I think it's time for another chapter of Social Problems. The story will have both a good and a bad ending, with this chapter serving as the branching point for the two paths!

A new poll has arrived on my profile page – this one is important! Would you like to see the good ending or the bad ending to Social Problems first? Cast your votes!

I'm also considering writing another chapter of Family Problems, my Momo and Markus story. Thanks for returning to read some more, and let us begin the next part!


Social Problems – Decision Time

I breathe a sigh of relief after getting into Mark's car. Man, do I hate hospitals. "We're good to go. Can't believe it took almost an hour to have someone stitch my lip."

Mark shrugs, a smug little smirk pointing at me, "You could have let me see to that at my house instead. Rightfully so I'd think. I was the cause after all."

Not a chance. I couldn't have him do that, "You're not to blame for giving me a wakeup call I've long had coming. It's fine – not a drop of bad blood between us in the slightest, my friend."

It makes me think about what he said earlier this evening – the whole 'giving up' thing. It's true that I don't want to turn my back on music, but is it really such a good idea pursing Nikki like this? I mean, it's true that I care about her, but what if I end up causing her more harm than good?

"Hey, Markus," I continue with a hint of optimism, watching him tap his fingers rhythmically against the steering wheel, "About what you said earlier…. I think I'm a step closer to figuring things out."

"Oh?" He glances my way, taking off his sunglasses to give me an inquisitive little stare, "Enlighten me. I'd like to think this evening has taught you the value of perseverance."

With a turn of the keys in the ignition, the car comes to life, its engine roaring like a steroid infused lion. We're in motion, out of the parking lot and back on the highway before I can even focus my thoughts. I'm lost in the sensation of the wind in my hair. Being on the open road like this – it makes me feel at ease with the world.

With a sigh of approval, I lay my head back against the leather of the seat, watching the dotted stars in the sky speed past as we make our way back toward the centre of town, "I'm coming back to the band, Mark. It's been far too long sat in a grubby little bar pouring drinks for extremely ungrateful customers."

I've given my life to music, singing, writing songs; playing the violin. To waste away in a dead-end job like I am now would go against everything I've dedicated myself to since I was a kid. More than anything, I want to feel the thrill of standing on stage with people chanting my name. Call me vain, but it makes me feel so full of vigour.

"Thank goodness for that," smiles Markus as he keeps his eyes upon the road, "I was beginning to worry we would end up on hiatus until you decided to come back. I'll call the twins and arrange a practice for next week… Thursday maybe."

I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't sit around my apartment anymore. The humdrum life of pouring drinks and lounging on my couch is making me seriously miserable. The only thing that brought me even the slightest shred of happiness was the time I spent with Nik-

"Nikki…." Shit – just what am I going to do about her? I know for sure that I want to be back in the music game, but is it really okay for me to try and pursue things with her further? I mean, I care about her, of course I do, but….

I can't stop recalling how adamant Tiffany was about me not seeing her again. Maybe it is for the best that I don't get involved again. After all, the countless amount of nights I've had with disturbed sleep stand as testament to how often I've worried myself sick over it all. I mean, dammit, the dark rings underneath my eyes are getting worse.

However, there's something powerful rising up from the core of my being as well. I feel it, dark and thoughtless, pulsing with vibrancy. When the band first got back on its feet, things were amazing. Women cheered for me, they screamed my name, and the twins took home girls after every show. To be on top of the game like that – to be only a step away from conquering the local music scene, I think it made all of us feel like kings.

The snapping of fingers, "Mike…. Did you hear what I just said, brother? I'm stopping for gasoline. You want something from the service station?"

Mark's voice brings me back. Breaking my line of thought, I look to him and give a little shake of the head. "Na. I'm good, thanks. I think I'll chill here while you fill the tank."

With a screech of the tires Mark's road warrior – his mighty stallion of the open highway comes to a stylish, sliding stop. With nod, I watch him pull open the car door and step out, flexing his muscular arms, "I won't be a moment. Take it easy until I get back."

A slamming car door – and I'm left to my own thoughts once again. My hand gravitates toward the Huniebee I left sat in the glove box earlier. "Huh? I swear… this thing has a mind of it's own."

The radiantly colorful LED screen beams with light, yet something is very wrong with the whole setup, "Black hearts? What in the world does that mean?"

My contacts have been restored to their previous state. Tiffany, Audrey and Nikki are displayed one after the other in a neat little list. However, Miss Maye and my party girl ex, Miss Belrose, have black hearts listed beneath their names instead of red.

