Archive of Our Own

The first time is always a memorable one. It’s where I could look back on that particular day and gush over how odd it first felt. And yet, don’t get it twisted. Palette and I were pretty awkward about it. As our relationship grew deeper, I could only wonder where it could end up. Sleeping together was such a common thing we all did that huddling next to anyone in the friend group was like breathing. It was something to look forward to whenever we all had a sleepover!

Sunny was always the quietest, which reflected him well whenever I cuddled with him: slow breathing, soft snores, and a heavy sleeper. I could've sworn he stayed in bed all day if it wasn’t for his big sister Mari or his crush. Kel was the exact opposite. Loud breaths, constantly shifting, and the lightest sleeper in the group, waking at the slightest noise around. And while it seemed the worst of the friend group, he was always warm, best for fighting those tough winter nights or when we all played in the rain. Besides, he always deserved a hug, whether or not he was awake or something else. Aubrey was surprisingly in between. One night, she tossed and turned in the middle of the night as if she had a bug in her clothes, and on the next, she stood still as a stone. The only thing you could hear from her was the light mumbles of a fairytale story. I don’t know which, and I don’t think she’ll take it well if I asked. As for Palette, she was more a mix of Kel and Aubrey; one night, she could toss and turn, possibly waking at the slightest noise; the next, she was hugging her pillow and mumbling something completely random. Still, I didn’t mind it. Everyone had their charm, and I love them all for that.

Storing the last of my photos in the book I was given, I sighed as the day ended. In just a few of these days, these have been the best of my life! This all felt like a dream; if it was, it was one I never wanted to wake up from. The days hanging out with everyone, from Kel to Mari, were priceless. I was snapping those special pictures of Sunny turning his head to a certain someone amazing. Looking around at everyone in Sunny and Mari’s parent's home, I could only smile as everyone was up to their usual antics. Sunny kept to himself, Kel, Mari, Hero, and Palette playing some cards, and Aubrey tried to follow what Sunny was doing, failing to recognize each other's attention. I respect their space, but it would only be a matter of time before someone says it in front of them. Mari didn’t take long to clap her hands together, leaving the table and showing her hand in the process; it was bad. “Alright, everyone.” She stated, “School is coming ever closer. It's best we all hit the hay before the books hit us, alright?”

Surprisingly, with a sigh from the brothers, mainly from Hero, he got off his seat and walked over to where the bedrolls were stored. Rolling them out and carefully placing them together. Mari helped out as she placed the blankets beside each other, each matching the bedroll colors. It looked like a rainbow to sleep on, with the biggest ones being saved for herself and Hero, but not too far away. Kel immediately dashed forward and took one of the edges. Sunny gave a silent huff before glancing at Aubrey, trying to decide how he could be with her without raising suspicions. Seeing no harm, Palette took the other edge of the bedroll with Basil beside her. He knew what he was getting into. But there was something about her he couldn’t put a finger to. She was pretty, kind, and sweet, but so was everyone else. But why did he like being around her more than everyone else? Laying next to her, he gave a small smile at her, and she followed suit.

A few seconds passed, and Sunny was out like a light. Being at the center of the group, sans Mari and Hero, he slept in peace as this was a wonderful place. He was surrounded by friends, his big sister, warm blankets, and, all in all, Eden for him. Kel followed suit as that fantastic smile followed him, too. Whatever he must’ve been dreaming, it must’ve been such an exotic dreamland or bizarre for the common human being. It didn’t bother him either way, and he liked it that way. Soon, Aubrey as well; tilting his head forward, Basil could see her cuddling to the crook of her crush's neck; what he would’ve done to get a camera without the loud and obvious flash. Oh, how he wished he had it in hand. What he didn’t expect was someone dragging him down. Looking at the source of the newfound weight, he saw her. How peaceful she looked. How cute she was. It didn’t take long for Basil to put two and two together. He liked her. As in, like liked her. Not as a friend like Kel or Aubrey, or even Sunny, for that matter. It's much more than that.

Basil couldn’t help but glow ever so pink with that small revelation. Looking at Palette for just a brief moment, he smiled. Slowly, he gave in to sleep. It was going to be a good day tomorrow. He could feel it. Now, all he has to do is wonder if this was exactly how Sunny felt whenever he sneaked a peek at Aubrey. This new and warm feeling felt nice.

That first time felt unique. His heart rate picked up whenever he saw her smile; whenever she did something interesting or cute, he couldn’t help but stop whatever he was doing and just admire her. It didn’t take long until some people took notice. Sunny gained that infamous smirk his big sister had once used to tease him. It wasn’t as plastered as on her face, but very noticeable. Aubrey's faint nudges and shoves also didn’t help as she was beaming like a star, trying to find any way to get them together, unaware that she was practically shoving either Basil or Palette. And yet, neither of them minded.

And to some extent, he was happy that she didn’t realize his ever-growing crush on her. But at the same time, it hurts. What if he ruined what they had together? What if he made her uncomfortable to the point she became distant, just like his parents… Those fears started to boil inside of him. He hated it, but he never wanted to ruin these moments; he never wanted to be alone again. So he stayed silent. And did whatever it took never to be alone again. Of course, these are just words. Not action.

However, on the recital day, he proved himself in the worst way imaginable.

How long has it been since he left his house by his will? If not, he tended to the flowers outside or where everyone used to hang out, and then he never went for himself. His sanity was walking on eggshells. He was messy to the point that it was possible not to notice it was him and not someone else. And even ruining the image of her, ruining all the memories he had with everyone. He had to keep it a secret. If they took him away, what would happen to him? What would happen to him? With his actions becoming ever so jittery and his voice becoming so ragged, it was a miracle he was still sane, or at least conscious. And yet he was slowly reaching his reaching point. But as long as he had his grandma and Miss Polly, everything was going to be okay; everything HAS to be okay… Looking at his hands, he had to settle down some more. He was losing himself; he couldn’t afford that. In a manic state, loose lips were a high probability. He can’t afford it; he has to stay silent; he has to stay smiling. For him, for himself.

Everyone left him, abandoned him. But they all had good reason. You aren’t cheery when your lover gives herself a lynching. You aren’t happy when that big sister from another mother has just died in front of you. You are just dazed. Nothing but horror and dread. Dread that Something has been created. Sunny could have never hurt her; he didn’t have a bone or malice in him, never had, never will. Basil knows it.

Days, weeks, months, the passage of time itself. It meant nothing to Basil. All he could do was wait. Wait for Sunny to come out. Wait for everyone but him to forget about him. And yet, with each passing day, his nerves grew ever so worse. It was at the point where a book falling in the middle of the night gave him a panic attack, or at least on the verge of one. And so the world continued. It didn’t take long for Kel to drag him out. The only memorable thing was avoiding Aubrey because she would yell at him and her new friends. But he deserved every bit; Kel was just unaware. Day in, day out. It would follow a routine. And as long as no one suspected anything, this would be okay. What he didn’t expect was to see her again.

More than at least a year since she last disappeared, only to reappear. Palette. He didn’t know what to do, what to say. Some part of him was devastated that she wasn’t there for Mari’s funeral; maybe that was something that Aubrey felt. But anger wasn’t the right emotion for him. But whatever that emotion may be, he bottled it. He waited for any response. Whether it be a hug, a slap, or anything that she could do with her two hands, he was waiting for a response, an action. Anything at all! But she just stood there.

Soon enough, she reached forward, with just her right hand extending towards him. Seeing as there was no harm, as she couldn’t do any harm in the first place, he also reached out. Soon enough, she pulled him in; a small gasp was all Kel could hear from him. And then he was wrapped under a hug. Her hug. It was familiar, warm, and welcoming. Everything about it was just amazing. Those walls, those feelings, everything slowly building up; it all was shown. He couldn’t help himself but cry. He missed them; he missed everyone. If it wasn’t for Something, Mari didn’t need to die, Aubrey didn’t have to bully him, and Sunny never had to lock himself away from the world. It was Somethings's fault!

