Hey you all... so I decided I'd update the next chapter of both stories at the same time :P Hope you all will enjoy it.

Thanks for all of your kind reviews! They're really encouraging, and they keep me writing! If I don't update as often as I'd like to, is because I've got some things to do at school and home, so please be patient. Please keep reading and reviewing!

If I never met you

Chapter 10

Break up

The first week of Spring Break had already gone by, and the second was almost about to finish. During those weeks, Stitch and Lilo had spent a lot of time together, sometimes at home and sometimes outside, in the beach or somewhere else. Today was Wednesday, and Lilo wanted to enjoy her last free days with Stitch as much as possible. She was still thinking about what could they do in the rest of the day, but she had no ideas. Stitch was up in the dome, still sleeping.

"Morning, baby." Nani said hurriedly as she entered the kitchen. Nani grabbed milk from the refrigerator and then some cereal to prepare her breakfast.

"Lemme guess… you're late for work, again?" Lilo said as she looked at her sister, trying her best to hurry up.

"Uhh, kinda… I told Jumba I would need Belle, but he insisted in taking her yesterday."

"Where's he going?"

Nani didn't reply. She was too busy trying to eat quickly. When she was done, she stood up in a jump and kissed Lilo.

"See you later, baby. Oh, turn off the oven in about half an hour!" She said at last.

"Turn off the oven?" Lilo wondered briefly. She turned around and looked inside the oven and saw something inside. She didn't know what it was, but she didn't mind a lot either.

She returned to her former thoughts of what she could do with Stitch that day. She looked through the window. It was a cloudy morning, so it wouldn't be such a good idea to go out anywhere.

"Aloha, Lilo." she heard a voice. She turned her head and smiled.

"Morning, Stitch." She replied. Stitch smiled and then rubbed the sleep away from his eyes. The first thing he did was taking the carton of milk and throwing it into his mouth, and then some cereal followed. Lilo snickered.

"Guess you already had breakfast, right?" She asked. Stitch nodded. "Well, then what do you think about watching a movie?"

"Ih!" Stitch agreed. Ten minutes later, Stitch was sitting on the couch, ready to watch the movie. Lilo was in the kitchen, looking for some popcorn pack.

"Stitch, do we have any popcorn left?" She asked loudly from the kitchen. Stitch winced at this.

"Uhh… Stitch was too hungry…" he started, but Lilo understood immediately. She sighed and went out of the kitchen.

"Well, I guess I'm going to the store to buy some."

"Stitch go with Lilo?" Stitch asked hopefully.

"Yeah, why…?" She started, but then stopped on her way. "No, wait. Nani wanted me to turn off the oven in… about five minutes. I think you better stay to turn it off. I don't know what that thing is, but oh well… I'm going to buy some popcorn, okay?" She said as she opened the door. Stitch nodded.

"Please, don't forget to turn off that thing!" Lilo said at last as she went downstairs.

"Stitch won't! Meega promise!" Stitch shouted back.

Ten minutes later, Lilo walked back home with a pack of popcorn in hand. She hoped briefly Stitch hadn't forgotten about the stove. During the last week, he had been starting to forget a few things. Those were non-important things, but even so, Lilo didn't know what was going on with Stitch, but she knew he wasn't acting very normal.

He was a lot more distracted as well… looking at her sometimes. She shook off those thoughts. Why do I keep imagining things? She asked herself. How many times do I have to repeat this? Stitch is only my best friend… only my best friend… she repeated mentally.

Finally, she was in front of the door again. She opened it and went in. Stitch was sitting on the couch and watching TV. When he saw her, he smiled and waved at her.

"Where was Lilo?" He asked.

"I went for the popcorn, remember?" Lilo said smiling as she waved the thin pack on the air. Stitch looked at her confused.

"Lilo went for popcorn? But… Lilo wasn't in school?"

"What?" Lilo asked puzzled. "I'm in spring break, Stitch, don't you remember that?"

