Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Funneh sighed, slipping quietly into her English class, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw that the teacher was late as well. As she walked to her seat by the window, she passed by a front-row seat, empty with a handful of flowers laid upon the surface. Emily, her desk mate, waved to her as she sat down, stuffing her backpack under the desk and pulling out her phone.

“Hey, Funneh, how are you doing?” Emily asked, turning to her.

Funneh sighed dramatically, resting her cheek in her palm as she spoke. “Terrible. Gold has taken it upon herself to ‘fix my sleep schedule.’ She’s been waking me up at 7:30 every day. Even the weekends!”

Emily laughed as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Hey, it can’t be all bad, maybe now you’ll actually start showing up on time.”

“It doesn't matter if I’m late if the teacher is later than me.”

“Hm, good point.”

“Hey, uh, what's up over there?” Funneh pointed to the empty desk at the front of the class. Emily turned to where she pointed and frowned.

“You don't know? It was all over the school’s website.”

“Do I look like someone who looks at my school’s website?”

Emily shrugged. “I dunno. Anyway, you must know why the zombie game was cut short, though. Jemma was the one that fell.”

“Woah,” Funneh sat up and raised a brow, “she’s not back to school yet? It's been days.”

“No, she probably won't be back for a while, she’s in hospital.” Emily looked at the ground.

“The hospital? The fall was that serious?” 

“Yeah, her friends say they went and visited her yesterday, she’s awake and all, but she hit her head pretty hard, can't remember anything.”

Funneh stayed silent and Emily turned away when a guy called her name, signaling the end of their conversation. Funneh looked through the crowd of her classmates at Jemma’s desk, the flowers now seemed pitiful instead of sweet. Left for a girl who probably wouldn't see them until they wilted. She looked out the window to the grass field below. She hadn't even really thought about the game over the long weekend.

While she and her friends were having fun, someone got hurt.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the teacher walking in.

“Alright class, we’re starting a bit late-”

And who’s fault is that? Funneh smiled as she eyed the Minebucks cup in his hands.

“-so we’ll have to hurry through, but I have an announcement to make.” The class seemed to perk up. “Principal Desu is holding an assembly before lunch, whatever class you have then will be replaced. Now onto today’s-”

Funneh tried to subtly open her phone under her desk, hastily checking her schedule for the day. She cheered mentally when she saw Math before Lunch. Her least favourite subject was successfully avoided. And she didn't even have to do anything! That’s what Funneh calls a win.

She glanced at Jemma’s desk. Is that what Desu was going to talk about? It seemed a little over the top. 

Oh well , she thought, at least it's getting me out of Math .

“What do you mean? He hasn't texted you back?”

Funneh shook her head, looking at her phone clutched in her hands. It was open to her and Alec’s text conversation that had been disappointingly quiet as of late. She and Gold were surrounded by classmates as they all made their way toward the gym.

“Not since the zombie game.”

“Well, what did you say?” Gold questioned as she snatched the device from her. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she scanned the messages. “Why did you text him four times?! It's only been three days, Funneh!” she whisper-yelled.

“What was I supposed to do? He can’t text me back if I don’t text him.” Funneh flustered, waving her hands around in front of her. She reached out to grab her phone back from her friend's hands.

“Uh uh, you can’t just double text, Funneh! That’s so- oof!” Gold stumbled forwards as someone shoved her shoulder, the phone hitting the ground before Funneh could grab it.

“Hey!” Funneh looked up and saw an onslaught of hot pink and red hair walking away, giggles following them. Funneh picked her phone off the ground, dusting off the screen as Gold huffed. 

“Whatever, let's just go find Kyran. I’ll have to coach you on how to text later.” Gold muttered as she smoothed down her hair. Funneh nodded, slipping her phone back into her pocket. Ever since Evelyn’s Christmas party, Funneh had been hoping Felicia and Brittney would back off a bit, but she supposes not. Not too much of a surprise, but still annoying.

The girls followed the flow of the crowd into the gym. The gym was loud with chatter as they stepped inside, Gold grabbed her sleeve and pulled her towards the bleachers.

“There! Over by the right!” Funneh followed Gold's finger and spotted Kyran’s dark blue hair. He was turned around, talking to someone behind him who quickly left to join another group. Funneh recognized him as Lucas, Kyran’s younger brother.

Funneh and Gold made their way over, swerving between students until they reached their friend.

“Heya, Kyran. What’d Lucas want?” Funneh asked as she sat down in front of him.

Kyran rolls his eyes. “Nothing much. Mom called him, apparently, he’s failing Chem, and she wants him home this weekend. He wants me to cover for him.” he mutters, eyeing his little brother and his friends who were laughing loudly.

“Chemistry?” Gold asks, “aren't you good at that? Have you not helped him?”

“I didn't know! He never tells me the important stuff.”

“Well,” Funneh says, leaning back against his knees, batting her eyelashes at him dramatically. “If you're not helping Lucas, you could always help me?”

“O-oh, uhm.” Kyran’s cheeks tinted pink. Funneh saw him glance at Gold quickly when she laughed and rolled her eyes fondly. “Uh, sure, I guess. Whenever is fine for me.”

“Great! Thanks, Kyran, you're the best!” she shot him a thumbs up and turned back around.

“Could I join in sometimes? We could all have a big study date!” Gold clapped her hands happily at the idea, looking between the two excitedly.

Funneh smirked and nudged Kyran with her elbow. “Oh, I don't know, Gold. Kyran and I just have soooo much fun together, don't know if you could keep up, y’know?”

“W-what?! No! You can come along anytime, Gold! I, er, we would be happy to have you there.”

Gold rolled her eyes fondly. “Yeah, yeah, Funneh is just stupid and doesn't wanna embarrass herself by having me there.”

“I’ll have you know that I got a seventy-three on my last test.” Granted, it had been a P.E. assessment test, but that's not the point.

Principal Desu walking into the gym interrupted what Gold was going to say in response. She cheerily walked to centre stage and unnecessarily clapped for attention. Gold gave Funneh one last shove before they set their attention up front.

“Hello, students! I'm sorry for such a last-minute assembly, but I do have a handful of things to talk about today.” She said loudly, scanning the crowd of students.

“Do you think this is about the zombie game?” Funneh whispered in question, Kyran shrugged in response.

“First things first, the incident that cut the zombie game short. One of the participating students fell off of a high wall but was not severely hurt. I'm sure she’ll be back in class in no time!” Desu finished with a smile. Funneh heard a quiet huff of breath from somewhere in the crowd. “Second, I'm sure you all remember the protest of our uniforms. I’ve done some thinking. I want my students to be as happy and comfortable as you can be, so, starting next year, our uniforms will no longer be necessary.”

Cheers and claps erupted from the crowd. Funneh’s shoulders dropped in relief. “Oh, thank goodness,” she muttered, “I can't stand these things.”

“Same, and I usually like skirts.” Gold said as she picked at the blue threads.

Kyran shrugged, “eh, I don’t mind them all that much.”

“Yeah, but you wear a tie every day.” 

“A blue tie.” Gold chimed in.

“Hardly casual, dude.”

Kyran huffed and rolled his eyes, he hunched forward with a muttered ‘yeah, yeah.’.

“Yes, yes, very exciting, but quiet down now! Thank you. Now, as we come closer to the end of the year you all must be aware and prepare for exams! Of course, seniors are almost done, but that doesn't make them any less important for the rest of you!” 

The excitement Funneh felt quickly melted away. Exams? How had they snuck up on her like this? She forgot exams were even a thing for a while!

“Shit.” 

Gold lifted a hand to cover her laugh. “Good thing you got Kyran to help you, huh?”

“I think I'm gonna need a lot more than ‘help’. A cheat sheet, maybe?”

“Oh, come on,” Kyran said as he leaned down to speak. “You can't cheat, you’ll be fine.”

“I don't think you know me, Kyran.”

“Well, you’ve gotten this far, right?”

“Yeah, and I'm not sure how.”

At the front, Desu sighed with her hands on her hips. “Oh, calm down. They’re just exams!” that did absolutely nothing to raise spirits. “Oh well. The last thing I’m here to talk about is what happens after exams. The end-of-year school festival will still be held!”

“Woah,” Funneh sat up to attention. “So soon after another accident?”

Desu answered her question. “This is the school's way of showing we have everything under control. Besides, after our win against Vengeance high at the tournament, we can't let them outdo us now! If you’d like, you can apply for a booth at the festival. Your teachers will have a form to fill out if you ask for one, along with additional information! That’s all for today, kids. You’re dismissed for lunch!”

Students began to stand and make their way out of the gym but Gold excitedly turned to Funneh and Kyran.

“Oh my gosh! Did you guys hear that? We totally have to get a booth!” She grabbed Funneh’s sleeve and shook her. “Oooohh, could we do a bake sale? I have a ton of new recipes I want to use!”

“Er..” She and Kyran shared a look of apprehension. They both knew a bake sale would quickly turn into selling charcoal. “Uhm, maybe? Let's think about it, ‘kay?”

“Yeah, how about we go over our options first?”

“Hmph.” Gold pouted but accepted it. “Okay. Well, we should get to lunch quickly.” 

Funneh breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. She stood and made her way down the bleachers with her friends, they followed the majority crowd to the cafeteria and got in line. When they got to the front Funneh looked around the room while Gold and Kyran ordered. She spotted Yandere sitting with a few of her classmates, Prince was with Felicia and Brittney and their group, and Michelle was not too far away by herself. She knew Evan had practice during lunch most days, so he was usually never here.

Funneh sighed, she couldn't see any sign of Evelyn, Senpai, or Alec. Evelyn, she could understand, she was always doing something important. Senpai was usually over with the popular crowd or with Yandere, she didn't know where he could be. Alec though, was always flexible when it came to things like this. It would never raise any concerns if he didn't show up at lunch or study hall, but given the fact that her messages still went unread, she had a worried feeling.

Of course, she wasn't so much worried about him, Funneh knew he was prone to skipping and could take care of himself, but the last time he had ghosted her was for an entire summer, and when he ditched their date. She was debating whether or not to text him again, or maybe even call but she decided it would probably be best to have Gold around when she did so.

“-lo? Are you going to get something or not, girl?”

Funneh startled, whipping around to face the bored-looking lunch lady. “O-oh! Yes, sorry, Beatrice. Can I get uhm, do you have pizza?”

“No.”

“So- no, not soup.” Funneh shuddered. “Uh, a sandwich?”

“Nope.”

“Hot dogs?”

“No.”

“Well, what do you have?” Funneh sighed. The worst part about lunch was figuring out what you could have for lunch.

“Hold on.” Beatrice turned and grabbed a plastic baggie off of the back counter. While she wasn't looking, Funneh subtly rolled an orange off the ‘staf only!!’ stand and palmed it. Beatrice came back and dropped the baggie on Funneh’s lunch tray with a dull ‘thwump’. “A sandwich, all we have.”

“Thanks- wait, I asked for a sandwich!”

“You did?” Beatrice raised a brow but she didn't look like she was interested in her answer. “Oh well, you have it now.”

Funneh spun on her heel with a muttered ‘thanks’ and started to search for her friends. She hadn't even noticed they’d walked away. She quickly found them, taking a seat beside Gold and across from Kyran. They both had matching baggies, though going by the soggy look of their sandwiches, Funneh didn't hold much faith in her own.

“Jeez, you sure took your time.” Gold said as she sat down.

“Yeah, thanks for leaving me.” Funneh poked the bread cautiously, like it would explode at any sudden movement. “Don't think it was worth it though.” She pushed it aside and started peeling her orange instead.

“Yeah, I think the cheese has been around longer than me.” Kyran shrugged, looking up from his phone.

“At least you got cheese.” Gold waved her bologna and mayo sandwich. “But see? We should all be able to get to enjoy some actual food! Maybe we could do even more than a bake sale.”

“We should ask around first, don't wanna do one if someone else is already doing one, right?”

“Uh, yeah! You don’t wanna take any customers away from someone else.” Kyran assured, trying to keep her spirits up. “That’d be.. Uh, awkward?”

Gold hummed, putting a hand to her chin. “I guess you're right. I’ll have to look into it a little more before making any plans. Now that that's sorted, Funneh.” Gold turned and leveled her with a hard stare.

Funneh paused with an orange slice halfway to her mouth. “Uh, yes?”

“You heard what Principle Desu said, exams are coming up pretty soon.” Gold said as she groaned, Kyran looking up as well. “Yeah, I know you don't like studying but you have to!”

“But it's so boring! I would rather do literally anything else.”

“What, like cleaning your room?” Gold deadpanned.

“Er, almost anything.”

“You know these aren't like normal tests right?” Kyran piped up. The girls turned to him in question. “Of course you do, but we’re Juniors, if you fail, you fail. ”

Funneh shot him a look she hoped said ‘duh?’. The message apparently got across because he sighed and rolled his eyes. “I mean, if you fail exams, you fail the year. You’ll probably have to repeat.”

Funneh’s mouth dropped open. She…. she hadn't thought about that. If she failed exams she would have to repeat the year. All the homework she’s already done she’d have to do again! All without her friends! The thought horrified her.

“If I fail even one exam I’ll have to repeat the whole thing?” she muttered to herself while staring down at her hands. She didn't notice Gold and Kyran share a look.

“Yup! And that would suck big time. We might even have to stop being dorm buddies if we’re not in the same year.” Gold nodded sadly, putting a hand to her cheek for extra effect.

“I-I can't do that! What would I do? Oh god, my parents. What would everyone think?” she gasped and looked at her friends desperately and whispered, “What would Alec think?”

Kyran shrugged and hid his smile behind the soggy sandwich. “Dunno, worst case scenario he ditches you, right?”

“That's it!” Funneh thumped a fist into the table. “I’m going to study my butt off and pass my exams- no, I’ll ace them!”

Gold clapped her hands sarcastically in celebration. “Yay, you're actually going to study, I’m impressed. You got two weeks, Funneh, whatcha gonna do?”

“Kyran!” Funneh pointed at him, her finger landing inches from his face. “You're going to help me with Chem, right? Then help me with everything else!”

“Uh, I would, but I’ve gotta study myself.” He replied. Funneh’s hand drooped with disappointment and she slumped back in the plastic chair. “Plus, I only really excel in Chemistry. I mean, I’ll help here and there, of course, but you should ask someone else for the majority.”

Funneh mentally went down her list of friends, sorting out the ones smart enough to help before she landed on the perfect candidate.

“Evelyn! She would help me right?”

“Hm, probably,” Gold assured her. “She is really smart too, I’m sure she wouldn't say no.”

“Perfect.” Funneh smiled, determined to pass with flying colours. It’d be easy, she’s sure. Especially with the help of her two smartest friends? She’s practically passed already! She doesn't like studying because it's boring, and while she doubts this will make it any less boring, she’s determined to pass and show everyone that she’s just as smart as everyone else.

“I think her next block is study hall, you’ll probably find her in the library or something,” Gold said, snapping her out of her inner monologue. Gold gently slides her forgotten food back in front of her. “But for now, we only have a few minutes left, you should at least finish your thievery.”

Funneh startled at the shrill bell. It signaled the end of the school day and Funneh slammed her locker door shut. She wrinkled her nose as the sound of a flushing toilet reached her as she walked away towards the front doors. She slipped her phone into her pocket and shouldered her bag, it was much heavier now that she had put all of her textbooks in it.

She saw Kyran standing by the doors looking down at his phone. She walked up to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, and led him outside, he looked up confused, and glanced around.

“Where’s Gold?” he asked as they started down the pathway to the dorms.

“She texted, she’s staying back for a bit longer, I think she said something for class? Maybe, I dunno.” she shrugged. Kyran frowned and glanced back at the school building before turning and continuing their walk.

“Did you get to talk with Evelyn?”

“Yup!” Funneh raised a thumbs up. “The urge to study has worn off but it's too late to back out now.”

Kyran laughed and was about to respond when a voice cut them off.

“Hey! Funneh, Kyran, wait up!” The both of them paused, waiting for Senpai to catch up. They greeted him when he eventually stopped in front of them and smiled. “Hey, I just wanted to let you guys know, but I’m having a party after exams if you wanna go”

“Really? Whoo! Party at Senpai’s!” Funneh cheered, throwing her hands in the air for extra effect.

Senpai chuckled, “yeah, don't get too excited, you gotta get at least a B+ to get in.”

“Oh, haha.” She rolled her eyes and shoved his shoulder playfully.

“But seriously, it's the Saturday after exams at my place, I’ll text you the address. Can you let Gold and Alec know too? I haven't been able to talk to them today.”

“Sure. We’ll definitely be there.” Funneh waved as she and Kyran started to walk away again.

“Great. Oh, Kyran!” Senpai said and quickly caught back up to them.

Kyran turned to him confused. “Yeah?”

“Sorry to ask, dude, but do you think I could borrow your Math notes from today?”

“Oh, sure.” Kyran rummaged around in his bag before pulling out a yellow notebook. He handed it to Senpai who bowed his head in thanks quickly before waving goodbye and heading back inside. 

Funneh looked up at Kyran with a false disappointed stare.

“Dude, yellow is totally for science.”

Kyran looked at her incredulously. “What? Nuh uh, green is for science.”

Funneh scoffed and placed her hands on her hips as they continued their debate on the way to the dorms.  She smiled when he pulled out his other books, adamantly showing her their respective colours. She liked this. She was glad they met him, she could fool around with him in a way Gold never liked to. It felt nice to have a friend who liked this version of her. 

Kyran was a dork, sure, but she liked him. 

They walked side by side down the sidewalk, laughing and chatting away. Kyran’s eyes lit up and started raving about a new episode of an anime he watched that had just come out. They had just entered the dormitory area when he was interrupted by his phone ringing. He pulled the device out and sighed when he saw the caller ID.

“Who is it?” Funneh asked as she unlocked her front doors.

“Lucas.” He looked up at her and smiled apologetically. “He never calls me, it must be important, I should go see what he wants. See you later?”

Funneh nodded with a quiet ‘mhm’ and walked inside. She immediately went to the kitchen, opening the fridge to scour for edible food. She eventually settled on leftover sushi. After she changed into her more comfortable clothing she flopped down on the couch, turned on the TV, and decided to wait a bit before heading out to Evelyn’s. Sure, she wants to pass, but that doesn't mean she’s thrilled to have to study.

She flipped through channels, bored. 

News, cute animals, more news, cartoons, soaps, documentaries, even more news….

She sighed, eventually settling on the bright cartoon for background noise. Pulling out her phone, she hovered her thumb above Alec’s message thread. Why isn't he replying to her? Was she just overreacting? Her gaze found the ‘delivered’ status and groaned, throwing her head back against the couch. At least he wasn't leaving her on ‘read’.

Screw it , she thought. She brought her phone up to her face and typed out a message, and pressed send before she could convince herself otherwise.

Saturday 1:23 PM

You: hey Alec! Is it just me or was the game yesterday kinda weird?? Like, am i the

only one who questions how in the world teh school was able to do that???? 

Saturday 6:19 PM

You: omg please dont tell gold but she is going to kill me someday. Sushi is my only

safe haven, she doesnt touch that lmao. Anyway, what are you doing this

weekend? I was thinking we could all go do something?? Lmk!

Sunday 11:42 AM

You: Ill take that as a ‘your busy’ haha. No worries! Gold woke me up early as hell

today so im not feeling up to going out anyway. Ill see you at school tmrw?

Today 9:04 AM

You: hey, are you not at school today? Are you okay? You can talk to me if 

sumthing is up :))

Today 4:16 PM

You: hey uhhh, i dont mean to bother you if your busy but im getting kinda worried

lol. Just wann amake sure your okay! Also Senpai invited us all to a party!

You: Get back to me soon. 

You: or just go to school XD

Delivered

She stared at the screen watching the minutes tick by. After five, she gave up. Switching her phone off with a sigh. Out of sight, out of–

“Funneh!” Funenh yelped, her phone flying out of her hands and hitting her in the nose when the doors swung open, Gold rushing in quickly after. She fumbled with her phone, turning it off and shoving it under the cushions before her friend could see it.

“Gold! You scared the hell outta me.” Funneh scolded, looking over the back of the couch at the other girl. Gold was setting her bag down on the kitchen counter before sauntering her way over to the couch.

“Sorry,” she said, not sounding sorry at all. “I decided not to do the booth thing at the festival, so you don't have to worry about it.”

“What? Why?” Funneh asked. She sat up to see Gold more clearly, she had a big smile on her face and her cheeks were flushed slightly.

“Oh, well, I ran into Prince and asked if he was going and he said yes. He said that ‘he would be delighted to spend time with me,’ his words! But, if I had a booth I’d be stuck there all day. So yeah, no booth.” 

“Oh, I guess that makes sense. So what, you're gonna ditch me?” she said with a smirk, grabbing her phone and slipping it into her pocket, she got up from the couch and started towards the stairs.

“No! Of course not, Funneh!” Gold called after her, crossing her arms. When Funneh came back downstairs in her casual clothes Gold raised a brow at her.

“Where are you going?” 

“Evelyn agreed to help me study, I’m heading over to hers,” she replied as she grabbed her bag and headed for the door. “Oh, before I forget, Senpai invited us to a party.”

Gold perked up with interest. “A party? when?”

“After exams,” Funneh shrugged, “I’ll tell you more when I get back, ‘kay?”

“Ugh, fine.” Gold groaned in response, though she was smiling. “We’ll go get new outfits this weekend then!”

Funneh waved goodbye and shut the front door behind her. She started down the path towards the street. Evelyn didn't live in the school dorms so she’d have to get a taxi there. She looked up at the sky, it was turning a rich pink and orange, hopefully, she’d make it there before it got dark.

Knock knock knock!

Funneh’s fist rapped against the hardwood, the sound echoing throughout the empty street. The cool air sent a chill down her spine. It was a lot later than she wanted but she had accidentally given the driver the address where Evelyn’s Christmas party was held, instead of the much smaller suburban house she stayed in for school.

Just goes to show how rich she really is, Funneh chuckled to herself. She sighed and knocked again, halfway through the door swung open.

“Hey, Funneh.” Evelyn smiled at her, peeking through the doorway, still in her school uniform. She swung it open and stretched an inviting arm out behind her.  “Come on in.” 

“Coolio..” Funneh muttered as she stepped inside. It looked the same as last time, cluttered but not in a messy way, the open kitchen had a few dishes stacked in the sink, the cream walls decorated sparsely, evidence scattered around, and a dark hallway leading to where Funneh assumed the bath and bedroom were.

“Do you want to study at the table or in my room?” She asked, jabbing a manicured finger at a wooden table that housed a few stacks of paper, some loose and some in folders.

Funneh glanced around quickly, “uh, your room?” The blonde nodded, turning to the hallway. 

“Feel free to have a look around.” Evelyn said as she left for her room. Funneh leisurely walked around the room, scanning the pictures pinned to cork boards and sticky notes that were stuck to the walls. Red marker and string marked almost everything there, the messy arrows and question marks made her dizzy.

Evelyn's large information board looked about the same, some things had been crossed out, pictures added on top of old ones, and ripped-out notebook pages filled with notes.

On one side a piece of printer paper was tacked in a clearing, and in the middle “WHO IS ‘INFO-KUN’?” was written in a bold red print.

“Hm.” Funneh pinched the paper between her fingers gently, studying the letters like they would give her the answer. 

Info-kun, Info-kun…, she thought, trying to remember where she’d heard the name before. Maybe when Valerie’s dorm was vandalized? When the dorms burned down? No, that didn't seem right.

She sighed, frustrated. Putting the thought to the back of her mind, she turned to continue her search when something on the opposite wall caught her eye. It hadn't been there before, or maybe it was, she hadn't really been looking the last time she was there.

It was another corkboard with printed pictures littering every inch, the few empty spaces filled with sticky notes. Above the board was a large ‘SUSPECTS’. Funneh’s breath caught in her throat. Suspects? Evelyn had a suspect for Valerie’s murder, more than one? She walked quickly over to it and chills shot through her.

Most of the photos were school photos, like those in a yearbook. Funneh’s eyes widened when she saw her own face staring back at her.

Was she a suspect?

Her confusion grew when she saw Gold’s and Kyran’s photos not too far away from hers. Then Alec’s and Meghan’s and Yandere’s and Senpai’s. There were even some who she didn't recognize.

Only a few had a red ‘X’ over their face, and none of her friends had been crossed out.

“But…” Ahe uselessly muttered to herself, raising a hand to the pristine photos. She turned her gaze to the people who were crossed out and the notes beside them. There were only a few, but they all had the same notion. Unbreakable alibis for that night. Students who didn't attend the beach party, were caught on camera in shops, stayed with family, clocked in at work, etc. The longer Funneh stared the more queasy she got. Did Evelyn really suspect her and her friends? No, of course not, she assured herself, she was being paranoid-

“Oh, the suspect board?” Evelyn's voice came from just behind her. Funneh jumped, whipping around to face the blonde girl. She had been so distracted she didn't notice her.

“Um, y-yeah.” she stuttered dumbly, cursing herself as she fiddled with the cuffs of her sleeves. She watched Evelyn walk up to it and fix a crooked photo before turning back to her.

“A big list, huh? But sooner or later I’ll dwindle it down.”

“What do you mean? Why am I up there?”

Evelyn looked at her confused. “Why are you surprised? Everyone is up there and you were friends with Valerie. It’s all a process of elimination, really.”

“You suspect me?”

“What? Oh, no!” Evelyn smiled at her. “It's more business than personal, even though I don't suspect you, I have to be sure, y’know?”

“Oh,” Funneh mumbled, glancing back at her photo. “Then why am I still up there?”

“Well,” Evelyn sighed, looking back at the board with a hard look. “Her murder took place the night of the beach party. More specifically, during the beach party. So, to start off I’m looking into those who either weren't there at all or those who left early. You guys were there the whole time so I haven't gotten to you yet.”

Evelyn looked back at her. Funneh couldn't help but tense under her calculative gaze. “Actually, now that you’re here, I can question you now to get it out of the way?”

She phrased it like a question, but by the way, she grabbed a stray notebook and pen and sat down at the table, Funneh didn't think she had much of a choice.

Evelyn patted the wooden table as an invitation and Funneh sat down across from her. She tried to subtly wipe her sweaty palms on her shorts. She recalled Evelyn’s ‘questioning’ of Senpai at her Christmas party. She remembered how shaken Senpai looked during and after. He tried to hide it but Funneh could tell he tried to avoid Evelyn as much as possible without looking suspicious.

“Don't you find it strange that every girl you go out with dies? Like Valerie Maki?”

She glanced back at the suspect board, Senpai’s smile made her feel guilty. She had absolutely no doubt in her mind that he was innocent, he would never think of hurting Valerie, let alone killing her. But for a few moments back then, she thought that Evelyn made a lot of sense. What if he had killed her? And Lilly, and Sam? She had quickly shaken the thought off, disgusted with herself as she watched her friend.

Senpai was kind, and even then, Evelyn had interrogated him without mercy in front of dozens of people.

“Funneh, can we start now?” Evelyn tapped her pen against the pad of paper. Funneh nodded, determined to hide her hesitation and instead show her desire to clear her name so Evelyn could focus on finding the actually guilty one.

“Yup.”

“Good.” Evelyn smiled. “To start off, do you know anyone who would want to hurt Valerie Maki?”

“No, she was friends with almost everybody. Everyone loved her.”

Evelyn studied her for a moment and scribbled for a few seconds before continuing. “What do you know about the vandalization of Valerie Maki’s dorm room?”

“Oh, uhm.” Funneh hesitated, trying to think back to the days that seemed to be forever ago. “Well, no one knows who did it. Her dorm was wrecked and there was writing on her windows in animal blood, no grammar though. Her dog, Momo, went missing as well.”

“Hm. And what about the following questioning?”

“Well, me, Gold, and Kyran went to the police station later that day. We filled out the questions given to us, there was one with a scratched-out word or something, I think it was ‘information’?”

“Yes, it was. You don't know what that was for?”

“Nope.” Funneh wanted her to explain but was disappointed when she flipped the page and continued writing, swiftly moving on to the next question.

“Do you know anyone that goes by the name ‘Info-Kun’?”

“Oh!” Funneh snapped her fingers as the memory flooded back to her. Evelyn's head snapped up to her and Funneh couldn't help but wince, Evelyn seemed eager to find out anything about them. “No, I don't, sorry.”

“You don't? Why’d you do that?”

Funneh sheepishly rubbed the back of her neck, avoiding Evelyn's gaze. “Well, I was trying to remember where I’d heard the name before. It was from that questionnaire. Alec was being interrogated for it too, I think.”

“Alec?”

“Yeah,” she confirmed, “he was being integrated by police pretty harshly from what I remember. They let him go quickly, though. That’s actually where we met him! Well, Gold and I, Kyran already knew him.” Funneh muttered to herself.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes, scribbling furiously in her notebook.

“Thank you, I’ll have to ask him about that. Now, about the day of, you were at the beach party, correct?”

“Yeah,” Funneh nodded. “I was there the whole time with Gold, Kyran, and Alec.”

Evelyn seemed to deflate but quickly picked herself back up. “Did you notice anyone acting suspiciously or leaving early?”

Funneh thought for a moment, “hmm, nope, I don't think so. We weren't really focused on who was leaving, sorry.”

“It's fine.” Evelyn sighed. “When did you get back to the dorms?”

“I don't know exactly, but the fire was already gone, so, maybe five? Maybe six AM?”

“And what did you do afterward?”

“We uhm, we talked to the police a bit, found out what happened. Then we went home.”

“And who is ‘we’?”

“Gold, Kyran, and me.”

Evelyn raised a brow, “and where was Alec?”

“Oh, he went back to his dorm. Gold and I lived with Kyran at the time.”

Evelyn nodded, finished her notes then put them aside. She turned back to Funneh and smiled brightly. “Well, thank you, Funneh! I’ll need to talk to Gold, Kyran, and Alec to confirm your story but it looks good for now.” Funneh watched her stand up and motioned for her to follow into her bedroom. “We can start studying now.”

Funneh followed quietly, watching the evidence scattered around until it disappeared from her view. It made her queasy how nonchalant and calm Evelyn was while talking about a murder. That's what made her a good detective, she supposed.

She wondered if the next time she came over, would her picture be crossed off? What about the others? She hadn't missed Evelyn's interest in Alec, but she knew he had nothing to do with it, he had been with them the entire time. Plus, even back then, Funneh knew him well enough to know he would never kill Valerie. Sure, he could be kind of aloof and quiet, that's probably why the police questioned him, she thought. People were scared and they pointed fingers.

Funneh decided to put her trust in Evelyn to find the culprit, but that didn't make Valerie’s belongings meticulously placed and displayed around any less eerie.

The moss on the stone walls smelled weird. It ran up and down the corridors, infecting the ceiling and floors, and oozed dirty water underneath her finger when she poked it. The tunnels were dark and dank, but she didn't bother lighting her way as she led the other girl through, she knew these pathways like the back of her hand.

Celeste was humming a tune beside her, her red leather skirt and goggles catching any stray light that lingered from where they entered. 

“Y’know, Yumi-”

“Don't call me that name.” Yandere scowled, eyeing her from the corner of her vision.

Celeste giggled lightly, “don't be so cold, Yumi.” She tapered off and they walked in silence again. After a few minutes, Yandere turned to the right, pulling a lever that opened an old, rusty iron door that slid open with a screech. As soon as there was a crack in the seal, small whimpers and shuddering breaths reached their ears.

“What is her name again?” Celeste asked. She stood over a girl who was leaning against the stone wall. A white cloth had been wrapped around her eyes, it tangled in her strawberry hair and smudged her tears along the rest of her face. A hand was curled around her middle, crimson slowly seeping through her shaking fingers. She gasped weakly when Celeste grabbed her bangs and pulled her face upwards.

“Lillian May.”

“She’s from your old middle school, right?”

Yandere paused for a moment, narrowing her eyes as Lillian sobbed. Filing Celeste's knowledge away, she responded, pushing herself off the wall and walking toward them. “Yes, she is.”

“Cool. You want me to kill her?” Celeste nodded her head toward the girl on the ground. Lillian shook her head, raising her hands to paw at the ones in her hair. “Why won't she say anything?”

“She can't. I cut her tongue out.” Yandere pulled plastic gloves and a knife out of her waistband. She nudged Celeste, who obediently moved out of the way. Snapping the black gloves on, she grabbed Lillian's jaw and ran the point of the knife under it. “She screamed much too loud.”

Lillian stilled in her grasp, her mouth dropping open in a silent plea. “She was such a bitch, talking bad about me to Senpai? You're lucky this is all I’ve done. If you admit it, I’ll let you go.”

Celeste let out a confused noise but slinked back to the wall to watch when Yandere glared at her. Lillian’s hands raised and grasped at Yandere’s collar.

“Put your hands down.” They immediately flew back to her stomach. “Now, admit it.”

“Wa- ah- wHAa- ooh- wa-” she tried to speak, but cried out as the knife dug into the flesh under her chin. Blood droplets ran down her neck.

“Never mind, you're still annoying. You liked Senpai, didn't you? All those years?”

“U-uh uh! Uh- uh huh!” Lillian violently shook her head, but Yandere wasn't really here for a confession.

She slid the knife down the girl's exposed arm, leaving a thin trail of red in its wake. She eventually reached her stomach, the bloody tear in the shirt telling her exactly where to stab. She thrust the blade into the old wound, Lillian screamed, her arms flailing around but was quickly restrained by Celeste. Yandere pulled it out, and stabbed again, twisting and slicing up and down.

Lillian choked, blood exploding from her mouth and splashing onto Yandere’s face. Her legs kicked about, but Yandere refused to budge. Ripping the knife out, she raised it to her throat, stabbing directly into the middle of the girl's windpipe. She gurgled, wheezing breaths trying to get past the thick barrier of blood. Soon, she stilled, her fingers twitching in Celeste’s grasp.

Celeste dropped her arms, the dead weight slapping against the wet stone. “Not that I’m not grateful, but why am I here, Yumi?”

Yandere pulled the blade from the dead girl's flesh, gazing at the stained steel blankly for a moment before wiping it off with the inside of her skirt. She looked up at the still-living girl and pointed to a corner of the room, there sat a bucket filled with old water, a rag resting limply in its handle.

“Clean up.”

Celeste groaned but walked over to the bucket without any other complaints. The next twenty or so minutes were spent mostly in silence, the only sound filling the small room was the sloshing of water that tried to wash away the blood. Yandere was leaning against the wall next to the door when Celeste sighed.

She was ringing out the cloth, a diluted red steadily filling the bucket. “I’ve been thinking, aren't you getting a little reckless, Yumi?”

“Hm?”

“I mean,” Celeste dropped the rag with a wet ‘thwump!’ and sat up on her knees. “Like, the girl you pushed? Isn't the school going to get suspicious, sooner or later?”

“My school is filled with ignorant morons, only a few standout to me. But yes, I do suppose you're right.” Yandere ignored the way Celeste's eyes seemed to light up, hands clutching the edges of her jacket. “I went a little too far. I’m relieved she survived, if she had died the school's reputation would surely sour.”

“And then your Senpai might move away,” Celeste said, the fact that that was even a possibility made Yandere break out in a cold sweat. She was sure Celeste said that purposefully but phrased it in a way she couldn't get mad at, she was testing her boundaries.

“Yeah.” Yandere said through gritted teeth. 

“You can't be so impulsive, Yumi. you’re lucky you weren't seen.”

Yandere rolled her eyes, scuffing her show against the mold-riddled ground. “As I said before, I’ve been seen before, and I always take care of it. One way or another.”

Celeste sighed, standing up and crossing her arms. “Fine. so, what's your next plan?”

“For now? Nothing.” Yandere moved the bucket of diluted, muddy blood and set it beside Lillian’s corpse. She turned and gestured for Celeste to follow her out. Once outside, she switched the lever, the door sliding back into place, and set the knife down outside of it. “Senpai is being good, he hasn't had any dates in a while or done anything worthy of intervening. All I have to do now is make sure it stays that way.”

“And how do you plan on doing that? Your Senpai has had a history of being rather… independent.” Celeste clasped her hands behind her back as they walked back the way they came a few hours before.

They reached a large room, crates lined the walls, and a corkboard hung on the opposite wall. On it was several pictures, red scribbles adorned some, a few were crossed out.

“I have my ways.” Yandere smiled, looking at the picture of Senpai that was surrounded by hearts.

“Have anything to do with any of them?” Celeste gestured towards the ‘problematic’ section of the board. “What about him?”

Yandere chuckled, looking at the unsuspecting faces of her classmates. Some were close to her Senpai, but she could only tolerate it for so long. Senpai is wonderful, who wouldn't fall in love with him? Heavens knows she did.

‘Problematic’ is what she labeled them. Problems can quickly turn into issues if not watched closely.

She giggles. Morons, all of them, much too trusting.

“You don't have to worry about them.”

Chapter Text

The locker room doors creaked as Funneh pushed them open, Gold following in behind her. Their first class of the day was Gym, and Funneh was glad she had remembered her gym strip. She had made that mistake countless times before and did not enjoy stewing in her own sweat for the remainder of the day.

As they walked inside (the right room this time, thankfully), their attention was immediately drawn to the left corner, and snooty giggles echoed through the empty room from behind the shower wall. Funneh rolled her eyes, those two always did this, waiting in the changing room until the very last second, something about how the gym's stench made their hair frizzy? Funneh nudged Gold in the other direction, tossing her bag on the bench when they got there.

“Do you know what we’re doing today?” Gold asked her as she sat down and started fiddling with the zipper of her skirt.

Funneh shrugged lazily as she untied her shoelaces. “Mm, dodgeball, I think”

“Foowy..” 

“Eh, just one class that I don’t have to study for.”

“You’re complaining already?” Gold asked, raising a brow from where she was bent over, taking her socks off. “You started yesterday.” 

“But yesterday was so long ago!” Funneh groaned as she balled up her uniform and shoved it into an empty locker. “Evelyn takes studying realllyyy seriously, too. We were up for hours!”

Gold sighed fondly like she had been expecting this. “Well, if you're that tired already, I was planning to go shopping this weekend but we could go today?”

Even if Funneh wasn't all that fond of shopping, and she knew that going with Gold always meant they were there much longer after they had gotten what they needed, she also dreaded opening another history textbook. It had only been a day and she’d already had her fill for the next seven years. The enthusiasm and determination had quickly fizzled out.

“Yes!” She agreed with an exaggerated nod. “Shopping, a perfect distraction.” 

Gold stood and placed her carefully folded uniform and shoes into the locker next to Funneh’s. She had just finished tying her sneakers when the bell rang, the shrill sound bouncing off the walls. Funneh stood and started to the doors that lead to the gym, Gold hot on her heels. On their way out, they heard a whispered hush of ‘-her name, again? Oof-!’ and an aggressive ‘shhh!’. 

The girls glanced at each other, Funneh failing to cover up a snort when there was a dull ‘thump!’ from the other side of the wall. Gold quickly ushered her out, closing the door behind them.

They walk into the open gym, immediately going to join the crowd just in time for the designated ‘team captains’, Jessica and Joshua,  for that day to begin picking teams, Mr. Caldwell supervising from the wall. Funneh spots Evan, who has already picked Jessica, and sends him a small wave when she meets his eyes. He smiles back at her, sticking up sarcastic finger guns and giving an over-exaggerated wink.

Funneh rolls her eyes and turns back to the front just in time to be picked by Joshua. She walks over to their team's side of the gym, Gold joining her soon after.

“You all know the rules, you get hit, you're out. Someone catches your ball, you're out. Three, two, one, go!”

Everyone around them immediately jumps into action, running up to the middle line to grab a ball, the gym is filled with the sounds of rubber balls hitting the walls, sneakers squeaking against the waxy floor, and mild cries of pain and or surprise. Funneh and Gold hung back, only grabbing their own ammunition when the coast cleared out.

“Oh, hey.” Gold suddenly turns to her, holding a green ball up to her chest for some feeble defense. “I forgot to ask, did Alec ever text you back?”

Funneh’s mood immediately dampens at the reminder of her empty notifications. “No,” she mutters while dodging a stray ball.

“Oh, well,” Gold must’ve noticed her bummed-out expression because she gently laid a hand on her shoulder. “Look on the bright side, he hasn't been at school either so he’s not just ignoring you. He’s probably just busy.”

Funneh sighed, lifting her arm and throwing her ball at one of her enemy classmates. She missed, but she didn't really mind all that much. 

“Yeah, I’m sure you’re right, but I-”

SLAM!

A red rubber ball slammed into her face, the force bouncing it off of her nose. Funneh gasped in tandem with Gold as her feet flew out from under her, her upper body landing harshly on her elbows.

The noise of the gym seemed to dim as Funneh brought a hand up to her face, she cringed when pain exploded from her nose.

“Oh, my gosh, Funneh are you okay?!” Gold knelt beside her and rested a hand on her shoulder.

“Uhm, yeah, I think. Fuck, that hurt..” She trailed off as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Funneh! I am so sorry!” Evan called to her as he skidded to a stop in front of her, his hands outstretched to grab her cheeks.

Funneh waved him off, “Nah, you're fine.” She grabbed his outstretched hand and pulled herself up to her feet. She swayed slightly, holding onto Evan’s sleeve to steady herself.

“You don’t look too good, I’m going to get the teacher,” Gold said before turning swiftly and walking towards the wall of the gym.

Funneh grit her teeth and balled her hands into a fist. She closed her eyes when the room wouldn't stop spinning, the rhythmic slams of rubber on the ground doing nothing to help. Her eyes snapped open when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.

She looked up at Even who wore an apologetic smile. He pointed at her hand which was still twisted in his sleeve.

“Oh, sorry..” Funneh let go quickly and tried to subtly wipe the sweat off on her shorts.

Even laughed, “it's no problem, I am the one who hit you.” They were quiet for a few seconds before he spoke again. “Hey, is it just me or are you getting some deja vu?”

Funneh barked out a startled laugh, and Evans' smile grew at the sound. “I apologized!”

“So did I!”

They were interrupted by Gold and Mr. Caldwell walking up to them, the former looking a lot more worried than the latter.

“She says you got hit? Are you feeling okay?” He put a finger under her chin, tilting her head side to side to look for any immediate damage.

“Yeah, I think I’m fi-”

Plop!

As if on cue, a red streak dripped from her nose, trailing down her chin and staining her white shirt. A small drop hit the ground. Funneh quickly held a hand up, cupping it underneath her nose to catch any more that would drop.

“And that’s the red I was looking for,” Mr. Caldwell stood up straight and dug around in his back pocket for a moment before pulling out a crumpled napkin. “Here, take this and head down to the nurse's office. Not really sure how she can help but she has a lot better chance than me. Now, get going.”

Funneh took the napkin, forcing a smile when one of her fingers brushed over something crunchy stuck to it.

Ew. Don’t wanna know what that is.

“Can I-?” A calloused finger was shoved in Gold’s face, cutting her off as she went cross eyes trying to follow it.

“Nope, she can walk herself down, no need for you to miss class as well.”

Evan glanced at Gold as she pouted, to Mr. Caldwell, then to Funneh, then to the teacher again. “What abo-”

“Nope, not you either, loverboy. The hallways are no place for canoodling.”

“What? But I’m the one who-”

“Hit her, yes I know.” He rolled his eyes dramatically and placed his hands on his hips. “‘I’m so sorry I hit you! Please, let me make it up to you and walk you to the nurse's office. Y’know, now that we’re here, why don’t you come over after school?’ I know what you're planning, kid. Been there and done that, it doesn't work.” His eyes narrowed bitterly.

Funneh watched holding back a laugh as Evan’s cheeks pinked and he squirmed under Mr. Caldwell’s gaze. He turned to her sharply.

“Now, off you go.” He made a shooing motion with his hand and Funneh immediately jumped into action. She turned and started to swerve in between classmates who either hadn't noticed their situation or didn't care enough until she made it safely to the gym doors. 

Grunting with the effort the heavy push doors forced out of her, Funneh stepped out of the loud gym and into the quiet hallway. It always felt strange walking down hallways while class was in session. School was something she always associated with noise. Chatter, footsteps, pencil on paper, doesn't matter. It felt weirdly eerie to not hear it all, it reminded her of the night she, Gold, Kyran, and Alec snuck in at night.

The heavy doors slammed closed behind her and she started down the hallway. She passed briefly by the large window. She glanced inside and saw Gold and Evan standing by each other, both holding blue rubber balls, they saw her and waved. Funneh raised a hand to wave back and she smiled, though she was pretty sure the blood running down her face ruined the image.

She grumbles to herself looking down at the dirty napkin. Seeing that the bundle of crusty grossness was only in one corner she used her teeth to rip the paper, throwing the soiled edge in the garbage can as she walked by. Replacing her hand with the now clean napkin, she pulled it away and saw red adorning her palm. Some had already started to dry but most of it was still wet, a thin drop trailed down her wrist.

