Author's Note - Well if it wasn't obvious. I like a certain show, based off a certain visual novel. (It's Higurashi no naku koro ni)

I also like another certain show that I've written extensively for by now, and when I read through my old stuff I began to notice quite a few things, and thus I felt that a story like this was inevitable. Although I initially feared writing something grimdark due to backlash.

And thus hear we go. My first foray out of my comfort zone and into the genre of tragic horror. Hopefully I've done just as well with this as I have previous works, and I must stress that if you decide to read this do so at your own peril. This is not a happy fic after all, but you probably already know that. Nonetheless this is meant to be a love letter to both Stickin Around and Higurashi. As I love both I wished to try and combine both styles into one story. I hope you will enjoy it.

When we were together
I thought it would be forever

When we were apart
I thought it would be forever

Now that we've reunited
I'll make sure its forever

Part 1 – Beginnings

A panicked yell escaped Bradley's lips as he shot up into a sitting position. Almost immediately he began to frantically look around the room he was currently in his eyes wide, his breathing heavy, his body drenched in sweat, and his hands patting himself all over just to be sure everything was still there. As he began to calm down the more he began to recognize the room as his own bedroom, and he was presumably laying in bed just a few seconds prior to waking up. Looking over at the alarm clock on the night stand next to his bed he could see the time glowing faintly in the dimly lit room. It was seven in the morning, and on top of that as he checked the calendar on the wall it became clear that the date was Saturday April 7th. 2005. As he released a sigh of relief he wondered why he had been so panicked in the first place? He couldn't seem to remember at all. Maybe it was just the after effects of a bad dream since it wasn't unnatural for a person to forget the exact events they had been dreaming about before waking up. Before he could muse on the situation more, however, a loud tapping from the window interrupted him.

As he looked out the window he could see the spiky black hair and orange dress of his best friend who at the moment was tapping her foot impatiently with one of her hands on her waist as the other continuously threw a small stone into the air only to catch it a few seconds later.

"Hey B-man. Get a move on would you? We're gonna be late!" Stacy said in an annoyed voice before chucking the stone at Bradley's window causing it to make a tapping sound as it bounced off the glass.

"Late for what Stace? If you hadn't noticed it's Saturday." Bradley called out to her as he opened the window.

"Duh Bradley! Soaked Till Sick Water Park? Ring any bells yet?" Stacy rolled her eyes as she looked up at him even more impatiently. "It's just only what we've been doing every weekend! Now hurry up so we don't keep everyone waiting!"

"Alright, alright." Bradley resigned as he close the window and climbed out of bed. Only for a strange feeling of deja vu to come over him. Though it was honestly ridiculous and he couldn't even comprehend where it was coming from anyways. It was true that every weekend since he'd moved back to latchkey last month he and the rest of the gang had been going there pretty much every Saturday without exception. After all it's not like it was very far away, and unlike when they were nine their parents were perfectly fine letting them go on their own. Still there was no reason to have any sense of familiarity about the situation he reasoned. Shrugging it off while putting on his clothes.

"Well it's about time. I was starting to think I'd have to come up there and dress you myself." Stacy sarcastically complained as Bradley exited his apartment. Only to suddenly feel very confused and awkward when Bradley began circling around her with discerning eyes as if they were analyzing every inch of her from an extremely close distance. "W-What's with you all of a sudden? You're starting to creep me out." She responded in a soft tone as her entire face began to grow hotter and more red by every second.

"Are... you feeling okay Stace?" Bradley asked her before she pushed him away. "It's just for some reason I feel like we've had this same conversation before."

"Yeah try every single day. If it weren't for me you'd never be on time for anything." Her bossy tone kicked in despite the fact that her face was still the color of a ripe tomato. "A-Anyways we're wasting time. Lets go already so they don't leave without us."

"What's the big deal? We're only riding our bikes there. It's not like we couldn't make it there ourselves." He commented before getting slapped upside the head

"Because we agreed to our parents that we'd all go together remember?" She growled before taking Bradley by the wrist and dragging them to the meeting spot. "Anyways I'm not going to get yelled at by everyone because of how slow you're being so come on."