All that pain and sadness built up over the last two years was shown to the two present. And while Kel joined in on the hug, the warmth Palette gave him was something unforgettable; it was something he would need to keep himself sane, if only for a while. And even if he didn’t realize it, those feelings from long ago have slowly introduced themselves back. When Palette eventually pulled away from the hug, the color and blood returned to Basil’s face. He was blushing as red as the tomatoes his grandmother had harvested so long ago where the flowerbeds have now taken over. And just like that, he remembered something. Something he wants to kick himself in the leg for forgetting, but not now, later when the sunsets and no one is around.

Soon enough, Kel and Palette would do their best to bring him out. And slowly, he was healing. Those nerves of his had slowly gotten stronger. Sure, it was pretty easy to spook him, but the recovery from it was getting faster and faster, to the point that his ever-growing crowd of bullies really couldn’t put a damper on his mood, much to the annoyance of a blonde ex-friend. And so, Basil was healing. It was going well; it was getting to the point that Kel and Palette could come over and have a sleepover. Kel almost always brought over his game system, something utterly foreign to Basil, but he was always happy to try it. As he was handed the controller, he knew he was set for failure, and yet he still tried his best. But it wasn't enough. Saddened by his digital loss, he was quickly comforted by his friends nearby. It was a good day.

Then night came. Basil assumed they would leave and come back for another day. But to his surprise, Kel and Palette have asked permission to have a sleepover. Of course, it was Kel's idea to ask Miss Polly for permission, but a quick phone call to both of the children's households confirmed that their parents allowed their children to stay over, with Kel's parents making sure he follows the rules and doesn't cause that much noise. Blowing a raspberry at them, Kel settled down and helped Miss Polly, placing blankets all over the floor, one for everyone. Kel would sleep on the couch, calling dibs on it while Basil and Palette took the floor together.

It didn't take long for sleep to take over the overactive teen. Snoring ever so lightly, he drifted into dreamland as Palette and Basil were right next to each other, like so many years ago. The feeling wasn't lost on him; those once-hidden nerves slowly started to pick up. He'll worry about what Kel would do if he learned the truth. And what of Palette? How much would she hate him if it ever came out? As much as Sunny? As much as Aubrey? Or something even greater than that.

Being the ever-nervous wreck he is, he is on the verge of having another panic attack. And it would've been the case if not for someone grabbing his hand. Looking at the person of interest, he could barely see her. His long-time crush, a perfect friend, someone he cared dearly, held it. She didn't say anything. But she grabbed his hand for what felt like hours, even if it was a handful of minutes. But it did what she wanted to do. Calm down his nerves. Slowly, with the care of his remaining friend group, he learned to calm down even more.

‘While the heart beats on, desire will never die.' Basil never knew the meaning of this phrase from his grandmother's gothic book collection, which she tried to hide from him. But he can get just an inkling of what it means despite being at such a young age. Still, the desire to see his friends all close together, despite what happened with Mari, made him feel nice and warm. Thanks to Something, it gave him the purpose he was missing in those two years after her death. It hurts never to catch a glimpse of Sunny outside his home, let alone his room. He has taken up the mantle of walking alongside Kel and Palette whenever they try to coax Sunny out of his house. From stray cats that were tempted by the daily jobs that were posted on the board. More pictures of the surrounding area. His favorite meal is on full display, thankfully and rightfully cooked by Kel's dad. But nothing happened. He never came out of his home. The knocking on the door was so severe that if Kel had never given it a break, he could've accidentally put a hole through it. Still, the valiant attempt was one of the few reasons Basil kept his sanity. Not for his sake but for Sunny's safety; it was one of the few things he valued over himself. And despite everyone's best efforts, his health slowly started to regress once more. Slightly disheveled hair, a constant state of paranoia, his ever-increasing heart rate, and, worst of all, his delusions.

Another two years have passed. Basil always tended to the flowers where they all used to hang out. Hearing the crunching of grass blades nearby and how many footsteps there were, he was already preparing himself for the usual antics of Aubrey's gang. The name-calling, the shoving, the fact that they think they look superior in a group. He was already tired. And so was his song and dance. He asked if not begging to have his photobook back, asking her second-in-command, Kim. More insults and threats came his way. He was getting anxious; his heart rate slowly started to rise. He was already beginning to see that bubble-gum hair come ever so closer, telling him to beat it or he would want to become food for the flowers he so much cared about instead of herself.

And yet, he didn't expect something else to enter this situation. Let alone someone instead. All it took was a glance at who stood next to Kel and Palette. Cargo shorts, white dress shirt, black vest. That horrible sense of fashion this late in summer could only be Sunny unless he had a twin he never noticed. The banter between his bully and his friends came forth. And so she challenged the two. 'Does she not see how frail he is? Does she not even care for his current state? Doesn't she know he suffered as much as she did, if not worse?!' He would've gone on with this mental rant if it wasn't for something he couldn't see coming. A simple slice was enough to cut him off his train of thought. A simple slice was enough for everyone to look out in fear of a kid who could not harm. A simple single slice produced by Sunny's steak knife got all eyes on him.

After everyone in the Hooligang ran away to do something of worth, Kel did the right thing and took away his knife. And yet, the soulless look Sunny gave him scared him just a bit. Nonetheless, Kel hummed a bit before focusing on Basil. And so the trio returned home, and he would've let them enjoy the remaining afternoon if only he kept his mouth shut. "W-WAIT!!!" At this point, the not-so-quiet Kel and quiet Sunny looked in his direction; Basil stood still before asking a small favor to get back what Aubrey took from him. The photobook of his. If she didn't want to see him, they would surely listen to both of them, right? Seeing as there was no other option without using brute force, he asked, and they heard.

Soon, the duo left. And Basil returned to his home. Besides a slightly bruised knee and lightly tattered vest he wore, he was perfectly fine physically. Mentally, however, was another can of worms that some people are best at leaving behind. He has yet to see Palette; maybe she is tending to personal matters. It would've been best to let her be for now. Giving a soft wave to Miss Polly, he dashed over to hug her ever-dying grandmother. He didn't want to see her gone; he couldn't come to process it, so he did his best to lie. Lie that everything will be okay, that she'll live to see him get married, for him to graduate college, for him to have kids of his own, maybe where she could tease them instead of him. Very likely not all in order, he couldn't help but feel that ever-looming dread creep up on him. He hasn't felt this since SOMETHING took over and ruined everyone's lives. He was scared of the truth. He couldn't live to see her gone. All he could do was hope. Hope and pray that she'll live to see another day.

A few hours have passed. Basil was lying around, doing nothing but planning what else to plant before the cold removed that ability from him until he heard a knock on the door. Opening slightly to the shock of Miss Polly was everyone from before, alongside Palette, who has joined their ranks as well. Stepping aside for the three to enter, he was a bit happy to see everyone here again; of course, his eyes drifted more to Palette than the other two, but he does care about everyone very much.

Soon enough, everyone was seated except Palette and Polly. Palette is on the phone talking to her parents about where she is, calming them and telling them she is not in trouble. Miss Polly was serving everyone food for dinner, something someone desperately needed. It was chicken and vegetable soup. It was very filling, and if anyone felt like it, they could've gone for seconds, if not thirds. Still, everyone had their fill before Kel started talking about how they had to fight off the group known as the Hooligans. From Kel doing most of the talking with Sunny enforcing their actions, Palette was just there hoping to bring peace, except when she knocked some wind out of Aubrey's right-hand lady with an umbrella. It was not her proudest moment as she apologized profusely, but it helped get the trio's thoughts across.

As everyone continued to sit and enjoy their meal, Kel pipped up, talking about how Sunny was moving. And while Palette was just a bit bummed out, the mood quickly changed for Basil. His smile was gone, and his fear and worry were slowly rising. He couldn't take it anymore… Excusing himself for a moment, he rushed over to the bathroom, much to the confusion of Kel and Sunny and worrying Polly and Palette. Palette wanted to join his side; she really did. And yet, someone else beat her to the punch. Besides, her parents decided to call at the worst possible time, so she had to stay behind and watch as Sunny followed him to wherever they went.