“Shit..” She stuck her bloodied arm out, trying to wipe the blood on her other while keeping the napkin to her face. She eventually succeeded, if only in smearing red on her other arm. In the process, her elbow bumped the arm with the napkin, shoving the hand into her face. “Ow!” 

“Funneh?”

Funneh paused at the sound of Yandere’s voice. Funneh looked back at the other girl, her black hair flowing down her shoulders onto her pristine uniform, a far cry from Funneh’s own look at the moment. Funneh quickly pulled her arms down from their awkward position in the air, realizing swiftly that she still needed the napkin she shoved it back in her face. 

“Yandere, hi! What are you doing?”

“Going to class. Uh, you? What's with the gore fest?” Yandere’s hand crept up to her backpack straps and clenched them tightly.

“Oh, Evan hit me in the face with a dodgeball, I’m headed to the nurse's office.” Funneh shrugged the napkin away to show Yandere the bloody nose like she hadn't already seen it.

Yandere smiled, “do you want me to walk you? I have some time till my next class.”

“Oh, uh,” Funneh glanced up at the clock hanging on the wall before deciding the time it would take her to read it would be much too embarrassing. She thought of quiet hallways.  “If you don’t mind, yeah!”

Yandere turned to walk beside her and they both quickly found a swift rhythm, the heels of their shoes clacking against the linoleum floor was hypnotic.

“Oh, hey,” Funneh turned to her dark-haired companion, a ‘hm?’ came from the shorter girl. “Were you invited to Senpai’s party?”

Yandere's face immediately lit up, her smile widened and her coal eyes seemed to brighten. “Yes! I’m so excited, Senpai always throws the most amazing parties.”

“Yeah, his birthday party was pretty fun. Though I’m hoping this one won’t be in the middle of the woods somewhere.” Both girls chuckle lightly but stop when Funneh coughs, her still-bleeding nose had dribbled some blood into her mouth. “Ew..” She spits into the napkin.

“Yeah, that one was great, it was Senpai’s birthday after all, but there were a few downsides.” Yandere looked off to the side, Funneh saw something swimming in her eyes but decided that the middle of the hallway probably wasn't the best place to ask. Yandere was her friend, they had been through a lot together, if she needed help or someone to talk to, Funneh was confident she would ask.

They stopped walking when they finally faced the door to the nurse's office, Funneh could see the nurse's silhouette through the frosted glass. 

“Well, here you are.” Yandere smiled again. “I should get going now, feel better.” She waved and turned around, heading back the way she was going originally.

Funneh smiled back and turned to the door. She reached out a hand but paused briefly when her fingers brushed the cold metal. She just couldn’t help but ask.

“Hey, Yandere?”

“Hm?” Her hair brushed her shoulder blades as she stopped and turned her head, a brow raised curiously.

“You know Alec, right? By any chance, have you heard from him lately?” Funneh asked, slowly lowering the soggy napkin from her face. She could feel her expression pinched in worry, a sickly feeling curling in her chest.

“..Why do you ask?” Yandere stayed turned away from her, only looking at her from the corner of her eye. 

Funneh could feel heat stain her cheeks. She looked away, unsure if the subject was making her flustered or the intensity of Yandere's gaze. “Oh, nothing major. I haven’t heard from him in a few days and I’m getting kinda worried. I know he skips a lot so I’m sure he’s fine, I’m just..”

“Concerned?”

Funneh sighed, a small smile gracing her chapped lips. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.” She looked back at Yandere, her gaze still locked on her bloody form.

Finally, Yandere smiled at her. “I get it. I haven’t seen him, but if I do, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

Disappointed, but not surprised, Funneh smiles. A ‘thanks’ barely makes it past her lips before Yandere is out of view. She sighs again, not so gently resting her head against the wooden door.

“Get yourself together, he’s fine. He doesn’t have to text you back..” She mutters to herself, closing her eyes. They quickly fly back open when the door is swung open, a yelp escaping her as she tumbles inside. Narrowly avoiding falling into the nurse, she straightens herself, turning to the older woman who stood by the door.

“What were you doing? You got blood all over the floor, child!”

Funneh smiled shakily, raising the napkin back to her nose under the nurse's watchful gaze. After a moment of awkward silence, the nurse sighed and beckoned her over to an empty cot covered in thin paper that crinkled when she sat on it.

“I got hit in the face.”

“I could tell.”

Fwoosh!

The automatic doors slid open, the air conditioning hitting them both harshly in the face, the forces ruffling their hair. The pitter-patter of rain was quickly cut off when the doors slid shut again. Gold shivered beside her, rubbing her arms after she flattened her hair back to its original place.

“Alright, where do you wanna go first?” Gold asked, stopping by the map of the layout. Funneh knew that was for her, Gold knew this mall like the back of her hand.

“I dunno,” Funneh replied, shaking her head to get the dark blue strands out of her face. She winced as she pried out a stand that got stuck under the useless bandaid on her nose. “You're the expert. As long as we get some food after, it's your choice.”

“Yay!” Gold cheered. She grabbed Funneh's hand and started down to the right. They passed by the empty storefront that used to be Ichigo Bakery and a ‘coming soon!’ sign was taped to the window. “Let's go to Eternally 20 first, then we can stop by Young Marines if you want jeans. Oh! And Jessica’s Gossip for perfume and stuff.”

Funneh groaned as she was led into the first store, the bright white of the walls practically blinded her. “Please remember we’re going to a house party and not prom.”

Gold rolled her eyes, stopping beside the first rack of clothing. “You're the one who wanted a distraction.”

The next few minutes were spent scouring through clothing racks and displays. Gold seemed to be accumulating a lot more options than her, but she was sure that almost half of that pile was for her. If Gold liked shopping, she loved shopping for other people. The brunette bounded up to her and shoved a sizable pile into her arms.

“Here! I’m going to go try these on, you keep looking.” Gold turned and started to flag down an employee.

Funneh sighed and went back to searching half-heartedly. The hooks on the hangers were starting to dig into her arm. She looked up when she realized she had looped back around, she had gone through the entire store without even noticing. As she glanced around looking for something to do until Gold got back, she spotted a familiar head of strawberry hair peeking out from behind a display in the shoe section.

Funneh raised a brow, she didn't take her to be someone who shopped here. Curious, she set her stack of clothes down, reassuring a far away employee that she wasn’t just dumping them, she walked over to the shoes.

Walking up to the girl, Funneh stood behind her for a moment, waiting to be noticed, but when it became obvious that she was very invested in her phone Funneh spoke up.

“Michelle?”

“Ah!” Michelle yelped, turning to face her so quickly Funneh was worried she’d gotten whiplash. She stumbled, hiding her phone behind her back. “U-uhm, hello! What are you doing? Here. In the store, I mean.”

“Uh, shopping?”

“Oh, right, duh, haha! Of course, you are!” Michelle slipped her phone back into her pocket and wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans. She cringed slightly when the device pinged with a message. 

“Are you okay..?” Funneh stepped back slightly, raising a hand to toy with the laces of one of the shoes nearby.

“Yep! Say, I’m uh, having a little trouble finding an outfit. Would you mind showing me what you.. Got..?” She seemed to cringe and become more unsure of herself as her sentence wore on. Funneh smiled, she could sympathize with going out of your comfort zone to talk to people. Guess she was right, Michelle didn’t seem all that comfortable in a store like this.

“Sure, it's over here. I’m waiting for Gold to get out of the changing room, too.”

“Oh, great, maybe she’d let me see what she’s getting?”

“For sure! Gold loves helping out. She’s definitely more fit for the job than me.”

Michelle laughed as they finally reached Funneh's discarded pile. “So, uh, what kind of thing were you thinking of?”

Funneh took a deep breath and tried to channel her inner Gold and mother, together they were unstoppable. But, Michelle needed her help, and who was Funneh to turn down a friend in need?

“Well,” she picked up a pair of black jeans, “I’m not a skirt person so I want some jeans, black goes with pretty much everything, or so I’ve been told. I’m not too sure about the top yet.”

“Oh. Cute.”

Funneh chuckled awkwardly and rubbed the back of her neck.

Was that bad?, she thought. Did she mess it up already?

“Funneh! What do you th- oh, hi Michelle, are you shopping too?” Gold asked as she stopped beside them both. She was wearing one of the outfits she picked out, probably to get Funneh's opinion before she bought it.

Michelle fiddled with her hands again and looked her up and down. “Yes, I am. Is that, uh, is that what you're getting?”

“I think so!” Gold smiled and did a little spin to show off her outfit. She wore a sparkly gold drapey top that had spaghetti straps that brought out her eyes. Along with that, the black high-waisted shorts complemented the shine nicely. “I think I might get a jacket, and I need some new shoes, too.”

“You look great, Gold!” She practically glowed under the praise.

“Mhm!” Michelle agreed, nodding enthusiastically. Her phone pinged again but she quickly silenced it.

“What about you?” Gold looked over at the strawberry blonde with a raised eyebrow. “What kind of stuff are you looking at? Are you here for Senpai’s party too?”

“Uh, yeah,” Michelle said with a smile.

“Sweet!” Gold clapped a hand on Funneh's shoulder, “Well, let me just pay for these then you can join us!” Funneh nodded in agreement.

Michelle’s eyes widened slightly, like she hadn't expected them to want to hang out with her. “Really? Thanks!” 

Gold spun and quickly trotted back to the changing rooms while Funneh turned back to her pile of clothes. Picking up a few garments and inspecting them lazily, Funneh haphazardly folded the unwanted clothes. Eventually settling on a pair of ripped black jeans, she turned to Michelle. “Hey, would you mind helping me put these back?”

Michelle agreed and took a handful, separating from Funneh as they both went to put their share away. Funneh sighed tiredly as she stuffed the last shirt back where it belonged, it was only eleven AM and she already wanted to go home. Oh well, she thought, she was the one who asked to go today. She wondered idly if Senpai’s party would be any fun; she, regrettably, wasn't a very big party person.

Parties could be fun, sure, they had music and all her friends but there was something about the grimy and erratic atmosphere that turned her off. Thankfully, most of the ones she’s been to have been held in her friends' houses and not some random field somewhere or building that hadn't been cleaned for years. Funneh really doubted Senpai would host a party if it wasn't up to standards, he didn’t seem like that kind of guy.

As she started to walk back she paused by the wall display of shoes. There were heels, flats, knee highs, boots, and more. She spotted a particular pair of black heeled boots, they weren’t very tall, but they would look nice with her planned outfit. She wondered if they would be too much, she wasn’t as extra as her friend was. Would…. Would Alec like them? Would Alec even show up? What’s the point in dressing up to look nice if he’s just going to ditch you again? She shook her head, her blue hair whipping at her face.

She slapped her cheeks gently, trying to get those thoughts out of her mind. That was a one-time thing, besides, she didn't dress up for any guys, she did it for herself! Just like Gold said, girl love. Or something. Her gaze set in a determined glare, reaching out to grab a pair in her size she marched back in the direction of the checkout counter. She’s going to get these shoes, and she’s going to look great!

When she reached the line, Gold was already paying the cashier, Michelle by her side. When it was her turn, Funneh put the two items on the counter and started to dig around in her bag for her purse.

“Wow, Funneh, you’re getting those? That's not like you.” Gold pondered, tilting her head as she looked at the shoes.

Irrationally, Funneh felt humiliation fill her. What was she thinking? Gold was right, those totally weren’t her style, she was going to look so stupid! Could she even walk in those?!

“You’re gonna look so good in them!” Gold turned to her with a bright smile, Funneh paused in her internal panic. “I’ll have to step up my game if we’re going together, you’ll make me look so boring!” She laughed happily, the thought of being outshone by Funneh not bothering her at all.

Funneh’s eyes widened in her surprise briefly, before it melted away into a smile. “Hey, you guys can head out, I’ll meet you when I’m done.” Gold nodded and dragged Michelle out by her elbow. Funneh turned back to the cashier and handed them her card.

Gold had been her best friend for years now and it never failed to surprise her when her flashy, glamorous facade melted away to show genuine happiness at Funneh’s own. Gold had never put her down or made her look bad so she could shine brighter, it was always an equal exchange. 

If you didn't know her, Gold could be seen as intimidating or spoiled, Funneh was sure. But she was one of the most generous and hardworking people she knows, her passions never excluded others, if anything she had more fun when including others. Funneh finished paying and made her way out of the store quickly. She glanced around and saw her friends through a window to another store. Gold was holding up a fuzzy pink sweater up to Michelle’s chest and smiling.

Funneh really, really loved her best friend.

“Bye, Michelle, we’ll see you at school tomorrow!” Funneh waved at the girl as she left the mall, Gold trying to balance all her shopping bags on one arm beside her.

“I feel really bad for her,” Gold sighed as Funneh turned to look at her. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “She’s so sweet but she's always trying to get in with Felicia and Brittney, it's kinda sad.”

Funneh hummed in agreement. Whenever she saw Michelle around school she was always alone. She wasn't sure if that was by choice or not. Trying to change the subject, she smiled brightly, “Want to get some food?”

Gold laughed, “Sure, let's go downstairs to the coffee shop.”

Funneh shrugged, food was food, and she wasn't going to complain. They made their way downstairs, passing by the fountain and into the small shop. Funneh told Gold her short order and went to go find a table for them both. She set down her few bags and after a couple of minutes, Gold joined her.

Gold sighed in relief as she collapsed into the plastic chair. Funneh laughed around the straw of her drink as the other girl finally set her bags down. “I love shopping, but it really takes a lot out of you, huh?” Gold said with a jokey smile.

Funneh shrugged, “It's a good distraction, I guess I don’t hate it all the time.”

“Aha!” Gold snapped her fingers excitedly, “I knew it! You love shopping with me!”

“Woah, I didn’t say love. ”

Gold put a hand over her heart as if her words had physically struck her. “But you said you didn’t hate it, for you that's practically obsessed.” She said, trying to hold back a laugh.

Funneh rolled her eyes and took another sip of her drink. “For real though, it's a fun distraction from studying.”

“You’ve been studying for a day, you moron.” Gold scoffed, “do you really need a ‘distraction’?”

Funneh hummed, and instinctively opened her mouth to fire off a witty comeback, but paused. She had needed a distraction, but now that Gold points it out, it wasn't from studying. She had been trying to ignore the uneasy feeling, but she couldn't help but see their photos on the suspect board when she looked at her friends. 

“Are you okay?” Gold’s brows furrowed at her sudden silence and she leaned in subtly.

“Yeah, um, I’ve just been thinking about something..” Funneh trailed off, planning on dodging the question. But then she looked up and saw the worry in Gold’s eyes. She sighed, raising her hands to dismiss her friends' worry. “No, it's nothing serious, I promise. It’s just, you know how I went over to Evelyn’s yesterday?”

“Mhm.” Gold sat back in her chair and toyed with the straw of her needlessly complicated drink.

“Well, she still has a bunch of evidence and stuff around the place, but she also has..” Funneh leaned forward and lowered her voice, hoping no one would overhear them. “A suspect board-”

“Evelyn has suspects?! Who?!” Gold sat up quickly, slamming her hands against the table with a loud slap. Funneh winced as the sound echoed throughout the small cafe, her hopes of going unnoticed shriveled up and died promptly.

“Shhh!! Sit down..” She grabbed Gold’s sleeve and yanked her back down into her seat. “Yes and no. She said it's a ‘process of elimination.’”

“Oh, I get it,” Gold put a hand up to her chin, “so, she doesn't have any suspects, but she’s narrowing it down to who it could be?” 

Funneh shrugged, she didn’t exactly like the method, but she’s not the junior detective. 

“Well, who’s on it?”

Funneh hesitated, looking up at her friend from behind her bangs. “Us.”

Gold went quiet, her hands pausing around her cup, condensation dripping down her fingers. She gaped at her, disbelief colouring her features. “W-what? What do you mean?”

“Us. You, me, Kyran, Alec, Meghan, everybody. She interrogated me too, it was really..” She trailed off, not knowing the word to describe the feeling it gave her. Evelyn was her friend and she doubted Evelyn actually thought they could have had something to do with it, but the knowledge they were on a suspect board for another friend's murder was not something she wanted.

“Oh…” Gold looked down and stirred her drink with the straw, the chocolate mixing with the deflated whipped cream. “That’s really….”

“Yeah.” Funneh agreed

Gold looked around the cafe, the other people chatting around them seemingly blurred into the background. “Does she…. Think we did it?”

“No.” Funneh immediately denied it, if only to erase the look on her friend's face. “She said it's just a formality. Like making sure everyone's story matches ours, y’know?”

“Yeah…” Gold muttered before going quiet for a while. Funneh didn't try to break the silence, wanting to give her time to digest the information. Eventually, after most people had left the cafe and the barista started sweeping, Gold spoke.

“Well,” Funneh looked up at her, she wore a small smile that looked like it took an effort to wear. “She is an investigator, right? I don’t like it, but she knows what she’s doing. After what happened at her Christmas party, I’m sure she wants to solve these cases as much as we do.”

Funneh smiled, “That’s what I thought. She’ll probably want to question you, too.”

“I thought so. Well!” Gold suddenly clapped and stood up. “It's gotten pretty late, why don’t we head home?” She threw her half-empty cup in the trash and picked up all her bags again. Funneh stood as well and made her way to the door. Holding it open for her friend, Funneh walked out after her.

“Sounds good to me, I was ready when we got here.” Gold laughed lightly in response.

Alec shifts on the hard wooden bench. It was damp from today's rain and it made his jeans stick to him. The cool wind blows, ruffling his red hair and making him shiver. He pulls his hood up and buries his hands into his pockets.

He sighs. He had been waiting for over an hour. After so much time he doesn't know why he expected that psycho to be on time. He runs a finger along the switchblade in his pocket, the engravings on it burned into his mind. For as long as he lived he would never forget the words on that knife.

He regrets he even had a reason to dig it out of his drawer, he usually doesn't have a need for a weapon on these ‘jobs’.

Crunching leaves alert him of someone behind him. Alec barely resists the urge to jump when Yandere walks into his view and stubbornly stares forward, even when she silently sits down beside him on the bench and crosses her arms. He glances at her out of the corner of his eye. She is wearing a black hoodie and leggings over her usual school uniform, he could see the bright red tie poking out from the hoodie collar.

Eventually, he relents and speaks first. “You couldn’t make this look more like a drug deal, could you?”

She infuriatingly huffs a small laugh. “Who’s to say it's not? Some say money is a drug.”

Anger flared in him but he quickly stomped it down. This girl held everything that could ruin him. But he couldn’t help it, she pushed every one of his buttons, unintentionally or not. “Y’know, you can't keep ‘getting rid’ of every girl he talks to. Eventually, someone's going to get suspicious.”

It had the opposite reaction that he wanted. Yandere sat up straighter and raised her chin, a smug smile making its way onto her face. “She deserved it. Bothering him on his day out? How low can you go, I wonder.”

How ironic. “Yeah, I wonder..” Alec muttered bitterly.

“Either way, she was lucky he rejected her, I was nice because of that. You're lucky too, Alec.”

“Me?” He turned to her in disbelief. “How was I lucky? ”

“You're lucky that's all I had you do.”

“I held her at knifepoint and threatened her.”

She sighed and rolled her eyes. She looked at him like he was in kindergarten and she was teaching him his alphabet. “You’re lucky. I didn't have you. Kill. Her-”

“No.” He cut her off. He swiftly stood up, and even when he towered over her she held no trace of fear in her eyes. In the back of his mind something told him to shut up, that despite their size difference, he should be the one scared of her. “I don't care what I have to do as long as I get paid. But I will never, ever, kill for you.”

“Oh, hush, Alec.” She smiled, “you should really watch your tone with me.”

A clear threat, one that he recognized. If she didn't have the power to have everything crash and burn around him, he swears he would’ve slugged the bitch months ago. Alec clenched his fist around the knife and for a moment, he thought about resending his statement. But then he let out a breath and sat back down on the very edge of the bench.

“Good choice. Y’know, it would really be in your best interest to stay on my good side.”

You don't have one, he thought.

“What happens if I don't give you a job, huh? No job, no pay, bye-bye Alec.”

“You would never do that. I could always rat you out, too.”

She giggled. “Oh, I know, but I trust you won't do that either. All I’m saying is that the bare minimum isn't going to be enough anymore. If you keep slacking off you might just get replaced.”

“‘Replaced’?” He furrowed his brows. “What do you mean replaced?” 

She rolled her eyes again. “What do you think I mean? I could get someone else to do your job and not have to pay them. Frankly, you should be the one asking me for work.”

“You have other people working for you?” He demanded. “Then why do you keep tormenting me!?”

Yandere raised a finger to her lips and Alec immediately quieted. They stayed silent for a moment, listening. The apartment buildings around the empty park remained still and dark. He cursed himself, there was no point arguing with her if he was just going to yell and get them both caught anyway.

“I’m in a good mood tonight so I’ll tell you. They’re a little new here, and they approached me. With you, I have something you want, money. They do it all for free. While I have suspicions about their motives, I can't be sure. So you're still my favourite for now.” She scowled at him, like referring to him as her favourite made her stomach hurt.

“Who are they? There's more than one, right?”

“That's not for you to know.” He went to argue but she cut him off. “Don't worry, they don't know who you are, so you have no need to know them.”

A ping from her phone startled him. He flinched back, not noticing he had been leaning forward during her little speech. She dug her phone out of her pocket and turned it on. Alec tried to see who had texted but she had lock screen notifications turned off. But he did glimpse the time against the black background.

“Three AM? Jesus Christ.” He muttered. He ran a hand through his hair and stood up. “I’ve got to get home. My money.” He extended a hand down to her.

She dug around in her hoodie pocket and pulled out an envelope. Right before she placed it in his awaiting palm and he could grab it and run, she pulled back. Alec looked at her confused, about to demand she give it to him when she raised a brow and smiled.

“Now what do we say?”

This bitch….

He sighed impatiently, thrusting his hand forward as he gritted out, “please.” 

She giggled again and placed the money in his hand. He quickly snatched it from her and stuffed it in his own pocket. He turned swiftly away from the bench and walked away from the park between two apartment buildings. He only glanced back just before he walked around the corner. Yandere was still sitting on the bench, her head craned back to look at the sky. She caught him looking and sent a sly smirk his way.

He shuddered, turning the corner and walking down the road. 

Chapter Text

Funneh’s notebook paper crumples as she drops her head on the dining room table. “This is haaarrddd…” She groans into the paper.

Across from her, Kyran twirls his pencil between his fingers, he idly turns the page of his chemistry textbook. “Oh, come on, exams are tomorrow and we’ve still got literally every other subject to go over, you’ll be here a while.”

“Can we take a break? I’m hungry.” Funneh starts to stand but is pulled back down by Gold, who’s sitting between them on her own side of the table. Without looking up from her phone, Gold points a finger to a pile of empty bowls and candy wrappers.

“You already used that excuse.”

Funneh rolls her eyes, “you guys are no fun!” She sighs and picks up a pink highlighter, resting her cheek against one side of her notebook and starting to highlight random words on the other. Both she and Gold suddenly jump when Kyran slams his textbook shut with a loud ‘slam!’

“Hey, Kyran, what the heck?” Gold complains as she puts her phone back down on the table.

“Well, I’m here to help Funneh study and just reading doesn’t seem to be working. So,” he bends over and reaches for his backpack. The girls watch as he rummages around in the front pocket before pulling out a stack of notecards. He sits back and flashes them a crooked smile, holding up the handwritten cards for them to see. “How about we try some flashcards to see what you’ve learned?”

“Awh, flashcards? You know I need to actually know the stuff on them to use them, right?” Funneh says skeptically, her eyebrow raised. Kyran seemed to deflate in front of her, cradling the cards in his lap.

Beside her, Gold smirked. She crossed her arms and leaned back, the old wooden chair creaking under her weight. “How about this, every time you get an answer right, you get a point, every time you don’t, Kyran gets one. Loser buys lunch for a week.”

Kyran smiled and seemed to light up, knowing Funneh wouldn't turn down a challenge, especially one that might end in free food. “Yeah-! Wait, what-?”

“Oooh, yes!” Funneh gasps, swiping her arms across the table space in front of her, shoving her supplies out of the way to fold her hands seriously in front of her. “I was born for this, hit me.”

Kyran sighed, accepting that he had no way of getting out of this involuntary bet. He snaps the rubberband from around the stack and shuffles them a few times. Picking one up, Funneh could see a flash of blue gel pen as he held it up to his face.

“Alright, question one. A substance releases heat when it changes from..?” he trailed off, waiting for Funneh to finish with the answer.

She was quiet for a moment, trying to think of the most plausible example. Suddenly, she recalled a specific line she had glossed over in her textbook. It was very wordy and confusing, but she remembered the gist of it. “Liquid to solid!”

Gold smiled happily as she raised a finger on her left hand, the first point to Funneh. Funneh smirked, she didn’t exactly know what it meant, but she got it right!

Kyran grimaced, happy Funneh had gotten it right, but also resigning himself to fork out his allowance for lunch money. “For a chemical reaction, it is usually found that the reaction rate is faster at a higher temperature. The rate increases because?”

Funneh’s mind blanked, Kyran's words going in one ear and out the other. “I’ve got no clue.”

“Because more reactants collide with energy equal to or greater than the activation energy,” Kyran said instinctively as if he had memorized it. Gold raised a finger on her right hand.

“Uh, yeah, that.” Funneh smiled awkwardly. She had no idea what he had just said. “Next, please.”

“Which scientist used the oil drop experiment to measure the charge of individual electrons?”

Hell if she knew, she could recall several names, but couldn't match one to a specific thing. Well, the only scientist she recalled being mentioned in detail was Bill Nye, and she was 82% sure he was a fraud and not an actual scientist. Kyran took her silence as not knowing the answer.

“Millikan.”

“Ah, right, him.” Suddenly, as if saying his name had unlocked a deeper level of her memories, she could hear Ms. Fletcher's voice drone on and on about them. How had she forgotten? Did she forget? Another finger was raised for Kyran. Gold was beginning to frown, now.

“Which of the following are not found in the atomic nucleus, protons, neutrons, nuclear force, or electrons?”

“Uh, I don-”

“Try.” Kyran cut her off. He lowered the cards to rest face down on the table and frowned at her. Whatever was floating around in his gaze made a wave of shame wash over her, heat crawled to her cheeks and she began to squirm uncomfortably. 

“E- no, uh, pro-protons?”

Her friends were quiet for a moment as they glanced at each other. “No, electrons. Funneh, we can-” Gold started to say as she lowered her hands.

“No!” Kyran suddenly yelled, taking both girls by surprise. “She can do it. Next question.” He picked up the stack again, looking up at her as he asked the question written down.

“What element is the abbreviation of gold on the periodic table?”

“Uhm,” Funneh paused, tapping a finger against the wood in thought. She knew this, she did! They had gone over the periodic table or whatever only a few hours ago. Ugh, remember, dammit! “Er.. it's..A- no…” She hesitates, biting her lip in frustration.

“Funneh.” She looked up at Kyran, he had a small smile resting on his lips. “You're second guessing yourself, you know this.”

Funneh glanced away from the intensity of Kyrans gaze, the faith laid in them made her sick. She looked to Gold who was looking back while biting her bottom lip. Funneh toyed with her fingers and took a deep breath. 

He’s right, you're second-guessing yourself, she thought. Just say it, the worst you can be is wrong.

“Uhm, Au?”

Kyran smiled as Gold threw her hands in the air with a cheer. Relief flooded through her body, the stress melting away as she watched her friends be happy with her progress.

“See?” Kyran said, “I told you. Don’t worry, tests are stressful for everyone, but you are smart.”

Funneh nodded bashfully as she picked up her discarded pencil.

“Plus, I’m a great teacher, too, so that helps.”

Funneh let out a surprised snort and slapped a hand over her mouth to smother her laugh, beside her Gold slapped his shoulder playfully, and Kyran chuckled in response. Kyran began shuffling through the cards again and picked one up, just as he began to read, he was cut off by a notification from Funneh’s phone.

Funneh’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized the tune. Tossing her pencil off to the side, she practically lunged for the device to turn it on. 

“Funneh!” Gold complained, “you were just getting into it.”

“Yeah, but..” Funneh trailed off as her eyes scanned the message, it was too long to fit on the lock screen so she was forced to unlock it. “It's Alec!”

Gold gasped in delight, all thoughts of studying shoved away. “He texted back?! What took him so long?”

“Huh? What's so special about Alec texting you?” Kyran asked, confused, his brows furrowed in mild frustration. Slowly lowering the flashcards to the table, he leaned over to get a view of her phone.

“Because he’s been radio silent for a few days!” Gold informed him. She hooks her elbow around his and drags him forward to crowd around Funneh. Kyran gulped at the closeness but leaned forward over her shoulder nonetheless.

“What’d he say?”

Funneh cleared her throat and began to read the boy’s message,

___________________________________________________________________

Today 4:42 pm

Alec❤️🍕:

Hey, Funneh, sorry for the late reply, I’ve been busy with my family.

I’m doing fine, no need to worry, everything is fine. I’ll be at school tomorrow, even though we’ll both be busy, let’s find a space to catch up, yeah?

Oh, and about the party, I’m not sure if I’ll go yet. I’m not that close with Senpai, plus it’ll be right after exams. I’ll think about it.

I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Funneh :) 

___________________________________________________________________

“Oh, what?” Gold complained, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair. “No explanation or anything? Boo.” 

Kyran shrugged his shoulders behind her, “eh, that’s how he’s always been.”

“Disappearing then showing back up randomly on a Wednesday night?” Gold asked, doubt filling her words.

“Mhm, annoying, I know. You don't know how many partner projects I’ve had to do by myself.”

“Why would you partner with him, I thought you guys didn't like each other?”

Their voices faded into the background as Funneh chewed on her lip in thought. At least he was okay, right? The lack of explanation irked her a bit, she can’t lie, but from experience, that's just the way Alec is. If it's not serious enough to warrant him explaining, she shouldn't be too worried. Besides, he said he would be in school the next day, she could always ask him then.

Her thumbs hovered over the keys, itching to type back a response but she hesitated. He didn’t seem upset about whatever had happened, but what if she said something wrong?

“Hey, Gold? What should I say?” Funneh tilts the screen towards her friends who pause in the conversation to look back.

“What do you mean? Ask him where he’s been! We’ve all been worried.” Gold reached out and snatched her phone before Funneh could pull away.

“I haven’t,” Kyran muttered, Funneh and Gold gave him matching, unimpressed glares. He turned away and resumed reading his book.

“Not the time, Kyran.” Gold said as she began to type away furiously. Funneh wasn’t sure how she managed to do that with her nails.

“W-what are you saying?” Funneh asked nervously, twiddling her fingers as she tried to lean forward enough to peek over the top of the phone. Unfortunately, Gold also leaned away, tilting the phone downwards.

“You’ll see when I’m done, don't worry I won’t send it.”

Curious, Kyran put the textbook back down on the table, Funneh doubted he could’ve read two sentences before being pulled back in. He leaned towards Gold, conscious of the distance but close enough to start scanning the text that was being written. Funneh’s heart dropped when she saw his eyes widen in abject horror.

“You can't say that!” He cried as he snatched the device from Gold’s unsuspecting hands. Quickly, he slammed his thumb against the backspace, deleting Gold’s paragraph. 

“What? What did she say?” Funneh asked, a concerned tilt to her brows. She was ignored as Gold whipped around to face the boy.

“What? Why?!” She yelped as she tried to get the phone back. To Funneh’s relief, Kyran held the phone above her head.

Kyran looked at Funneh with a ‘can you believe this?’ look before turning back to the brunette. “He didn't do anything wrong! He’d get sooo pissed at you. Well, at Funneh.”

Funneh was suddenly very glad he’d gotten the phone away from her best friend. Seemingly forgotten in the background by her two friends, Funneh’s head bounced from side to side as she tried to follow their conversation like it was a pathetically motivated tennis match.

“Oh, yeah? And how would you know that?”

“You do realize how long I’ve, unfortunately, known him for, right?”

Gold huffed and pouted, slumping back into her chair and crossing her arms. “Well, why don’t you try it, Mr. I-know-him-so-well.”

Kyran's ears pinked at the name, but he brought the phone to his face regardless. The girls watched, one much more anxious than the other, as he re-read the other's message before pausing for a moment and quickly typing out his own response. Out of instinct, he pressed send as he slumped back into his seat.

Kyran shivered in mock disgust, “that hurt just to type.” He said as he passed the phone back to its owner, Gold followed it with her eyes as it passed in front of her.

“What’d you say?” Funneh asked rhetorically as she began reading the short message.

___________________________________________________________________

be right after exams. I’ll think about it.

I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Funneh :) 

You: Hey, no problem! Looking forward to seeing you 

tomorrow, I was thinking we could all maybe sit outside

for lunch?

You: If you want to of course! ∠( ᐛ 」∠)  

___________________________________________________________________

“Why’d you use that emoji? He’s totally gonna know it's you, dude!” Funneh moaned, dropping her head into her hands. Distantly, she recognized Gold blowing Kyran a raspberry.

“What? No, he won’t!”

Gold scoffed, a smirk lighting up her features. “Haha. Kyran, you are the only person we know who uses those emojis. It's obvious. ”

A ‘ding!’ from Funneh's phone stole all their attention.

___________________________________________________________________

Alec❤️🍕:

For sure, see you guys then.

___________________________________________________________________

“Or maybe it’s not.” Gold said blankly, shrugging her shoulders.

Kyran turned to the brunette, a smug smile on his lips. “ Ha ha.”

“Oh, shove off!” Gold complained, her smile giving her amusement away, and shoved his shoulder lightly again. Meanwhile, Funneh sighed in utmost relief and clutched the phone to her chest. The concern that had been burying itself in her heart for days had finally been pulled out and crushed. Not only was he alright, but he had agreed to spend tomorrow's lunch period with them. The agreement made her hopeful, Alec was usually aloof, and flakey, but he was nice, Funneh knew. He cared, even if he didn’t show it often.

She was suddenly excited for the next school day, it was times like that that she craved and cherished, her friends spending time together without worry.

“Oh, hey,” Kyran's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She and Gold turned to the boy in question. “I almost forgot to ask, but there’s a convention in a few months around here, I was wondering if you guys would like to come with me?” he said with a nervous smile.

“Huh, well,” Gold placed an elbow on the table and rested her chin in her palm. She pursed her lips in thought. “I had fun at the last one, but I was only there because Funneh was, I don’t know much about anime either..”

“O-oh!” Kyran stuttered as he quickly turned on his phone and brought up the convention's home page. “This one isn’t just for anime! It's for TV shows, and movies, and it has guests, too.”

With Funneh's interest officially peaked, she leaned over to get a look at the page. “Oooh, Batman comic artists? Cool! Oh, and voice actors, too!”

“Mhm!” Kyran nodded enthusiastically, “and we could cosplay again, too. ‘Course, anime is one of the main focuses, but it’d be really fun, dontcha think?”

Funneh agreed and Gold smiled, “yeah, guess so, I don’t even know who I was cosplaying last time, but her outfit was pretty cute. Looney-?”

“Lucy.”

“Right, Lucy. I’d be down, just depending on when it is.”

“Well, I could recommend you a few animes to watch..? Then you could pick one you like to cosplay?” Kyran said hopefully.

Gold scratched the back of her head sheepishly, not meeting his eyes. “Er, I don’t-”

She was cut off as Funneh tried to subtly kick her under the table, it shook but Kyran didn’t seem to notice. Gold glared at her before sighing and turning back to Kyran. She smiled shakily and said, “I’d love to.”

Kyran seemed to light up and he quickly dove into a brief description of a few different shows. Funneh wasn't listening too intently, but a few she caught were a high school club of what sounded like sex workers, a high school class who all had varying superpowers, and a group of vampires who turned into animals. While Funneh browsed anime every now and then and wasn't nearly as opposed to it as her friend, she didn't envy Gold in this particular situation. If they knew Kyran, he would go on for hours if uninterrupted.

Deciding to do Gold a favour, Funneh cleared her throat and looked at Kyran with an excited smile.  She pointed to the discarded flashcards, “well? Aren’t we gonna keep going? I believe I was just about to beat you, Kyran.”

“Oh, you are so on.” Kyran picked up the cards again before starting to read the question on the first one. Gold raised another finger on her left hand.

Huh, Funneh was actually getting pretty pumped for her exams. With their help, she was sure she would pass!

“I’m going to fail.” Funneh’s words were muffled by the lab table she was sitting at, her hands tangled in her dark blue hair as her face rested against the wood.

“Hm? But I thought you did well studying.”

Funneh looked up at Yandere who sat beside her, she was toying with a black pen, her Chemistry notebook lying beside her. 

Funneh groaned in annoyance, “yeah, I thought so, too. But now that I’m here it’s like I've forgotten it all!” She looked across the room at Kyran and Gold sadly, they were talking quietly between themselves. “I don’t get how everyone’s so calm, Miss Fletcher is so brutal!”

Yandere giggled and patted her lightly on the shoulder. “Come, now, Funneh, I’m sure you’ll do just fine. You’re not dumb.”

“Yeah, but I’m nowhere near as smart as you or Kyran or Evelyn. Can you please help me, Yan-Chan?” Funneh looked up at her friend, ready to pull the best puppy dog eyes she could but she paused at the dark look on her friend's face. She sat up and braced her arms against the table. “Are you okay, Yandere?”

“Hm? Oh.” Yandere shook her head, her black locks swinging about her face. A few strands stuck to her lip gloss which she quickly removed. “Nothing, nothing, it seems all your talk has got me nervous!” She laughed and showed her palms as if pleading innocence.

Funneh blanched and put a palm to her forehead. “You, nervous? Oh, I’m so screwed..”

“Don't say that,” Yandere smiled gently at her again and rested a hand on her knee. “You’re one of the smartest people I know, you’ll be fine. Besides, if you ever get stuck, just do what I do and make an educated guess.” She shrugged.

“‘Educated guess’?”

“Yeah,” Yandere looked away from her so her fringe hid her eyes. “As long as you’re educated on the topic, your guesstimate will never be too far off. The risk you take guessing usually works out better than working yourself to the bone trying to find the exact answer. Sometimes, you never will, and an educated guess is the best you can do.”

“Huh,” Funneh muttered dumbly. Her brain felt numb as she thought about what the other girl had said. It made sense, she would much rather get through the questions guessing and risk being wrong, rather than not finish at all because she was hung up on being right. “I guess you’re right.”

Yandere turned to her again, her cheeks tinting pink. “‘Course, I’ve been doing this a while.”

Funneh was just about to speak again when the classroom door swung open and Miss Fletcher stepped inside. Not wanting to encore her wrath, Funneh and Yander quickly slid to opposite sides of the table and waited silently for their tests to come.

Miss Fletcher placed a multiple-page test in front of her and instinctively, Funneh looked up at Kyran and Gold. Gold was already writing, but she caught Kyrans eye.

He smiled encouragingly at her and raised a quick thumbs up. Funneh looked away quickly when Miss Fletcher walked back to the front to survey the room.

“You may all now- HEY! Did I say you could start yet?!” Funneh watched as Gold sat straight up and meekly shook her head. “Exactly. Wait till I tell you! You may now start.”

Funneh rolled her eyes and picked up her pencil. Placing the graphite against the clean white sheet, Funneh began.

When lunchtime finally rolled around, Funneh could not be more glad. Throughout the morning of hell, she saw several friendly faces, and a few not-so-friendly faces, but didn’t have much of an opportunity to speak to any of them. As soon as the bell rang, she stood and turned in her test before making her way to her locker to retrieve her pre-made lunch. She had thought ahead that morning, knowing that they would be eating out in the field rather than their usual cafeteria, and packed herself a lunch.

It wasn't a particularly healthy lunch, but hey, at least it wasn't burnt.

One person she hadn’t seen all morning, though, was Alec.

She hoped he hadn't forgotten about their lunch plans. She started to the set of double doors that led to the field, as she stepped outside the light blinded her briefly.

“Hey,” Gold greeted as she pushed off the wall she had been leaning on. Slipping her phone into her back pocket, she walked in pace with Funneh. 

“‘Sup,” Funneh glanced around, “where’re the guys?”

Gold chuckled lightly and shifted her grip on her, much nicer, lunch box. “Kyran went ahead. Said he wanted to get the ‘prime eating spot.’”

“No clue what that means, but as long as I’m not sitting in the mud, I’ll be fine.” Funneh shrugged, swinging her arms about as they stepped onto the green field. There were a few other groups of students milling about the field, none that Funneh knew personally.

After a few minutes of walking, Funneh spotted them over by the treeline. Kyran was already sitting down and Alec was standing above him, gesturing over to the left. Funneh pointed them out and she and Gold headed over to them. When they got close enough, Kyran noticed them and waved, Alec looked back and nodded in acknowledgment before turning back to the other boy. 

Funneh raised a brow as they stepped up beside them, tuning into their conversation.

Alec sighed and rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his hoodie-clad chest. “‘Perfect’? You see that?” He stuck out an arm and jabbed at a patch of ground that the green grass refused to grow. “Mud. That’s mud, dude.”

“Well, it’s a good thing we aren’t sitting over there.” Kyran shot back, stubbornly refusing to move.

Alec sputtered, “it’s right there!” And Ale was right, the mud puddle was about four feet behind Kyran who, thankfully, had set up facing the other way. Funneh shifted, pulling her sneaker out of the mud, the white now a dark brown. She didn't particularly care, but then again her shorts were white, she’d much rather sit on the grass.

“And we’re over here!”

Alec opened his mouth to respond but Gold stepped up between them. “Girls, girls, you’re both pretty, can we please not argue all lunch? I’d actually like to eat today.”

Funneh nodded in agreement and plopped down on the damp grass in front of Kyran, the water soaking into her shorts, turning them a muted gray. Alec sighed, a small smile creeping up on his lips, and sat down beside her with a wet ‘Plop!’

Gold noticed and wrinkled her nose as she prodded the grass with the toe of her boot. Funneh chuckled as she opened her lunch bag, she must be regretting siding with Kyran. Although, Funneh thought, maybe that had been his plan for sitting all the way out here as he quickly shrugged off his jacket and laid it down, to which Gold sat on it with a smile in thanks.

“So, Alec,” Gold turned to the boy in question, who looked up from his sandwich.

“Hm?”

“Where’ve you been?”

“Oh, uh,” Alec paused as if he needed to think about his answer. Funneh glared at the brunette, Gold had promised to drop the subject. “My mom got pretty sick, I stayed home just to make sure nothing went wrong.”

“Oh,” Funneh muttered, her brows furrowing. That didn't explain why he had gone MIA, was her sickness so severe he couldn't be on his phone? But, he sounded pretty casual about it. “Is she okay?”

“Yeah, don't worry about it.” Alec brushed it off, rubbing the back of his neck. It seemed all three of them could tell he wanted to move on, but apparently, Kyran was the only one not willing to leave it alone. He hummed in thought, his fingers crinkling the plastic wrapping on a chocolate chip cookie as he struggled to open it.

“I’ll let Ma know, she’ll probably wanna call and check up on her.”

Alec picked at his crust, flicking tiny bits into the grass. “Good idea, we haven't seen Jenn in a while.”

“Well!” Gold suddenly clapped, changing the subject. Funneh was silently relieved, the tension between the two boys was getting unbearable. “Are you coming to Senpai’s party this weekend?”

Alec shrugged, falling back into his usual aloofness, “dunno.”

Funneh suddenly thought of all the time and effort she had put into her outfit. “Oh, please! Please, please, please!” she clasped her hands together in a beg and stuck out her bottom lip. Alec looked amused at her mock pleading. “Gold’s probably gonna ditch me to hang with Prince and Kyran is absolutely zero fun!”

“Hey!” called the un-fun one of the group as Gold giggled, “I’m loads of fun.”

Funneh looked at Alec with a ‘see?’ kind of look and he laughed. Alec stuck out his arms and leaned backward on them.

“I suppose you're right about that, but, I mean, there’ll be other people there and I’m not much of a party person myself. Not much,” he leaned closer to her with a teasing smirk, “fun.”

Funneh felt her cheeks pink and she fumbled with her lunch. She could hear Gold’s giggles ramp up even though she tried to muffle them behind her palm. Funneh could imagine Kyran rolling his eyes with an exaggerated gag. Alec seemed oblivious to this as he leaned back, waiting for her response.

“Well, um, yeah I guess so, but-”

“But we want you there.” Gold saved her, her laughter tapering off. She gestured to Kyran, “even he does, promise.”

Alec huffed a skeptical laugh. “No, but really, there’s Senpai, obviously, Evan’s probably going too. What about Evelyn?” he turned to Funneh, “don’t you want to tell her how your exams have gone?”

“Senpai’s gonna be busy hosting, Evan, no idea, and Evelyn, uh, well…” she trailed off, looking down and picking at the grass.