Stitch shook his head confused for a few seconds, and then nodded.

"Oh, right… Lilo has no school. Stupid head." He said and slapped his forehead.

"Uh, Stitch, what's that smell?" Lilo said as she smelled the air. It smelt like something that was burning… she gasped. The oven!

"Stitch! I thought I told you to turn off the oven five minutes after I left!" Lilo said as she ran to the stove and pushed a button. She opened it and then smoke went out making her cough. She turned her head and looked at Stitch a little angry.

"Gaba? Lilo told Stitch…?" He asked. Lilo looked at him a few seconds more, her frown fading away to leave instead a look of suspicion and bewilderment.

"Uh, Stitch, are you feeling well?" She asked.

"Ih." Stitch responded. Lilo looked more carefully at him.

"You don't remember I told you to turn off the oven, right?" She asked. Stitch shook his head. This was weird. He didn't remember where she had gone to, he didn't remember what she had told him to do… he even forgot she had no school until next week! Something wasn't normal about all this.

"I think I better bring you to Jumba." Lilo said. "Something's very weird around here."

They looked for Jumba in his room. There was a great mess in there, but Jumba wasn't there. The next option was searching in the ship. They walked out of the house to get into the ship, and there was Jumba.

"Jumba!" Lilo called from outside.

"Yes? Be coming in, please! Evil Genius is being very busy right now!" He responded from inside. Stitch and Lilo came in and saw a lot of cases sprawled around the floor and clothes and everything. It looked like somebody was preparing to go on a long trip.

"Uh, Jumba, what are you doing?" She asked. Then she remembered Nani saying something about Jumba leaving, but she waited for his reply.

"Am preparing luggage for trip!" Jumba replied without looking up at Lilo. Before Lilo could ask anything else, he explained. "Jumba is going on one-Earth-month trip to planet Turo to assist to a Galactic Scientific Alliance conference."

"What? Why are you leaving for so long?" Lilo asked startled.

"Uh, things of scientific industries of Turo. Am guessing they will be needing extra time to discuss Theory of genetic change at molecular level. Ha! It will be fun!" He laughed at his own joke.

"Gaba?" Stitch asked confused.

"Ah, it is only joke, my little creation…"

"Oh, Jumba, there's something I wanted to ask you." Lilo said, remembering what they had come for. "Stitch has been acting very weird lately…"

"Is that being all? Well then, that's an easy one. 626 normally acts a little weird, but if he is even weirder around Little Girl, then it can mean just one thing. Why doesn't 626 want to ask Little Girl to be his girlfriend? Then weirdness is over!" Jumba laughed again, this time making both Lilo and Stitch blush.

"Jumba! Stitch and I are only best friends!" Lilo shouted, trying to hide her reddened cheeks.

"Ih! Only achie-babas! BEST achie-babas!" Stitch remarked.

"Okay, okay, it was being only a joke! Don't have to take it so seriously!" Jumba replied. "Well then, what is this thing that is making 626 act so weird?"

"That's what I want to know," Lilo said. "He has been forgetting a lot of things lately. He even forgot that I'm not supposed to be in school until next week!"

"Um, well, so 626 is having problems with memory…" Jumba said as he walked to a near table. "626, please be climbing up table so Evil Genius can check you."

Stitch obeyed and jumped up to the table.

"Now open mouth…" Jumba commanded, and Stitch did so. "Phew! 626, am thinking you are seriously needing breath mints!" He said as he peered inside Stitch's mouth. "And washing teeth wouldn't be a bad idea… I am guessing this thing behind molar is piece of meat cake, but I am not being sure. Could be anything else as well."

Lilo grimaced at this, and Stitch growled slightly. He knew that hygiene wasn't his forte, but he didn't like to be exhibited. After a few seconds, Jumba pulled away and shook his head.

"Judging by the so many things I found in 626's oral cavity, he might have problems with memory because he's eating more uneatable things than he should, just like time when he ate tennis shoe and cashews. For example… he might be eating trash."