"Another message? No caller I.D linked to it either…." With a flick of the finger, I sweep away the screen showing the girls. My eyes are greeted with a magical text, all-singing and dancing, smothered in pink hearts.

'Yo champ! Welcome to the wonderfully amazing concept known as the 'Hate Meter'. You piss off a girl too much, hurt her feelings, be a jackass, and you'll end up in a state of negative affection with her. If the bar reaches the full five hearts, she'll completely break off contact – never wanting to see your face again. You're the first person to ever need a hate meter, so… CONGRATULATIONS! You've helped create a new invention… but careful! Your choices from here on out will have serious consequences…. When some girls reach five black hearts, they might come looking for revenge….'

"Tiffany has two black hearts and Audrey has four. Wow, I've fucked up pretty bad here."

My eyes gravitate toward the last girl of the trio, at least finding some solace to douse the painful flames, "Nikki's still on three red hearts. I've got a chance…."

I feel as though I have another moment of choice fast approaching. The last time this happened, I chose Audrey, and Christ did that end up a total mess. With a sigh, I toss the Huniebee onto the dashboard and take a second to cool my head. The stillness of the midnight stars serves to guide me in my reflection.

"Left hand or right… my heart or my desires…. Finding love or having my indulgence? I swear…. Mother, if you're looking down on me right now, I'm sorry I couldn't get this right…. Uncle talked about you as if you were an angel… nothing like me…."

The car door comes swinging open, the suddenness of it giving me a flinch of surprise, "You're talking to yourself again…." Mark's chimes in, placing a bottle of water in one of the cup holders before he clips his seatbelt into place.

"It's been a long day, man…. One hell of a long day." I glance in his direction with a weak smile and then back to the sky. Wow…. The weight of the whole scenario didn't really hit me until this very moment. Black hearts – an accurate measure of how much I've hurt two girls that used to care for me.

We hit the road again, nothing but a grim silence at first. That is until my comrade flicks on the stereo – humming music pulling my attention as if it has its own orbit. An alternative Metal track? Interesting….

'Slip into a world where the air I breathe is mine. Nothing to overwhelm me and nothing to cloud my mind, come with me into it and you know what you will find, because time doesn't exist here... we will never die!'

Lyrics that stir something within me – the urge to be free from chains. I never expected such conflict to be born from the advice my friend gave me. There's a part of me that wants to take the love I feel in my heart and run with it, to find Nikki, tell her how I feel, and never make the mistake of letting her go like I did Audrey, Yet, there's something else too….

All of those times I wanted to indulge, to throw myself in the deep end and spend a night or two living like Audrey does – take my suave, my cool, everything Kyu helped me awaken, and use it to make people worship the ground I stand on. I went from a life of half-measures, never taking things all the way, never knowing complete loss, and never experiencing complete victory. Alas, it felt as though I'd be stuck in the centre my entire life.

Now – things are very different for me. There's no middle ground anymore. I either win with everything I've got, hit the jackpot, or find myself slumped in a corner, lamenting over what I don't have anymore. My newfound strength has helped me find both sides, but the stale air of being mediocre doesn't seem to exist in my life anymore.

"Hmm… Don't you think life's complicated, Markus? I mean, we're free to make our own choices, but at the same time we can't always see we've fucked up until it's too late."

He chuckles at me, taking a right at the end of this stretch and heading toward the residential area. We're getting close to my apartment building, I think, "That's being human, Mike. Sometimes the happiest choice isn't the most glorious. Likewise, living in luxury might not make you happy… I know that all too well."

I'm smiling, the revelation of his words serving to put things into a better perspective, "Wow," I reach for the radio, flicking over the channel to a late-night talk show, "This is getting pretty deep…."

Mark turns up the volume, his attention split three ways between the road, the radio, and me, "At least you have depth, Mike. Some people aren't bright enough to see that our every action has a consequence."

A bitter laugh slips free from my lips. Wow, did hearing that make me feel sour for some reason, "Yeah…. You're right… but sometimes I wish I didn't have a deep way of looking at things. Ignorance is bliss… shit."

Streetlights and towers of glass and metal – the new apartment complexes on the west side of the city are staring at me, their artistically peculiar shapes filling me with a faint hint of comfort. East Drive, I'm almost home.

'I gave you my heart… on the wings of broken promises! But it doesn't matter…. No, it doesn't matter anymore….'

A text message on my phone? At this time of night? Who in the hell would even bother sending me a text this late?

"Audrey?" I'm staring, eyes transfixed – stuck halfway between wonderment and abstract terror. Not a chance in Hell! I don't want to believe it, but the number staring back at me is all the proof I need.

