"Well, I'll just keep on making the same mistakes, hoping that you'll understand."
Friend
The latest installment in the Vivid Insomnia Astro Boy fan fiction series by Emicaustic and Kaitlyn Kaidraman.
Chapter one: Thinking out loud
"Good morning Metro City! Today's weather report is brought to you by Valentine's Day even though it passed 5 months ago, and by Summer, because there's nothing wrong with having fun in the bun- in the bun? In the bun? Pffffft, OK can we start all over again?"
"Good morning Metro City! Today's weather report is brought to you by Valentine's Day even though it passed 6 months, wait, its 5 months ago isn't it? It- it is? UGH!"
"Good morning Metro City! Today's weather report is brought to you by my crazy eyes I can't stop flashing!"
"Good morning Metro City! Today's weather report is brought to you by Valentine's Day even though it passed 5 months ago, and by Summer, because there's nothing wrong with having fun in the sun! Today's forecast calls for a 10% I 40% love and 50% you, and with a 100% chance of I love you. I'm Atom volunteering for the Metro City news, and i'll see you around the city!"
Kaitlyn was driving in her car one Summer early morning, the sun was just peaking over the horizon.
She pulled into Elefun's driveway.
"He's gonna be so ecstatic when he sees me walk through that door." She said to herself as she turned her car off and unbuckled her seatbelt.
"Well guys i'm off to work, Atom keep an eye on your sister, and Uran, don't give Atom a hard time."Elefun said to both Atom and Uran.
"Yes professor!" the two siblings said in unision.
Elefun gathered his things and walked out the door.
"Oh! why isn't it Kaitlyn coming here to visit!" Elefun said as he saw Kaitlyn walk up to the entry of the house.
"Yup, just here to visit my ol' buddy!" She replied.
"Well you have a great day then, I better hurry, don't wanna be late!" Elefun scurried away and to his car.
Kaitlyn knocked on the door.
Uran got up and walked over to it.
"Uran wait!" Atom exclaimed.
Uran turned around.
"What?"
"You don't open the door to strangers…" He said as he walked up to her.
"Oh really, and what are you about to do now?"
"Go see if it's a stranger?"
"Hmph." Uran folded her arms.
Atom walked over to the front door and checked to see who it was.
He peeked through a hole and saw Kaitlyn standing there with a smile.
Atom, with pure excitement, unlocked the door, opened it, and hugged her tightly.
"Woah! Hey!" She giggled.
"Hi kaitlyn!" Atom greeted.
"ME TOO! I WANNA HUG KAITLYN!" Uran ran to Kaitlyn and Atom and almost toppled them over as she joined in on the hug.
"Haha. Hi Atom. Hi Uran."
"Hi! Why don't you come inside? The professor had to leave for work, so he's not here right now, but you can still stay here and chill..."
"Yeah. Sure. I'll chill." She smiled.
Atom and Uran let go of her so she could go inside.
Atom closed the door behind her and locked it as well.
"So did you hear?" Atom asked.
"Hear what? Who died?!"
"I volunteered at the Metro City news!" Atom replied.
"Oh! That's awesome!"
"They let me do a weather report, they still haven't given me the video yet, they said they have to add in the 'finishing touches'"
"Haha. Well I'm sure it's amazing."
"It was actually quite fun, it took me a while to get the script down, but after that, everything was easy."
"Sounds cool. Wish I could try. I've always wanted to try out my secret acting talent."
"Haha, you should volunteer there someday, they're really nice and patient."
"You think we could do it together? Maybe they would let me do some press work. Always wanted to be a journalist."
"Really? That's awesome." Atom smiled.
"Yeah." Kaitlyn smiled.
Atom sat down on the couch.
"So, what did Brandon say?" He asked.
"Oh. Back when I left last time?"
"Yeah."
"Well. He said he was really busy and that's why we can't get together much. It doesn't seem to be his fault. If anything he doesn't like it. His parents are forcing a lot of it on him."
"Aww, that's terrible, well... I hope it works out for you two."
"Me too. 'Cause it turns out his parents have another girl in mind for him..."
"Aw, just like in the old days when people married for money..." Atom sighed.
"Bet you anything the girls ugly, but her parents are filthy rich."
Kaitlyn sighed.