"Naga trash! Stitch only eat popcorn AND coffee!" Stitch said angrily.

"Well, then stop eating popcorn with coffee. That might be the one thing that is making you forget things. Well, am really wishing I could be doing more appropriate diagnosis, but Jumba has to be leaving within two hours… eh, what time is it?"

"Almost noon…" Lilo replied. Jumba's eyes widened in surprise.

"WHAT? I should have left one hour ago! Sorry, Little Girl and evil creation," he said as he pushed them outside ", but Evil Genius has to be leaving right now."

The doors of the ship closed, and then the ship lifted on the air to disappear in the cloudy sky. Lilo and Stitch could only watch as it left the atmosphere of Earth and then the planet itself.

"Well, then that's it. No more popcorn packs with coffee." Lilo said and then looked at Stitch. They smiled at each other and then went into the house to watch their movie.

"Miss Pelekai!"

Lilo turned her head immediately at the sound of her last name.

"Huh?"

"I just made you a question. I'll repeat it just once more: in what year did the United States buy the land of Louisiana?"

"Uhh… 1977?" Lilo said, accidentally replacing the right date for the date of Elvis' death.

"Wrong. If you keep daydreaming, you'll flunk the subject," The teacher said coldly. "Now, as I was saying…"

Lilo didn't hear anymore from the teacher, but this time it was because the bell chimed loudly across the whole high school. Several shouts of relief and excitement ran across all of the classrooms, because now it was time for everybody to go out of school. Just as everyday she went out of school, Lilo had to keep her feet on the ground to avoid falling onto it and being crashed by the crowd of teens that rushed out to either go home or hang out with their friends.

Finally, she could breathe again. She sighed and then started walking down the way that would take her to her home. She had been waiting the whole day for this moment, when she could finally go home and be with Stitch. Today was the day he would tell Angel the way he did really feel, and he had been very nervous last night. She had to be there for him, supporting him and comforting him.

"Hey, Lilo!"

She turned her head and saw a black haired boy coming out of the crowd of teens as well. It was Chris.

"Hi, Chris! What's up?" Lilo shouted back, and then waited for him for a brief moment before he caught up with her.

"Oh, well, nothing really… I just wanted to ask if Mrs. Lehman didn't leave any homework."

"I'd bet you got late to her class," Lilo said with a sigh. This boy! she thought. First day at school and he's already getting late for classes.

"Uh, well… kinda," Chris replied.

"Hey guys!" They heard a third voice and then they saw Victoria coming from the crowd of teens as well. Once more, the talk was principally led by Chris and Victoria, practically leaving Lilo out. She didn't really mind about it. She was a lot more worried about Stitch. She knew it wouldn't be easy for him…

"Lilo?"

She turned her head at her friends with the same expression you'd expect of someone who just woke up from a dream. "Huh? What?"

"We said goodbye and you didn't reply," Victoria said, peering at Lilo with curiosity. "Everything okay?"

"Oh, uh, yeah… it's just about Stitch."

"Your dog?" Chris asked. Lilo kicked herself mentally. She had forgotten that Chris wasn't supposed to know about Stitch being an alien… not yet, at least.

"Uh, yeah! Stitch… I guess he's a bit sick, that's all… and… I'm going to take him to the vet… sorry guys, I guess I have my mind off somewhere else. See ya later!"

She waved at them and then walked quickly to get home earlier. After a few minutes, she was finally facing the door of the Pelekai residence. She entered with a sigh and then searched for Stitch with her eyes, but he wasn't there.

"Stitch!" She called, but got no response.

She went up to the dome and there he was, sleeping on his cot. However, he didn't seem to be having a good rest. Lilo had already lived several years with him, so she could tell when he was having a troubled sleep: he breathed slightly faster, he moved a lot more and he would occasionally groan. She didn't say anything to wake him up. She understood him, after all. Most likely, he hadn't slept anything last night, so he should be very tired. She knelt down beside his cot and started massaging one of his long ears, which calmed him down.

