myself of how awful airplanes were. So if people thought I looked weird, they should think about the issues of the aviation industry first.

Because for some reason, a technological marvel can’t handle cold water. And because of that,families aren’t going to be able to meet up for Christmas.

Look away Grinch, a new villain has come into town whose stolen Christmas a whole month early.

Join a union if you want to keep your job.

“Well,” Michael came up to me with his guitar strapped on his back, “you’re certainly in a bad mood today.”

I grunted.

“Did you get it out of your system yet?”

In lieu of his ridiculous question, I rolled my head away from his face.

“Guess not.” Michael took the seat next to me and tapped on his knees, “So… wanna talk about it?”

I could already tell what Michael was trying to do. I’ve seen this so many times on TV and in comic books that the cliche made me feel nothing.

I got up from the bench.

Let’s just go home.

“Don’t get up, c’mon, it’ll help.” His words did absolutely nothing to my not-caring.

“Please? Um, I’ll give you money!” begged Michael with his hands pressed together.

Lame. I could not describe just how lame it was for someone three years older than me to try to pay me to talk about my emotions. He barely even makes money, so why is he trying to give me money to talk about something that has nothing to do with him! He needs it way more than I do!

That’s so lame. Then again, I never thought of Michael as cool so how could he lose what he never had.

“Don’t.” Michael needs that money way more than I do for his dream.

“Then I swear, it’ll help!”

“That’s what you said about music.”

“Yeah I did. Nusic can help lots of people through bad days. And you do have to admit, it helped you, didn’t it?”

I mean, did it really? I checked back to all our days just mindlessly playing our instruments for absolutely no one but ourselves. There was barely anyone to even perform for beyond animals and dead leaves.

But during those rare occasions someone listened and clapped for us, the mellow feeling insde felt great.

Dang it.

“A bit.” Admitting it felt like swallowing a porcupine.

“But, maybe all it did was stall your problems. It’s probably cause I got too excited as a musician about playing with someone else, so let me help you as a human being and try talking about it instead.”

“Why do you even care?”

“Hey, I can’t let my fellow musician stay miserable.” He sat, “And, we’re friends right? Friends help each other out.”

Oh. He said the f-word. I mean, we had to be something if we played music for animals together, so yeah, we were friends.

He could’ve said it earlier… the time I wasted worrying over whatever the heck our relationship was is time I’ll never get back.

“Yeah, we’re friends…”

“So, as a friend, I have to help. I think I have an idea of what happened, but I think it’ll be better for you to put it in your own words.”

“You’re really going to keep asking about it?”

“Yup.” He answered immediately and looked me dead in the face as he did.

Dang, I give.

I took a deep breath to prepare myself and I told Michael what happened.

“One day during lunch…”

I recounted to Michael everything that went on for the past two months. I didn’t mean to say everything. I meant to change the topic half-way, but once I started to talk, I just couldn’t find a good place to stop.

Despite how he hummed and hawwed throughout it all, Michael’s a good listener.

“And then you invited me to play music. That’s it.”

I leaned back into the bench. The cool feeling of whatever-the-bench helped melt away all my tension that built up in my throat for talking for so long.

My throat was sore, but I felt content. I think that’s the most I’ve spoken all month. Michael was right, talking about it relieved my body of tension so that it felt nice to even breathe.

“So Mari’s can’t come back, you think the aviation industry is a mess, and now you’re lost on what to do right?”

I nodded.

We both stared out into the distance. Michael was deep in thought, his head wrapping around the entire situation.

A few minutes passed, and I watched a cloud as it changed shape from a turtle into a duck.

“This is just me going off on a limb, I think you still have a chance, don’t you?”

“Hm?” What did he mean?

“Well, I can’t speak for you exactly, but I always thought we were kind of similar. So from one quiet person to another, I think I get where you’re coming from.”

Michael said something good, but my brain latched onto a single part of what he said.

We’re similar?

We’re similar!?

I mean, sure we both play music, but that’s not like an indicator of our personalities. And sure, we both don’t really talk at school or in conversations unless we’re forced to, but quiet people are all different inside. And we may both be introverted, like cats, have similar tastes in food, and, and…

Oh god, we’re kind of alike. And if I have a percentage of Michael’s traits…

Do all the insults I’ve been hurling at Michael in my head apply to me as well?!

I looked down at my clothes.

Am I committing a fashion crime?! Have I been trying way too hard to be cool?! Do I snort with my nose when I laugh?!

“Uh Sunny, you good? You look like you’re panicking?”

Thankfully Michael’s voice snapped me out of it before I spiraled into lambasting everything about myself.

Right, right, get your head back on Sunny, you’re not Michael. You’re your own unique person. You will never be as Michael as Michael.

“I’m fine. Go on.”

“It must’ve been hard on you. I never really had friends that long nor as close as you, but I could still tell how much they meant to you.”

“Yeah…”

“But even then, it’s shouldn’t be over yet.”

“How would you know? You haven’t even met them.” He only just heard about Aubrey and Kel from me.

“Well, I haven’t. But I do know you. See, the thing with introverted people like us is that we go with the flow.”

“What does that even mean?” People say that stuff all the time without ever properly elaborating on what the hell they meant. What even is ‘going with the flow’.

“Let me use a metaphor. There’s this metaphor I really like: Life is like riding in a boat. There’s bumps and bops and it’s great when you can sail with your friends. But sometimes, tidal waves come and threaten to turn the ship upside down. If it manages to tip it over, everyone on the boat has to fend for themselves and find other boats to sail on so they split apart. That life.”

And where’s he going with this?

“But in other cases, people take charge of the boat and fight the flow of the waves so that it doesn’t sink, and if they just take the chance, they could beat the waves and reorient themselves.”

“What’s the point if everyone already split up.” My ship is already sunk.

“I mean your friends are still around aren’t they?” There’s still a chance you could get them back.”

“No one that could fix all this is currently in Faraway.” Mari and Hero are both miles and miles away.

“There’s you.”

“But I messed it up. How could I fix it?” It’s too late for me. I should’ve done something when Kel and Aubrey had that argument. But I backed out like a coward.

“It’s never too late. It’s just going to be harder but that’s kind of what I’m trying to say. When they both aren’t here, then it has to be you. You have to step up to take back ahold of your,” Michael paused, “Friendship.”

Friend. Ship.

“Did you really say all that for that pun?” My brain began to short-circuit as I tried to make sense of the braincells that were banging together in Michael’s head.

“No, no, I didn’t do it on purpose! I got that metaphor from a comic book and I only just got the stupid pun!”

“That makes it worse.”

“I’m sorry!” At the very least Michael covered his face and with how red his face looked, he was ready to explode with embarrassment.

And the metaphor doesn’t even apply to me.

“I can’t take charge.”

“People change, you could change into someone who can!”

“That metaphor isn’t very good.”

“But it’s not like that metaphor is wrong! It helped me out when I first heard about it.”

“How?” How does a stupid pun about boats help?

“Well, it knocked enough courage into me to start playing music a couple years back. And beyond that, my dream to try to make it big in the city.”

Instinctively, I couldn’t help but doubt Michael. The idea of him having a phase where he didn’t religiously strum on his guitar seemed alien.

Buuuuut it would be equally ridiculous if Michael always played music like he did now. He must’ve done stuff before that.

If you’re taking music away from Michael, you’re taking away like 70% of his identity!

“So don’t be discouraged. You can change. I know it’s something you’re not used to, but if you love them as much as you say you do, you’ll make it somehow.”

Will it really work? My mind felt like it was going a mile a minute. Could I really do what Hero and Mari did? I mean, I didn’t do anything when Kel and Aubrey fought, isn’t it self-conceited if I just go in now and try to make the two of them make up?

But my heart told me otherwise. It said to screw the consequences and just do it.

“I… need to think about this.” I got up from the bench. A took a few steps, and turned around. “See you later Michael.”

As soon as I got home, I dropped onto my bed.

I thought about what Michael said. Part of me wanted to reject it outright since he’s never actually met my friends so what could he really know?

But if I could do it… wouldn’t that fix everything? Everything will go back to the way it was and I’ll have my friends back.

But will it be better for me to change?

What if I did get everyone back together, but they didn’t like the new me. I’d be back where I started.

And if I don’t want that to happen, that means I have to get through this without Mari.

The safest option would be to wait for Mari, wouldn’t it?

I’d just have to wait until she comes back. During the next long holiday.

Spring break.

In three months.

I’d have to endure three whole months of watching Kel and Aubrey get along with other people.

I could barely handle a month, much less three.

I had to make something change.

But what?

If I had my way, the airplane industry would go through very severe reforms, but several angry letters from a teenager doesn’t seem like it’ll create the change the world needs.

So I guess it’s all on me.

If I couldn’t change the world, then I guess I had to change myself.

How do I start?

Chapter Text

Chapter 11

Seriously. How? I have like no frame of reference. I got most of my friends thanks to being Mari’s little brother.

I went to the drawing board and fiddled out a notebook from my desk and grabbed a pen.

Well, if I want to do this, I should try to plan something out.

I spent the next day brainstorming ideas. In bed, during school, and on the bus ride home, I kept thinking about what I could change about myself

After lots of erasing, ripped pages, and shaking my pen so the ink came down, I narrowed my options to three sheets out in front of me.

They were labeled each of them plan A to C respectively.

Plan A revolved around changing into someone more like Mari and Hero. They both could fix things, so if I was more like them, I could get everyone back together again. The simplest sounding one, but Mari and Hero were both, to say, higher beings. In all senses of the word really, because despite my fervent prayers, the reality is that I’ll never be as tall as Hero.

Plan B was to leave small parcels for Kel and Aubrey to find. They’d have small things inside like candy or toys. Eventually, they’ll get curious about who has been leaving them stuff, and then they’ll be on the lookout for their mysterious benefactor. One day, they’ll catch me doing it and then we’ll be a group again.

Though I didn’t really know how to do it without being caught. And I need to somehow make sure it’s Kel and Aubrey who get the bags instead of some random person or a squirrel.

Plan C involved wearing clothes similar to their new friends. If I looked like them, maybe they’ll notice and bring me into their group. I could integrate back and rekindle the friendship.

I had some money lying around that I could use to buy clothes and other accessories, but the main limiting factor of this plan would be my fashion sense. If I do it wrong or try too hard, I’ll look just like Mikhael, or as he makes everyone call him, ‘the Maverick’.

His guts are impressive, but the second-hand shame I get from watching him fail to pick up any girls at the fountain were already too much for me.

Out of the three, plan A is the most ready.

Heck, I could start right now.

I should start it right now.

So how would I be more like Mari or Hero?

Well, for one, I should start being a bit more organized. I looked around and my room has slowly devolved from respectable to a battlefield of stuffed animals. With Mari not around, there’s no one to make me keep my room tidy.

I ran my finger across my bookshelf and looked at my gray finger. The growing layer of dust on everything should probably be dusted.

Maybe there’s something in Mari’s desk that will help clean up. I’m usually not one to snoop around Mari’s stuff, but it’s not like she has anything bad to hide nor is she using any of it right now.

Heck, if she was here, she’d definitely let me sift through her desk for cleaning materials.

I pulled open a drawer and shuffled through her desk for a duster or some other cleaning implement. Even though everything was lain out very neatly, it made it a pain to get to all the stuff in the back. I pulled out folder after file until something slid out and fell onto the floor.

Shoot. Hopefully it wasn’t stained or crumpled.

The heck is this? By my feet, I found a calendar with red marks littered all over it. And it was dated for, this year? Why would Mari keep a calender in her desk? We have a perfectly good one in the kitchen.

I flipped to the cover of the calender and in a horrific pink glitter-pen, the calender was titled “Days Sunny had a nightmare and I got to hug him to sleep!”

The smiley face plastered to the side stared into my soul.

I flipped through the months and red check-marks were plastered all throughout the calendar.

…

Oh god.

I’m starting to realize that I may be too dependent on Mari.

Looking through the calendar, I’ve fallen asleep with my older sister far more than what a normal high schooler ever should.

It’s not like I didn’t know I was too old for it, but… I never knew it was this bad.

If anyone saw this, I think I’d have to kill them. Mari already told them I fall asleep in her bed, but they probably assumed that was back in the past when I was younger! If they knew how long it’s been going on…

In my defense, the rate of which it happened lessened as the months passed by! It decreased from thrice every week in January to only once a week by July!

Then I flipped to August and saw red check marks fill almost every box.

Oh. I want to die.

It was due to a mixture of my fear of Mari leaving, and her own insistence that I could fall asleep next to her, that this cursed item was born.

My dark history has been dated and kept in mint condition with red ink.

My brain screamed to burn it and the entire room until the offending piece of paper became a pile of ash.

But if I did that… when Mari gets back, she’ll know I did something to it and through that, that I snooped around her stuff.

She’d probably get angry after that.

Not even the wildest bookie will give odds against me and an angry Mari. Maybe they’ll give odds if she’ll leave bones behind.

I put back the 12 page horror-story back into Mari’s desk.

Wait. If she had a calendar for this year…

What about the other years?

I dug through Mari’s desk and behind a manila folder, found something that’ll replace my nightmares for the foreseeable future.

Stacked neatly upon one another, were three more calendars just like the first.

My already broken spirit just split into a million different pieces.

The only solace is that no one has seen this yet.

Yet.

I desperately wracked my brain for any way to get rid of this without horribly perishing to the wrath of Mari, but I kept coming up blank.

My brain looked for every possible angle and for every possible solution, until I reached an epiphany.

If I can’t see them, maybe they’ll stop existing!

The whatever-the-hecks I had in my hand went back into Mari’s desk.

I saw nothing, touched nothing, and despaired at nothing.

The only thing I’ll bring with me is my vague sense of dread.

Well, my first attempt at this was definitely a bust for some absolutely unknown reason.

Would I discover more horrific aspects of my life as I tried to change?

I heard the shuffling of paws across the floorboard and Mewo walked through the door. I picked him up into my arms and pet him as I thought about all my faults and things I had to change to be more like Hero or Mari. I had a lot of them, but at least I didn’t have the fault of ‘being bad at petting animals’. Mewo purred in agreement.

*Ding-dong*

That’s the doorbell. The mailman usually comes around this time. I shelved what I was thinking and let Mewo run off.

The mailman hands me the letters if I got to the door on time, but I guess I was late. I opened the door and no one was there, instead the mailman left a package on the doorstep.

I checked the delivery label, and, it was addressed to me?

What could it be?

I brought the package inside and ripped off the tape covering the cardboard cover.

Surrounded by packing peanuts and bubble wrap was a parcel wrapped in brown paper and a letter.

The handwriting on the letter clued me into the sender. There’s only one person I know that curls their u ’s like that! It’s Basil!

I tore open the top of the letter and a crisp parchment fell into my hand.

Dear Sunny,

Hi Sunny! Your last letter was so fun to read! I wish I could be there, but I guess I’ll have to settle for your letter.

But on a super great fantastic other note, my grandma is getting better! I talked to the doctor that’s been taking care of her, and they say that she’s been showing a lot of improvement!

I think my daily visits have really been helping her! Even if all I talk about are flowers and the books I’ve been reading. And I recently found something new about my day to say to her.

