Allen sighed as he clicked on another bubble. He had been doing nothing with his life so far, despite the fact that he tried so hard to do so. His guardian had been constantly up his ass about getting a job, with no luck. Don't get him wrong, he did apply for jobs...his presence just wasn't ever accepted. No one ever thought that he'd be good use to them since he wasn't eighteen. Since alcohol was sold everywhere nowadays, you had to be eighteen to actually sell it. Allen had turned eighteen eight months ago but it never crossed his mind that someone would actually hire him now. He took up a babysitting job for a woman named Emilia to babysit her nine year old little brother named Timothy, but Cross, his loyal guardian supplied with 'that's not a real job, you idiot' and told him to go fill out applications. However, it was raining that day, so Allen decided to just fill them out online. He'd done this several times before, but no one ever hired him because he wasn't eighteen and he already long since gave up on restaurant jobs ever since he turned sixteen.

The white haired teenager stared at the option of whether or not to 'attach a resume'. Funny thing really, it seemed like the whole week they were teaching students to create resumes their Sophomore year, he just had to be absent that week from a cold he got when Cross pushed him down a hill into freezing water. He was actually off for a few weeks since he was in the hospital, but he did get excused. Even if he did get excused though, there was no way for him to ask about making resumes now or it would slow down the class, not to mention he was always busy getting Cross money after school. He did learn once when he was in a certain class his Senior year, but he didn't really get the gist of it so he didn't exactly want to fuck up his chance at getting a job. So, he clicked on the option 'I do not want to attach a resume' and checked over his application, making sure nothing was out of order, and clicked the 'x' button. Stretching, Allen got up and walked around the house for a bit, wondering if he should fill out another application or call the place he just applied for to make sure they got his application. I'll wait a few days for them to call me and if they don't, then I'll just call them. Easy as that. He told himself and walked back upstairs.

He collapsed on his bed and stared at the ceiling for a long time; but how many days should I wait? Five? He wondered, scratching the tip of his scalp. I'll wait five days then. He thought to himself. At most a week and if Cross questions me then I'll just tell him that I already filled out an application...he hasn't been here for a week anyways I doubt he'll come back soon. Allen thought and closed his eyes, sighing yet again. All he wanted to do all day was laze around. He hadn't been able to do that lately since Cross had been working him to the bone to clean the entire house every single day and then sending him out to illegally obtain money for him. Still, that was just how he lived and that's how he always lived ever since his father died of shock.

That day had been quite different, Allen had to admit.

Both him and his father went through shock...even though he was the only one who survived. He managed to pull through though. Mana would always talk to him about moving on no matter what, so Allen did. He wasn't exactly close with Mana's family, neither was he really wanted, so Mana had already arranged for him to stay with Cross. Allen didn't really think about it much unless it was one of those nights where he thought about everything that was depressing. He may have cried once or twice during those nights and he didn't really know why he suddenly felt like that, what he did know was that he thought about things that could make him feel down for a week or two. Even so, Allen moved on. Even if his 'family' hated him, he didn't really think about it much. Whenever he heard the word 'family', he thought of Cross. He wasn't sure why though since Cross was his godfather, just a friend of Mana's, and not to mention outright rude and cruel. Still, there was something about him that made him seem like an uncle to Allen.

He'd never admit that aloud, of course.

The next day came and gone and Allen, once again, found himself doing absolutely nothing on the internet. He had a Facebook, which he only used to talk to a few of his friends. He didn't have many friends. He had a lot in school, but it seemed that once you left, your friends stopped caring and only a few of them stayed. Allen didn't really need that many friends anyways. With a lot of friends came a lot of responsibility, which meant he'd have to hang out with every single one of them and Allen just didn't have that kind of time. Well, actually, he probably did have that kind of time, but he honestly didn't care for it. So, his only friends were Fou, Shifu, Rikei, Lou Fa, and Bak. One of those was a teacher. It was always fun hanging out with them, but Allen had a feeling that Lou Fa had a crush on him and he didn't exactly like her that way. Other than those five, Allen also had online friends.