"Uhh… Lilo?" He asked with a sleepy voice as he started to wake up. Then his eyes opened slowly to look at her. Lilo smiled at him, but she looked at him as well with a look of worry in her eyes.

"Doesn't seem like you had a good night," she pointed out. Stitch sat up slowly on his cot.

"Naga. Stitch couldn't sleep. Meega thinking… about what Stitch should tell Angel," he grinned, but then his grin faded away. "Stitch scared, Lilo."

"I know, I know…" Lilo said as she bent down to kiss his nose softly. "You'll do it fine, don't worry. Just tell her how you feel. I'm sure she'll understand eventually."

Stitch gazed at Lilo for a few seconds, wishing she hadn't pulled away so quickly. He had liked that little kiss, but it was a shame that good things end so quickly.

"Ih… Stitch do good…" he repeated as he smiled slightly at Lilo. He yawned and Lilo chuckled.

"Well, guess you haven't eaten a thing in the whole day, right?" She asked with an amused smile. Stitch nodded and then Lilo stood up to go down to the kitchen, Stitch following after her.

After she had lunch and he had breakfast, they went into the buggy to go to Angel's house. The usually boring twenty minutes that took to get there passed quickly for Stitch, and before he knew what was happening they were already parked in front of Angel's house.

"Would you like me to go in with you, or you'd rather me to wait here?" She asked. Stitch nodded slowly.

"Ih. Stitch… rather going alone. Lilo stay here… please?" He said with a small smile.

Lilo nodded and followed him with her eyes until Angel came to the door and let Stitch in, not noticing Lilo, and then Stitch was out of her sight.

She sighed. What a stupid question! She scolded herself. Of course he wouldn't like me to go in with him. This is something he has to do alone, not even with his best friend there. I guess I've been a little silly around him lately… she thought. She sighed once more and then turned on the radio of the buggy. She needed to get distracted.

Meanwhile, inside Angel's house, Stitch was already sitting down on the couch, nervously fidgeting with his fingers. Angel was in the kitchen, fixing a milkshake for both of them.

"So, how was your time with Lilo?" She asked aloud from the kitchen with interest. Stitch only shrugged.

"It was okay, I guess…" he replied. Great, if you ask me. It's been the best week in my whole life. I was finally back with her! He thought, not letting the thought to go out as words.

"Oh… that's good," Angel said loudly and then came in with the milkshakes. She handed one to Stitch and then kept the other one for herself. "So, what's up?"

That was the best I could ask? What's up? Angel thought as she sighed inside. She knew Stitch had come to talk of something important, and she had a slight idea of what the subject was going to be about, but she wanted to be sure of it before making any conclusion. Stitch looked at her and then dropped his eyes.

"Uh, well… Angel, I… I think… what I mean is…"

Blitznac, this is harder than I thought it would be! Stitch thought to himself and then let out a heavy sigh. He looked at Angel once more, who was now sipping on her milkshake as she looked at him. He swallowed hard. He wouldn't make it take longer that it should.

"Angel, I want to be only friends with you… not boojibus. Don't take it the wrong way. I do love you, it's just that now I think that this has become more like… I don't know… it's just that now I think I only care for you as a friend."

Then he dropped his gaze, waiting for Angel's reply. He heard her let out a sigh she had been holding back and then heard her voice.

"I know… I understand. I have to confess I kind of was expecting this, someday, at some moment. It's okay, Stitch, don't worry. We can still be friends. I'm glad you told me your true feelings and didn't keep this for any longer."

Stitch lifted immediately his eyes to look at Angel, expecting to see some sample of sadness like a tear, but instead a smile remarked her beautiful face. She opened her arms to him and then he embraced her, feeling like a great weight had been taken off from his chest. They kept embracing for a few seconds more before pulling away, both smiling at each other as old friends.