Tapping her foot in slight frustration, she tried to rush the conversation to see how Basil was doing. All she could hear besides Kel's chewing and Miss Polly walking to another room; she could barely hear a slight 'plop' come from a room that she wanted to drop the phone and rush over and open a random door, taking her chances and regretting the consequences after whatever she saw. And yet her parents, being the caring people they are, held her in a grip, lovingly asking where and what she had been doing this past day, wondering if she would like a plate of her favorite food. As there was no way to get out of this without raising high suspicions, she answered them as quickly as possible. She kept her ears open for anything else, whether a yell, a slap, or anything that would draw everyone's attention to them.

Soon enough, Sunny left wherever he came from, having the same stone face he had when she first saw him after four years. And yet, it didn't take long for his mask to chip away slowly. Palette may admit it more slowly, but some faces are easily read. Sunny Suzuki's is one of them. Or he would be if it wasn't for something bothering her. She realized he had never talked once; he had no problem slashing at one of his old ex-friends. And if the other two weren't much of a red flag, the fact that his eyes lacked life, that he was dangerously thin, and that something wasn't right in his mind made her uncomfortable. So she offered to take him back home. As Kel enjoys his soup plate, he agrees and tries to pry into Basil for her. She didn't have to say that last part, but Kel had a good feeling that was what she wanted. And so they split up. Sunny led the charge to his home, making the walk uncomfortably quiet. One that was ready to leave. As the sight out front boldly stated that it was already sold, Palette tried to pry open to him one last time. She was worried for him.

"So… how are you feeling? It must've been a hectic first day to leave your home, right?" He did not respond. With all that fighting and running around in circles, you must be pretty tired, right?" She let out a small chuckle, trying to hide how awkward this one-sided conversation was. Sunny just said nothing, keeping up the same pace back home.

"I'm sorry if I'm being insensitive, but can I ask something else?" Sunny barely perks up at this, looking her in the eye but allowing her to continue with whatever her thoughts led to. She walks just a few paces in front before stopping and focusing all her attention on him. "I know it's a lot to take in, but do you think Mari is fine?" His emotionless face slowly changed out of horror at this point, yet she persevered. Playing with a tuff of her hair, she continued. "Ever since she took her life, do you think she's at peace? Do you think she has any regrets before? I wonder what her last thoughts were or maybe why she did so. But it's hard to get the right words for the dead, right?"

At this point, she realized her mistake; compared to what Sunny did around town, walking, tutoring, fighting, and doing many mindless tasks, it was nothing compared to how horrid he looked. Beads of sweat, rasping voice, a weakened figure, more so than before. He was just a few moments from collapsing. "S-Sunny?" She asked, confused but primarily scared for him. It was a sensitive subject. And yet, while what she said did impact him, something else was ever so closer.

Right behind her was SOMETHING, how it just floated next to her, as if she was unaware of the demon by her side. It judged him as if he had done something wrong, very wrong. But he can't put the finger on why. All this tension, all the pain and stress he's currently dealing with, it hurts; he was stressed out and was looking for ways to escape. But it was no use as she took the first steps to him.

Palette didn't take long to put a hand on his shoulder. It wasn't heavy-handed; it was just a light hand, carefully placed as if she was handling something made out of porcelain, but it might as well be with how skin and bone Sunny's physical state is. And with that, something caused Sunny to react immediately. Using all the force he could muster, he used his two hands and shoved her away. Despite how skinny he looked, it still was a lot, pushing her at least a few feet away. Of course, she didn't fall onto the street floor, but the message was clear as Palette shut herself when it happened. She looked hurt. But not by his actions; it was her fault; she brought this upon herself. Taking a moment to wait for Sunny to return to his senses, she quietly followed along, walking back to his house.

After that terrible talk, the duo finally made it back to his house, twisting the knob ever so lightly; he was about to enter the door before Palette did one last thing. She hugged him. Sure, it was surprising and risky despite what had just happened a few moments ago, but it was one that Sunny slowly sank into. If it were to be any other person, he would've panicked, but he felt at peace with her, an excellent friend of his best friend. It didn't take long before she let go and gave a small wave. "Goodnight, Sunny. I'm happy to see you again." And with that, she walked away, with her hand on her chin, thinking to herself. She was so deep in thought that she almost walked into a fence. Catching herself before tripping over, she made sure she stayed on the pavement if she didn't want to risk falling again.

It was a special day for everyone. Despite how everything ended, there was some glint of hope. Even if Sunny were to leave the coming days, he at least left his house; he was alive and not on his bed, rotting away with the few insects around eating him like a fine meal. Everything was going to be okay. Everything had to be fine…
Right?

With a bright and sunny day outside, waiting for the day to go on, Kel helped himself as he walked towards Sunny's front door, the same as yesterday. And by a miracle, he came out as well. With a brief high-five and a wave, the duo set to do whatever needed to be done first, with the key item being the photobook tucked away between his bed sheets. Kel wanted to comment on why the doorknob was shaking a bit before he opened it, but seeing as he was still mute, he thought it was best not to say anything about it; he'd open up when he wanted to. Eventually, Sunny helps Kel do what his mother asks him to do. Granted, Kel should've done this by himself, but seeing as his time with his best friend was slowly dwindling, Sunny went along as there was no harm in doing so. Eventually, after walking around town doing odd jobs and helping the community, Sunny and Kel finally entered the pizzeria where Hero's sandwich was being prepared.

Ignoring the glances and daggers from the scooter gang they fought yesterday, Sunny donated a disk into the jukebox and played a random song. Soon, the glares were lifted; the same can't be said about the dagger. Eventually, the meal was ready. Kel took it with open arms before thanking the man, grabbing Sunny's arm carefully, and walking out. Aubrey didn't want to admit it, but she saw him in a different light. Sure, she pointed her weapon at it first, but she didn't mean to swing at him, maybe hit Kel with the bat handle as if it was the hilt of a sword, as if she was to perform a stunning blow; yet, he slashed her without hesitation. Thankfully, the knife wasn't dirty, or the cut was that deep, but getting a closer look at him now, there's something wrong with him, maybe more than herself. What happened all those years ago…

Kel led the charge back home with the cookies by his side. Sunny followed suit, carrying the warm sandwich as if cradling a baby. And it would've been a simple day if it wasn't for Miss Polly. She didn't mean any wrong, and seeing as she was Basil's and his grandmother's caretaker, neither Sunny nor Kel could think anything wrong of her. She was pretty and kind. There was nothing else to add. It was a bit odd seeing her talking to Kel's mother. As both women had gotten their sights on the two boys, Kel's mom was about to start talking, most likely asking Kel where he had been the whole day before Polly spoke before her.

"Oh, thank goodness, you two are here." Her voice was full of worry, if not fear. "Basil's gone missing. I haven't seen him this afternoon. Have either of you seen him?" It was apparent she was worried for him, but with how serious her look was, both Sunny and Kel could've assumed that it was his biological mother instead of a caretaker. Both kids shook their heads, practically saying no. "It's getting dark; I'm worried sick about him; if you could, please search for him."

Kel's mother wanted to intercept at any moment, especially when someone was recruiting her bundle of joy, who she hoped did better on school work than on the court, and a mute kid who had finally left his home after many years. But she could understand her plight. Even if it was just a job she was hired to do so, she was doing a damn well job. As there was no way to convince her son otherwise, she picked up Sally and returned to the kitchen to ensure everything was ready for a special one's return.

A knock on the door interrupted everyone's train of thought. Kel opened it quickly while Sunny walked around the house, letting some forgotten memories return to him and pocketing a small can of something without anyone noticing or daring to question it. Kel smiled quickly as the figure entered the home and reported to Polly. The dirty blond individual cracked a smile on Kel's face as he always welcomed a friendly face, and yet with the quick discussion with her, Polly made her expression frown. Palette did all she could, yet no leads came up.

Kel put on a brave face as morale reached an all-time low before grabbing Palette's hand and rushing forward, nearly breaking the hinges off his front door. Thankfully, his mother couldn't see or hear it, as he would've gotten an earful. And off he went into the sunset with an excellent friend of his. Only to return later and grab Sunny along for the ride as well. He didn't put up a fight or objection; he just accepted that he'd be dragged along for the ride. The trio searched high and low to find him. Searching the market, the neighborhood, and everywhere they could think of, they found no sign of him. And just as they were to give up, a familiar yell got their attention. "H-HELP!" The trio didn't waste any time before rushing forward. Kel was armed with his signature ball, Palette with her umbrella she always carried around without much reason as rain wasn't in the forecast until the end of the week, and Sunny with his secret weapon maybe he was hoping he could use it for more experience or perhaps deter those striking at him. Either way, his fists wouldn't be enough, even if his feelings were genuine.

