So, this is gonna be a bit on the darker/triggering side, kay? Just thought I should let you know. That (and language) is really the only reason that it's M rated. (also, this is completely fictional, if you're going through this or know someone going through this I can place some of the hotline numbers for different places in the next chapter.) There also might be a few triggering aspects of this story, so that you're aware. Well, enjoy if you can... (it's short, but I'm about to write another chapter, and well, I had to stop off somewhere, right?)

I couldn't stop thinking about it. It was as if I could run forever and I wouldn't be able to get far enough away from them. My own brother! It was starting to get harder for me to breathe. I stopped running and leaned against a railing that was standing in someone's front yard.

Len could've picked any girl in the school and he picked Gumi. When he first told me I didn't believe it. Him date Gumi!? He knew that I had been crushing on her for a year. They didn't even like each other. At least, that's what I had thought before...

I could feel myself vomiting on the ground. Shit. I hoped that whoever lived here wouldn't really care. Sure Rin, because I bet everyone just loves to have vomit on their sidewalk. Yeah, who was I kidding? Not that this would really matter. In just a few minutes, it would all be okay. I just needed to focus on getting home.

"Rin! Oh my God, Rin! What happened?" My head was hurting so much that it was hard to make out who was talking to me. Whoever it was, they started to crouch in front of me and started alternating from looking at my face and the mess I created on the sidewalk.

"Hey, Rin. Are you okay?" Once my head stopped pounding and I pulled myself together, I could tell that it was IA talking to me.

"Oh. Uh, yeah, I'm fine, IA." I whispered, my throat sore.

"Well, I'll try to get you cleaned up then Rinny. Wait here, okay?" She said before going back inside her house. How could I have forgotten that this was her house? Oh well, at least she isn't mad at me.

After a few minutes, and a lot of face wipes, we were finally done.

"You're really okay?" IA looked at me with concern.

"Yeah, of course! We already checked and I don't have a fever, remember?" I said, adding in a smile to fake that I was alright.

"Rin... I don't mean if you're sick or not. It's just, you've stopped talking to Gumi and now... well she was your best friend. Better than me, if I admit it. Is everything really alright?"

"Yes, IA. I'm really okay." I smiled a bit once more, trying hard to sell my lie.

It took every ounce of strength in my body to not break completely free when IA finally took her hand off my shoulder. Once she finally went back through her front door and stopped looking out at me, I ran. I ran more than I ever ran before. I had to get home. I really had to. I had to get away from everyone, because nobody understands and they never will. That's what I told myself as I ran into the vocaloid mansion.

It suddenly dawned on me that the last time I would ever see Gumi was this morning. She had been trying to say hi to me, well, before Len grabbed her hand and pulled her away from my locker. Gumi was the only one that mattered, and I would never see her again. Not that she needed me anymore. Len would take care of her. Len's good at doing that when he wants to. And if they love each other, they don't need me.

I walked into my bedroom, at last. Hmm. I could at least take a shower, right? It doesn't hurt to at least look pretty before you.. well... die.

For some reason, I kept thinking about Gumi. About how pretty she is. And smart. And kind. Maybe the fact that I was thinking about her was what made her call my phone as soon as I got out of the bathroom. No, I don't believe in that. Or fate. It was pure chance.