"Thanks, Angel… I was afraid of telling this to you. I'm glad you didn't take this the wrong way." Stitch said as he squeezed friendly her hands. Angel squeezed his hands as well and then let them go, still smiling at him.

"I'm glad as well, Stitch. Thanks for telling me the truth."

"Yeah, well, you're welcome. Hey, what did you mean when you said you were already expecting this?" Stitch asked, getting suspicious. Angel smiled lightly at him.

"Well, I've seen you with Lilo these last days…"

Then Stitch felt all of sudden his cheeks tinge pink with his blushing.

"What did you see?" He asked slowly, glad to know that his fur covered his blushed cheeks. However, Angel caught on his nervous tone and continued.

"Well, I don't really know where to begin… oh, I know! That time I saw you two around the mall… remember the ice cream?" She said as she let out a giggle.

Stitch blushed even more fiercely and nodded, fearing that if he even talked it would come out as a squeak.

Angel went on. "And then two days ago when I went over to visit you and I saw you on the hammock with Lilo when she kissed your nose. I preferred not to interrupt, you know... I can see something's going on between you two…"

"What do you mean, Angel?" Stitch spoke up, clearing his throat. "Lilo and I are only best friends. She only needed me to be there for her. That's all." He looked at her, still trying to find any display of sadness on her factions, but her smile seemed to be genuine.

"I don't believe you," Angel said, remarking each word with a motion of her hands. Just to change the subject, Stitch spoke again.

"Angel, you're not sad about this… are you?" He said, quite doubtful. She sighed.

"To tell the truth, I felt about you the same way you felt about me. I think I only cared for you as a friend, Stitch, but I was scared as well… and I guess I still am." She said slowly.

"Oh, really? But why? What are you scared of?" Stitch asked, slightly taken aback.

"It's because, well… I don't know if I'm ever going to find somebody else to love…" She started. "I guess I was so scared of being alone that I always tried to have you beside me. I mean, you were always such a loving boyfriend, and you always said just what I needed to hear at the right moment. I don't know if I'll ever find somebody who does that too. What am I supposed to do now, Stitch? I'm glad you told me the way you felt about me now, but I'm scared of being alone, with no one to protect me. I had nobody else besides you! You're lucky to have Lilo and your Ohana…"

"But Angel… you're my Ohana too. You're not alone," Stitch said as he took her into his arms again. "Besides, you don't have to have a guy beside you to protect you. You'll see, you're going to find somebody else when the time comes, but please don't look for a guy just because you want to feel protected. Quick decisions end most of times in a bad way."

Angel smiled and pulled away to look at Stitch. By first time, he could see tears on her eyes, but they weren't sadness tears. They were happiness tears. "Thank you, Stitch. I'm glad to know that, if you're not my boyfriend anymore, at least I have a great friend in you."

She thanked him several times before Stitch left the house. They embraced goodbye and then Stitch went out, waving at her and Angel copying his gesture.

Lilo had fallen asleep on the buggy. Stitch climbed up and smiled at the sight. He had just started the ignition when Lilo stirred. She smiled, seeing it was Stitch beside her.

"How did it go?" She asked. Stitch smiled and then the car started moving forward.

"Stitch did good."

R&R!

Okay, I'll explain a few things now. In first place: Yes, Stitch is starting to have problems with his memory because of the trip on time he did, but it's going to advance slowly. His memory won't erase all of sudden, it'll be slowly and in periods, so he'll be perfectly fine at one moment and then at the next he won't remember what he was doing or what he did.

Second thing: I had to take Jumba out for a while because if I let him stay in Kauai, then he'd realize immediately of what's going on and then there would be no story at all: it would be short and boring, so I made him leave to get things go on with nobody knowing what's going on.

Third: What do you think about Angel and Stitch breaking up? I'm not very sure if I wrote that scene very well, so I'd like to hear something about this... please?