Palette was adamant that she didn't swing her umbrella at anyone, especially considering how Kim had felt the previous time. Sure, both ladies would go down swinging, but one refused combat entirely. At the same time, the other didn't want the candies she was carrying to be crushed under her shockingly strong force, not to mention Vance put himself forward first out for the sake of his dear sister, so he was going to face the wrath of the umbrella if a fight came to light. As for Kel, his attention was focused on Angel and the 'almighty' Maverick. He knew that Angel would've gone down quickly like yesterday, but with his master by his side, his endurance rose tenfold not to disappoint him. The same could be said about Maverick as well; to not appear weak to his apprentice, Kel tightened his grip on his ball, wondering when the right time to strike was. As for Sunny, he raised his hands in readiness for defense. He knew that Aubrey was boiling red with rage and armed with her bat and how strong she once was when he could recall those faint memories of playing softball on school grounds; he worried he would see Mari a lot sooner than either of them would like. The only bright side of this match-up was that Charlene wasn't interested in this fight, as she kicked the dirt underneath her. Basil stood there in fear, worried about what was to come. And yet his knees were weak underneath him; he was paralyzed with fear as he could feel he went someone or Something nearby, pinning him to this spot. All he could do was watch the brawl.

Being smart about this, Sunny reached for his pockets and raised the can, pointing it at the antagonists, unaware of what was inside. They still charged forward, whether out of obliviousness or unwillingness to back down, with Aubrey at the charge's head. A faint gasp could only be heard by Palette and a look of pity from Kel as they both knew what soon came next. All Sunny did was press down on the spray for the group to disband, coughing loudly as this very uncomfortable air was now in their systems. Scattering like insects being discovered by the homeowner, they all dispersed only for Aubrey to remain.

And yet she didn't focus on the trio, whether it was to direct her rage at someone who can't defend himself or not wanting to go round two with the pepper spray. "H-hey, what are you doing, Aubrey?!" Kel yelled out and tossed his ball to the side, trying to stop Aubrey from doing something dangerous, and yet it was too late as she had made a fatal mistake. A shove for the anxious gardener was all she did before fear and doubt entered her fault. Basil can't swim.

The next few minutes were the most tense everyone had ever faced. There was uncertainty about what was to come and how there were fewer and fewer bubbles coming up from where Basil fell. The look of disbelief as Aubrey could potentially have blood on her hands. There is a chance that today will be the day they lose another person in the friend group like Mari. The first minute, no one moved; out of fear, if not shock, everyone stayed still. But there was someone who broke the mold. A sudden splash and where once stood Sunny didn't give the remaining teens that much hope; if one was constantly on the edge of breaking down and now possibly drowning, the least optimal person to be sent to his rescue is another where if he were to stretch in a certain angle you could've seen his bones stick out like a sore thumb.

With each second passing and neither teen reemerging from the water, they started to lose hope, and Aubrey, the one to cause this, began to look around, hoping there was a way out of the hole she dug herself. And it would've been the case if not for a third party diving himself. Kel could only wince and hope that Hero didn't hit his head on anything down there. The water isn't that deep, but it's not best to tempt fate.

After a few nail-biting moments, three people came up. Sunny took a knee and started coughing violently; He was soaked from head to toe, as expected from this unexpected plunge. And yet he recovered quickly, possibly too fast, but no one paid that much attention to the other two. Hero made sure he was the last one up; he shoved Sunny out of the water and the way to put all of his weight into lifting Basil from the pond.

After applying quick CPR to the blonde, Hero ensured he was conscious before doing anything else. Everyone else just watched, hoping for Hero to be a miracle man and help Basi remove all the water he had just inhaled. "Is he alright?" Kel said with worry in his mouth; the reason for it was simple: Basil couldn't swim. The few times the school ever went to a pool, he always sat on the benches either by himself or making small talk with anyone who would tolerate talking with him. He could only worry that he would have to go to the hospital where his grandmother was. Aubrey and Palette used the same thought process. She didn't mean to harm him; she didn't want him to be soaked to the bone like a wet cat. All she wanted was for him to mind his business and stop bothering her new friend group. But there was a part of her that still worried for him. She would've run away and never looked back if it hadn't been for that. She felt incredibly guilty for this. As for Palette, she was worried. She did nothing but watch and be a spectator towards someone's danger, if not death itself. She was shaking a bit, but she clung on to hope that he'd recover and everyone could continue this terrible day. She could only hope and do nothing else.

A minute later, he started coughing violently at that. And with that, Basil woke up; he was worse for wear, but Hero had a plan for this. "Let's take him back to his house so he can properly recover; let's go." Kel didn't miss a beat as he took one last look at everyone else and shot an ugly look at Aubrey before helping Basil to his feet and escorting him out of the area. As much as he wanted for her to atone, Basil's well-being was the priority. A moment later, Sunny stood up and followed as well. If not for the fact that he was also worried, he was just as soaked as Basil, so he would also like this newfound warmth and not be chilled to the bone by the summer winds. Leaving Aubrey alone to let the recent events take control of her. The guilt in her head, the possibility of the blood of her 'bad' friends on her hands, how weak her knees were as she collapsed, she did nothing but sob. At least there was no one to see her in her pitiful state.

A little bit elsewhere, Palette was trying to think of something to say to Sunny. Sure, Hero saved Basil from a watery grave as well as him, but he was the first to act. She wanted to thank him for his heroics, especially since he had already thrown himself with a fear of the water. And yet, there was yesterday how she hurt Sunny by accident. She glanced at him, and all she could do was frown. Sure, he has been a quiet kid, and if it wasn't for the noises his shoes weren't making, he was as silent as ever. She knew Mari meant a lot to him; she meant a lot to everyone, but it still haunts him to this very day. She pities him. Hopefully, he'll come to an understanding of her passing sooner rather than later. As she wanted to keep it brief but share her thoughts, she decided to be quick about it, making sure that whatever came out of her mouth didn't mention Mari again.

"Thank you, Sunny. Thank you for trying to save Basil. I now know, thanks to Kel, that you haven't left your home for so long. I didn't mean to bring her up. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you before, but I promise I'll be there with you from here on out, even when you leave; I'm just a call away. That's what friends are for, right?" She gave a near-blinding smile at him, and yet all Sunny did was give a slight nod and thumbs up. Emotionally repressed as always…

Still, with Basil's house a few more steps away, Palette hummed a tune Sunny had never heard of or forgotten, like his other memories. Once at the doorstep, she knocked on the door, waiting for anyone to respond. Just like clockwork, Kel was the one who opened it for them. With a smile and gesture to let them in, the duo entered; Sunny was a bit more relieved as the chances of illness lowered with the wind not blowing on him anymore.

"Make yourselves at home; thank everyone here for finding Basil. Please, let me repay you by heating some leftovers; some of you need it." While she was aware of Kel's big apatite, seeing Sunny so thin, she was worried that a strong breeze would knock him out. Still, she focused on preparing hot meals for everyone here, with Henry carrying Basil to the bathroom. At the same time, Kel walked to his room to get a fresh set of clothes for him, and while all of this was happening, Sunny took a random seat while Palette tried to get read on his emotions. And like before, no luck; even though he almost died, there was no emotion behind his eyes. She couldn't help but feel more sorry than ever before.

Eventually, Basil was escorted back to his room. Thankfully, he was covered head to toe with sleepwear, his towel by his side. He glanced at everyone present before entering his room and quietly closing the door behind him. Everyone but Sunny looked at him with a hint of worry. These years were hard on everyone. However, Polly didn't take long to drag their attention away from him, mostly to lift spirits or at least try to.