Fortunately for her they hadn't kept the others waiting too long, and although Lance had something to say about keeping them waiting for even a second; the promise of her foot connecting with a place that would make any man squirm was enough to diffuse the situation before it got heated any further. Soon enough they were on their way.

"Out on the open road; the wind at your back. This is the life isn't it Stace?" Bradley exclaimed as he revved his sweet ride.

"You can say that again. Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul." Stacy replied as she revved the engine of her own mean machine.

"Hey! Race ya!" Bradley began zooming past her at a greater speed.

"As if B-man. This is a busy highway. Don't do anything stupid." She responded in a voice half filled with annoyance for his recklessness and half with concern for his safety.

"Ha! Nothing bad happens when it comes to Brad Blood outlaw biker." Bradley responded pompously as he looked back at the girl eating his dust.

"Oh yeah meat for brains?" Stacy pointed right in front of him.

"Oh yeah. I'm so sure I'm gonna fall for- WOAH!" Bradley suddenly felt himself flying over the guard rail and rolling down a steep embankment. His bike landing on top of him with a thud as he finally reached the bottom.

"I told you so B-man." Stacy grumbled through Lance and Russell's loud laughter.

"HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLY MACKEREL! DID THAT LOOK PAINFUL OOOOOOOOOOR WHAT?" Dil exclaimed as he waved his arms around.

"Are you alright Bradley? You didn't break anything did you?" Bradley could hear Polly calling down to him.

"Just my pride." He sighed and pushed the bike off him only for Stacy's outstretched hand to appear in front of him. "You didn't have to come down here you know. Unless you just did so to laugh at me." He said as he swatted away the hand of the spiky haired girl standing in front of him with a mixed expression of worry and concern on her face.

"Don't be like that." She said softly as she helped him up. "Besides you're going to need some help getting your bike back up there."

"Would you two lovebirds hurry it up already? We could have been there by now!" Lance yelled down to the two teenagers pushing the bike back up the embankment.

"Yeah... Wasting time." Russell chimed in.

"Shut it Lance!" Stacy yelled up to him.

"Yeah! Me and Stacy lovebirds? Like that would ever happen in a billion years!" Bradley parroted in his own defense causing Stacy's angered expression to melt away into one she couldn't identify as she looked down towards the ground. However, Bradley didn't even seem to notice as the two finally got his bike back onto the road. The rest of the trip went quietly as Stacy just didn't feel like talking to him, while Bradley's ego was too damaged to talk to her. It wasn't long until they finally made it to Soaked Till Sick Water Park, and the group split up to go to the changing rooms.

"Wow. I never thought I'd see the day when I could say you looked cute in a swimsuit Polly." Bradley grinned innocently as the younger girl emerged from the changing room. Her red hair hanging down past her shoulders, which complimented the navy blue one piece with white stripes along the sides that she was wearing.

"While someone not of my stature might claim your comment is a rude as well as offensive sexual remark towards a minor such as myself. What with the way you worded your statement. I suppose I could accept your compliment of my physical attractiveness since its not like I could expect anything less from you." Polly responded matter of factually leaving Bradley to stare at her with a blank stare

"Say what now?" He scratched his head in confusion.

"Real mature B-man. I leave you for five minutes and you're already hitting on a girl younger than you." Stacy's annoyed voice filled the air as she came stomping out of the changing room towards him only to stop when she noticed the change in her best friends demeanor.

Bradley meanwhile had been completely blown away. It had been seven years since he had seen Stacy in a swimsuit, and while back then it never really seemed to matter to him as he looked at her now in the neon orange string bikini she was sporting no words escaped his lips. All he could think was how incredible she looked, and boy did she ever. Despite how incredibly skinny she was due to the seven years they had been apart it hadn't stopped her body from growing shapely and curvaceous. Evidenced by the way she moved as she made her way towards him.

"J-Just what do you think you're starring at?" Stacy found herself blushing fiercely as she brought up her arms to cover the front of her body in embarrassment. Which in turn caused Bradley to snap out of the trance he was in. What was he doing having such strange thoughts about his best friend? Just what the heck was he thinking? No matter how he looked at it; it just wasn't right!

"Well I suppose its possible for even someone like you to look good in a swimsuit Stacy Stickler." A haughty voice spoke playfully from behind her.