Even Mark is looking across at me – halfway between finding somewhere to park park the car. "Are you okay?" He asks with concern, pulling over at the roadside closest to my dimly lit apartment complex, "You look pale all of the sudden, Mike."

If I squeeze the phone any harder I might break it, but fuck, it's the only way I'm stopping my hands from shaking. This message – what in holy shit am I supposed to make of it?

'We need to talk, Winters. How fucking dare you make a promise after all I told you and turn your back on me?! Why am I even wasting my time throwing you a bone like this? Fuck it… I don't know, but if you give a shit at all then your ass better be in Lusties tomorrow night at eleven. If you leave me hanging again we're fucking done. I don't care if it's been two months! You made me a promise! You fucking OWE me! I'll be waiting. Your bar tab's dry too. I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm totally fucking not. Audrey.'

The phone drops into my lap – a sickening feeling rising up from the pit of my stomach, "I think I need a drink, dammit."

Mark places his hand upon my shoulder, his stoic eyes conveying at least a flicker of emotional support, "No booze. Whatever it is, tackle it with a clear head. You'll feel better for it in the long run."

We shake hands, I'm smiling weakly at his attempt to help me, "Thanks… I hear ya…."

Just like that, Audrey Belrose is back.


Nikki

The air feels different inside the arcade lately. I'm sat in my usual chair in the corner – the one beside the slot machines, but I can't help but feel like something is missing. The game cabinets fill the little square room with a melody of different sounds, beeping, character dialogue, gunshots and the roaring of car engines, but it doesn't feel as homely a place to me as it usually does. I don't like to admit it, either, but I think I know what might be missing.

'….Of course I accept you, Nikki…. Why wouldn't I?'

His relaxing voice echoes inside me – wow, my cheeks feel a little warm. It's all just a little silly, really. I mean, I never usually let myself be too attached to people. Yeah, especially since so many are always straight-up jerks toward me. So… why does the sound of your voice make me feel so happy when you're around, Mikey?

"Damn… get a grip over yourself, Anne-Marie," I run a hand through my dyed hair and slouch into my seat, allowing the atmosphere of my safe haven, this awesome little corner of gaming, to take me away. It's been over a week now. I'm still too scared to text him again.

"Man this is annoying." I slump forward and shoot a glare toward one of the arcade machines closest to the door, "House of Zombies…."

I want to play the game – I want to play it more than anything. But starting a new run won't be the same unless I have you with me. After spending so much time in here, playing my games all alone, having somebody here with me was kinda nice.

Digging through the pocket of my shorts reveals a handful of coins. I keep on staring at them, their rounded, circular shaping, the faint shimmer of silver against the drab, flickering lights. In my hand I'm holding at least four lives, four chances, two each. He's getting better, all things considered. I think if we pushed it we could beat the Hell Knight, even the Devil Queen and still reach the last b-

"Now I'm just being stupid…." Who am I kidding? He hasn't answered my messages because he doesn't want to see me anymore. After all, why would he? Mike's tall and rugged, his eyes make me feel as melty as ice cream on a Summer day – he's even had Audrey fawning after him… freaking Audrey.

Was Tiffany right all along with what she said? I mean… I promised I'd give him a fair chance without being too quick to judge, but… he hasn't even answered a single message I've sent him since leaving my apartment the other week.

I clutch my phone tightly in my clammy hands, my bespectacled vision focused in on Mike's caller info, "If he doesn't want to see me anymore I suppose I should delete his number…. Maybe he is as bad as Tiffany said after a-"

"Hey you! You're looking a little upset! Anything I can do to help?"

That has to be the most cheerful voice I've heard all day long. My heart thumps with nervousness. There's a girl in front of me, mid length brown hair and a skimpy brownish-red dress that barely goes past her butt. Wow… she looks more like she stumbled out of the club and wandered in here by accident.

"Who, me? You're talking to m-me?" I'm pointing at myself, hands shaking.

"Heeeey! Relax! Take it easy, babe! Just thought I'd swing by and say 'Hello' to ya! Lookin' kinda lonely over here."

"No one's ever called me… b-babe before," my face feels like it's had a fire spell cast upon it, "Erm… sorry…. I'm not very good with… well… people."

The girl has the widest smile I've ever seen, her amazingly bright eyes flickering at me. Wait, they flickered! Is that some kind of trick? Wow, that's kind of cool, actually.

"Name's Kyu!" She holds her hand out to me, gesturing so kindly I can't help but reach out and take it. Strange, she gives off this really sweet feeling, almost like magic… it's calming me down every second I spend looking at her.