With a plate of stew served, everyone dug in. Henry couldn't help but compliment the meal. That made Polly puff out her chest in pride; 'Another person with good taste,' she thought. Kel agreed with his brother while Sunny and Palette stayed silent, enjoying the meal before them. The brothers didn't take long to finish most of the stew, while Palette and Sunny ate less. Still, it was filling, and the group of people enjoyed it. With bellies full, the group was about to split up for the night, only for Kel to have a fantastic idea. "Why don't we have a sleepover back at Sunny's?! Like we have all those years ago?" He was barely able to contain his excitement for the idea. Henry wasn't that much for it, mostly because of how his parents would react to him going for the night, even if he had already promised to spend time with them. Palette also wondered if she could stay behind for the sleepover, especially with how overprotective her parent is. But a simple phone call from her end and a bouquet for Henry and Kel's mother were all needed to win them over. Alek gave her the green light; mainly, it was someone she grew up with. And there was a responsible adult amongst them, so that was nice.

Eventually, everyone went towards Sunny's house, with Kel taking the lead and rushing forward without a care in the world. Hero followed suit, being relatively calm and admiring the beauty and calm of the town; even with construction being present, Faraway is just relaxing, especially compared to how hectic college life and the city are for him. As for Palette, her heartbeat was controlled, everything was calm, and everything was lovely. There is nothing to worry about nor be scared of now, just a regular day at Faraway. Something that everyone wishes for.

"And we're here!" Announced Kel. Hero could only look at the house with a hint of guilt before washing it away. Now's not the time for that self-pity. He returned his focus to Sunny, unlocking the door at the front, thanking whatever he believed in for the fact his keys weren't at the bottom of the pond. Once they entered, a wave of nostalgia and dust hit their senses. The sunny days were when everyone gathered to play and hang out. On rainy days, they gather together after a harsh storm to warm up by the fireplace and then watch whatever is on TV. Those snowy days where, after an intense snowball fight, everyone settled down to eat one of Mari's or Hero's cooking and cookies. It was one of the best times of their lives when there was nothing to worry about or fear, as they all believed that through thick and thin, they'd be by each other no matter what happened. And yet, all it took was her life to break that friendship circle.

Kel tried to swat away that saddening thought, focus on his surroundings, and aim to flick the lights on. Once he tried to do it, there was no response. A bit annoyed, he flicked it as fast as the speed of light, but alas, nothing. Being just a bit crossed at the failure of the switch providing light, he and his brother looked around to see how they could fix this lack of light in the house. Sunny had no problem as he walked around quickly; Palette decided to sit by the couch and watch what was around her; she felt uneasy with the lack of light and decided not to get in anyone's way.

After a while, Kel fished out a dusty lantern. After turning it on, there is a light. It may not be enough to light the entire room, but it was just enough to watch where you were walking, and it was portable, so that was much better. The gang decided to get everything ready, making travel much safer. The famed pillow fort is sent up in all its marble, with everyone doing their part. With nothing else to do, everyone lay down and fell asleep. With Kel and Hero by the edge, Sunny would've been sandwiched between the two if not for Palette being next to him.

Taking his last look around the room, Sunny turns off the lantern and falls back to his haven, and thankfully, he learns to remember a bit more of that dreadful day.

Waking up was just a bit of a chore for Sunny, especially with how comfy the fort was and how he wanted to sink deeper into the pillows and wake up when he called for it. Alas, the sun was smacking him, and the emptiness in his stomach also called for his awakening. He also feels this is familiar, but he can't pinpoint why. It could be thanks to Kel for breaking out of his shell. That could be an excellent reason why that could be the case. But the smell of breakfast shot him up as a bullet. He knows that smell from anywhere; Hero's cooking was to die if not kill for. With how smooth his pancakes are, with every bite just a piece of heaven made edible, even if he preferred waffles more, he was willing to throw a plate of waffles out the window if it meant he got them. It didn't take long for him to walk to the closed door, and Hero was there before he opened it. Slightly startled, Sunny took a few steps back. "Woah there, sorry to spook you, Sunny." He stated before speaking up again. "Seeing as there was a list of chores that your mother has put there, I did for you; no need to worry about those anymore." He said with a smile, being as cheerful as ever. "Now, let's go back downstairs before Kel inhales the last pancake batch, alright?"

Without further convincing, Sunny left the room, leaving someone else behind. And in the fort lay a beautiful canvas of pillows being scattered around, signs of blankets being tossed and turned as well, and a bright young lady at the center, smiling to herself as there wasn't a worry in the world for her at this current moment. She tossed and turned some more, trying to understand yesterday's events better. It plagued her, but she didn't dare to look away, not anymore. She understands why Aubrey has such hostility to Basil, but why Sunny as well? She may not know the whole story behind Sunny locking himself away from the world, but why go to such drastic actions? She's glad that she didn't have to fight, but she couldn't help but feel bad for the gang, even if they were determined to shed blood, their own or her group of friends. But for now, despite her mind being everywhere and nowhere at the same time, she returns to sleep in those better times when school was the worst thing to go through. It also didn't help that she did some stargazing with Sunny by her side. Still, she was thankful for his company.

Going downstairs, Sunny couldn't contain himself any longer, the smell of rich batter being placed on pans. The fact that he was drooling for a feast he hadn't had for so long is just a few feet away. He just couldn't wait at all! Taking a seat, he looked with just a bit more emotion as Hero placed the food on his plate. He didn't miss a beat as he consumed the breakfast at a breakneck speed; Hero was glad that his cooking was worth Suzuki's praise as the usually reserved teen was eating like he hadn't for a week. And he would've chuckled himself to that fact if not for the fact he's dangerously thin. He shudders to think that this was how he spent the past years. It makes his suffering seem like a pity party compared to Sunny's.

Any other thoughts were interrupted as the bell rang. As Kel had already finished his meal and Hero was just a tad tired of doing Sunny's chores, he stood up for the occasion, wondering who was at the door and why so early. A few steps later and still chewing on his breakfast, he was currently laid back, not expecting someone grand. Maybe someone from the moving company that was coming soon, perhaps a neighbor, but no one is important on this end. Opening the door, he was gobsmacked as someone's right-hand lady was there, tapping her foot impatiently.

Kim stood there impatiently, waiting for the mute kid to show up so she could drag her back to her boss's house and demand an apology from him. Cause right now; she couldn't care about her boss's demands of going easy on him. It's one thing that he pepper sprayed everyone without hesitation; in some regard, she has some newfound respect for him for being cutthroat, same with the steak knife if it wasn't for the fact that he slashed her arm open. But she is not responding to any of them. No usual response from rocks being thrown at her window? Nothing from Mikhael? Not even her favorite candies? He did something, and he will pay. Of course, this was her thought process. And she would've marched forward and dragged him to her if not for the fact that she was now flustered with flakes of eggs and bacon all over her face. "Pfft, Dammit, Kel, now I have egg all over me." After grumbling and shaking off as much as she could without using her hands or a brush to take it out, she continued explaining why she had come here. And so she said her piece, glaring daggers at Sunny.

Without missing a beat, she pointed at him, and if it hadn't been for the two people around, she would've skipped formalities and dragged him to her. "What did you do to her?!" Taken aback by her tone, Kel stood up for the mute. "What do you mean? We didn't do anything. If anything, it's her fault everything happened." Being the mediator between the young girl and his brother, Hero decided to step in and try to smooth things over. "Hold on, Kel. If Aubrey is upset, wouldn't it be better if we tried to help her with this at least?" Kel wasn't having any of this; his usual cheerful demeanor had turned more cutthroat than ever before. "You weren't there when she pushed Basil into the lake. She's different, I tell you. We shouldn't bother people like her." A bit taken aback, Hero places his faith in friendship instead of hatred. "Well, I still care for her, and I have a good feeling she still does for all of us. Sure, she has changed, but so have we; she just happened to change this way." Kel, calming down a bit, still has doubts. He can see Kim has decided to step out to remove everything he spat on her a few moments ago. "Today's the last day that Sunny will be here for a long time. Wouldn't it be better to end everything on a high note? We should at least try to help her, right?" Seeing as there was no way out of this without either antagonizing his brother or letting him down, he relented. "Fine, but you'll do most of the talking. Sunny, Palette, and I would tag along."