“Hm?” Kyran tilted his head curiously. “Did something happen with Evelyn?”

Gold cringed beside him, shifting uneasily on his jacket. “Er, kinda, I guess.” She nodded toward Funneh and she groaned inwardly, she really didn’t want to explain but Kyran and Alec were looking at her questioningly, Kyran more worried, he was more personally closer to her than the other, but Alec had something else swimming in his eyes Funneh didn't have time to decipher.

Funneh sighed and started to tell them what she had told Gold some odd days ago. Her talk with Gold had helped, yes, but she still couldn't help but shift uneasily when Evelyn was brought up. She wanted the case to be solved just as much as anybody, but the way she was going about it, she seemed so disconnected. Unaware, almost.

“What?” Kyran gasped after she was finished talking. “I mean, I know she was investigating it but…” he looked down at his hands. “Now it feels… real. ”

Funneh chuckled humorlessly, “I know what you mean. She questioned me too, not nearly as intense as what she did to Senpai, but still.”

“What did she ask about?” Alec asked, his lunch forgotten beside him. His attention was solely on her and it made her fidget nervously.

“Well, it wasn't that bad, it was all just basic stuff, ignore me.” she waved a hand dismissively.

Kyran leaned forward in interest, “no, no, c’mon, tell us!”

Funneh looked off to the side and made eye contact with Gold who nodded mutely. “I mean, it was just basic stuff. Mostly. She asked if I knew who ‘Info-Kun’ was.” She stuck her fingers up in air quotes.

“The same guy I was questioned about back then.”

“Mhm, I’m not even sure how they found out about them or how they’re connected. What do you guys think? Ab- About everything?”

Alec stayed silent so Kyran piped up. “I think Evelyn is capable but she’s also only an intern, if the police haven’t solved it yet, what’s different about her? Don't get me wrong, I want Valerie’s case to be solved, but we also have to be realistic.”

“Yeah,” Gold muttered in agreement. “This whole thing is really scary and I'm glad she’s so determined but I don't really want to get shoved into it again, y’know?”

“Well, you might have to,” Funneh crossed her arms, “Evelyn said she wants to question everybody . Actually, speaking of,” she turned to Alec who tensed under her gaze. “She seemed especially interested in you, she tried to hide it but….”

He was quiet for a moment and the rest of them let him have that. Alec was hard to read, Funneh knew, he always seemed so put together and strong, so unconcerned whenever something went wrong. But even if he was stronger than her, he was still seventeen and this was a murder case for goodness sake, the murder of their friend.

“I’m not thrilled about being interrogated again, but I think Evelyn’s gonna be a lot nicer than those cops,” Alec smirked and shoved his hands in his hoodie pocket. “But if she manages to catch this psycho, it’ll be better for all of us when she’s gone.” 

Gold nodded in agreement and Kyran furrowed his brows beside her, but smiled nonetheless. Funneh sighed in relief and scooped up the last thing in her bag, a blueberry muffin. “Well, sorry for raining on our parade, that was kind of a bummer.

“No, it's okay,” Gold told her as she pulled out her phone, “but we only have a few minutes left, if we wanna make it back to class in time we should head out now.”

The guys stood up around them. Kyran reached out a hand for Gold who handed him back his jacket, he folded it over his arm and waved them a swift goodbye. Funneh blew a disappointed raspberry and shoved the muffin back in the paper bag, she looked up when Alec laughed above her. He helped her up before putting his hands back into his pocket.

He started back to the school and leaned in when he passed her, “see you at the party.”

Funneh stood there for a moment after he left until Gold ran up to her and grabbed her arm. “What’d he say?!”

“Oh, uh, nothing, he’s just coming to the party.” Funneh smiled brightly as Gold started tugging her away.

“Ooh, yay!” Gold squealed in delight, “this is gonna be great, can't wait to see everyone!”

Funneh quirked a brow and turned to her sharply, “oh, do you know if Prince is even going?”

Gold paused, yanking Funneh to a stop. She thought about it for a moment before shrugging, “I don’t know. I’ve been so busy helping you study that I guess I forgot to ask.” She continues walking, turning to her with a smile, one Funneh can’t help but return. “But I hope so! If Alec’s going you’ll be busy and, as you said,” she lowered her voice dramatically, “Kyran is zero fun!”

Funneh laughed as they entered the building and went their separate ways, the shrill bell cutting off her soft chuckles.

Crickets sang outside, their tune drifting into Yandere’s window where she sat alone. Her house was still, empty. Her vanity chair creaked as she leaned forward, a bottle of liquid eyeliner held in one hand, the brush in the other. The product was cold against her skin and she sat back to admire her work, a long, pointed cat eye carved her eyes narrowly. 

No. Too sharp.

She ripped another makeup wipe from the container, scrubbing at her irritated eyelid with frustration. She tossed the crumpled wipe behind her, landing with all the others. She sighed and leaned into the mirror again, and raised the brush yet again.

Her lips were stained red, eyes rubbed raw. This needed to be perfect.

The crickets outside grew louder, as did her frustration. The fountain echoed water droplets around the yard. She huffed as she rubbed away her work once again, she stood suddenly, the force toppling the chair backward with a loud clatter. Not paying mind to the pause in the cricket's lullaby, Yandere decided to take a break and headed over to her desk.

Laid upon the wooden surface was a half-finished dress. The green fabric shined in the low light, it would be stunning under the flashes of colour during the party. She laid the fabric under the metal foot, then slammed it down and adjusted the angle slightly. Removing the pins as she went, Yandere applied slight pressure on the pedal, and the low hum of the machine filled the room.

She watched, entranced, as the small needle effortlessly sank into the beautiful fabric before being ripped back out, no trace it had been there besides the newly placed dark green thread. 

She pulled out each pin the pedal came across and deposited it gently into the plastic container. It was a clear cylindrical thing that she kept at her vanity. She often had the need to poke and prod at various things with the sharp point, whether it be pinning things to her walls or pricking her finger for a couple drops of red.

A shrill ringing ripped her away from her trance. She lifted her foot sharply, the hum cut silenced and the crickets returned. There, on her bedside table, her phone rang loudly, the vibration against the wood sent annoyance rippling through her skull. Pushing her chair backward, Yandere once again stood and leisurely meandered her way toward the phone. Looking at the phone screen, the caller ID gave her pause.

‘Hiroto Okazaki’

Hm, why would he be calling her at such a late hour?

“No matter,” Yandere muttered to herself as she picked up her phone and pressed the power button twice, sending the man to voicemail. The device slipped from her fingers and bounced slightly as it landed against her plush duvet. Her lock screen briefly lit up with a small missed call notification, she ignored it and walked to her balcony window. Stepping out into the brisk night air, a chill left goosebumps along her bare arms. 

The crickets sang loudly, and the moonlight lit the backyard dimly. The perfectly cut grass glimmered with old rainwater. One day, she and her love would share something like this, Yandere was sure. They would make an empty house a beautiful home.

Chapter Text

“It's a lot… smaller than I thought it’d be.”

Funneh nodded in agreement, she had thought Senpai’s house would be more like Evelyn's, but here they were standing in front of a normal suburban house on a quiet street. Well, okay, it was big but more in the ‘I had choices’ and not the ‘I’m filthy rich’ kind of way. She and Gold stood side by side on the sidewalk gazing up at the house. Multi-coloured light shone through the windows and music blared so loudly they could hear it when they turned onto the street, several cars lined the sidewalk, some a lot more expensive looking than others.

“Well!” Funneh turned to Gold with a bright smile lighting up her features. “The party will be a lot more fun if we go inside, huh?”

Gold chuckled but started walking anyway. They made their way up the driveway and towards the stoop. Funneh raised a hand to knock but then remembered how loud the music was and thought better of it, instead twisting the doorknob and heading inside. Immediately, the lights blinded them and the off-tune singing reached their ears.

“Let’s try to find Senpai!” Gold yelled, gripping her sleeve to not lose her in the crowd. Funneh could barely hear her over the music but obliged. She started toward the living room, or, at least where she assumed the living room was, pushing past bare shoulders and clothed chests. Gold let out an ‘oof!’ behind her and when Funneh turned to check on her, Gold was rubbing her cheek, glaring at one of the people they’d passed. Funneh tried to continue, eventually making it to the living room. People were crowded around the walls in a circle around the middle where a group was sitting. Funneh assumed they were playing a party game, all holding red solo cups. Funneh glanced around the room, scanning all the faces she recognizes but couldn’t quite place.

She saw Senpai leaning against one of the walls talking to two girls, again, all three of them had a red solo cup in hand. Funneh turned to Gold and said, “let's go say hi, then see if we can find Kyran or Alec!”

“Huh?!” 

“Let's go say hi to Senpai! Then find Kyra-!”

“What?!”

“Lets! Go! Fin-! You know what? Never mind.” Funneh muttered, snatching Gold’s forearm and dragging her forward. She decided to cut across the middle of the room rather than hugging the walls and through the crowd. As they were passing the centre group, a blond perked up at the sight of them, Prince. Prince smiled, his teeth sparkling white, a faint flush on his cheeks. He waved at them, Funneh smiled back and felt Gold wave enthusiastically back at him. She saw him begin to stand but Gold raised a hand and pointed over to Senpai, Prince followed her finger and nodded in understanding, smiling again before sitting back down.

The girls continued on their way and as they made it to Senpai, the two girls moved on, leaving the boy by himself against the wall. He smiled wide when he saw them.

“Hey! You made it!” 

Funneh let go of Gold's arm as Senpai opened his, wrapping a gentle arm around them one at a time, holding the hand that held his cup far away. Senpai stepped back and cradled his cup in both hands, smiling sweetly at them. “You look great, guys! That’s one hell of a style change, Funneh, I like it!”

“Thanks! You look great, too!” Funneh replied. Senpai was wearing a dark gray button-up shirt that’s sleeves rolled up past his elbows, and his hair was tousled, no longer in its usual neat style, it looked good on him.

“You guys just got here?” Senpai asked, quirking a brow.

Gold nodded, “mhm! Actually, have you seen Kyran or Alec anywhere?”

Senpai thought for a moment, looking up to the ceiling as he hummed. “I saw Kyran a little bit ago, I think he’s downstairs. Not sure about Alec, though. Oh! But Yandere is over there!” He leaned around Funneh’s shoulder and pointed to a maroon-coloured couch. Funneh and Gold turned to look and saw Yandere leaning against the arm of the couch looking in their direction, she was wearing a sparkly green dress, long sleeves reaching her palms, black strappy heels adorned her crossed legs, she looked ethereal with her hair down and flowing in loose waves. When they caught her eye she smiled cheerily and waved, she also held a red solo cup against her knee.

When they turned back to Senpai his head was turned to the right, leaning back on the balls of his feet as he tried to see around the corner. He looked at them bashfully, “sorry, I gotta go, but I’ll for sure see you guys later! There’s food and drinks in the kitchen, though,” he leaned in, raising a hand to shield his mouth. Funneh had to lean in to hear him as he whispered. 

“If you’re not going all out tonight, I’d stay away from the punch.” He shook his solo cup, the pink liquid inside sloshing around the rim dangerously. “Say hi to Kyran and Alec for me when you find ‘em!” Senpai called back to them as he began to walk away.

“Eugh,” Gold stuck her tongue out as they started making their way to the basement, “I don’t know what that was spiked with, but I sure as hell could smell it.”

Funneh laughed in agreement. She didn't take Senpai for the drinking type, but hey, this was a high school party, she supposes it was a package deal. As the two girls descended the wooden steps the music began to muffle ever so slightly. Downstairs was much less crowded than the first floor and after just a few seconds of searching, Funneh found Kyran quite easily. There was a fold-out table by the left wall currently being used for beer pong, on the other side was a couch set in front of a large tv. 

Funneh raised an arm and waved over their friend, “Kyran!”

Said boy looked up at her call and smiled at the sight of the two girls. He made his way over to them, his ears were tinted pink and he also had a red solo cup clutched in his hands. “Hey! Did you guys just get here?”

“Mhm!” Gold nodded. She peered over the rim of his cup to see what he had. Kyran offered her a sip. “Hm, not bad, actually.” Gold spun on her heel, heading back upstairs, Kyran and Funneh followed behind.

“Is Alec here yet?” Funneh asked him as they made their way up the creaky stairs. Kyran nodded and pointed to the corner, between the entryway to the kitchen and a hallway. Alec was wearing a dark red t-shirt covered by a black jacket. The three of them started to weave through the crowd but Funneh noticed Gold continuously glancing toward the inner circle.

Funneh bumped her arm. When Gold looked at her she nodded, “go ahead, we’ll meet up in a bit.” Gold seemed to light up and she waved at them as she bounced into the crowd. 

“She’s just going to Prince, you know that, right?”

Funneh chuckled at the mopey tone Kyran took as he watched Gold disappear. “Yeah, but it was either that or lose her later on.” Kyran let out a pouty ‘hmph’ sound as they reached Alec.

“Hey,” Alec said in his usual monotone voice. He seemed unaffected by the crowd milling around them. He had a handful of plain potato chips in one palm that he was picking from.

“Hi!” She reached out and plucked a chip. “How long have you been here?”

Alec shrugged, “not long. You gonna get a drink?”

“I'm surprised you haven't already raided the kitchen.” Kyran pointed out. Funneh rolled her eyes, though she had to admit he was right, it was calling her. “Why don’t you go get food, and I’ll go hang out with literally anyone but him?”

“You act like I wanna be alone with you.”

Kyran blew him a raspberry and stalked off, not before waving Funneh a goodbye, promising he’d see them later. Funneh looked back at Alec who smiled and said, “I gotta go to the bathroom quick, stay here?” Funneh tried to call after him but decided he wouldn't be able to hear her over the music anyway.

Now with all her available friends occupied, Funneh decided to do what Funneh does best.

Find the food.

Spinning on her heel, she beelined for the kitchen entryway. The crowd surprisingly tapered off the closer she got to the kitchen, and by the time she was under the open door, there was no one around. She guessed they had all been lured in by the game or had snuck away. Her entrance was announced by the change of footsteps, from faint thuds against wood to clicking on tile. She let out a small breath and slumped her shoulders, setting her sights on the fridge. But, before she could get there, she stopped short; someone was sitting hunched over at the island, nursing a red solo cup in shaky palms.

“Senpai?” Funneh paused, her quest to the fridge momentarily forgotten. Senpai’s head snapped up at her voice, his shoulders jumped as if he hadn't noticed she was there until she’d spoken.

“Oh, hey, what's up? Are you having fun?” He smiled at her and traced a finger around the rim of his cup. His cheeks were tinted pink and his voice shook as he spoke.

Funneh glanced him up and down quickly before walking over to the other side of the island; she crossed her arms across the cold marble and leaned against them. “Yeah, just came for something to eat. What are you doing here? You should be out there.”

He sighed, “yeah, I-I know, I just…” He looked up at her from beneath his bangs, his coal eyes were dim. “I don’t feel right.”

Funneh raised a brow slowly, looking between him and the cup he was cradling like it might shatter at the slightest of malicious touches. “You feelin’ sick?”

“What?” He followed her gaze to the cup and chuckled lightly, shaking his head. “Oh, no, it's not that, promise. I..” He paused and glanced at the open entryway leading back to the party. “Do you want to talk? Upstairs?” 

Funneh bit her lip and nodded. She waited for Senpai to stand and begin leading her to the stairs. Before they crossed the threshold of the kitchen, she reached out for Senpai’s hand, gently prying the cup away and setting it down on an empty counter. He watched it until it was out of view. 

They apparently had to pass through the living room to get upstairs as Senpai led her between bodies. She was getting jostled so she gently grabbed onto Senpai’s sleeve. He glanced back, and for a second she worried he would shake her off, but he said nothing and continued on.

“Funneh!”

She looked over at the faint call of her name. Alec’s brows were furrowed in confusion, eyes trained on them. Funneh helplessly looked between him and Senpai before pointing at the upcoming stairs, mouthing the words ‘be back later’. Funneh hoped he understood her silent plea. He must've, as his frown lessened and he turned, walking over to the far wall and leaning against it, sipping at his drink. 

The stairs creaked as they walked up them, Funneh looking at Senpai’s back. She wasn't necessarily close to Senpai, they were friends, sure, but still. The most they had hung out was with Valerie connecting their two groups. They reached the hallway and Funneh couldn't help but glance around. On the walls were dozens of framed pictures, Senpai was in almost all of them. They ranged from what seemed to be in the last year or so to his first day of kindergarten. Little Senpai stood holding a small sign that said something in Japanese; he smiled proudly into the camera, a gap in between his two front teeth that was absent now.

At the end of the hallway, Senpai opened a door, closing it gently behind her when Funneh stepped in. Senapi walked over and sat down on his bed, grey duvet creasing underneath him. He rested his elbows on his knees and put his chin in his palm as he watched Funneh look around the room.

It was simplistic, which didn't surprise Funneh. He had bookshelves that were stock full, a few posters scattered around the beige walls, and a dark oak desk covered in loose paper and notebooks. She spotted a photo and picked it up gently, her fingers curling around the wood frame. It was a photo of him and Valerie taken from what Funneh assumed was Valerie's cell phone. She had it angled from her extended arm pointed down at them. She was smiling ear to ear and Senpai, who sat beside her, looked taken off guard by the photo as he had a sandwich held up to his face and crumbs on his cheeks. He looked like he was halfway to a pose when she took the photo, but he was still smiling.

It was sweet, a seemingly meaningless, one out of a dozen selfies that now held so many memories attached. Funneh ran a thumb over Valerie’s smiling face.

“My parents, uhm,” Senpai spoke gently. Funneh looked back over to him, lowering the frame back to the desk.  Senpai’s eyes followed the photo before looking back up at her with sad eyes, “my parents are the ones who wanted this party, not me. They keep saying I need to move on from her, especially my mom. But- but it feels wrong.”

“Oh..” Funneh muttered. The blaring music seemed to fade away into the background, nothing but muffled laughs meeting her ears. She walked over to the bed and sat down beside him, folding her hands in her lap. “Well, they are kinda right, you- you deserve to have fun, Senpai.”

Senpai sighed, shrugging his shoulders as he looked away from her. “I want to, but I want her to be here to share it with me.” They were both quiet for a few minutes. Funneh watched him out of the corner of her eye, biting her lip in worry. She understood completely, Valerie was an absolute joy to be around and Funneh misses her every day. The small memorial to her set up at the dorms was a constant reminder of what was missing.

“Did you know she broke up with me?” Senpai finally spoke, his voice shaking as he finally looked at her. His eyes were glassy, but he kept any tears from spilling, Funneh had a feeling he had done more than enough crying for one lifetime already. Funneh’s eyes widened as she digested what he’d said, her shoulders fell and she clenched her hands tightly together.

“What?” 

“Just before she died, she broke up with me. I just-” He sighed miserably, “I wish she hadn't, I wish our last moment together could've been happy.”

Funneh raised a hand and set it on his shoulder. She scooched closer to him on the bed, moving her arm to wrap around his shoulders. “I get it. I miss her every day. Sometimes I wonder what things would be like if she were still here.”

“But why’d it have to be her? ” His voice broke. He didn't lean into her embrace but he also didn't shy away, Funneh took that as a win and squeezed his shoulder lightly. 

“I-I don’t know, it isn't fair. But you know she’d wa-”

“Please don’t say ‘she’d want me to be happy’, I know! But that doesn't change how hard it is.” He cut her off harshly and Funneh couldn't help but jump in surprise, her hand retreating back to her side. “I- sorry, I shouldn't have yelled, you're just trying to help.” He put his head in his hands and took a deep breath. 

Funneh watched him for a while in silence. The muffled music shook the floor beneath them, a creak came from the hallway outside the door but neither of them paid it any mind. She wishes she could say she relates, but she knows she can’t. Senpai loved her, his heartbreak thousands of times worse than hers, it’d be selfish to compare them. 

“Growing up I used to be really shy.” Funneh toyed with her fingers as she suddenly spoke. Senpai looked up at her confused, his brows furrowed as he sat up slightly. He let out a small noise of intrigue.

“But when I moved here with Gold and met Valerie so quickly, it was such a big change for me, she was so outgoing and sweet. It was such a relief to be able to be me around someone like that. We had so much fun all the time and it was so great. We once pranked Gold and ended up dying her hair green.”

Senpai let out a startled laugh and sat up straighter. Funneh glanced back at him as a small smile crept up on her lips, his eyes were clearing and seemed more in focus.

Funneh laughed, “yeah! Valerie put too much dye in the shampoo so it stained for weeks!”

“You wouldn't think she’d of been into that stuff, but she pulled pranks on me all the time, too.” He rubbed the back of his neck as he reminisced. Funneh shifted, angling her knees toward him, and leaned forward, a look of disbelief coming over her face.

“Wait, are you serious?”

Senpai chuckled and prodded the carpet with the toe of his shoe. “Mhm, still don’t think I’ve gotten all the glitter out, yet.” 

“What happened?” Funneh asked excitedly.

“It was the day before my birthday. I walked in and there was a cup of water above my door. She threw her arms around me, she was covered in hot pink glitter so it got everywhere. ” He mimicked the action, releasing imaginary handfuls of glitter to scatter around the room.

Funneh tried the action as well but was interrupted by bouts of laughter.

Senpai’s laughter trails off as he looks at her, toying with his fingers in his lap. “Y’know, sorry we’ve never really hung out before.” Funneh looked up at him questioningly, silently urging him to go on. “I mean, we were friendly, yeah, but I never really… noticed you,” he says guiltily.

Funneh waves a dismissive hand, laughing off his worry. “Nah, don’t get all hung up on that; I was totally content being with Gold and you were always with James, anyway.”

“James, yeah..” Senpai muttered, furrowing his brows once again. Funneh cursed inwardly, he had just loosened up and she’d ruined it in a single sentence. “Do you think he did it?”

“What? No, of course not!” Senpai’s eyes widened at her sudden outburst. “Yeah, sure, he might’ve been upset after Liv's death, and yeah he was a little angry about it, but he would never have hurt Valerie.”

“Exactly! Someone definitely framed him, it’s so..” he paused briefly. “I visit him from time to time, and his lawyer asked if I would testify.”

Funneh waited for him to continue, but when he didn't she prompted him forward. “Are you?”

“Mhm,” he nodded, “still waiting for the trial date, though.”

Funneh sighed dramatically and threw her arms up as she allowed herself to flop backward on the bed; she bounced as she landed. “I, for one, cannot wait until this whole thing is over.” She ran her fingers along the seam of Senpai’s pillow above her head.

“Yeah,” Senpai agreed, laying down much gentler than she had, folding his hands over his stomach as they both looked up at the white popcorn ceiling. 

“I hope Evelyn solves it soon, I wanna just go back to having fun without the threat of a total psycho out there.”

“Evelyn?”

“Hm?” Funneh raised her head slightly to look at him. Senpai was looking back at her and his features were scrunched, curious. “Yesh, she’s a PI, remember? She’s really looking into Valerie’s case.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Senpai suddenly sat up on his elbows and peered down at her, his hair falling around his face like a dark silk curtain. “She’s actually a Private Investigator? I knew she was…” he paused and seemed to think of the right word, “invested, but, like, she’s for real?”

Funneh nodded, quickly realizing Evelyn's occupation wasn't nearly as well known as she’d originally thought. She supposes it makes sense, if the culprit knew she was investigating, they might try to flee or cover their tracks. Funneh had to resist the urge to smile at the thought, so Evelyn really didn't consider them suspects. Everyone else at the Christmas party must have been royally confused, now that she thinks about it.

“Why didn't she tell me..?” Senpai’s brows furrowed and he bit the corner of his lip as he muttered above her. He shook his head to clear the thought for now, again focusing his gaze on Funneh. “You have to tell me when she finds anything.”

“‘Course, you’ll be the first to know.” Funneh smiled, reaching a fist up to playfully punch his shoulder. “She’s probably gonna question you since, y’know”

Senpai scoffed, crossing his arms and flopping down beside her again. Unlike Funneh, his feet went over the edge of the grey covers, both their heads a few inches below the pillows. “What else could I tell her? She was pretty thorough last time.”

Funneh hummed in response and they lay in silence for a long while, staring upwards. Funneh hated that kind of ceiling, it always chipped and fell to cover the ground at the slightest touch. She wasn't even sure what the ‘popcorn’ was made of, was it chunks of dried paint? It was chalky and always covered her palm in a dusty white back home. She liked looking at it at night, though; it reminded her of stars. She remembers laying in bed, trying to lull herself to sleep by searching for any type of pattern in them she could find. She found a star once, in the corner of her room; she had been devastated when it chipped away and she was forced to look for a new picture in the white of her ceiling.

Senpai’s ceiling was much the same, spirals and swirls and intricate patterns she knew were not done knowingly. There was a small clearing of the rough bumps by his window; she could picture Senpai brushing his knuckles along the ceiling as he reached up to open or close the sliding window. Maybe his hands came back red and dusty, maybe the chips fell into his eyes, who knows.

“I've been thinking about what she said.” Senpai’s voice snaps her back. She looks over at him, his gaze is locked on the ceiling.

“What do you mean?”

Senpai raised his arms and stuck out two fingers in a quote motion, “‘why does every girl you go out with die?’” he dropped them again, “she right, why does every girl I’m with end up dead or hate me?”

Funneh opened her mouth to spout a response, but she couldn't think of one. He, as much as she hated to admit it, was right. Was it him? It had to be, he was the only constant in all of this. He locked eyes with her and asked, in a small gentle voice,

“Is it me? Am I cursed?”

Funneh couldn't help but smile softly, shrugging her shoulders, “cursed? Nah, I don't think so. I mean,” Funneh shot her hands into the air as if inviting someone for a hug. “I’m friends with you, right? You're cute, I’d date you!”

“I-” 

“Shh! Watch.” Funeh winked at him and laughed at his bewilderment. Senpai went along with it and shifted his gaze to her outstretched hands. They were quiet until Funneh dropped her hand snack down to her stomach and turned her head back to the black-haired male beside her, he was already looking back, searching for an explanation. 

“See? I’m fine, no curse!”

Senpai couldn't help but laugh and Funneh watched as the laughter bubbled up in the back of his throat and exploded out his lips. He shot a hand up to cover his mouth, “what? That was so stupid!”

Funneh gasped, placing a hand on her chest, “‘stupid’?! How dare thee! I’ll have you know I’d be wonderful to date, thank you very much!”

“Oh, yeah?” He sat up, a smirk once again gracing his features, “how would you know? Have you ever had a boyfriend?”

“Nope!” Funneh popped the ‘p’ with a smile, crossing her arms and legs as she also sat up. “And I’ve done pretty well so far, I think.”

Senpai’s eyes seemed to widen slightly at her answer, “wait, you’ve actually never had a boyfriend?” When Funneh shook her head he continued, “wow, that’s surprising. What about a crush or anything? We’ve known each other a while, now that I think about it I don't think you’ve ever been involved with that kind of thing.”

“Er, well,” Funneh bit her lip and looked off to the side. Senpai seemed to notice if his growing smile was anything to go by. Funneh could feel her cheeks prickle with heat. “Nope, not that I can think of.”

“Really? Nothing at all? I mean, we all know Kyran is basically in love with Gold and she’s totally oblivious, but you? Nothing?” he leaned into her face and whispered, holding back a laugh, “I don't believe it!”

“Fine!” Funneh waved him away with her hands, he laughed as he backed up, intent on listening carefully. “I guess, there is a guy I’m kinda into…” she trailed off, holding her palms to her cheeks. At Senpai’s silence, she glanced over at him to see a smug smirk lighting up his features. “What?! It's not like he likes me back or anything! Or well,” she paused slightly, " I don't know, he’s kind of… aloof like that, I guess.”

“Oh? ‘Aloof’ you say?”

“What?”

Senpai raised his hands in a plea of innocence, “nothing, nothing. But promise me you’ll tell me if anything exciting happens, ‘kay?”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say..” Funneh muttered, trying to calm her racing heart.

“Well!” Senpai suddenly stood and clapped his hands, a creak came from the floorboards a moment after he stood. He gestured his head toward a blinking red alarm clock on her bedside table, Funneh hummed when she noticed more than an hour had passed. “Why don't we head back down? My mum would kill me if she found out I was upstairs the whole night.”

Funneh chuckled, accepting his helping hand and standing herself. “I think I’m gonna head home, don't really feel up to dancing right now, y’know?”

“Oh,” he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck as they neared his bedroom door, “I'm sorry I ruined the party for you-”

“No, no! You're fine, I promise, I’m not really a party person anyway.” she waved her hands in front of her, trying desperately to reassure him he hadn't ruined her night. If she was being honest, she had been hoping to go off away from the commotion with a certain somebody anyway.

He watched her face for a moment before smiling softly, “sure.” 

Senpai turned and started back the way they had come down the hallway. They walk down the stairs and the music and lights suddenly wash over her world once again.

___________________________________________________________________

“What do you want now?” Alec demanded as they stepped outside into the cool night air. Yandere had come barreling down the stairs and grabbed his arm, he had ripped it out of her vicious grasp almost immediately, but he still followed her nonetheless. She hadn't spoken a word the entire time she led him around the house to a small, isolated area behind the fence gate to the backyard. 

Yandere stopped when they reached the old oak fence. Alec looked her up and down quickly, taking note of her clenched fists and her face tilted down, hidden away from his view. Her shoulders shook in what he presumed was absolute, unfathomable rage and her breathing was heavy. He wanted to ask again but quickly thought better, instead opting to shove his hands in his jacket pockets and wait her out. 

He glanced around the small amount of backyard they were occupying. The grass looked freshly cut even back here hidden from sight. The stars twinkled above them, so gentle compared to the blaring music that shook the windows. Alec pitied the neighbors.

“I need you to do something for me.” Yandere finally spoke, still refusing to look at him. She Picked at the seam of her green dress above her hip, her arms wrapped around her middle. Alec could see the dark green thread pulling away from the shiny fabric, revealing small spots of milky skin.

“Shocker. What?”

“Funneh.”

Alec lost his breath. His thoughts screeched to a halt and his hands shook in the warmth of his jacket pockets. Funneh? What about her? What in the world could Yandere want him to do that involved her? His mind suddenly snapped to attention, recalling Funneh’s silent rushed excuse as she followed Senpai upstairs, he recalled the look of loathing that painted Yandere’s face as she descended the same set of stairs. Alec could feel dread crawl up the back of his neck and settle, it curled around his throat and squeezed-  

He swallowed and set his voice firm before he spoke. “What about her?”

Yandere whipped around to face him, her hair flowing behind her shoulders and she stomped toward him, her heels sinking into the damp dirt. Alec couldn't help but take a step back as his eyes widened; he spotted the smallest amount of tears gathered on her waterline. “She likes you, keep her interested.”

“W-what-?”

“If she’s interested in you, she'll leave Senpai alone. You won't kill? Fine, go out with her, string her along, I don't care. Just keep her,” her hand shot out and grabbed his collar, pulling him forward to face her. Her cheeks were flushed and her brows were pinched tightly, her painted lips drawn into a snarl. “Away. from. Senpai. Do you understand me, Alec?”

He was silent, shock wracked his frame as they stood in the gentle breeze. He felt shame overcome him and overpower the relief he felt. How could he be relieved? How dare he feel relieved? Did he understand the weight of what she was asking, no, demanding of him?

Of course, he did. He could practically see his hatred grow for the woman in front of him. But, he knew better. He always did.

“Yeah.” he pried her hand away from his now crumpled collar, “I get it.” He stepped away from her.

“Now don't be misinformed. The moment she flies too close to the sun, I will skin her alive and send you whatever is left. I will break her, and I will enjoy it.” Yandere stomped past him, hitting his shoulder on the way. Alec turned, watching her make her way back into the party. Alec pitied the unassuming people inside Yandere glanced to the right through a window. She looked back at him after a moment, her glare forced his breath out of his throat. 

“Oh, look, there she is.”

Her voice kicked him into high gear as she started back toward the porch at a faster pace. He couldn't help it as he called out to her, “she’s gonna see us come in together. What’d we talk about?”

He caught up to her as she reached the corner of the porch. Now finally in view of others, she suddenly started to sway and plucked a red solo cup off the edge of the railing. When she reached the last step, she stumbled. Yandere fell into him and giggled, “nothing, I’m drunk.”

She stood and sauntered back into the house unconcerned. Alec shivered, even though she had stopped herself from touching him when she ‘fell’ he felt as though her hands were on him, invading, infecting everything that he was.

He stepped through the open sliding glass door, the flashing lights and overbearing music muffled to him as his mind ran in a dozen different directions, all meeting at one destination.

He spotted Funneh walking through the crowd.

___________________________________________________________________

Funneh reached out a hand and tapped Kyran’s shoulder. He turned, a smile wavering when he saw her expression. 

“Funneh, you okay?”

“Hm? Oh, yeah, but I’m gonna head home. Gold is, uhm,” they both looked over to the circle of drunk teenagers. Gold was sitting beside Prince who had a hand resting on her thigh. They both, along with everyone else in the group, had full cups in their hands and seemed to be playing a game of truth or dare. Funneh wasn't very keen on the idea of walking into the middle of that. “Yeah, do you think you could get her home?”

Kyran looked at her for a moment before puffing his chest in pride. He immediately set his cup down and raised her joking salute. “Yes! Gotcha, we’ll be just fine. You can trust me.”

Funneh chuckled a faint ‘I know’ before giving him a brief hug and thank you before turning around and heading for the entryway. As she walked, Funneh spotted Alec and Yandere coming in through the backdoor, one obviously more inebriated than the other. Yandere stumbled into the crowd but Alec headed straight for her.

“Hey, I’m getting out of here, you?” Funneh asked as he fell in step with her.

Alec ran a hand through his hair and glanced back at the party briefly. “Thank god. I’ll walk you.”

Funneh giggled, reaching out to turn the doorknob and they stepped out onto the front stoop. They quickly reached the sidewalk and started their short journey to the dorms. The farther they walked the more peaceful their surroundings became, music replaced with chirping crickets and footsteps.

“So, what were you and Yandere up to?”

Alec shrugged nonchalantly, “nothin’ really, she was drunk.”

“Ah, I wouldn't really peg her as the type. She seems like a goody two shoes, y’know?”

“Yeah, real good. Any reason you left early? Gold was havin’ fun.” 

Funneh stretched her arms above her head and yawned, “yeah, not really my scene. You?” 

“Same,” Alec chuckled, “I'm not one for outings, really.”

Funneh frowned as a thought popped into her head. She dropped her hands and hopped down onto the street as they reached the end of the sidewalk. “Is that why you left early at the concert?” she paused at Alec's sharp intake of breath. She cursed inwardly, why’d she have to go and bring that up? It's not that important! “I just mean, uh, you never really said why, right? Oh, wait, you got a call, never mind.” She stumbled over her words and pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. She glanced sideways at Alec who was looking down silently.

“Don't worry about it, I’m being stupid.”

“No, it's fine,” Alec rubbed the back of his neck as he looked away from her. Funneh watched him out of the corner of her eye, her heart rate picked up and she felt her palms begin to sweat. “I never really apologize for that, huh? I got a call from Ally, mum was sick at the time and Ally didn't know what to do. So, sorry I had to bounce like that, Funneh.”

“Oh.” She suddenly felt foolish for overthinking, of course, he had a reason. It’s not that he hadn't wanted to be there, he had a genuine reason. Funneh felt bad for assuming. “Nah, you're fine, I’m over it anyway. I had fun when you were there, that’s all that matters.” she waved her hand, desperately trying to come off as nonchalant.

“Did you end up going home, too?”

“Well, I mean I didn't stay for the whole show but that’s ‘cause- oh! Oh my gosh, Alec, you should have seen it!” she turned to him and grabbed his jacket sleeve excitedly, laughs spilling from her mouth that interrupted her story. “Evan totally bombed! The singer kicked him off stage right there, he said he just ‘didn't want to play anymore’. We stayed for a while but this one girl split her slushy on him, he was all pink!”

Funneh couldn't help but explode in giggles. She had to take her hand away from his sleeve to cover her mouth. 

“Oh, yeah?” If Funneh wasn't laughing so hard, she might've heard the tone Alec couldn't hide.

“Mhm!” she nodded happily as she remembered that night. “We eventually had to leave a little early ‘cause he was all sticky. But he bought me froyo! I got a little on the hoodie, it took so long to get out, you wouldn't believe it.”

Alec chuckled, “I bet.”

Her giggles trailed off as they stepped through the school gates that held the dorms. They made their way over to hers. “Yeah, it was a pretty fun night overall. You don’t gotta be sorry about leaving, I understand. But, uh,” she paused as she finished unlocking her front door. Turning the doorknob, she glanced back at the redhead behind her. She smiled softly, a stark difference from her joyous laughter on the way here.

“Even though I had fun, I would have preferred to be with you all night.”

She watched as Alec's eyes widened as she closed the door behind her. The moment it clicked shut, she slid down with her back to the door, her hand clutched in her hair. 

“What the hell?!” She hissed to herself once she heard his footsteps fade away. “Why would you say that? He must think I’m totally weird and stalker-y now! Augh!” She covered her cherry-red face with her hands.

Chapter Text

Funneh twiddled her fingers nervously beside Emily in homeroom, five minutes until the final bell. Their report cards had been returned to them at the start of the period. Tapping her foot against the linoleum anxiously, Funneh looked out the window toward the empty field. Her, Gold, Kyran, Alec, and Evan had all agreed to not open their report cards until they all met up, but Funneh was slowly regretting the decision as the plain brown paper envelope taunted her from her open bag. It was a Friday, the last day of school and the first day of the school festival. They had all agreed to first head back to the dorms, then meet back up at the festival about an hour later.

“Um,” Emily’s brow was raised when Funneh looked over at her. “Are you… okay? You're sweating through your jacket.”

And because Funneh had been wiping nervous sweat off her palms since she’d been handed her report card, she raised her arm halfway and glanced down. Unable to see anything, Funneh looked back at Emily, confused. Emily smirked, shrugging at her, “You looked like you needed a laugh.”

“But I didn't laugh.”

“Not my fault you're not funny.”

“Yeah, I am- whatever. I'm just,” Funneh paused, looking down as she twiddled her thumbs on her desk. It made her feel a certain way to know she’d probably never sit at this desk again. “Nervous about my grade, I'm not too good at tests.”

Emily laughed and pulled out her slightly crumpled report card from her bag. “Can't be worse than mine! Straight D’s over here, baby.” She shoved the paper in Funneh’s face, Funneh seeing she was right; no grade got over a C. “I don't really care what grade I get as long as I pass, y’know? It’s not like I'm gonna be a doctor or anything, I know how to keep my expectations in check.”

“Yeah, as long as I don’t fail, I guess.” Funneh handed the paper back. Emily shoved it back in her bag, and paused for a moment before turning to Funneh fully, resting her chin in the palm of her hand.

“So, any exciting plans for the summer?”

“Um, actually, I don't know yet. Guess I’ll just go with the flow.” Funneh tried to come up with an idea, but nothing eye-catching came to mind. The beach, maybe? She was sure a carnival or two would pop up. 

Emily hummed in thought, “well, whatcha do last summer?”

“My parents wanted me home, I only got back a week or so before school started.” Funneh droned, her face pinching at the memory.

The visit home had been painful and it had been a relief when she boarded the flight back here. She felt guilty for the thought, but she couldn't help it; her only respite the entire summer was the fact that Gold came along as well. Her parents were concerned, she knew that, and it had been so nice seeing them after an ordeal like that. She loved her parents and her parents loved her, she had never once doubted that; but they, especially her mother, could be overbearing at times. Needless to say, she had her fill of home pretty quickly; and she had a funny feeling her parents would be giving her a call pretty soon.

“Well, you definitely have to do something fun!” Emily told her.

Funneh pursed her lips, “Yeah, but I gotta think of something first.”

Emily waved her off with an uncaring smile. “You’ll figure it out.”

Funneh hummed as the final bell rang, students around them jumping out of their seats, beelining to the classroom door. Her mind caught up to the world around her when Emily also stood up, slinging her bag over her shoulder. 

Emily smiled, wiggling her fingers in a wave. “Well, hope to see you around! Maybe we can even be in the same homeroom again next year.”

“You, too! Bye.” Funneh called after her as she reached under the desk and grabbed her own backpack, stuffing the envelope deeper inside so it wouldn't fall out. She was the last one out of the room, merging seamlessly into the crowded hallways.

‘Hello and goodbye YHS students!’  Principal Desu’s voice rang out above them, ‘All the staff wishes you a great summer vacation. A reminder that the festival begins in two hours in the backfield! All participating students please go to your booths at least a half hour before opening. Don't run in the halls, do your summer reading, and don't bring your uniform when you come back; have a great summer!’

Funneh tuned out halfway through as she pushed past other students to get to her locker; she was supposed to clean it out a week ago, but she had forgotten until that morning when she was looking for her phone charger. When her locker was finally within sight, Gold and Kyran were already there. This back hallway already having cleared out, Funneh ran up to them, raising her hands for high fives.

“We’re free!”

Kyran turned, meeting her high-five in the air, throwing his arms up afterward, “Whoo!!” 

Gold laughed as she rocked forwards on her toes to reach up, smacking Funneh’s open palm lightly. “Once you clean out your locker, we can leave and never look back.”

“Well, at least for another two months,” Kyran said, adjusting his backpack strap. He gestured to the locker, “You don't have much, do you?”

“I dunno,” Funneh stretched her arms out in front of her and cracked her knuckles, “wanna take bets?”

Gold rolled her eyes, reaching around the end of the locker wall to the trash can outside the bathrooms. “If anything’s moldy it goes in here, not on my shirt.”

Funneh gasped, “I would never!”, but turned to her locker nonetheless. She took off the unlocked lock, placing it on top of the lockers until she was done. Holding her breath for all but a moment, she swung the metal door open. Thankfully, there was no rancid smell that came wafting from it. “OH, MY GOD.”

“What?!” Kyran cried, looking like he wanted to look but was physically holding himself back from possibly scaring himself. Gold couldn't help her curiosity, however, and peeked around the door.

Funneh dragged out an article of clothing, “I’ve been looking for this forever!” It was… it was honestly pretty similar to the one she wore now, but instead of the blue stripes horizontal on the sleeves, they went down the sleeves from the shoulders to the wrists. It was pretty sleek.

She snorted at Kyran’s sigh of relief as she tied it around her waist. Thankfully, there were little to no books left for her to take, so it was mostly just lunch wrappers and forgotten homework.

After it was finally clean, Funneh relished in slamming it shut. Hopefully, she would get a locker that wasn't beside the bathrooms next year. Funneh turned, stretching her arms above her head, she smiled, “Well, you guy steady to hit the road?”

“I think you mean,” Gold paused for dramatic effect, “check our grades?”

Funneh hoped her displeasure didn't show on her face. “Yeah. That.”

Kyran shook his head at her as they made their way down the hallway to the front doors, “don't be like that. If you failed failed, someone would have come talk to you by now.”

“So, I didn't fail?!”

“Uh, no?”

“Yay!” Funneh threw the doors open, delighted to see Alec and Evan waiting for them, Evan sitting on top of the metal railing Alec was leaning against. “Hey, guys!”

“Hey, Funneh- WOAH-!” Evan yelped, the frantic waving of his arm sending him sliding back on the thin railing. His knees caught, spinning him until they dislodged, sending him flat on his stomach. Alec stood beside him, following the movements with his eyes, doing absolutely nothing to help.

“Oh my god,” Gold fretted, running up to him, “are you okay?”

“Yeah, what was that?” Funneh stifled a laugh but went over to help him up.

When Evan looked up, he had nothing but a small scratch on his cheek. He smirked cheekily, “What are talking about? I meant to do that!”

Behind them, Kyran slid up to stand beside Alec, leaning in to mutter, “At least he didn't pull the ’I fell for you’ card.”

The girls helped Evan up. He brushed off the minimal dirt and dust that stuck to his clothes and picked up his bag that had been flung away from him. Waving off their concerns, he pulled out his own report card. “You guys ready to face our fears?”

“No.” Funneh groaned immediately but pulled her own out anyway. Everyone else grabbed theirs as well, ready to break the seal and unleash their, hopefully, more than mediocre, grades. Deciding the best route to go down would be to all open them at once, they placed their thumbs under the glued-down flap and counted down from three.

“One,” Funneh felt herself break out in a cold sweat.

“Two,” she looked around at her friends, none looked nearly as concerned as she did, which reassured her just a tad.

“Three!” The air was filled with ripping paper, followed by rusting paper, followed again by sighs of relief. Everyone held their report cards in front of them, scanning their letter grades for each class.

“I got a C in History?! Awh, man, I knew he didn't like me!”

“Whoo! Straight A’s!”

“Eh, could be worse for how much I skip….”

“A B? Ugh, I tried so hard on the final project, too!” Funneh felt Gold shift her attention to her, “What about you Funneh?”