Could you believe this, I managed to make some friends in the last two weeks. They’re not as great at listening like you and everyone else in Faraway are, but they read as much as I do! I was super surprised when I found out they read all the same things I do!

And I know you’re wondering just what I sent, right? Well, if you haven’t opened the package yet, do so now! I bought it as soon as I saw it when I passed by it at a store. I wanted to save it for a Christmas, but I have no idea how long it’ll take for the package to get there, so think of it as a early Christmas gift.

I tore through the brown paper like Mewo dug through catnip, and I found the treasure underneath. An untitled book the size of football revealed itself.

Of course Basil got me a book. I flipped it to a random page and strangely enough, it was empty.

The heck? Did they forget to print words onto this book?

I checked the letter to see if Basil knew anything about this.

Well? How is it? Do you like it? It’s a photo album for you! I don’t really know the next time I could visit Faraway and meet everyone, but when I do, I hope you’ll fill out the book for me. When I come over, we can both open each of our books and compare all the different things we’ve done over the year!

Don’t worry if any pictures you take come out bad, it’s all about the memories you made while taking it!

And don’t have to worry about sending a Christmas present back! I just wanted to give you a gift! Your letters are pretty much presents for me all year around!

All in all, I’m doing well, so you don’t have to worry about me. Though I can’t wait for your next letter.

From, Basil

P.S. I copied some photos since a photo album without any photos is just too sad. They’re packaged in with the photo album! And if you look on the back of each one, there’s a surprise!

What the heck, Basil managed to make friends on his own? I mean, good for him, but his growth… surprised me.

Basil managed to change. I felt proud that he did it, but I couldn’t help but feel a little jealous.

I checked the wrapping once again and found a stack of photos neatly bundled up with a paper clip.

Memories and occasions over the past decades were in my hands.

For each picture, a different experience. Each one washed over my head as I let the nostalgia and the small tidbits I could remember overwhelmed me.

Pictures from the time we all went camping during spring, birthdays over the summer, slumber parties we’ve had over the fall, and cozy snow days during the winter.

In each photo, we were all smiling.

Basil said something about a surprise on the back of the photos.

I flipped over a photo of all six of us lined up in front of the wall of our high school.

‘Today’s the first day of our new high school! I’m so excited! A little nervous too, but Mari and Hero are here to help! And believe it or not, we all have the same classes! It’s a miracle!’

Oh, I remember this now. On the first day, I almost overslept but Mari woke me up. I spent the entire night before with jitters from excitement.

In retrospect, I can’t believe I was that excited for high school. It was just a bigger middle school.

I read more notes Basil made over the years that had gone by, from small events that I almost forgot, to memories I could remember like it was yesterday.

Things were so different now. The contrast between the memories and reality struck me through like a knife.

Basil really sent me something great.

Something warm fell onto my cheeks. I tried to rub it off with my hand, but more kept falling onto my palm.

Was I crying?

Why was I crying? The pictures made me so happy, but I feel like sobbing. Shouldn’t these feelings cancel out?

I couldn’t understand what I felt. I felt like I could smile, but my tears flowed all the same. I wouldn’t be able to put it into words if I ever tried to describe what it felt like.

It’s the first time in my life that I ever experienced this weeping that brought me joy.

Are they the same? Would they feel the same way I did? This emotion I could barely describe.

We all went through these memories together. If they meant even a portion of what they meant to me, then they’d have to feel the same emotions I did.

My tears stopped.

What did they feel?

Even if we all haven’t spoken in some time, even if we’ve fought, we’re still friends. The photos in my hands proves it.

Even though there’s still so many things about me that could be better and things I don’t know, that has to be true.

The photo of a picnic by a lake popped into my hands.

I remember this day.

It was the day I almost drowned.

I was never very good at swimming.

In the depths of the water, as the lake overtook every inch of my body, I didn’t resist and let the water overtake me.

Mari had to save me. And she cried so much afterwards.

We never went to the lake much after that.

But should I have kicked? Shouldn’t I have fought to keep afloat?

I tried to give up again. To let everything wash away from me and to sink in the water without moving another muscle.

This was the same thing, wasn’t it? I’m no good at talking to people and no good at swimming, so instead of kicking and flailing about, I let myself drown.

I read the back of the photo from that day.

‘This was supposed to be a fun picnic, but later on, Sunny almost drowned. It’s only thanks to Mari that he didn’t, but I was closer to the lake than her. I should’ve jumped in too…’

Basil regrets this? And he kept this photo all the same.

He really shouldn’t have. I let myself drown.

And I need to get myself out.

I need to kick…

I need to swim.

I need to move!

I can’t keep running away from them with excuses that they’ll hate me more if I did anything!

Stop worrying about how they view you and swallow your fears and blame! Because if I can accept them, then hopefully, they’ll accept me back.

They won’t hate me if I fail.

They won’t tell me to leave.

We’ve been through too much of that.

Things and people change. But our friendship will last even if we change too.

There’s been too many years, too many conversations, too many moments shared that our bond could break just because of one fight.

The crystallization of everything lain beautifully in my hands.

I let everything that weighed on me blow away in a single breath. Jealousies, who wronged who, missing pieces of our friendship.

None of that mattered.

The only thing that did, was what I had to do.

I grabbed each of the three plans and tore them into scraps. They weren’t going to help me do this.

Those indirect methods aren’t going to change anything.

Despite the cautious parts of me screaming that I should prepare, that I need to raise my odds, I wouldn’t put off what I was going to do next.

Let’s go.

Actually, there’s one thing I should do first.

I picked out paper, pen and an envelope. If I’m really going to change, then the least I should do is to tell the whole truth to my closest friend half a country away.

Chapter Text

Chapter 12

I lined up the ball to the hoop and swooshed it through.

The clanging on the rim and the bounces afterwards were the only sounds for miles.

With a heavy tap on the ball, it bounced up back into my hands. My cool basketball moves, woo.

I hit the ball and let the bounce lift it back up to my hands.

But no one was around to see it.

No one really goes to the park in the winter.

I kinda get it. Or more like, my nose gets it. It’s been running non-stop in this cold. I had to keep sniffing or my nose water would leak out.

Cold weather is super annoying.

On the bright side, thanks to it, I get all this open space to practice in!

And as a bonus to the sorta good happy news, I got onto the basketball team. Yay!

When I told Mom and Dad, they were both proud, and congratulated me! They even said they’ll come to watch if I played in any games. Except that’s not really going to happen since I just joined and I don’t really know how to play as a team. I didn’t even know basketball had different positions until I joined!

Coach made a really funny face when I told him that.

Who even has time to learn in basketball!? It’s a sport! People don’t play sports to learn! They play to win!

And he made a even funnier face when I said that.

So the position of a starter was pretty far away.

Mom and Dad still celebrated with me though.

That night, Mom made her super amazing hotdogs! With ketchup, relish, and mustard!

Victory was delicious.

But the day after, everything was still the same.

I felt hollow. And not because of the hot dogs, it could never be because of the hotdogs.

That’s what happened. I won.

Now, everyone will apologize for looking down on Kel! Honestly, all I need to forgive them is a high-five!

But I was left hanging.

But the day after, I felt agony. And not because of the hot dogs, it could never be because of the delicious, delicious hotdogs.

It must be something else. Like milk.

But I didn’t drink any yesterday.

So why did I feel so… bad?

It’s like, I woke up went to school, slept through class, ate lunch, slept to burn off my lunch, and went to practice. A normal day like any other.

A completely normal day. So why was it so miserable?

I did it! I did what I set out to do! I’m supposed to be going yaaaaaaaaay like a dog sticking his tongue out of a windshield.

But I didn’t feel a thing.

I went to the park afterschool as usual. But I already got into the team, so is there a point anymore?

Sure I can still get better, but I didn’t have to get better.

What was a even practicing for?

I asked my brain but it gave me nothing as usual. Thanks brain.

I proved that I could do it if I tried. That’s really good to know, but what should I do now?

Something was supposed to change, but nothing did.

Weeks passed with nothing happening.

And I still had just as much of an idea of what to do when I made it.

I mean, sure I could go and rub it in their faces that I succeeded, but that’s not what a winner does. What kind of winner has to go to the people they proved wrong just to say they were right?

Even thinking about doing anything that lame gives me the heeby jeebies.

So I just did what was familiar.

I practiced.

And all do now is practice.

And as it turns out, practicing is really boring.

When I practiced for the team, it felt sort of fun! Probably because I was going to prove everyone wrong. Kel could make the basketball team.

And then he did.

But now what am I practicing for?

I wish Hero was here. He’d know what to do.

Maybe I should try to become a starter? I thought about it, but I’m not really feeling it.

It’s like, I want to be as good as the starters but I don’t really want to take their spot. They really care for it, and well, I could wait a year or so until they graduate.

I shot the ball again, and it went through the hoop with no rim. Amazing.

And someone caught it on it’s way down.

My ball! What the heck are they doing!

I started running up to my ball, who did that guy think they were?!

Wait… I know that guy. It’s been a bunch of weeks, but I’d be a mega moron if I didn’t recognize him.

Sunny?

“Hi.” He waved but didn’t move his elbow at all. It looked as stiff as a robot.

“Hi Sunny.”

“Um, can we talk?”

“Sure,” About what though? But I wasn’t about to shut him down just from showing up. I led Sunny to my usual sitting spot near the fences. “Come over here.”

I plopped onto the chilly floor and Sunny plopped down too.

“Here,” he gave me back my basketball.

“Thanks.”

And we fell into a silence. But Sunny broke the silence first. That’s new.

“It’s… been a while.”

“Yeah. It has. You’ve been okay?”

“Mhm. I heard you made it on the basketball team.”

“Yup.” I did.

…

The silence was deafening.

We hadn’t spoken since the fight with Aubrey.

Memories of it drifted up to my head and I had to swat them down.

I hadn’t thought about it for a long time. Mainly because we said some really mean things to each other.

Just another Aubrey and Kel fight, but… it was more than that.

All the things we figured out about each other were just ways we hurt each other.

We just kept screaming at each other. It’s a good thing someone pulled us away before we started hitting each other.

I totally would’ve won though.

The day after that, there was zero percent chance I was going anywhere near Aubrey. So I chose an empty lunch table as far away from her as possible.

I kept thinking about how it was all Aubrey’s fault.

I waited for Sunny to come sit with me, but Sunny never did.

He came into the cafeteria, but he sat at the usual lunch table. The table where we had our screaming match.

I didn’t want to move. If he didn’t agree with Aubrey, he would walk over here to me.

I looked over to him, and our eyes met. But he didn’t move.

He wasn’t going to come over here.

He never came. That meant that…

He’s taking her side, wasn’t he?! Why!? That whole fight was Aubrey’s fault!

I got up, and went straight over to the guys from the basketball club.

They welcomed me with open arms.

Out of the corner of my eye, I kept watching Sunny’s table. I hadn’t seen Aubrey yet, but it was only a matter of time, I thought.

Aubrey never came.

For the days and weeks after that too.

I never saw him with Aubrey. He wasn’t with the delinquents she hangs out with now either.

So maybe I was wrong.

Sunny didn’t back up Aubrey, but he didn’t take my side either. That doesn’t mean it’s all okay though.

And now, after all these weeks, he finally talks to me?

Why did it take so long for him to reach out to me?

Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe he’s here for something else entirely.

I dunno. I have absolutely zero idea of what Sunny wants or what the heck is he tries to do sometimes.

He could be here to close out our friendship forever and move on. But, that wouldn’t happen… right?

I’ve seen Sunny around playing music with that music guy that’s always by Hobbeez.

What did Sunny want?

So many questions, but I couldn’t ask a single one. If I said the wrong thing, it might just scare him off.

What should I do?

In times like these, I wish Hero was here. He’d help me figure out what to say.

But he’s not here. He’s stuck in college. So I have to deal with this myself.

My fingers kept wiggling as neither of us said a thing. I desperately needed something to distract me from how awkward this is.

With a twirl, I made the ball spin on my index finger. Sunny’s eyes stayed glued to the ball.

Well, there’s another person here and a basketball. Might as well ask.

“Wanna play?”

Sunny nodded.

I made something happen! I have no idea what it’ll do but it feels right! Good idea Kel!

Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

It’s not like I lost, I completely dunked on Sunny with a score of bazillion to zero, but what happened afterwards was… definitely bad.

There was a collapsed body twitching in front of me. It’s head was directly facing the ground and it looked like they were trying to make the concrete remember their face.

Sunny was a fish drowning in land. He’s a Sun(ny)fish! He needs to kick and swim back up! But he didn’t even have the energy to stop kissing the ground.

Man, his breathing is not slowing down at all.

“W-w-water…” I responded to Sunnyfish’s cry for help.

I picked him up and lugged him to the water fountain. Sunnyfish put all his weight on the water fountain button but no water came out.

I think he’d cry if he had any water left. It was like looking at the face of a kid who was told there was no dessert after eating terrible terrible vegetables like cucumber and carrots.

I couldn’t let my fish friend die like this. Thankfully, I know how to get the water fountain working. The water fountain is weird because you need to turn the knob to get water. I got really annoyed when I found that out as well.

“Here you go.”

Sunnyfish glugged water.

He drank like he needed it to live. Well actually, we all need water to live. But if the human body is made up of 70 percent water, then Sunnyfish looked like he was shooting for 120 percent.

Wow, I didn’t think he was this tired.

“You didn’t have to keep up with me until you flopped to the ground Sunny.”

Sunnyfish gulped down more water, but he finally took a moment to breathe air like a human. He’s evolving.

“But I wanted to.” He said.

“Why? No offense, but you kinda suck at basketball.” Sunny was awful at dribbling and moving so whenever he got the ball, he shot a hail mary from the three point line.

“I just… missed playing with you.” He looked away as he said it.

That’s why? I laughed a little.

“Yeah.” It wasn’t a very good game, but I had more fun in this lop-sided game than all the time I spent practicing for the last few weeks combined. “I did too.”

Sunny finished drinking his water, and he evolved from a fish back into a human again. Evolution is amazing!

“Um, if you want, we could play again…” he said.

“Really?” After how he became a fish?

“Not today though. But, some other day.”

“Sure! I’ll be ready for you Sunny!”

“I won’t be. But I’ll be there anyway.”

Man, this day has already been looking up already.

“Oh right, I forgot I had this.” And Sunny shuffled into the pocket of his hoodie.

Then, he tossed me something.

My lightning reflexes got it and I gasped.

It was a can of Orange Joe!

“I kind of forgot to give this to you. It’s super shaken up, so uh, be careful.”

“Who cares, it’s Orange Joe!”

Free stuff is free stuff!

I cracked the tab the wonderful orange foam began to burst and bubble up. My mouth caught all of the orangey goodness before it could even touch the ground.

And my world exploded.

The tangy orange flavor, the amazing burn as the soda goes down my throat, sugar so plentiful and rich that my body fights against itself to get to it first.

It’s the drink of the gods.

Whenever I drink Orange Joe, I always try to make it last as long as possible.

I try to take sips until the can is empty.

But for some weird reason, the can is empty after three seconds and one single sip. I stared into the empty can. The emptiness is like the bald spot on Dad’s head.

I wept. Not for Dad though.

But the soda finally reached stomach filled with happiness and the Orange Joe kicked in.

Shivers tingled from my spine all the way to my brain. Jeebus, I love this sensation so much.