He had a lot more online friends than he did real life friends. The only reason he had friends online was because...well...in a way, it was probably because he was a fudanshi. He was reading a fanfiction that belonged to a girl and he quite liked it actually so in the end they started rambling to each other about everything and she decided to set up a chat that would later be named as 'The Exorcists' because of the anime they loved most. When Allen 'joined' this group chat, there was already a girl named Miranda in it, but she didn't talk often...or well, not as much as Allen and Lenalee talked to each other. Along the way of gathering up members, Lenalee asked if she could add her own friends to the group. She claimed that they kind of liked manga and anime, but they weren't really big shippers on BL.

They were also guys.

Allen came to know them as Lavi and Kanda. At first, even though they weren't interested in BL, Allen really thought that the two of them were secretly dating or something. It seemed that Lavi would always purposefully find ways to piss Kanda off by calling him 'Yuu' and apparently he did get pissed off, even though Lavi wasn't really saying it...he was typing it...later, a boy who was interested in BL joined; his name was Daisya, but he left them soon after and just randomly disappeared. Then there was Chaoji, which everyone had their own dislike for. He seemed to be a bit...hateful of Allen...well, Kanda was too, but Allen found picking fights with the long-haired man quite fun. Chaoji just pointed out his flaws and was an overall dick to him. There was also a woman named Hevlaska who was like the mother of the group. She wasn't really into anime or manga all that much, she appreciated comics, but she was usually the one that would listen to you if you rant. There was also Suman, but he left shortly after too and no one ever saw him again. There was a man named Krory too and he had the sharpest teeth Allen had ever seen...kinda like a vampire. There were plentiful others in the chat, but usually Allen only spoke with Lenalee, Kanda, and Lavi. He took quite a liking to Lavi actually. He always seemed so upbeat and cheerful, yet he understood the dark sides of people. Allen decided that if he lived close to them, Lavi would definitely be his best friend.

Overall, it was really fun and Allen hoped he'd stay with them forever, even if he never got to see them.

"Knock, knock!" A voice chimed from the front door downstairs. "I'm comin' in! That's what he said!"

"Fou?" Allen thought aloud to himself.

"Fou! It's unprofessional to barge into someone's house like that!" Shifu scolded.

"Since when are we tryna be professional? It's just Allen!" She said loudly and Allen could hear her coming up the steps. He x'd out his Fanfiction tab (Fou knew that he was into that stuff, but he felt like the others didn't really need to know) and minimized the chat where they were currently talking about their OTPs. As arrogant as it sounds, Lavi tended to ship himself with things. Allen spun around just as the door opened.

"Hello, Fou, what's up?" He asked curiously.

"Yo, short stack!" Fou greeted. "Come on get ready, we're going night swimming!" She announced.

"Uh, okay..." He mumbled and spun around to log off of his computer. This wasn't really strange. Fou would always show up uninvited to either take Allen out or just hang out because she felt bored. Fou took the others downstairs to raid his fridge and Allen quickly got ready to go swimming. He grabbed his phone and opened up the Facebook messenger app to see if they were still chatting about pairings as he sat on his bed.

Lenalee: I dunno, I kinda shipped you and Kanda for awhile

What the hell are they talking about? Allen wondered incredulously.

Lavi: Really?! Dude, that is so funny!

Kanda: Che, why the fuck would you ship me with THAT thing

Lavi: Aweh, Yuu! You're sooo meeean!

Lenalee: Yeah, now I don't really ship you guys anymore...

Lavi: Why not? O.o

Lenalee: Because I just don't...anyways, if you were to ship two guys, who would you ship?

Lavi: Hmmm I think I'd ship Kanda and Allen...

Allen: e.e what.

Lavi: Oh shit...

Kanda: What the fuck is wrong with your head you stupid rabbit!? If ANYONE were to ship that idiot with someone it'd be with you moron

Lenalee: This is quite interesting...

Lavi: I'M SORRY ALLEN I HAD NO IDEA YOU WERE ACTIVE! YOU JUST SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED ON US MAN!

Lenalee: Well at least we know how to summon him back xD

Allen: My friends just came over and asked to go night swimming with me so...

Lavi: Night swimming? That sounds like fun! Are you goin to a lake?

Allen: No, my friend owns a pool, we're just going to her house...

Lavi: Laaaameee wait a GIRL? Oooh Allen you bad boy!

Lenalee: ...wait what I thought you were gay...damn...

Allen: O_O why would you think that?

Lenalee: idk because you're interested in yaoi and stuff...

Lavi: WHOA wait WHAT

Allen: ...how did you not know that...?

