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Leafy leaned herself back against one of the tall posts on the HPRC, seeing Bubble sit on its edge and Flower lean up against it. No one was saying anything, but they really didn't have to. It was so close to a BFDI final four reunion. But it wasn't a final four reunion. Someone was missing.
Leafy didn't want a BFDI final four reunion. Even though those words were months ago, they stung like they were just said to her. Bubble and Flower didn't know. They weren't there. They were both dead. Besides, it was a private meeting. Just her and Firey. They didn't know what Firey had told her. What Firey had said when she recovered him.
Stranger.
That word stung more than feeling the drill pierce through her. That word stung more than finding out that Book and Tennis Ball didn't like her challenge. That one word stung more than anything else. More than Bubble's words in BFDI 23. More than the loneliness she went through for almost the entire season. The truth was simple. Firey didn't want to see her again.
Fine, if that's how he wanted it, that's what she'd let him have. She'd live her life without him. Even if they were THAT close to a final four reunion, but not quite there. Leafy didn't want to see Firey if Firey didn't want to see Leafy. Emotions swirled in her brain, but she didn't say anything. If she said something, then something bad would happen. That happens if she acts on her emotions and she knows that.
"HEY FLOWER! WE NEED YOU!"
Needle - who was competing - somehow managed to call all the way out here.
"PLEASE COME OVER HERE. I THINK YOU'RE UH... REALLY BEAUTIFUL!"
Definitely a lie, coming from Needle. She just needs Flower for some reason or another.
"Woell? Aroen't you gonna go?"
"Why? Everyone already knows I'm beautiful. It's just a fact of life."
"AND I ALSO UH... DON'T HATE YOU."
"GASP! Someone on this planet DOESN'T hate me? I'm on my waaaaaay!"
As Flower left a cloud of dust behind, Leafy just watched. Bubble then jumped down, offering Leafy to join her.
"Woanna hear about BFDIA?"
"...Sure."
Listening to Bubble was a nice way to forget about what Firey had told her. That she was just a stranger in his life now. Bubble cared, at least, enough to let her listen about all that she missed.