Each second was absolute bliss, but it had to end at some point. The tinglies faded away and all I was left with was the memory of a better time.

I’d cry if I had tears left to give.

I opened my eyes to see the park, and Sunny standing next in front of me.

Right, I should probably do something. I checked my brain again if the soda fed it any new ideas.

Nope, nothing again.

I might as well ask Sunny.

“So what do you want to do next?”

Sunny stared at me in confusion.

His face lit up.

“Hobbeez?”

“I’m down, let’s go!” I grabbed my basketball and led the way with a dash!

A bell clanged as we entered the warm innards of the hobby store. My soul flared up, it’s been way too long since I’ve last come. I hadn’t had a good whiff of Hobbeez for way too long. It smelled of comic books and plastic. Amazing.

“Heya Shopkeep!”

“Oh look who it is, my least favorite customer, I hoped that I would never see your sorry mug around here anymore.”

“Aww, you missed me?”

“Missed you like you miss the laser power-up in Contra.” Ugh, the worst one. Sunny chuckled. He got the reference. “So are you going to buy something for once, or are you going to get your grubby mitts on everything.”

“My hands aren’t grubby! I washed them in the park water fountain!” I showed him my palms, no dirt here. “I’ll be getting my clean hands over everything, thank you very much.”

“Yeah, yeah, go wild Kel.” He laughed. “But if you tear anything, you’re gonna pay for it.”

Good ol’ Shopkeep. He used to have a name, but he lost it after no one ever bothered to call him by it. It’s just Shopkeep now, from now to the long, long, future.

We went over to the comics section and I looked for all the new stuff that came out.

Apparently a Spaceboy vs. Pinkbeard series just came out. How could I miss this?!

I showed it to Sunny and we read it on the floor.

We turned the pages in silence except for when we laughed at a joke or were awed by the amazing art and action scenes.

After an intense comic reading session, we went straight onto the next comic that caught our eye, and just binged as many as we could.

By the end of it, I had read more pages than all the textbooks I kept in my locker. Great comic reading sessions always make me so proud of myself. I should’ve come here sooner.

I hadn’t been in here since I got Hero his birthday present. I spent twenty bucks on a cookbook that we used to have, but, uh, it mysteriously disappeared one day. The world will never know of Hector’s sin as long as I’m around.

Hero sounded pretty happy when I gave it to him. He knew the cookie recipe by heart now, but he kept drawing blank on the other recipes like apple pie or brownies.

I can’t wait for him to get home and make it for me. I’m hungry.

It’s just too bad that Hero called two days ago to tell us that he couldn’t make it home. Jeez, how does a random freak snowstorm even happen?

At least he has Mari to keep him company. Sunny must be bummed out about that too.

Wait. Something clicked in my head.

Did Sunny start talking to me again because Mari isn’t going to come back? He would’ve gotten the call at the same time I did.

Is that why Sunny finally tried to talk to me? Mari won’t be coming back so let’s just hang out with Kel? Oh, not because he was wrong about Kel making it to the basketball team, but just because Mari isn’t coming?! That’s so stupid! I’m not going to be a backup plan for when he has no one else to hang out with!

I’m not going to be a stand-in.

I was completely ready to start yelling but I second guessed myself. I didn’t want to ruin the fun atmosphere. I didn’t want to go back to how it was yesterday.

I’ll… give him a chance to explain himself.

“Sunny. Why did you finally choose to talk to me?” The anger in my voice surprised me.

“Huh?” And it surprised Sunny too.

“Why now of all times did you bother to be friends with me again? Why now?!”

“Did something happen today?”

He still didn’t get it. I spelled it out.

“Did you only come to me because Mari won’t be back for winter?”

“No!” He instantly said, “T-that’s… that’s not why I came!”

“You stuttered.”

“I’m serious! I mean, it kind of was but no! That’s not what I was thinking!”

“Then what is it?”

“I… I…” Sunny took a breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he looked straight at me.

“I’ve… wanted to talk to you for months. But I didn’t. I was scared. Mari not coming back… wasn’t what made me come talk to you. When that happened, I was going to hide away and stew in my own sadness. Even before I found out that she wasn’t coming back, that’s all I did. All those days, I hated how each one went by. I never even thought on doing anything myself. All I did was wait for someone else to fix everything. It sounds bad because it is. But I don’t want to do that anymore. I want us to be friends again, even if Mari nor anyone else is here.”

His voice teetered on the edge of tears.

“I want to change. I can’t rely on her nor anyone else for things I should do myself.”

I thought about what Sunny said. I rolled out the words in my head like pieces of paper and carefully cut them up.

Was it sincere? Was it honest? Was it a good enough apology?

Honestly, I didn’t feel the angries. I thought I would feel something, but nope. Not even a speck of anything.

Honestly, everything Sunny was talking about sorta sounded like my whole thing with Hero.

Oh.

Oh so that’s why I can’t get angry.

I get it. I finally understand.

“Yeah, I get it too. I’m sort of the same way with Hero. I thought he would come back and everything would turn back somehow too.”

“So you’re not angry?”

“Nah, I’m not.” It was easier to talk now. “Sorry for yelling at you Sunny.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Sunny let out a sigh and collapsed on the floor.

“You good Sunny?”

“Yeah. Just relieved. The floor feels nice.”

It sure looks like it does.

I can hear the floor calling out to me.

It’s promising me things.

Like a warm blanket… and a plate full of cookies!

I’ll dive in too!

My face made contact with the floor, and the floor made my cheeks so happy. It’s warm like your bed when you first wake up in the morning.

Warm fuzzy yes.

“Let’s be friends again.”

“Yay.” Sunny pumped both of his hands. But on the floor, he just looked like a stretching cat.

And then someone behind us began to clap.

“Man, this is as good as the Spaceboy Christmas special. I wish I had some popcorn.” Ah shoot, we did all that in front of Shopkeep. “Though I’d appreciate it if you both got off the floor. I have to clean your drool myself y’know.”

“Bwuh.” Said Sunny.

“Hey, if you’re going to put on a show, don’t blame me for watching.”

“Don’t eavesdrop!” Sunny hissed as he picked himself up.

“Hey, it’s my store. I can do what I want.” Shopkeep leaned in on his elbows, “But either way, good job making up you two.”

“Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.” Sunny held his face in his hands. But it was so red, I don’t think hiding it really did anything. “Let’s go Kel.”

Sunny rushed his way to the door and left with the bell clanging.

“Bye! Come back again!”

I followed Sunny out the door.

“See you later Shopkeep.” The door made a nice crisp *ching* sound.

“Bye Kel! Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!”

Lousy December weather. We couldn’t have been in Hobbeez for more than an hour or two, but the sun was already beginning to set.

Sunny rubbed his hands together and he breathed white air as he started walking with me.

“I don’t think I can show my face in there ever again.” Sunny mumbled.

“It’s fine Sunny! I embarrass myself half the time whenever I’m in Hobbeez too!”

“That doesn’t make me feel better.”

“But we can embarrass ourselves together now!”

“I mean… heh, yeah, I guess we can.”

We made talked about all sorts of things as we walked back together, despite shivering like a bumblebee, I felt warm.

We walked until we got right in front of our houses and Sunny stopped in front of me.

“Let’s hang out again tomorrow Sunny! Though you might have to wait a bit, basketball practice could take a while.”

“Oh yeah. You have to do that.” Sunny stopped. “Hey Kel. There’s something I have to apologize for.”

“Hm? What?”

“Back when the fight happened, when everything was said, I should’ve done something, or at least tried to make the fight stop.”

“Yeah… I wanted you to take my side Sunny.” Sunny winced at my words, “But it’s fine. I don’t think you meant anything bad.”

“No. I think I did. I hoped you weren’t going to make the basketball team. I hoped you were going to quit half-way through. If you did it, I thought you’d replace me with the people from the basketball team.”

“What?! I wouldn’t do that! I couldn’t just replace you! We’ve been friends for years!”

“Yeah, in hindsight, that was really stupid of me. We’ve been through way too much that we could just replace each other. I was being stupid.”

“Don’t sweat it Sunny, if you’re stupid, then I’m super mega dumb. I probably should’ve talked to you once before everything became too weird.”

“No, it’s my fault! I didn’t believe in you!”

“No I messed up too! I didn’t give you a chance!”

“No, it was me!”

“No, it was me!”

“No, me!”

“No, me!”

Sunny sniggered.

I giggled.

He began to laugh.

I started to chuckle.

Sunny leaned over and started to erupt!

I guffawed so much that I fell onto my butt!

Our non-stop laughter continued until we finally had to stop for air. Sunny gave me a hand and pulled me up.

“Sorry for not believing in you. It’s super cool that you got onto the basketball team. You can really do it when you try Kel.”

I punched my hands in the air.

“That’s fine Sunny, I know I’m awesome too. You don’t have to keep saying sorry though”

“Sor- sorry about that one.”

I laughed.

“Not accepted. There’s one thing you need to do to earn my forgiveness.”

“What?”

“High-five me! Then I’ll forgive you.”

I started moving my hand.

Sunny started moving his.

We high-fived.

Our high-five was legendary. Everyone in the neighborhood would talk about the sound from generation to generation. The sound it made could be heard for miles and it beat out even the best songs ever made. It probably killed people and brought them back to life as well.

At least, that’s what it should do!

My hand grew red and hurt, but that’s the price of epic high-fives.

“Bye Kel.”

“Bye Sunny!”

I closed the door and began to dance.

WOOOOO! Today was so much fun!

Chapter Text

Looking back, it’s really the memories of Hero baking that were my absolute favorite. Hero in the kitchen baking cookies with Mari helping him from time to time were just the epitome of my childhood. The sweet cookie-scented air wafted throughout the entire kitchen and everyone else sat in the table, waiting for the treats like fish to cookie-shaped bait. Everyone else made small-talk to somehow, in any way, distract ourselves from the heavenly scent coming from the oven. We never drooled (much) and the things we talked about didn’t really make sense when I thought back on it, but those stupid conversations made me really happy.

Hero never bragged about how great his cookies were, even though Mari sung their praises all the time. He’d just push off praise while saying stuff like, “I just followed a recipe” and “Baking isn’t that hard”.

Where am I going with this?

Well, see, in one of those conversations that I could remember very clearly, Hero said that, “baking cookies are simple enough that anyone could do it”.

Hero is a liar.

One week after I made up with Kel, I stood in the middle of a crime scene. Blood stained the walls and our victims laid on our kitchen table.

If anyone saw this, I’d be arrested on the spot. There’d be no getting out of it either.

Our tools of murder were scattered all around the kitchen, with deadly instruments that could blend powders and liquids to a paste, a furnace where we’ll try to change the shape of our victims, and our most dastardly weapon of all: Kel.

He was busy taking care of a couple guys with just a wooden spoon and a bowl. He was never one with good technique, nor was he that good with a spoon. All he had was enthusiasm, and he had that in spades. With all the enthusiasm, he began to spill flesh and drip blood all over the crime scene with a horrible squelching sound.

He was the muscle, and I was the man with a plan.

Unfortunately, the plans in my hand went through a terrible beast from hell, whose name I fear to even utter lest the demonic slobbering animal caught wind, and barged into our crime scene and made an even bigger mess of things.

If a single soul ever saw us, the police and society would lock us away and throw away the key.

I lifted my hand off my table, and noticed a smell. Some blood got on my hand.

I licked it.

It tasted sweet and was a nice distraction from the circumstances.

Namely, there’s not enough time to completely clean up all this evidence.

I leaned back in my chair, and accepted my fate of a harsh interrogation with a detective in a dingy box. My arrest would be put on national news, and everyone in the neighborhood would say things like, “He seemed like such a sweet kid.”, and “I never expected anything like this, he was always so quiet.”

Indeed, if blood was white, and corpses had noticeable sugar content and were stuffed with chocolate chips, I would be arrested on the spot and put in some cheap book found in a gas station about the worst murders to ever occur.

Thankfully, in the world I live in, blood is red, and people do not taste like chocolate (hopefully), so I could keep my face off the headline of tomorrow’s newspaper.

We were… trying to bake. Emphasis on ‘trying’.

3 hours have passed since we began and we made a few batches of cookies. We only ever meant to make a single batch, but the first few, were not fit for consumption.

If I had to classify what they were, I’d say unknown dark discs of doom. We could probably throw these like ninja stars and defeat evil samurai named after office supplies. They’ll probably taste the same way too.

Hah.

Kel and I were so confident when we started baking as well.

It all started when we both had a hankering for holiday treats, namely we wanted cookies.

It’s been half a year since we’ve had Hero’s cookies, and we needed to get our fix by any ways necessary.

We were definitely over-confident. For our first three batches, we didn’t even look at a recipe, just went off memory of how Hero made his.

We knew better now.

I don’t know what we were expecting when we baked with literally no prior knowledge.

We knew that our cookies definitely wouldn’t have been as good as Hero’s, but it’s just a cookie.

Apparently not. What we made couldn’t be called a cookie in anyway.

I might actually be arrested for my crimes against cooking instead.

But if we can get this last batch of cookies right, Kel and I will dodge a guilty verdict and live on as free men.

I mean, I’m actually looking at a recipe now! Even though it’s all torn up and covered in dog slobber, it’s still fine. Thanks to the recipe, we actually know the ingredients we need instead of guessing!

I looked over to Kel mixing all our ingredients together. He put everything in a giant bowl so we would only have to mix once. That, or he just wanted to mix the biggest bowl possible.

He looks like he’s having a blast though, and thanks to how fast he was mixing, stray bits of the cookie dough kept splashing into his mouth.

I should probably stop him, but I’m stuck with my own problems. Namely, trying to understand what the heck I’m looking at.

Mixing everything in a giant bowl is definitely not what the recipe says to do, but in my defense, it says to “cream” the sugar and butter together, but the recipe doesn’t even list cream in the ingredients!

The explanation for what they meant for cream was in one of the missing sections and once again Hektor has defeated me.

Looking at this recipe is like looking at math homework from next year.

And just like with my homework, I skip the part I do not understand!

‘Use a sprinkle of salt to taste’

And just like with my homework, I go straight into another part I do not understand!

How much even is a sprinkle?! Is it like a sprinkler from a lawn or do they want me to literally grab some salt and taste it! AND WHY IS THE RECIPE CALLING FOR SALT IN THE COOKIE DOUGH!

But before the torn-up recipe could give me a migraine, Kel plopped his bowl of cookie dough in front of me.

“Ding! I’m done mixing! I mixed it super good!”

I peered into the bowl and it looked okay-ish? Like there were lumps and everything and but it’s the most cookie dough our cookie dough has ever looked.

We made progress, no matter how little. And that small victory could’ve made me weep.

“So how long do we need to bake it for?”

That’s a good question. I checked the book and wanted to scream. The words surrounding it were perfectly fine, but through some miracle, or incredible directed malice at cookies like a tactical missile for baked goods, only the temperature and the minutes were torn out.

“It’s gone. Just guess.”

“Okay!” Kel didn’t seem worried one bit.

His optimism would make me feel better if it didn’t fill me with an equal amount of dread.

He grabbed the ice-cream scoop we’ve been using to scoop our cookies and plopped 12 spheres of our cookie mix onto the baking sheet.