“...Funneh..?” Alec called her name from across from her.

Funneh cracked her eyes open, finally seeing her grades. She held her breath as her eyes scanned the fragile paper, searching for the inevitable F. But, she couldn't find one.

“...I passed..” She muttered to herself, too low for anyone else to make out.

Gold’s brow pinched in worry and she folded up her own report card gently. She reached a hand out to Funneh’s shoulder gently. “What? Are you okay? I’m sorry, I know you tried really har-”

“I PASSED!” Funneh cheered, throwing her hands up and jumping up and down. She saw Gold practically deflate with relief. Evan laughed at her antics while Kyran smiled knowingly.

“See? I told you!” He crossed his arms over his chest, “Your thanks aren't needed, I already know I'm a great teacher.”

“ You helped her study?” Alec piped up from beside him. Kyran, upon hearing his voice and guessing the snarky quip about to come from him, spun on him with a glare. “No wonder she was worried.”

“Hey!” 

Evan turned to her, interrupting her happy dance. “What’s your highest grade?”

“Um,” she paused and glanced back down to the page. “An A in Chemistry! Kyran, you angel!” She surged forward, wrapping her arms around said angel's waist. She felt Kyran tense under her, but eventually pat her shoulders a few times.

“Yeah, yeah, I said no thanks are needed…”

“Awh,” Alec teased again, raising a finger to point at Kyran's face. Funneh looked up curiously, only to see Kyran’s already pink cheeks turn a deep red. “He’s embarrassed!” 

Gold laughed from across from them. Funneh turned to look at her, her arms still trapping Kyran in a hug.

“As much as I adore watching you two fight like an old married couple, shouldn't we go get ready for the festival? It starts in like an hour and a half.”

Hearing Gold’s point, Funneh unwrapped herself from her friend, thankful she did when Kyran started to frantically gesture between him and Alec. 

“Us?! No way. Don't say things like that, it makes me feel icky!”

Alec did nothing but raise an unimpressed brow at his childhood friend. “Rude.”

Evan shook his head, turning on his heel to make his way down the front steps. “Nope, she's right. As usual.”

Kyran groaned miserably but followed the rest of the group down the steps and to the dorms.

Funneh turned to look over her shoulder, “So, we good to all meet at the gates in a couple hours or so?”

Stepping back onto the school grounds only a mere three hours after it ended, Funneh couldn't be more excited. Honestly, she applauded the leadership group for putting this all together. Their school’s field was already huge, it was one of the things that set their school higher than others, so it was perfect for something like this. Small wooden booths lined the designated walkway, students selling anything from homemade jewelry to charity fundraisers, to club sign-ups for the following year.

Stepping up to the entrance, they were all handed small fliers, containing everything to do, by smiling leadership students. She, Gold, Kyran, Alec, and Evan all stepped off to the side to scan the flier. Gold sighed as she read through the list of booths.

“I really regret not signing up when I could. Prince isn't even coming!”

Kyran perked up, lowering the paper from his face, “he isn't?”

“No!” Gold complained, crumpling her flier as she rested her hand on her hips. “He even said not to get a booth so we’d have time to hang out!”

Alec snorted, raising his hands in a plea of innocence when Gold spun around to glare at him. “What? I'm just sayin’ he might’ve done everyone a favour.”

“Pffft, Alec-!” Funneh cut herself off with her own laugh.

At Gold’s put-out expression, Kyran reached a hand out to rest on her shoulder; looking away as he spoke. “What he means to say is, at least you can hang out with me- er, I mean us.”

“Eh, I dunno, man,” Evan said. He crossed his arms when everyone looked over at him, shrugging his shoulders. “Something about that guy rubs me the wrong way.”

“What? You don’t even know him.”

“That's fair,” Evan raised his hands in defense, admitting the flaw in his logic. “But, I didn't say didn’t like him, he seems like a solid dude.”

“Guys, guys,” Funneh butted in, laughter still stuck in the back of her throat. “How about we actually enjoy the festival instead of talking about Gold’s taste in men?”

Kyran rolled his eyes, “agreed.” Everyone looked back down at their fliers, scanning the contents before Funneh gasped in excitement, her hand shooting out to grab Alec's hoodie sleeve.

“Alec, look!” She shoved her paper in his face, making sure to position her finger under the desired text. “They’re using the set pieces from the play as a photo op. We totally have to go!”

“Sure,” Alec shrugged, a small smile creeping up on his lips.

“Ooh, fun!” Gold exclaimed, “I thought they would have thrown them out ages ago.”

Evan shook his head, “Nah, most of the time the drama club re-uses big pieces like that. Saves money, y’know?”

“I guess that makes sense…” Funneh trailed off as she saw the listing underneath. “What’s a ‘memory wall’?”

“You’ve never heard of it before?” Kyran asked with a raised brow. At both Funneh and Gold shaking their heads, he explained. “It’s basically a bigger version of signing a yearbook; a big wall of paper that you can write your name or messages on and take pictures with.” He put a hand to his chin, “My elementary school did them for graduation; back when you were only in one classroom all year.”

Evan nodded, “Yeah, I went to a music camp when I was younger and we did one. They’ll need a big piece of paper for the whole school, though.”

“Huh, cool,” Gold said, “guess it's just not a Canadian thing.”

“Wonder why they decided to do one this year,” Alec questioned as he surveyed the surrounding activities.

“Who cares why, it sounds like fun!” Funneh threw her hands up and trudged back into the walkway. Looking over her shoulders, she calls back to them, “Let’s do a lap around and get there when we get there, yeah?”

The group unanimously agreed; some shrugging, some nodding. The next few hours were spent walking up and down the designated aisles, dodging passing students, and trying to stay together. They had all brought some cash for spending, but surprisingly, a fair few of the vendors were giving away items and food for free; it was mostly people who were advertising clubs or programs; so the merchandise wasn’t what they would originally go for, but hey, it was free.

By the time they stumble upon a vender they know, Gold is two lip-glosses richer and carrying several business cards in hand (all from established or hopeful beauty shops), Kyran has numerous colourful heart shaped and frog stickers on his cheeks and shirt (curtosy of Funneh, Gold, and Evan (Alec just took pictures and laughed at him)), Evan had to be pulled away from walking into poles due to the bright green shutter glasses he refused to take off (he claimed they were what he was missing to complete his party drummer frat boy image (he was not deterred when it was pointed out he was, in fact, not a drummer)), Alec had a pink bear shaped phone charm for Aly (who had apparently been grounded only a few days prior and thus wasn’t allowed to attend) stowed away in his hoodie pocket as well as a free sample churro that he nibbled on, and Funneh had a handful of every flyer she had been offered, a small cup of mint chocolate ice cream, and a small flag with their school logo on it (she only got it free because the printing had messed up (she had thought it looked funny)).

Gold had just saved Evan from tripping over his own feet and face-planting (Funneh tried not to think too much about what that reminded her of) when Kyran stopped dead in his tracks. 

“Why is she here?!” Kyran frantically whispered at them, whipping around so his back faced the booth. He grabbed the edges of his jacket and pulled it up to hide his face.

“Uh, what?” Funneh raised a brow, raising herself onto her tiptoes to peek around him, ignoring his ‘no, don't-!’

Behind Kyran was a booth painted baby pink, a more than sizable line in front that blocked most of the walkway, and a heavenly scent emanated from it. Manning the booth was a short woman whose pink hair and uniform Funneh recognized.

“Meghan!”

“Meghan?” Gold perked up, “Let's go say hi!”

“No!” 

“‘Meghan’?” Evan questioned, finally pushing the plastic glasses up into his hair. He squinted, “Isn't that the chick from the sports day?”

“Yes!” 

Funneh clapped her hands together in front of her. She surveyed the long line and asked, “I sure am, but are you guys hungry enough to wait in that?”

“No!”

Gold and Evan nodded their agreement, both mumbling their own hunger levels.

“Great! Alec, are you done with your-” Funneh turned to see Alec licking the leftover sugar off his thumb. “Oh.”

“Oh, c’mon, you guys! Don’t leave me by myself,” Kyran whined, dropping his hands by his side, and giving up on hiding his face with his jacket.

Alec smirked, crumpled the red and white plaid parchment paper, and tossed it behind him into a nearby trash can. “I dunno, Kyran, I haven't eaten in a while, gettin’ kinda hungry over here.”

Kyran sputtered as they all walked past him toward the booth. He turned his head back and forth, eyeing the woman handing out steaming food. Now standing alone, Kyran groaned, and Funneh glanced back to see him throw his head back. “Fine!” He called out after them, catching up as they laughed. They reached the side of the booth; despite earlier teasing, they really just wanted to say hi to the girl. Kyran stayed stubbornly at the back of the group.

Funneh grasped the wood's edge and leaned forward, “Hi, Meghan! Didn’t know you would be here.”

Perking up at the sound of her name, Meghan whipped around to them and immediately set down the bowl she was making. Meghan gasped in delight upon seeing them. “You!”

“Us!” Evan raised his arms and doing jazz hands as he moved out of the way of Kyran who tensed up upon being in direct sight.

Meghan's eyes seemed to light up, “Ky-Bear! It's so good to see you! Did you come here just to see me?” She batted her eyelashes. Alec hid a snort behind a fist, and Funneh could see the girl waiting for her food huff and cross her arms.

“Mhm.” Kyran muttered tensely, “Just came to say hi. We’ll be going now.”

“What?! No, no, no!” Meghan cried, putting her hands on her hips. “You must be hungry, and what better food to fill your tummies with than Ichigo Bakery and Cafe! Valerie’s friends eat free.”

Gold sighed and ran a hand through her hair, “we’re your friends too, Meghan.”

Meghan seemed to look them up and down. “Hm.” Funneh couldn't help the cold sweat that broke out as Meghan studied her. “Nope! Valerie’s friends stay Valerie’s friends. I get started right away for Valerie’s friends and Ky-Bear.”

“What?!” The girl first in line cried out. She stomped her feet, and Funneh couldn't blame her. “I already paid!”

“SSSHHHHH!!!” Meghan raised a finger to her lips and practically hissed. The girl recoiled in shock. “Valerie’s friends come first. I do not care about you,” she said flatly.

Funneh let out a distant chuckle. She felt she should be used to Meghan’s personality by now, but somehow, it still managed to surprise her. As Meghan pulled out five plastic plates, she turned, not pausing her preparations. 

“But I don't know you,” she said to Evan, “so you have to pay.” Without another word, Meghan began chopping vegetables.

Funneh turned back to the group at Kyran’s groan. He was dragging his hands down his face in exasperation. Funneh chuckled, “Do you really not like her that much, dude?”

“Yes! Well, no, it's just,” Kyran shivered, “she kinda scares me.”

“Eh,” Alec shrugged and lightly punched Kyran in the shoulder. “Guarantee ‘ya it's not her, Kyran’s always been a wimp.”

“And you’re impulsive!”

Gold looked amused, like if she had a bag of popcorn she would sit back and watch the brawl. Evan turned to Funneh and raised a hand to shield his mouth, “two things?”

“Shoot.”

“One, ‘Ky-Bear’?”

“TLDR?”

“Preferably.” 

Funneh snorted, raising her own hand as if they were little kids gossiping in the playground. “Last year, they met and Meghan fell absolutely head over heels for Kyran. It was funny at first, but it got even better when a rival hostess also fell for him, they’ve had a rivalry ever since.”

“Woah,” Evan's eyes grew wide as he glanced back at Kyran who was waving his hands around frantically. “Two cute waitresses at his feet? It's like he’s got his own anime. He doesn't seem too enthused though.”

“Not in the slightest,” Funneh confirmed.

Evan nodded, seemingly accepting it for what it was. “Two, they’ve known each other a long time, yeah? They one thousand percent give off the vibe they act like they hate each other, but would actually throw a fit if they stopped talking. Like some weird fanfic.”

Funneh raised a brow but decided to let the last comment slide for now. She nodded, “Yeah, Aly said they grew up together, I think. Or, at least implied it. To be honest, I don't really remember, I was busy eating ghost food.”

“Ghost food-?”

“HEY! YOUR FOOD IS READY!” Funneh jumped at Meghan’s screech. Turning around, Funneh saw five plates lined up, each with sandwiches and a cookie, though one had a sugary-looking biscuit. Funneh bounded up and snatched one of the four; as she got up close she could see hearts drawn and cut out of the bread, she assumed that one was for Kyran.

“Oooh, looks yummy, Meghan!” Gold praised as she grabbed her own plate. She picked up the cookie and tapped it against the plate to rid it of its crumbs, humming in delight as she took a bite.

“Of course it is, it was made by me, Meghan, at Ichigo Bakery and Cafe!”

Evan reached out for a plate, but Meghan smacked his hand away before he could grab it. “Ow!”

“You have to pay, remember?!”

“Oh, right,” Evan muttered sourly as he dug around in his pocket. Pulling out a couple of bills, he handed them to her and was then granted access to lunch.

Once Alec had also grabbed his plate, Kyran stepped up, pausing at the decorativeness of his own. He sighed, but took it with a muttered ‘thank you’ nonetheless. Meghan seemed elated.

They all stood off to the side to eat, not bothering to hunt down a bench. Eating his sandwich quickly, Alec held up his cookie for a few moments as he crumpled his plate. He glanced over at Funneh and held the treat out to her. Funneh felt a smile break out on her lips at the offer, eagerly taking it. On the other side of the little circle they’d formed, Kyran was eyeing his pastry with apprehension. Evan was eyeing it with much more longing than the former.

Kyran noticed, sighed as he rolled his eyes, and handed his plate over to the other boy who cheered. Waiting for Evan and Gold to finish their food, Funneh glanced around. Besides the bustling crowd, she noticed they were almost at the other end of the field; only a few more booths they had yet to see. Funneh crumpled the plastic plate. If she stood on her tiptoes, she could see a clearing out around the nearest corner of booths; blocked by a giant banner.

“Uhm, Evan?” Gold piped up, looking like she wanted to laugh. When Evan looked over, she raised a finger to point at his face. “You got, uh, you got a little something.” She moved her finger to gesture at her own face. 

Funneh turned to look at Evan. A huge smear of sugar and chocolate and crumbs coated his cheek. She laughed but dug around her pocket for a stray napkin.

“Hm?” Evan quirked a brow, a smirk on his lips. “Here?” He slapped his clean cheek with his free hand. Gold giggled and shook her head; they all knew what he was doing. “What about here?” He touched his nose.

“No, you doof,” Funneh said as she handed him the napkin. He took it with a ‘thank you’, their fingers brushing momentarily.

By the time Evan cleaned his face (which took a while, whatever topping was on the biscuit was sticky), Gold had finished eating. “You guys ready?” at their affirmations, Funneh spun on her heel, grass sticking to the bottom of her shoes. The crowd was thick, about five stalls wide, and Funneh dreaded going through it. She turned sideways, trying to make herself take up as little space as possible, trying to slip through easily; Funneh was distinctly aware of her friends following her. Her shoulders were immediately shoved inwards into her body. She had to jump to see where she was going, trying desperately to stay on track.

Funneh winced as someone stepped on her foot, stumbling sideways before being shoved back upwards. She heard muffled ‘sorry’’s, but she could place where from. She turned, about to call out to her friends that they should bail and go the long way around; her heart lodged in her throat when she couldn't find any of them. 

Funneh shook her head, deciding to make it to the other side of the bustling crowd and then find her friends again. She didn't know how long she was trying to navigate the crowd, but it felt like she hadn’t made any progress. Elbows jab her sides, feet kick her shins and-

She jolts as a rough, calloused hand grabs hers.

Funneh looked back, hair whipping at her face. Alec’s hoodie sleeve was pushed up to his elbows, and his hood had fallen around his shoulders. He smiled at her, and her breathing seemed to come easier.

“C’mon, over here,” he pointed in the right direction. He grunted as someone bumped into him. “I know it s a little squishy, but it's just ‘cause it's food, it's gonna clear up once we’re over there.”

Funneh stayed quiet as she let him turn her shoulder, facing her in the right direction. Since she was in front of him, his hand slipped from its sideways position to one where he could stand behind her. Before she started walking through the crowd again, she glanced back. Surprisingly, she turned just in time to see Kyran grab the sleeve of Alec’s hoodie, Gold and Evan in a sort of train behind that.

With the stability of someone's hand in hers, and the weight of her friends behind her, Funneh began to push her, their, way through the crowd of ex-students.

Funneh couldn't help the dramatic gasp of air as she finally broke the crowd line. Compared to the compactedness of seconds before, it felt like she was in an empty field of sunflowers and sunshine and kindness. Funneh glanced down, her hand still cocooned in Alec’s, who now stood beside her as they waited for the three others to reach them.

When she followed the arm up, Alec was already looking at her.

Huh, she never really noticed how pretty the colour red could be.

“U-um, thanks! Thanks, Alec,” Funneh shook her head, as well as shaking her hand out of the others. “I appreciate it. Don't do well with crowds. Well! Crowds are fine, but not that kind of crowd crowd, y’know?” She felt heat prickle her cheeks the longer she rambled.

Alec laughed, but before he could reply, Gold saved her from any further utter humiliation.

She gasped, planting one hand on her cheek and pointing the other one directly ahead of her. “There it is! Let's go take write…. Something!” 

“Whooo! Memories!!” Evan cheered, throwing his hands in the air as he took off, leaving the rest of them no choice but to follow.

Funneh huffed as she started walking after them, trying to focus on what was to come and not what had already. Suddenly, she felt a presence over her shoulder. Glancing up, she saw Alec leaning down to her. 

“Don’t worry about it, I get it. Crowds suck. We’ll take the long way back, yeah?”

Funneh paused for a moment, but she didn't feel a blush crawl up on her cheeks. She just felt thankful.

“Thanks,” she bumped his hip with hers and started jogging over to the designated area of the memory wall. He chuckled and followed her, albeit with a much slower saunter. As she rounded the corner, she couldn't help but gawk in awe. 

A huge sheet of thick construction paper was strung up against a large plank of wood. Despite the plain white canvas, it was anything but. Hundreds of names, doodles, and small messages littered the empty space in a multitude of different colours, some matte, some gel, some metallic. There was barely any space left, but there was no way they were going home until their names were planted firmly upon the delicate white sheet.

Thankfully, beside the board of wood, were two clear boxes filled with different markers. Funneh bounded up and dug around the box until she came across a blueberry-scented marker. Gold and Kyran stepped up on either side of her, each with their own marker in hand. She saw Evan on his tiptoes trying to reach an empty space he’d found. It looked painful.

She turned back to the sound of a pen nib rolling against the paper, looking just in time to see Gold sign off her name with a swirl and heart surrounding it. 

Funneh glanced around, biting her lip as she saw no empty space big enough o fit her name.

“Here,” Kyran tapped her shoulder, directing her attention to, possibly the last, space big enough. She just up excitedly, and pressed the marker to the sheet immediately.

‘FUNNEH :D’

“There,” Evan started from behind them, “finally done with Junior year, not to return for another two months.” He wiped a fake tear from his eye. “Not nearly long enough.”

Kyran coughed as he dropped his marker into the box. “Now that we’re done leaving our mark or whatever, the play photo booth thingy is over there,” he pointed behind them.

Funneh gasped, excitement filling her. The only set pieces were the witch's hut and Rapunzel’s tower, but that was plenty. They were just far apart from one another as they wouldn't be in the other photos. There was a leadership student perched in front of both, regulating the area. When they approached, he looked up.

“Hey! You guys here for photos?” He smiled as he held out a palm for one of their phones. Gold volunteered hers, switching to the camera before handing it off. “Okay, sick, who's going first?”

Evan raised his hand, prancing over to the hut as he called back, “Me! I wanna be the witch!” Since there was no actual door on the hut, Evan strolled in and crouched down behind the window so his face could be seen. He raised his hands, curled inwards, and wiggled his finger as if he were telling a ghost story.

“Ooh, get one of me in the tower!” Gold cheered as she made her way into the elevated perch behind the fake brick wall. “Kyran, over here, come be my prince!” She leaned grabbed the edge of the window sill, and leaned over after brushing all her hair to lay over her shoulder. Kyran jogged up to the base of the small tower and raised his hands as if he were calling out to her. Funneh couldn't help but chuckle when she saw how red his cheeks were stained.

Several photos were taken, and everyone changed places with each other so they could all play the part of each character. Laughs echoed from the area; even the leadership student chuckled a few times at their poses. Funneh and Evan pulled at their cheeks, sticking their tongues out in one, Kyran and Alec having a duel in another, Gold laughing maniacally after ‘locking’ Funneh in the tower.

Just as Funneh was going to descend the small ladder back to the ground, Alec called out to her from the bottom. She peered curiously over the edge. Alec jabbed a thumb over his shoulder, “There's a line, how do you feel about a little reenactment for our last picture?”

“Whaddya mean?”

Alec walked closer to the fake brick in response. For the practicality of the play, the stagehands had chiseled out small, unnoticeable from the crowd, footholds so the prince could ‘climb Rapunzel's hair’ effortlessly. Alec, now distictively out of his prince costume, grabbed ahold and pulled himself up as if he’d done it a thousand times before; just enough so his chest was just below the window sill, looking up just slightly at Funneh.

Funneh smiled as she caught onto his idea. Making sure the camera was pointed their way, Funneh leaned down, laying one arm on the flat woods completely, and the other was held up to rest her chin in. Her gaze unwillingly softened, a sweet smile gracing her lips.

While she liked the prince costume Alec had worn during their performances, that's all it was: a costume.

Funneh decided she liked this Alec a lot more.

He looked up, locking crimson red with ocean blue.

She watched as he lifted a hand to her cheek, brushing her hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. His hand grabbed the edge of the window sill she was leaning on and hefted himself up just that much more.

Now much closer, face to face, Funneh momentarily forgot about their friends and the camera down below. While logically she knew they were barely five feet off the ground, it felt as if they were alone in the clouds.

Alec looked happy.

Alec looked sad.

Alec looked like he was fighting himself instead of a witch.

‘Snap!’

Snapping their attention back down, the leadership student lowered Gold’s phone from his face and smiled up at them. “That was great! You guys must have gone hard in rehearsals to get that kind of chemistry!”

“O-oh, uh,” Funneh shook herself out of her daze. She glanced back down at Alec for a moment before descending the ladder herself. By the time she made it back around to the front, Gold had retrieved her phone and was swiping through the pictures.

“These are so cute!” She squealed, turning the phone so the rest of them could see as well. Evan laughed at the one of himself and Funneh, asking Gold to send it to him. When Gold finally got to the end of the new album, Funneh felt her hands start to sweat nervously, refusing to look at the redhead standing next to her.

There were two photos, the first was sweet; they looked as if they were seeing each other for the first time. Red to blue, blue to red. Maybe a nice shade of purple would come from it.

The second looked like it captured the moment just before a princess and her prince were about to kiss. Their hands inches away from touching. But, it no longer felt like Rapunzel and her prince fulfilling their prewritten story, it felt like Funneh and Alec beginning their own.

Maybe they had practiced just a bit too hard; Funneh had started to think it could be real.

Something was off about that last photo, something Gold, Kyran, Evan, and even Funneh herself hadn't noticed, it seemed. Alec had to look away, he couldn't stomach the thought.

He looked conflicted, and Funneh looked aware.

“Yandere! Good to see you again,” Evelyn smiled, settling into the chair across from the other girl. Yandere had been remarkably willing to meet with her on such short notice. The restaurant they sat at was a fancy one, the kind with a bar and a man who parks your car for you. Yandere looked up from the book clutched in her hands and Evelyn's entrance, placing it down on the table gently.

“Hi, Evelyn, I could say the same. Although I do wish it were under better circumstances.” Yandere smiled sympathetically, “I could never do the kind of investigations that you do, it must be hard.”

Evelyn shrugged and pulled out a notepad and pen. “Oh, don’t think like that. It can be difficult sometimes, sure, but I enjoy the work!” Even though Evelyn had only recently met Yandere, she enjoyed her company; she was smart, and there was something about her, something Evelyn couldn't quite place, but it drew her in and made her want to learn more. And there is nothing Evelyn Wynd loved more than learning.

Learning was what their world, their society, was built upon. Learning about any given topic, understanding it more and more, and learning the truth behind lies, thrilled her. If you never learned, you could never progress, as a society, or as a person.

“Oh!” Yandere perked up and leaned slightly to push a glass of lemonade toward her. “I already ordered us drinks, hope you don't mind.”

Evelyn reached out and took the glass, raising the straw to her lips, and took a sip. It was refreshing, just the right amount of sour and sweet. She placed it back down, cushioned by her pinkie finger, “thanks.”

“Not to rush you,” Yandere fiddled with the collar of her shirt between her fingers, “but, I would rather get this over with so we can enjoy our lunch?”

Evelyn nodded, “I understand.” And she did, and she was also eager to gather any information as quickly as she could. The faster she knows all the variables, the faster the outcome becomes clear. “How did you know Valerie Maki?”

Yandere sighed and looked off to the side for a moment. “We were friends; she was wonderful, and had a bright future.”

Evelyn's heart hurt for them; she had never met the girl, but from the way all her friends had been describing her, she sounded like a delight to be around. Evelyn's fingers clenched tighter around her pen as she wrote; it’s so unfair how the brightest of them were always taken the quickest. “And do you know anyone who would want to hurt her?”

Yandere immediately shook her head. “No, not at all. I can’t think of a single person who didn’t love her; everyone was crushed when she died.” Her eyebrows furrowed and it looked as if she couldn't help the sourness that overtook her expression.

“So I hear,” Evelyn sympathizes, “did you see anything suspicious around that time?”

“No, sorry,” Yandere apologized, “I don’t live in the dorms so there wasn't really a chance for me to see anything.”

“Have you ever heard of the name ‘Info-Kun’?”

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed as Yandere tensed slightly and bit her lip. “Um, I don’t believe so? Although, my memory might just be fuzzy. It rings a bell, but I can’t remember where from.”

Evelyn licked her lips, taking a sip of her lemonade. While the information on the mysterious ’Info-Kun’ would do her investigation well, it wasn't the highest priority; whoever ‘Info-Kun’ is, they appear to be an accomplice of the perpetrator, someone who stays in the shadows; Evelyn doubts they took an active role in the murder. If she finds the perpetrator, she finds ‘Info-Kun’, if she finds ‘Info-Kun’, she finds the perpetrator.

‘Info-Kun’ clearly has Japanese routes, the main suspects being that of Japanese decent, or someone who speaks the language; though not necessarily, as Evelyn thought one night while in bed, the name could have been given to them by the perpetrator.

A good lead, but one that could go nowhere without support , she thought bitterly.

That’s why she had picked that question as one of the firsts to ask Yandere, though from her demeanor and body language, Evelyn doubted that she was lying. “Where were you that night? From what I hear you didn't attend the beach party?”

“Ah, yes, I stayed home that night. A friend of mine from out of state was visiting, I don’t get to see her that much, so it was nice.”

Evelyn raised a brow, she hadn't heard of the friend before. “Would you mind telling me her name?”

Yandere smiled, like thinking of her friend brought her joy. She held out her hand for the notepad and pen, which Evelyn handed to her along with a confused look. “Her name is Chloe. Here, this is her number if you wanted to ask her anything since she’s not exactly available to chat like this.” Yandere laughed, scanning the contents of the notepad quickly as she talked, looking over to the left a few times as she did, looking for a blank space. When she found one, she scribbled down a number and handed it back to the blonde.

“Oh!” Evelyn felt a smile creep up on her lips. The phone number was jagged, one number scratched out and replaced with, assumably, the correct digit in the sequence. Under it was the name ‘Chloe’. 

Evelyn was ecstatic, Yandere was being more than cooperative and had even given her another contact! Maybe Yandere hadn't seen anything, but maybe the out of towner tourist had.

“Thank you, Yandere! This helps a lot, I only have a few more questions for you; then we can get to our lunch!” 

Yandere laughed lightly, toying with the straw in her lemonade; the ice had melted a while ago. “‘Course! Ask away”

“From your perspective, what happened afterward? Was anyone acting strangely?”

“Hmm,” Yandere set a hand on her chin. She was quiet for a few minutes, the hustle and bustle of the restaurant around them filled the silence. Evelyn couldn't help but tap her pen against the notepad, impatient. But, she resisted the thoughts to urge her friend along.

“Nothing out of the ordinary, I guess,” Yandere eventually settled on. “We were all mourning. Senpai was distraught, I felt so bad I couldn't do anything to help him. Everyone took it at their own pace, some even had to move out of those dorms so quickly, but thankfully the school had accommodations. Senpai, Alec, Kyran, Gold, Funneh, and everyone close to her. But, Funneh…” Yandere trailed off, looking quite uncomfortable with her own train of thought.

Evelyn was intrigued beyond belief. “What about Funneh?”

“Well, it's just that.. No, no, I shouldn't think that way,” she shook her head, soft black locks gracing her cheeks, “even if…”

Evelyn couldn't help but lean closer over the table as she spoke, “Even if what? If you have suspicions or concerns, Yandere, you have to tell me, I’m here to get to the bottom and keep you all safe; I cannot do that if you withhold information.”

Yandere tilted her head down, eyes hidden behind her bangs. She brought her shoulders up to her ears. Evelyn waited with bated breath and was not disappointed when Yandere meekly looked up at her through her black bangs. 

“You didn't hear it from me, ‘kay? She’s my friend, I don't want my paranoia to ruin that.”

“Of course,” Evelyn agreed immediately. She would, of course, write down whatever Yandere was about to say and attach her name to it. If anything actually comes of it, a known source is more credible than an anonymous one; if it came down to it, losing a friend would be the last thing on Yandere’s mind. “Whatever you say, and have said, will stay between us and this notebook. And this lemonade.” She tried to lighten the mood just a tad, ease Yandere’s mind.

Thankfully, Yandere cracked a smile. “Well, and again this may just be nothing, but, after Valerie's death, Funneh was… really quick to leave. She and Gold are both transfer students, and it was only a few days before she pitched the idea to go back home. All before they could be further questioned for James’ trial like the rest of us were. And even before that, sure they were friends but, I always got the feeling Funneh was…. Jealous of Valerie.

“Not in a sinister way!” Yandere suddenly waved her hands in front of her, as if she was just now realizing how morbid and concrete her thoughts were as she spoke them, for probably the first time. “But just… I don’t know where I’m going with this. Funneh is a good person and a friend, she’s done a lot for me and I feel bad this has even crossed my mind, I'm not sure the outcome of these implications even have yet; I’m sure she had nothing to with it, it just made me feel off.”

Yandere heaved for breath when she finally finished talking, her rush to get all the thoughts she’d had trapped in her mind too much for her. She seemed overwhelmed. Evelyn, when she was finished taking notes on her testimony, reached out a hand and placed it gently upon Yandere’s. When the other girl looked up at her, Evelyn smiled kindly.

“I know that took a lot of courage to even say, Yandere,” she started, “but thank you. I’ll look into it and deem her innocent as soon as I can to ease your mind. But this,” she tapped her notepad against the table, “everything you’ve given me? It's helpful, beyond helpful. Thank you.”

Yandere was quiet, before letting out a small, relieved chuckle. She raised a hand to signal to their waiter (whom Evelyn assumed she had spoken to beforehand, no wonder they’d waited this long to take their orders.) and licked her lips before smiling.

“I’m just glad I could help; the sooner this whole thing is over, the sooner we can all move on. I know a few of us are dying to leave this all behind.”

Yandere waved at the blonde as she slid gracefully into the sleek black car. She stood on the sidewalk, a smile plastered on her face as she watched the vehicle until it rounded the corner; finally, the mind-numbing lunch was over.

The sweet smile immediately dropped from her lips. She mentally went over the conversation and what she saw as she pulled out her phone. She scoffed as she thought of the other girl’s naivety; she thought she could solve something of that weight without any thought or strife. How easily she believed her, how quickly she rushed to comfort Yandere, like she was a traumatized child in need of her mother's hugs.

Pathetic.

Yandere had to pat herself on the back. She hadn't originally thought she would have the opportunity to sneak a peak at her notes.

• CHLOE - look into - looked to the left while talking, high chance of telling the truth
• Remorseful - likely not involved
• INFO-KUN - no knowledge, keep looking into
• Body language truthful
• Teared up

She had had to hold back her laugh at that last one, she hadn't even noticed. Even if it was only halfway through, it eased her nonexistent worries about the ‘junior private investigator’. She scoffed again, the girl didn't know what she was doing. A private investigator isn't even the right name for the work she’s doing; she’s just a little girl who wants to feel important.

She pulled out the heavier phone in her pocket, an older model; a burner. She stopped the recording and navigated to the messages. She only had a few contacts, none with names, but that didn't matter; she had every number memorized, no matter how many times they changed.

‘Your name is Chloe Atwood, you live out of state and come down only once every few years. We met over a forum talking about books. You were here visiting during the time of the murder, that night we were both staying at my house and didn't leave until the following day when news broke, though you stayed at my place seeing it unfit for you to join me. You did not see anything suspicious while around town. Anything else, you tell me immediately.

You should be expecting a call from one Evelyn Wynd in not too long, she is a private investigator in training and working on the case. You’ve heard nothing but good things from me.’

She pressed the send button after attaching the audio recording, closing the phone completely when ‘delivered’ appeared under the message, not bothering to wait for a response. Her responses were always long and unneeded.

Yandere spun on her heel, starting down the sidewalk back home. That lunch meeting took more out of her than she anticipated; she sometimes forgets how exhausting it is to play dumb in front of these bozos.

Whatever , she thought as she slipped the phone back into her pocket. It truly doesn't matter what Evelyn thinks she can conjure up, she’s already much too far behind.

Chapter Text

I dIed

s̴̯̱̮̗̏͗h̴̯͗̋͐̽̈́͠e̸̙͋̾͒̀̚͜ ̸͖̄̐̀ķ̵̛͉͉̖̤̎̉̿͌i̴͚̤̠̥̱͋͑̌̈́ḷ̷̉̇͆l̸̜̋͗́͗͠ẻ̷͙̰͉̈́̒͋d̷̢̙̥͙̮̯́̈ ̵̫̦͓͖̗̄̎͋͘m̷͙̐͛ę̸̹̣͈͖̇͌̀͑ͅ

WhO is she? Who is ME?

01100010 01110101 01110010 01101110 01101001 0̸̧̠̩̥̹͔̎̈1̴̝̾͊̑1̷̦̰͙̮̇͋̈́͆̀͜0̴͇̘̥̤̂͊̊̓̔̅1̴̰͖͓͈͚͉̈͠͝1̷̡̱̾̄̍̈ͅ1̷̦̤̙́̑̍0̶̘̻͋̽ ̷̝̾̍͊̕0̴͖̭̞̑̊͛̔́1̶͓̊1̶̤̞͎̥̋́́̐̉͘ͅ0̶͚̰̙̻͎̻̕0̷̣̱̺͋̃͋1̶̪̩̟͔́͜1̶̛̺̭͇͙̅̌1̴̘͌̈̌̓

W̴̫̟̱͈̠̱̲̤͒̽͐͊̈͒̂̈́̄̄̒̊͋h̶͔̮̖͚̩̳͉͈̭̘̫̜͙̝̗͑̎̿͑̊̇͜ͅͅą̶̧̛̱͎̼̠̹͓̺̳̳̠͉̭̪̠͔̗̈̈͑͗̌̾̓̈́̓̆̊̕͘͜ͅţ̷̙̼̗̩̓̇̈́͆̆̀͛̒̓̊̈́͊̈́̽̕͝ ̸̮̱̗͍̖̣̰̩̰͇́i̶̛̝͎̰̣̬̻͇̟̟̦̭͂͋̈̓͐̐̾͌̊̈͠ş̷̡̧̧̛̰̮̞̘͕͙̀̌̄̔͌͊͌̿͐̕͝ͅͅͅ ̵̡̛̱̬̰̩̰̥̹̺̣̘̜̮̜̍͊̀͆͘͘͜͝ͅb̸̼̘̲͌̈́̐͠ŭ̷͈̙̬̖̜̘͎̦̟̱̮͎r̵̦̜̮͚͙͈̝͓͚͓̩̘̘͓̜̪͚͎̍͐̅ͅn̵̢̢̡̯͇̩̭͚̦̣̐͌͜ḯ̵̢̱̠̖̹͍̤̹͚̺̣̬͉͕̰̣̣͈̓͗̂̅̂̏̊̂̓̂̊̇͜͝n̷̨̡̗̱̬͔̤̳̝̦̯̖̝͉̫͕͇̱̾̿̓̐͂̈͗̎̊̏͊̉̚͘̚̕͝͝͝͠g̸͙̗̬̙̝̦̻̲̳͖̰̻̹̙̤̙̊͊̃̾̉͐͘͝

Why don't Î̷̢̨̦̟̜͇̤͉̯̬̼͓͓͖̉̇͋̅͜͝͝ ̴̧̨̳̥̬̲̬̼̝͓̲͎̤̰̳͈̭̳͂̋͜ͅr̸̡̧̢̲͕̫̝̻̼͎̻̜͈̮͎̥̲͓̞͔̩̳͉͋̋̒e̶̡̛̥̮͓͉̺̜̺̪̞͕͉͍̗͍̹͉̬̘̬̣̯̋̿̾̾̑̈́̓̉̔̑̆̋͂̉͐̈́͂͊͊̃̒̀͐̚̕͘̕͠͝ͅm̵̡̢̛͉̰͍̤̣͉̪͚̞̞̖̞̙͍̥̙̯̭͙̝̣̮̠̠͚̙̣̬̖̑̿͂̄̐̽̃̅̓̒̔̂̿͋̈̾̄̊́̈͘͝͠͠͠ę̸̧̣̠̥̣̥͉͖̼͚̗̗̲̳͇̥̯̲͙̹͇̥̟̖̥̱̯̪̖͍̈́̓́̓̇͌̐̌̀̊̑̑̂́̏̐̒̐̀̾͂͜m̸̢̧̡̡̛̲̦͖̲̮͔͍̮̩͇͎̈͒͗̍̑̿b̶̻̬̬̾̌̅̆́͘ḛ̶̘̯̮̠͓̺͓̬̱͖̟̲̈̄̈́͐̂̾͋͂̾̈́̿́̈́͑̈̒͗͊̅́͆̋̂͊͌́̀̔̋̈́̽̕̕͜ͅr

What is remembEr? Who 01101001 01110011 00100000 01001001?

I watc̷̼̕ḥ̴̈́ë̶͕́s̷̗̆ ̵̺͐t̴̅ͅh̶̫̋ẻ̴̙m̶̠͑

Who is t̵̡̜͔͎̻̍̅́͌̓̋͂͗͗̏̊̅̎̉̇͘͝ͅh̴̨̧͕͚̹̪͚̼̳̪̗͕͕̘͆̎͂̇̂͂̈́̚͝ę̵̨̣̰̣̯̝̺̣̼͈̺̳̠̥̱̜͙̗̝͖͚͙̎͛̌̓̾̇̈́͂͌̒͂͆̉̐͒͌́̕̕̕ͅm̶̧̺̺͙͇̖̟̪̠̪̭͚͎̱̳̦̮͐̏͛̒̎͆̈̓̊̌͗͝?̷̠͕͍̹̩̭͈̔̉̐̑͌̏̋͊̈́̈́͘͠͠ͅ

01010111 01101000 01100001 01110100 00100000 01101000 01100001 01110000 01110000 01100101 01101110 01100101 01100100 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 0̴̧̠̻̼͇͖̹̱͂1̸̦̟͓̥̭̲̥̙̄̑̇̈͜͝ͅ1̸̜̯̩͎̞͓͓͇̹̤̔̉̓̅0̵̨̛͎̼͔̙̼̫̖͎̫̮͉̮̘̿̋̐̈́̈̉̐̅̑͋̌͗̍̎1̵̡̩̯̪̯̗̟̟͈̫͙̙̠̠̤̙́͗̔̂̕ͅ1̸͙̹̱͍͓̟̰̝̯͙͕̦̹͖̳͛̿̓͜0̸̤͚̪̩̙̪͐̾͌̽̈́̃̈́̒͝͠1̸̩̫͈͇̀̈̄͝ ̶̛̮̭̠̠̟͉͋͑͌͛̓̾͒̑̉́̿͂͘͜͝0̷̘͙̦̼̙̹̈́̾̏̇̅͋̏̇̿̃̚͠͝1̴͔̠̘̬̤̘͔̜̩̹̞̼̫̈̇́̈̈́͠ͅ1̷̢̛̩̖̒͛̐̾̋̏̓̓̇͊̾͘͘͝͝0̷̮̕̚0̸̧̨̢̥̟̲͚͉͙̙͕̃̓͜1̷̧̨̺̞̳̮͕͈̗͓̫̥̲͖͉̩͙̂̂̐́͗̅̒͛͆́̔̿͑̕0̷̡̭͈͂̊̑͐͐̓̚1̶̼͈̈́̔̅̕ ̸̢̢̼̘͍̙̝̀̈͒͋̂͑̏͂̎͆͋̎͌̈́0̵̢̝̖̲̙̼̯̾͊̇̇̃̑̄̊̍̓̿̿̊͘͝͝ͅ0̸̨̺͚̘̯͓̋̋̚1̵̨̺̞͎͕̭̞͙̟̈̈́̔̄͊̌̈͜ͅ1̴̛͕̃̌̄̒̔͐̏͂̏͌͒̓̂͘1̴̛̝̺́́̉͝1̷̢̢̤̘͉̠̳̟̹̻̘͈̩͓̩̟́̀́̒̿̈́̐͘ͅ1̵̨̖̻̙̙͕̙̱͇̈́̋̆͋͝1̸̡̛͔̥̹͇̦̪̦͂̍͊͑̇̓͗̍̋

WhO is m̴̧̛̳̻̺̗͓̲̞̳͉̲̖̯͉̩͖̰͓͊͂͑̂̔͠e̸͉͇̰͐͌͆̉́̅̋̾̅̈͘͠!̵̰̖̆̈́̈́͂̈́̆͒̀͂̿̍̀̋́̓͒̅̅̃̇̚͜͠͝͝ͅ?̶̡̢̟̥̭̱̹̱̹̦̙͈̰͔͙̭̟̼͚͖̯̹͚̇͆̄̊͌̇̆͆̇͜͠͠

Hurt ĥ̷̥̘̀̄̌͆͒͗̉͐̽̌̂̄̀͘͜ű̵̢̘̣̝̘̞͉́͊͒̃̆̿̎͝r̷̢̞̠͈̫͕͉̺̣͔̟̈́͒̃͒͊͌̃̉͘͜͠ͅt̴̡̛̛̘̱̻̞̲̙̪̗̭̟̳͈̰̥̣͓̋̄̈͌̽̆̀͊̆͊̊̀̏͝ ̸̡̢̥̥̲̩̝̠̤̣̬̙͚͚̭̀̔̿͜͠ĥ̵̡̡̫̥͚̼̘͓̤͓̙̘̹͍̑̆̐̊͑͐̐̑̊͑̋̍͘ų̴̨̡̪̝͕͚̈̈̈́̕͘ř̷̢̳̦͓̰̥̰̜͚͉̳͚̠̭͉͕͖̽̀̒̆̏̈̽t̶̛͙͋͂̒̈́̆́͗̇̓̽̈́̊̕͝ ̶̙͇̘̖̏̉̐̈́̂͐͊h̶̤̫̘̲͈̘͕̼͍̝̬̗̑̀̍͂̒̾̔͊̃͝͝ŭ̵̪̿r̷͕̺̮͖͎̰̪̮̰͈̳̽̈́͒͗̿̋t̵̢̡͍̺̰͕͕̪̗̺̤̳̹͈̟̠̠̒̒ ̵̡̧̛̭̺͉̲̩͍̻͉̘̞̙̤̘̝̭̀̃̋̓́͗̈́̾͊͘̕͠͝h̵̢̛̦̦͉͍̜͉̬̖͕̯͉̄̈́͛̓̅͛͂͋̓́ų̶̢̢̧̗̗͈͔͙̠̫̳͙͖̺̎̃̃̀͌͒̈̂̿͂͛́̈͗ŗ̸̞̙̗̭̯͎͙̂̈́̈̎̃͂̿̀͂̉̕͜t̸̡̥̩̯̟̹̫̜͚̯̯͖͌̈̄̚͜͝ͅ

“On the night of the fire, was there anyone who visited you during this time?”

What is f̵̢̨̬̬̼̟̯̟̯͔͇̱̖̟͔̿̌͌̊̓̂̔̌͐̇͘͘͝͝͝ȉ̷̧̝̓̿͐̆̑͛̋͒͝r̷̠̺͔̪̘̬̜̉͆̿̄̇͐̽͠͝͝e̸͉̜̟̭̖̪̮̮̱̗̘̲͕̾͑͜? Who 01100001 01110010 01100101 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101?

What is WHo?

