Chapter Text
KRIS
SEPTEMBER 201X
Kris grimaced as they straightened their green sweater for the hundredth time, checking their appearance in the hallway mirror. They pulled at their sleeves and dropped their head with a sigh. Why did I agree to this? Last week, when Susie and Kris were finishing up their project in the computer lab, Noelle approached and asked Susie if she’d like to accompany her to the festival.
Kris remembered the way their heart dropped at Susie’s hopeful and happy expression. Obviously, Susie wouldn’t say no to Noelle. She had a soft spot for her. Not to mention, Kris was hyper aware of how Susie thought Noelle was oh, so pretty.
“It was just a stupid pencil…” Kris grumbled, fidgeting with their hair. “I could have given you a pencil too, idiot.”
Obviously, Susie agreed to go with Noelle. Not without throwing her arm around Kris and saying, “Kris can come too, right?”
Kris tried to explain to Susie that Festival Day had more romantic undertones. Having Kris on their date would probably make things awkward. But Susie refused. “Dude, just come with. It’s not that serious and we can all have fun.”
Kris began to doubt the whole thing even more when the two of them exchanged phone numbers and have since been texting. When Kris and Susie would hang out, it was like Noelle’s spirit was hanging out with them too. Every few seconds, ding.
Ding.
Ding.
They just kept texting back and forth, Susie smiling all goofy at her phone screen while Kris had to sit idly by and watch. Now, the simmering jealousy in their gut had turned into a fiery blaze. Kris dropped their shoulders in the mirror and grimaced at their appearance. They fingered the ends of their brown hair. Would Susie find me attractive too if I was blonde?
Kris grimaced even deeper at their appearance. They walked into their room and rummaged through their closet, trying to find something better to wear. Susie isn’t going for you; she’s going for Noelle. Stop trying to outshine her.
Kris sighed, turned to their bed and grabbed their wallet and phone. On the bed, sat an open notebook full of scribblings and ramblings. At the top of the page in Kris’s neat hand writing, “WHAT TO SAY ON FESTIVAL DAY”.
Kris sighed even deeper and shut the notebook. That plan was useless now…
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Susie was already waiting outside. She grinned as Kris stepped out.
“Hey, dude, what’s up?” Susie asked. “You ready to go?”
Kris nodded. Their stomach ached slightly as they had a feeling what the rest of the day would entail. Watching Susie light up and grin with Noelle. Susie was shining so brightly this morning. Kris was staring. They couldn’t help it. Susie was so beautiful. She was in her usual outfit, ripped blue jeans and a white tee shirt and her favorite purple sweater. As Susie passed Kris, they could get a whiff of her earthly scent.
Kris and Susie walked into town together, the sweet smell of flowers riding on the last winds of summer. Kris took the scent in, thinking back to all the festivals they’ve attended with their family. Now their family was broken apart and Kris was stuck trying to be a supportive friend to their crush.
They walked through town, gazing at all the booths and attractions that were set up overnight. Kris fidgeted with their sweater sleeves as they approached the school. Noelle was already waiting there.
“Hey, Noelle!” Susie greeted, picking up her pace to approach Noelle.
Noelle smiled shyly. “Hi, Susie,”
Noelle peeked her head around Susie and looked at Kris. “Hey, Kris, thanks for coming,”
Kris only nodded. Noelle didn’t do anything wrong but Kris couldn’t help the rage that bubbled in their stomach. They didn’t want to be here. Kris didn’t want to witness what might be the start of forever. But here Kris was. At the start of what could be forever.
They began their journey into town. They stopped to drop the Ice-e mascot into the dunk pool, causing Susie to laugh uproariously. Next, they stopped by the police station where a hammer game was set up. Kris thought back to their childhood with Asriel, when they would both put all their strength into hitting the buttons, trying to reach the top.
“Um, who’s going to hit this?” Noelle asked, looking between Susie and Kris.
Kris stepped back and gestured at the game. “You two,”
Kris wanted to show support for them, even if it hurt like a thousand knives stabbing into their chest.