Kel turned the oven to 500 degrees and plopped the tray straight into the oven and set the timer for half an hour.

All right, now that we sort-of made the cookies correctly, all that’s left is to wait!

Kel and I walked into the living room and turned on the TV. I had a good feeling about this batch! It might be all I have left…

Eventually the cookies finished baking and we put them out on a plate in front of us. And our cookies had evolved to learn how to use color signals to make them seem more dangerous to eat.

Instead of a deep delicious brown, it was desperately signaling my brain with horrible black warning signals. Somehow this black was even worse than our earlier batches.

It was so bad that our food was desperately resisting our attempts to eat it. It evolved in ways beyond how we ever expected it to.

It had the TV on to distract us from trying to eat it. That maybe we’ll watch TV until we become couch potatoes and lose control over our arms. The soudns of the TV beckoned us to look away from our cruel reality, and to lose ourselves in funny cartoons and action movies.

Second: Every time either of us moved near it, our noses were attacked with a scent that only could only be described as despair. It smelled like Dad’s new two-in-one shampoo/conditioner. Same thing really.

But even though they were desperately trying to brainwash us into not eating them, a stronger form of brainwashing rose up from deep within my soul and took over.

Mom and her many nagging sessions on not to waste food stuck in my head.

I looked back at the kitchen, we used up a lot of milk, sugar, and butter.

If we used all that, and didn’t even eat what we made, what would she say? And more importantly, how badly would she ground me?

I made my decision.

It’s admirable to save your own skin innocent cookies, unfortunately Mom is a being beyond your comprehension.

I grabbed a cookie. And another hand reached out to grab one too.

Kel held a cookie too.

“You don’t have to do this Kel.” You could let your taste buds survive another day!

“We’re in this together.” He stared into my soul, and I saw his. He won’t back down from this.

We tapped our cookies against each other like glasses, and bit into them with a *CRUNCH*.

Bitter. It was so bitter. My teeth barely made any head-way into bit of the cookie. And all it did was reveal more bitterness.

A mountain of bitter and I had to dig through it was my teeth.

But somewhere in the far-off distance in the horrible dark pit I threw myself into…

There was light.

I reached towards it, I swam for it, I grew wings and flew! Like a prisoner who never expected to see sunlight again, I reached for the light.

The light seeped into my taste-buds and I was saved.

I tasted chocolate. Sweet, non-burnt, melty chocolate.

But the chocolate was fleeting, and I had to munch my way through the rest of the cookie.

But I somehow finished it.

Honestly? The first bite was definitely the worst.

After a while my taste-buds got used to the taste. I guess people really can get used to anything if they do it for long enough.

The outside of the cookie was objectively terrible, but the middle of the cookie was decent enough. Like an orange but baked with chocolate.

“Y’know, it’s not as bad as it looks.” Said Kel.

“Mhm.”

“Maybe it’s cause we’re washing it down every time we take a bite, but we made something that’s technically edible!”

“Yay.” I gave some applause to celebrate our success.

“Next time, we’ll do better. Basil could help us too!”

“He’d love it.” I could already see Basil placing chocolate chips one by one for the best cookie ‘aesthetic’.

If we had another person, our cookies were bound to be better!

And well, there was another person around that could help.

It’s time to bite the bullet Sunny. You’ve been trying to bring it up all week, now is as good a time as any.

“Hey Kel,”

“Yeah?” Kel leaned forward.

“I just wanted to know if…” The words weren’t coming to me. I was freezing up and I didn’t know what to say next.

“Know what?”

“You see, tomorrow, I was thinking that…” What if this makes Kel mad?

My doubts surged up and clogged my throat.

Just say it. Say it!

I began to breathe in and out. My heart slowed with each breath.

“Do you want to meet up with Aubrey?”

There. I said it.

I peeked over to Kel, but he wasn’t smiling.

“Why would I?”

“I mean, we’re friends right?”

“We were, but… then she blew up on me all of a sudden.”

It… was definitely out of nowhere. But there had to be a reason for that!

“She probably took Mari, Basil, and Hero leaving a lot harder than we thought.”

“Yeah, but, I was brothers with Hero and I was fine. And you were super close to Basil and Mari and you didn’t explode. Aubrey overreacted. It’s not like we won’t ever see them again.”

That’s not exactly true. Instead of exploding, I hide in my room until they come back.

“Didn’t we cry on the sidewalk together when they first left?”

Kel’s face flushed as he wiped his nose.

“Oh right… we did do that.”

“Doesn’t that just means Aubrey still cares for everyone in the group a lot.”

“That’s true.” Kel admitted, “Probably not me though, after the fight, Aubrey probably hates me.”

“We don’t know that.” I cut Kel off immediately. I was absolutely sure that it wasn’t true.

“Why wouldn’t it be true?”

Easy.

“Do you hate Aubrey?” I already knew the answer to my question though.

“No…” Kel took some time to think. “Not really. She annoys me but I don’t really think I can say that I hate her.”

“And that’s exactly what I mean.”

“What?”

“It’d be the same for Aubrey. We know Aubrey enough that even after that fight, she wouldn’t hate either of us.”

“Do we really know Aubrey though? Hasn’t she changed a ton?”

‘I do!’ I wanted to say. But did I really? I definitely paid lots of attention to Aubrey but I couldn’t say I knew what was going on in her head. Seriously, after years of chit-chatting with each other, I could only list her favorite colors, dresses, cartoons, animals, ribbons, candles, scents, places, pencils, pizza-toppings, toys, snacks, sports, flowers…

Wow. Uh, I knew a lot more than I thought. Is that creepy? Questions for later. But at the very least, I know more about Aubrey than Kel.

“Even if she’s changed on the outside, she’s still the Aubrey we grew up with. It’s not like she can completely everything about her in a week.”

“Mmm…” Kel puckered his lips. That’s a small victory. It means my words are getting through to him.

“We both agree that Aubrey cares about the group, and that includes us, so don’t believe something stupid like Aubrey hating the both of us. Give her a chance, please Kel.”

“Yeah… yeah, I guess you’re right Sunny.” Kel crossed his arms. “Fine. I should talk to Aubrey at least once. If I didn’t, Hero would make me when we get back.”

Success.

“Thanks Kel.”

“So what about you?”

“Hwuh?”

“Have you like, spoken to Aubrey yet?”

Ah crap. Yeah, I may have been preaching all about the power of friendship, but I still haven’t been able to talk to Aubrey yet.

It’s hard y’know! I barely have the social grace to make it through school! It’s not like I haven’t tried, but the only classes we share is our lunch period and I scoped out the lunch room for the entire time but I couldn’t find Aubrey nor any of the new people she hangs out with.

Afterschool is no different since their whole group bolts out with their scooters and bikes the moment school is over and I can barely run through a hallway without gasping for air.

My attempts can be summed up in one word.

“Nope.” I hung my head. “I’ve tried, but everything I did failed.”

“How are we going to talk to Aubrey then?”

“I need your help. Is anyone from Aubrey’s other group in any of your classes?”

“Hmmmmmmmm…” Kel closed his eyes and pressed his fingers to his brain to remember. Kel stayed awake for very few of his classes except for Gym so his braincells were pumping into overdrive. “I think there was a girl like that in my math class?”

“Let’s talk to her tomorrow!” Finally! Progress! “We’ll ask her to let us meet Aubrey!”

“What are we going to say when we meet Aubrey again though?”

“When we meet Aubrey, I want to see if she wants to be friends again.”

“But what… what if she says she doesn’t?” Kel sounded as bothered by that idea as I was.

Man, that is a good question. Or more accurately, a terrible question that will keep me awake at night. But if I let myself fall down that rabbit hole, my heart would never recover, so I’ll tie myself down to reality with the famous nation-wide branded mental rope: repression!

And on the other hand: “If we do nothing, that’s probably what’s going to happen. So we have to try. Maybe she actually wants to be friends again! We just need to ask first.”

“Yeah, I guess it wouldn’t be fair if we didn’t do at least that much.” Kel munched on a cookie and spilled crumbs everywhere. “Let’s meet up after my math class. It’s after 7th period.”

“Thanks a lot Kel.”

“No, don’t say that Sunny.” Kel looked like he bit into a lemon.

“Why?”

“It’s just that… I’m not as angry as I thought I’d be.” Kel mumbled, “I dunno, I thought I’d feel more, but I just feel weird about it. About everything. And when I think about talking about any of it, it’s like it’s surrounded by a blanket of *ugh* and *eh* and gooey dog hair. Do you know what I’m saying?”

Not really, but I nodded along anyway.

“I really don’t want to touch it, but, there’s still a part of me that really hates leaving it alone, so I’ll do it. You shouldn’t thank me for this.”

That’s fine. I knew a better alternative.

“We can high-five instead?” I offered and raised my hand.

“Yeah, I’ll take that.” And he slammed my hand back.

I forgot how much these hurt, but I held back the tears.

Both of our brains were exhausted, so we let the TV take us away.

Kel leaned back into the sofa. The heavy air slowly faded away as the chatter from the TV blared.

Math class sucks. The teacher drones on about shit no one really cares about and we lose time that could be used for better things. Like shoplifting.

Thankfully, it’s December, so my day could not be ruined. More specifically, it’s this December.

This December is special in a very unique way.

How?

This December is the best mother-fucking month of my life.

Why?

Because… I just got a new best friend!

Who is she?

Her name is Aubrey and she is… just so amazing.

It’s not like they weren’t friends before. They played together a couple of times in recess, but they never got to hang out outside of school back then. She was too busy with this other group.

Then Aubrey started hanging with my group. The better group.

And there isn’t a single moment when we aren’t together. And it is the most fucking amazing thing there is.

The absolute rush I get when I hang out with everyone until the deep dark of night, where we can barely see each other between the street-lights, but we know where everyone is thanks to our voices. It gets wicked cold then too, but the warmth of friends beats it down like a bitch.

Hopefully Aubrey saw it the same way. She’s still taking a bit of time to adjust, but the rest of us(except for Mikhael because he’s Mikhael) were as welcoming as we could be. I even got Vance to share some of our candy with her. That really sealed it. You don’t come back from a candy pact.

And even if I didn’t give that candy pact to Aubrey, they would’ve been just as close. I could feel it. I always felt that we were kind of the same person, and I could feel the connection whenever we hung out.

Not gonna lie, Aubrey feels like the sister I never had. And just like Vance had my back for all these years, I’ll have Aubrey’s.

Aubrey didn’t seem to get it, so I explained a bit about my family for her. Mom and Dad were divorced, yadda yadda, my mom is annoying and high-strung and won’t stop trying to perfect everything, Dad is meek but chill, they won’t/can’t constantly be there for us, so we had to learn to help each other. They both got pretty good at it and now they’re helping her.

Aubrey understood but she looked hurt by what I said.

I panicked because it had to be something I said, but I didn’t know what.

Must’ve shown on my face since Aubrey let me know that it wasn’t what I said.

She asked me if I hated my mom.

Frankly, I sort of did. She always tried to micromanage every little thing I did. It was infuriating and exhausting and so god dang annoying.

Aubrey looked happy at my answer and well, that raised a couple of questions that I had to figure out the answers to.

I asked Aubrey about her parents.

And she froze. She opened her mouth, to say something, anything, but nothing came out.

Yup. I hit something there.

I tried pushing Aubrey a bit, to see if she would say anything, but she just started to back away.

Shit. That was definitely the wrong move.

I apologized as well as I could, and shifted the topic to some other shit.

But even as we went through the topics, I kept thinking about what exactly was going on with her parents.

I couldn’t exactly draw any conclusions about what to do.

If I go about it the wrong way, Aubrey might completely hate me for it.

Maybe if she was more like me, she’d be more open to me.

Wait…

That’s it!

I just need to get Aubrey to be more like me!

And as we stand together, kicking ass and taking names, she’ll tell me everything!

So what am I?

A mother-fucking bad-ass that’s what!

So I just need to make Aubrey tougher and more like me!

It’d literally solve everything.

Her mopey attitude?

She could just punch her way through her problems!

If someone makes her feel bad?

She could just smash the shit of whoever pissed her off!

And if her parents make her sad again?

She wouldn’t need to care because she’d be tough now!

Jesus, I’m in awe of my own genius sometimes.

I told Aubrey I was going to make her tough. She seemed confused, but that was fine. She’ll get it in time.

And so our lessons commenced, and it was great.

It helps that she’s been absorbing everything I’ve been teaching her in such amazing ways. I don’t know how Aubrey survived before she got to know me, but nowadays, she comes to me for everything.

There is literally no greater feeling in the world than when Aubrey looks to me for help. Hell, I kinda wanted to hold back on my help just so I can help Aubrey for longer. My heart literally skips a beat every time.

Yesterday, I’m helped Aubrey sort through her wardrobe to start dressing like the rest of us. Or namely, dressing like me.

We just bleached her hair so her black hair now became a silky blonde. It looked incredible on her. Though she hasn’t told me what she plans on dying it afterwards. I wanted us to match, so I couldn’t pester her too hard about it or else I’ll seem desperate.

After that, we’ve been going through her wardrobe for colors and styles that match mine. There wasn’t much, but we made the most of what we had.

We’re planning to get piercings next week.

I’ve helped and taught Aubrey all sorts of shit, and the most important thing I’ve taught her so far?

How to not let assholes and bastards walk all over you.

It’s not something most people would know how to do. They just love “playing by the rules” and they nag at everyone else to make the rest of them do it, but if you want to do the things you want to do, you’re going to have to learn how to ignore their shit, and get your way.

They can cling to their ‘rules’ but they can’t do shit to any one of them. They can take their rules, and shove it up their ass! Me, and everyone else in my group will be free to do whatever the hell we want!

I’m smaller than most people, but I make up with it with ferocity.

Aubrey is still learning this stuff. There’s nothing wrong with that. She’s used to following the rules, she’s uninitiated! It’s gotta be terrifying for her to break them like this.

If I had my way, I would’ve started Aubrey off with the small stuff like sticking gum under desks or writing some bad words on the sidewalk.

I really wanted to ease Aubrey into this.

I really did.

But as always, some absolute fucking bitches just have to go and be the stupid fucking bastards they were.

I punched my desk. A couple of kids stared my way, but they put their heads down when they noticed who they were looking at.

Two weeks ago, or three days after we dyed Aubrey’s hair blonde, it happened.

It happened during gym. Vance and I were hanging out with Aubrey while we chucked a dodge ball around and then they called Aubrey up to the principals office.

Vance and I ditched Gym to walk with Aubrey and we talked about all the possible reasons she’s going up to the principals office as we climbed the stairs up to the third floor. We thought it might be the bleached hair, but that was pretty common in our school. Girls all over the school dyed their hair and the teachers haven’t done anything to stop it. To cover all our bases though, we figured we could say that blonde has always been Aubrey’s natural hair color and she finally washed out the dye.

We got right up the door but got stopped right outside by the lady who does all the calling and speaker announcements. She told us to sit down and then left the room with one of those crappy sacked lunches.

We sat down and waited. At the time, all I knew was that I just didn’t like the principal of our school. We’ve never talked but I’ve seen the way she looks at me and everyone else I hang out with.

It took a couple of minutes, but the bitch poked her head outside the door and said, “Come in.” And when we all got up, she pointed at Aubrey and said, “Just her.”