Lenalee: o-o...I thought you knew, Lavi...

Kanda: Pfft, he probably wasn't even paying attention when you added him

Lenalee: Probably not

Lavi: Dude, I didn't know guys were interested in that...

Allen: Well my bad for being different

Lavi: Damn, no wonder you and Lenalee get along so well

Lenalee: .-. didn't I tell you how I met him already? You know how my stories are...

Lavi: ...wait, but I just thought he read your funny ones like I did...

Lenalee: ...no he reads the other ones too...

Lavi: ...even the rated m ones? O_O

Allen: Even the rated m ones. I particularly like those ones actually...

Lavi: YOU PERV

Allen: Like YOU can call me that -_-

Lenalee: xD

Toma: What did I just walk into...

Lavi: Omg Toma no xD

Lenalee: Poor Toma

Lenalee: Anyways, you said you were going night swimming? You should take pictures!

Allen: ...I'm not really much of a picture person...

Lavi: Oh come on don't be like that! Just cause you look a little different doesn't mean you don't look good!

Lenalee: ...did you just say Allen looks good?

Allen: O_o

Lavi: er no I didn't mean it like that...

Allen: I'm pretty sure none of you even know what I look like...

Lenalee: We don't! Which is why you should take pictures! We don't care what your arm looks like! Besides, you've shown us a picture of THAT!

Allen: do you have any idea how hard that was? .-.

Lenalee: Probably really hard...

Lavi: That's what she said

Lenalee: God damn it Lavi

Lavi: ;)

Allen: I don't really have that much room on my phone anyways...

Lenalee: Camera?

Allen: Don't own one...

Lenalee: Have a friend send them to you?

Allen: I wouldn't be able to save them anyways...

Lenalee: Well then how about we invite one of YOUR friends to the chat?

Allen: ...idk...that might not be a good idea...

Lenalee: Why's that?

Allen: *slow shrug*

Lenalee: *stalks your profile* Hmmm who to adddd ;D

Allen: ...please don't...

Lenalee: Why nooooot?

"Whatchu talkin' about there short stack?"

"Jesus Chirst!" Allen exclaimed, looking behind him to see Fou looking over his shoulder.

"I'm pretty sure you're not talking about our lord and savior." Fou hummed. Allen rolled his eyes at her.

"Lenalee just wants to add one of my 'friends' to the chat. I don't even talk to half of my friends on Facebook." Allen muttered.

"You don't even talk to any of them...besides me...wait a second, why can't she just add me?" Fou asked brightly. "I like anime."

"You like three animes..."

"Soooo? Come oooon add meeeee!"

"It's not happening..." Allen mumbled and Fou snatched his phone away, accidentally hitting the record button.

"I think I hit the wrong button." She hummed.

"Stop that, give it back!" Allen muttered and seethed when she waved it above his head.

"Come on, short stack, reach for it~!" She sang, still holding onto the button.

"My name is Allen!" Allen chirped and reached for it. "That is no fair, you have an advantage!"

"What's that?" Fou asked with a sly grin.

"You're standing on my bed! You're shorter than I am!" He growled.

"Come and get it, beansprout~!" She mocked and ran around the room.

"Would you stop being so imma-AH!" Allen screamed when he tripped over his fan.

"Pffffffft, smooth move there."

"Shut up!" Allen blushed. The door slammed open and Rikei ran in, tripping over Allen and falling on the bed.

"YOUR CAT IS CLAWING OFF MY FACE HELP ME IT'S EVIL!" He screamed.

"Timcanpy is not evil!" Allen retorted, helping himself up. Fou just stared at the two of them as they started bickering about his cat before pulling at each others clothes.

"Well...that escalated quickly...eheheh...that's what he said..." Fou murmured to herself, not realizing that she had started recording again.

"I thought the saying was 'that's what she said'?" Shifu asked.

"It is, but Allen's gay soooo..."

"I'm not gay!" Allen shouted from where Rikei and he had just pulled each others shirts off.

"Really? Because you kinda look like it right now since you're ripping his clothes off..." Fou mumbled.

"DON'T SAY IT LIKE THAT!" Allen shouted.

"Uwahhhh! W-Walker, y-y-your sh-shirt! Where did it g-gooo ahhh!" Lou Fa screamed from the doorway.

"Lou Fa's having a nosebleed." Shifu observed.