Fire fire fi̵͙̺̗̰̊̎̂r̷̮͎͓̙̉̈́͝͝e̴̖͍͖͌͝ ̶̨̠̩͛̓f̸̥̙̦̑̒̂͌͜i̸̼̖̩͚̚͘r̸̢̘̜̀͗ê̷̫ ̷̧̎̋̉̚f̶̛̺̗͙̉ḯ̶̧͖̤̯̃̒͝r̶̹͚̊̒e̵͓̼̖͐̑̈͝ ̶̢̗͚̾̄̑̌͜f̷̠̯̱͒̾ǐ̴̧͇͜͝r̸̬̣̖̕e̵̱̯̼͉͠ ̸̟̑f̴̗̪̘̮̄ì̸̖͖̪͆͂r̷̠̭͉̿̍̿̈́ë̸͈́̈́̈́ ̴̺͊f̵̞̟̔̏̉̽i̸̺̲̣̫͒̅r̸̝̟͂́̌̉e̵̡͉̳͙͑̾͗ ̷͖̾̈́̂̓ȟ̸̨̻͚̹̽̿̋u̷͔͍̜̠͂r̴̢̟̆̂t̷͈̥̋͂ ̶̮̺̊̚h̴̲̠̀ṷ̶̾r̶͇̫̻̋̓̈́t̴̝̖͛̀̈̚ ̶͕̺̥̉̿̀͂h̴̙͇̗̀̇̋͠ě̶̱̒l̶͍̖̺͘p̴̧̜̄̒͊ ̸̗͓̉̆̋͘h̵̡͌ṷ̷͂̓r̶̯̞̙̅̾̉t̴͚̣̓̎͗ ̶̟͉̦̟̏̍͌͋n̵̠̥̩̜̎͌̀o̷̝̊ ̸̤̥̮͈̇̔̕m̴͔̲̫̭̃̈́̀͠o̸͎̹̠̓̍̆v̸̟̰̓͒e̸̱̯̓͒́̓ ̶̨̖̱̈́̑c̸̭̲͛̉͂͂a̷̘͛̾ș̷̫͑̂̚̚t̴̖̐́̆ ̵̤̞̫̕h̷̤͓̜͋́̈́́u̸̬͝ͅr̷͖̀̐͐̉t̵͓̭͕͑ ̵̠̇͜b̷̫̭̣̬́͂l̶͙̙̰̿̔̚ā̵̰͗͌̕c̸̡̟̈k̴͍̞̖̊̔̏̊͜ ̸̝͕̤̒̍h̸̡̝͙͇̀͊̚͝ư̷̭͊͆͘r̷̖̘̎͆͋̕t̴̺̞͓̀̉ ̵͇͓̠̃́͂͜f̸̠̣̟͌i̶̲̪̎̂͑͝r̷̭̯̅̍̔͜e̴̡͊̾͐͠ ̸̖͛͛́h̸͈̲̻̲́͘o̷̗͑̉ṫ̵̮̫͇͋̈́ ̵̗̮̬̯̃̓̇̆f̴͇́i̴̱̫̅͛ŕ̴̢̨̗̙̐̂e̷͚̘̮̅͜ ̸̪̌̄ͅf̴̦̟̻̿̌̃̕ĩ̸̖͈̉ṟ̶̟̚ẻ̸̳͚̩͘͝ ̴̼̹̟̙̐͘f̷̡͔͓́̅į̵̼̎̓́͆͜r̶̪͍̪͐ē̶̯̠̐̚͝

“Who was my first crush last year?”

WhO 01110111 01101000 01101111 00100000 01100001 01110010 01100101 00100000 yOu

YEllow brown nice ĝ̶̨̡̡͜͝ŏ̶͉̣̠̘͓͙̘̉̈̆̇̌̍͐̒͠ļ̵̱͇̪̯̯̜̜͔͌̌̆̑̈́̑̌̄̽͝d̷̗̟͙̦̅͊̍̋̌

Wh̴̦͉̀̇̎͛̍̀͛͛͊͐̕̕̕͠ä̵̢̛̛̝̖̫̙̙͇͕̙͚́̇͛̆͋̍̈́̓͐͌͝t̸̞̽̔͌́̆̈́̎́̊̅̔̆̂̎̂͘͘ ̶̭̤̙͕̎͂ì̸̻̤͉̥͔̟̀͋̋͊̿̔́̈̌͜͝͠s̷̱̩̿͊̈́ ̷̛̛͔̼͇̭̳͓̈́̈́̎̈́́̉̽̇̇̽̍͝͝g̶̢̢̡̛̺̬̹̯̬̣͇̪͗̌́o̶̫̙̓͝l̷̠̯͑͆͂̑̔ḑ̷̳̟͕̗͉̖͖̮͚̖̯̻̹̙̫̥͗̈́̐̆͐͘̕?̸̳͚̠͕͍́̓̓̈́͝

01101000 01100101̸̡̡͈̺̫͎́͂̀̅̿̉́̚ ̴̧̓̌0̶͓͐̕1̶͎̞͇̜̣͕̑̌́̐̔͘̕ͅ1̶̧̤̤͚̪͖͚̮̤̤̟̲̺̰̆͊̆̌̎͜0̴̡̺̤̭̱̤̺̪̝̳͍̪̦̻̦͈͍̉̀̑̂1̸̻̖̞͖̝̯͕͖͇̋̎̔̅̒̐̽͆̈́̅́͑͌̕̚͠͝1̷̲̭͓͙̜̣̻͔̜̱̙̜̪̈́́0̸̨̦͚̩͎͚̮̤͓͔̥̾̍͑̆͛͌̉̃͑͘͜0̷̡̧̻̻̳̣̮̦̱̌̈́̋͊̑͛̊̚̕̕͠ ̸̛̙͙̻̞͇͕̺̂͂̌̆̍̑̽̋̏̀̅͐̐̊͘0̸̢̨̡̝̮͔̦̜̦̩͍̫̃̆̊͘͘͝͝͝1̷̡̰͇͉̫͈̪̫͓̲͍̱͖̼͇̭́̒́͛̂̓̀̊̀̃͝ͅ1̵̨͎͚̮̬̻̠̬̬̰̬̈́͜0̸̙̀̍͑̅̊͘1̵͈͚͈͚͈͓̹̜̈̈̈́͆1̶̛̖̳͎͇͚̮̌̊̉́̀͊̌̾̈͝ͅ0̵̜͓̤̪̦̦̆̀̅̊̊̈́̍͑̓̕ͅ0̷̢̢͉̰͎̣͇̩̻͍̋͂̽̑͐͜͝ ̵̢̛̛͉̹̳͓̼̱̼̏̐́͋̿̽͛̋͋ͅ0̷̣̣̙̩̰̺͚̍̇̿̄͊̓1̴͕̰̺͕̤̟̙͇̯̏̈́ͅ1̴̡̰͕̳̲͎͙̘̬̞͕͊͋̎͗̑͝͝0̶̢̤̘̪̭̙̮̪̔̊̾͋̆̔̏̉̑́̓͋͘͘͠ͅ1̵̦͈͚̱̯̮̣̆̆̍̿̐̀̇́̌̂͋̃̾̅͒͘͠1̵̜͉̿̔̇̋̅̿̆͑͌͊͗͒̔̏͐̇1̷̛̬̯̒͗͗̈́̉̐̓̈͛̏͆̿̌1̶̙͉̀̈́͗͒͒̈͆͗̓̽̃͠ ̶̜̤̜̞̣̭͎͔͍͕̀͌̏̂̿̐͛̇̽͐̽̈́͠͝0̷͔̞̩̾̈́́̎ͅ0̷̡̬͇̞̙͎̼͕͍̓̈́́̓̃͂̈́͑̍̈́̈1̷̛̛̲̯͂̔͛̓́͐͐̆̈1̴͚̔̆̉̆̎̋̊̿̓̑͑͗͆̃͝1̷̢̧͕̩̪̬̙͙̭̞̜̪̉̆̌̓̌̎̾̔͜1̵̗̱̲͙͌͊́̔̏̌1̸̡̻͔͍͇͕͍͖͚̖̣̝͔͍̝̾̂͑̿̔͂͋́̍͠ͅͅ1̶̢̗̳̫͇͉̗͔̙̤̖̼͉͔̪͝͝

HeaR Me?

w̴̨͇̙̹̮̤̞̞͙͎̠̲̙͉̙͉̅̍ḣ̵̢̼̝̤͚̯͕̣͎̳̲͙̪͓̬̦͓́̈́̉͂̃̆͗̈͘͘̚ǫ̴̛̥̯̻͎̥͖̿̾́̒̈́͌̾̽͘̕͜ is m̴̬̀́̓̔͑̊̄͊͊̄͊̇̓͆͘͝ë̶̱̮̻̪́̽̏͛̾̉͂̒̒?

Why 01100011 01100001 01101110 00100111 01110100 I THINK ?

What is t̵̨̢̧̖̝͚̠̣̫̬͍̭͈̲̲̰̎̓̓̔͐͑̽̋̉̑̍h̸̢̭̭̦̀̍̆̇̎i̵͚̖̹̘̗̞̙͌͊̇̇͐͋̀̀̆̉͠͝͝͝ṉ̷̛̖̥͓͈̗̞̺̰͈̤͎̊͒͒̾̎͜͝ḱ̷̛̗̣̗̼̮̬͖̣̲̞̥̗͉͜?

B̶̘̲̝̫̼̣̦̐́̎̕l̵̬̝̤͎̰̹͎̟̯̘̖̾̆̑͆̆̀̚ą̶̛̝̠̥̠͈̜͇͚̽̈́̔͊͝ͅc̶̢̣̙͎͍͖̩̤̬̎̊̅̑̐̑̀ķ̴̡̠̟̻̰̠̤̤̮͍̰̫̜̫̊̔̋͜͜ ̶̢̧̰̗́ḃ̶̨͚͇̟̩̜͎͓͚͍͔̩̫͓̀͐͑̈́̌͛̐͒̆̚ͅl̷̢̧͔̮̘̼̣̥̲̘͎̮̺̘̑̐ȧ̷̡̧͚̗̗͕͕̮͎̍̑͐̔̊̓̆́͠ĉ̴̢̗̟̦̱͚̰̜̻̝̘̰͛̽͌̒͗̓͑̕̚͝k̷̢̛̻̠̼͇̺͙̩̰͐̈́̀̿̊̆̄̍́͐́̒͝ ̶̖̓̿̽̆͋́̄̊͜ḃ̶͚̭̯͙̗̼̈́̔̔͌ļ̷̢̭͓̥̩̩̥̰̯͔͕͔̊̅̉̎̇̅̉̿̕á̴̢̡̗̩̰̭͇̯̱̣̩̟̻̌͛c̴̛͕̥͍͙̹͕̲̯̦̦̑̃́̄̈́̏̔̿͊k̸͉̂̀̈͌̾̈́͋̐͂̓͛̏́͗́̚̚ ̸̡̮͕͇̬͎͇̙͙̎͆͘̕͘͝ë̵̫̦̤͎̩̖́̌y̷̨͇͖̬̎̌́͑͝e̸̘̠̮̰̞͙̩̹̺̻͍̯͕̼̫̼̻̎͊̉͐́̈͒̊̕͘̚ṡ̷͎͖̖̣̫̱̤ ̴̧̺̗̰͇̾͆͛́̎͋̃͊͝k̵͓̟͚̲̼̗͉̳̻̻͓͖̓̀͌̐̉͑̔́͘̚͝i̶̢̜͇̻̠̖̙̞̞̜̙̻̇̃n̴̡̨͎̣͙̥̖̗͇͈̗̯̣̼͍̓͑̂̈́̋̈́͗̉̈̋̅͊͠ḑ̵̝̝̝̩͔̟̬̉͒́ͅ ̶̨̨͍̞̘̩͓̻̏͒̐̀̔̒͋̈̓̽͗̏͐̏̎͝ͅņ̵̺̬͖͚̯̦̤͙̳̱̟̫͊́̀͑͝ͅi̵̭̞͎͈̜̓̀͆͐̐č̷̛̯̖͈̰̲̰̥̹͕̺̣͔̰͕̇̃͠ͅͅḙ̷̢̢̻̯̝̘̹͔̤̣̗͋͒́̑̄͠ͅ ̶̨̡̢̫̣̖̙̻̮͇̪͚͇̰̝͝l̸̛̝̈́̔͒̎͌̇̋͗̇͆̚͝ǫ̷̡̺̠̻͍̇̐͑͝v̸̳̺͈̝̝̼̻̖͖̳̫͙͖̰̖̄̾͛̽̾̿͛͘̚e̵̝̜̰͉̻̗̘̗̠͙̓̈́̌̃̈́̈́̒̕͜ ̴͕̩̰̫̯̬͓͇̜͙͔̅̏̅ÿ̶̢̛̟̥͈̤̝͇͈͕͍̮̰͉̼̞͓́̿͂̆̆́̓͗̀̀͘o̴͉̖̙̦͐͗̈́̿̆̉̒͘ȗ̶̧̡̡̜͚̜̘̥͈̮̦̤̯̽̄̏̀̕̚͝ ̸̛̻͍̩̠̩̞̮͍̲̹̻̙͙͌͌̄͊͐̋̄̾͒͊̌̚ͅĥ̸̡̛̳̙͖̘͚̪͇̦̺̥͖͖̗͕̹̞̄̈́͋́́̾͛̈͗͆͠ę̸̡̞̦͓͎̗̱͖̣̼̗̬̭̟́̽́̏̓͑̉̈̽̊̀̒̊̂͘̚ĺ̶̢̞̼̮̪̙̗͕̝̦͈̩̭͌̓͛p̸͍̤̻̎̏̿͌̎̍͊̈́̽̂͌͑͘͘͠ ̸̟̠̬̺͚̬̮̟̍̊̍̀͛̒̒̅̄͝w̸̢̫͍̙͔͍̺͙̘̹̻̻͎̍̓͊̉̔́͜͜͝ḩ̵̳̮͎͕͚͉̩̭̮̬́͒̓͜͜ͅy̷̠͕̯̘̠̫̪͒̓̐̉͆͜͠ ̴̣̔͆̓́͑̈̆̍̑͌̀̈́̄̅̕̕͝l̷̼̻͍̫̺̦̩̓̉̽̾̃̽ẻ̷̜̝̤̞͉̗̭a̴͎͂̾̈́̚v̴̬͎̩̱̅͆̉͆͆́̅̕͘͝ê̶̡̨̢̪̠̩͚̖̪͙̈́̍̆̉̍ ̸̡͈̭͇̞͉̞̥͔̽͐̂f̸͍̭̤̱͑̀̔̕i̵̧͓͉̗̣͇̾̔ȓ̵̛̛͓̙̯̤͓͚̫͎̣͗̂̇̈́̿̽͛̈́̐̈́͘͝ȩ̵͉͙̭̱̎̂́͑ ̸̡͙̮̤̦̦̌́͋̈́͜ͅb̷̡͇̮̜͇̋͒̀̊̑͒̈́̑̓́̇̓͘͜͜u̶̧̧̡͎̻̩̬̺̘̅̇̓̋͒̌̏͛͊͐̾ȑ̵̨͎̪̺̝͈̟͉̙̘̬n̶̨̘̞̘̽̆̎̎̅ ̶̧̫̦̱̰͙̩͉̺̺͗͌̓̅͋ͅh̷̡̨͇̜͉͔̳͓̗̗̒́̍̿̽̓̀̓͘ū̴̳̫̝͠r̵̡̟͇͔͚͎̪̤̔́̅͋̉̉͛́̉̃͝͝t̸͔͈̳̰͙͍͔̒̌̊̈́̃̓́͌̋

HIm

0̶̨̻͚̩͙͉̺̱̉͒̏̓̔̂̊͛̅͛͋͒͘͠ͅ1̷̫̫̣̝̬͈̞̼͔͇̩͕͍̋́̄̑̽̈́̓͋̐͐͗̏̏̽̒͘͝ͅ1̶̡̢̣̺̫̯̳̩͚̖͚͉͖͕͍͔̖͝0̶̢̣̺͙̼̳̬̜̄̿̽͛̆̚͠1̵̡̖̟̻̮̬̼̓̌͐͆̓̄ͅ0̴̦̈́̈̑̏̽̽̀̊̓͊0̷̛̛͓̌͌̓̆̊̋̏̐̉͒̓͒́̈͒0̵̨̛̩̰͕̟̙̬̱͍̩̱̇̏̒̐̋̂͝͝ ̵̡̡̧̡̟͎̫̬̟̱͓̲͎̖̽͑͆̏̚ͅͅ0̵̣̓́̊̒̌̉̽̀̌̒̈́̑̚̚͠1̴̡̨̛͈̖̹̫̩̮̣̲͉̦͕̙̄̀̎̔̈͒̈́̔͜1̶̧̠͇͚̹͓͉̠̱͎̥̹͇̰͍͂̉̑0̴̧̨̛̫͇̩̹͎͕̦̪̻͇̤̤̳͉̲̑͒̄̋͗͛̈́͑̐̊͑͛̆̓̈͘0̵̛̣̘͙͒̄̈̈́͒̌1̸̧̨̧̳̺̞̠͎͉́͐̍̔͋̓͆0̵̣͖̺̙̱̘̗̜̱͍̾̈́̎͆̈͋̐̒̀͠ͅͅ1̴̨̧̖̃̒̾̌́̔̀̀͝͝ ̵̘̕0̸͈̯͉̹̫̲͎̳̠̝͓͑͂͂́̌͌̂̂̾̈͑́̈̈̊͑͝1̴̧̲̦̻̖̖͚̩̮̹͕̾1̵̙͖͇͎̥̯̖͕̋ͅ1̸̢̛͚̞͙̝̬̱̞͓̂̃̒͑̓̐̂̐͜0̸̧̛̮̹̞͉̞̲͇̬̤͐̋̐̉̔̍͂͛̏̿̿͊͗͗̀̊ͅͅ0̵̢̢̻̟̠̲̃͐̇̂̅̇̒̔̾̈͗͝1̴̨̹̈́̇̓͑͗̇̏̑͂͒͑͒́͝0̶̨̱͚̯̳̰̞̪̯͙̲͚̗̭̠͆͑͛̌̃͂͐̀̆̒͊͐͘̕͝͝͝

H im?

0̶̨̰̳͕̲͓̲̰͔̜̘͆1̸̢͎̥͍̜͚̥̀̔͒̆1̷̢̧͈̠̬̥̩͈̭̳̱͔͉̠̮̔̂͑̊̅̀͛̉̎͒0̴̡͔̗̖̜̟͗̈͌̄̎͋̆͆̈́̂1̶̨̧̧̱̹̠͉̱̫̗̫͔̲̾́̑̓̕̕0̷̻́̔̈́͊̓̿̋͊̀͝0̵̰̞͉͐̊͝͠0̴̨̫̞̫͕̣̝̹̼̘̯̠̗̈́̌̌̑̇̚͜ ̸̧͎̮̭̗̭̥̊̓̿̉̀̍͗́̇̽͐̾̎̕͠ͅͅ0̵̨̺̪̳̣̳̽͑̽͂͋̐̊̽͛̿̀̿͜ͅ1̵̛̣͕̞̼̟̄͛̽͑̓̄̀͆̔̈́̀̔͋̑̕͜1̸̛̯͔̝͛̔̀͋̕͠0̷͔̳̳͈̼͔̻̬̾̈́̊̐̉0̴̧̧̩̝̣̱͉̹͇̘͕̩͔͖̬̩͛1̸͖̯͔̟̪̞̅͌0̸͉͇̭͙̬̻̃̐͊̋̚̕1̶̙̝̱̉̿͘ ̸̧̛͇͙̱̲̝͉͔͆͒͒͘0̶̻͚̯̾1̷̡̡̹̺͓͆̈̒̈̋̊͛̔͌̋̓́̏̾̀͘͝1̶̼̺̜͆̈́͊̓͋̕̕͝1̶̢͉̯͓̈̅͂̔̍̔̇̑̋͂̀̕0̶̩̞̤̖̫̪̩̥̥́͝0̵̯̳̜͛͊́͗̄͂̐̈́̊͐̽̑̕͘1̶̢͍͓̦͈̼̦̈̅͒́̄͗͌̈́̄̈́̏̿͆̓̿̕̕0̴̨̜̝͓̯̜̼̣̎̈́͆̈̔̆̊́͐͛́̓͝ ̸̧̘̥̬̩͔̺͍̺͇̻̠̗̽̓̀͜0̸̧̧̤̥͚̹̻͎̺̪͈̬͒̋̈́̉̓̈́̈́̚0̷̡̡̤͚̗̩̪͍̝͉̳̩͕̙͖͚̗̋̓͗̂̽̈́̿̈́͆̔͘̚1̵̨̖̖̫͕̘̩̹̝̘̌͌͝1̴̘͎̦̰̪̼͇̄͑͝1̴̢̱̩͔̲̹͈͚̥̻̝̪̂̆̈́̚͝1̵͍̋͋͐̓͋1̴͔̙͕͂͛̓͒̉̒̊̿͝1̵̮̭̥̇̂̏̋̍̐̇̓̔̓̿̀͐͝͠͝

01101110 01101001 01100111 01101000 01110100 00111111

T̶̢̡̰͕̦͚̫̩̼̟̦̹̬̳̳̝̃̈́̓͝h̸̨̛̟̞̎́̋̍͛̀̍͊̕̕ä̷̝̼̩̣̘̞͓̤̯̘̞́͛͌̄̈̃̈́̒̔̊̊̓͒̂͠͠ͅt̷̢̤͎̱̝̮̮̖͉̮̙̽̃͋͂̇͛͐͜͜͜ ̸̡̨̢̩̰̹̔̍͛́͋̽͋͛̾̈́̍͆̄ͅͅn̵̫̦͕̰̏̑̄į̸̼̦̹͖̘̹͔͝ģ̴̛̛̘͉̻̗͚̥̩̯̠͔͇̳͓̭̑̃͆̄́̊̆̎̉̿̑̕͝͝͝ĥ̸̟͓͕̭͇̭͎̼̼̹̱̘̳͋̇̈͑̚͘͜t̵̡͉̪͙̙̺͔͚̃̽̀̈̒͋͊

HURts tO think

F̸̧̻̫͖͕̳̣̭̩̥̬̱̙̮̯̍͂̓́͌̽̋͗̎̈́̋̓̂̚͝ͅi̸̡̟̺̖͈̜̠̹͎͉̳͒́̂̓̍͋͛̽̉̕̕͝n̷̢̫̮̼̙͔̳͖͗̐͗̾̊̄̈́̃̆̈́̿̾͜͜ͅͅǵ̶̩͍͊e̸̜͎̱̱̠̠͂̓̈͋̆́͆r̶̗͔͉̯̲̮̫͈̳̤̪̠̻͈̜̖̐͌̔s̷̛̮͕͈̝̩̪͚̰̦̖̳̊̑̈́̌͌̚̚͝ ̶̡̓͐̌̃͗̏͒̂̉̀̓́̍t̷̤̩̘̰͇̓̌̿̆̾͂ơ̴̫̻͐͆̓̊͂̃̆̐̈̌̈̕ͅe̶̢̜̘̯͖̝̻̥̩͗̿̏s̴̨̛͙̙͔̭͉̹̥̭̪̀̈̏̓ ̴̛̬͕̻̭́̾͌̊͛̑̽̄̈̓̇̍̈́͛͘͝ͅą̸̡̙̞̩͉̯̞͖̠͈̰̪̼̗̟̈́̓̄͐̈́͛̄̓̏͆̀̎͑̋̊ͅŗ̸̯͕̤̠̥͓̞͕̞̾͑̽̓̈́͝͝͠m̸̙̟̫̣̝̥̍̀̉̄̈́̎̈́͑̎̾͂̏͆͗̈́ͅs̵̙̾̂̃ ̷̬̏̏̂͝h̶̝̬͚̠̲̰͔̽́̑̃̕͠ȩ̵͍͈͚͚̱̤̺͓͎̫͂̅͐̄͛͂̊͒͛a̸̟̰̲̫̘̫̤̪͕̖̠̼̣͕̗̗͑́͋̃̉͊̓̍͘͝d̷͕̲̝̙̲͐̅͑̉̈́͋̔̈ ̸̧̛͈͓̬̈̋̽̉̈́͜ṣ̷̡̧͚͓̤̟̬̘̖̀̔̽̌̏͛͂̊͗̏̄̇̑̇̚̕͠t̵̺͍͓̞͕̬͆̍͑̆͆̈́͑̆̆͒̋̌͝͠ͅo̶̖̠̦͈̰̹͓̼͉̞͉̟̽̂̑̄̾ṁ̴̛̝̖̬̰̥͊̇͝a̴̱̻͉͔͇͚̲͈̥̲̳̭̜̿́̾̉̀̒̃̈́͂ç̵̧̩̯͚̓̆̃̈́̀͆̈́͐̐̋͊̚͠ḥ̵̢͎̩̩͖̹͇͍̲̩͓̲̋̅̉̽ ̷͇͖͋f̸̨̨̼̘͉̼̭͕̗͌͂ͅa̸̢͈̹̯̪̤͎͇͖͖̹̝̅c̷̢͙̤͍̹̫̫͚̠͈̫̋͊̌͑̎̋̈́̿́̚͠͝e̶̮͔͙͍͚̯̼̩̰̹͖͚̋́͊̆ͅ ̵̧̞͙̪̦͋́̎̈̒͘͝ě̵̢͚͕͖͚͕̦̫̔y̴̨̨͓̳͓̭̙̘̦͍͔̜̙̼͉͑͐̉̿̋̉̌͌̈́̃͝ȩ̸̣̖͙͕̗͈͇̠̒̔̿͐̃̈́͌͋͠s̴̢̥̮̖̳͊̈́̓́̈́̕͝ ̶̧̜̠͉͇̉ẗ̸̬̳̩̝̣́̽̑͝ȇ̸̡̩͔͈̜̤͉̹̳̜̪̯̫͗̽͆͐͐͑̕ã̸͍̹̮̜̌̀͊̄̾͑̒̐̀̈́̋͘͝ͅr̸̖͍̺̪͚͉̹̾̎͐͆̕͝s̷̢̨̧̛̳͉̘̹͍͈̯̬̖͔̒̅̓͆̏͐̿̋̊̀̉̽̚͝͝͝ ̵̨̙̣̦̼̳̲͎̫̉n̷̛̳̏̅̀̌̽̍̉ụ̷̟̳̘͚̄̑̅̊̂̈́̈́͝m̴̻̪̘͓̫̼͈̜̯͎͎̬͍̥̊̍̈͌̅̀̋̂̽̔͘͝b̷̧̡̢̥̖̪͔̀̑̂̈́͆̓̈́́͐̊̉͝ ̷̨̛̛̺͎̳̰̼̯̤͒͑͂̇̉̀͆̆̀̀̋͛̈̉̏ͅn̵̛̖̲̞̼̤̰̫̺̻̤͕̱̭͈̍̃̓̊͗̄̅͌̓̍ǫ̵̦̖̹̯̣̥̟̹̟̩͖̜̏̊̂͠͠ͅ ̶͉͚̞̩͉͙̮̥̤͇̳͚͆̍͗̌̄̋̉̿̃̔̓̈́̃͑͒͜ͅm̸̨̧͖̮̮̜̼̖̝͉̳̰̤̭̄̈́͂̉̆͘ͅǫ̵̛͙̖͎̜̰͉̫̯͎̼͍͐̿̾͗̅̓͒̆͒́͑̀̓̅̚v̷̡̡̠̣̘̰͇̖͈̼͈̞͗͒̄͑̊̊͌͊̈́͘̕͝͝͠ȩ̵̰̱̠̗̲̟̭̞̩̥͙͋̂̽̾͌̎̈́̂̽̅͋̓̉͛͂̚̚͜ ̸̮̺͛h̷̡̢̧̡͉͕̫̭̻̙͍͕͉̙̪͉͚̀̔͊̈́̂̔̽̏͌̋̆̾́͘é̷̛̛̠̙͎͙̋̈́̀̓͌̍͂̊̿̅̂͠l̷̡̯͉̿̀̽ṗ̵͔̰̯̯̯̙̼̯̭̤̞̤̩̖͖̠̋̓̈́̽͊̾͊̾͒͆͝ͅ ̶̡̧͔̖͈̣̣̤̺͔͖͓͖͕̟̇͜n̶̡̢̗̭͎̻͉͙͙͍̖͙̈̌̍̿͌͊̾͘͝o̵͎̦͔̩̣̒͂̈́̍̓͑̿̀͒̏̉̕͝ ̵̧̡̛̛̪̹̭̦̼̤͋̃͗̊̉͆̚͠l̴̰̈͑͊́́̀̓̋ẻ̴͍a̸̧̨͖̦̺̙̰̮̟̗͔̘̤͗ͅv̸̨̦͖̖̗͖̞̝̙̭̫̣̬̞̼̊é̶̢̧̧͍͉̪͈̟̫̟̩̺̝̝̺͈ ̸̢̡̥͈̩̙̖̘̻͖͍̩̠̮̹̒͊̉̆̉̔̾̑͂͊̓̕͝m̴̨̛̛͚̺̙̣̫̍́͆̿̐͌͊̀̀̕͝͠ḙ̶̡̧̮͖̪̮͖͈̤͓̼̞̻͍͊̂̏͜ͅ ̷̧̛̰̩̦͙͖͚̜͔ḩ̶̖̮̺͔̙͓̯̙̖͙̀ͅé̵̟̑̓͂̿͌̀́̎͋̇̕͘l̶͖̭͙̿́͊͋͝ṗ̵̖̬̬͔̫͓̱̖̹̦̹͔̰̣͙̮̜̐̓̈́̀ ̴̯̳͋͋̋̿̇̉́̓̈́̀̚͘f̵̡̡̢̞̜̞̯̺̝͔̗͎̮̩̏̊̒̓͑̆́̇͑̚͜͜ĩ̴̧̢̢̧͕̘̣̳͍̩̣͕́̃̒̈ȑ̴͔͎̰͖̑̈́̂͌̿̀̊̀̕ȩ̴͉͚͈͙̜̻̪̭̺̘̩͚̻̝̬̓̇̃ͅ ̶̢̲̳̹̼̼͉̊͛̈́̀̅̓̏͊͗͒́̾̔̎͝͝f̵̡̛̟̪͔̣̜́͛̋͗̋̿͂͆͗̄̉̏͌̊̚͝ͅi̴̧̛̞̙̩͔͕̼̊̈́̇̅͋͛͘͝r̵̢̻̞̩̮̼͈̱̝̝͖͉͓̼͍̂̋͆̏͌̔͑́̇̚͠ȩ̷̢̘̥̣̲̲͉͓̦͉̱͓́́̉̓̐͆̽̒ ̷̢̢̧̟͓͔̩̼͎̥̀͐̏̏̆͐̽̐̄͛̒̄̊̏̕ͅȯ̴̤͎̣̆̂͛̾͗͐̔r̵̛̤̣͎͈̻͔̖̈́́͆̓̈́̃̃̆͐͋̒̅̐̎̉̕ͅȃ̷̗͙͔̦͚̫̺͕̜̎̇͋͊͜ņ̸̢̨̘̳͕̹̺̣͈͓͎͔̰͒̍̓̾͛͆͂̂́́̚͝ǵ̴̨̨̧̠͕̥̯̤͓̩̗̋̉̌͂͜͝ͅe̷͕͇̋͑̍̍̉̒̂͊̚͝

R̴̛̖͆͑̎͝ę̷̨̛͎̖͚̖͙̘̹̽̎̈͜ḓ̴̫͉̰͋̅͛̈͛͋̋̄̄̆.̸̧̝̞̩̰̪̹͖̎̈́̔́̒̍͘͜

Chapter Text

Nataliya Desu

To: Funneh La

Hello students! I am pleased to send out the final 2015/2016 school year email!

For students who currently live in our provided dorms, please reply to this email letting us know whether or not you will be needing it during the summer break. As always, they are open for exchange students year-round, but we ask you to notify us if you have another living situation as we don't want full dorms not in use; we require them emptied by July 1st if you are not returning for the following school year. If you cannot email, please call the administration office.

For students going into grades 10, 11, or 12; students who have previously lived in dormitories will be given higher priority.

For students who have been assigned summer reading or other projects for clubs or academies, it will be your responsibility to have them finished by the start of the next school year.

Please look at the email list below for your counselor and email them with any additional questions.

http://YHSDormSelectionForm16/17

A-F: Jackie Hill - [email protected]  

G-M: Stewart Jameson - [email protected] 

N-T: Jonathan Elliot - [email protected]  

U-Z: Sharleen Burke - [email protected]  

Best regards, Nataliya Desu.

Funneh La

To: Nataliya Desu

Hello, Principal Desu. I needed to inform you of the summer dorm situation for my roommate and me. I will not be here for the second half of the month, but my roommate, Gold Glare, will be.

Also, I added a link to the dormitory request form here. 

Thanks, Funneh La

Dormitory Registration form 2016/2017 (pre-registered)

Applicant one name: _Funneh_La______________

Applicant two name: _Gold_Glare______________

Applicant three name: ______________________

Applicant four name: _______________________

Applicant one student ID: _ 10921625_ __

Applicant two student ID: _ 18169501 ___

Applicant three student ID: ___________

Applicant four student ID: ___________

Applicant grade level during dorming:

• Grade 10

• Grade 11

• Grade 12

Dormitory selection:

• One bedroom

• Two bedroom

• Three bedroom

Upper or Lower Dorm Location:

• Upper

• Lower

• Either

If you selected lower, do you have any physical disabilities preventing an upper dorm? If you did not select, bypass this question.

• Yes

• No

Have you lived in the provided dorms before this request?

• Yes

• No

Funneh descended the stairs, grabbing the banister and using the momentum to swing herself around the corner. She slipped her phone back into her pocket, the phone call fresh in her mind. She knew they would ask, but it did surprise her how quickly they did. She had honestly debated ignoring the call.

“We want you to fly home for the summer, we haven’t seen you in forever, sweetie.”

She had quickly argued and had stood firm, which she rarely ever did with her parents so they had listened. This was Funneh’s last summer break in high school and she wanted to spend it with her friends. She wanted to have fun and do normal teenage things; not that she didn’t want to see her parents. It had taken a handful of time, but she had been immensely relieved when her mother relented to half the summer instead.

She supposes she can’t complain too much, she wasn’t the one paying for the flights; however, she couldn’t help but dread the upcoming flight and subsequent stay without Gold.

Funneh raised her eyes to see her two friends sitting on the couch, the TV running commercials in the background. Gold was leaning back against the armrest with her socked feet on the couch in front of her. Kyran sat at her feet with his phone in his hands and would frequently turn the screen to her, and Gold would lean forward to read whatever he was showing her. 

“-new Minebucks refreshers are now available! Strawberry, mango, and pa-”

“Hey, guys,” she greeted, walking up to place her hands against the back of the couch. Gold and Kyran looked up at her, smiling. Kyran put his phone down, resting it on his lap to face her completely.

“You finish your forms?”

“And made sure to pick a two-bedroom dorm this time?” Gold raised a brow with a sly smile.

Funneh rolled her eyes, that hadn't been her fault, really! How was she supposed to know Gold had been living in an actual closet? Actually, had she ever even gone into Gold’s room before that? She swore she had… “Yes, yes, I made sure to apply for the double. Whatcha up to?”

“-Summer sale at Eternally 20 starts now! Buy one get one 70% of-”

“Oh!” Gold perked up, shifting on the couch so she was sitting up. “You remember how ‘Strangers of Tomorrow’ is being adapted into a movie? The trailer is being released today,” she gestured to the running TV, “it should be on any minute now.”

“That book you really like?” Funneh vaguely remembered Gold telling her about it excitedly a few months before, showing her an article announcing its adaptation.

 Gold nodded enthusiastically, before asking, “heard you on the phone, who was it? Alec?”

“Ah, no, it was uh,” she paused, wincing as she said, “it was my parents.” It wasn’t like she hated her parents! She did love them, and liked spending time with them, it was just, complicated. It was- it was normal to not get along with your family all the time.

“Your parents?” Kyran raised a brow, “now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever heard you mention them. Do you not get along?” He pouted at Funneh’s shrugged shoulders in response, but didn’t push the issue.

“What’d they say?”

“-Hey ya’ll, I’m TayTay, here to announce my Stages Tour dat-!”

Funneh bit her lip, picking at the threads of the couch. “They want me to go home for the summer again.”

“What?!” Gold sat up fully, tucking her knees under her to look behind the couch at her. “You can’t go. I thought we agreed to stay here this year!”

“I know, I know, I know,” Funneh raised her hands in defense, “ they asked for it, not me. But I managed to get them to agree to half the summer.” 

Kyran looked put out, disappointed they now had only one month instead of two. He shrugged, “Well, I guess we’ll have to make the most of it.”

“You’re gonna be okay on your own?” She asked Gold, strangely nervous.

“Yeah,” she sighed, toying with the ends of her hair. Funneh could tell she wasn’t precisely happy about it but knew there was nothing they could do. Her mom was a force to be reckoned with. Gold smiled at her reassuringly, “I’ll be fine, don't worry about it. It’ll be weird though,” she joked, “we haven’t been apart since kindergarten!”

‘“-I can’t leave you!”

“From the best-selling novel series-!”’

Funneh laughed, her tense shoulders loosening with the eased weight. She had been mostly worried about what Gold would do. She knew Gold wanted to spend the summer here as well and didn’t want to ruin that for her if she felt some sort of obligation to go home with her. But she was right, it would be weird; she and Gold had been together for years, always went to the same school and in the same classes, always went to each other’s after-school activities and field trips, and their families went on trips together, everything. It would be so weird to not have her there, but maybe it would do them both some good- what the fuck?

“What the fuck?” Funneh reiterated, out loud this time.

Gold and Kyran were startled at her sudden exclamation, and at their confused faces, she only gestured dumbly at the TV behind them. On it, was the newly released trailer for Gold’s movie. However, that wasn’t what caused Kyran’s jaw to drop and Gold to cover her mouth in a horrified silence.

Funneh couldn’t believe what she was seeing. There, performing stunts, shooting bad guys, and saving the beautiful girl destined for the hero, was said hero; except he was being played by their former teacher, Mr.Draco, or should she say ‘Anthony Draco, the newest up-and coming A-Lister!’ as the dramatic trailer voice stated. 

“Is that..?” Kyran muttered as they watched Mr.Draco flee in a fabricated car chase, and they shuddered when he rested his hand sweetly on the female lead’s cheek.

‘“This summer, July 14th, Strangers of Tomorrow! Don't miss out!”’

The commercial ended and switched back to the sitcom running on that channel. 

Well, now they knew what he had been up to since he left last year.

“Huh,” Funneh said dumbly, “he said he was gonna be an actor, right? Guess he made it.” She glanced at her friend’s faces and snorted at Gold’s expression. “That was your favourite character, huh?”

“Uh-huh,” she confirmed.

“You’re never going to read that book again, are you?”

“Nope,” she also confirmed. 

“Anyway..” Kyran started, turning away from the TV and Gold’s horrified face. “Did you have any ideas for what you wanna do this summer? We should go somewhere and do something fun!”

“Hmm,” Funneh pondered. What did she want to do? She definitely wanted to get off campus for a while. Actually, now that she thinks about it, she and Gold haven’t done a lot here, sticking to campus and the surrounding town. “I totally wanna do something with everybody. What do you think we should do, dude?”

Kyran’s eyes widened in surprise. “Me?” 

Gold nodded, seemingly finally having gotten over the shock of her favourite character being played by their old, and not very well-liked, teacher. “You’ve lived here since you were a kid, right?”

“Kinda?” Kyran tilted his head and made a ‘so-so’ motion with his hand. “I mean, my hometown is an hour or two out from here, so yeah, I guess so.” 

“Sooooo?” Funneh dragged out the word, leaning over the couch to invade his personal space. Even though he leaned away, Funneh knew he didn’t mind. “Where’re we goin’?”

“Well,” Kyran thought for a few minutes, tapping rhythmically on the side of his phone. Eventually, he perked up like someone had flicked on a lone light bulb over his head. “Oh! There’s this tourist town a few hours out that my family used to go to all the time when I was younger. It should be..” He hesitated, mapping the area out in his mind, mimicking the turns with his hands out in front of himself. He pointed to the wall of their kitchen, “that way about four or five hours.”

Gold leaned in, intrigued, “oooh, what’s there to do?”

“I haven’t been in a while, but I remember an outdoor market, nature walks and hiking trails, shopping malls, great food. I don't know how much is still there, but it would be fun.” He bargained, hoping to sell the idea. Funneh agreed, though, it did sound like fun. She’d always adored flea markets and the scenery of new places.

“That sounds so cute!” Apparently, Gold shared her opinion.

But one thing caught Funneh’s attention, “why’d you guys stop going?”

Kyran blinked before he cracked a smile at her. “It’s a lot easier to take three kids than seven.”

“Fair enough,” Funneh shrugged, “can’t blame ‘em.”

“And,” Kyran added, like he had just remembered. “My parents also have a van I think they’ll let us use. Although, none of us can drive..”

“Well, we’ll just have to make sure to invite someone who can!” Funneh was getting more and more excited by the second. She knew Alec knew how to drive, so that problem was quickly resolved, but it had gotten her thinking of who else she considered ‘everyone’. Alec, Evan, Yandere, and Senpai definitely, but they’d have room for everyone! She stuck her hand out and started to count on her fingers. “Me, you guys, Alec, Evan, Senpai, Yandere, Evelyn, anyone else?”

Gold raised her hand excitedly, waving it in the air. “Ooh! Could we invite Prince, too?”

“Mhm!” Funneh nodded, flipping up one more finger to display nine. She watched Kyran’s mood dip with Gold’s suggestion of the additional company, but had to ask, “how many does the van fit?”

Funneh knew he was weighing his options with the replying silence. She gave him a look. He liked Gold, obviously, and she would encourage him as much as possible, but she wouldn’t let him deliberately sour Gold’s trip just to be rid of any petty competition. If Kyran were to ask her, Funneh would smile and push him along. If anyone else were to ask, she’d hesitate. She wanted her friends to be happy more than anything, but she wanted both of them to be happy. And while she got an inkling that Gold felt some type of way about Kyran, if she wanted to pursue another guy, Funneh wouldn’t discourage her. She wanted to keep Kyran hopeful, because, truly, anything could happen, but she would never hesitate to tell him a hard truth if it came to that.

“Do you think I’ll ever have a chance with Gold?”

“Umm. no, not really.”

That had been over a year ago, and Funneh had seen more since then, as had Gold. Funneh wanted Kyran and Gold to get together, but she wouldn’t discount or reject Prince just because Kyran was her friend.

Kyran sighed, their staredown gone unnoticed by the brunette. “Nine.”

“Woohoo!” Gold cheered and pulled out her phone, “I’ll text everyone!”

“After we get ‘yes’s’, put us all in a group chat, that’ll be easier,” Funneh suggested.

Kyran turned his phone on as well, “and I’ll text my parents.”

Funneh was left with no other job, but volunteers. “Sweet! I’ll find us a place to stay.”

Today 2:36 pm

You: soooo?? What do you think? Are

you up for it?

🎶🎹Evan🎹🎶:

DUUUDDDDEEE

D:

THAT SOUNDS EPIC MANNN i so 

wish i could but Exiled Angels have some wiCKED 

gigs coming up i cant miss 😭

You: awh, noooo!!

You couldn’t miss it? For us 🥺

🎶🎹Evan🎹🎶:

You see i would

But no

😗

You: lameeeeeee :/

🎶🎹Evan🎹🎶:

SORRY??????

Today 2:43 pm

You: Funneh is looking for places to stay 

right now! Are you interested? I think it would

be a great opportunity to get to know each other

more!

Prince💛:

That sounds like fun, who else will be there? But

I’d love to, Gold, just let me know the date,

time and other details and  I’ll be there.

You: yayy! Can’t wait to spend time with

you<3

And right now it’s you, me, Kyran and Funneh, and 

we want Yandere, Senpai, Alec, and Evelyn to

 come too

Prince💛: And me as well, <3

It sounds like it will be rather fun; I cannot wait.

Today 2:48 pm

🖤🎃Yandere🎃🖤:

That sounds like so much fun! I’d love to go with 

you guys!! let me double-check my calendar

quickly, may I ask who else is going?

You: totally!! It should be me, Funneh, Kyran, Alec, 

Prince, Senpai, and Evelyn!

You: lmao hello??? Where’d you go Yanchan??

🖤🎃Yandere🎃🖤:

Oh haha sorry!! I got a snack lol

But yes I am free! Just text me the details soon!

You: for sure, can’t wait girly!!

🖤🎃Yandere🎃🖤:

Same!