Warning bells did ring in my head, but Aubrey said it was fine.

But I really hated that stick-up-her-ass tone she spoke to us with.

“Don’t glare at me miss. It’s only a conversation.”

And then I backed down. It was just a talk. How bad could it have been?

Fuck. Me.

I heard some of it through the door. At first, I had to lean my ear right up to the door to even catch anything, but eventually, the words echoed in the room.

“Are you sure you want to be hanging out with ‘that’ kind of crowd?’

I barely made that out. That bitch. Aubrey mumbled something, but I couldn’t piece it together.

“Aren’t you worried about your future? It isn’t going to be very bright with the path you’re going.”

Fuck her, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.

“And don’t think I don’t see what you’re doing in my school. If I had my way, I would’ve expelled your kind a long time ago.”

I’d like to see her fucking try! She can’t do shit to us! My nails scraped the wood on the door.

“Use your head and think! What would your parents say?! Though I guess you are your mother’s child.”

Something slammed my face and my and knocked me to the ground.

It was the door.

I saw Aubrey burst from the door in tears and ran out of the room.

I was about to go after her, but I peeked through the door.

The door was open. And I saw her face. She rolled her eyes. Because she didn’t care.

It was like my heart froze.

I’m going to kill her.

She was 10 feet away from me.

I didn’t need a weapon.

She wouldn’t be able to deal with me.

This bitch has never known a fight since she was born.

I’ll fucking break her face in.

It would only take 53 seconds.

I tried to move, but found two arms around me.

Vance was holding me back.

I struggled and screamed at him to let go.

But he held on and noogied my forehead. He knew I hated that!

“Listen to me Kim! Who is more important right now?!”

Those words poured a bucket of ice water on my head.

Aubrey or someone meaningless?

There was no choice. I channeled my anger into my legs and ran the other way. Vance followed behind me.

We entered the hallway and checked both sides of the hallway. Classes were still in session, so Aubrey should’ve been easy to spot. Aubrey wasn’t in sight.

I gave Vance a nod and he nodded back. He’ll take the left side of the school while I’ll search the right.

I sprinted down the hall, and almost slammed myself into the wall checking each intersection. Aubrey wasn’t here.

I went down a floor and checked every corner in the same way, but she wasn’t there either.

The first floor was all that was left. If Aubrey wasn’t there, then she must’ve left school, and then it would be almost impossible to find her.

But I saw a ribbon out of the corner of my eye, her ribbon.

Aubrey’s outside!

I flung the door open and made a beeline straight towards her.

She was crouching on the ledge of the sidewalk with her hands covering her eyes as she cried.

“Aubrey! Finally found you, are you okay?” I did my best to catch my breath.

“Kim?” She looked up and rubbed her eyes clear of the tears.

“Yeah, it’s me? Are you oka-,” My mind zipped past what just happened in the past 10 minutes. “No, of course you’re not, sorry for the dumb question. Listen, just forget everything that dumb bitch said. She doesn’t know shit.”

“They really don’t.” And that seemed to make Aubrey all the more miserable. She buried her face in her knees.

“Isn’t that’s a good thing?”

“It is, but… I was hoping that they were on my side. That the adults somehow knew about everything and were going to help me somehow.” She hung her head. “I’m so stupid. I’m so god dang stupid.”

I remembered the bits and pieces I heard from their conversation. The whole reason they went so hard on her was because they thought she was becoming one of us, wasn’t it? I knew the school didn’t like us, but did they really go so far? Did the same happen to everyone else I knew?

Should I have kept my distance from Aubrey? But I only wanted to help! I mean, how could that be bad?!

In retrospect, it was a stupid thing to worry about. There was no guarantee that the school would help, and if they wanted to, they should’ve done it faster.

But at the moment, I didn’t know what to say.

“You’re not stupid Aubrey.”

“I am. Why’d I even think to trust the adults at school. They don’t do anything.” She’s right about that.

And if they won’t do anything, I should probably step up.

“Well, at least you have us.” We’ll be much better than idiots who get paid to do nothing.

“Thanks.” Aubrey looked a bit better with that. “Hey Kim? Why did you try so hard to be friends with me?” But then she dropped the hardball on me.

I really didn’t want to say my answer, because the truth was pretty stupid. But I had to say something, and Aubrey deserves the truth.

“Y’know, I just really wanted to. Back in elementary school, we were sort of close. Like play together in school but we didn’t hang out outside of it. We used to play together during recess all the time, but you always left early because you had stuff to do with your other friends. That really pissed me off for the longest time.”

“Wasn’t that five years ago?”

“Yeah, but I was a kid, I got attached to the idea. And hey, at least now I’ll look out for you Aubrey, not unlike that bitch.” Aubrey’s face soured at the mention of the principal.

“Thanks.” She sighed, “How could someone like that even be a principal?”

“Who knows? Probably a mixture of boot-licking and being so terrible no one wanted to be near her.”

“I wish I could just punch her now.” Aubrey sniffed, and her tears stopped. Great! She’s feeling a little better.

“I almost clobbered her face in.” I murmured.

Aubrey chuckled. I almost told her I wasn’t joking, but maybe crimes that could get me sent to juvie are kept under wraps.

“Thanks Kim, I feel a bit better now.” Aubrey smiled. It was a wonderful smile. Even her tears-stricken face was amazing.

Though there was one thing that bugged me through all of it.

“So uh, when the principal grilled you about how you felt about hanging out with us, what did you say? Nothing bad, right?”

“No… I didn’t really say anything.”

“Well, what would you have said!”

“No… it’s embarassing.” Clearly so, because Aubrey’s face was a wonderful shade of red.

“C’mon! I wanna know!”

Aubrey never did tell me what she thought about all of us, but that’s fine. I could settle for teasing her about it for the next few days.

It’s been 2 weeks since that all went down but all I could think about was all the ways I fucked up.

Sure we got closer afterwards, but it shouldn’t have happened in the first place.

I should’ve stopped Aubrey. I shouldn’t have let her talk to her at all. I can’t believe I was so fucking stupid to let them be in the same room.

And it would probably have been a really bad idea to break in the head-bitch’s face. That’s probably going to land me in jail and then no one could cover Aubrey then.

I’ll settle for egging their house next Halloween or some shit.

The only positive note about the whole thing is that Aubrey started picking the take-no-shit attitude I’ve been trying to drill into her so much faster.

Aubrey must’ve hoped somewhere in her heart that principal could somehow help before then. Just goes to show that you can’t trust a single god damn authority figure.

Well, at the very least, it’s all behind the both of them and I’m going to make sure nothing will bring Aubrey down again.

The bell rung and everyone got up to get out of our math teacher’s presence.

I picked up my shit and left the room. I went out the door, but some kid behind me called out to me.

Wait, it’s that tall kid who used to hang out with Aubrey. The fuck does he want?

He asked me to wait, and was shortly after joined by boy 2. The one that doesn’t talk and doesn’t go outside.

Nerds. The both of them.

The hell do they want to talk to me for?

They then opened their stupid mouths and said some really fucking stupid words.

The basketball court in the park near Aubrey’s house, hm?

They wanted to meet Aubrey alone. To talk.

I’d laugh if it was funny in any fucking way.

They really think that I’ll let them meet Aubrey for a ‘talk’?

When they haven’t even done shit for her, or even tried to meet up with her for the past month?

I know perfectly fucking well how the last one went, and they seriously think I’ll let Aubrey be hurt again?

By these two fucking nerds who actually don’t know shit, or worse, didn’t care to find out.

I told them that I’ll talk to Aubrey.

Just never said what I’ll say.

And who they’ll meet that day.

Chapter Text

*Sunny*

I threw my head back, and let the drink flow all the way to the back of my throat. The sensation of the drink flowed down my throat before settling in my stomach. I made sure to breathe right after, and let myself burp. A perfect cycle. The process felt heavenly.

Nothing beats a drink after a hard day's work! No wonder everyone drinks!

I never got to drink a lot when I was younger. Mari kept her eyes peeled and sharp like a hawk and made sure as few drops could get into my hands as possible. But I found my ways…

Just to be clear, I’m drinking soda, not alcohol. Michael bought me a can after we finished playing today. Kel had basketball practice today, and it’s not like I’m going to stop hanging with Michael just cause Kel was back.

But on another note, alcohol and soda are pretty much the same thing aren’t they?

Soda is for kids while alcohol is for adults, but they are functionally the same.

They both give people the energy to do things they otherwise wouldn’t, like when Kel tried to fly by jumping off the swings, thankfully he wasn’t hurt.

They both make people slur their words a ton, like the slurred mumbly words Kel says after a 15 minute Orange Joe binge.

And the last piece of evidence would be the blackouts and the hangovers afterwards. It’s a messy affair for everyone. One time, I actually had to hold Kel’s hair back after he drank some expired Orange Joe.

Huh. Is Kel a soda alcoholic? Do I need to stage an intervention? Maybe I’ll train Hektor to knock away any cans of Orange Joe in Kel’s hand to keep him clean.

I was joking when I made the alcohol comparison, but it’s actually holding up better than I thought.

Is it… actually serious?

I thought of Kel. Well, that’s pretty much all the example I need to stay away from soda.

I stared at my drink, and the brightly colored smiling grape with sunglasses stared back. I turned him around. His gaze was trying to guilt me out of what I was going to do next. But this is for the best.

It may be sacrilege, but I pressed on and poured out the fizzy liquid into a nearby drain.

Mari always lectured me on why I shouldn’t drink soda. And she was right again. And on a bunch of other things as well, but man, I wanted her to be wrong on this. She always said that soda was bad for you, but maybe soda was actually good for me and she got fed bad information by the adults who wanted to keep the soda all for themselves!

I got that idea from a cartoon. I guess expecting a children’s TV show to break a worldwide conspiracy on soda was a bit much…

It’s a pretty good show though.

Sucks that I had to waste a gift though. Michael got me a drink to congratulate me for making up with Kel. It’s a great gesture. It’s honestly fantastic and really nice of him…

And it annoys me so much! How the heck am I supposed to pay him back? The most I’ve done for him is just be around and play music with him! He’s literally outdone me by so much!

I looked back to the empty can in my hand. Did I just waste more of his goodwill? Oh god I did. Why did I pour out that drink! That’s literally me being an ungrateful person! If this was a social test, I’d be failing and sent back to kindergarten with the rest of the drooling children!

My figurative debt I owed Michael was growing bigger and bigger, and I still haven’t figured out a single thing I could do for him.

And he makes it so hard! It’s literally impossible to know how I’m supposed to treat him! We were pretty normal at first, but then he made me open up against my will. And I should’ve started treating him better after that, but like…

He’s literally worse at talking to people than me! I don’t understand how the heck is that even possible! It’s really fun to poke at the stupid stuff he says though, but I sometimes feel bad afterwards.

It’s gotten to the point that I’ve been thinking that maybe he’s some kind of master socialite acting stupid…

No no, stop with this line of thought! Paranoia for later, figure out how you should pay him back first.

Maybe a present or something like that? He’s going to go to the city someday to start playing there, so maybe I should get something for him?

Maybe I’ll bake a cake! Hah. Hah. No. After that last attempt to bake with Kel… well, I’m not trying to punish Michael here. But maybe as a prank later…

Instead, why don’t I get him a gift card?

It works, but I really wasn’t feeling like it was actually good. It’s like the cop-out of gifts where you couldn’t even put in the thought to pick something out.

Well, he’s a musician, he’ll appreciate a new instrument right? Could I just overspend and get him a new guitar?

He’d definitely overreact and act like I didn’t have to and play that annoying game my mom does where she tries to refuse stuff our cousins bring over, but eventually accepts the gift.

But would he use it? He’d definitely feel guilty enough to give it a few spins or so, and maybe he’ll like it more than his other guitar.

And one day while he’s playing my guitar in a dingy bar or something, his old guitar would watch him through a rainy windowpane, tears raining down its strings.

He’d get home, open the door, and then his old guitar would stab him with a knife!

And just like that, I’ve become a home-wrecker in a decade-long relationship between a man and his guitar, killing Michael in the process.

My brain went to a stupid place, but it’s nevertheless true that Michael really likes his old, battered guitar. I’m pretty sure it’s really important to him like my own violin.

Would I actually be happy to get a violin from him?

No… not really. I’d rather play my own violin for years, keeping it repaired and maintained for as long as I could.

Rats, everything I could think of just didn’t work. Why do I have no real ideas for a good gift for Michael?! I’m going to be stuck on this for days…

Well, actually, I should shelve that for later. I’m meeting with Aubrey tomorrow so I should get ready for that. Maybe if all goes well, she could help me think of a way to pay Michael back.

Well, only if she’s willing to help, I… don’t know if she’d want to. Our relationship is still… shaky.

The meeting with Aubrey is going to work out. I hope. I really really hope. Like, those memories had to have been as important to her as they were to me. I’ve spent the past week every night poring over all the pictures and the small messages Basil left on the back, just to boost my confidence that it’ll work.

It helps me sleep better despite what my eye-bags would tell you.

Though… the most helpful part of my brain is screaming ’what if it doesn’t’. What if I completely read Aubrey wrong for all those years and I don’t even know her at all. If I ruin things forever instead of letting Mari or Hero deal with them.

I hit both my cheeks. Go back, my negative brain. I can’t mope when I need to do my absolute best for tomorrow! I’m meeting her tomorrow, so there’s no room to try and back out. If I do back out, I’m 100% sure I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.

You can do it, me!

My heart agreed with that statement and lightened up. I could literally feel myself work out of my funk and I felt like I could move again.

Is she happy right now…?

And suddenly, a genius idea ran out into my soul. It was like everything I’ve ever learned came together all at once. It was dizzying, but I steadied myself even if my heart soared.

This is it! This is what I needed to do!

I need to get to the bus! I pumped my legs to get to the bus stop as fast as I could.

The empty can of soda was freezing my digits and got in the way, so I tried to toss it in a nearby trash bin but I missed. Dang, still no good at basketball.

I had no idea when the next bus would come, but I needed to get there as early as possible. I’ve never taken the alleyway as a shortcut, but well, there’s a time and place for everything.

And the time and place was sometime else because I immediately hit a dead end. I was going to turn around, but then I bumped into someone.

*Aubrey* (10 minutes earlier)

My finger tapped across my bat in a steady pit-pat.

*tap* *tap* *tap*

I was trying to keep a rhythm, but I was never very good at that. My fingers were either going either a bit too fast or a bit too slow.

But the music stayed in my head. Even if it couldn’t be remembered clearly.

The music had finished for a while now, but keeping a steady beat like this just seemed to let the magic linger a little longer in the air.

Eventually, my tapping became lost and the small replay I was trying to create crashed and burned.

Dang. I dropped my back against the towering stony wall. The coarse and cold texture felt terrible. If it was meant to stop people from loitering back here, it did its job. Might as well go somewhere else now.

I peeked around the corner, and made sure no one was around. No one was, or at least in my first check. Three checks or more was the golden standard when peeking around the corner. I couldn’t risk anyone finding out that I was here.

No one would come here naturally as well.

The back of the mall had a dip in the wall next to a door. If anyone turned their head around the corner, I would be hidden. If they would even bother to look back here in the first place.

Here, I could listen to what was going on in the front of the mall.

