Chapter 3

It was only 3 AM in the morning and Gumi was wide awake, just hanging up from an important phone call. She was sitting at the small, round kitchen table. Her paled face was hidden in her tiny hands as she sobbed. Her hope had been drained, everything was all going to just crash and burn, she knew it. She didn't care that her hands were now soaked from the tears that just kept pouring down. The green head just sobbed and sobbed her heart out. In fact, she was crying so hard that she never noticed the small hand that was gently caressing her back, until the voice whispered,

"What's wrong, Gumi?"

Slowly lifting her head, the green head came face to face with the concerned blond haired girl. She hastily wiped the tears from her puffy eyes as she murmured, "Did I disturb your sleep, Rin…I'm so sorry….."

"What's wrong?" The girl repeated as she slowly removed the small, white bow that was nestled on top of her head, using it to dab away any of the remaining tears on the green head's face.

Gumi grabbed the younger teen's arm and pulled her into a deep embrace, shocking the smaller girl, but only for a moment as she returned the gesture. The two of them stayed that way for awhile, hidden in each other's arms.

"Rin…." Gumi murmured the blond teen's name, voice shaky.

"Gumi, please tell me what's wrong" Rin whispered, worry apparent in her blue gaze.

Sighing ever so softly, Gumi replied, "I lost my job Rin….they just fired me this morning" Her eyes started to water again as she murmured, "It's all over now…."

"Don't say that, Gumi" Rin said in a reassuring voice. "It'll all be ok, we'll find you a better job, I promise"

Gumi stared at the girl with dull, green eyes. "It's pointless" she whispered, "Nobody would hire me, I'm a skinny, weak, totally useless person!"

"Gumi, you're far from useless!" Rin exclaimed, "I'm going to find you a job"

Gumi looked far from convinced as she let out a sigh, shaking her head lightly.

"Don't you trust me….?" Rin asked softly, blue eyes searching for an answer.

However, Gumi didn't reply, she only stared at the ground as if it would provide the answer.

A look of sadness covered Rin's face, which made Gumi feel even guiltier. She had only known Rin for about maybe three days, of course she didn't fully trust the blond. She wondered just how much the younger teen actually trusted her for that matter.

As if she had been reading Gumi's mind, Rin whispered, "I trust you, Gumi…" A sad smile spread across her lips as she continued, "I hope I can gain your trust soon…"

The green head remained silent as she watched the blond leave the room. She could tell by the look that had been on Rin's face that she had upset the girl's feelings. She thought about chasing after the blond, but decided to let the girl calm down on her own.

All the green head wanted to do was lay down and sob until she died. She didn't really know what to do with herself anymore. She started to question why she was trying so hard when there was just no hope left. Maybe it'd just be easier if she just killed herself, just like her mother had done. To end the pain, suffering, all the fears that had been haunting her since her mom had left her.

She was still so young, so naïve, she didn't know just how horrid life could be, and she really didn't want to know.

She slowly got to her feet and made her way to the sink. She turned on the cool water and splashed her face, trying to calm herself, but to no avail. She was scared. Scared what her life would hold in store for her.

Gumi couldn't help but let her thoughts wander to Rin. She admired the blond for how brave she seemed. Rin usually seemed so cheery despite the fact that she lived alone on the cold, dark streets of the world outside. Gumi knew that deep inside that she, herself was a coward and if she had been in Rin's place for any second she would have died from an anxiety attack.

Thinking about the blond comforted her in a way; however she remembered their last conversation. With a small sigh she headed out to apologize. If the blond was going to live here, they should at least be getting along most of the time.

"Rin…?" she gently called out, but had received no answer. "Rin?" she repeated, but she still didn't hear the light voice of the blond reply.

A small frown formed upon the green head's face. This was a very small house and even the smallest of shouts could echo throughout the place. In simple terms, if Rin were here she'd most defiantly have heard her calling out.

She took a walk through the dark house, hoping that Rin had just fallen asleep somewhere or that she was just ignoring her, but after double checking through the place she had to face the facts.

Rin was gone.

The saddened green head sat herself upon the small couch. She was silent for a little while, trying not to think about everything that had just happened in one day, but she couldn't prevent the tears from raining down. "I'm such an idiot" she whispered to herself, not even trying to put up her usual façade of bravery.

She was all alone now.

After what felt like hours of crying and letting her feelings free, the teen was exhausted. Her eyes showed the same dull hopelessness that her mother had always wore, and her small little form was shaking from the panic and fear that traveled through her. Gumi realized that she was slowly starting to break. Each little event brought her more and more closer to being shattered, like a delicate glass statute. She curled up on the couch, using her arms as a cushion for her head. Her eyes fluttered closed and before she knew it, everything went black.

. . .

The smell of food was the first thing Gumi had noticed when she awoke with a jolt. Green eyes were wide in wonder. The smell was so good that she couldn't even think properly as it tantalized her. She never knew food could smell so good, and her stomach was growling up a fit, just begging to find the source of the smell. All she could do was absentmindedly follow the scent to its source, the kitchen.

Mouth agape, Gumi couldn't help but stare as the familiar blond girl messed with pots and pans that she didn't even know she owned. However, the food was on the back of her mind as she pulled the younger girl into a tight hug, voice quivering as she murmured. "You came back…."

Rin, confused, glanced up at the green head whose face was still fresh with tears from her earlier crying. "Of course I came back" she whispered, "Did you think I would leave you for good?"

"I thought you were upset with me…." The older one sadly replied, "So I thought you didn't want to stay anymore"

"That's not true…" The blond replied softly, "I could never leave you like that?"

"I'm glad…" was all Gumi could say as Rin continued with her cooking. "Where'd you get all that stuff?" she asked the blond. She didn't really care where Rin had obtained the food, but she still was curious.

With a shrug, Rin replied, "I do have some friends on the streets, they were willing to help me if I bring some extra food for them later"

"I see…" Gumi murmured, a pang of jelousy shot through her as she thought about Rin having other friends besides herself. She didn't really understand why, but she wanted to claim Rin as her little friend and only hers.

"You okay, Gumi?" The younger girl asked, "You're zoning out"

"Just….tired" The green head slowly replied.

Rolling her eyes, Rin answered with a question, "How can you be tired? You were sound asleep when I got here!"

"Maybe I'm getting sick…" Gumi sighed.

"That would explain why you're always zoning out" The blond mused, "Why don't you lay back down on the couch and rest, I'll be done cooking in just a bit"

"Thanks Rin" Gumi mumbled as she returned to her spot on the couch, her worries starting to fade for the moment. The smell of the delicious food and the lovely voice of Rin's humming as she cooked left the green head feeling at peace. She felt that Rin could somehow help her through all the bad times that would happen in the future. If Rin was by her side, she'd be brave. She'd face anything life would have to throw at her.

She decided that she'd trust the blond girl.

After all, Rin had trusted her.

Author's Note: Chapter 3 is finished; I have just started on chapter 4. Other characters will come, don't worry, it won't just be all Gumi and Rin, but they won't come until a bit later. Anyways I am writing a short note, I am unhappy today. If I get a bad grade on my Math test I won't be able to go on my computer so….wish me luck peoples. I also just learned that my bone density is much lower than that of a normal teenage, swell! I want to go to bed now, until next time, bye.