With a smile on his face, he could only nod in agreement. Only to wonder, where is she? At this point, he remembered how much she could be a heavy sleeper as much as Sunny. "Can you wake her up then, Kel? Since you are the loudest, you are bound to make it quick." He nodded and dashed upstairs to wake her without missing a beat. With nothing else to do, Hero puts his attention on Kim. "Hey Kim, thank you for asking for help. You're a good friend to Aubrey." Taken aback by the compliment, she recoiled a bit before regaining her composure. "S-sure, whatever…" After a faint bit of grumbling, Hero asked for her to show them the way. She nodded before walking out the door. Palette didn't take long to join the party, albeit still lost in thought, having bed hair and an empty stomach. Being ever so prepared, Hero escorted her to pick up a few of the pancakes, placing them on a napkin and giving them to her, not as hot to cause burn but hot enough to be very filling.

And so, the four of them followed Kim to where Aubrey lived. The walk was quiet and stiff, especially with the group's tension. Sunny looked complacent as always. Kel was stuck grumbling a bit. Hero gave a small smile, silently hoping for everything to be okay, and Palette was still dazed by the fact that she had just woken up a few moments ago; at least the food was worth the hassle. It took a little while for the quintet to reach their destination. The house in front of them was a far cry from the surrounding houses. There was no fresh coat of paint; the wood had rotten away for who knows how long. Noticeable holes are coming from the roof, enough for the smallest critters to enter or the rain to make it home. And the worst offenders, the stench of cheap booze, jin, and trash ever accumulating outside with two bags on the ground and the bins already packed with the only clean thing in sight is Aubrey's bike.

All eyes were on the party as everyone approached the front door. Hero held onto his breath, not out of suspense about what was to come but for the human body's natural instinct for self-preservation with how horrid the stench is. Palette shared the same sentiments as she held onto her breath and was at the back of the line; she didn't want to go in and brave whatever horrors were behind those doors, but a friend needed her; Aubrey needed her as much as everyone else. Sunny was either not phased by the stench or had experienced something worse that made the smell in front seem laughable, so he stood behind Hero as the second in the line. Kel cringed at the smell. It was almost as bad as the one in school, but at the very least, it had the upside of being cleaned once a week, unlike this place, as it had been years since it was cleaned up. He never really thought about this, but this is where Aubrey lives. It tugged at his heartstrings to see his ex-friend live like this. Sure, their relationship is anything but good, but she deserves better than this dump, so he stood headstrong before Palette.

And so, with their heads and hearts set, Hero knocked on the door, waiting for a response. But after the knock, the door slowly opened itself as if it had never locked in the first place. Without missing a beat, the group entered, leaving the Hooligans behind, hoping they could help their boss heal. If the outside smell was terrible, the home inside was putrid. The smell of beer was more pungent, with the primary source of it being at the center of the room, a woman just a few steps away from death lazily looking at a static TV. Unless it was rigor mortis, then the woman sitting there was unaware of what her surroundings were or could not just care for it anymore as her arm reached out to drink something out of a can, most likely cheap alcohol.

Hero's disgust was very noticeable, while Palette and Kel felt some sympathy for her. They didn't know the complete picture, so they continued, wherever Aubrey may be. Walking through the hallway, he saw nothing but trash and empty cans. If Sunny had some rubber gloves on, he could've made a small fortune by giving all these cans away to the lady at the park, but money can wait. Aubrey needed help. Soon, the group of four reached a ladder; since all the other doors were locked behind trash or Aubrey was elsewhere, this was the only spot where she could be. Hero took the lead as he slowly walked upwards, making sure he didn't put too much weight as he feared it might snap under him; it's not that his weight was an issue; it was the poor condition of the wood. As he entered the last room, he indicated that it was safe. So Sunny followed suit. Then Kel. And finally, Palette.

With the air quality being better in the back alley of a bar in the city, as Hero would put it, they finally got to somewhere where the air wasn't as horrid as down below. Everyone had a quick look around at their surroundings. An unmade bed, a TV with a crack in it, a poster for a movie, a photo of what seems to be of her and Kim, a bunny rabbit was looking at Sunny with its beady red eyes as if it was ready to pounce on him and some dirty laundry at one of the corners of the room. If it wasn't for the wooden floor being in ruin, the stench, and the few holes in the ceiling, this could've been a nice room to rest in. It didn't take long for the pinkette to realize she had company; expecting it to be her usual crowd, she was annoyed that they decided to bust in. But she was seeing the faces of her ex-friends. It lit a fire inside of her of anger and annoyance. Only for it to die down just as fast, and the only thing on her mind was playing defensively. Hero stepped forward and gave a small wave before she could say or demand the group do anything.

"Hey Aubrey, how are you feeling?" Aubrey didn't take this too well at all. "What the heck are you doing here? Get the hell out of my room!" Palette was a bit shaken, but she stood her ground as Hero continued what he was saying. "We're sorry for intruding, so this would only take a bit. We want to make sure you're okay." With a few tears forming, she just wanted them out of her room. "I'm fine, just leave." Standing his ground, Hero continued as he pressed on, asking her many questions when he was away—every question, whether intentional or not, stung Aubrey as if she was hit with her own bat. It didn't help that Kel was hammering each question with his quips. Sunny did his best to stay invested in the conversation but took a knee as he stared back at the bunny in its enclosure, and in return, the bunny stared back at him. Palette was worried about what was to come, but after a small bit, Hero came up with something. With a small smile, he suggested they make up like they had many times ago. But none of them said anything; there was still some bad blood between them.

With high tensions, Hero tried to recover this as he walked over and examined the desk behind Aubrey. "They're all I have left of her." She exclaims. Palette saw Hero's fingers twitch slightly when he picked up the Polaroids; it doesn't take a genius to know why that's the case. Besides the slight black residue on them, it's as if they were as pristine as the day Basil took them, like it happened yesterday. She lamented that the garbage took away the photos. But Sunny pulled the ace up his sleeve, with it being by his side the whole time. Aubrey could do nothing but give a small smile, a bit disgusted that her ex-friends dug around the trash but secretly happy about it. It didn't take long for everyone, even Sunny, to take a knee and gather around the photo book. And soon enough, everyone placed their memories together.

The gang was getting restless, if not sick, of the smell coming from the house; Kim knew that what went behind those doors was something she could never wish on her worst enemies. Sure, the mute kid slashed her best friend with a steak knife, but Aubrey had a bat, a nail bat at that. One would do a lot more damage than the other, and since it was out in the open and not hiding in the wake of a strike, Kim knew that Aubrey would win. Sure, the pepper spray the day after was also uncalled for, but it was six on three; they were outnumbered; she didn't expect anything but his most unhinged responses.

After another eternity, the door opened. Everyone's attention was on it. First, a blond came out; she gasped for fresh air as she never wanted to return to that hell of a home. If it were any other time, Kim would've grumbled a bit before returning to whatever candy was in her pocket. But seeing as hatred could only bring the worst out of her, she walked over and patted her back. One time was enough for anyone to experience that kind of house. The blond girl just gave a small thanks and thumbs up. A moment later, it was that mute kid, Sunny. He didn't look all that different, as only his hair was just a bit ruffed up. With white fur on it, it didn't take too long to see where it came from; if it wasn't for the fact that he was moving and the possibility of there still being bad blood between the boss and him, she would've suggested that he could become another member, and with his quick thinking, they could rule all of Faraway with an iron fist or just raid Ginos for whenever there was a special. Then there was that tall guy. She didn't know much about him other than that he was related to Kel, but he has a brain unlike his brother, so there's nothing much thought put into him. Kel soon came out and wasn't wearing his big, bright smile. It's just a small one. Something in her told her this would've been bad, but this one felt more genuine as if he wasn't hiding anything. It took a little while for the boss to show up.