"I'm really sorry Kaitlyn, I-I know how much Brandon means to you, especially after what Reno did to you, I wish i could do something about it or make it up to you because it really sucks when life is an ahole and does nothing to help you..."
"You don't need to do anything... I just hope this is all the truth... I just... I don't trust anyone anymore... I mean I trust you, and Emily, Tenma, Cindy, Uran. But... Ever since... It's been hard to trust..."
"I know, it's hard... I have a hard time trusting people too, everyone always walks all over me..."
"I-i... I'm really sorry Kaitlyn, I hate to see you in pain. I wish I could make it up to you..." Atom got up and walked over to her.
"You don't need to do anything. And I'm sorry too. I'm sorry people do that to you. I don't wanna see you sad."
Atom paused for a moment and looked at the ground before looking up at Kaitlyn and nodding his head, holding back a few tears.
Kaitlyn gave him a hug.
"I'm glad you came, Kaitlyn, you made my day a billion times better." Atom tried not to sob while he spoke even though he sounded like he was about to.
She hugged a little tighter before letting go.
Atom looked away, still trying to hide his tears before smiling at her.
"If you need to cry, you can."
Atom sighed, he gave up and brought a hand up to his face as he began to sob what seemed to had been both happy and sad tears.
Kaitlyn held him again and rubbed his back.
Atom looked up at her.
"I love you." He said through his tears.
"I love you, too."
"Im sorry, i just feel so helpless, but- but, im glad you're here, and im glad you care about me."
Kaitlyn smiled.
Atom wiped the tears off his face with his arm.
"Feel better now?"
Atom sniffled before nodding.
Kaitlyn smiled again.
Atom smiled back.
"So. Have you seen the rest of the gang while I was gone?"
"Well not really, I've been kinda keeping to myself after the whole incident... But i have been talking with everyone here and maybe even Stephen every once in a while..."
"Well, I was gonna go say hi to everyone. You wanna come? Maybe it'll lift your spirits."
"Sure!" Atom exclaimed.
"Yay! When do you wanna go?"
"Ummmm, not sure..."
"Now? Later? Tomorrow?"
"Im not sure, i guess we should do it while the professor is gone."
"Let's go now, then. Uran, you wanna come, too?!" Kaitlyn yelled upstairs.
"WHAT?" Uran yelled back.
"YOU WANNA GO SAY HI TO EVERYONE WITH ME AND ATOM?!"
"NO!"
"OK THEN."
"Guess she's not coming..." Kaitlyn shrugged.
"DIDN'T WANT HER TO COME ANYWAY, ATOM." She yelled out again.
"Watch this. It's reverse psychology. She'll definitely want to come now knowing that we 'didn't' want her to. Even though we actually do... Kinda..." Kaitlyn whispered to Atom.
They waited a few moments.
Atom walked away to his room to get a sweater before returning again and waiting with Kaitlyn.
"Any second now..." Kaitlyn stared at the stairs.
"Ok, she's not coming."
"WE REALLY DID WANT YOU TO COME, SORRY. LUV YA URAN! BYE! DONT DO DRUGS OR TALK TO STRANGERS!" Kaitlyn yelled up again as she made her way to the door.
Both Atom and Kaitlyn soon got in the car, Kaitlyn took the driver's seat while Atom sat in the back.
She drove off to Emily's house.
"Uh... Guys now is not a great time, umm-"
"EMILY? WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"Gotta go, bye!" Emily slammed the door on Kaitlyn and Atom when they stopped by to see her.
"Oooooo. K! Onto the next house!" Kaitlyn happily skipped to the car with a big grin on her face.
Kaitlyn drove away and onto the next house she wanted to visit.
"Kaitlyn? Are you OK?" Atom asked from the back seat.
"Never been better!" She smiled even wider.
"You're acting kinda psycho..."
"Whaaaaaattttt. Pft. Naw."
A few minutes later, she was on Tenma's front step, knocking on his door.
After a couple of seconds, the door opened.
"Oh! Hello Kaitlyn. Hello Atom. Why may I ask did you decide to visit?"
"What? You're asking why? You know why. To visit. Wow Tenma." Kaitlyn chuckled.
"Well maybe you could come visit some other day?"
"What."
Faint crying noises came from inside the house.
