-Shopping today. Meet at our table at 2

I threw my phone down on the couch next to me. The last thing I wanted to do today was leave the safety of my apartment. The TV in front of me blared an episode of South Park, loud enough even the neighbors could probably hear it. The volume was almost maxed out in an attempt to clear my still-spinning head, but it was no use.

It had been a week since I had escaped Ia's apartment, and the scene unfolding within it. During this week, I only left my apartment for work. Nothing else. And Miku had caught on. She had texted our group chat, including her, Ia, Gumi, and I. At least she wasn't directing her impatience directly on me.

My phone buzzed again. It was Ia.

-I'll be there

Soon after, Gumi responded as well.

-Yay! I just got paid, too!

I took a deep breath. Even thinking of her made me want to stare at the picture Miku had sent me. The idea of its existence terrified me, because there was physical proof of… the event, but I also couldn't bring myself to delete it. Or even to tell Miku to delete it. Not even was the only proof, but it was also the only thing I was able to keep from that night. A souvenir, almost.

A pang of guilt shot through me. Gumi knew nothing of this, and here I was, hoarding this moment to myself. If she saw this picture…

I was staring at it again. I hadn't even realized I had opened it. Locking my phone and setting it back on the couch, I returned to the show.

It instantly vibrated again.

-Rinny? You going?

Only one person still called me by that name. My finger found my temple and rubbed it as I stared at the text. I couldn't say no to her. Her puppy dog eyes shot into my mind, and I began typing.

-Yeah. Sure thing

She instantly replied.

-Yayyyy!

The clock read 12:34. After this episode, I'd start getting ready.

I lied to myself. I had watched a couple more episodes, and was now walking up to the corner table at the food court, a full half an hour late. Oddly, I wasn't in a hurry.

"There you are!" Ia scolded me. "We've been waiting!"

I shrugged, trying to avoid the eyes of the green-haired girl across from her. "I, uh, took a nap."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Gumi waved a finger at me. "Can never get enough beauty sleep, huh Rinny?"

"I guess not." My hands folded in front of me. "So, where to?"

Miku had watched me walk up silently. I could tell she was overly aware of my nervousness around our friend, as he was watching our interactions carefully. Finally, she stood. "I need makeup!"

"To MAC it is!" Ia yelled triumphantly. Her and Gumi rose with Miku.

"Good idea," Gumi cheered. "The first store you take me to is the one where I'll spend the most money," she muttered.

I grinned. We began our walk through the crowded food court.

Gumi fell into step next to me. "Are you gonna get anything?" She asked me.

I continued to fiddle with my hands. "I'm not sure."

"I'll help you find the good stuff," she promised. "We can do makeovers!"

I chuckled. "Um, maybe." It really wasn't my thing, but with the excited look on her face, she could convince me to do just about anything.

The store was on the first floor, only a few steps away from the food court. Gumi bounced inside ahead of us with Ia in tow. Miku took the opportunity to slide up next to me.

"You okay?" She asked me.

I stared after Gumi as I answered. "I… I'm fine."

"You know, you could just… tell her."

I shook my head. "I can't."

"Why not?" Miku veered off to the side, scouring the shelves for products. I followed her.

My mind worked to find an answer. "Because she expects some hot guy. Guy, Miku. Not girl."

Miku shrugged. "Maybe she's into you."

I couldn't let my hopes up with talk like that. "She said a hot guy." I dismissed. I frowned.

She watched my expression warp sadly. "Well," she turned away from me. "Just let me know if you need anything, okay?"

I nodded wordlessly. She continued looking through the shelves, and I turned on my heels to go find Ia and Gumi.

They were browsing the eyeliner section. As I approached, Gumi would pick up one of the pens, excitedly showing it to Ia, and then set it back down. Ia did the same. When they saw me, Ia smiled, and Gumi's eyes lit up in that butterfly-inducing smile.

"Rinny! Look!" She waved something at me. "This one sparkles!"

I laughed as I became close enough to look at what she was waving in my direction. "...Interesting," I laughed as I looked it over.

She pouted like a two-year old. "It's cute!" She insisted.

"I don't think you need it," I pointed out.

Her bright eyes blinked blankly in response. "Why not?"

I couldn't stop myself. "Your eyes are pretty enough without it."

Ia shot a look at me from over Gumi's shoulder.

Gumi stared at me blankly for a moment, and then her signature grin reappeared. She punched my jokingly in the shoulder. "Shut up!" She laughed, placing the eyeliner back on the shelves.

We continued looking through the products until Gumi's hands were overflowing. Ia had decided to save her money for clothes, and Miku was easily picked out across the store.

"You guys aren't getting anything?" Gumi asked.

We shook our heads.

"I want new jeans," Ia reasoned.

"Okay! I'm gonna go get Miku, and we'll meet you guys out front, okay?"

We nodded in unison. My eyes followed her as she ran through the store as she weaved through the customers, eventually finding Miku.

"Rin." Ia's tone was accusatory. "What was that about?"

I gave her a sideways glance, and didn't reply. I didn't really know how to. Instead, we both made our way out to the front of the store.

We sat in silence before Gumi and Miku emerged. Miku carried only a single small bag, while Gumi flaunted two full-size grocery bags.

"Rain check," she told us, setting them at her feet for a moment. "My Mom just texted me, and needs me to go pick up my brother from school."

Ia frowned. "Aw, that sucks. We'll do something this weekend," she promised.

Gumi beamed. "Okay!" She took another deep breath, and picked up her bags again. "I'll see you guys later!"

"See ya, girlie," Miku waved.

"Bye Rinny!" She ran off.

I sighed as I watched her skip away.

"Rin," Ia said again.

I avoided her eyes.

There was a pause, and Miku narrowed her eyes "What's going on?"

"Rin flirted with her."

Miku's eyes widened. She sat down next to Ia and I as she pulled her phone. "Rin… can I show her?"

Frustration boiled up in me. "Why do you have to show her? Can't you just tell her?"

But Miku had already pulled the picture up, and aimed her phone at Ia.

The girl's eyes widened. "Dude." Her gaze snapped to me. "You're Gumi's Prince Charming?"

I stood, and turned towards them. My frustration had turned to anger. "No, Ia!" I almost screamed. A couple people sent sideways glances towards me. Embarrassed, I crossed my arms and lowered my head. "I'm not anyone's 'Prince Charming'," I muttered. "I'm just an idiot who's fallen for a straight girl."

My outrage seemed to infect Miku as well. "Well if she's kissing you, she's obviously not straight, Rin!" She retorted.

My argument caught in my throat. I stared at my shoes.

"You need to tell her." Miku's voice wasn't nearly as gentle as it had been when we entered the store.

I know, I thought to myself. But how?

"Why?" I asked, even though I knew exactly why.

Miku didn't respond. Her shoulders slumped, and she took a deep breath.

"Come on," Ia chimed in, clearly bummed at the somber mood change. "Let's just enjoy the day, okay?" She looked back and forth between Miku and I. "Nothing a little girl's time can't fix, right?"

Girl's time is what started this in the first place, I resentfully thought to myself.

Despite my mood, Miku and I followed Ia to our next store. The two girls were happily chatting away minutes after our argument.

I tried to participate. But the weight of this secret was beginning to weigh me down, and I needed to do something about it.

Thank you guys for reading! Nothing much to announce today :) Chapter three will be up next week!