In this spot, I can be quiet, alone with my thoughts, and just… listen.

I’ve been coming here for a few weeks now. Mainly on the days where Kim had detention and I had to wait for that to be over.

It all started when Kim got detention for writing a big ‘YOU SUCK’ sign on the school walls with a picture of a cow that looked like our school principal. After Kim got caught, she told me to go wait outside so that I wouldn’t have to be in school any longer than I had to. She always picks up on the little things like that.

If I could’ve, I would’ve waited outside the school for her, but the graffiti incident that got Kim in detention had the teachers walk around so that no one could imitate her.

But with Kim away, there was nothing for me to do. All of her friends were busy with something as well, and we really weren’t on speaking terms yet. If I really forced it, I could’ve gone along with one of them. But I would never do that. Being selfish is what led to all this. That’s why everything always goes wrong.

The mall seemed like a good idea to kill some time. I still had about 230 bucks for the rest of the month, so I could spend a bit and maybe look for a sale.

But as the mall came into my view, I heard a familiar violin.

My feet stopped dead in their tracks. I knew this sound. I already knew who was playing. I listened to that sound so intently for a long few years.

I should’ve left right then and there. But… I couldn’t. I inched closer instead.

The sounds and music drew me in, like sweet honey to a bear. The steady rhythms and melodies changed something in me. The regrets and mistakes that kept slicing against me fell away and I could breathe.

‘It couldn’t hurt to listen, right?’ I thought.

The music had a strange power over me. Like my worries just flew out my ears and into the sky.

As I moved closer and closer, I stopped. Any more, and they would be able to see me.

I shouldn’t show my face. Not after what I did.

But that was all I had to avoid.

Doubling-back, I took a route through the forest and snuck back to the back of the mall and found the cubby hole I’ve made camp in. The leaves and branches stuck in my clothes didn’t matter.

This crook behind the mall let me hear everything until the two stopped playing.

They played a joyful song that made me smile, a sad song that seemed like it understood what I felt… It felt cathartic.

Today was supposed to be one of the days where Kim dragged me around with everyone, but apparently, she had something to do today.

Which was a first. Kim tried to include me into everything she does, which I really appreciate, so this is weird. What’s going on with her? It can’t possibly be anything I did, right? I did my best to fit in as best I can and I didn’t do anything wrong, right? I had to catch myself from spiraling down an endless cycle of self-doubt.

No… It’s not my place to pry, Kim has her own things to do, and well, I can’t just do that to her. She deserves her privacy.

Everytime Kim had something come up, whether detention or something else, the spot became my own place of peace and quiet and I’ve been resting here to feel better.

I haven’t really told Kim or anyone else about this.

Sooner or later, they’d blow my cover and Sunny would find me. It was a terrifying thought.

But, they’re good people. Eh… good friends at least.

Hanging out with Kim’s group is nice. It gives me something to do until everyone has to go back home.

I’ve caught myself smiling a few times at all the stuff we did. It was stupid, and it was… nostalgic.

And best of all, it gives me something to do until it becomes dark as night, where all I need to do when I get home is to shower and sleep.

There’s really only one drawback to staying out all night though.

I didn’t have the time to take care of Bun-Bun all that well.

I felt bad for leaving Bun-Bun home alone so much, so I make sure to always clean her pen thoroughly and spoil her extra hard on days that it rains and we can’t hang out.

If I wasn’t so scared she would run off if I wasn’t paying attention, she’d be with me everywhere I went.

I tried to hum some of the music again, but it just didn’t sound the same. I’d have to wait until Sunny and that other guy played that song again. So the rest of the day felt ruined.

Well, if Sunny wasn’t hanging out with Kel that day.

My grip on my bat tightened.

I knew it would happen eventually. Kel’s only problem was with me after all. So of course it would happen.

The two started hanging out again.

And they looked happy, and that sent my own emotions through a blender.

The sadness that I wasn’t included, the anger at the two being happy without me, and the longing to be there.

So god damn stupid.

Look at me, having the gall to get angry that they’re not including me.

I had no right to face either of them after what I did.

Everything I said to Kel was because I was scared of either of them leaving me, but… I’m such a hypocrite.

I accused Kel of replacing me with some new friends, and in a matter of days I did the exact same thing.

So god damn stupid.

Even though I hoped it wasn’t true, even though I wanted it all to be a lie, the facts stared straight into my eyes.

I was just like ‘Her’, wasn’t I?

I drove a wedge in something I loved, and I hurt everyone in the process. Even to the guy I liked.

I could tell Sunny was sad for a good while after the fight, and I hadn’t seen him smile until he started hanging out with Kel again.

That realization made me stare at the ceiling as my thoughts haunted me.

Was I really worth that little to him? And if I actually liked him, wouldn’t I want the absolute best for him?

My mind went to places it never should’ve, where I looked at every what-if and maybe, and the fantasy of coming back to them taunted me.

To top it all off, I was jealous over that. It should’ve been a good thing that he’s happy, but I’m being so god damn bitter that he wasn’t sad anymore. What is wrong with me!?

My feelings began to rush out like a dam, but as quickly as I let them out, I held them in. I can’t lose myself to my feelings again.

Every conflicting emotion added onto my shame, and I started avoiding the two of them as best as I could.

When lunch came around, I went out of the building to buy something. After school, I left the building immediately or hid out by the back.

It felt sort of awkward to drag Kim and her friends around like that, but they didn’t complain.

I felt the energy leave me with a sigh. My bat propped me up as I could barely find the energy to stand.

That’s not what Mari would’ve done. She always knew the things to say to make me feel better, and she understood me more than anyone else I knew.

And I knew what she’d be saying right now.

With a hug that gives off a warm scent I could barely recall in my childhood, she’d be soothing me. With soft words and a warm heart, ever so gently pushing me to make up with the two.

But I just couldn’t find the courage.

I couldn’t just walk up to them and ask them to forgive me just like that.

What would they say?

Even if they did accept my apology, I’d just be taking advantage of them. Forcing it down their throats to forgive me as I just take and take.

What kind of friend would I be if I did that?

It’s cut and dry. I’m a coward who ran off to make other friends before her old friends could leave her. Without caring for anyone else, I just focused on me and me alone. And so, I managed to graft onto a new group who hangs out with me because they felt pity for me. Well, at least I’m slowly starting to fit in better and maybe I could repay them one day. All the things Kim’s been telling me helped me feel like I could belong. Some of the stuff I’m learning really goes against what Mari says, but I didn’t want to disappoint them.

The minutes passed as I reviewed all the things Kim said. I eventually managed to calm down. There were parts of me that still felt sore, but I could solve that with good old animal therapy. Which pretty much consists of only cuddling Bun-bun. That’s something that could always make me feel better.

I should get some pet food and maybe even a toy for her. It’s honestly been too long since I spent some real quality time with her.

The pet store was just across the street from the mall, so it wouldn’t be much of a trip.

As I waited for the red light to turn green, I saw someone running.

I squinted my eyes to focus on the person and I knew who it was. Sunny was back.

Oh shit. I had to hide!

There was nothing around except a dinky light pole. Seriously!? Is there nothing better?! I had no choice, I held onto it and crouched so the base of the pole would cover more of me.

My eyes followed Sunny and he was still running across the street. There was no sign that he noticed me, thank god.

He eventually turned the corner and I could finally relax.

But where was Sunny going? He still had his violin case with him, and well, he seemed really happy.

The discomfort from his smiling face that was just an old feeling now.

Where could he be going? The bus stop? But it’s way too late to head to the city.

The coast was finally clear, but something a lot more pressing caught my attention as I watched if Sunny was going to double-back out of nowhere.

There were these two guys, they wore too much green, and more worryingly, were power walking. Like really really fast; as fast as someone could run.

The heck was with them? They had a smile on their face that did not reach their eyes, and they … turned the corner Sunny just went through.

What. Were they chasing him? Were they… going to do something to him?

I shot up. This was too suspicious to leave alone.

I had to do something, to make sure nothing awful would happen.

My bat was both a useful crutch to pick myself up, and a good weapon just in case things really do turn out bad.

I took a deep breath and I started following the guys in green.

Even if it’s nothing, I have to make sure he’s safe at the very least.

Kim’s long lessons about being intimidating ran through my head and I did my best to figure out the best way to handle anything if it got bad.

Mari would be shocked at how much I changed.

*Sunny*

Well, I learned a very valuable lesson today: I should stick to the routes I know, and not try to take shortcuts.

A wall stood in front of me, and unfortunately, I wasn’t a 10 foot tall green monster bulging with muscles from head to toe, so I couldn’t just use my patented “Sunny Smash!!!” to destroy it.

What did happen was two guys in way too much green blocked my way out of the alleyway. Hopefully they couldn’t get super shredded from getting angry.

“Hey boy! That was an awfully rude thing you did back there?” said the one on the left.

“Don’t you have any respect? Any love in your heart?” said the one on the right.

Huh? I haven’t even seen them before, so how could I have done something to them?

“I didn’t do anything to you.” Maybe they had me mixed up with someone else?

“Oh no, you didn’t do anything to us,” said the left one.

“No, what you did was something so much worse.” said the right one.

The two began to shake their heads.

““You… littered!””

What? When did I… oh, it was just about the soda can. Yeah, that’s definitely my fault. I guess I should’ve thrown it in a garbage can instead of leaving it on the streets., but did they need to corner me like this just because I littered?

“Sorry, uh, I’ll pick it up later.”

“Don’t worry, we already picked it up,” said left person.

“We always make sure to keep our streets clean,” said right person.

The things they were saying didn’t match the thousand yard stare they were giving me. They were still smiling, but they definitely weren’t cheerful.

Okay, this is starting to get way too weird. I started backing away.

“Where are you going?” said Left guy as he tilted his head.

“Brother, I don’t think he understands just how sincere we’re trying to be.” said Right guy as he wiped a fake tear from his eye.

Could I just run past them? They wouldn’t grab me, would they? Shoot, I shouldn’t have brought my violin. It made me bulky, big, and easy to latch onto. Even if I forced it, they might just damage the violin. Dang it, why didn’t I leave it at home?

“We must test him!” said Lefty.

“Yes, we must!” said Righty.

Okay, maybe if I give a good enough answer, they’ll leave me alone. They seem to be working off some weird logic that I don’t want to understand, but it’s my best way out of this.

“Say, for example, boy, you see a plastic cup in front of you!” said Left.

“Where would you dispose of that cup?” said Right.

“In the garbage can?” The question was strangely easy. But I should’ve expected that from people trying to corner me about littering. Maybe they just wanted to teach me a lesson? They could’ve done it in a much less threatening way though.

The two gave a blank stare at my answer, and then they started to laugh in a way too high pitch. Calling it laughter was probably an overstatement, more like a disgusting screech of sorts.

“Do you hear that brother!?” said Left.

“He doesn’t choose to recycle!” said Right.

“No. It’s a plastic cup. You can’t recycle that.” Something something, non-biodegradable material. I didn’t know why they weren’t exactly, but it’s been scientifically stated that you can’t recycle that.

“Oh, but you’re wrong young boy!” Said Left.

“Yes, oh so wrong!” Said Right.

““Everything can be recycled!””

Then again, using science against crazy people never seems to work. I started backing away again, but unfortunately I had no where to go.

Shit.

I had to evaluate my options. I definitely couldn’t win in a fight against two adults, and even if I tried, that could damage my violin, so what else could I do?

->Scream like a little girl

->Accept your fate

Really!? Were those my only two options!?

Okay, it’s my pride versus having to deal with these two nutjobs. They were preaching on and on about the Earth and recycling as I was going through my very limited options.

“Mother Earth gave birth to you, so you have to pay her back, so says the Holy Bin!”

“It’s really unfortunate that you chose to disrespect her and the word of the Holy Bin!. “

“Okay, so if I go with you to learn about recycling, you’ll let me pass, right?”

I chose option 3: Lying.

As soon as I get away from this alleyway, I’m going to sprint until they finally lose track of me. I wouldn’t be hidden in an alleyway anymore, but in the wide open streets where they can’t chase me because people can call our friendly neighborhood police officers.

“Of course! The path of the Holy Bin is always happy to receive new members!” said the left sucker.

“Yes, we shall rid the whole world of trash starting with this neighborhood!” said the right sucker.

“Yeah. Let me lead the way. Uh, I can feel a spiritual connection to the Earth so I know where we’re going.” I made some UFO sounds. Hopefully that sounded crazy enough for them to accept.

“Yes boy! You’re amazing for being so in touch with the Earth so quickly!” Said L.

“Fantastic! Your voice with the Earth may be on par with our great priest himself!” Said R.

Apparently yes. They split up and moved to the sides to finally let me pass. I was about to finally be free when Lefty said something. Then he grabbed my violin.

“Oh yes, I almost forgot, it’s customary to bring something to recycle as you first join.”

“Indeed, that item on your back there would be perfect! It could reduce so much waste if used properly!”

No. Never. This wasn’t garbage. Everyone chipped in to buy that for me. This was my treasure. I would never forgive myself I let them take it. Immediately, I pulled my violin away from the their grasp.

But that was a mistake.

“Strange. Anyone would be ecstatic to recycle that. You wouldn’t happen to have been lying to us, have you, boy?”

“Lies are terrible! You couldn’t possibly recycle a lie, because once the truth gets out, it becomes complete garbage!”

They reached out and were about to grab me, so I backpedaled to dodge their hands. But that meant I was back where I started. They had me cornered in an alleyway and I didn’t have a safe way out.

I was going to have to compromise. Shit, I must just need to run through and get somewhere safe even if it meant losing my violin. If they do, I can run to Michael and get him to help me get it back.

If only they don’t throw it out first.

Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT!

I hated that I had to do this.

I hated that this was happening to me.

I hated that I might lose something so precious to me.

But, behind the two came the sound of wood scraping against concrete.

*Aubrey*

Okay Aubrey, you got this. You may have lost the two for a minute when they ducked into an alleyway, but you’ve found them again.

With Sunny.

Sunny’s cornered by those two guys who were following him.

As if by instinct, I started walking towards them, bat in hand.

I have to do something! But…

Doubt crept into my heart. Should I even be around Sunny if I’ve already hurt him?

It only took a split second for me to crush it. If I let something worse happen, I’d be absolute garbage.

No matter how ashamed you are to show your face, do not run away Aubrey!

You can finally do something good for him. Stop being a coward!

That gave me the burst I needed to squeeze between the people cornering Sunny.

I shoved my way in between the two, and turned so that I stood between them and Sunny.

The most ferocious glare I could muster plastered my face.

All that’s left is to announce myself.

Now, what would Kim say again?

“Playtime’s over. You have to deal with me now.” Yeah that’s about right.

With any luck, that would get the two of them to scurry off to wherever they hang out and leave Sunny alone.

“Who’s this? Another litterer?”

“We were only educating this young man on recycling.”

They weren’t leaving, they weren’t even flinching.

I was going to have to escalate.

I looked at Sunny’s face. His eyes were bulging and he was clutching his violin with a death grip. He was terrified.

That made my next move obvious.

If they weren’t going to run off just from my presence, then I’m going to have to introduce the possibility of violence.

I brought my bat up to my shoulder and gave them the worst stink-eye I could make at the two.