"DAAAAADDDDDDD."
"Oh my god... I'm coming Astro!" Tenma yelled into the house.
"DAD SHE WON'T STOP CRYING!"
"THEN TELL CINDY!"
"SHE SAID SHE'S BUSY AND IF I ASK FOR HER AGAIN SHE'LL LOCK ME IN THE BASEMENT."
"Well that's a little harsh..."
"DAAADDDDDD!"
"SHE'S A GODDAMN BABY. WHAT ELSE IS SHE GOING TO DO?!"
"BILL! DID I JUST HEAR YOU CURSE?!"
"Gosh, everyone is losing it.." Atom shuddered at the yelling.
"I'm sorry guys, but I have some matters to attend to..."
"Oh... That's OK." Kaitlyn smiled.
Her and Atom walked away as Tenma closed the door.
"So uh, what now?"
"I have no idea... Anyone else we can visit?" Her smile had faded a little.
"Ummmm... We can try Stephen's house, if he's not too chicken to open the door."
"Well he knows us. He should open the door."
"Yeah, thats our best bet for today, it's a bonus he's an only child so im sure there'll be no yelling..."
"Ok. Let's go then!"
Kaitlyn knocked on the door.
After a few minutes, they heard a voice talking to himself.
The door soon opened.
"ARE YOU A STRANG- Oh, its you people.."
"HI STEPHEN!" Kaitlyn waved to him.
"Hi."
"You're not busy dealing with screaming parents or anyone else, are you?"
"I'm home alone and terrified, thanks for asking."
"Oh. Well you wanna hang? Chill?"
"I'm home alone and terrified, thanks for asking."
"Um... Is that a no?"
"I dunno, how should i know I'm home alone and terrified..."
"Uhhhhhh... Atom! Look! You're boo!" Kaitlyn turned around and looked at Atom.
"Hi."
"Hi Stephen!" Atom waved.
"Hi."
"How's about we walk inside.. Hey, hey... Maybe play some super smash-"
"You had me at Super!" Stephen moved out of the way for Atom and Kaitlyn to walk inside.
Atom walked in first.
"Wow! I love Super Sma-" Kaitlyn began.
Stephen accidentally closed the door on her.
"Ummm... HELLO?! ATOM! STEPHEN! I'M STILL OUT HERE!"
Stephen opened the door.
"You know, you should have said something before i shut the door on your face."
"I did..." She said through her teeth.
"Oh... Looks like i need a hearing aid too, wonderful..."
"Haha! Funny Stephen!" Kaitlyn walked in with her same psychotic smile plastered on her face.
"Yup." He said as he walked over to his room and walked to his computer and sat down.
"Oh, I didn't know you got a fish!" Atom commented.
Stephen turned around.
"Oh yeah, I got a goldfish to replace my dead cat." He said as he got up and walked over to where Atom was standing.
"I named him Steve. Now he's Steve the goldfish."
"Aw. Cute!" Kaitlyn stood next to them and looked at the fish.
"He scares me..." Stephen took a step back from the fish tank.
"Ok... Imma just go over to the couch in the living room." Kaitlyn walked away slowly.
"Sure thing, just don't ummm... Make a messie..."
"Yup!" Kaitlyn gave him a thumbs up.
"How could you be scared of a goldfish?" Atom asked.
"Well, when it stares at you all the time in a creepy way, I'd be surprised if I wasn't scared..."
"But its a fi-"
"It's not a fish, its Steve the goldfish..."
Kaitlyn plopped down across the couch face down. She grabbed a pillow and silently screamed into it.
"So uh... Anything new?"
"Hmmm... I got a goldfish..."
"Anything other than Steve the goldfish?"
"Ummmmm... Ummmmm...ummmmmm... Hi."
"Oh come on Stephen, you gotta get out of your-"
"Hi."
"Oh my god. What even is this? This doesn't count as third-wheeling, does it? Probably not. Well maybe. Gaaaahhhhhhh! Today is just not going well, now is it? What is life?" Kaitlyn said to herself as she stared at the ceiling.
"Uhhh Atom, I think your friend's on drugs..." Stephen whispered to Atom.
Atom bursted out laughing.
"Oh shit they can hear me..." She whispered.
Atom walked over to Stephen's desk and sat down in his chair.
