AN: I hope you like this, it's got rather a lot of modifications from the original but the main structure is still there.

I know that I do know her from somewhere; I just can't put my finger on it.

I'm overjoyed to see Frank, Stella, and Charlene again! Especially Stel; we went through everything together. She and I were inseparable. From giving makeovers to boy problems to kicking ass, we always had each others' backs. And then when we met Char in the M.I High project, all three of us became best of friends; we told each other everything, we went everywhere and did everything together. I sort of felt sorry for Frank; we left him out a lot because he was the only guy on our team.

I snapped back to reality when Stella gave me another massive hug. I sniffed for the one-millionth time that day as Frank and the teens formed it into a group hug; now I definitely knew this was where I belonged.

As Stella and I drove off to her flat, her left and my right hand intertwined with each other; I missed her so much. More than anyone could've ever imagined. We sat in silence as I observed the city before me; London surely was amazing. It was busy, but that was just how I had always liked it. So many terrible things had happened. But it's in the past now! I've been given a second chance; old friends, new life.

When I hopped out of her car, she gave me a smile which warmed me to my very core. It felt so good to be working with my best friends again. I put my arm around her shoulder; I was only a little taller than her so it was a good height. We walked hand in hand up to her flat; it was at the very top. She held my hand tight every step we walked up. It was an amazing feeling to know that I have my friend, the closest thing to a sister, right next to me after 10 years. 10 whole years.

She opened the door slowly to see my reaction. Her flat was a faint memory in my mind, but I remembered small details, such as she never liked to have carpet on her stairs; because she said it might 'accidentally create friction' butI think it was for the aesthetic; she always had to have nothing on the coffee table - even if it was for coffee – because when she put her feet up and there was coffee on the table, she would always knock it down; she still has her Christmas tree up because I swear she never takes it down.

Stella dragged me inside, obviously excited to show me everything and to know everything. She gestured for me to sit on the couch while she made us some coffee in the next room. I was an observant person, therefore I started to check every nook and cranny of her house with my eyes. It was rather colourful but in a tasteful way. Many paintings and posters littered the walls. Photographs were frequent too. As my eyes glazed over one picture I was instantly transported back to the moment. It was the middle of Year Nine at school and we'd just joined M.I High. Stella, Charlene and I were gossiping about the outfits, about the sleekness and how amazing we looked - At least that's what we thought at the time. Frank had just sighed and told us that their intentions were obviously not style, but practicality. Charlene had stuck her tongue out, exclaiming "We're going to take a snazzy picture anyway, spoilsport." Thus, the photo of us all clutching each other, taken by a rather reluctant Frank, was born. I think it's fair to say that's when I knew our team was going to work because it wasn't about liking everything about each other, but being able to taunt and tease whilst knowing there was a line. Thinking back on it while looking at Stella's photos, I realised each picture held so much meaning. Almost as if by taking a photo, you froze not just the precise moment but the whole event, captivating time and keeping our youth alive even as we age.

Where Stel was making coffee, I saw on the shelf above her a small, deep purple box, covered in bedazzlement of all sorts. I knew what was inside that box; it was a gift from me to her that I gave to her on her eighteenth birthday. Inside the box was a beautiful golden ring and carved into that ring was a small phrase, 'With you, I ignored the warning signs'. That held significance because I always felt that when with Stella, together we could conquer anything. From our schoolyard crushes to the evil plans of KORPS. Now that I think about it, I felt something cold against her hand when she took mine, but it might have been another ring. Frank's engagement ring perhaps? Which reminds me…

"Hey, Stel…"

"Yeah?"

"How are you and Frank going?" I heard something snap from where she was standing. I look around the see Stella leaning on a bench, head facing the wall in front of her. She was moving slowly, up and down, showing she was taking deep breaths.

"Stel?" She walked over to me with a solemn expression, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She sat down next to me on the black couch and I took her hands in mine. A single tear rolled down her cheek and then she looked away; I know she doesn't like crying in front of people.

"What's wrong?" She took a deep breath, filling her lungs up with oxygen. When she exhaled, she closed her eyes, trying to regain some control over her emotions.

"F-Frank and I… W-we…uh…b-broke up." I could not believe my ears. They were the cutest couple ever! Whenever they looked at each other, they went all lovey-dovey and every time I rolled my eyes. They were smitten in love and now they'd broken up! That can't be possible!

"What?! No! Why?!" I had wide eyes and my eyebrows furrowed slightly, but when I saw Stella's face, I immediately changed my expression and emotions to sympathetic.

"It's okay Stel, you can tell me." She hugged me so tight and buried her head into my shoulder, wetting the fabric with every salty tear. I still can't believe it; when did this happen?!

"Stella… Please tell me." She lifted her head up to see my face. But her cheeks were red and swollen, tears still running down her cheeks while I stared into her sorrowful eyes. I hated it whenever she cried; she would either never show her emotions or let them all out at once when no one was looking, but I always saw right through her, right through her stone-hard expressions, right through her make-up right through everything.

" I-it was after the KORPS assault a-and…" I held her hands and squeezed them tight to show that I was here for her; I will always be here for from now on.

"… When we thought you, y-you know, I got angry at F-Frank because he closed the b-blast doors on you and the others, so I-I-I dumped him." She broke down into tears all over again so I hugged her.

"Do you regret it?" I already knew the answer, but I needed to know if she could still trust me. After all these years, I just need a simple answer. She looked up, wiping the tears from her face.

"I regret it every second of every day of my life." She furrowed her eyebrows and looked like she was about to explode with pent-up emotions, the most dominant being frustration.

"… But those stupid protocols. He'll lose his job and I'll feel guilty for the rest of my life. Besides you, he was the closest person to me."

"Stel, it's okay…" she pulled away from my embrace, her whole energy showing that of a broken little girl.

"No! It's not okay! I've lost myself Hyperia. I used to be happy, truly happy. Protocols didn't mean rules in my mind, they meant advice. I didn't feel trapped, suffocated and alone. Now all I have is some overpriced suits, paperwork, and a stoic expression. The man I'm infatuated with probably hates me now and I'm nothing but a scapegoat for M.I.9 all the goddamn time!" Throughout her speech, her voice had risen and her face was soaked with salt water. She slumped down back onto the couch, looking down at her feet.

"Why is the world so unfair?" She whispered and I put a hand around her waist and pulled her next to me. She leant her head on my shoulder as a decade of turmoil and self-hatred came spilling out. I leant my head on hers and we spent a few minutes in silence, besides the odd sob coming from Stella. I need a way for them to get back together; I can see how miserable her life has been, first without me, and now without Frank. But how?