“We’re not interested, so go to the park or wherever you go to brainwash yourself.”

The bat hit the ground with a thump.

Come on, get scared and run off already. I have a bat!

I only ever brought the bat so that Kim would stop nagging to bring a weapon to become cooler.

It’s Mari’s old softball bat that she handed down to me when she couldn’t play anymore from her injury. I hope I didn’t damage it when I knocked it against the ground…

I was crutching hard on everything Kim’s ever told me about how to be more “badass”, but the two weren’t intimidated at all. They just held an empty gaze against my bluff.

“Well brother, it seems that this girl doesn’t want us to recycle.”

“Indeed brother, perhaps we should bring both of them to learn the joys of recycling and throw away the heathen life of littering!”

They weren’t running away.

So it really comes down to this.

They weren’t going to leave no matter what I said, and no matter what I threatened them with. So I was going to have to do something drastic.

I’m going to have to beat someone with my bat.

It was a terrifying thought. I've never gone this far. Sure I beaned people with my stuffed animals and bumped into people, but I’ve never done anything with the sole intention to hurt.

Well, I was going to have to do something like this someday.

It’s a line I won’t be able to come back from though.

Kim’s been preparing me for this. I couldn’t expect everything to go my way because sometimes awful people will appear that will hurt the things I care about. I had to fight back.

My thoughts gave me a little more courage, but I still couldn’t ready myself to commit myself to what I had to do next.

What would Sunny think?

He’d see me do it all.

I’d be a violent maniac in his eyes. I didn’t want him to see me like that. My name would be tainted. Every time he thinks of me, he’ll remember this moment of brutal violence.

But what other choice do I have?

The only other option is that I let something terrible happen to Sunny.

That wasn’t even a possibility.

So that’s it. I’m really going to do this.

It’s… it’s fine. It has to be fine. I’ll make my peace with it. Someday.

I gripped my bat.

“Leave now, or your going to get the faces smashed in.”

I gave them my warning. If they stepped any closer than they have already, then all hell would break loose.

“We shall hear no more of this!”

“Move aside girl, and let mother nature take its course.”

“Fuck. Off.” I eloquently replied.

That was my final warning.

I shook my head and got ready to swing my bat, and that motion made a loose bubble gum wrapper fell in my pocket fly out. Like a tumbleweed, it flew across the alley catching everyone’s eyes.

“Auugh!”

“You dare litter in front of us!?”

That… was the largest reaction I was able to get from the two so far.

So they hate littering huh.

An idea, a possibility, wormed itself into my head. If there’s a god, please let this work.

“Litter? Me? You mean like this?”

I reached into my pockets and pulled out a crumpled ball of bubble-gum wrappers in my pocket. My jacket pocket was stuffed full of them. Chewing gum was nice to munch on and I could give it to Kim and Vance if they needed a bit of sugar.

Their eyes followed the wad in my hands. They eyes were almost begging me not to drop it.

Which made my next action obvious.

With a turn of my hand, their eyes widened as I let the wrapper wad fall apart and scatter to the wind.

“No! The litter!”

“We must pick it up before it pollutes the ecosystem!”

The two began to scramble after the spray of bubble gum wrappers flying down the street.

They were scattered every which way, so the two eventually ran out of sight.

They were finally gone.

Well, that was… relieving and disappointing.

The tension in my body bled out from me as Sunny was safe. Thank goodness.

Did he get hurt? I turned to him and he seemed to be none worse for wear.

But a greater problem made itself known.

I was left alone with Sunny.

He was blankly staring at me, with his eyebrows raised and his eyes bulging.

It had been a while since I got to see Sunny up close like this. His hazel eyes were always so nice to look at.

Even back then, I always felt a little warmer and my heart always beat a little faster. And it hadn’t happened for a while, so I was definitely more conscious of his gaze than normal.

And I could feel myself getting lost in that sensation.

It had definitely been too long since I got a good look at Sunny. He looked a little more mature from what I remembered.

I just kept staring into his eyes. And he stared back at mine. We were making full-on direct eye contact.

Wait, it’s been like a whole minute, I’m staring for way too long. Quick, I need to say something!

“You okay?”

Sunny just nodded his head.

“Um.

”Thanks Aubrey.” And then Sunny gave me a smile.

It was like a spell broke over me, and I nearly leaned back on my bat.

He’s thanking me. It should’ve made me happy. After all, I did something good for him and saved him from losing something precious.

But it caused every emotion I held back bubble up to the surface again.

No, I started all of this. When I couldn’t choose and hurt my dad. When I took it out on Kel when things just weren’t going my way. My world crumbled apart, but I was the one who nailed the wedge that started it all.

What am I even doing here? What was I expecting?

I didn’t have the answer to any of those questions.

The joy I felt flew away. I couldn’t stay here any longer.

I ran out of the alley and into the street.

I had no right to feel good about myself.

*Sunny*

My heart was thumping at a mile a minute.

She appeared out of nowhere.

I had no words for what just happened other than the thank you I managed to utter.

No, I know what happened. It just hasn’t sunk in yet.

Aubrey, she… she helped me, didn’t she?

With the sun across her back, she stood between the two psychos trying to take my violin.

She was more than amazing at that moment. She was… gallant and striking all at once.

I touched my cheeks, and I realized that my lips were curled into a stupid grin.

Of course, she left as quickly as she appeared, but…

Doesn’t that mean my greatest fear isn’t true?

I was unsure of it before, it was the one factor that would have ruined everything, that I wouldn’t have been able to do anything about.

If Aubrey completely gave up on us, then there was nothing I could’ve done.

I spun over and over in my head, looking at it from every angle, trying to figure out if I could see this in any other way, but no. There was only one conclusion.

This means that…

Aubrey cares about us…

She still cares about me!

The relief and the joy I felt was incomparable to how I felt when she protected me. Not that Aubrey coming in like a hero didn’t make me feel stuff, but it’s like candy and chips. Two great separate things that are completely different experiences.

In this case, one knocked me off my feet, and the other one made me want to soar.

The difference between the two was almost enough for me to get whiplash, but it was a great sensation nonetheless.

I can’t be loitering around in such a woozy-headed state. The two weirdos may have interrupted me, but I had to finish what I set out to do first.

I can just talk to her tomorrow, and everything will work itself out!

Chapter Text

“Okay, here’s the plan.”

If those two nerds think that I’ll let them meet Aubrey, they had another thing coming. The playground was full of club members either running or hitting a ball for who knows what sport they’re training for. Thankfully, there was a place that no one would bother to look.
I gathered everyone in my crew by the back of the school. 
Not my first choice of meet-up spots, but there was no time to waste.
School just let out, and I didn’t want Aubrey to overhear about what I was going to do. First, I had to get everyone else on-board.
I needed their help, and they gathered without hesitation when I said it was for Aubrey. They didn’t even hesitate or stall, it was an awesome feeling. 

“Today, two jerkwads are going to the park to try and meet Aubrey. We’re not going to let them.” I pointed to the members who will begin the first phase of the plan. “I need Charlene and Angel to stand outside the park and watch for anyone trying to get in. Just shoo them away with whatever excuse you can come up with.”
“Yeah, a mission!” cried Angel.
Charlene tilted her head.
The two were both peas in a pod in the sense that they should never get involved in anything violent.
Charlene was too sweet. She didn’t speak much and always shied away from violence. I’d be more worried for her if she didn’t tower over everyone by at least two feet. She’s always too worried about hurting other people, which I didn’t really get, but I can respect it. She won’t fight unless forced to.
Angel was the complete opposite. He kept looking for fights and well, he can’t fight. Like, at all. It’s more likely he’ll break his fist by punching a tree or something. But I have to keep him close to the action or else he’s just going to complain and do something stupid and get himself hurt. 

“And Maverick, I need you to distract Aubrey for a while. Just ask her to help you get some hair gel or something.”
“Let THE MAVERICK show off his charm? No sweat!”
Right, I need to put him in his place first.
“Mikhael, look at me,” His smile twitched, “I swear to god, if you touch Aubrey with even a single finger...” I stared him dead in the eyes. He knew the consequences if he dared. His nervous laughter was the okay I wanted to hear.
 Mikheal was… doing something. The new look on him had us all bugged out, but he was so proud of it that it started to loop around to being okay. Well, except for Angel who thought it was the coolest thing. From what Mikhael said about why he’s did all that, well, his parents are almost as bad as mine, and he’s doing the whole look to spite his older brother and sister. 
Fighting against your family will always toughen you up, 
They don’t take him seriously, so he’s just going to do whatever the heck he wants. I think what he chose to do is dumb, but if he’s fighting back against his parents, I’m going to help him through every step. Within boundaries though…

“I’m going to deal the two nerds directly, while Vance guards my back. They’re wimpy enough that we’ll probably get in and out in like 15 minutes, tops. Any questions?” 

Mikhael raised her hand.

“Um, kind of a bad time to ask, but who exactly are these two ‘nerds’ exactly? It sounds like they know Aubrey.” Mikhael asked as he scratched his head.

“Okay,” I took a deep breath. I really didn’t expect that I would have to explain myself so much. “You know those two guys Aubrey used to hang out with? The ones in our grade? The tall brown-haired one, and the short black-haired one?” Everyone nodded, “Well, they’re trying to meet up with her.”

“After that big fight?” asked Charlene.

“Yeah, they’re jerks! These two butt-wipes have no idea what the hell they’re doing." They didn’t understand the what they did wrong at all. “So I need to beat some sense into them.” Some people needed to be scared and threatened before they actually understood what was going on. “Don’t worry, they can’t take me, even if they did, Vance will even the odds.”
I looked back to Vance and he gave me a hearty nod. Could always count on Vance.

“Okay, but why are we beating them up?” Asked Mikhael.

Was he still confused? What else did I need to tell him? Did he forget that… oh wait, he doesn’t know.

“Oh right, I haven’t told you yet.” I looked around to check for any nosy eavesdroppers, and the coast was clear, “Okay, let me fill you in first.”

I told them about the incident with Aubrey the principal a few weeks ago, and it got the reaction I expected. 
Everyone was shocked, except Charlene who just looked sad about it all. 
Yup, the principal just got on everyone’s shit list.

“So we’re here to get revenge on the principal?!” shouted Angel.
“Not so loud! A teacher could see us.” hushed Vance. 
“No need to worry, Master could take her on and the whole school with one hand behind his back!” 
“Wait what!? I mean… haha yeah… as THE MAVERICK, I could… uh, totally, there’s no teachers around here right?” The speed at which he turned his head almost tore off his wig, thankfully no teachers were around, “That’s right, with THE MAVERICK on your side, not even a whole gang of bikers can stop me, much less a bunch of pathetic school teachers.”
“Woah, you’re so cool Master!” Angel hooted.
“Yeah I know. The MAVERICK is the ultimate warrior.” Mikhael dropped to a knee, put his hand to his chin and raised his index and thumb.

“Wait a second, Kim, if it’s the principal that did it, shouldn’t we get revenge on the principal instead?” Angel asked.

“We’ll get revenge on the principal next Halloween! Her house is going to be destroyed by toilet paper!” I was getting off topic, back to the two idiots, “I only just found out about the two nerds yesterday, okay? They want to meet Aubrey today, so we have to deal with them today!”

Angel scratched his head, but still cheered on the plan. Mikhael followed suit. But just as I was just about to go over the finer details of the plan, someone I didn’t expect spoke up.

“I don’t think they want to hurt her.” Charlene broke the silence.

Charlene wasn’t much of a talker, but she always speaks up whenever we do anything she isn’t very comfortable with. She could be really stubborn whenever she breaks out of her shell. 
I was going to explain why, but Angel interrupted.

“Oh! I know! I know! Are they working for the principal?! They’re the principals’ evil henchmen to do her dirty work!” Angel’s eyes were glittering and he was pumping his arms up and down.

“No, they aren’t working with her.” And everyone was visibly confused. I’m losing them. “The thing is, they’re trying to meet up with Aubrey again.”

“How is that a bad thing? They always looked really close.” She just wasn’t letting this go. 

“Right, they used to be close,” And even if they were close, they committed the one most unforgivable cardinal sin. “We all saw that fight. They made Aubrey cry! Their relationship broke then and there!” And if there was one thing I’ve always believed in: “Friends don’t make their friends cry!”

“But maybe they want to apologize?” said Charlene.

I scoffed, and I’ve thought about it a few times, but I could already tell the people they were. They were the kind of people who lived in their own worlds who never thought they were wrong.
“No way. They want Aubrey to come crawling back to them, begging the two to take her back and to make the whole fight her fault. Even if they did apologize, Aubrey doesn’t want it.

“How do you know that?” Charlene was getting firmer with each word.

“Well, she hasn’t mentioned them to me even once, like at all! And she doesn’t need to. I’m her best friend, I should know. She’s done with those two!” 
Aubrey and I understood each other. It’s a bond that wouldn’t break. 

“Didn’t you only start talking to her a month ago?” Vance said as he chewed on some taffy.

“I mean, yeah, but we bonded so much over that month! There’s just a connection sometimes that happens where two people become super close, super fast!” Our friendship was unshakable! Vance was just jealous that Aubrey’s gotten so close to me. Maybe I should do something for him. 

“Anyways, I know Aubrey, and I’ve seen her around those two. Every time they enter the same room as her, she just turns around and leaves immediately! Why else would she do that! She doesn’t want to talk to either of them!”
They hurt her! If they were friends, why would they ever hurt each other! They’re supposed to look out for each other!

“We should at least give them a chance to talk first...” Charlene muttered. 

“The last time I let ‘people talk’, the principal ripped into her! No god damn way!” Aubrey has gotten super nervous around teachers after that. 
She never said it, but Aubrey began to avoid the teachers after that. I saw her hands shake in their presence. Those moments left deep scars on her heart. And she’ll carry those for who knows how long. 

“But they aren’t the principal, and I haven’t seen them do anything wrong.”

“What the hell do you mean! They’ve already done so much crap.” Was I the only one who saw the fight?! “And that’s not even the start of it! You know they came up to me yesterday and asked me to bring Aubrey to them?!”

Charlene stilled.

“They should’ve went to Aubrey instead of coming to me! Those cowards want me to pressure Aubrey to get her to listen to what they have to say! I’m not giving them the satisfaction, and I’m not going to force Aubrey to do something she doesn’t want!” 

Charlene tried to say something, but no words left her. There. I finally won the argument. It felt disgusting, but I had to do this for Aubrey. 

“Trust me on this, I’ve never let you down before right?”

Charlene froze, but eventually nodded. Our years together made sure she knew my word was good. 
“So, are you in?”
“Fine… I’ll trust you Kim.” Charlene finally relented. 
“I’m in too!” Shouted Angel.
“The MAVERICK will lend you his help.” Mikhael swished his hair. 
“I gotcha.” Vance threw away the taffy wrapper he held.

“Thanks guys, I won’t screw this up. So, first things first, we can’t let Aubrey know about this.”
Aubrey shouldn’t risk a thing, and the two nerds could say something that will gnaw at her feelings. The bitch of a principal made sure that I’m never leaving Aubrey alone with people that can hurt her again.