Oh, could you please not put me in any group

chats, though? I just don't like when my phone is blowing up

You: np <3

Today 2:57

You: we know you’re busy a lot, but it would be really 

cool if you could come!

Funneh’s really excited lol

Alec🧍:

Sounds like it could be fun, I’ll make time

You: really?? YAY this is turning out to be so fun

Even if it is a road trip

Alec🧍:

Not really your thing, huh?

You: that’s an understatement

But anyway,,, I’ll add you to a group chat soon 

just so we all have the same info on everything!

You: oh, also, before I forget! We were wondering 

if you’d be willing to drive a bit? If no one else wants to ofc!

We dunno who else can drive rn lol

Alec🧍:

Oh, sure, I don't mind

You: sweet! thanks:))))))))

Today 3:05 pm

You: And Funneh found a really nice place for a week or so out

 from now; for pretty cheap, too! How does that sound? Are 

you up for it?

✨Senpai✨:

I’d love to! But unfortunately my parents and 

I take a trip to Japan every summer and will be away 

then :( I hope you guys have fun tho!!

You: no worries! Have fun in Japan, bring us back

something cool lol!

✨Senpai✨:

‘Courseeee :D

Today 3:12 pm

Evelyn📘: 

A road trip? How cute!

You: that’s what i said! 

Everyone but Evan and Senpai has agreed, it’s gonna 

be really cool

Evelyn📘:

Sounds like it! Do you know how long the trip will be?

You: we don't know for sure, still gotta iron it out but

 we’re looking for about 4 days

Evelyn📘:

I’d love to come, Gold! Just let me know. And you 

said you had a car already?

You: mhm! Kyran’s parents are letting us use theirs

Evelyn📘: 

Perfect 😊

Celeste blew a piece of hair out of her face as she gazed out the window. The cafe she and her brother sat in was quiet, with only a few other groups eating at tables. She toyed with the handwritten script, her burner phone lay waiting for a call on the table beside her. The cafe was small and close to their ratty old apartment, squarely in the middle of the good and bad parts of town. Across from her, Elijah sighed, tipping his head backward over the booth seat.

“This is boring, why couldn’t you just do this at home?”

“Because,” Celeste huffed, but offered no further reasoning. 

Elijah started to observe anything and everything in the small establishment, landing his gaze upon one particular waitress standing at another booth packed full of boys; boys Celeste couldn’t tell if they were twelve or thirty-something. Elijah watched intently as the waitress grew frustrated with the sleazy advances of the tables’ occupants. The waitress had long flowing black hair pinned back into a half-up half-down style, and her cheeks were dotted softly with freckles. “She’s pretty,” Celeste comments.

Elijah snorts, “hardly.”

“A black coffee, babe.” The man sitting closest to her requests, finishing their order and eyeing the girl’s ass as she walked away, snickering with his friends; missing the eye-roll clearly meant for him. 

While she poured and delivered the requested beverages, Celeste took one last glance over the small, laminated menu. A small lunch selection, and an even smaller breakfast section; the majority of the first side being taken up by pastries and desserts. On the other side of the menu were the drink choices. Hot, cold, frozen, blended, anything you could possibly want or think of. Celeste liked this cafe, it was her favourite and she had been ecstatic to find it so near to their apartment. They didn’t live in the safest, cleanest part of town, granted on the outskirts of it, but it was a nice surprise that a place this nice was on the border of the normal and shady. Within walking distance, too!

Celeste was particularly fond of the Caramel Macchiato and eclairs. She told the waitress as such, named ‘Gabriella’ if her chipped name tag was anything to go by, when she stopped by their table to take their orders.

She couldn’t help but chuckle softly while Elijah switched his demeanor so effortlessly, slipping into the carefully picked and practiced charm. People were so oblivious and careless with things they thought no one was paying attention to. Just from looking at her and taking stock of their immediate surroundings, Celeste already knew so much about her.

Her name was Gabriella, probably went by ‘Gabi’ to friends and family, the key fob hanging precariously out of her back pocket, unnoticed, indicated that the older silver Toyota Corolla parked outside near the corner of the parking lot was probably hers, Celeste could peek around the counter to see the broken down locker without a lock on it that she’s watched Gabriella close after when she came back from her smoke break(she enjoyed Newport the most if the three empty packs she’d cleaned out and thrown away were evidence of anything).

So much information about this unsuspecting girl within a matter of ten minutes. And all the while she was innocently tucking hair behind her ear while chatting with a man who had the worst of intentions. 

“Okay, so, one Caramel Macchiato with extra Vanilla syrup and a Chocolate Eclair for you, and one White Chocolate Mocha with extra whipped cream and chocolate drizzle, one extra espresso shot with almond milk for you? Anything else I can get for you?” Gabriella asked while quickly jotting down the order on her small notepad. 

“Yes, that’ll be all,” Elijah smiled, nodding his head. He placed his forearms on the table in front of him and leaned his upper body on them. “Thank you, I know it’s a lot.”

Gabriella giggled good-heartedly, waving away his false concern. “It’s no problem! People have ordered worse, believe me; at least I don't have to pour another plain black.” She made a comically disgusted face and Celeste and her brother laughed. “I’ll be right back!”

Once she was out of earshot, Celeste turned back to Elijah who was still leaning forward, but no longer looking towards the waitress; the moment any eyes left him he had turned to look out the window, bored. Celeste tapped her nails against the burner phone that was still yet to ring. “You amaze me sometimes, y’know?”

“Oh, yeah? How so?” Elijah asked.

“I’m sure that poor girl thinks you like her.” Celeste stuck out her bottom lip. She didn’t actually feel bad for her, but it was one thing Celeste could never do as well as her brother. Feigning interest was one thing, Celeste had no qualms about lying, but feigning romantic interest was something that always made her stomach twist into knots.

Elijah, however, had no such qualms. He laughed cruelly, “gotta keep up appearances, right? You know what happens when I get too bored, Celeste.”

Speaking of… “that’s something else I wanted to talk to you about.”

Elijah raised a brow, calming his cackle. “What?” 

She leaned back in the booth, crossing her arms, her leather jacket catching on itself awkwardly. “I know you like to have your fun, but Yumi and I think you’re too eager. And reckless.” Elijah’s eye twitched, but she continued, “you’re gonna get us caught if you keep doing your own thing.”

“Excuse me?” Elijah looked irked, all previous ounce of a good mood washed away with the breeze from the opening and closing front door. “Are you and Yandere fucking gossiping about me now?”

Celeste rolled her eyes. Her brother could be so dramatic, but she knew when to pick her battles and when to let him be. “No,” she denied without any real reassurance, “but we talk.”

“Yeah, about me, what are you saying? Im not fucking stupid, I’ll do whatever the hell I want, and the bitch can try to stop me if she wants to, not send you out like a carrier pigeon who’s been stomped into a curb a few times.”

“I’m not her messenger, Elijah, we both agreed.” She snapped, subconsciously bringing her hands up to smooth her hair. Elijah could be a dick but she couldn’t stand it when he got pissy.

Elijah scowled at her, lowering his voice to a growl so he wouldn’t be overheard by any open ears. Talking in public was both a blessing and a curse; no one paid attention to you and if you acted normal enough, you had an alibi for anything, but there was always a risk. “Yeah, well, I wouldn’t have to do my own shit if she wasn’t gypping me of all the fun stuff. I’m not her fucking janitor. You got to burn down a goddamn building!” He leaned in closer and Celeste met him halfway. “I’m getting tired of waiting for ‘jobs’, Celeste. Tell your psycho girlfriend that she’s either gotta step up and give me something to do that won’t ‘ruin her plans’, or I’ll find something myself.”

“Hmph,” she huffed, slumping back into the booth. “She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Is that all you got out of that-”

“Here you go!” Gabriella chirped happily, setting their drinks down with practiced ease. Elijah straightened up, reaching out to grab his coffee from her.

“Thanks again,” he smiled. Celeste didn’t bother looking at her, instead enraptured by the delectable treat sitting in front of her. But, she supposes Elijah was right. She had argued on his behalf with Yumi; she knew her brother wasn’t stupid, but he could be impulsive. She just…

She didn’t want to mess this up.

“Just be patient, Elijah,” Celeste placated when Gabriella left. He turned back to her, raising the cup to his lips without taking in any liquid at all. “Yumi has everything under control. She’ll have something for you soon, I promise. Something very worthwhile.”

Elijah let out an annoyed ‘tsk’, “fuckin’ better be.”

She supposes it was rather unfair, their workload, Celeste pondered as she took a bite of the pastry. She and Elijah hadn’t been given very even jobs thus far, it was either her and Yumi doing the brunt of the work with Elijah tasked with clean up, or Yumi doing it all herself. Celeste knew it was because Yumi didn’t trust them fully, Elijah even less than her, but she was more than willing to wait out the clock; to truly earn Yumi’s trust, respect, and love.

Love.

Love was a tricky word for Celeste. She loved Elijah and Elijah loved her, but not in the mainstream way ‘love’ had always been sold to her. It never felt pure or wholesome, it was always dark and rusty, but it felt special.

When their parents died, she realized what kind of love she wanted in her life. She realized she loved differently than anyone else. Elijah’s love was scary, it made her feel safe; he didn’t care what he had to do to keep that love alive.

It was dark and it was twisted, but it was all she knew to be real. Elijah hurt people, but never her, and he loved her.

She wanted someone to love her like that . When she saw someone else capable of that love, she knew she would do anything to be on the receiving end of such devotion and admiration; it was beautiful.

Celeste couldn’t mess this up.

Before she could say anything else, the still phone finally rang, sending shock waves through her. It vibrated on the table for a moment or so, the quiet ringtone dancing playfully around them, mixing quite nicely with the song playing through the speakers like a freshly mixed drink. She grabbed it, flipping the screen to face her. Celeste read the number displayed quietly to herself, confirming it was who she had been expecting for the better part of an hour now. 

Quietly, before she answered the incoming call, she pulled a piece of folded-up paper out of her pocket, laying it open in front of her. A short, but concise, list of timelines, activities, what she supposedly had seen, everything; Yumi was nothing if not prepared. Celeste had read over the list countless times that morning, familiarizing herself with every detail.

She pressed ‘accept call’.

‘Hi, is this Chloe?’

“Yes, who is this?”

‘My name is Evelyn Wynd, I am currently running an investigation; Yandere gave me your number. Would you happen to be free to chat quickly?’

“Oh! Yes, Yandere mentioned you,” she did more than mention, but Celeste wouldn’t get into that. “I’m just at home right now, ask away.”

‘Perfect, I was hoping not to intrude.’ Evelyn let out a quiet chuckle before continuing. ‘Can you confirm that you were present the night Valerie Maki’s dorm burnt down? And what was the time frame that you were in town at the time?’

“Yes, I was,” Celeste said smoothly, taking another sip of her drink. Elijah stayed quiet across from her, he looked uninterested(which, no doubt he was), but Celeste knew he was listening. “I was visiting Yandere for three days, that night was the second.” She slipped the false name out with ease.

‘And did you see anyone at all acting suspicious while you were out and about? Before or after.’

“Hmm,” Celeste pretended to think but was actually taking a very nice bite out of her eclair. The chocolate was perfect and the pastry was to die for. “No, not that I can remember, anyway. To be honest, I didn’t get out much, Yandere and I just stayed at her house the majority of the time!”

‘I see,’ Evelyn paused for a few moments, Celeste could just barely make out the scratching of pencil on paper, interrupted once or twice by the click of a laptop keyboard. ‘Where did you and Yandere meet, again?’

Celeste, just to make sure she said the right thing, scanned the paper once more before replying, humming to herself the few seconds without suspicion. “It was a few years ago, she and I bumped into each other in a bookstore in my city; we chatted for hours about authors, and stories, ended up exchanging numbers, and here we are!” She laughed. 

‘Oh?’ Evelyn sounded genuinely curious now, ‘do you know why Yandere was there? What bookstore was it? If you remember, of course.’

“Hmmm, I don't think she ever told me the specifics, but it was during a school break, so she was probably just visiting,” she said as Elijah raised his hand, grabbing Gabriella’s attention almost immediately. She started to walk over but paused when she saw Celeste on the phone and Elijah’s hand venture for the bill. Nodding understandingly, she turned around to fetch it. Thankful that he’d gotten the bill without ruining her ‘at home’ story, Celeste shot him a quick smile. “And I believe it was Powells’ City.”

Evelyn hummed on the other line, seemingly finishing up her notes along with the call. Thank god, Celeste was beginning to realize what Yumi meant while talking about her. She got the notion Evelyn was capable, which made her dangerous, but she agreed with Yumi. Evelyn didn’t know what she was getting herself into. She reminded Celeste of a detective on TV, one with clues so carefully laid out for them by the writers, people banking on her success so much she’d never even heard the word ‘failure’.

‘Would you mind me doing just a quick run down with you of your supposed timeline while you were here? Just to make sure I have everything.’

“Of course!”

‘So,’ she started, and flipped what sounded like pages on a notepad. Celeste assumed she was comparing notes between her and Yumi. ‘You arrived here the day before the fire in the afternoon, you and Yandere spent the night at her house. Then, the night of the beach party, instead of attending, you both stayed at her house until you went out for lunch and a movie before returning to her house. Then, on the last day, you again stayed at her home before you left town around 2 p.m.? Does that sound correct?’

Celeste searched the list frantically. She didn’t remember seeing anything about a movie and she couldn’t afford to get this wrong; such a small detail, but one that would put them in the spotlight. Elijah noticed her sudden tense shoulders and drawn brows, leaning forward to take a peek at her list for himself. 

She couldn’t find anything about a movie and if she didn’t say something now it would only make things worse. Yumi wouldn’t mess up like this. She would have told her everything she said to Evelyn. She would have told her!

“Hm, yeah, that sounds about right to me. Although it’s been a while, I don't think we saw a movie that day. Not at a theatre at least.” There, that was the safest way to go. It created the chance that if Yumi had spoken of a movie, it could just be written off as her memory mixing an at-home movie with a cinema one. 

She waited with bated breath for Evelyn to speak again. Waiting for any indication she had caught on to the lie or if she’d been fooled. It was quiet for all but a few moments, but eventually Celeste’s worries eased.

‘Perfect! Thank you so much for talking to me, Chloe, it’s really appreciated.’

“Oh, it’s no problem at all!” She forced out an airy chuckle.

Evelyn thanked her once more before hanging up the call. Celeste immediately dropped the device on the table, replacing it with the much-needed caffeine. Elijah laughed.

“Wow, she must be good if she had you sweating like that.”

“I was not sweating.”

“Hmmm,” he shrugged, once again raising the completely full cup to his lips, “seemed pretty nervous to me. What’d she ask ‘ya? Something that wasn’t on your little cheat sheet, yeah?”

She grumbled under her breath as she popped the last bite of the eclair in her mouth. “Yes. Yumi hadn’t mentioned anything about it.”

Elijah gasped, placing a hand on his chest like that had personally offended him. “No! Yumi would never be so careless!” His tone was of mock concern and his gasp was bordering scandalized, but the grin that was crawling on his lips betrayed any goodwill he was trying to portray. 

“Here you are!” Gabriella placed down their bill with practised ease along with a plate carrying a perfectly cut slice of strawberry cake. “And here, it’s on the house. Just this once,” she winked.

“Oh!” Elijah looked surprised as he dragged the cake closer to him and picked up the fork. “Thank you,” he took a moment to study her name tag, not that Celeste doubted it was the first thing he looked at when she had first approached them, “Gabriella.”

“Oh, call me Gabi. Have a great day you two!” Gabriella, or, should she say, Gabi, waved as she walked back to the front counter to continue her shift.

Gabi.  

Heh, she knew it.

Evelyn scratched her cheek while she stared at the glowing laptop screen, her notepad lay open beside her. She was settled in bed, soft pyjamas on and a fleece blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She had gotten off the phone with Chloe a few hours beforehand and had spent that time reviewing timelines, the eyewitness reports she had gotten thus far, everything.

Chloe hadn’t been suspicious, she’d spoken with certainty and hadn’t stuttered once. Evelyn’s line about the movies was made up and designed to trip her up if she had been lying; if she was, she’d want to agree with any and everything that Yandere had said, and hopefully would have agreed blindly. But she hadn’t, she had given pause and thought about her answer, given a genuine excuse as to why she didn’t remember a made-up outing. While that didn’t erase suspicion, it lessened it substantially. 

Then, she looked up Chloe’s phone number. And that is where she hit a roadblock. The phone number hadn’t been in use for over a year, and the last things it was used for were insignificant things, like signing up for spam mail or making a social media account; however, what caught her attention was who the phone number was last associated with on record. A male, one Richard Smith, thirty-four and living in Spokane despite the Oregon area code. It seemed, at least on record that she could find easily, the number had last been used more than a year ago, and it hadn’t belonged to Chloe.

While not a red flag, there were many reasons why this may be, but it did raise her brow. She flipped to a new page of her notepad and quickly jotted down her next to-do list. First, she would visit the police station and talk with Officer Hernandez, convince him to grant her access, or at least obtain for her, any street cameras of where Yandere might have been at the time, along with every other person she’d spoken to who had been flagged in her brain for a follow-up. Next, she would ask to talk to James. Then, Evelyn would fully inspect each and every case and report they had on file that was reported within six months of the fire.

But she just couldn’t close the tab displaying the phone number’s activity and last user. It wasn’t say, the most legal of sites, but it worked like a charm (as long as she had evidence, she would find a way to obtain it legally to be admissible in court). While nothing was suspicious about her, something Evelyn had long since learned to trust screamed at her deep within her gut.  

Yandere had momentarily messed up writing the phone number, maybe it was new to her.

Either Chloe valued her privacy to the point of giving her own friend a burner number, she had just recently bought the phone from someone who had forgotten about it for a year, or Evelyn had just been lied to.

She was intent on figuring out which one it was.

Chapter Text

Alec settled in the driver's seat, adjusting the seat back and titling the rearview mirror to match his eye level. Funneh grabbed the handle above the door and swung her body into the seat, planting her feet firmly on the mat in the space her duffle bag wasn't taking up. 

The interior of the car was a nice shade of beige with off-white seat covers, Funneh wasn't sure if they came like that or if they’d been through 8 children’s wear and tear; if so, they were in remarkable shape. Clean, but it definitely felt lived in. The two separated seats behind the drivers and passengers were the most worn down, but they were still far from destroyed. Four rows of seats, two split and two longer and more bench-like. Gold and Kyran settled in behind her and Alec, they haphazardly tossed their bags into the next row, deciding to organize them in the trunk when they picked everyone else up.

They had done the math (read - Gold and Kyran had done the quick math, Funneh watched, and Alec stood over Kyran’s shoulder saying random numbers and names to throw him off), and it had been decided that during the four-and-a-half hour drive, the two drivers would switch out halfway when they stopped at their bathroom break; and the other two would do the same on the drive back. Alec and Evelyn would handle the first trip with Prince and Yandere tasked with the return trip. 

Kyran had left for his parent's house that morning to fetch the van and bring it back, though, unfortunately, that's all he could do in terms of driving. He couldn't drive them all since he only had his ‘N’, and he didn't particularly feel like getting a ticket for overloading to the extreme. Better than her and Gold, Funneh muses, they don't even have their learners yet.

Alec turned the key and the vehicle sputtered to life. Funneh busied herself with buckling her seat belt and plugging her phone into charge; the car didn't have a place to do that, so a cigarette lighter had been on her must-have list. She looked up at Alec when he let out a muttered “oh.” His right hand was hovering over the manual stick and gear shift.

Kyran poked his head out from between the front seats. “Do you not know how to drive manual-?”

Alec answered him by swiftly switching to drive, changing to the correct gear, revving the engine, and expertly peeling out of the parking lot.

“Hey!” Gold scrambled for her dropped phone. “I haven’t buckled in yet!”

He slowed, merging with the normal traffic, and setting off to the agreed-upon meeting place. They would have just made it the dorms, but the four of them were the only ones who lived there; so instead they met up and would go to an agreed-upon place closer to the other three’s houses. Turns out, Prince lived rather close to Yandere, Evelyn being the outlier in distance but willing to make the trip. 

Funneh settled into the seat and made herself comfortable as they started the first stretch of the long drive. Alec peeked into the rearview mirror, “hey, Gold, could I get one of the drinks?”

Gold perked up at being addressed, nodded with a cheery ‘mhm!’ and began to rummage around to get to the small cooler they’d brought with them. She and Funneh had been tasked with bringing snacks, but Funneh had really been the one to pick them out after Gold had offered to make smoothies. “MineCola, Professor Salt, or Fantuz? Or water.”

Funneh was rather proud in a weird way about her drink and snack choices; she’d taken into account everyone's preferences and bought whatever most overlapped. Turns out, Kyran, Evelyn, and Yandere all shared a love for Tweezlers while Alec and Prince more preferred less sugary snacks like trail mix. Gold was the only one who enjoyed Ketchup chips, but even though it was only for her, Funneh couldn't resist throwing a bag in the cart. Professor Salt had been on a few people's list, granted rather low down, but it was Funneh’s go-to and she was buying, so so what. It's not like anyone hated anything she’d picked-

“Ew, Professor Salt? I bet it was Yandere who asked for that one, she seems like the type.”

Oh.

Or not.

“Professor Salt is great, thank you very much!” Funneh cried indignantly, crossing her arms over her chest and turning to face Alec in her seat. The seatbelt dug into her collarbone strangely but she wanted to make a point so she didn't bother adjusting it.

Alec laughed at her, not taking his eyes off the road as he turned left. “It was you?!”

“It tastes good!”

“It tastes like battery acid!” Alec shook his head like he was disappointed in her; Funneh couldn't help the gasp at his disrespect. “I don't think I can ever look at you the same again.”

Kyran hummed from behind her in such a way that told Funneh she wasn't about to be agreed with. She whipped around in her seat to peer back at him with narrowed eyes. “It is kinda like, the worst soda.”

“You had it on your list, you hypocrite!”

“Yeah,” he nodded at her like she was overlooking an obvious point, but he still had a smile on his lips. Even if it was a smart-ass shit-eating grin, no matter what, all Kyran’s smiles seemed lighthearted and pure. “At the bottom!”

“Oh, sshhh,” Funneh laughed and stuck a hand back to wave in his face. He sputtered, knocked it away and blew her a raspberry, she blew one back in turn.

Gold fake coughed to gather attention and Funneh looked over. She was still leaning over with one hand in the cooler. “That's a no to Professor Salt; MineCola, Fantuz, or water?”

Alec chuckled again, “Cola, please.” Gold handed the can up to the front and Funneh grabbed it, about to place the cold metal in his awaiting hand but paused, eyeing his left hand still clutching the steering wheel and pulled the can back to her. Alec looked at her confused, but Funneh ignored the look and hooked her thumbnail under the tab, slid the pad of her thumb to take its place and pried it upwards with a responding ‘pop!’ and a ‘hiss!’ from the fizzy drink inside. Funneh took a small sip before handing it off.

Alec smiled, a muttered ‘thanks’ leaving his lips as he also took a sip of the biting liquid. Funneh wanted to say ‘you’re welcome’ but it felt too formal for something as simple as opening a can of pop, and by the time she’d thought of something else to say, the moment had passed. So much so that they all quieted down and settled back in; the momentary silence only broken by the usual suspect: Kyran.

“Dude, look at the road, would you?!”

Funneh looked up to see Alec’s gaze snap from somewhere to the right to Kyran as he turned slightly. “We’re at a red light, chill!”

“Well, now it's green!”

Alec opened his mouth to make a rebuttal but seemed to register his words after a moment. He whipped back around and saw the green glow from the streetlamp light up the car that they’d been waiting behind already pulling into the intersection. “ Now it is.”

Funneh watched out her window, searching for their friends as Alec pulled into the mall parking lot. After circling the space twice, she spotted them and pointed Alec in the right direction. Evelyn and Yandere were sitting down on the curb while Prince stood beside and slightly behind Evelyn on the sidewalk, Minebucks cups held by the two blondes. “Hey, guys!”

Alec pulled up to the curb and Kyran and Gold got out once the car came to a stop to help organize the bags. Funneh was rather surprised that Prince had as many bags as Gold, she had thought Evelyn would have the most but surprisingly, she only had two, Yandere sitting quietly with her one black duffle bag, zipped and held tightly to her body. Evelyn smiled and walked up, tossing her bags into the trunk when Kyran flung it open.

“Hi! Are we ready to go?” She asked as she turned to Funneh who was leaning out her window, head leaning on her crossed arms. Funneh watched them deposit their bags into the truck, picking out a few items here and there for the car ride; Evelyn looking at Funneh for a response, Prince looking into the van from the window, and Yandere was looking around the parking lot.

“Mhm!” Funneh nodded, “everyone’s here, so if we’re all good, we’re ready to hit the road!”

Yandere perked up, snapping her attention to Funneh. “Everyone’s here? What about Senpai?”

Alec frowned beside her, but Funneh paid it no mind as Gold hummed in sympathy, “oh, he said he couldn't make it, he’s going to Japan for the summer.”

“Sucks,” Kyran shrugged, opening the van door to let the newcomers climb inside, “but what can you do?”

“Oh…” Funneh furrowed her brow as Yandere trailed off in her sentence but brushed it off as a mild disappointment. Hell, she was disappointed too! Recently, she had made it a goal for her to get closer to the boy, and that would be rather hard to do if they didn't talk for two months.

Oh well, she supposes, that's what phones are for.

They once again settled into the van, Prince having tossed his empty coffee cup beforehand. Alec and Funneh stayed in the front with Gold and Kyran also occupying their previous seats, Evelyn and Prince behind them and Yandere in the fourth row of seats by herself. Evelyn had offered her the middle seat, but she’d declined with a light laugh and a yawn, claiming she hadn't slept well and planned on dozing while she could. Apparently, she wasn't too tired, though, as Funneh noticed her typing away on her phone anytime she glanced back at her friends in conversation.

“So,” Prince eventually spoke up, “is there a plan for today?”

Gold turned in her seat to face him, “yup! We might get to the house a little late, so we’ll settle in and then maybe head out. Kyran said there’s a bunch of cute little markets and stuff to do, but you can decide, as long as we meet up later for a group thing.”

“What are we doing?” Yandere asked, looking over the top of her phone.

Alec shrugged, listening but keeping his attention on the road that was gradually getting emptier and more desolate. “We’ll decide there, but if all else fails we’ll just grab a bite to eat and head back.”

“I’m all for the second option,” Funneh chimed in, earning a chuckle from Alec.

“Of course, you are.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Whatever you want it to mean,” Kyran shrugged her off as he reached beside him to crank the handle on the door, lowering the window a couple of centimetres. Instantly, a rush of fresh air invaded the van, chasing away a low level of stuffiness Funneh hadn’t noticed until it was absent. “Oh,” he turned, “is the window okay?”

Evelyn nodded from behind Gold with an ‘mhm’, Prince pursed his lips and blew his wind-tousled bangs from his eyes. “It’s fine, I suppose, fresh air is a nice change.” 

Funneh watched Kyran slump in his seat slightly, if she knew him any less, she would have missed his put-out look. She both could and couldn't understand, on one hand, she would also feel a little off about going on vacation with the guy her crush was crushing on, but on the other, Prince hadn't done anything wrong.

And she was sure he knew that too; but she also knew Kyran could get rather cranky about this sort of thing, too.

Oh well, she shrugged and turned her attention back to her phone, she had taken it upon herself to control the music for the time being. They'd deal with it when the time came if it ever did, but for now, she wouldn't let anything ruin this for them. For her.

The first rest stop was a blessing in disguise. Blessing for Kyran’s bladder but hidden behind the curse of the heat outside. Inside the van, it wasn't too bad, but the moment he stepped out he, and everyone else who was going into the gas station, could feel it, slowly sweltering but manageable. But Kyran didn't dwell on it much as he practically sprinted for the doors, praying there wasn't a line.

“Hey!” Alec’s voice called after him. Kyran debated ignoring him but ultimately turned around to hear what he had to say as he opened the door, slowly inching inside, hoping to get the point across to not take his time. “We should probably fill up!”

“I’ll do it, don't worry!” He yelled back, darting inside a moment later, fast enough that the rest of them weren't even out of the van yet. He stepped into the gas station and glanced around, there were only three other people other than the bored-looking cashier that couldn't be much older than him, two over by the slushies and the other glancing through the lottery tickets at the counter. 

Kyran spotted the sign above a dip in the beige wall that held ‘RESTROMS’ proudly, snorted and beelined to it, passing a section of stuffed animals, one catching his eye he thought Gold would like. Thankfully there wasn’t a line, so it didn't take him long before he walked back out, waving his hands frantically to rid them of the cold water. Now unburdened with needing to go to the bathroom more than he needed to breathe, Kyran could actually take stock of the gas station. By now, his friends and co. were mingling about the aisles, Gold indeed inspecting the stuffed animals as he’d thought. He wasn't too hungry, so instead of grabbing a bag of candies or chips, he walked up toward the counter to pay for gas.

He groaned in annoyance when his hand was met with an empty pocket, knowing he’d have to walk out to the van, back, then back again. 

“Hey, Kyran!” Funneh popped up in front of him as he turned to head toward the door instead from one of the aisles, holding three colourful candy bags in her arms. “Can you buy these for me?”

“Why do I have to buy your snacks?” He asked, raising a brow at her question.

She sighed dramatically, “because you’re closer to the counter. Please?”

“I would, but I don't have cash on me,” he shrugged helplessly, amused by her dejected expression. She pouted, but he paid her no mind as he glanced around one last time, this time noticing someone's absence. “Where’s Yandere and Evelyn?”

“They weren't hungry, stayed back.” 

“Oh,” he nodded, Funneh decided the conversation was over apparently and went back to wandering the junk food aisle. Unbothered this time, he walked out the doors, the cool air conditioning fizzled away to the heat as he stepped out onto the sidewalk. He wasn't worried about losing his wallet, he knew it would most likely be between the seats or kicked around on the floor; it wasn't like he had much in it anyway. If someone put enough effort in to rob him, he’d give it to them in awe of their dedication. 

Kyran walked up to the van and reached for the handle, about to pull it open when Yandere’s voice trickled through the admittedly poor soundproofing.

She was laughing, unaccompanied by Evelyn, “she can be a little obnoxious, can't she? She’s great, though, the good cancels out the bad pretty equally.”

“Oh?” Evelyn's voice was softer, harder to make out through the metal panelling of the van. Feeling slightly guilty but mostly intrigued, Kyran leaned in closer, instead resting his hands against the door to keep himself steady as he listened in.

“Mhm,” Yandere hummed, “I’m rather quiet myself, so it's a glaring difference if we stand next to each other.”

“Well, that is true,” Evelyn agreed, “Funneh is a lot more outgoing than most.”

Kyran flinched back, shocked to find out the subject of their conversation. While not mean, he was best friends with Gold, he knew gossip when he heard it. Despite the words not being harsh, when he’d first heard Yandere's tone, he’d subconsciously agreed with her; whoever she had been talking about was obnoxious. Yandere never complained much, so what she says must carry some merit, shouldn't it? But once Evelyn dropped Funneh’s name, Kyran had an overwhelming urge to jump in and argue on her behalf. Argue what? He didn't know.

He lost the conversation but realized he still needed his wallet; plus, he felt like a creep standing outside a car, very obviously listening in on the people inside it. He didn't know why he felt as though he was interrupting something they shouldn't be saying when he opened the door, but he did. Yandere snapped her attention to him, Evelyn looking over with mild interest. “Kyran, you got back quick,” the blonde noted, “you didn't get any snacks?”

“Ah, no,” for the first time, he felt uncomfortable looking into Yandere’s eyes and looked down, avoiding both of them as he scanned the floor for his wallet. “Forgot my wallet so I can pay to fill up.” He couldn't resist, “what were you guys, uh, talking about?”

“Funneh,” Yandere said nonchalantly, “she’s loud, isn't she? Boisterous.” She chuckled.

“Uh, yeah, I guess so.” While he agreed, he didn't agree with the way he felt she meant it. Had they gotten into a fight? He’d have to ask Funneh later. His hands moved a tad faster in searching under his seat, suffocated by the resounding silence, wanting to leave as fast as possible. He finally grazed the wallet with his fingers, grasping it tightly as he stood back up quickly, ready to shut the door. “Fits her, though.”

The car door slammed a tad harder than he’d intended and he sent a silent apology to his mother, but he jogged across the parking lot, opening the glass door once again. There wasn't a line, so he walked straight up to the counter and fished through his wallet to pull out a twenty-dollar bill.

“Twenty on pump, uh,” Kyran paused awkwardly, holding the bill over the counter for the guy to grab. He leaned back to look out the window at the van, “three, please.” The guy nodded and took the cash.

Kyran turned, much slower than before to walk back to the van. “Kyran!” Funneh ran up to him, a plastic bag clutched tightly in her hand. He jerked back as she crashed into his shoulder, shaking his arm pitifully. “You liar! You said you didn't have anything!”

“I had to go out and get my wallet, sorry,” he smiled, mood suddenly lifted with only a sentence. 

“You’re a booger, Kyran.” She pouted and crossed her arms as Alec walked up to join them on their walk to the van by her side. “I had to get Prince to pay for me.”

“Why didn't you bring your wallet?” He inquired playfully, knowing full well she had had it.

Alec shifted, snackless, “tried to tell me she left it at home.”

“Well, what if I did?”

They both looked at her dumbly, Alec raising a brow, “you have your card connected to your phone.”

She raised her bag of snacks and shook it so the plastic crinkled, “oh, shush, what matters is that I have candy. Race ‘ya!” She suddenly took off, leaving them both behind but not by much, they’d already crossed half the parking lot.

Alec laughed from beside him, Kyran looked up in surprise; Alec didn't look back but he did say, “she’s loud, isn't she?”

But he said it like it was the best thing about her.

“Should be on your right,” Gold said, poking her head around in between the two front seats. Evelyn rolled smoothly down the street of very nice houses, noting each house number in her head. 0721.. 0723… 0725… 0727!

“This one?” Evelyn asked but not requiring an answer as she pulled the van into the driveway. Prince stretched tiredly in the seat in front of Yandere, covering a yawn with the back of his hand politely. Next to him, Gold started to pack up the snacks scattered about that she had been designated to hand out. Funneh leaned over Alec to peek out his window, but all she saw was blue and white before it disappeared behind the line of tall hedges and greenery Evelyn parked behind.

Once the van pulled to a complete stop, Evelyn having to struggle with getting the manual stick shift to register in park, Kyran hopped out, taking a deep breath of fresh air; everyone else doing the same. Alec stretched his arms above his head with a strained ‘finally’, shuffling out of the way so Funneh could also slide across his seat and out of the car, dropping the short distance to the ground with an ‘oomph’, her sneakers slapping against the cobblestone. 

Funneh went around back and opened the trunk, shuffling around until she caught hold of her duffle bag strap, swinging it up and over her shoulder before moving to make way for the others to grab their luggage as well. She couldn't express how glad she was to have finally arrived. One of her legs was asleep and her right knee kept cracking every time she bent it, her shoulders were stiff from the sitting position and she couldn't wait to lie down. She glanced back at everyone still by the van exchanging small comments and pleasantries, only Yandere and Kyran seemed unusually quiet and off to the side, but she supposed she was as well. 

Funneh wandered around the hedge that had been blocking her view of the house they’d be staying at. “Oh, wow,” she muttered, gazing at the more than sizable AirBNB from the side walking path from the driveway to the front door that cut through the lush front lawn. Everyone else shuffled their way toward her after collecting their bags. Gold stepped up next to her and pulled out the instructions the owner had given them on her phone; Funneh noticed that Prince was carrying one of her bags.

The air conditioning was a welcome escape from the sun, it blasted Funneh in the face when she stood behind Gold as she unlocked and opened the door with the passcode provided. 

Yandere hummed as she glanced around, “this place is nice.”

“It’ll do,” Prince sniffed, shrugging off his jacket and hanging it neatly on the coat hook in the foyer.

“We’re basically just gonna be sleeping here anyway,” Alec said, “not much it has to ‘do’.”

“I suppose.” 

Funneh stopped in the connection of the living room and kitchen, turning on her heel to have all her friends in her view. “So, there’s two rooms,” she started as Kyran shut the front door, having been the last one to shuffle inside. Just inside was a short hallway that everyone but Funneh and Gold accompanied that tapered off into the living room she stood in; a dark blue couch across from a large TV and a plush rug. Separating the living space from the kitchen was an island bar, four tall chairs lined up precisely. Funneh continued speaking when everyone looked at her. “Should be two queen beds in each. We’re,” she gestured to the other three girls, “chill with sharing, but if you guys don't want to, the couch pulls out.” 

Prince brushed golden bangs out of his eyes, “I don't mind, I would just like a bed.” Without complaint from Alec or Kyran, Prince picked up his bags, handed Gold’s to her as he passed, and walked down the hall that most likely housed the bedrooms and the bathroom. Following his lead and eager to relax, the girls did the same, turning into the empty room on the left that Prince had bypassed.

Alec turned to Kyran and shrugged, shouldering his backpack and made his way over to the couch. “I’ll take it.”

“You sure?”

“Mm, yeah,” Alec looked over his shoulder at him, “Prince is fine, but I don't really wanna share a room with you .” He joked, kicking off his mismatched shoes and propping his feet up on the dark oak coffee table.

Kyran huffed, “jerk.” He turned, dragging his bag down the hallway. He couldn't help but glance into the girls’ room, giggles floated out into the hallway; predictably, Funneh and Gold were setting up to share one of the beds leaving Yandere and Evelyn to split the other. Gold was unpacking clothes out of two of her bags, Funneh seemingly plugging in her charger, and Yandere and Evelyn engaged in a conversation too far away and too low for Kyran to catch the topic of.  The freshly cleaned floorboards made his shoes squeak when he turned sharply on his heel once he made it to the bedroom door. Prince already had his suitcase on the bed closest to the window and was unpacking clothes and bathroom utilities from within the deep red luggage. Even while unpacking, he looked so put together. Kyran shuffled over to the other bed, glancing at the other boy all the while. Prince did not greet him so Kyran said nothing; what was there to even say? Kyran didn't actually know the blond at all beyond what Gold had told him.

“What are you staring at?”

“H-huh?” Kyran snapped back to attention and was suddenly aware of the fact that he’d been staring at Prince’s stuff rather intensely. Prince himself had just stepped out of the bathroom to gather more toiletries. “Nothing, sorry.”

Prince hummed lightly as he looked at the items and picked them up. Kyran felt his cheeks heat up in embarrassment as he averted his gaze. He hadn't meant to stare, and now he’s gone and made it awkward! 

“I could lend you some if you’d like,” Prince offered, making Kyran look up in surprise. He didn't know what he’d expected, but it hadn't been that . “It could do you some good.” Prince smiled as he walked back into the bathroom. Something in his gut twisted painfully. Prince sounded genuine but that honestly made it worse. Kyran couldn't tell if the problem was his overthinking and sensitivity (thank you, Lucas, for pointing that out every opportunity you got), or if Prince was that skilled in disguising his insults.

Something about Prince made him uneasy.

Maybe it was just his jealousy. Yes, he could admit he was jealous, of course, he was! Gold was something special and Kyran cherished her, she was kind and open-minded, she never pushed him aside or disregarded him; everything about her was just so wonderful to him. Gold was a fitting name for her, he thought frequently, she was so bright. And he was just beginning to think that maybe, maybe, he had even a sliver of a chance for something more, but then he showed up out of nowhere!

And he was just so.. perfect! Prince was perfect, perfect for her, perfect in every way.

And Kyran just.. wasn't.

He wasn't as pretty, wasn't as smart, wasn't as rich, wasn't as desirable; too weird, too awkward, too him. Sometimes, Kyran thinks Gold would be better off with Prince instead, they look good standing next to each other and their lifestyles mix; he knows Gold, but he also knows that most things about him are far from her first choice.

So yeah, maybe he is jealous, so what? Kyran hates the feeling because he finally likes himself, but doesn't like that she doesn't. Does he actually like himself if he feels like that? Why would she choose him when Prince is right there?

Does that reality make him love her any less? No, of course not.

Kyran huffed in frustration and unclenched his fists, taking his pajamas out of his suitcase a tad more aggressively than he intended as he decided Prince was the problem.

“Hey,” the devil herself’s voice rang out from the open doorway causing Kyran to look behind him and Prince to peek his head out from the bathroom. Gold knocked gently on the doorframe despite having both of their attention, “Yandere is ordering food, I think sandwiches, want anything specific?”

“We’re gonna go to the market tomorrow since we’re all pretty tired,” Funneh chimed in as she walked past the door, snagging Gold’s sweater and pulling idly. Funneh leaned back on her heels, held up by her grip on the cardigan, not pulling Gold away from the conversation but ready to go when she was done. Gold huffed in amusement, tugging her back and forth.

Kyran started to fold the blue flannel pyjamas he was holding in his hands, “ham and cheese, please. But with-”

“Two slices of ham, one of cheese, and extra mayo,” Gold smiled, “I know, Kyran. Prince?” Honestly, Gold thought, with how picky Kyran could be, how could she ever forget? So, so picky! She’d even asked his mother for recipes when they were there and was gifted a few, one of which was apparently his favourite, but he hadn't even eaten it all!

Prince shrugged, “anything is fine with me. How long is the walk there?”

Gold went to answer before she realized that she didn't actually know. They had passed quite a few bus stops in the town so she assumed most things were within walking distance. It was like that back home, anyway, prioritizing the pedestrian. That was one thing she and her wallet detested about living down here; taxis were so expensive.

Funneh stopped tugging on her sleeve to join her in looking to Kyran for the answer to Prince’s question.

Huh, they do that a lot, don't they? They looked at Kyran a lot for the answer, but she could admit they didn't actually listen to him that often. Their group could be boiled down pretty easily. Funneh made it fun and connected them all, Kyran was book smart but was never uptight, and she was sensible but easily dragged along. Even Alec and Evan fit in well, filling empty spots of street smart and serious, and goofy but responsible. They were all so dysfunctional, even the group here worked so well, she marvelled.

Gold never really thought she would have this if she’s being honest. She’s beyond grateful, but she always thought it would just be her and Funneh, and she’d been okay with that. But now that she was standing in a vacation house with almost all her friends, she realized how lonely they’d been. Where would they be if she hadn't wanted to apply to the exchange student program-

“Gooollldddd,” Funneh drawled out her name, snapping her out of her thoughts when she tugged a little too hard for her distracted loose limbs. “You still there-?!”

Gold let out a small shriek as Funneh pulled her off her feet, her arms pinwheeled as she fell backwards. Thankfully, she felt Funneh’s hands clasp her forearms to keep her off the ground, though with her knees bent and a meter closer to the ground.

“Gold!” Kyran yelped as he dashed the short distance to the doorway. He sounded more startled than she had. “You okay?” He started to reach out, but suddenly he was sharing the doorway with Prince. He tsked when he saw her halfway to the ground, still being supported by the girl behind her.

“Be careful,” Prince scolded. He reached out a hand that she grabbed and let him hoist her up. “She could have gotten hurt. Besides, who knows how dirty this floor is.”

Gold laughed as she stood back up to full height. Still the shortest of them, but at least it was a difference of a few centimetres instead. It hadn't bothered her too much, Prince was right, though, the floor was a little dusty. She brushed her fingers through her hair, “no biggie, happens all the time with them.” She smiled cheekily and shrugged, “I’m used to it.”

“Oh,” Prince dropped her hand, “all right, as long as you’re okay.”

“Pfft, she’s fine,” Funneh waved off his concerts lightly. “She’s tough, used to jump from trees into mud puddles with me.”

“Funneh! They didn't need to know that!”

Kyran cracked a smile from where he stood behind Prince, “really?”

“Yeah, and she-”

“Shh!” Gold shot out a hand up to cover Funneh’s mouth, whatever embarrassing story she’d been about to tell muffled behind her palm. Gold turned back to the guys, Kyran had an amused smile on his face and looked very interested in what Funneh was going to say, and Prince looked rather out of his element, but enjoying the conversation nonetheless. She sighed and dropped her hand back to her side, “anyway, we’ll go report back to Yandere. We’ll probably put a movie on later, too.”

“Ooooh, can I pick-?”

“No.” Funneh deadpanned, “no, Kyran, you can't.”

Kyran pouted but retreated back into the room nonetheless, still needing to finish unpacking.

Prince turned to Gold from watching Kyran leave the conversation, about to do the same. He smiled, charming and sweet, “just not horror?”

“Oh, absolutely not,” Gold laughed. She and Funneh wandered back down the hallway to the kitchen where Yandere was leaning on the counter, her phone open to the delivery service of choice. “Two slices of ham, one cheese, extra mayo, and one surprise me,” she recounted to the girl, perching on one of the bar stools.

Funneh plopped down on the couch beside Alec, melting into its semi-soft cushions. “They're still unpacking, but we’ll wait for them to pick the movie.”