"Shit, what the hell is going on right now...?" Fou asked. "All of this for a petty little phone..."

"AHHHH!" Rikei suddenly screamed and they all looked over to see him on the floor clutching at his...oh dear...

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, I am so sorry! I d-didn't mean to d-do that!" Allen apologized quickly.

"Holy shit, short stack, did you just kick him in the nuts?" Fou asked with disbelief.

"I DIDN'T MEAN TO! IT'S A FORCE OF HABIT!"

"F-force of habit..." She mumbled.

"AGH YOU JUST! I! I WAS DEFENDING MYSELF!" Allen shouted.

"...Fou, please remind me to never try and attack Allen ever."

"No! I wouldn't! Ugh!" Allen huffed and rubbed Rikei's back. He then let out a very unmanly screech when Rikei decided to get payback. He wailed with pain and Lou Fa simply blushed.

"Was that revenge really worth it, Rikei?" Fou asked.

"It was so worth it...hurts, doesn't it?" Rikei asked, his voice a few octaves higher than normal as he stared Allen in the eyes, tears almost falling down his face.

"It's different...you did it on purpose..." Allen's voice was a lot higher than before...and he had an accent so that made it all the more funnier. "I did it on accident..."

"Well...uh, while you two crybabies lay on the floor like idiots, I'm gonna like figure out how to work this dumb phone..." Fou mumbled.

"You're recording audio, Fou, here, let me help..." With that, the recording stopped.

Lavi: ...

Lenalee: ...

Toma: ...

Kanda: ...what the fuck...?

Lenalee: I believe someone had stolen Allen's phone and chaos ensued with it...

Lavi: Jesus Christ I can feel the pain...

Kanda: Dumb fucks.

Toma: ...did he say that he did that by habit?

Lavi: ...I ache...

Lenalee: xD

Toma: Poor kid.

Lenalee: I wonder how short he is...

Lavi: Are you cereal, Allen just got kicked in the balls and you wanna know how tall he is?

Lenalee: But that girl kept calling him short.

Allen Walker added Fou Chang to the conversation

Lenalee: Oh great...

Lavi: I'm kinda scared...shit is he gonna be ok?

"I did it!" Fou said triumphantly.

"With my help of course..." Shifu mumbled and looked over at the two who were still laying on the floor. "So, uh, are we going to go night swimming or what?" He asked. The two didn't budge.

"I'm never moving again..." Allen whispered, curling up against the bed.

"But swimming!" Fou urged. "Don't make me go psycho." Hearing that, the two of them immediately stood up and almost fell over from the pain. Fou grinned and skipped out the door, dragging Shifu and Lou Fa with her. Rikei followed after before Allen could get back at him for kicking him...they all followed Fou downstairs and sat on the couch to wait for Allen to gather his things. Fou blinked several times when her phone started buzzing wildly. She pulled it out and narrowed her eyes at it. The messenger app was going nuts.

Lenalee: Do you think she'd show us pictures?

Lavi: That's what he said

Lenalee: Can you not?

Lavi: ...:'(

Toma: *shakes head*

Lenalee: xD

Fou: hi guyz!

Lenalee: Speak of the devil! Hello and welcome!

Fou: uh thanks i guess...

Lenalee: ...

Fou: wat

Lavi: ...

Fou: WAT

Lenlaee: *I *guys *what

Lavi: I knew that was coming xD

Fou: ...ooooh grammar nazi

Lenalee: :P

Fou: ;)

Lavi: o.o

Fou: Sooooo, who are you guys?

Lavi: Lavi Deak Bookman! :D

Lenalee: Lenalee Lee

Lavi: Oh yeah and there's probably Yuu too

Kanda: Don't you fucking call me that, stupid rabbit

Fou: ...Yuu?

Lenalee: That's Kanda's first name, but he just goes by Kanda.

Fou: Oh...weirdooo

Kanda: Fuck you

Fou: When, where, and what position? ;D

Lavi: O_O OH MY FUCKING GOD!

Lenalee: *giggles*

Kanda: I hate you

Fou: Awe, are you all butthurt ;3

Lenalee: Before he explodes, can I ask you a favor, Fou?

Fou: Um...maybe? Depends what it is

Lenalee: Can you tell us what Allen looks like?

Fou: ...uh, why not? He's got white hair for one

Lavi: ...white? o-o is it dyed?