So we ditched our last class of the day to beat the two nerds to the park. Charlene and Angel were in position by the trees. Me and Vance watched and waited for the two to show. 
Minutes passed, and I saw two specks slowly creeping up from the horizon. 
It should be enough time, and I could feel the tension building up inside me. 
My body was already getting pumped, and they weren’t even here yet.
I wriggled my fingers as they got closer and closer. I fixed my glasses one last time and made sure I came off as tough as I could possibly be. 
They finally came, with the short nerd hugging his backpack with both hands. Looked dumb as hell he did. There was seriously no saving them. Who still does that? 
But now, the moment of truth is here. 
Kel and Sunny walked up to us, and I could see their faces making a stupid confused expression, and then their questions forming from a mile away. So they opened their stupid mouths and asked their stupid questions, none the wiser that they aren’t going to see Aubrey today. 

“Um, Kim, right? Where’s Aubrey?” said the tall idiot. Sunny just looked around like a dumb pigeon like she was magically going to appear out of thin air.

“Yeah, don’t forget that name punk.” They’re going to fear it as long as they live in this town after this. “You’re looking for Aubrey? Forget it. She’s not coming.”

“Um, why not? Did she say why?”

“No, ‘cause I never told her.” 

“Why didn’t you tell he-” 

The questions were already annoying as hell. I need to ge tthem to shut up and law down what was going to go down.

 “Shut up! It doesn’t matter because you two are never going to hurt her again, you got that?!” I stepped forward and the two stepped back. 

“It’s not like we’re going to do anything bad to her!” said Kel. “We just want to talk!” 

“Oh so you just want to talk? About what?”

Sunny interjected, “We wanted to be friends with Aubrey again!” 

“Oh, you do? Well big whoop dumbass, she doesn’t want to!”

He looked as if something died inside, but shook his head, “No way! She still cares about us in some way! She still wants to be friends! She still cares about us!”

There’s no way that’s true. He must be grasping at straws. “How the hell would you know?!” 

“Because I saw her!”

“When did you even meet her!?” I shouted. 

“Yesterday!” Shit, what happened yesterday?! Detention. Right, I got detention for calling the teachers dumb asses. Damn it!

“Well it doesn’t matter! You two are shit friends, maybe she only met up with you because of pity!”

“No she doesn’t! Why are you acting like she hates us!”

“Because I know how she feels! Give up!” 

“We won’t give up until we meet her, face to face!”

“Oh, so what about an apology then huh? Kel!” I stuck my finger straight at Kel. “Were you going to apologize to Aubrey for that fight in the cafeteria, to say that you were in the wrong? Huh?!”

Kel’s mouth puckered shut. That was all I needed to see.
He wasn’t going to apologize.
I was right. He’s still against Aubrey! 
Sooner or later, they’re going to have another fight and his dumbass will say something to Aubrey again that’ll destroy her.
I wasn’t wrong and I’ve heard enough!
I shoved Kel and he landed straight on his ass. 
A light shove should get them scurrying off into the distance. Those boneless pansies.

“Ow!” Kel dusted his pant and stood back up. “What the hell!”

“Listen here, you two twerps, I’m fucking serious. Never, ever, approach Aubrey ever again. If I ever see you two go near her again, I’ll beat the shit out of you two.”

Their faces were just precious. It was like they didn’t even know what hit them.
“But we just want to talk to her, not fight you!”

Again with this shtick. God damned cowards. I knew their type. They only say pretty words and never take any action to back up their shit. Just complaints to their parents about, ‘boo-hoo the kids were mean to me today’ instead of picking up their shit and finally begin looking after themselves. 

“And I said no. What the hell are you going to do about it?” 

They’d go about their stupid little days, never fighting for a god damn thing and just letting whatever happen to them. When conflict comes to them, they won’t ever fight, just run away and complain how violence wasn’t the answer, and then solve nothing.

“You can’t even take care of her! You two will never be around Aubrey ever again, I’ll fucking make sure of that. You are the worst friends she could ever have!” 
I went straight to Sunny’s face and let myself tower over him. 
With that, I made everything clear. Those two pansies would pee their pants and run home. They both don’t have the guts to pull ever fight back.

Which is why I didn’t expect his fist to fly straight into my chin.
_

“Woah! Sunny!” Kel did a double take at Kim and I.

My heart was thumping out of my chest.
To be honest, my body moved before my brain. 
Mari told me to never use violence! And I agreed!
Who knew I had it in me? I guess I’ve just never gotten that angry before.
I apologize for nothing though. Kim was completely wrong! 
If Aubrey was ready to do this for me yesterday, then I got to be ready to do it too.

“She’s wrong Kel. We are Aubrey’s friends.” 
“Uh…” He looked into my eyes, and then nodded, “Okay, fine, we’re doing this then.”

Kel had my back, and I couldn’t help but smirk.
But a shuffling sound made me turn around.
Ah. Dang. Maybe I should have paid more attention. 
Kim sprung back up. 
She started cracking her knuckles. 
And her snarl scared me a bit. 

“Okay,” She spat out a wad of gum, “maybe I had you pegged down wrong. But I’m not going down that easy.” 
“Yeah Kim! Let’s get them!” And Vance starting charging towards me.
 
But before he could get to me, Kel socked him in the gut and knocked him down. 
“I got him Sunny!” Kel yelled.

I would’ve helped Kel, but a more pressing problem made herself known.
With a roar, Kim started running towards me and her left arm winded up to hit me.
I barely managed to dodge right, but I could see her other fist pulling back to follow up. 
That one I managed to block, but the pain shot up my arm. For a girl her size, Kim hits hard.  
There was probably no way I was winning a straight on brawl, I needed distance, so I started back-pedaling as fast as I could.

Kim kept running and swinging at me, but if I just keep backing away, then she won’t be able to get into range for any good hits. 
It was a solid idea until I backpedaled into a wall. 
My eyes were on Kim the entire time, I couldn’t see where I was going. And the concrete wall made sure I couldn’t run.

I needed a new plan.

Okay, I couldn’t just keep running and taking hits the entire time, if I just randomly punch again, something could happen right?

I let my fist of hope soar through the air!
And then Kim caught it dead-on.
Ah crap.
She started squeezing, and it hurt bad. I had to pull my fist out before it got turned into paste. But she suddenly let go while I was trying to do that, and I shifted too much of my weight.
I tripped over my legs and fell.
Kim was waiting for that and I could see her wind up a punch.
Then it was like seeing a flashing movie screen, bursts of whites and blacks. Then the pain of sharp rocks being pressed into my face came. Specifically around my eyes.
It took a second or two before I could think again. I could barely put strength into my legs.
“Get up.” Kim spoke as if she was talking to a worm. 
I only took one hit so far, but it felt like everything was spinning.
Even though my legs were quivering like leaves, and I had to use the wall as support, I managed to get up. But I had no idea what to do. Kim had more strength and experience than me in a fight, so I didn’t know a way to fight back, much less win.
My back was still against the wall and I held it for support. Thankfully, Kim seemed to be letting me catch my breath. Maybe hitting someone while they were down was beneath her. 

I saw Kel and Vance fighting from the corner of my eye, and I couldn’t say that Kel was winning. All the sports he played doesn’t seem to help in a fight I guess.
Kel frantically dodged as Vance charged through. But Vance just turned around and charged again.
He just kept doing that, and Kel kept narrowly escaping his grasp. If Vance ever hit Kel, he would crush him. 
But there was an answer there. I’m heavier than Kim, and that means I have more force! I finally found a way to fight!
I covered my head and charged straight on. 
Kim hit me, and it hurt, but I didn’t stop. My legs did their best to pedal myself to crash into her.
So she dodged instead, but I expected that!
My arms reached out to grab her, and I managed to get ahold of her hoodie.
With all my momentum, I pulled her by her neck and she stumbled straight in front of my face.
My hands were full, so I did what came naturally, and slammed my head straight into her face.
And this also was painful, but the ringing in my head meant Kim was feeling the same.
By the time I recovered, Kim was still dozy, so I tackled her onto the ground. 
As we both fell, I pressed my arms against her arms, and got ready to hit her again in her stupid face. 
That should have been checkmate. I could’ve won the fight. Knocking someone to the ground like that has to be it. 
But somehow, someway, we rolled around and I was on my back. Now, Kim was atop of me, one of her lens cracked, ready to wallop me with everything she had. 
I took a breathe and braced myself. 
I had to win this. 

—

*15 minutes ago*

“Aubrey! Tell me if or if not this hat makes THE MAVERICK, look like he’s ready to give all the ladies some holiday spirit?” Mikhael was wearing a green/red jester hat with bells hanging from their tips.
It looked awful.
I didn’t know how to respond. I feared this would happen some day, but never so soon and close to Christmas? Was this an early punishment from Saint Nicolas? Was this what I was getting for Christmas instead of coal?
What do I even say? Being honest wasn’t an option. It would just hurt him and destroy the mood.
“It… uh, makes you… “ The words stumbled out of my mouth. “It looks nice.” The lie felt like vomit leaving my lips.
“I see, well THE MAVERICK will consider purchasing it, he’s going to be someone’s extra special present this year, you hear Aubrey?”

“Yeah… she’s… such a lucky girl…” Who? I’m almost certain this girl doesn’t exist.
Is… is it an inside joke? No one in the gang has ever mentioned her. She wasn’t just a poster on the wall that Mikhael has, right? That’d just be too sad of a Christmas.
The Pandora’s box of this girl’s existence strained my brain. Mikhael took this and kept on talking.
“Indeed, and be still while THE MAVERICK goes to look for other accessories to boost his already inescapable charm. Be careful not to fall for me Aubrey. Wink.” He said the ‘wink’ out loud.
“Yeah… I’ll be sure not to do that…” 
“Yes, that’s good. Um, can you not tell Kim I just said that. She’ll have some… choice words for me later if she finds out.” 
“I won’t tell.”
“Thanks Aubrey, you’re the best!” Mikhael voice grew faint as he went off to rummage through the accessories scattered across the discount bin.
I could finally catch my breath. 
The mall had a more festive scent than usual thanks to the scent of evergreens and peppermint, which brightened the place up and got the taste of mint in my mouth.
Somehow, the Christmas spirit was lightening up my mood. Christmas was always fun, I loved everything about giving and receiving gifts.

Not this year though. 

I sighed again. Kim and Vance both tried to invite me for Christmas this year, but I know that their mom has custody that day. From all the bad-mouthing I hear about her mom from Kim, I couldn’t help but think she’d see me as an eye-sore.
Even if Kim doesn’t care, I think her mom still loves her children in her own way. And if she does, I couldn’t ruin that special occasion for her. 
Christmas this year was going to be different. 
It was going to be dark. A single candle. No decorations. And a festive meal for one. 
Well, I still have Bun-Bun at least. I could get her a Christmas gift. 
But maybe I can get Bun-Bun some special Christmas bunny food. A carrot with a bow. At least I have her. 
Though I still would feel lonely…

A sudden crash broke me out of my thoughts, and Mikhael was standing before a toppled Christmas tree. The ceramic ornaments shattered to the ground like petals. 
Everyone in the mall turned to the sound.
“We gotta go!” Mikhael screamed.
I didn’t hesitate and hoofed it with Mikhael. 
As we ran away past the glass doors to the mall, the distinct screaming of the candy shop lady could faintly be heard.

I caught my breath as we were about a full few blocks away from the mall. And the consequences started to hit me. 
What if I was banned from the supermarket. It was the best way to make the money last until the next month. Then what would I do for food?

“What were you thinking?!” 

“I didn’t do it on purpose! I swear! I was just trying to lean on the tree to see if I could create a suave pose! I didn’t know it would crash just like that!” Mikhael raised his hands. “Do you think they caught our faces? Oh my god, if my parents find out about this…”

I almost began to yell at him, but the words caught in my throat. I can’t lose my temper again.

“Just tell me if you have a stupid plan like that again…” The adrenaline had my heart beating, my face flushed.

“It wasn’t even my plan to hang out with you today!”

What? A cold wave rushed through me. Any fire in me left my soul. Of course… why would I think this time would be any different? I was just being pitied…

“No, it came out all wrong. I didn’t mean it like that! Don’t make that face! Please, please don’t cry! Sorry Aubrey, that’s not what I meant at all!” Mikhael immediately starting waving his hands. 

I could barely make out his face between the water in my eyes. 

 “It’s not that I didn’t want to hang out with you, it’s just that I had to hang out with you to distract you from something!”

Distract me? The sinking feeling in my wasn’t leaving me.

“From… from what?”

I started heaving, and could slowly collect myself. The shock slowly wore off as I sat down and gripped my fists. 

“Um. I just need to ask something first. Can I do that?”

I nodded.

“Aubrey, who are those two guys you hung out with in the beginning of the year?” Mikhael wasn’t using his usual overbearing tone, it was much more sombre.

“Sunny and Kel?”
 
A stone dropped into my stomach. Why was he bringing the two of them up? Did they pass a message onto Mikhael? Were they the ones who put Mikhael up to this? 

“Yeah, those two.” 

Oh god this is it. A message to completely separate all the things between us. They probably had to tell me about it so that I won’t see Mari and Hero when they come back. 

“D-did… did they ask you to do this?”

“What? No, I just need to know something about them.” My fists unclenched. “I was… just wondering. Wondering how you felt about them.” How I feel about all of it? “You don’t have to tell me about them if you don’t want to Aubrey! Your… uh… face is really scaring me right now.”

I was gritting my teeth with so much force, I could’ve crushed metal. I forced myself to relax and calm down. This conversation was going to come up someday, but I really wasn’t sure what to say, “I…” 

‘I’ what?
I wanted things to be like the way they were before. But things have changed.
I wanted everyone to be together with me again. But we’re all going our separate ways. 
I wanted the courage to apologize to the both of them. But did I even have the right? 
Would they even want me back after what I did? 
They could get along fine without me. They didn’t want me.

“You…?”

“It’s… complicated. I said something that went too far and I can’t talk to them anymore.”
“Huh? Wait so you don’t… Aubrey, what do you want with them?”

The answer to that question was simple. I figured it out on the first day we fought.

“I wish I could apologize and turn things back to the way they all were before.”
“Wait… so you don’t hate them?” Where’d he get that from?
“No!”
“Oh,” He started to ruffle his blonde hair, “Ohhhhhhhhh… crap.” 
“What happened?”
“Well, er, to say. Nothing, yet.” 
“Explain!”
“Something is going to happen to them. Like around now.”
“So are they hurt?”
“Kim maybe got the wrong idea. I don’t think anything bad is guaranteed to happen but… you know how Kim gets sometimes right?”
“Where are they?!” I grabbed Mikhael by the collar. “Tell me where right now!”
“At the park! At the park! Please let go, you’re shaking my hair off!”

I ran as fast as I could.
_

I have no idea how long we fought, but we were both gasping for breath. I could feel a swelling on my forehead on the spot I hit Kim’s skull with.
I could hear Kel and Vance still both going at it. 
We were both gasping for air, lying flat on the floor.  
We both struggled to get up, but I just couldn’t place my legs on the ground. 
But Kim got up.

“The difference between you…” she gasped for air, “and me, is that I’ve been doing this for so much longer than you.” 

Kim raised her hand, and readied up for the final blow.

“STOP!” A voice we both recognized bellowed throughout the park. “Please, just stop!”

Kim’s body froze. 
I noticed something as Aubrey came running up to us.
She was crying.