Susie and Noelle lined up to hit the buttons. Noelle was explaining to Susie that hitting the buttons at the same time would let them hit the bell at the top. But Susie, being Susie, hit the button early. The meter jumped to the middle before shooting back down.
Noelle giggled and laughed. “Susie, we’re supposed to hit them at the same time! Y’know, if the two of you hit the bell… it means you two must really get along!”
Susie blushed slightly before slamming both of her hands down on each button. The meter shot up and the bell dinged. They both laughed nervously and shyly stepped away from the game.
Kris was in hell. What the hell was that? Kris wanted to try the game with Susie too. Surely their bond was strong enough to hit the bell. Kris kicked at the asphalt, sulking slightly as they moved to the church next. What do you even like about her?
Well, it was obvious why Susie liked Noelle. Noelle was smart and pretty. She had her own room and the two of them had some things in common. Obviously, I wouldn’t be a good match for Susie. I shouldn’t be stupid, she doesn’t want me.
Kris entered the church, slightly surprised to see the foyer was decorated in Halloween decorations. Pastor Alvin smiled at Kris when they entered as Susie and Noelle took a look around the foyer.
“Hello, Kris,” Alvin said. “Have you considered my offer?”
Kris fidgeted with the sleeve of their sweater. “Uh, kind of?”
Alvin chuckled. “That tells me you’ve thought very little of it. Don’t worry, come to me anytime you’ve figured it out.”
Kris nodded and jumped slightly as Noelle let out a piercing scream. Alphys, dressed in a black cloak and fangs protruding out of her mouth, hung from the ceiling. She was fussing as Noelle shook against Susie. Susie had a protective arm around Noelle and was trying to soothe her from the fright.
“Oh, those two seem to have gotten close.” Alvin observed. Kris narrowed their eyes as their stomach churned. This sucked.
Kris walked over to Catti’s booth as she gazed into her scrying orb.
“I see…” Her paws mystically moved around the ball. “That you’ve betrayed the code, Kris.”
Kris’s shoulders slouched as Catti continued. “You let Noelle go… with the purple beast. Is this because of the summoning? Revenge? Because I left you? I already told you, I cast apology spells. I was weak and the fear took me.”
“Noelle asked Susie to join her today,” Kris explained, glancing over at the couple. “What did you want me to do?”
“Follow the code of neighbors, Kris,” Catti sighed, her eyes becoming watery.
Kris groaned softly and approached Susie and Noelle at the juice table.
“Here you go, Kris,” Susie held out a cup for Kris. Kris glanced at Noelle who was holding her own cup. Kris looked down at the cup then back at Susie who was grinning wide. Kris couldn’t help but smile back as they did their juice ritual. Kris reached up and poured their juice into Susie’s mouth as Susie dumped her cup into Kris’s. They both wiped their mouths and laughed.
Kris was giddy. Finally, a moment with Susie. Susie was here laughing and smiling down at Kris. The spell was broken when Noelle laughed behind them. “Fahaha, you two are so silly!”
Susie threw an arm around Kris. “That’s what best friends do, y’know?”
Right. That’s what they were. Best friends. Kris let out a strained laugh. Susie released them and left the church with Noelle, Kris following after like the third wheel they were.
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Susie and Noelle shared a large cinnamon roll, giggling and laughing while Kris stood off to the side. Kris had to physically look away as Susie licked the icing off her fingers. It got even worse when they moved onto the Ferris wheel. Kris had to stand on the ground below as the two of them went up in their little heart shaped car.
This really sucks. Susie and Noelle hopped off the Ferris wheel looking flustered. It only increased the pain in Kris’s stomach. They swung by the voting booth, Noelle putting down her and Susie’s name while Susie did the same. Noelle asked Kris to do the same so that Noelle and Susie could be crowned Flower King and Queen but Kris was divided.