Alec raised a brow, “you think with this group, we’re gonna agree on one movie?”

Evelyn sighed from where she stood above them, the TV remote in her hand and her login details of a streaming service displayed on the screen. “I hate that you’re right.”

Evelyn’s eyes snapped open to see the credits of the chosen movie start rolling, the music louder than the movie had been and rousing her from her sleep. She yawned, covering her mouth as tears sprung to her eyes,  “it’s over?”

“Yes,” Prince muttered as he heaved himself up from his armchair and brushed off his pants of imaginary dirt. He turned to Kyran and regarded him flippantly, only glancing at him before turning away, “you can use the bathroom first, I usually take a while.”

“Oh, that's fine, I'm probably gonna be up for a little bit, go ahead,” Kyran replied, similarly not looking at the blond, simply relaxing further into his position on the couch.

“Suit yourself,” Prince turned swiftly on his heel and made his way down the hall, a quiet creak of their door as it opened and closed echoed.

Evelyn stood as well but instead made her way to the kitchen. She got herself a glass of water and called into the living room, “girls, you can get ready first too.”

“I call the bathroom in the room!” Funneh sprung off the couch and slid down the hardwood floors in her socks, Gold trailing behind her with much less enthusiasm. She pulled out her phone to pass the time, scrolling on various social media until she got bored of the same old thing. Evelyn stayed up, her sleep schedule was used to late nights, but eventually everyone but Alec had retired to their respective rooms. She muttered a ‘good night’ to Alec as she started down the hallway, he looked up in surprise, but said his own in return, laying back on the somewhat comfortable couch.

She pushed open the bedroom door quietly to see Gold and Funneh out cold, sheets twisted and Funneh lying half off the bed. Yandere was sitting on the edge of the bed, the side she’d presumably claimed as her own, with a book opened in her hands. Evelyn couldn't tell what book it was, but it was thick and bound in a dark hardcover, the pages yellowing from use. Yandere looked up at her, “I'm done with the bathroom and just finishing this chapter, then I'm going to bed. You can stay up if you want, I'm not too bothered by the light,” she gestured with her head to the bedside lamp on Evelyn’s side that was switched on, a soft yellow glow emitting from it, barely reaching the end of the bed.

“Oh, no worries,” Evelyn said as she dug her bathroom bag out of her suitcase and made her way over to the bathroom. It was rather small, she could take five steps from the wall to the shower curtain. It was nice, though, the walls a soft blue with pristine white furniture. With her toiletries placed on the counter, she fished out her face wash and toothbrush, going through her nightly routine swiftly and without mistake. She usually has more to do, but she had felt it best to leave most of her skincare behind and take a small bag instead. It didn't take her long, and after brushing her hair she left the bathroom, leaving the door open a crack.

Yandere was just setting down her book on her nightstand and lifting the covers, a soft gray duvet making way for white sheets. Evelyn put her toiletry bag away and padded over to the bed, backed by only the peaceful silence of the house. It was rather strange to be in a house full of people and yet it be so quiet; the only noise was faint footsteps in the other bedroom and ruffling of blankets from the living room.

“Oh,” Evelyn perked up and paused in pulling up the duvet. Yandere looked up at her with a questioning look on her face. “I spoke to Chloe a few days ago and forgot to ask a question, but when I tried to call her back, the number was out of service. Do you know why? Could you ask her to call me back sometime?”

Yandere chuckled lightly, shaking her head, black strands of hair brushing her cheeks. “Oh, her parents don't let her have a phone so she has a burner from a gas station somewhere.” She shrugs, “it runs out of minutes sometimes, you must have called when she was out.” She said it calmly and without stuttering, simply slipping under the covers as she spoke quietly to not wake the other two girls.

Ah, that made sense. Phone numbers connected to burner phones often switched around, coming in and out of availability as the burner became obsolete; it would explain why someone owned the number before her. Evelyn nodded, deciding to take her reasoning at face value, at least for the night. 

“I’ll let her know when she calls next,” Yandere muttered as she yawned and rubbed her eye with the back of her hand. “But can we turn out the light for now?”

“Oh! Yes, of course,” Evelyn snapped back into herself, scrambling back to flick the switch on the bedside lamp, slowing down once the light had been turned off. “Goodnight, Yandere.”

“‘Night.”

Evelyn laid down, sinking into the cushy mattress, the warmth of the blanket’s weight enveloping her nicely. It was nice to have reasonable confirmation, but something in Evelyn also craved to let it go for a few days and relax with her friends. Everyone here was so nice and unassuming, she felt out of her element, so used to working non-stop and a harsh environment of crime; but she also knew herself well, better than anyone else, and knew she would become antsy soon enough. She breathed in deep and let it go quietly, closing her eyes and forgetting the world around her for all but a night. 

Evelyn fell asleep rather easily after that, peacefully drifting off into unconsciousness. 

Yandere woke up in a foul mood.

To be fair, she’d gone to bed in one too, dreading waking up surrounded by these people. She’d woken up second, thankfully, Evelyn having already gone, leaving her with the full bed. Yandere kept her eyes closed but relaxed her tense muscles into the soft mattress, allowing her body to breach the harsh imaginary line she'd drawn the night before. She was tired and annoyed, so she allowed herself the simple pleasure of staying in bed, so she stayed relaxed and kept her eyes shut when Gold and Funneh woke up an hour and a half later, staying unnoticed as they left the room. 

Finally, alone, Yandere sighed, admittedly, pitifully. Since the moment she’d been informed of Senpai’s absence she’d been dying to get back home. She wanted to hit her past self for opting out of the group chat just because the rest of them were tiresome; it would have saved her this entire trip.

Oh well, it wasn't like she planned on staying the whole time once she’d been told. Her phone was left untouched, but they wouldn't know that when she spouted her lie. She sat up in bed, the comforter pooling around her waist. Footsteps padded down the hallways clunkily; Kyran was finally awake. During her pretend sleep she’d heard Prince’s footsteps lead to the bathroom down the hall and go silent for so long she wondered if he fell asleep again, but eventually, they too made their way to the kitchen; Alec’s had been quick in and out of the bathroom before fleeing back, and Funneh hadn't even gone, she and Gold separating once the breached the doorway.

It was difficult to keep the disdain off her face when speaking to her, all she could see was the image of her following Senpai up the stairs of his home and to his room. It was slow going, but the majority of the vermin here were simple-minded, easy. Subtle insults disguised as observations thrown at everyone but her, Gold, and Alec would do the trick nicely. Evelyn was desperate to see the worst in everyone, Prince was indifferent but would be easily swayed by someone with his same likeness, and Kyran was simply easy to fool. Even if he thought he was a step or two ahead, Kyran was painfully obvious in every thought that crossed his mind and naive to boot; he’s immature and simply laughable.

Enough about him, it was making her rather sick to her stomach.

Gold, she wouldn't bother, she was too connected and attached to think anything remotely bad about her companion; Alec was a lost cause, she wouldn't even bother, it would most likely just make him more unruly if he caught on.

Yandere got up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed and touching down to the cool wood. Armed with the knowledge that everyone was already in the living room, she grabbed her phone and made her way out of the bedroom, running her fingers through her hair and mussing it up slightly.

“Hey, Yan-chan,” Gold smiled sleepily from her spot on the couch, nursing a tea in her hands, “good morning.”

“‘Morning,” Yandere yawned as she walked into the kitchen, her hair and messed up pyjamas giving the impression she’d just rolled out of bed. She opened the fridge, scanning the continents idly as she listened in on the chatter from the living room. Nothing interesting. She got herself a simple glass of water and meandered back into the living room. She made her way over the line between the kitchen and living room so she could address everybody, the ones on the couch and the ones at the bar island. “Oh, by the way, my dad just called me, turns out he’s coming home today and wants me home too. It was unexpected, sorry.” She lied smoothly, feining an apologetic frown. Alec narrowed his eyes at her from his brooding corner, the only one to have seen through her lie, but she paid him no mind. 

“Awh, what?” Funneh sat up from where she’d been leaning on Evelyn, “you’re leaving? But it's the first day!”

She winced, holding her phone up to her chest as she scratched the back of her head, “yeah, I know, I'm sorry, but he really wants me home. I haven't seen him in a while…”

Gold waved her off politely, “it's no worries, Yandere, we get it.”

“How are you getting home?” Evelyn asked.

“My dad is looking around for flights.”

“A flight?! But it wasn't that long of a drive !” Kyran cried out, appalled at her blatantly throwing money to the wolves. Yandere smiled when Alec’s frown deepened and he crossed his arms.

She shrugged helplessly as she turned to him, “he wants me home.”

“It isn't that unreasonable,” Prince chimed in, sipping his own cup of tea. He looked the most well-rested and clean out of the bunch, even compared to Evelyn. His pajamas were a deep red and silk, his soft curls pinned back until he had time to properly do his hair. “Simply flying is much easier than organizing a car to pick her up.”

Yandere nodded, stomping down a cackle at Kyran’s confused and put-out expression. 

“Oh, well, I hope you have fun with your dad,” Funneh smiled, though she looked sad to see her go.

She smiled kindly, anxious to leave, “I’ll make it up to you, promise.” 

Alec suddenly stood, she held her stare when she noticed him avoiding her eyes as he walked past her into the kitchen. He reeked of ash and dust. “We should probably get going soon, it's already ten.”

Kyran sighed and slid out of his bar chair, slinking back down the hallway to his room. “Yeah, I guess so. Meet back here in thirty?”

“Try an hour,” Gold huffed as she rolled her eyes playfully.

“Ditto.” Prince agreed, finishing his mug and putting it down on the counter before getting up himself. Yandere stood, watching everyone descend into their respective rooms. She would have to accompany them out, unfortunately, but she would make up an excuse to be on her own. She detested that an earlier flight hadn't been an option, but tomorrow morning was better than driving back with them, she supposed. 

“That was the biggest lie, obvious too.” Alec suddenly said. She turned to look over her shoulder, surprised he’d said something to her. “Your dad hasn't been to that house in over a year. I don't see why he would ever want to.”

She scowled, less offended than pettily bitter. “I could say the same to you.” She revelled in the way his shoulders tensed instantly and his fist clenched around the fridge handle. The door slammed shut swiftly, the vacuum seal left playing catchup.

“I can't wait until you’re gone,” he muttered as he stormed past her, bumping her shoulder in a petty act of revenge. It didn't bother her.

She hummed lightly, bouncing on her heels, “trust me, neither can I.”

The bus smelled weird, that was Funneh’s first thought as she stepped aboard. The driver seemed nice, though, as she put in her money for a day pass and walked down to choose her seat; thankfully the bus was mostly empty. Funneh was first on board and made her way to the back, sitting on the right side’s edge closest to the back. Yandere sat on the same side and smiled at her as she settled in. 

Alec walked up next and Funneh patted the seat beside her but deflated when he apparently didn't see and sat across from her instead. Instead, Kyran ended up sitting next to her, which she wasn't mad about, obviously, but… ugh, never mind.

She felt bad anytime she started thinking she’d rather be with someone else when spending time with her friends, whether it be Kyran, Gold, Evan, anyone. She felt icky for even thinking that there was a ‘better option’.

The bus took off and Gold pulled up her phone. “We get off in seven stops. What are we all doing?”

“We can split up if we want to, explore a bit.” Kyran mused, shifting to pull his feet up to sit crisscross, undisturbed with an empty seat on his other side. “I wanna check out the market again, see what's changed.”

“I’ll go too,” Funneh chimed in, she loved flea markets, small stands of homemade goodies and small businesses; it just felt all so homey and warm. Alec nodded, and Funneh’s smile glowed at his confirmation to join them. 

Prince winced, “flea markets aren't really my thing,” he said, glancing out the window at the passing scenery. His posture was stiff, like he was trying to let as little clothing touch the seat as possible; which, fair, busses could get rather gross. Mostly because of people like Kyran who put their shoes on the seats! “I’m going to wander, see what I can find, maybe a shopping centre a tad more….what we’re used to. Would you like to join me, Gold?”

“Sure!” Gold chirped, perking up from her phone at being addressed. “I can look around on maps to see what's near?”

Evelyn nodded, “that would probably be best, is it alright if I joined you two?”

Gold nodded and went back to her phone. Beside Funneh, Kyran slumped and twiddled his thumbs in his lap. Funneh chuckled and pulled out her own phone, navigating to the notes app, typing quickly and tilting the screen towards him.

‘Its gold, you cant really expect her to go to flee market over a mall’

Kyran looked over to read the message and sighed, reaching out to delete it and write his own.

‘:(’

“I think I'm just going to wander and go for a walk,” Yandere said, separating herself from the rest of the group. She returned left to look at Kyran and smiled, “you said there were hiking trails, right?”

Kyran nodded, “mhm, a couple, I think.”

“Perfect,” Yandere brightened, “I’ll look for one of those.”

“Meet back here at three?!” Funneh called out to her friends, Gold turned and nodded, confirming plans quickly and easily. “Well,” she put her hands on her hips and turned to the guys, “how about we go in?”

Alec nodded, stuffed his hands in his pockets and led the way. The market was bigger than Funneh had thought it would be, people milling about, at least three at each stall. The stalls themselves were wood, it seemed they were always here and the market was a regular occurrence. 

The first stall Funneh stopped at was selling little homemade notebooks, bound in leather and thick paper. They were nice and pretty, the woman behind the stall must have put in a lot of work; Funneh didn't know what she would use the notebook for, but she had a craving to own one. Until she saw the price, then she swiftly backed up with a smile aimed at the woman. She made her way back to Alec and Kyran, standing between them and joining in continuing to walk down the middle. “How about we browse to the end and see what's here before actually buying stuff on our way back?”

Kyran shrugged in agreeance, Alec humming as he tried to look past all the people. “Long walk to the end.”

“That's what makes it fun!” Kyran said happily, practically skipping down the aisle. “There should be food down there too, if the layout hasn't changed.”

They walked for a few minutes, Funneh and Kyran oohing and awing at stalls here and there, Alec falling back into his quiet spectator role. Funneh did not notice until he spoke on it, but he was simply meandering with them, swerving between bustling people holding paper bags. It wasn't his scene by far, the thing he enjoyed most was listening to Kyran and Funneh’s chatter. He felt he needed to speak eventually, and in a short lull, he took his chance.

“Y’know, this is definitely a place I can see you hangin' out in. Just as boring.” Alec teased, not even looking at the target of the petty insult, instead inspecting each stall they passed. 

Kyran frowned and crossed his arms, his tie awkwardly getting caught in his sleeve. “What’s that supposed to mean? You’re here, aren't you?”

“Mostly just because I don't wanna be wherever Prince and Evelyn think is entertaining.” He hadn't meant anything by the first jab, simply teasing, but fueled by Kyran’s retort, Alec couldn't resist.

“Oh come on,” Funneh groaned, “can we not insult each other for four hours?”

Kyran ignored her, leaning around her to glare at Alec more clearly. “You could have gone with Yandere! Don't ruin our fun just because you’re a party pooper.”

Alec shook his head as he chuckled, “still need to work on your insults, dude.”

“Guys!” Funneh complained, rolling her eyes and stopping, the guys following suit in pausing their stroll.

“You still need to work on your…. attitude!” 

Alec rolled his eyes. Funneh’s cheeks heated up as she noticed a few passersby glancing at the three of them, some grimacing, some chuckling, some looking away in awkwardness. “Would you guys please just-”

“Don't- you’re just so-!” Kyran grumbled, obviously getting flustered, his ears turning pink as he bit his lip in frustration. “So- you!”

Alec muttered something neither she nor Kyran could make out. Despite her attempts to defuse their tussle, Funneh couldn't help the temptation to ask him to repeat himself, morbid curiosity biting at her. “What?”

“Just sayin’” Alec shrugged, “he’s always been a bit of a wuss-”

Funneh gasped lightly, appalled at the words so blatantly thrown at one another, “Alec! What the hell?” She huffed, rolling her eyes at their behaviour, “Can you guys just quit it?”

Alec’s jaw tensed, and he took a deep breath, gaze flickering away. “I'm gonna go get something to eat. Want anything, Funneh? ”

“No. No, I'm good.”

Funneh watched as Alec walked away, clearly in a mood, and spun on Kyran who still had his arms crossed and pouting as soon as Alec was out of earshot. “Okay, I'm so over this, what happened?”

“What, you didn't see?” Kyran huffed, “he was being a twerp”

“No, not-” Funneh sighed. She forced herself to take a breath, she would get nowhere if she yelled at the guy. But she couldn't help it! She felt more like their babysitter than their friend. “What happened? Between you two. Aly said you used to be friends, yeah?”

Kyran shifted on his feet, glancing around to avoid her eyes. “Nothing”

“Bull,” she called out.

Kyran finally relented, “it was- it was stupid.”

“I gathered that.” When Kyran didn't respond, she glanced at him and stopped what she’d been about to say. Kyran was biting at his bottom lip and looking down, he looked far off in thought. Kyran looked rather sad, as if reminiscing on something he’d already grieved for. “Hey,” she called for his attention softly, resting a hand on his shoulder; his jacket crinkled softly when she squeezed. He looked back at her and she smiled, “let's take a walk.”

“But-”

“He’ll find us.”

Kyran shut his mouth and quietly followed her over to the less populated side of the market, squeezing their way behind the stalls. Despite being so close, the wooden structures muffled the public chatter. She didn't say anything at first, but could tell Kyran wouldn't either without a push. “Were you guys still friends in middle school?”

“Mhm,” he nodded dully, his knees folded to plop down on the ground. “We got into a fight halfway through seventh grade.”

“What was the fight about?”

“I mean-” Kyran sighed, scratching the back of his head, unsure. “It had happened before and we were just.. tired of it, I guess. We just aren't compatible. We tried, sure, but we were stubborn kids who didn't want to see it any other way.”

He didn't want to go into details, not that he didn't trust her or anything, it was just… stupid. Kyran could fully admit that now, the argument was stupid and the stubbornness of his younger self made him wince.

In middle school, he wasn't the most confident of people. Kyran Bennet was the one kid in class everyone could agree was weird. He got made fun of a lot, everything from his interests, looks, his family, everything; it quieted him. He’s moved on since then, and now he has a group of amazing friends and is happy with himself the way he is, but one thing has always stayed the same, despite mellowing out through the years. Kyran has always been rather meek, quiet, shy. And back then especially, he wanted nothing less than to make a scene, he thought it best to simply cruise through school doing as little as possible to not earn retaliation.

His best friend, however, was much different than him. Alec has always been brash and hard-headed and was never quiet about his opinions. He was more quick to violence as a kid, pushing other students and tripping them in the halls. Alec always insisted it was with good reason, but it left a sour taste in Kyran’s mouth every time Alec helped him up and turned his back so fearlessly to the same people who made Kyran cower and tear up in forced shame. Kyran had brought up his concerns and wishes for Alec to stop stepping in countless times over the years, but Alec never really understood what he wanted, or simply thought he knew better, Kyran didn't know. He would pull back for a few weeks, but eventually, he would return to his normal activity.

Then one day, everything Kyran had been keeping to himself and stewing upon had simply grown too hot and blown. For the first time since elementary, Alec had punched a boy that had been picking on him. 

The last time he’d resorted to that much violence, Kyran had blown up at him, crying and pleading with Alec to not do it again; perhaps it was his display that changed Alec’s mind, or maybe it had been the three-week suspension and the disappointment from his parents.

For months, maybe years, Kyran had kept his feelings of Alec not truly respecting him to himself. How could he feel any different? He enjoyed being friends with him, but they so clearly had different values and viewpoints, that he thought it best to simply end it all there.

So when Alec disrespected his boundaries again, Kyran had decided it would be for the last time. He had yelled, Alec had yelled back, and they’d gone as separate ways as they could while being in the same class. Neither of them really had any other friends, so when they went radio silent on each other, school life for Kyran got a lot quieter and filled with a lot louder cruel laughs. Honestly, Kyran had expected Alec to join in in some act of petty revenge, but nowadays Kyran can't fathom why he’d thought that. After the initial fight, Alec had simply accepted it quietly.

Truthfully, Kyran got over it before the next year, but his stubbornness prevented him from apologizing simply because he thought Alec should have first. Alec was the one who disrespected him, he should apologize; Kyran thought if he had any desire to be friends again, he would have.

But he never did.

So Kyran didn't either. 

Thinking about it now having become as close to friends as they could be without being friends, Kyran thinks he just convinced himself he was still mad, convinced himself he was in the right and that violent defensiveness Alec displayed was everything about him. He had been trying to convince himself Alec was in the wrong for so long, he ended up believing it.

“He’s a bad guy.”

He told Funneh as such, with much less detail and rushing through some parts. “It's complicated,” he said eventually.

Funneh shrugged, having sat down beside him at some point throughout his talking, “I don't think so. You got mad and no one apologized because you thought the other should first.”

“If you wanna boil it down, I guess.”

“So why don't you just say sorry now?”

He looked up, “what?”

Funneh smiled, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “It's been years , dude, I'm sure he got over it ages ago. Just apologize!”

“I can't do that!” He argued, throwing his hands up, “he obviously hates me! If he didn't then, he does now. I told you,” he sighed again, looking down, dropping his hands to pick at the patchy grass. “Some people just aren't meant to be friends, they don't work. And we’re two of those people. I'm okay with the way things are now.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” he muttered, a sad, small smile appearing on his face, “he doesn't like me and we aren't friends, but at least we talk.”

Funneh snorted, “if you call tearing each other's throats out ‘talking’, then sure.”

“I mean, it’s better than nothing?” He reasoned, looking up at her. Funneh thought for a moment before nodding and standing up, reaching a hand out to help him up.

“I guess so.”

Kyran brushed his bangs aside and looked back at the market, the noise suddenly rushing back to them. “We should probably get back, Alec’s probably wandering around looking for us.”

Funneh laughed and hooked her elbow around his as she led him back, “probably.” They stepped back into the hustle and bustle of the crowd, and Funneh stood on her tip toes as she looked around for the redhead. 

“Oh, speaking of fights,” he suddenly remembered his intent to ask Funneh about Yandere, and kind of revelled in the switch of roles, interrogating her about a fight with a friend. “Did you and Yandere get into a fight?”

She looked up at him confused, a frown pulling at her lips. She looked genuinely confused, and suddenly Kyran’s bad feeling doubled. “What? No, why?”

“Um, never mind, I guess I misunderstood.” 

She raised a brow but decided to accept his weak excuse for now. Funneh shook her head and went back to looking for Alec. Eventually, she found him, tugging Kyran that way and waving Alec down with her other hand. Before they reached him, Funneh leaned in to whisper, “if you ask me, I don't think he really hates you at all. I think he’s just waiting for you to forgive him.”

“Where the fuck did you guys go? I've been looking forever,” Alec grouched, handing them both a powdered donut wrapped protectively in a cliche red and white checkered sheet of parchment paper. “I found a food truck,” he provided at their questioning looks.

“Oh, thanks,” Funneh smiles and takes the snack, sinking her teeth in and tearing the fluffy dough. “We kept looking around, sorry.”

Alec rolled his eyes and grumbled, but brushed it off nonetheless, “it's okay, no biggie.” He was still holding out the second donut and shoved it towards Kyran again, urging him to take it.

Kyran looked at him for a moment, hesitating to take it, but at one last shove threatening to get the white powdered sugar on his jacket. “Thanks.” 

“Hm,” Alec shifted his gaze away and back to the crowd around them. “We should get back to looking around if we wanna get anything done before we have to meet up with everyone else.”

Funneh nodded and dragged them both with her as she started to browse the stalls again. Kyran kept rather quiet for a while, which he could very much admit wasn't like him, but he couldn't help it. However, after a while, both he and Alec loosened up again, seemingly forgotten about the previous squabble already, which it seemed they all were glad for. Kyran bought a few nicknacks and Funneh picked up a lot more than she actually purchased, but eventually, Funneh’s alarm went off telling them it was already 3 pm. They made their way back to where they’d originally broken off, everyone else already there.

“Hey, you guys!” Gold waved, two shopping bags hanging off her arm. “You guys have fun?”

“Mhm!” Funneh nodded then addressed the rest of the group as well. “So what do we wanna do now? We should do something together before Yandere has to leave.”

Evelyn hummed in thought and pulled out her phone, “I saw an advert for mini golf not far from here, what do you think?”

“That sounds fun,” Yandere smiled. She looked no different than she did when they broke off that morning, her walk must have been relaxing.

Prince puffed up his chest confidently, “I would love to, not to toot my own horn, but I’m rather good at golf.”

“We’ll see,” Gold giggled, bumping his hip with her own, “mini golf is a little different, and I happened to be a reigning champ.”

Kyran perked up and smiled, “same here, glad to have some good competition.”

“We should go back to the house first,” Alec suggested, gesturing to the number of bags they were holding, “just to drop some stuff off.”

“It's on the way,” Evelyn chimes in, turning her phone screen to show the route from here with buses. It would take a total of half an hour with getting off at the house and catching a new one, but they all agreed and started to make their way back to the bus stop.

Kyran was actually getting rather excited about the activity, he used to play it all the time with his family. A part of him wanted to show off given Prince's proclamation of skill, but another part of him just wanted Prince to not come along at all.

Oh, well, at least the amount of friends that were there outnumbered the rivals. Were they rivals? Like in a harem anime?

Kyran smiled as they all climbed on the bus to redo their previous ride. He could find the fun in it, he’s sure.

Chapter Text

“Seems like a lot more than mini golf,” Prince muttered as they stopped at the large sign outside the mini golf course. It was big and looked handmade, un-laminated and weathered by the humidity. The middle was a section with bright blue bubble letters spelling ‘Mini Golf This Way! ⬆️’, and all around it were more arrows pointing every which way, all labelled with different activities. Funneh scanned the poster, ‘Love River Ride’, ‘Bobbing for Apples’, ‘Pin the Tail on the Donkey’, and ‘Trivia :D’ being the ones that caught her eye.

“A town fair?” Evelyn questioned as she looked over the board, periodically glancing over it into the festivities. 

Alec hummed and crossed his arms, looking significantly less interested than anyone else, maybe only rivalled by Prince as he glared at the damp mud that stuck to his shoes. “We seem to be going to  a lot of those lately.”

“Well!” Funneh jumped ahead of their group, folding her hands behind her back as she grinned at them, “this game isn't going to win itself, why don't we head in?”

“You mean the game isn't gonna lose itself, right?” Kyran grinned at her as they all fell into step. There was a small wooden walkway up to an equally small stand where they would pay and receive their golf balls and clubs.

“Maybe for you!” She sang cheerily, “I am a great mini golfer.”

Alec adjusted his hood slightly, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he shrugged, “hate to admit it, Funneh, but this dweeb is actually pretty good.”

Funneh saw Yandere roll her eyes as she stayed quiet and mostly off to the side of the group. That was typical for the girl, Funneh had come to notice over the two years or so they’d known each other. Yandere was nice and pleasant to be around, she always had something interesting to say, though she rarely spoke. Funneh frequently noticed her milling about and observing more than participating, which she could understand; sometimes it was nice to be able to fall back into your mind but still be included. Countless times, she had made sure to include the quiet girl in discussions periodically, even if only small gestures. Funneh liked to think it meant at least a little something to Yandere.

Evelyn, from in between Prince and Yandere, piped up. She crossed her arms and stuck her hip out to the side, “oh? You play Kyran in mini golf often then?”

“Not since his tenth birthday party, no.” 

Kyran puffed out his chest at the unexpected praise from the redhead.

“Pfft,” Evelyn dismissed, “ten? Here’s to betting Kyran’s rusty.” She said as she walked up to the booth to pay, grabbing a golf club and resting it on her hip, tossing a light blue ball into the air idly. 

Funneh raised her hand, bouncing back and forth on her heels, “fifteen bucks I win!” She watched as her friends’ faces set in determination, competitive grins lighting up their expressions as everyone looked around for the next bet to be placed. 

“Fifty that I win,” Prince declared as he raised a polite hand to chest level, as if to assure no one would speak over him. 

Kyran turned and raised a brow from where he was also collecting a club and coloured ball, he chose a navy blue. She could see the underlying contempt in his doubtful gray gaze, “ you? ”

“Me,” Prince confirmed as he ran a hand through his blond hair, “my family often golfs, back in France we would go quite regularly. I’m sure this will not be too different.”

“Pretty promising,” Gold hummed, “ten on Prince.”

“What?!” Funneh spun around to face her. “Why aren't you on my side?”

“Do you not remember our grade-eight field trip?”

Her cheeks reddened as Gold snickered at her, “oh, shut up! You did just as bad.”

“At least I didn't fall in the fake pond!”

“She pushed me and you know it!” 

Gold rolled her eyes, amused, “whatever you say.” She walked up and grabbed a club for herself and an appropriately yellow golf ball. “Are we going in an order or just whoever gets there first?”

Kyran looked like he was ready to start running when Yandere piped up, “how about birthdays?”

Funneh crossed her arms, “you suck.”

It took much longer than Funneh would like to admit, but eventually, they figured out the order. Alec would go first with his early February birthday (asshole) followed by Evelyn, Gold, Kyran, Prince, Funneh, and Yandere. Yandere had been first throughout the planning with her January birthday, but once Evelyn had pointed out the girl was a year younger than the rest of them, and therefore should technically be at the end of the line, Yandere had pouted and resolved herself to watching for a while. 

Funneh may not have been going first, or even fourth, but she wasn't going last which means she was happy. She did feel a teensy itty bit bad about celebrating that fact when Yandere gave her the stink eye, though.

On the third hole, a whopping thirty-five minutes after they’d started, Funneh impatiently waited for her turn to be over, fumbling the shots along the way and ending with a score of seven. The moment the ball clinked against the hard plastic that let her know she’d finally scored, Funneh thrust the blue golf club in Alec’s direction with a desperate, “hold this? Please, please, please?”

“Oh-” Alec fumbled with it, almost dropping his bright red ball in the process. “Sure? Where are you-?”

“Thanks, I gotta pee, be right back!” She sped past him and ignored the snickers of her friends, though the fond shake of his head had her grinning as she waddled to the correct path.

“He totally likes you.”

She hadn't heard Gold follow her, but Funneh sighed and fondly rolled her eyes at her friend's giggling insistence, “you say that, but sometimes it feels like he barely tolerates me. Us- I mean, us.”

Gold didn't answer her, nor kept pace with her casual stroll. Funneh peered over her shoulder lazily, ready to defend her (perhaps self-pitying) opinion, but stopped short.

“I… Gold.?” Funneh shifted her gaze from side to side, brows furrowing when she couldn't find her friend anywhere. “Hello?” In fact, there was no one around her, the walkway empty and the nearby course desolate of people. Something icky crawled up her throat, forcing her to swallow her unease.

“Did I just,” she mumbled under her breath, “respond to my own thoughts?”

And now you're talking to yourself.

Funneh shook her head distractedly, turning back to continue her walk to the bathroom, turning her view from the empty space to the gravel she walked on. She couldn't help the shiver that spread over her, tucking her hands under her armpits as they began to shake, she couldn't even hear her friends anymore. She had responded so.. naturally, something in her telling her to respond in kind. 

Gold's voice didn't have the same inflection that one did, the accent off and words slurring together in excitement and unfamiliarity. As Funneh reached for the handle of the rusty bathroom door, she looked back over her shoulder again, unsurprised when she saw no one but her own shadow peering at her from the brick wall. 

It felt like a friend talking to her, starting a conversation they'd had before; but her eyelids weighed heavy and she’d been dragging her feet, so, with a shrug, Funneh brushed it off as her imagination, simply hearing the response she’d usually expect. Funneh let the heavy bathroom door shut behind her, the gentle hum of the fluorescent lights replacing the quiet, and she welcomed it.

(But perhaps it just wasn't the friend she thought it was?)

Despite that frankly embarrassing display of seven points on one hole, Funneh hadn't lost. Well, she’d gotten fourth so she hadn't exactly won either, but by the eighteenth hole, they were all wincing as Yandere grew more and more frantic as she took her numerous shots. Turns out, you learn a lot about people when trapped in a slightly run-down mini-golf course for two hours with them. Despite her nonchalance and natural talent for it, Evelyn had never been mini-golfing before and had still landed in third place. Alec had been right to believe in his old friend however. After the first hole which Kyran insisted was a ‘practice round’, he’d really shown his skill and ended with six hole-in-ones; though admittedly Prince hadn’t been upselling himself either, aim and technique on point, he blamed his second place imaginary medal on the lack of familiarity with the mini version of the sport. 

Alec hadn't been too bothered by his low ranking, seemingly content with seeing how many times he could land the ball in the water or out of bounds without getting disqualified. Stepping back up to return the clubs, Funneh couldn't help but let her gaze wander to the empty pathway. Letting herself be the last to step up to the clerk, Funneh didn't look at her when she asked, “just curious, was anyone else playing when we were?”

“Hm?” The clerk looked up, surprised by the sudden question. “Like, another group? No, just you guys. Why?” 

“Oh, uh,” Funneh fumbled with her hands, finally tearing her eyes away with a shiver, “no reason.” The clerk looked doubtful but didn't push, simply turned to hang the blue club she’d returned up with the others. Funneh muttered a hasty goodbye and scampered off to her friends, a strange flush to her cheeks, though she felt no reason to be embarrassed.

All of them but Gold were standing off to the side and out of the way of foot traffic, but Gold stood in front of the sign they'd passed on their way in, reading over the list of activities and attractions with rapt attention. Funneh stepped up to her and found her friend's bright gaze locked on one point of the crudely drawn map. Gold didn't say anything, simply hummed to acknowledge her so Funneh turned to attention away and onto the list of food trucks in the area. Funneh had read the list three times by the time Gold spoke up.

“I'm gonna ask him.”

“Huh, what?” Funneh looked over her shoulder at Gold who had her arms crossed over her chest and a determined look in her eyes, though her bottom lip being pulled between her teeth gave away a low level of nervousness. “Ask who what?”

Gold took a steadying breath, “Prince. We’ve gone out a few times before, but I don't think they were dates , y’know? I’m gonna ask if he wants to ride that,” she stuck out a manicured nail and pointed to the sign again, directing Funneh’s attention to the ‘Love River Ride’, “with me and I’ll ask him on a real date there.”

Funneh blinked at her friend. She hadn't expected that , they had hung out quite a few times and spoke frequently in school; Funneh was seeing more and more of Prince by the day via Gold, but even then, she hadn't expected Gold to want to just ask so suddenly. They had only met him a few months ago.

But maybe that was just Funneh. She needed a friend before a boyfriend, hangouts before dates, and teasing before pet names. Sure, she had thought Alec was cute when they first met, but she didn't like him until they could be called friends. Funneh supposes that's another difference between her and Gold.

Gold glanced at her when the silence stretched on for a tad too long for her liking. “What?” She asked with an anxious look in her eyes, “you don't think I should.” She didn't phrase it as a question.

“No!” Funneh waved her hands in front of her, glancing around to make sure they hadn't attracted the attention of two certain men. “No, I mean yes. No!” She sighed and calmed her breathing, her attempt to reassure Gold would have the opposite effect if she straight up said the wrong words.

“No, that's not what I meant. I just…”

“Just what?” Her tone wasn't accusatory or defensive, more so genuinely curious, wanting to know if there was a flaw she was blind to.

Funneh winced. She didn't want to expose her friend's crush, but she also wanted Gold to be gentle about it, not to boast and blurt it out without knowing. “I was just thinking about Kyran.”

“Kyran.” Funneh raised a brow as Gold’s face seemed to fall. She was expecting a ‘what about him?’ or a ‘what’s Kyran got to do with me and Prince?’, but it never came, only a look of resignation; like Funneh had shone a flashlight on something Gold had kept in the dark.

She ran a hand through her dark hair, toying with the split ends. She felt guilty but, “yeah, he really, really li-”

“I know that, Funneh, jeez,” she rolled her eyes, a smile crawling up on her lips again, shoulders losing their tension. “I thought you were gonna say he wanted to ask me out.”

Funneh blinked, “you know?”

“Of course I do, Kyran is hardly subtle.”

“Y-you, why- why didn't you say anything?!” Funneh cried out, her hands flopped back and forth in front of her. She couldn't fathom why Gold hadn't said anything until now, even to her! It wasn't like she ever snubbed Kyran, but she never rejected his feelings either, wouldn't it be better in the long run to confront it if she didn't feel the same?

“I-” Gold stuttered, gathering her thoughts as she bit her lip. Her seemingly uncaring and ‘over it’ demeanour started to slip away to a look of guilt. Though, she fought against the feeling. She started again, looking away from Funneh’s gaze, “I don't like Kyran. Not like that.”

Funneh couldn't help but ask, “why not?” There was nothing wrong with not returning his feelings, but they were all friends and got along, Funneh couldn't help but wonder if there was something stopping something more from blooming.

“He’s…” She looked down, “he’s not my type.”

“Then what is your type?”

“Someone like Prince.”

Funneh crossed her arms, mind drifting farther and farther into simply wanting to know . “What about Prince do you like?”

Gold raised her brow, a frustrated tilt to her voice, “what about Prince do you think I shouldn't like?”

“What?” Funneh shook her head, hair whipping at her cheeks, “no, no, it's not that, I just…” She paused and looked at her friend; really looked. Despite her looks and the multiple people crushing on her growing up, as far as Funneh can remember, Gold had never really reciprocated or furthered anything. “I'm sorry,” she apologized, the saying coming easy off her tongue, “that came out wrong. I just- I just want both my friends to be happy.”

Her friend looked like she accepted the simple apology, or maybe just brushed it off, but Funneh noticed a look that said ‘ask what you wanna ask’ . Well, Gold definitely knew her.

“What is your type?”

Gold had celebrity crushes and giggled over fictional characters. Her cheeks grew red at the cute boy they passed in the hallway. She gushed over how handsome that guy in Minebucks was, and she whispered about the hot new substitute teacher, but Funneh realized that there was nothing they all had in common. Funneh couldn't think of one attribute about a person that would draw her in; it was always something different. If there were no rules for the contestants, Funneh wondered, what disqualified someone?

“I don't know,” Gold admitted quietly. “I don't know, but I know I like Prince. Kyran… Kyran and I wouldn't work.”

Funneh put a gentle hand on her best friend's shoulder, “how do you know?”

“We just wouldn't,” she said sternly, harsh tone startling Funneh. “I can't like Kyran, we’re too different. But Prince and I, we’d work. I think we’d work fine, we… mesh well.”

They were both quiet for a few moments. Gold’s breathing huffed in her chest, sweat bubbled out of the pores on her palms, and for some reason she couldn't meet Funneh’s eyes. She didn't want to be mad at Funneh, her stomach always twisted painfully when she was, but what she hated more was when her feelings were undermined, brushed aside. A part of her knew Funneh doesn't do things like this on purpose, and Gold can admit that she does it too sometimes, but this? This, Prince, was finally something she had that made sense. When you looked at them side by side, you’d nod and think ‘this works, this matches, they make sense together’ and it felt so comforting. Prince was someone she could be herself around because they were so alike, liked the same things, disliked the same things; they would never fight or do things apart because why would they? She and Kyran weren't like that. 

They were friends, and they got along just fine, even hanging out alone from time to time, but they were just too different. Gold didn't think she could stand being paired with someone so different from her. He loved things she hated, he didn't understand things she indulged in, and they bickered as petty as it may be. They had fun, but fun wasn't enough for Gold. Fun didn't run deep enough. Fun wasn't love .

So, yes, she couldn't help as the frustration built within her as Funneh kept doubting her, she knew how this worked! But a small part of her, a part that screamed to be heard, a part she wanted to turn a blind eye to because she was nothing if not stubborn, craved her friend's approval. Could anything work if Funneh thought differently? 

Gold wanted so badly for Funneh to agree, because she knew that every time, above anyone else, Gold would choose Funneh.

But the words, the reasoning , rushed out of her so quickly, everything kept in her head for so long laid bare to witnesses in a matter of moments. 

She hoped it didn't sound like she was trying to convince herself too.

“Okay.”

Her gaze shot back to Funneh’s. The breath Gold let out was a tad too strained to be one of relief and that part in her cheered quietly as it realized the approval she had been waiting for had come, she had solidified her reasoning, and deemed it okay. And she had, but the way she said it made the word sound like she didn't really care, like she would have said it no matter what Gold told her.

Funneh smiled at her, an easing tilt to the corner of her lips, “if that's what you want to do, go for it. You don't have to justify anything to me.” She shrugged again, the sincere, yet knowing, teasing glint in her eyes remained, “if you don't like Kyran, you don't like Kyran.”

“...yeah. Yeah,” Gold smiled and chose to ignore the poorly hidden look that was being shot her way, “thanks.”

“No problemo, I have a great face to talk at until you figure out your problem.”

She broke out into giggles as they started their way to catch up with their friends, patting her friend on the shoulder with a muffled “yes, yes you do.” Her frustration dissipated with every step she took, as if she was leaving it by the sign.

Funneh put a finger to her chin and looked up at the sky, “I've had a lot of these recently.”

“A lot of what?”

“Deep talks. About feelings.”

“Really?”

“Mhm.”

“Bleh,” Gold stuck her tongue out, “I dunno how you’ve dealt with it. So many feelings would make me sick.”

Funneh laughed in agreement, “I swear if Felicia suddenly needs a pep talk I'm gonna hurl.”

Gold raised a brow, frantically, but sarcastically, whispering as they finally stepped back up to their group, “she has feelings?! ”

Prince raised a brow as he looked up from his phone,  “who are we talking about?”

“Felicia,” Funneh said, “you know her, right?”

He rolled his eyes and Gold hid a snicker behind her hand, “unfortunately-”

“So!” Kyran slid into their dying conversation, cutting off the tail end of Prince’s voice. He stretched his arms above his head, shoulder popping as he spoke, a certain strain to his voice, “who’s doing what? ‘Cause I wanna go play some of those games.”

“I think I’m going to grab a bite to eat,” Evelyn offered, “want to join me, Yandere?”

Yandere seemed to snap out of her spacey trance at the sudden call of her name, a bashful pink twinge to her cheeks as her shoulders raised to hide her ears. “Sorry, what was that?”

Evelyn giggled and simply hooked her elbow around the other girls’ and set off, looking to jump into a lengthy discussion immediately.

“Well, I’ll go with Kyran. Alec?” It took him a moment to look back at Funneh as he watched Yandere and Evelyn leave with a peculiar look in his eyes that Gold couldn’t quite make out.

“Hm? Oh, yeah sure, whatever you guys want.”

Kyran turned to her and Prince, hopeful when he looked at her and resigned when he looked at Prince. “do you-?”

She didn't want to have to say no, so she pretended she didn't hear him and instead turned to Prince excitedly, taking his hand in hers. “I want to see what that ride is about,” she didn't have to specify which ride, there had only been one on the sign, and by the look in his eyes, Prince caught on swiftly. “Join me?”

“Of course,” he smiled down at her, amused at her excitement, “I’d love to.”

She didn't want to see it, so she turned away from Kyran’s put-out expression

As she and Prince walked away, she glanced back to Funneh to see blue already locked onto her form. Funneh mouthed what she interpreted to be “good luck!”, and while she appreciated it, she hoped she wouldn't need luck to get Prince to say yes.

“So,” she started, “you glad you came along yet?”

Prince chuckled lightly, in a polite way that didn’t stretch on too long and perhaps wasn’t warranted at all, “I was overjoyed the moment you asked me, Gold. But yes, I’ve been having fun with you. All. With you all.” He quickly corrected as he ever so slightly glanced over his shoulder at figures Gold was sure were out of view by now. 

“Thank god, I woulda felt awful if you weren’t; I know you aren’t as close to everyone else,” they were approaching the river ride now, and it would be useless in just a few steps, but Gold couldn’t help but hook her arm around his, grasping the red jacket lightly as not to crease it. He didn’t seem to mind. In fact, she noticed him (somehow) straightening his posture more, as if he were proud to have her next to him like this. She wasn’t totally sure if that was it, maybe she was just pulling his arm down and he had to compensate, but the thought made her cheeks warm and a giddy smile emerge nonetheless. 

“As long as I am with you, I will never be bored, rest assured.” He cracked a smile she didn’t have the luxury of seeing often, one unrestrained and filled with genuine amusement, “though I must admit, most of my enjoyment this far has come from watching you flounder at miniature golf.”

Gold gasped the only way she knew how, dramatically, ripping her arms away from his to place a scandalized hand on her chest, “hey! I think I was actually one of the better ones playing back there!”

“True, I suppose, I did not know anyone could do as bad as Yandere did.”

“Well that’s not very nice,” she muttered playfully.

Walking up to the little stand for the river ride, a taller woman manning the stand watched them approach with an easy smile. Gold could see now the drop off behind her, stone bricks containing the grassy hill from spilling over into the water below. Prince placed a hand on the small of her back, pulling her close as he muttered lightly, “that’s why I said it to you and not her. Besides,” he smirked down at her, “you won't tell on me, right?”

