AN;; Yeah, this is a new story. I'm not really sure where it came from, or where it's going, but I think the ride's going to be fun. Feel free to review, or not, at any time. Thanks for taking the time to read this!

The room was loud. Full to bursting of noise and energy. A stereo blasted music that shook the building with the strength of its deep beat. The lights were low and the people were drunk and the air was dripping with energy and atmosphere. She stood in the corner, arms folded over her chest. They did this, presumably, to drown out the troubles and conflicts of life. To drown it all in mindless pleasure and numb it. It was interesting, how stressful and bothersome life had become for such people. She stifled an odd sort of grin.

Breathing deeply, Sonika tossed her glass. It was innocuous, simple water, unlike the bitter, sleepy syrups that lined the tables. She didn't need them, unlike the others attending the party. The glass hit the wall and shattered, spilling water all over. Yet, no one seemed to notice. The music was too loud. The lights were too low. The people were too drunk. The air was too thick. Sonika sniffed, and turned around to leave.

Looked like she wasn't there either.

No familiar green hair greeted Sonika's tired eyes. No gentle smile. She didn't know anymore, why she always expected the girl to just "pop up". It was silly. And she had always thought of herself as more of a sensible person. Of course, with everything now, she couldn't much think that anymore. That itself would be silly.

Really, by all accounts, she was absolutely nuts.

Sonika spun on her heel, and turned the doorknob that jutted out behind her. Fingers pale and bony, trembling. She needed proper sleep. But did she want it? That would mean giving up her meetings with that little flower. Every night, and sometimes during the day too, she would drift off. Only to find herself in a separate place. A dream world. A place where everything was beautiful and nothing ever hurt. She sometimes went there as a child, played with the deer and the fairies and the mermaids. Watched the clouds as they rolled across the sky.

And two years ago, she had forced herself to go there again. Sick of routine, the stresses and dirty truths of everyday life, she had tricked herself into falling back into those childish fantasies. Instead of playing with make believe creatures, though, she opted to explore the forest. It wasn't dark, old, moist, like the forests she had always known. Light filtered through the light green leaves in the familiar looking trees, and there were flowers. In that place, it was always spring. Everything was always blossoming and full to bursting of life.

And every time, she fell in love.

After a few minutes, Sonika realized that she had gotten lost. This troubled her, however silly. What if she couldn't get back to the real world, now? What if she couldn't find her way back to reality? What if she was really lost? But then all of her thoughts ceased. Her breath seemed to catch in her throat. She had come upon a clearing, and sitting in the center was...

An angel.

No, that's silly. She wasn't an angel. There's no such thing. She was simply lovely. Incredibly so, with her gentle green-yellow hair and pure skin. Not pale and ghostly, like her own, but fresh and full of life and warmth. Her eyes danced with the colors and sights of the wondrous place, flitting about eagerly as if drinking it all up.

From the flower's lips came a melody. One unlike any other Sonika had heard. It wasn't loud and blaring, like the sort of thing one might hear on the radio. There was no beat or guitar, no keyboard. But each note was delicate, new, like gentle raindrops on her ears. She stood silently in the shadow of a tree, listening. Could something so perfect actually be possible?

When she was a child, she had loved watching the flowers outside her bedroom window. They were weeds, but she thought them beautiful things. Every year for a while, she watched them bloom. The sensation was rather similar. Sonika felt as if she was looking at something precious and fragile, something that had to be protected at all costs.

"Huhm? Who're you?"

Damn, she'd been seen. Sonika panicked, unsure of whether to creep back into the shadows or fully reveal herself. She was stuck, frozen in place. Like a deer in headlights. Mind blank, eyes wide, form stiff and waiting.

"It's okay," the girl whispered, "I'm not going to hurt you."

Privately, Sonika felt that the opposite was much more likely. But there was really no turning back at that point. She cursed herself for not acting fast enough, and slowly emerged from the brush. Her skin, she supposed, looked paler than ever. It didn't really matter. Somehow, she doubted the girl would care.

Sonika stood, in her loose yellow top that boasted her cleavage and her almost legging like black pants. In her necklaces and bracelets and mascara and lipstick. She had never felt so self-conscious, next to this girl, who wore simple, frilly shirts and skirts. Who didn't put a thing on her face and probably never would. If that was so, then why was she so lovely? So beautiful?

"It's nice to meet you," the little flower said. Her voice was so gentle and warm. "I'm Gumi. Would you like to sit down?" Sit...down? With her? Cautiously, Sonika bent her knees to sit a few feet away. But the girl only laughed. Not unkindly; it was what Sonika assumed to be her usual: a soft, dreamy little giggle. "No, silly. Next to me." Gumi patted her hand on the grass right beside her, and Sonika felt her cheeks grow warm.

Once the two were properly seated, Gumi continued to speak. "I guess you're new? It's always fun getting new people. Usually they're kids, of course, but someone older is nice too! Would you like some tea?" Sonika did not move as she went on, merely stared at the grass as Gumi poured her a cup without waiting for a reply. "Uhh, maybe you don't speak English? Oh gosh..."

At this, her gaze darted up. "I can speak fine, thank you." Her tone was cold, biting. She didn't mean for it to be. She watched the girl retract and murmur awkward apologies. "I'm not new, either. I used to come here when I was a kid. I'm twenty-two, y'know."

Gumi brightened at once. "Oh! I, wow. That's really fun. I guess I'm nineteen, hehe. Age never mattered much to me." Sonika looked at her with hard eyes, but all she found were rosy, freckled cheeks and a sweet smile.

"So, there are others...?"

"Yeah, sure!" The girl waved it off, grinning. "Umm, there was Jackie, and Mina, and Len... All really nice people. They don't really come here anymore, though. Usually they stop coming after they reach eight."

"Why?"

"Well, that's when puberty and society get to them! Sad, isn't it? I wish they could stay fun kids forever."

At that, Sonika felt her existence crumbling. Her thoughts disintegrating. She was heading back for reality, but she wanted it to stay. She wanted that sweet, warm feeling in her stomach to remain. But good things must always end, lest they become troublesome and tiring. It is a fact of life.

Sonika stood on the empty street, remembering. Lost in her rambling thoughts. Her gold lips curved into a crooked sort of smile. The girl's sweet face was still fresh and new in her mind. Yes, tonight she would see her again too.

Addiction is such a powerful thing.