Kim was happy to shove everyone out of the way to ensure her well-being. It didn't take long for everyone else to have that same idea. The boss didn't take long to smile; sure, she had her bat at her hip, but her happiness was more important than the weapon. The smiles were bright to see from Angel and the ever-knowing Maverick; they couldn't help but chant her name out loud as if she were a war hero returning from a grueling campaign. Charlene gave her small but noticeable nods. It was hard to tell what that girl wanted, but you knew you were on her good side as soon as she gave you that small gesture. Vance followed suit with how his sister reacted; if she was happy, he was pleased. Besides, seeing the boss all moody wasn't her style; he was delighted that her old friend group could talk it out.

And right before the two groups split away, she spoke out. Putting on the same brave face as ever before, she spoke as the leader she was. "Hey there, sorry to make you all worry." With a wave of nods, agreement, and gratitude that she was safe and sound from her group, Kim smiled as Aubrey returned to her old self. Maverick chimed in as that persona of charm and swagger wasn't present as he showed more concern; seeing her face red proved it. Angel, still under his influence, didn't drop it but shared the same message as his master did to her. She waved it off, grateful for their consideration. Charlie nodded, her voice barely being heard. It didn't take long for Angel to set up today's plans, hanging out and tormenting Miss Candance as always, and Aubrey would've joined today. But today was different.

"Sorry, everyone, I have some business to take care of with the four behind me." She pointed at Sunny, whose hair was rid of Bun-Bun's fur. Kel quietly talked with Palette, and Hero softly waved at the teens before him." Several 'awws' echoed across the group, but no one could say no to the boss. "Cheer up; it'll just be for today. We can all hang out tomorrow." With the group cheering, everyone nodded before leaving to their own devices. With Aubrey's full attention towards everyone, she followed the group.

With Sunny leading the charge, they all went to Basil's house. With much smaller tensions, Kel and Aubrey weren't trying to rip each other apart as she and Palette slowly mended the bridge around them. Hero could only smile as this does feel like an argument long overdue to be put down. Sunny just walked along the path, and it didn't take long for the gang to reach their final destination—Basil's house. With so many flowers scattered around, neatly placed in flower pots, flower beds, and the ground itself, it was a work of art on how someone so young could easily maintain these plants. Aubrey felt guilty as she considered ripping some of them from the roots and destroying his hard-earned work, but she couldn't. It felt more wrong than ever before.

Still, the quintet stood in front of his doorstep where Sunny knocked; they waited for Basil and saw Miss Polly instead. Hero spoke up as Miss Polly waited for what they came for, most likely the child under her care, but for all she knew, it could be an invitation to a goodbye party for Sunny. "Hello? How could I help you today?" She asked so kindly; she thought it was shocking to see this many people. Basil must've had a better life before that dreadful day. "Good morning, Miss Polly. Can we go see Basil today?" At this point, things took a dire turn as Polly looked away, hurt. "I-I'm sorry, Basil is at the hospital now."

This sent shockwaves throughout the group as worry was getting its way, worried about what this could imply. Was the fall in the pond that rough? Was it fatal as well? Did he get some infection or illness from it? Aubrey worried that her shove was what did him in; her hands were covered in blood, his blood. How could she live with herself? But comparing Aubrey's worry to Palette was comparing a single match to a blazing and uncontrolled fire. Palette, who was worried sick for him, someone she cared so dearly about as if he was her best of friends, if not something more, is happy to confess later down the line. Her heart sank as this could mean anything. And anything but him being in good health was problematic.

It didn't take long before Polly corrected herself, at least trying to calm down the shocked people.

"I-I mean, he went to see his grandmother at the hospital. He's right as rain as of now." With a sigh of relief, they are recovering from the starred condition. With this possibility, Kel pipped up. "So when can we expect him to come back? We want to have a little chat before Sunny leaves for tomorrow." At this point, Polly shrugs, unaware of when he's returning. "He's supposed to be here by sunset, so unless you want to stay in the living room until then, best walk around. Since it's Sunny's last day, one last adventure with him, wouldn't you four agree?"

As there was no better way to spend the last day with him, the gang collectively agreed to walk around, letting the wind take them wherever they wanted. They waved Polly goodbye as they walked off into the distance, a quick trip to where everyone read who their comics were first in line.

Sunny is at the center of it all, taking care of one of the many editions of Captain Boyfriend from the shelves, lying next to the shelf, and displaying its contents to everyone close by. Kel helped himself as he was on one side of Sunny while Aubrey was on the other. As much as she didn't want to admit it publicly, she's still a fan of the works. Hero, meanwhile, was all grown up, so he walked elsewhere in the store to look at what else it had to offer. Whether it was a more 'mature' version of what the teens were reading or a self-help book about cooking, anything would be better than staring at the wall or ceiling. He could try his hand on the arcade machine, but he scored negative points the last time he tried one. Safe to say, he has never touched an arcade machine on purpose ever since that dreadful day. He could only wince as a thud was heard to where the trio was seated, with Kel laying down, seeing stars above him as Aubrey gave a loud 'Hmph' towards him, Sunny as always either unamused of their antics, unaware thanks to the book he was focused on or didn't wish it happens to him either. Palette was elsewhere, staring at her book as she would with something she loved to do, most likely drawing on her book or thinking of a certain 'someone' who wasn't with them now. She could only smile and hide that blush as she tried to finish the book before leaving.

It didn't take long for the group to leave; Henry bought one of the books as he was determined to understand the machinations of the arcade game to save his pride the next time he was challenged at it. Slowly, the group walked to the park, where everyone again took positions. Palette and Hero were discussing how to help Polly with making dinner. She could see that Sunny and Aubrey were taking a seat at the swings; she couldn't hear what Aubrey was saying, but seeing as how relaxed Sunny was, she could only smile and not interrupt either of them, or else she get stared down by Sunny or whacked by Aubrey, unlikely but she rather not risk it. Turning her attention elsewhere, Kel was balling with some people she never knew, and she was happy for him. Time passed, and soon enough, everyone grouped up again.
It didn't take long for everyone to agree to go to her resting place. Hero was the most hesitant as his legs trembled towards the path. On the other hand, Aubrey led the charge as determination was in every step of the way. Once entering the church, a few on-lookers noticed them, and even fewer started to whisper. They received looks from preachers and prayers, the followers, and anyone who wanted to learn or reach enlightenment, but all it took was the head of mass to give them a slight nod and let them at the back.

It didn't take long for everyone to circle her grave. Having the foresight for this, Hero laid beautiful lilies of the valley on her grave. Just as he returned to his original posture, he could've sworn something touched his hand. It was faint but warm. It didn't take long for him to start talking to her. It was a one-way conversation, as the dead couldn't speak. But everyone gave him the silence to connect with her; she deserved it. Maybe it was out of character for him, but Sunny started to prepare a picnic blanket near her grave, and seeing everyone was at best peckish and, at worst, hungry, everyone chipped along as well. In a few minutes, some dishes were prepared by the best chef and his fantastic assistant. Palette helped prepare the salad and the cookies while Sunny and Kel went to buy a few sweets. Aubrey stayed put to make sure no one defiled this meal in the making. And so everyone laughed, everyone ate, and smiled. Like nothing wrong has ever happened. But Basil wasn't with them.

Elsewhere, a teen could only feel emptiness. A teen could only see a figure covered by the bed sheets she was already under. A teen could only hear the monitor produce something no one should listen to in the first place- a flatline. Now, the teen has nothing to gain. He has no friends, family, or one but his demon.

As the sun began to set for the group, with their hunger satisfied, they cleaned up. Sunny and Palette folded the blanket with ease. Aubrey and Kel cleaned up and placed unfinished dishes in small containers for later. Hero placed a slice of Mari's favorite cake next to the flowers on her grave. Sure, the wild animals or bugs will get to it first, but leaving his girlfriend without a plate doesn't feel right to him. With everything cleaned up, everyone left the graveyard with no issue. Mass ended as no one but the Father was dusting the pews, and a few of the followers helped out to tidy up the place. Everyone bowed slightly and thanked the man who had let them pass. They left the church and headed to Sunny's home. They still had enough time to make one last trip before heading to Basil and burying the hatchet.