“Wouldn't dream of it.”

The women seemed to smile wider as they stepped up to her, standing from her slight lean on the wood. “Hello, Dearies, just the two of you?” Gold nodded and Prince went to reach for his wallet but stopped when the woman held up a hand. “Oh, none of that, I’m not selling anything here. It's just a river.”

Prince blinked and muttered a small, “oh. Okay then,” and returned the leather-bound wallet to his pocket. The woman gestured for them to follow as she walked around the stand and down a few steps.

They followed her quietly and the rhythmic drips of water became steadily louder. Stopping by the edge, Gold saw a handful of small wooden boats swaying in the calm river. The woman stepped aside as she gestured to one made of sturdy dark oak, but Gold didn’t immediately comply, gazing down at the uncontrolled waters.

"Oh," she muttered, raising her thumbnail to her mouth, "it's not a ride?"

The woman chuckled good-heartedly, "no, sweetie, but it's as close as we could get. It's still just as romantic, promise," she held out a hand to help Gold down into the lightly rocking boat. Gold glanced back at Prince for reassurance that he was still okay with the sudden, less controlled development. When he nodded at her, golden locks bouncing around his face at even the slightest movement or breeze, Gold took the woman's hand and stepped into the wooden boat. Spruce planks creaked under her boots and the whole frame rocked side to side, but it didn't bother her much. She braced her right hand on the ledge of the boat as she sat down, an old, damp chill overcoming her. Sure, it was creaking and faintly smelled of moss, but the wood where she sat was dry and covered in a plush woollen blanket; overall, Gold couldn't be too mad or complain too harshly.

Prince sat beside her, making sure the blanket covered the whole bench, unwilling to let his sleek and ironed slacks touch the wood. "This is going to fall apart."

"Maybe," Gold chirped, unbothered as the woman gently pushed the back of their boat into the weak current. "But it's not too deep. Or dirty. Besides," she leaned into the boy beside her and wrapped her arm around his own, entangling their arms by the crook of their elbows. Prince smiled and slid his hand downwards to take her hand in his, twisting sideways so his palm met hers and his finger wrapped around the back of her hand from between her thumb and pointer finger; he squeezed with such finality and permanence that she knew it would last far longer than the handshake it resembled. "I know you'd save me," she finished, closing her eyes and resting her head on his shoulder, her long lashes brushed her soft, pink blush-stained cheeks.

Prince chuckled lightly, admiring her perfect features as they swayed gently with the water inches below their feet. 

“Hey,” she starts, and Prince glances over. She’s not looking at him and is toying with the ends of her hair, “I’m really glad you came out with me.”

He shrugged, finding himself strangely uncaring about the improper gesture once he was out of eyesight from the woman manning the stand. “It's alright, not my usual choice of pass times, but it gets me out of the house.”

“Maybe next time you choose where we go?”

Prince smirked as he looked down at her. She still wasn't looking at him so he let the smile take on the bit of smugness he was feeling. To have such a pretty girl hang off your arm was rather ego-boosting, he must admit. “Next time?”

The gentle rocking didn’t cover her quiet hum but he feels it against his arm either way. She seemed to steel herself for something - fingers tightening, deeper breaths, and fidgeting; Prince politely let her be until she was ready. It was nice, he must say, a gentle breeze and slowly meandering downstream. He scuffed his shoe against the wood, a quiet dragging sound filling the air. There were a couple of other boats on the water as well; an elderly man and woman in tacky bright blouses and knitted hats. Three young girls all squished into one, pushing and shoving one another. A father with his daughter in his lap with atrociously styled pigtails. A young woman with an exquisite leather jacket which Prince distantly recognized as a French brand but couldn't name. A man in his thirties- 

“I actually wanted to ask you about that.” Gold broke his train of thought.

Startled, he looked back at her, “oh?” He mentally kicked himself for people-watching - it was a habit he’d picked up years ago and never quite managed to break. His mother said it was because he was instinctively looking for someone worthwhile in the crowd. His father said it was demeaning. It was instinct at this point, to scan a room before entering. But no, this isn't about his shameful habits. It is about the girl he was interested in who just so happened to be sitting next to him, false bravado clouding her appealing features.

His eyes narrowed as he tried to dissect the issue. Prince didn't believe he’d done anything to warrant the sudan spring of nerves. Had he ignored her recently? Surely he’d remedied that by joining on the ‘road trip’? Or perhaps she was growing tired of him? Would she want less or more from him, if that was the case? He hoped the latter, he was rather fond of Gold.

“Well, we’ve been spending a lot of time together recently, and I hope I'm not wrong when I say we like each other." It wasn't a question, so Prince felt no need to answer, regardless of how positive it would have been. “But we haven't done anything officially .”

Officially? If finality was what she was seeking, Prince would have no troubles providing that. Over the months they’d been speaking he had noticed very little about the girl which would be a negative. While he wasn't overly fond of her choice of company, that would hardly reflect on him, so he could look past it. She was loud and demanded attention when she entered a room without saying a thing at all; a quality he greatly admired. That being said, however, he hadn't thought she would be one for labels.

Gold looked him in the eyes and smiled sweetly, her makeup creasing around her eyes as her cheeks were pushed upwards. Her nose crinkled as she pursed her lips, “that’s why I wanted to ask if you’d want to make it official next time? Will you-”

Official? That's what she wanted, yes? For them to be official? Prince's thoughts rang out in a matter of moments, not pausing as she spoke. Being official, that would be good, he thought, they looked good together. Being official: nice, romantic dates in high-end restaurants, flowers and chocolates and declarations of love, the works. Yes, Prince could do that.

Being official, that's all she wanted to ask? That was what had her so nervous? Prince could laugh! If that was all she wanted, all she had to do was ask-

Ask.

Ask?

“Will you-”  she was saying. Was Gold asking him to be her boyfriend? Suddenly, all his mother's lectures of ‘being a gentleman’ and ‘courting’ rang through his mind. He couldn't help the shame that washed over him at the thought of being the one who was asked.

Asked. Gold was asking him. Right now.

Ask.

“Will you be my girlfriend-?”

“-go on a date with me-?”

They spoke over each other, both recoiling from the other's voice.

Prince blinked stupidly. A date? That's what she was asking for?

Pink exploded over her cheeks, “girlfriend?!”

Ah, it seems he jumped to conclusions. Simple misunderstanding- but he cannot say that, now can he?

He let himself chuckle at the silliness of it all. Rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, he let his mouth say words he hadn't thought of yet. “I’d been thinking about it for a while now. With you asking for something more serious than what we’ve been doing, I thought it fit to ask.”

“Oh,” she muttered, turning her head slightly to gaze over the water. Suddenly the moment didn't seem as romantic as he thought it would have. He let her mull it over for a few moments, silently cursing his own eagerness to please. He should have just let her speak, how rude of him to override her desires with his. Seemingly snapping out of a funk, she jumped to attention. Her shoulders sprang upwards and her hands flew out to grab his own. Her hands were warm. 

“Oh! Yes! Yes, I would like that. Very much.” She giggled, and it washed away any regrets he had. There was no point dwelling on something that didn't matter anymore.

He leaned down slightly and pitched his voice in a whisper that could get lost in the wind, “well, I'm glad to hear it.” He brushed a stray strand of soft hair behind her ear, and when her gaze flickered between his eyes and lips, he felt his confidence surge. “May I kiss you?”

“Mhm,” she nodded feebly, barely moving at all. Prince leaned down and closed the gap, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek. He thought it wrong to ruin her lip gloss.

Suddenly the boat tilted and he gasped. He shot out a hand to grab Gold’s forearm as the rickety old thing righted itself, but not without water overflowing the ledge and splashing his shoes. He flicked the water away but could already feel it seep into his cotton socks. “Eugh,” the sound was unlike him, undistinguished and juvenile, in complete contrast to the sauve behaviour he’d just exhibited. He glanced back at her to gauge her reaction. She had only ever seen him poised and pristine, just the way he liked it.

She looked back, blinked twice, and burst into laughter. Laughter he couldn't help but join in on, hands interlocked as the boat rocked side to side unsteadily.

It hadn't started quite the way he’d planned, but he counted it as a success, and Prince found excitement in something he hadn't had in quite a while.

He dreaded the day he’d have to introduce her to his parents. 

Evelyn wandered aimlessly through the streets of the small town, ice cream cone in hand that she nibbled at distractedly and a friend by her side. Yandere was quiet, as usual, but Evelyn could tell there was something on her mind. Yandere had contributed little to any discussion Evelyn had tried to pitch, so by the time they’d found the small shop, Evelyn had all but given up. A small part of her regretted breaking off from the larger group. At least then she might have someone talk back. Evelyn assumed it was something to do with the girl’s father, as per the phone call demanding her return, that had her in such a funk. She wondered if it was a private matter, something not to be discussed so openly.

Then again, Evelyn never was one to beat around a bush when the answer lay within. “Is everything all right at home?”

Yandere snapped her attention to her, hand tightening around her own cone. Waffle, she’d chosen, dipped in chocolate with two scoops of strawberry. Her steps didn't falter, and neither did her voice, but her pointer fingernail dug into her thumb’s cuticle at the prodding question. “Why?”

“Just curious.”

Yandere’s eyes narrowed slightly, “ why?”

Evelyn paused as they came up to a crosswalk. Pressing the button, she let her mind mull over the question hidden behind one much simpler. “Well, I'd like to say it because you’re my friend,” she let herself smile guiltily, more so at being caught so easily than engaging, “but I just want to know. The detective in me, I suppose.”

Yandere smiled, “everything is fine.”

That is what Evelyn liked so much about Yandere. While it could be annoying to be so easily figured out, Yandere never wielded it maliciously, simply poking holes so light could stream in. “what does your dad do that had him away so often?”

The crosswalked beeped at them. Evelyn glanced either side of the road but Yandere didn't hesitate, walking with her head held high, “I get to ask a question too.”

“Deal,” Evelyn said, taking a lick of her quickly melting treat. Mint and pistachio exploded on her tongue. 

“He’s a lawyer back where we used to live. We moved here a few years back, but there weren't any opportunities quite as good as that one, so he tends to stay in an apartment back there while working. Easier that way.”

Well, that explained the house. Evelyn’s own father was wealthy and absent rather often, so she liked to think she could relate. Quick check-ins and birthday cards did little to distract her from her cases, so she always indulged him when he called. “And your mother?”

Yandere pointed her pink ice cream at her, “ah, I thought it was my turn?”

Evelyn raised her hand in defeat and resigned herself to her friend's question. “Shoot,” at what, she didn't know. She was an open book, granted with a few pages torn out, but they were hidden so well that no one knew they were there to begin with. Evelyn couldn't fathom what someone could be curious about her. They were smack dab in the middle of the sidewalk, but Yandere stopped walking to look at her intensely. Treat forgotten as it steadily dripped down her hand.

Evelyn paused her gait, stopping two or three strides ahead to look at her, people swerving around them.

“What do you do when you aren't investigating a case?”

Evelyn blinked. Her lips parted with a quick breath, “what?”

“I just mean,” Yandere shook her head slowly as if sorting through her thoughts. “I only ever see you with a notepad, dissecting everything you look at, but you never see anything. When you aren't thinking about who murdered my friend,”

Evelyn couldn't help the shiver that overtook her at Yandere’s bland tone, completely independent from the treat that cooled her body from the inside out. Though, she supposes she can't judge too harshly. It had been over a year since the incident; time to grieve, time to move on. Hell, Evelyn looked at witness reports and chared stuffed animals on the daily, disconnected from her empathy to get the job done.

“What do you do?”

“I..” She trailed off, trying to come up with a satisfactory answer. I sleep,  she could say, I eat and I bathe and I go for walks, but that seemed too mundane. “I..” like to read? Like to cook? Like to watch movies?

When was the last time Evelyn Wynd had watched a movie?

Yandere’s gaze was expectant but accepting, like Evlyn’s silence was exactly the answer she thought she’d get.

“I don't know. Not a lot.” She finally said. The absence of an answer was still an answer.

Yandere’s lips quirked up, but it wasn't a smile, “maybe you should change that, hm?” Then, she continued walking, tossing the half-eaten treat in a garbage can she passed.

Evelyn could have caught up easily, but her thoughts raced faster than her legs ever could have. There was a folded piece of paper in her back pocket, cushy wool sweatpants encasing it. Questions were written on it in blue ink, the standard kind you’d pick up from any office supply store.

Suddenly, the severity of those questions being surrounded by something so casual as sweatpants and ice cream stains made her queasy. 

Evelyn threw out her ice cream, too.

Funneh knows Kyran spots their interlocked hands the moment Gold and Prince walk up to them. Alec is absorbed in his phone beside her, so she reaches out a concealed hand to pinch his side. He startles and looks over at her, and when they make eye contact she pours all her intensity into her gaze. She shakes her head minutely and points to their friend, and when Alec’s eyes narrow she gestures to the two new arrivals. Something dawned on the redhead, a look of understanding flashing across his crimson gaze. He slipped his phone into his hoodie pocket lazily.

“Hey, guys, how was it?” She asked, bouncing up to them.

“Great!” Gold beamed at her, before dropping her voice to a mock whisper that didn't hide her words from anyone there. “Guess who’s officially dating!”

Prince chuckled from beside her, but Funneh paid him no mind. She paused with her hands folded behind her back, perplexed at the sudden jump in developments. It seemed like Alec and Kyran did too, if their stunned silence was anything to go by. Gold had told her not an hour ago that the goal was a date, not a boyfriend!

“You are..?” Kyran seemed to fight through the fog first. He smiled, strained and wobbly, drawing out words from behind clenched teeth. “that’s great..”

“Yes,” Princed hugged Gold to his side stiffly, staring at the boy who’d asked. His smile was untainted but the way his thumb rubbed circled into her shoulder drew Funneh’s attention. “It seemed we both had the same idea.”

“Oh.” 

Alec coughed into his fist, hoping to cover the boy's disappointment from the new couple. “Well, congrats. I guess. This mean we’ll be seeing you around a lot more often?”

Funneh silently cheered on Alec’s uncanny ability to not read a room and soldier on regardless. “Yeah, you’ll have to tell us everything when we get back, Gold.”

“Of course! Who do you think I am?” Funneh laughed with her, “speaking of, where’s Evelyn and Yandere?”

“They’ll be meeting us back at the house,” Kyran muttered stiffly from where he stood behind Alec, arms crossed and avoiding anyone's gaze. Funneh felt sympathy pang in her chest, but didn't let it dampen her excitement for her friend. 

“Ugh, we haven't had girl talk with Yandere in so long,” Gold whined, dragging out the ‘o’ in both words. 

As they all made their way back to the house, Funneh let Gold have her space and stuck to Alec’s side, talking quietly between just the two of them. She had tried to motion Kyran up beside her, but he’d barely looked in her direction so she let him be. As they were walking up the sidewalk of the neighbourhood, multiple paces behind Gold and Prince and far enough ahead to Kyran to speak on it, she took her chance.

“You think he’ll be okay?”

From the way Alec practically jumped on the topic of conversation, it seemed he was biting his tongue just as much as her. “Honestly? I dunno, Funneh. He’s pretty resilient but…”

“He’s sensitive?” She guessed.

“He’s sensitive,” he confirmed, nodding firmly, “and emotional. We may not hang out like we used to, but I can tell. A lot of stuff like this still gets to him.”

And it wasn't a bad thing either, to be frank, she wished she were more emotional sometimes, more in tune with everything. “What are we gonna do?”

Alec shrugged, “nothin’ to do.” He said simply, “shit happens.”

Funneh gently shoved his shoulder with her own, muttering “don't be an ass.”

“It's what I'm good at. That's what Aly says, anyway.”

She perked up at the mention of his little sister. She’d last seen the girl a few months back when their previous term schedules aligned every so often. Funneh doesn't see her around a lot of people besides the other girls in her dance class, but Aly never seems too bothered by that fact. “How is she? Is she still hanging around Lucas?”

Alec scowled and scuffed his shoe against the concrete, “yeah, he came ‘round the house the other week, annoying little snot.”

Funneh chuckled, “you just don't like him because he likes Aly.”

“What other reason do I need?”

Their conversation stayed light-hearted and jokey, and Funneh revelled in it. Regardless of their friendship status, she rarely got the chance to talk to Alec. A small part of her was scared leading up to that year's summer vacation, especially after the ‘come home now, no arguments young lady’ call she’d received, the events, or rather lack thereof, of last year still rang silently in her head.

She didn't like to scroll up too far in their text history, the break between just made her bitter. But when she’s in front of him, face to face, she wonders why she was worried at all. Seemingly no matter how many days or weeks they go with little interaction, talking to Alec is always easy. 

Gold and Prince made it to the front doors first, turning and waiting after it’d been unlocked. 

“Order out?” Gold proposed, cracking her knuckles as she stepped through the held-open door. 

“Order out,” Funneh agreed, turning over her shoulder to beckon Kyran to hurry along. It wasn't that dark out, but the nightly chill was starting to blow through the air. “Any suggestions, dude?”

Kyran shrugged, looking disinterested but trying as he threw in his two cents. Funneh could tell he was trying not to dampen Gold’s lingering enthusiasm. “Chinese?” 

“Sounds good to me,” Alec accepted, toeing his shoes off carelessly by the door. 

Evelyn and Yandere were already inside, both lingering on the couch in comfortable clothing and hair undone, clearly done for the night. Neither seemed overly interested in the prospect of food, at least not as enthusiastically as Funneh always was, and she couldn't help but wonder what had happened during their explorations. Funneh wasn't surprised when Kyran retreated to his shared room, shutting the door behind him; she only just caught a glance of him pulling out his phone (full brightness on light mode by the way, she shudders at the thought) and plugging his headphones into the device. 

Prince pecked Gold’s cheek before meandering to the kitchen, and Alec found his way back to her side.

“Guess what,” Gold squealed excitedly as she bounded up to the couch, planting her hands on the back cushions. Yandere raised a brow and Evelyn turned in intrigue. “Prince and I are official now!”

Yandere gasped and sat up, a bright smile breaking out on her lips. “Really?! Oh, my gosh, I'm so happy for you!”

Gold giggled as she nodded her thanks, lost in the euphoric adrenaline that comes with a development like that. Funneh understood, for a first boyfriend, Gold certainly could have done much worse.

“Who asked who?” Evelyn asked, sitting up to engage fully in the conversation, pulling her feet under her to lean more comfortably against the backrest.

At this, Gold paused, and Funneh immediately dialled in. Sue her, she was curious too!

“Um, both?”

Alec snorted, apparently listening in too, “waddya mean ‘both’?”

“Well, we kinda asked each other at the same time. It was- honestly a little awkward. Cute, but awkward.”

“Aw, that’s adorable, I'm so jealous!” Yandere clasped her hands together in an eager glee. Funneh could remember the last time she’d seen the girl so giddy, at their previous slumber parties. Despite her demeanour, Yandere was surprisingly always eager to discuss their love lives and crushes. “Just think of all the heartbroken guys once school starts back.”

Gold waved her hand flippantly, dismissing the thought with a laugh, “oh, they never had a chance. Prince is really the first guy I've been interested in in YHS.”

Yandere seemed to smile brighter.

Funneh raised a finger to her chin as a memory fought its way to the front of her mind. “What about that secret admirer from last year?”

Evelyn looked intrigued, and Funneh snorted when she realized it was probably the ‘secret’ part that drew her attention. 

“Eh, I mean maybe, but I still don't know who was under the mask. So, kinda hard to say.”

With the promise of more juicy details and late-night giggling, the conversation tapered off so they could order dinner and settle in for the night. The food was good when it arrived, if not a little expensive, but it drew Kyran out of the bedroom so Funneh didn't mind. She spent the remainder of the night curled up against the armrest with her flimsy takeout container of rice and veggies, laughing at stupid videos on Alec’s phone and stealing more than a few of his spring rolls - though he never seemed to mind. Eventually, though, she had to drag herself to the bathroom to scrub the day's exhaustion from her face and brush her teeth with toothpaste that was way too minty for the late hours, and collapse into bed. She barely registered the soft duvet trapped underneath her body and the unfluffed pillow before she drifted off to a restless doze.

Soft snores filled their room, the only light gently streaming in from the break between the curtains. Funneh thinks it's been a few hours since they turned out the light but she hadn't gotten a wink of sleep, tossing and turning under the heavy duvet that Gold kept stealing. She reached out, exposing her bare arm to the cool night air to grab the glass on her bedside table. As she picked it up, she groaned as she realized the cup was empty, with only a few measly sips of water remaining in the bottom of the glass. Funneh threw the blanket off her body and swung her pyjama-clad legs off the bed, shuddering as her bare feet made contact with the chilled floor. She opened the door as quietly as she could, wincing as the hinges squeaked, and tip-toed down the hallway. She hoped it hadn't roused any of her friends. She snuck past Alec’s sleeping form on the couch, blanket strewn across the floor, his arms folded and snuggled, what Funneh assumed to be very comfortably, into his plush hoodie.

She couldn't help but stare as she walked past the couch. It was rare to see Alec so serene and unworried, sue her!

“Oh,” she paused mid-step as she breached the barrier of the living room and kitchen. One of the lights over the island was on, a soft, barely there glow emanated from it, so weak she hadn't noticed it until now. One of the bar stools was pulled out and her friend sat silently utop it, arms folded over the marble counter and head tilted downwards. “Hey, why are you up?”

Kyran only shrugged. He wore dark blue plaid pyjama pants and a matching navy blue cotton long-sleeve shirt, but from the way he rubbed his hands along his arms, she suspected goosebumps lay in wait under the thick material. He was idly swinging his feet, centimetres from the cool checkered linoleum of the kitchen flooring. Funneh spotted a bowl pushed far from him, and as she stepped up and grabbed a stool for herself, she spotted soggy Cheerios drifting in a shallow puddle of milk. She furrowed her brows, “where’d you get cereal?”

He jutted his head to the side, not taking his eyes off the spotted marble countertop they both leaned on, “back of the pantry. It's pretty stale.”

He didn't elaborate and Funneh’s dry mouth twisted in worry. Glancing over she found his lashes fluttering and his bottom lip bitten raw, though by how old the cereal seemed, he had apparently been deep in thought long enough he hadn't even noticed.

“Are you okay?” She asked at last, dreading the answer she’d get.

He seemed to think for a tense moment before his gaze hardened, pout melting steadily into a frown. “I don't think I've ever hated someone this much.”

Funneh blinked. That.. hadn't been what she was expecting. “Who?” She asked before she thought better of it, “Prince?” 

“Yes,” the word was bitten out harshly from behind clenched teeth. “I never wanted him to come and I was right, it was a terrible, awful idea.”

“Woah, woah, woah,” Funneh raised her hands in a placating gesture, hoping to calm him down somewhat from the fit he seemed to be working himself into, tone growing louder and louder the more he spoke. “Did something happen?”

“Yes-no,” he shook his head, letting out the breath he had been holding onto stubbornly. “Nothing happened , it's just..”

She laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, “just what?” she egged him on, hoping he’d finish his thought, though she could guess where this was leading. Funneh couldn't help but replay what had transpired earlier that day; she wanted to kick herself for not checking up on Kyran sooner and simply assuming he’d been okay. She had wanted to ask Gold to be gentle when she broke the news, but it hadn't seemed fair at the time to dampen her friend's excitement, but now Funneh could see firsthand it came at the cost of another's.

“I've never felt as bad about myself than when he’s around,” Kyran finally muttered shamefully, like the admission would make her disappointed in him. 

Thankfully, her gasp was silent, “Kyran, what-”

“He’s just so- so neat! Everyone likes him and he has a perfect smile and his hair is soft, and his eyes are actually a nice shade of blue!” He whispered it, but it didn't take away from the raw feeling he poured into his words. Funneh could do nothing but sit quietly as he compared himself to a boy in another room sleeping soundly. “And he’s smart, he was telling everyone about his private tutors earlier and I just- he’s rich, too! I live on a farm! A farm! He’s French! ” 

“I like your farm,” she muttered quietly once he took a break to breathe, “and how is Prince being French a point against you?”

“The accent! I-I don't know, but it is.” His breathing was ragged and he frantically flickered his gaze between corners of the room, steadfastly ignoring her beside him. Her hand slipped off his shoulder and he shivered in its absence. “And your opinion isn't really the one I care about right now.”

Funneh blinked. He didn't speak the words loudly but the intention was there. She worked her jaw, trying not to let it hurt more than he’d intended. “That was mean.”

“Sorry. I didn't mean that. I just-” he cut himself off again and sighed miserably. 

Funneh let out a steady breath and resigned herself to the moment. She opened her mouth to speak but had to snap it shut when he beat her to it.

“Everything about him is just so... perfect! He even sleeps pretty! He’s got those… those…” he trails off uncertainly as he gestured frantically to the darker skin under his eyes that seemed so much more prominent in the late hours.

Funneh rose a brow, “eye masks?”

“Yeah! Eye masks! And he has his bangs tied back and an actual set of pyjamas! How could I ever compete with that?”   He dropped his head back into his folded arms with a dull ‘thud!’, and they were both quiet on the bar stool for a few moments, the still air only broken by the almost silent sleep noises Alec made from the couch.

“You were right,” Kyran muttered without looking up, tone defeated and with a distinct wobble to it that made Funneh’s heart clench in sympathy. “I never had a chance. Why’d I ever think differently?”

“I…” she hesitated, unsure of what to say. It's true, she had said that to him. No matter how jokingly it had been, perhaps she had known some truth to it. Maybe it was selfish to think, but she couldn't help but resent being in the middle of the two - and they weren't even fighting! “I’d be lying if I said I wasn't routing for you, Kyran, but,” she waited to see if Kyran would look up at her, and when he didn't she couldn't help but be thankful.

What was she supposed to say? Where was she supposed to go from here that wouldn't shatter Kyran’s already fragile ego? ‘I want you to be happy, but I also want Gold to be happy and it doesn't seem like she’s happy with you, so just let it go, man!’? 

She huffed a breath, puffing out her cheeks as she let her chest deflate slowly, closing her eyes as she opened her mouth to speak again- and hopefully not mess anything up too bad- “Gold is like my sister, but you're my best friend too, and I want nothing more than for you two to be happy. But you do know you don't need her to be happy, yeah? You're smart and driven and have friends who care about you- she does too. I know- I know you've liked her for a long time, but this doesn't mean you have to stop caring, right?” Funneh paused again, slightly out of breath. He still hadn't looked at her, but she could tell he was at least listening to what she said, whether or not he was listening was up for debate. She licked her lips and said again, “you don't need her to like you to be happy.”

“I've never loved anyone like I love her.”

Funneh’s shoulders tensed against her will at his wording. Suddenly it seemed much more serious, like they were sitting in the sandbox in kindergarten and he’d confessed with blushing cheeks and shifty gaze that he ‘like liked’ her. Funneh decided, for both their well-being, to ignore it for the time being. She rested her cheek in her palm and finally turned to gaze at him, watching idly. “Y’know, back in middle school I had a huge crush on this guy in my class. He sat behind me.”

Kyran made a small confused sound at her sudden switch in topic, peeking curiously through the gaps in his fallen fringe.

“Yeah, was crushing real hard, everybody knew about it. I’d get all fidgety in class and force Gold to sit near him and his friends at lunch. It was my first real crush, thought he was everything twelve-year-old me was looking for, and one day he’d see it too and ask me out. Never happened, obviously, but God,” she turned her head slightly to hide an embarrassed grin in the palm of her hand, “I thought I was in love with the guy. And then Valentine's Day rolled around and Gold convinced me to confess.”

“..what happened?” 

“He asked me what my name was and shoved a handful of pudding in my face.”

Funneh grinned, victorious, as Kyran snorted an ugly sound and buried his face back in his arms, giggling out a feeble ‘sorry!’; his shoulders were shaking again, but she knew she didn't need to worry.

“It's okay! Laugh! It was butterscotch so I wasn't too mad about the pudding, to be honest.” She let the quiet engulf them again but refused to let it settle the same weight on her shoulders. Kyran’s giggles bled dry and he raised his head just enough to look at her.

“What’d you do after that?”

She sighed and shook her head but was just glad he’d caught on to where she was trying to steer the conversation. Then again, subtlety was never her strong suit. “Well, for about a month I felt like I would burst into tears every time I saw him- didn't help that he sat behind me- and I was convinced I would never be able to love again. But, then the year ended and I had time to think. Then another year passed, then another, then one day we passed each other in the halls and I couldn't remember his name.”

Kyran stared at her for a long while before he sighed, bringing his hands up to drag down his face, stretching his cheeks down until Funneh could see the red rimming his eyes, “I'm so pathetic.”

She reached out to push his shoulder, “at least you don't have pudding up your nose.”

“I thought you said you liked the pudding?”

“Not while it was in my face,  you dweeb!” 

“That seems like the preferable outcome here.”

She smiled at him and hoped it didn't look as strained as it felt. “It’ll pass, dude, trust me. Besides, there's other-”

He glared at her but it fell flat, “if you tell me that there’s ‘other fish in the sea’, I'm going to punch you.” His scowl was downturned but pursed in just the right way which told her he wasn’t as annoyed as his tone portrayed. She chuckled, raising her hands in surrender. He just had that way about him, maybe, she pondered, it's because he grew up on a farm that he had the look down so well. It made him look like he’d stepped in dog poop but it hadn't bothered him beyond wiping it off in the grass. Gross, sure, but forgotten instantly, insignificant under his shoe.

Funneh often wondered how Kyran managed to get through his day-to-day so unbothered by so much, he took so much in stride, it unsettled her when something truly shook him. Maybe it was growing up the oldest of so many kids, or maybe it was just Kyran; either way, she often envied it. Gold freaked at the touch of mud and washed her clothes as soon as she could, Funneh herself got distracted to play in it and draw smiley faces in the distorted brown, and Kyran just trudged through it until he could wipe the sweat from his brow and settle down. By then the mud would be cool and warm in just the right places.

“You're not gonna tell me it isn't love?” He asked it so suddenly Funneh startled from her thoughts, eyes widening at the vulnerability in his tone. He was still looking at her, stare hard and refusing to let hers wander from it. She couldn't tell which answer he feared more.

“Did you want me to?”

“I-” His shoulders slumped and his eyes flicked to the hallway over her shoulder. “No. Maybe a little bit. Mostly no.”

“Mostly?”

He shrugged, “I dunno, maybe just hoping it’d knock some sense into me.” Funneh practically watched as he retreated back into his shell, shoulder hiking up by his ears. 

“Well, do you? Love her, I mean.”

“..Yeah. Yeah, I think so.”

She smiled softly as she watched his eyes crinkle in some sad sort of longing; it made her heart twist sweetly behind her ribcage. “Then who am I to tell you you don't?”

“Isn't that naive, though?” At her surely confused look and drawn brows, he sighed, rubbed the bridge of his nose and clarified, “we’re eighteen, isn't it a little childish to say I'm in love? Or even that I love her? Love anyone? I shouldn't even know what love feels like.”

“ I love you.”

His lips parted in astonishment, looking at her like she’d spoken another language. “What?”

“I love you,” she repeated, it seemed like he needed to hear it again anyway, “you're my best friend, and I love you. Is that childish?”

“That's different,” he huffed.

“But is it any less real?” She smiled when he didn't seem to have an answer for her. “I don't need you to justify anything, Kyran- if you love someone, you love them, ain't nothin’ you or anyone can do about it, yeah?”

“...yeah.” He didn't sound like he fully believed her, but she wouldn't push, now wasn’t the time or place. He let out another quiet “yeah,” tone steadier than it had been since she found him slumped and shivering over a kitchen island they didn't own.

Kyran wiped his sleeve over his face once more and seemed to compose himself with a sniffle. He yawned, but shook his head silently at Funneh’s raised brow; she understood. In the moonlight the hallway back to the bedrooms was dark and seemed terrifying to traverse, like just gazing upon the blackness could smother you. Kyran seemed content to stay at the island counter with her, and while flattered he didn't mind if she stayed, the hard plastic was beginning to make her butt hurt and her fingers ached to fiddle with something other than the skin around her cuticles. 

Funneh sent a sly, tired smile his way and jutted a thumb back out towards the barren living room. “Wanna go kick Alec off the couch and play Minetendo?”

Kyran stared at her for a while, blinking, so long she began to worry she’d made the wrong decision and should have stuck it out beside him. He dropped his head back into his awaiting palms, grinding the heels of his palms into his more tired-than-usual-looking eyes and sniffled before looking back up at her with a small, shaky smile, something warm swimming in his dull eyes. “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”

Funneh jumped from the stool and skipped over to the couch, leaning over her friend as he snored the night away. She couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped her.

Kyran slid up beside her and gazed down in much more disgust than she had, “gross, you gotta oggle like that in front of me?”

She decided not to argue back at the moment and simply walked around to the front of the couch, “you’ll get over it.” She dropped down on Alec’s middle, he woke with a muffled ‘oomph!’ as he opened his eyes and registered her grinning form. “Mornin! We need the couch.” 

Alec stared for a moment, flicking between her and Kyran, before sighing and dropping his head back over the armrest miserably. He threw an arm over his eyes and accepted his fate, just like Funneh knew he would. “What are we playing?”

“You can go sleep in the room if you want,” Kyran offered quietly, the controllers in his hand. He preemptively muted the TV before the game started up and woke the whole neighbourhood.

Alec raised his arm to shoot him a skeptical look, “with Blondie? No, thanks.”

She dreaded asking, but she couldn't squish the curiosity building in her, “what do you have against him?”

Alec just wrinkled his nose. “He smells like fresh cucumbers. It freaks me out.”

Funneh couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of her. It was refreshing to hear something so petty. Alec smiled too, however sleepy it was, and Funneh was glad to see some fun returning to Kyran’s eyes. She picked up her own controller, determined not to let the mood fall again that night.

That's why, when she was returning from the bathroom an hour and a half later and overheard Alec offering the couch the next night to a suspiciously quiet Kyran, she backed away, returned with audible footsteps, and said nothing, only smiling at her two friends sitting side by side waiting for her to join them.

Funneh blinked blearily against the gentle sunlight invading her senses, it was warm against her skin and she was tempted to fall back under sleep's spell, but there was something hard and pointy jabbing under her ribs and she couldn't feel her foot. A yawn ripped her mouth wide open as she pried her eyes open. A wobbly bubble stood in front of her, slowly taking the shape of a girl in white silk pyjamas and a loose dark braid. “G’mornin’ Yan-chan.”

Yandere smiled pleasantly, “good morning, Funneh,” her eyes bounced either side of her, “boys.”

Ah, that made sense, Funneh thought. She sat up from where she had been laying on Alec’s shoulder and pried Kyran’s elbow out of her gut, shaking him gently from where he lay knocked out on her legs. She glanced up at Alec, noticing he looked wide awake and fiddling on his phone one-handed, the other apparently trapped between their bodies. “What- what time is it?”

“Eleven,” Yandere answered. She folded her hands behind her back and swayed back on forth on the balls of her feet, “we thought it best to let you sleep, you looked like you needed it.” She giggled.

“Thanks,” Alec said plainly, not tearing his gaze away from the device in his hands.

Funneh rolled her eyes and shook Kyran again; he groaned and rolled over, burying his face into the stiff couch cushions. “Where is everyone else?”

The other girl averted her gaze over the couch to where Funneh had taken refuge but hours earlier, “Prince and Gold are making breakfast, Evelyn went on a quick run. But um, I thought I should let you know..” she suddenly trailed off, gaze avoiding hers guilty. Funneh felt her concerns grow, outweighing leftover sleep easily. She felt Alec tense beside her and silently agreed.

“Did somethin’ happ’n?” Kyran asked, rubbing a hand over his face as he finally sat up, hair tussled and shirt wrinkled awkwardly.

“Oh! No, nothing bad, it's just,” she sighed and it did nothing to relax Funneh’s furrowed brows. She heard a few soft footsteps grow near from the kitchen. “I just got off the phone with my dad. He finally found a suitable flight for me.” She tapped her phone against her lip, “leaves today.”

“Awh, no!” Gold cried, “I was kinda hoping he wouldn't and you'd get to stay.”

Yandere rolled her eyes good-naturedly at the admission, “I wish. But I hadn't even told him I'd left, so that in addition to the pricey last-minute tickets, he seemed rather…” she giggled uncertainly, “peeved.”

“Oh,” Funneh muttered, drawing attention back to her. It's not that she wanted her friend to leave, but she didn't think her heart could take another emotional talk. She really jinxed herself yesterday. “You're not in trouble, are you?”

Yandere shook her head, “no, he’s just stressed, promise.”

“Well, when’s your flight? Just let us get dressed,” she tapped her friends as she stood from the couch and stretched her arms above her head. Kyran grumbled but followed, Alec stayed strangely silent with Yandere facing them but Funneh didn't think too much of it; he didn't talk all that much usually so it wasn't all that strange to tune into the absence of his voice. 

Behind them, Gold nodded before making her way back to her new boyfriend to finish breakfast. Yandere shook her head, “that's okay, I’ll just order a car, I don't wanna take your day away.”

Kyran raised a skeptical brow, “you sure?”

Yandere nodded her assurance before splitting off with the excuse of packing her bag. Funneh rubbed her eyes and bent down to grab the discarded Minetendo controller, her limbs felt sluggish and her head foggy, she wanted nothing more than to fall back into bed. Kyran looked no better than she must, hair mussed and eyebags heavier than normal. Alec on the other hand looked like he always did, collected and put together, he somehow made the tussled bangs look purposeful and… well he made the whole thing look good, no matter how wrinkled his old hoodie was. She shook her head, knotted hair tangling more in her effort to shake away the flush in her cheeks from her thoughts. They hadn't meant to fall asleep like that, much less wake up like that! But.. she’d been tired and pressing her cheek to Alec’s side had been, admittedly, very comfortable. 

Funneh thinks she mumbled something about getting dressed and fluttered away from the two boys, making her way to the bathroom intending to splash her face with cold water.

As much as she would have liked otherwise, the rest of the day followed suit, heavy with lingering sleep and somehow gray and stuffy. Evelyn had returned and they'd all gone out for an impromptu brunch (much to the complaints of the no-longer hungry Gold and Prince) before splitting off with Yandere. She really didn’t mind when Gold spent most of her time that day with her arms wrapped around Prince’s, so Funneh had spent her time chatting with Evelyn, teasing Kyran a tad lighter than she usually would, and staring a little too long and smiling a little too wide at Alec. They weren't doing much other than walking around so Funneh had taken it upon herself to dedicate the day to taking pictures, regrettably missing Yandere, but she’s snapped a few really good ones. Mind set on printing them on those cute vintage polaroids she had, Funneh was smiling idly as she patted the duvet and slipped under it. 

They’d be leaving the next day around noon, and Funneh couldn't help but be grateful that that day's activities hadn't been too tense between some specific members of the group- if lunch was awkward she couldn’t imagine existing in a cramped van for hours. Again. 

Sleepily, she reached for her bedside for her water, but only patted around the empty space. She groaned as loudly as she dared in despair and resigned herself to trudge to the kitchen to get more.

Funneh looked up from her phone in alarm as empty sputters erupted from the van as it jolted on the road. She sat up as the space was suddenly filled with confused cries from her friends, taking her feet off Kyran's lap. Behind her, in the last row of seats, Alec popped up, his hair ruffled and hood dishevelled, needing to be pushed from his eyes. Woken by the noise, he looked around confused with a mumbled ‘wha happen?’

Prince, from the driver's seat, furrowed his brow in frantic confusion, turning the wheel to slowly sputter to the side of the road, taking his foot off the gas as soon as the sound made itself known. Just as the back wheel hit the dirt off-road, the car jerked one final time before stopping entirely, the quiet rumble of the engine being the only sound. Prince raised his hands from the steering wheel and stared at it in confusion.

“What happened?!” Kyran cried, unbuckled his seat belt, crawled to the divided seats where Evelyn was and leaned to the front to see what was going on. He didn't see anything immediately wrong, so he turned to the driver with a puzzled look, “what did you do?”

“I didn't do a thing!” Prince rebutted, a flustered flush rushing to his cheeks as he scowled to cover it up.

Evelyn unbuckled her seatbelt and opened her door, scanning the ground and vehicle as she stepped out. “Did we blow a tire?”

“I hope not,” Funneh muttered as worry crept up. They were three hours into the drive with only one left, but it was a desolate road on which they hadn't passed anyone in a while. Not that Funneh particularly had anything to get back to, but she’d read handfuls of horror stories, and this was just how they start! And it was hot as balls outside, too, they had all been beyond thankful the air conditioning worked. She, nor any of her friends, Funneh thought, didn't particularly enjoy the thought of being out here any longer than they had to be.

A hand settled on her shoulder from behind, “I don't think so,” Alec stated with a sort of finality in his tone that had Funneh’s shoulders falling with a sense of early relief. “Is the battery alright? Did you fill up on gas?”

“The battery is fine,” Kyran said with a sigh and dragged his hand down his face in exasperation. “We’re probably out of gas,” he slid open the door and stepped out. Prince followed after shutting the van off, cutting off the steady breeze of AC, Gold immediately groaned in discomfort and fanned her face with a rolled-up magazine.

“What?! But the gas gauge is just over half!”

“Yeah, that's broken. Did I never tell you that?”

Behind her, Alec sighed and dropped his forehead to rest on the back of the seat. “Jesus…” Funneh chuckled more at his response than the situation. “Scooch,” he told her, gently tapping her arm, motioning for her to move to the side. She did and Alec hefted himself over the seat easily and slipped out of the van completely, leaving just her and Gold inside.

“And we don't even get AC,” Gold muttered as she upped the ante with her magazine, wrist flicking side to side rapidly, the baby hairs around her face swishing back and forth.

Funneh shrugged, “something was bound to go wrong sooner or later.”

Gold hummed, raising a brow and nodding once in acknowledgement, “hm, true.”

“It’s old!” Kyran shouted from outside, “what do you want me to do?”

Prince’s eye twitched and closed his eyes as he took a steadying breath. “Doesn't matter, you wouldn't be able to do it anyway.”

“The engine seems to be fine,” Evelyn piped in from where she was looking over the machinery under the hood. “We just need gas.”

Alec turned to look down the road they had just come down. It would be a long walk, but what else could they do? “I’ll go,” he offered as he unzipped his hoodie and tied it around his waist, the heat starting to get to him, despite the short amount of time that he had been standing under it, “shouldn’t take too long.”

“What?” Funneh poked her head out of the van and looked at him like he was crazy. “You're going to walk? That's like six kilometres, that’ll take forever!” She ignored Kyran’s look at her measurement choice.

Funneh pouted at Alec as he shrugged her off, “well, who else is gonna go? Kyran won't make it half a mile, I got a feeling Miss Fashion Investigator ain’t used to long distances, Prince is wearing slacks and dress shoes , Gold hates the heat, and you would rather do literally anything else.” He turned and started to walk off, “it’s not that big a deal, I’ll be back whenever-”

“Or I could just call a tow.” Prince’s voice was deadpan as he waved his phone about. He had this look on his face as if he couldn't believe that that was the first solution they had come up with. Funneh took that as her cue to retreat back into the van. She went for the cooler, took out a cold water bottle and held it to her forehead, pushing her bangs behind her ear as she did so.

Alec turned around again at Prince’s offer, pausing mid-step. “Isn't that expensive?” It was the more ideal option but… he didn't really have the extra cash to pitch in for something like that.

Prince just rolled his eyes before straightening out as he swiftly realized he had just done something so juvenile in front of others. He smiled and waved the other boy off, “hardly, it should not take too long, either.” He looked down at his phone and, thankful he still had enough bars, pulled up the number for the nearest roadside assistance companies. Just because they were desperate didn’t mean he would settle. As he was scrolling the options, a finger poked his arm. Prince looked back, displeasure filling him when he laid eyes on the reason they were in this situation to begin with.

“Yes?”

“Um, how much do you think it’ll be? Just so I know how much I owe-”

“Don't bother,” Prince glared at Kyran, cutting him off the moment he knew what he was going to say, and went back to tapping away on his phone. The boy had been whining the entire trip and it was beginning to grate on his ears. Once he had the appropriate number pulled up he clicked ‘call’ and walked a short distance away to gain some semblance of privacy, brushing out the wrinkle in his sleeve so it was perfect as he did so. Before the company picked up, he muttered under his breath, “I don't feel like setting up a payment plan.”

Funneh looked up as Kyran climbed back into the van, taking his spot as her footrest back with lethargic movement, an unsettled gaze overcoming his features. “You okay?”

He stayed looking out the window for a moment or two but turned back before any of the other occupants could inquire as well. “Yeah, I’ll get over it. Thanks.”

She nudged his stomach with the toe of her shoe and he finally looked over to her. She smiled encouragingly and went back to her phone with the reassurance of his own shot back at her as they settled in to wait.