Fou: Nah, and he's got gray eyes too

Lenalee: Cool o.o

Fou: No way, he's a total cutie but he does have a cool red scar on his face

Lavi: From what? :0

Allen: -3-

Lavi: ...

Lenalee: ...

Toma: ...

Fou: Oi, are you done gettin' ready? Get down here!...haha that's what he said.

Lavi: LOL GOOD ONE!

Fou: Thanks! :D

Toma: What are you, a fem!Lavi?

Allen: She's more violent

Fou: I'm only violent when I need to be :)

Allen: Liar

Fou: :) speaking of violent are you done?

Allen: Yeah, yeah, brt

Lenalee: ...well. Fou, you said Allen was cute, right? Can you send us a picture?!

Fou: Allen doesn't like pictures but I do have some of him. They weren't taken with his permission though so...

Allen: FOU

Fou: :D?

Allen: I TOLD YOU NO

Fou: ^u^

Fou sent a picture

They all stared at the picture for a long time. You could definitely tell that Allen wasn't looking at the camera. He was talking to a brunet boy and looked mildly pleased about the topic. He looked happy and just all over adorable.

Allen: My life is over.

Lenalee: Aweeeee you're so cute!

Fou: Told ya

Allen ...:(

Lenalee: Really! You're so adorable, Allen!

Fou sent a picture.

They all gawked at the picture she sent, including Allen. Fou really didn't mean to send that picture...or to show anyone that she had that picture to begin with. It was one night when she was sleeping over and he was getting dressed into his pajamas. He had just taken off his shirt when Timcanpy, his cat, had started eating his food so he looked away from the door and Fou snapped the shot. It showed off his abs that Lenalee didn't think Allen would even have. He seemed too cute to work out.

Fou: Oops, wrong one.

Allen: DASLFKJKLEJAWGKLEHAEWRJKLEGJADKLS;AJFKLEHGAOEAIJCEWAWENGKDLSAE?!

Lenalee: Hot damn.

Lavi: ...

Toma: ...

Allen: WHY DO YOU HAVE THAT AND WHEN DID YOU TAKE THAT OH MY GOD FOU

Fou: I couldn't help it, I'm sorry, you're too cute.

Lenalee: ...you guys aren't dating, are you?

Allen: NO!

Fou: Pfft Allen's gay

Allen: I AM NOT

Fou: Jk he's in denial now

Allen: That's it, I'm not going night swimming with you.

Fou: Yes you are silly get your ass down here

Allen: Nope.

Lenalee: xD

Lavi: ...holy shit, Allen, what do you lift?

Allen: QnQ

Lenalee: Aweeeee

Toma: I have to say that I'm jealous.

Allen: ...

Lavi: ...

Lenalee: ...

Kanda: Weak

Lenalee: ...Allen, you should listen to Fou, you're adorable.

Fou: Adorkable more like it

Allen: I hate you

Fou: Pshhh

Fou: If you don't come down here in five seconds, I'm going up there and dragging you down here

Lenalee: o.o;;;

Lavi: xD

Fou grinned when she heard a loud thud upstairs, which was most likely Allen tripping. She pocketed her phone and stood up, stretching. "So, who's ready to actually do this this time?"

"Finally..." Rikei muttered.

Fou darted one more glance to her phone to see that Lenalee herself messaged her instead of in the chat.

Lenalee: Can you take more pictures of him?

Fou: Hell yeah

Lenalee: By the way, don't tell Lavi I told you this, but I think he has a crush on Allen.

Fou blinked several times.

Fou: Are you fuckin' serious that is amazin'

Lenalee: RIGHT?! He talks about him a lot and about what he says even if we were there when it happened. I tried asking him about him dating guys, but he brushed me off like no man I need this to happen xD he does flirt with a lot of girls though but I'm pretty positive he's fond of Allen. To what length...idk

Fou: We need to set them up...what kinda guy is Lavi?

Lenalee: He's really funny, flirty, does stupid things a lot. Summing it up in one word, he's childish. He also plays pranks on everyone

Fou: Is he hot

Lenalee: Totally.

Fou: He's gotta be Allen's kinda guy

Lenalee: ...are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Fou: That we're definitely about to play fucking matchmaker? Hell fucking to the yeah.

Allen and Lavi had no idea what they were in for.