There was some form of suspense as everyone entered Sunny's house. It was barely noticeable, but Hero's heart dropped once everyone got to the living room. Seeing a place where a tree used to grow alongside the love of his life hanging there, let alone a place that held so many good memories, a shell of its former self. He tried to look elsewhere, but that place. And yet, behind that stump, something better. A place where a handful of memories were formed. He had a bad hand at cards, and Basil seemingly won against all odds. The time when Kel brought over a toaster only to realize there was no electrical source so he could plug it in and make everyone grilled cheese sandwiches, so it was left to gather rust alongside other memories.

He hoped he could be anywhere but there, yet Sunny led the group to that place. A gentle breeze was the only thing they felt as they walked to the tree house. How much of it was a shell of its formal glory. It's a miracle it didn't collapse and still holds shape, as some holes are starting to form, as well as some mold. Despite a few bugs on the ladder, Sunny paid no mind as he climbed it first. Then Kel. Then himself. Then Aubrey. And finally, Palette. With each step inside the wooden room, there was a creak. Looking at the poor conditioning, it was a miracle it didn't collapse as everyone stepped forward. He couldn't help but smile as, despite the strong winds, harsh snowfalls, and unrelenting rain, a deck of cards was still at the center of the table. It's a bit tattered, but it's better than anything else. Aubrey perked up just a bit as she rushed forward, and she picked up a familiar plushie. Mr. Eggplant was here all this time. Giving a quick dusting, she hugged it and smiled; despite its rancid smell, it brought the delinquent warm memories to cling to. Sunny could only pick up the last missing Polaroid as there was nothing else of interest.

He passed it to Kel, who only opened the album and slapped it in its rightful spot. He wondered why he felt a few scratches on the back of it, but he couldn't care to look at them. With the whole album in his hands, he informed everyone before stepping down the tree house with the entire album in his hands. Then, everyone else followed suit. The sun was setting, and in a few moments, Basil would hopefully be there, and then they'd all be able to come to terms with right some wrongs. That everything would be okay.

It didn't take long for dusk to set in. With everyone slowly making their way to Basil's house, everyone was worried about what could happen. Aubrey wonders if it's too late for her to apologize. Kel was concerned that he couldn't get through him. Hero hoped that his words would get through to him. Palette hoped she could make sure that he was safe and sane. Sunny was there along for the ride, and even though he was starting to get tired, he didn't want to return home just yet. Today was his last day in Faraway, after all. Or at least for a long time.

They arrived shortly after Sunny knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer. Polly did and she was not smiling, she was frowning. "Basil's came back; that's the good thing. What isn't is that he's unresponsive. I fear that she passed away. Can you try to talk to him?" The party could only nod as while Sunny had little to no light in his eyes, everyone else had a burning passion to see to their old friend.

Once they entered the room, the smell of all kinds of flowers was there—sunflowers, daisies, ferns, and all other types of flowers. And that's not the only flower, as a flower bed was outside the house. The only thing that stayed consistent was his love for them. And yet, it started to wilt, as if it was a miracle it could live to see tomorrow.

Polly escorted the five of them to his room. She tried knocking but to no luck as there was no response from him, only a faint breathing sound came from the keyhole. Polly can only comment on how it was nice for Basil to have such friendly and caring friends. Both Hero and Aubrey felt a sharp pain to the side once she said those words. A kick for Hero and another stab for Aubrey. They weren't there to help him, only getting ever more depressed and venting out their sadness in destructive ways. They weren't friends, or it didn't feel like that. Still, it is better late than never to help mend these old wounds, even if it has taken four years.

Hero cleared his throat as he knocked on the door. He hopes he can reach out to him. No response. Aubrey tried as well. Her hands were shaky, and the resulting knock was weaker than it could've been. So she tried as well, hoping she'd listen to her or at least accept her apology. No response. Kel followed in everyone's response. He hoped that he'd have a better chance, as, besides Polly, Kel tried his hardest to get him out and see him on a daily basis. No response. Then Palette and finally Sunny. No response to either of them. Disheartened, Hero is about to leave to return to his family, only for Aubrey to speak up. "I think we should stay here for him. We have all run away for the past four years, and it'll be no good if we continue to do so, so why not stay? At least for the night." Turning her attention to the brunette, Aubrey asked if they could stay for the night. Polly could only smile and nod, seeing as there was no harm in letting some of Basil's friends be close by.

Slowly, the group left to do whatever they saw fit until nightfall. Or at least that would've been the case if it hadn't been for one person. Palette didn't want to accept that Basil wanted to be left alone, or at least not like this. Sure, everyone is physically close by and yet emotionally distant. She knocked on his door again. Light enough not to attract attention. She leaned on the door before falling to it's side, she hoped he'll still listen to her if he was fast asleep, not caring for her, or any other scenario. She's worried for him. He's as closed off as the day Mari died. There was no voice from him but that haunting look of his on her corpse. Taking out her small notebook, she wrote on it. Her feelings and worries for him. What has happened to his appearance? Everyone was slowly starting to heal, and they all wished for him to be a part of the healing process, to finally let go of the past and look forward to seeing what tomorrow holds for them. Slowly tearing up the page, she realized some doodles of tiny hearts and butterflies were on it. She could only give a small smile and shrug before ripping it from her notebook and sliding it under his door. Eventually, she left to join with the others. And when there wasn't a sound nearby, Basil picked the note up.

Once returning to the gang, Palette was yanked away by Kel's hand. She could only yelp before crashing alongside Aubrey, who shot him a dirty look. She didn't have time to process anything as she saw a few plates full of snacks such as fruits and a mix of candies and cough drops; the wrappers had no logo, so it was a roll of the dice that everyone would take. Inside the bowl were wrappers with looks of fruits, see-through, bright colors, and bland looking at all. Kel took a handful at random, popping whichever he had got at random and shoving the trash in his pockets. Aubrey had more grace but was quick to take seconds if not thirds. She also placed any trash in the pockets of her skirt jacket. Hero looked at the bowl before pulling out a few of the candies. With pinpoint precision, he picked out the sweetest ones. Sunny only took one. It was grape-flavored. Palette could only stare at the bowl, digging for anything she likes, she smiled as the few she picked up, one was caramel, her favorite.

As the sun began to set, everyone was starting to get tired. It was only a matter of time for everyone to get settled in. And seeing as Basil had yet to leave his room, everyone decided to set up camp by the living room. With Polly passing a few blankets for the group, she could only smile at them being as lively as ever, yet she couldn't help but worry. Hopefully, it's all in her head, and nothing of note happens.

It was a calm night in Faraway. With everyone so quiet, many people weren't aware of what had happened in these last few days, let alone these past few years. These past few years have been nothing but hell for a small friend group.

Four years ago, the big sister of that group took her life. Within that year, her brother shut himself away from the world, a friend of her's ended up in a sanatorium, and relations between everyone else were ruined in an instant. A year later, she returns home but follows suit in the brother by locking herself behind doors; the only thing better is her family being there for her recovery.

A year later, she finally left her self-made cage as the brightest in the group helped her out. Thus, she began to learn of what had happened in her absence and investigate more of her sisters-from-another-mother's deaths thanks to her strange dream. She kept it to herself as she didn't want to bother anyone with it. Besides, the wounds were still too early to prick at as everyone was still hurt. The brightest of smiles was broken on the inside. The strongest of presences was a husk of his former self. The strongest of wills was consumed by rage. The meekest of them all was only one of the steps that caused all this. And the quietest of the group to lose everything, especially his memories and voice. And yet she looked forward. She looked around to see what could have been done and what could have been changed. She held onto the hope that life could return to how it once was, living life to the best of her as this is what she wanted to happen.

Another two years have passed, and times have kept on changing. At least this night is special. The gang is on the way to recovery. Where Aubrey wants to change her ways, or at the very least, hear out Basil and fix what she has destroyed these past few years, their relationship and trust in one another. Hero wanted to be there for everyone once again, like the kind big brother he fitted the role oh so well. Kel wanted to give everyone he cared for a proper smile and a proper friend who'd be there to lean on whenever times got rough. Slowly, the group is healing. Slowly, they didn't need to hide their feelings.

And yet, they couldn't help but feel something was wrong that night.

Nothing was heard as the night went on—only the soft snores of everyone fast asleep. Slowly, Sunny got up. And whether he knew it or not, the following action or lack of it would change everyone once again. And so he…