"N-Nikki," After a second I pull my hand away and look toward the floor shyly. Man, this is awkward, "Erm… did you want something, Miss Kyu? I'm… about to play some games before I head home."

"Miss Kyu?" She sniggers at my words softly, holding a hand on her chest to suppress what I imagine to be further laughs, "That's sweeeet! Nobody's called me 'Miss' since I worked in this shitty little nightclub back home. Man, the place was crazy! Guys stuffing money in my b-"

I'm back to being uneasy, the jitters through my body feeling all the more powerful, "Not to sound rude… but there's other people in here you could talk to. You didn't have to bother me…."

"Ohhhh but I did! See, Nikki…. You're the only girl I can trust to do something super important!" She reaches out and grabs my hand, making my whole body shudder, "Believe it or not… you could've been the answer to all of my problems from day one! Makes me feel a little dense for overlooking you."

"Overlooking?" Just what in the heck is this crazy chick saying? Please, just leave me in peace. I really don't want to be bothered right now, "You must have me mixed up with someone else…. There's nothing special about me at all. Nobody apart from my two best friends even know I exist…."

Well, there's mom and dad, but that's a different story entirely, "Now please," My voice cracks, but I try my best to be a little more assertive, "Leave me be…."

"Hehehe!" Kyu's giggle frightens me a little. Clapping her hands together, she edges toward me. What in the shit is going on? Her hands? They're glowing bright blue with sparkles, "Looks like we're doing this the hard way, cutie, buuuut it's for your own good, his too…."

The other patrons in the room aren't even looking this way! How can they not see this nutty girl coming at me with those glowing hands? Is this a dream? Have I fallen asleep playing Neon Gods again?

"No, honey! You're not dreaming! This is like, totes real! I'll let you into a secret too, but you can't tell another soul, so shhhh..."

My head swirls round and round in what I can only describe as a whirlpool when Kyu's palms, still shining with strange light, touch my face. I'm warm – my entire body is getting hotter by the second. Damn… I'm throbbing. Every sense, every inch of me feels electrical. The warmth is traveling further downward…. Oh god… Shit! There? Between my legs….

A raspy squeal escapes my lips – yet not a single person looks my way. Kyu rests her head against my shoulder, from the corner of my eye, I can see a warm smile curving her lips, "I'm a fairy… a love fairy for a dating agency in the Magical World. I've been given my most difficult job yet… and you're gonna help me save the helpless lug before it's too late…."

"Fairy," I gasp between the sparks erupting inside my body, bringing me closer and closer a sensation I've seldom felt at the hands of another, but damn… it feels good, "….Why are you…. If you don't stop I think I'm gonna-"

"Hehehe," Another giggle, it sends shivers racing down my back, "It's okay, Nikki," she whispers, still feeding me with this power… this magic! "Wow… you're crazy repressed, aren't ya? Don't be ashamed! Let it happen…. All I'm doing is charging you with a little jolt of Flirtation, and a nice big burst of Talent! True, your Talent is already crazy high… but if we overcharge you it might just be enough to win him over."

I feel the sweat pouring down my face, my sweater sticking against my drenched skin. Every fibre of my body is ablaze, I'm so close… shit… this is filthy… How can people not see this?

"Win," I sigh, my tense body on the verge of meltdown, "Win who over?"

A surge of lightning pulses through me – every circuit inside overloads with a sensation so powerful I can't hold back. The air against my skin feels so good, the swelling within my core spilling over as if I've reached some kind of strange alternate dimension. It's too much for me to handle, the entirety of me slumping forward: a cry of truest bliss muffled against Kyu's shoulder. I'm floating on cloud - dampness between my legs.

"There you go!" Kyu is patting my back softly – when I look up, I'm greeted by her bright eyes – a happy smile. Hey! Is she mocking me?

"That was kinda fast… but you'll have to do, my geeky little saviour!"

"Hey," I bite in soft retort, the waves still crashing against my shoreline, "That's not nice!" Adjusting my glasses, I frown at Kyu. Wow, you didn't have to call me geeky, "Besides, what am I supposed to be helping you with? You haven't been clear about any of this."

The girl flips back her dark hair – waggling a finger at me in amusement, "I've given you all the skills you need, Nikki! Now… I need you to go out there and catch a Tiger."

"Catch a Tiger? What the heck are you talking about? Speaking in riddles like that doesn't make any sense. How am I supposed to know what to do? Kyu…"

She's turning her back on me, already walking away in that revealing dress of hers. Talk about rude! Are you even listening to a word I'm sa-

"Take care of him for me, alright?" Kyu stops by the doorway, but somehow I can still hear her. It's almost as if she's echoing inside my head, "He's strayed so from his path it's going to be hard to bring him back. You're my trump card, girlie! Where the Redhead and Blondie failed… you might be the one to set things right."