"That voice... It couldn't be!" Stacy moaned as she turned around to spot a girl with blonde hair reaching down the entire length of her back, which complimented the red rose colored string bikini she wore smirking from the doorway of the ladies changing room. Her arms folded determinedly across her chest. "Well, well if it isn't the queen of Middle Stick High. What's our royal pain in the rear doing here? Last I checked this wasn't daddy's country club." The spiky haired girl sneered as she looked at the blonde in question.

"Now, now nobody ever said this place was just for you poor and unfortunate types." The girl smiled as she walked over and patted Stacy on the head. :You really should learn to take a compliment."

"As if I need one from you Ashley!" The spiky haired girl growled in anger as she clenched her fists. "Besides I already know I look FAR better than you! Isn't that right B-man?" She looked over at her best friend only to gasp when she saw the expression on his face.

In Bradley's mind if Stacy had been a perfect ten then Ashley was easily an eleven. Which confused him greatly because he remembered how disgusted he had been about her back when they were nine. However, this seemed to be a completely different Ashley from back then. Mind you she still had the same awful personality, but there was still something different. Something he couldn't identify, but knew that it was something that aroused his interests. Man was he really feeling some kind of physical attraction towards Ashley? What in the world was wrong with him? He was starting to think that maybe he had been replaced with an alien shape-shifter cause there was no way this was normal.

Meanwhile Stacy just stared at him in utter disbelief and shock. So much so that she felt like she was shrinking to the size of a gnat as Ashley walked over and cupped her B-man's chin.

"Well it seems your companion thinks differently." She smiled in triumph before closing Bradley's slacked jaw, and trailing her fingers along his chest as she began to walk away from him. "Don't feel too bad Stacy Stickler. It's not your fault that he has good taste." She let out a playful giggle towards Stacy as she continued walking out of sight.

"W-What happened?" Bradley asked as he shook his head coming out of the trance he had been put in only to see his best friend still starring at him in complete shock from what her wide eyes and gaping mouth told him.

"I believe your interaction with Ashley caused poor Stacy's mind to go into a state of mental liquidation." Polly answered before shoving Bradley towards her "I believe trying to get through to her might make her regain her senses."

"O-Okay..." Bradley responded while not really comprehending it, but he was genuinely worried about the state his best friend was in right now. "Hey Stace? Stace! You can hear me right? Snap out of it already!" He shook her softly causing her head to bounce back and forth until finally she shook her head and looked back at him. "Oh good... you're... okay?" His voice trailed off as he looked into eyes filled with rage. Before Bradley even knew what hit him he was on the floor in a matter of seconds.

Stacy's foot had hit her mark.

"Serves you right." Stacy sighed exasperatingly as Polly tried to comfort Bradley who was now lying on the ground in a tight little ball whimpering incessantly. "Anyways we've been wasting a lot of time here. How about we at least try to have some fun today?"

"Actually Stacy if it would be alright. I would like to request Bradley's aid if possible." Polly answered only to see the disappointed look on the older girls face. "After all you know how my 'big brother' and Russell are, and as a girl at the tender age of twelve you can't expect me to walk around unsupervised." She smiled only for Stacy's disappointment to give way to a smile as well.

"I guess you have a point. It'd be wrong of me and B-man to go off and leave you on your own, and since everyone else are probably all in the park right now its not like we could find someone else." She said with the best smile she could possibly muster despite the sad tone in her voice. "I'll leave Mr. Immaturity in your care."

"Gee... Thanks mom..." Bradley squeaked out as the pain started to subside causing Stacy to roll her eyes.

"As for me I'm going to play some of the games." She turned around and shot up an arm to wave bye. "I'm feeling lucky today."

It wasn't long until Bradley was able to stand again causing him and the younger girl to stare at each other in awkward silence.

"So... I guess in a way I'm kind of like your big brother today huh?" He looked away and blushed a little

"I suppose you could say that." Polly too found herself blushing and looking away from him due to the comment until she felt Bradley take her hand in his.

"Come on Pol. Let's go show this place what having fun's all about." He smiled warmly down at her causing her to give him an equally warm smile in return as the two began to walk towards the main section of the park hand in hand.

Only for Polly to suddenly start running back towards the changing room at top speed dragging Bradley behind her.