Kris held the pen over the paper and debated writing ‘FUCK’ and ‘THIS’. But Susie was here. Susie was happy with Noelle. Did Kris really want to let their own feelings get in the way of Susie’s happiness? Don’t be selfish…
Kris grimaced and wrote down both of their names on the paper. Kris showed it to Noelle who smiled and thanked Kris softly. Kris dropped the paper into the box and thought, yeah, this really sucks.
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Kris stared down at the dirt in between the lattices of the lake bench, their head resting on the table. The sun was setting now. Hopefully, their last stop. Kris’s fingers were sticky from ice cream. Noelle bought them all ice cream before they came to the lake, Susie gobbling down two before both of them went to the lakes edge. Kris watched as Susie walked into the lake with her shoes on. They chuckled and smiled at the sight. Of course Susie would do something insane like that.
But then Susie doubled back and approached Noelle on the shore, lifting her into her arms and wadding out into the lake. They were laughing and smiling, Noelle’s head resting on Susie’s chest as if to listen to her heart.
Kris felt tears prick at her face as the two of them continued to sway in the water.
Just get up and say something. Kris thought. But what would they say? Susie was on a date right now. Why would they ruin her happiness? I can be a bit selfish, right? Kris looked up again at Susie, the sunset illuminating her features. Her hair shiny in the evening light, her golden eyes brighter as the water shined behind her. But in her arms… was Noelle. Not Kris.
It’s not your place. Kris thought glumly. They pressed their face into the table as the new couple continued to giggle and laugh.
This really fucking sucks.
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Susie nudged Kris’s shoulder. “Hey, wake up, dude.”
Kris lifted their head groggily. Susie jabbed a thumb back towards the town. “They’re going to announce the winners for Flower King and Queen soon. You coming with?”
Kris nodded and peeled themselves off the bench. Susie took one look at them and laughed. “Dude! You look like a pineapple!”
Kris only stared up at Susie, admiring her smile. At least that smile was for them.
Kris stood and followed Noelle and Susie back to the makeshift stage in front of Catti’s house. A small crowd had already gathered in front of it as Asgore stood on the platform, a folded slip of paper in his hands. “Everyone ready to find out your Flower King and Queen?!”
The crowd cheered. Kris clapped lightly as Susie cheered loudly. She looked down at Noelle and smiled before glancing at Kris and beamed again. Kris’s heart twisted. Two different smiles for different people. Of course. Kris smiled back as best as they could and turned their attention to the stage.
Asgore opened the paper and beamed. “Everyone’s new favorite couple! Susie and Noelle, come on up!”
Kris felt sick. Of course. Of course people would vote for them. They were only walking around all lovey dovey.
Susie turned to Noelle and crushed her in a hug before taking her hand and pulling Noelle to the stage. Kris watched as Asgore placed a flower crown on Susie’s head then Noelle’s. Susie turned to Noelle and smiled brightly, clutching her hand.
Kris felt trapped in the audience. This wasn’t how today was supposed to go at all. Kris was supposed to be up there with Susie. Kris was supposed to be the one confessing at the lake. But Kris wasn’t. Kris had so many opportunities to confess their feelings but they never said anything. Kris was so worried about ruining their friendship that now they weren’t even sure if they could continue to be friends with Susie. The pain of seeing them together every day would be too great. They didn’t take the chance when it was there and now Noelle was in their place.
Kris slowly began to creep out of the crowd and make their way home. At least the day was over. They didn’t want to get in the way of Noelle and Susie’s celebrations. They would probably just third wheel for that too. Kris made it home and went inside, climbing the stairs. The house was dark. Toriel must be out and about. Probably with that annoying skeleton.
Kris sighed as they opened their bedroom door and threw themselves down on the bed. They were happy the day was over with. But after today, new challenges would arise. Kris figured that every day would be like today. Everyday, Kris would have to watch Susie, the girl they liked, be with Noelle, their childhood friend.
Bile sat on their tongue as they rolled over at stared at the ceiling.
I should have said something before. I’m so stupid.