"Spin me around!" Atom exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air.
"Oh no, remember what happened last time, almost had a heart attack.."
"Oh come on, just one last time, please?"
Stephen sighed.
"Fine, since i have nothing else better to do with my life..."
"WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Atom yelled with excitement.
Kaitlyn walked in to see what was going on. The second she saw, she walked back out and to the couch to rethink her life... Again...
"Wooo, that was awesome!"
Stephen walked out of the room.
"Aww come on, you're leaving me again?!" Atom complained.
"I HAVE TO PEE DANG IT?!"
Atom sighed.
"Well Atom, the only thing left for you to do is wait, wait for the bae to return, wait for the perfection..."
Kaitlyn looked over at the chair next to the couch.
"Maybe... Since I'm obviously already losing it... I should do a self-therapy session... Or something like that."
She got up and sat in the chair.
Atom walked into the room.
"Kaitlyn I can't wait for the bae or perfection any longer!"
"OH! You can do it! Come here!" Kaitlyn stood up excitedly.
"Kaitlyn, are you on... Drugs..."
"No.. But I'm considering... I mean um... Can you be like my therapist or something..."
"Okay... Ummmmmmm..."
"IM BACK!"
"Atom? Atom? DID STEVE THE GOLDFISH EAT YOU ALIVE?! OH GOSH IM SO SORRY, IM SORRY I LET YOU GET EATEN BY A SMALL, TERRIBLE CREATURE?!"
"Wow... Ok... Maybe he's the one that needs therapy."
Atom was laughing super hard.
"BAD STEVE, YOU ATE ATOM, HOW COULD YOU?! AND YOU SEEMED SO FRIENDLY AT THE PET STORE!"
"So. Do you guys ever like make out?" Kaitlyn casually asked Atom.
"Ummmmmmmm..." Atom blushed.
"STEPHEN, SHES ONTO US!" Atom yelled.
"So is that a no?"
Stephen walked out into the living room.
"Oh... So you're not dead, haha... Haha, and here I'm thinking its my goldfish, haha, haha, HAHA, i need help..."
"Atom you never answered me..."
"Well... Um... You see... We're nice people... You know... Nice and innocent people... So umm.. We like to keep things classy..."
"Ok. Good. You guys are adorable though. I'm so glad I hooked you up. I'm like the dating guru of this town. I practically got everyone together... Wait... No... Emily was with me... And considering my terrible choice in boyfriends whom she does not show any interest in is making it so clear to me now. EMILY IS THE ULTIMATE MATCHMAKER HOLY SHIT!"
Stephen spit out the water he was drinking when he made it back into the living room and heard Kaitlyn speak.
She started running in circles. "OH MY GOD WE COULD START A BUSINESS! I'd be rich! I mean we... WE would be rich! HA! WAIT MAYBE ITS REALLY ME WHO'S THE MATCHMAKER. IM THE ONE THAT FORCED CINDY TO SEE TENMA! But Emily is the one that got Atom and Stephen together. WE COULD BE PARTNERS! BOTH OF US! DATING GURUS! I LOVE IT! HAHAHAHAAHAHA!"
"Well... Uh... Isn't today a great day to be alive..."
"You said it!" Atom replied.
Kaitlyn blacked out and fell to the ground.
"KAITLYN?!" Atom gasped.
"SERIOUSLY STEVE, COME ON?!"
"Is she dead?"
"Uh... No no... She's good." Atom replied.
Kaitlyn groaned.
A few minutes later she woke up.
"Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh. Eating all that sugar was a TERRIBLE idea."
Atom blinked.
"You mean to tell me this whole time you've been on a sugar rush, dang. Talk about cray cray." Stephen sat down and took a sip of his water.
"For the most part, yes. It was the sugar. But a part of it was also my despair causing me to act like a lunatic... Not the first time that happened... So yes. Sugar high. Yes."
"You should get that checked out..."
"Nah. I'm good."
"Lord bless this household..." Stephen looked up at the ceiling.
"Preach it, brothah." Kaitlyn held her index finger up.
He stared at her and blinked.
She finally sat up. "Wow. I'm reallllyyyy tired now..."
"Good for you, I haven't slept in days..."