"I forgot Pepperoni!" She exclaimed in horror

"Wait! Polly! I can't go in there!" Bradley yelled out as he grabbed the doorway to the ladies changing room and held on for dear life.

A few minutes and a few dozen apologies later. An extremely embarrassed Bradley, and Polly who was now dragging a yellow poodle wearing goggles, a snorkel, and dog sized flippers behind her walked into the main area of the water park. From that point on the day seemed to go very well as the two went on every attraction they possibly could. At one point they had even met up with Dil who was for some odd reason trying to surf the wave pool, and Melody who was watching in amusement from the shallow end. Not one to refuse a challenge Bradley had also attempted it as well only to fail just as much ad the other boy. They had also even bumped into Lance and Russell who proceeded to give Bradley an atomic hydro wedgie much to Polly's chagrin. Though as usual Her step brother and his stinky friend didn't pay any attention.

As for Stacy despite her earlier boasts her luck hadn't been all that good at all. In fact it had been completely rotten. She just couldn't understand it. Usually she dominated these low budget amusement park games easily, but today it seemed like her aim was totally off. Sure that idiot Bradley was on her mind but even so that shouldn't be enough to throw off her game... right?

"Hey Stace. We've been looking for you everywhere." Bradley grinned as he stuck a cone full of cotton candy in her face.

"Well I've been around here for your big fat information. It shouldn't have taken you that long to find me." Stacy replied as she took a big bite out of Bradley's cotton candy. Not that he seemed to mind since he continued eating it regardless.

"Are you okay Stacy? You don't seem to be excelling at your usual level." Polly asked the older girl only for her to snort in response.

"It's not a big deal. Everyone has their off days." Stacy grumbled.

"Not me. Stand aside Stace and let a man show you how its done." Bradley flexed and stepped up to the plate. The game was one of the most simple. Knocking over the tower of milk jugs with a baseball.

"I'm so sure Mr. Macho." Stacy felt herself fuming having not forgiven him from earlier yet.

"This will be a piece of cake." Bradley smiled smugly. Tossing the ball up and down in his hand a few times before throwing it. Only to miss completely.

"What was that about it being easy?" Stacy laughed at his expense.

"Hmph it just takes some determination that's all." He responded as he picked up another ball only for Polly to intervene.

"Actually you're holding the ball completely wrong. If you really want the best result you should be doing it like this." She smiled as she maneuvered Bradley's hand and fingers into the right positions to hold the ball. "Now try it." Bradley nodded and tossed the ball. Only to leave Stacy dumbfounded as he actually knocked the bottles over.

"See Stace? All in the wrist." He boasted only to be shocked when he had been given his prize. Usually you could expect some kind of stuffed animal from these kinds of things, but this wasn't anything like that. It was a doll with flowing blonde hair and wearing a large, frilly red dress. "Uh can't I have something that's... you know a little more manly?"

"Sorry kid. Thems the breaks." The game proprietor said as Bradley sighed in defeat.

"Haha even when you win, you lose huh B-man?" Stacy grinned in a humorous way. "Well since it's obviously something you couldn't want. I suppose I could take it off your hands."

Bradley looked from the doll, to his best friends face, and then back to the doll once more.

"Actually Stace. Since Polly helped me and all I think I'm going to give it to her if that's okay." Bradley stated good naturedly as he handed the doll to Polly.

"Huh?" Was the only thing Stacy could say in her confusion.

"Well it should be okay right? I mean you're not really into all that girly stuff anyways." Bradley commented.

"Y-Yeah that's true. Honestly I just thought it would be a good addition to my doll head collection. It's not like there was any other reason I'd want it." Stacy blushed slightly and looked away from him.

"See? It totally doesn't suit you at all." Bradley smiled and gave a hearty laugh.

"Actually Bradley I must protest that I am not much into dolls either. Although I do not mind accepting this token of gratitude. I'm sure I can try and find some use for it." Polly gave him a quick hug while Stacy just continued to stare at the ground.

As sunset came and the gang began their ride back to latchkey. Bradley noticed that for some reason Stacy seemed different from that morning. Maybe it was because of the vacant look in her eyes, or maybe it was because she seemed unresponsive to everything he said. All he knew was that something didn't feel right at all.

TO BE CONTINUED