This is insane…. Who is she talking about? Shit, this is cryptic! Unless…. No way? Surely, she isn't talking about him. Blondie, blonde hair? Tiffany? Redhead - Audrey? She's talking about Mike, isn't she? How does this girl know-

"Bingo," Kyu confirms my thoughts, "It's up to you, Nikki. You always dreamed about becoming a hero in your video games, didn't ya? Well, now it's your chance! You're my Guardian of Love! Save Mikey from himself!"

"From himself?" What does she mean, "Is he alright? He's isn't staggering around drunk somewhere, is he?"

"Nooooo! Nothing dumb like that!" Kyu waves off the idea with chuckle. "Real talk for a second, Nikki! You can do this! You're gonna be his hero! You have the power to make him happy."

"Make Mike-" My cheeks blaze red, "This is crazy... I can't be a hero... I don't have it in me..."

A hero? Me? No... wait! I do feel more passionate suddenly… not to mention creative. I nod, looking toward the door, but Kyu is already gone. Without a shred of doubt, I take my phone in my hands, "I'll do my best."

'That's the spirit! You're his last chance.'

I hope I'm dreaming. Maybe if I pinch mys- Owww! No... I'm awake! I just saw a fairy - a fairy! But... don't they have wings? Man... it's nothing like the video games at all.


Mike

No alcohol, it's very hard to not touch the bottle of rum sitting on the counter behind me when there's a black hole the size of which I've never felt before draining me dry. Why can't things be easy for a damn change?

'I gave you my heart… on the wings of br-'

"Not again," I sweep up the phone a second time; squeezing it so tightly, I feel a 'crack' between my fingers. Great, I've broken the cover. At least it isn't the screen. This is too much to cope with. The Huniebee forwards messages to my regular phone automatically, so I can't escape them even if I want to.

With a couple of presses I'm on the message screen. I can only imagine what colorful shit Audrey has to say no- Wait! It isn't Audrey….

"Nikki…. I don't believe it." A calming breeze blows through me – cooling my frayed nerves and setting my tired mind at ease, "You still want to talk to me after everything that happened with Tiffany before?"

My eyes begin scanning the message: a comforting thump in my chest reinforcing the little orb of happiness that glows inside because of her contacting me. I'm pleasantly surprised.

Hey Mike…. You know I'm not good with words but… I guess I miss you. I hope you feel the same way about me. How about we meet at the arcade after I leave work tomorrow night? I finish at ten so… I'll be waiting. Even if you don't turn up I'll be waiting too, because…. God okay, I'll come out and say it. You make me feel really happy when you're around. I hope you show up, but if you don't I'll get the message…. Nikki x x x.'

"Oh for the love of…. Yet again, I'm forced to choose. Audrey or Nikki? Which one do I reply to?"

Two very differently toned messages from two girls who likewise could not be any more different if they tried. This is it – I stand before two doors with a pair of keys in my hand, but it's fairly safe to say that whichever one I choose to open, the other one will slam shut behind me forever.

"Nikki stuck by me this past month or so. No matter what, she's given me a fair chance and always treated me kindly, being a true friend to me beyond words. Then there's Audrey…. I turned my back on her, but yet she still wants to see me again for some reason."

I scoop up the Huniebee, setting my regular phone on the arm of the leather couch. A flick of the screen brings up the profile page, "Okay…. Nikki is hovering between three red hearts and four, and Audrey-"

Her reading on the scale seems to have changed, "There's only two black hearts filling her Hate Meter. It's decreased…. I wonder what caused that."

Free will – my freedom of choice, the unique thing that sets me apart from an animal bound by instinct. Before the end of the night, I need to come up with an answer. Audrey or Nikki? Which girl should I agree to meet?

"Well, this is it…. Decision time."

To be continued….


Thank you once again for supporting this story! I'm very grateful! As always, please feel free to leave some feedback if you would like. Also, don't hesitate to vote in the new poll! Would you like to see the good ending or the bad ending of Social Problems play out first? Your opinion as a reader matters, so please let me know. The voting will be open for at least a week!

There's also Envy Problems – a new story set after the bad ending to Social Problems. I won't be doing much with it until Social Problems is finished, but you're more than welcome to check it out.

Keep on supporting the official releases of Huniepop and Huniecam studio! I'll see you in the next chapter of the Problems series!