"You really should so something about that... You can do it right now... While I take a nap on this nice carpet." Kaitlyn plopped down on the ground again and snored.
"Nah... Why sleep when you have Minecrafts..." Stephen got up and left the room.
"So i guess it's just me all alone." Atom said to himself.
Stephen walked back in and motioned Atom to follow him.
Atom squealed and caught up to him.
Kaitlyn woke up again a while later.
"I really need to rethink my life choices." She sluggishly stood up and stretched.
She heard what sounded like a few laughs and giggles coming from somewhere.
"Oh my god. I bet they're making out... Kait holy crap stop..." She facepalmed then walked to Stephen's room.
She saw what had seemed to be a died out pillow fight with Stephen wrapping his arms around Atom who continued to laugh.
"Awwwwww. You guys had a pillow fight without me?!" She whined.
"Yeah, pretty much..."
"Bummer."
"I know right."
Kaitlyn stuck her tongue out.
Atom laughed, he let go of Stephen and got down from the bed.
"So. Wanna get going now?" Kaitlyn asked him.
"Ummm i dunno, i feel bad leaving the bae behind, but i must!"
"I mean you can stay if you wanna. There's not anything else to do is there?"
"No it's fine." Atom said as he walked up to Stephen for a kiss.
"OKAY LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD! WHOOOO!" Atom ran out of the room with his arms in the air, yelling.
"Hell yeah! Bye Stephen. Bye Steve. WAIT FOR ME!" Kaitlyn ran after him after waving goodbye to Stephen.
They both got in the car.
"Whoo! That was amazing! I had so much fun!" Atom exclaimed.
"Haha. I looked like a nut again! Woooo! Wait no wooo. That's not really a good thing. But still. WOOOO!
"Yeah, I think you creeped him out a little..."
"Pft. He'll get over it... I hope."
"I just feel really bad for Steve the goldfish..."
"Steve is an evil mastermind. Don't underestimate his power, Atom."
"Ummm... Alright then..."
Kaitlyn laughed. "It was a joke, silly."
"Oh... Hahaha..." Atom chuckled as Kaitlyn drove back to Elefun's house.
"Atom... I figured it out! I FIGURED IT OUT!" Kaitlyn squealed after she parked.
"What is it?"
"I know how to find time to be with Brandon!"
"Really? That's great!"
"Yeah! I'll just do some of the stuff he does with him! Might make it less boring for him, and we'll have more time together. Plus I know my share of etiquette and I've always wanted to do cool fancy stuff. So it's a win-win-win situation."
"Oh... yeah..."
"What... Would that not work... Am I being overenthusiastic about this?"
"No no... I'm happy for you..."
"But you don't sound so happy."
"No no... I'm fine."
"No you're not. Something's bothering you."
"No... I'm just being selfish..."
"What do you mean... Oh is it because you miss Stephen already?"
"No no... It's not that, it's just... I... I'm really happy for you, okay?! I truly, truly am?! But I guess now with you making plans for Brandon, you forgot about plans for me!" Atom stormed away.
"Atom!" Kaitlyn went after him.
Atom slammed the door to his room and slid down the wall, bringing his knees up to his chest and sobbing.
"Wow. I've been getting doors closed in my face all day!" Kaitlyn laughed nervously.
She sighed.
"Atom... You know I love you and would never forget about you."
"Just go away, I'm a monster, i'm just a big bad wolf trying to ruin your relationship!"
"No you're not! I would have never have gotten as far as I did if it weren't for you. I might not have even gone to see him, let alone talk to him again for another year or two."
"No.. You're just saying that to make me feel better..."
"No! It's true! I promise."
Atom stood up and pressed his forehead against the door.
"Im sorry..." He whispered.
"It's ok. If anything, it's my fault. I've been talking about him far too much today. I need to just relax and forget about everything."
Atom continued to cry the more he thought.
"Can I come in?"
Atom walked away from the door.
He nodded.
"I'm going to assume you nodded even though I can't see you."
She opened the door and walked inside.
She saw Atom standing there, crying yet again.
She walked up to him and put her arms around him.
Atom liked being in the warmth of Kaitlyn's secure arms.
"I would never forget about you. Best friends never do that." She whispered to him.
Atom sobbed even more as a smile appeared on his face.
(The end of chapter one.)