Chapter 34: Not Alone

After the restaurant visit Clair went back to Biolumin-Essence to pick up Annabelle while Adstrum and Callie left for home. Callie asked Adstrum if she could stay the night and he said it was okay. They stopped by her apartment so she could grab some things and then they left for his house.

"So, why did you want to stay the night?" Adstrum asked as he pulled into his garage.

"Well…" Callie hopped out of the Outrunner. "I kind of want to stay with someone I trust right now."

"So why me and not Clair?" He asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Because Clair is taking Anna out tonight." She replied as she walked toward the door.

"Oh. okay." Adstrum followed behind her. He walked toward the couch and sat down while Callie went upstairs. "Make yourself at home."

"Thanks." She replied as she went into the guest bedroom. "Thanks again."

"You're welcome." He replied to her.

She took her clothes and walked into the bathroom. She started getting ready for bed. She came out wearing lacy short shorts and a tank top. She walked downstairs to find Adstrum playing video games on the couch. She sat down next to him and wrapped her arms around him.

"Uh, hi." He looked down at her and saw a look of fear. "You okay?" He felt her wrap her tentacles around him as well, hugging him tighter. "Callie, what's wrong?"

"She's here… I'm doomed." She muttered from his side.

Adstrum pulled his arms out of her hug and patted her back. "Don't worry. I'll help you watch out for her."

"But we can run into her anywhere now."

"That's okay. You hid from her as a fashion model for almost two years now. Probably would have been longer if you decided not to go back to performing. I'm sure you can stay hidden from her for a bit longer." He hugged her back and felt her tighten her tentacles around him.

"If she saw me and recognized me…. What do I do?"

"I don't know. If she tries to talk to you say whatever you want. Confront her. Or run away? Um…" Adstrum sounded unsure.

"Last time I did that we ended up fighting… Sure it was turf war, but we still clawed at each other…"

"Isn't that how a lot of people in Inkopolis settle arguments?"

"But it's here… In Carti Ridge… Don't you guys send each other to the hospital?"

"No. Here in Carti Ridge most arguments are settled almost immediately. We don't use a competition or turf war to determine who is right. We either talk it out or throw actual fists."

"We just fight that way so nobody gets hurt"

"Well, maybe next time you see her you two can talk it out. And if she doesn't listen then make her listen." Adstrum shrugged. "I guess."

"It always turns to Turf wars with her… I don't want to actually hurt her..."

"Don't worry about it, Callie." He smiled. "How much as she hurt you? You said that she would constantly make fun of you. What did you think it was? Playful teasing? Or bullying?"

"I can't lay a finger on her… Her charger usually take me out before I can do anything…"

"You've never tried getting under her skin, have you?" He looked at her with an eyebrow raised.

"Of course not! I love my cousin… but-" She softly pressed her face against him.

"You still do?" He sounded confused. "Even after she hurt you after the final Splatfest?"

"I can't bring myself to fully hate her… We are still family…"

"Huh…Well, why don't you guys talk it out when you see each other again at the concert later this week? You said you wanted to perform at the concert, right? Well, you and her can probably talk after that." He suggested.

"Right… I hope so." She seemed unsure as she nibbled on her thumb

"Hey." He took her hand and looked her in the eyes. "I'll be there to make sure she doesn't hurt you. Okay?" He smiled warmly at her.

Callie turned to look at him. She blushed a bit as she looked into his eyes. She smiled brightly and leaned towards him.

Adstrum blushed as she leaned closer.

The world seemed to slow down for this one moment. Their hearts seem to be beating more rapidly. Callie got closer to Adstrum. He turned different shades of red as Callie's lips got closer to him. He tried to move, but realised Callie's tentacles held him tightly. His mind raced trying to figure out how to react. He moved slightly towards her. He squeezed his eyes shut.

She pecked him on his cheek. "Thank you."

"You're, uh...You're welcome." He was still red and was now confused.

She smiled warmly at him and rested her head against him.

"Um, do you mind loosening your tentacles? Getting a bit tight." He smiled nervously at her.

"Oh! Sorry." She pulled them to her lap and started straightening them.

"That's okay." He took a deep breath and smiled at her. "Man, your tentacles are strong. Are all girl inklings' tentacles like that?"

"Um yeah, but yours should be too."

"Well, us guys usually have our tentacles tied up while you gals don't. You still get to use them to grab stuff. And while I don't tie my tentacles up they are covered up by my hoodie." He took his jacket off and his tentacles hung at the sides of his head. "And they're smaller in comparison."

"Hehe." She reached up with one tentacle and grabbed hold of one of his with it.

"Oh…Heh. That's one use for them." He smiled and blushed.

She nuzzled into his side smiling warmly at him.

He smiled and laid his head on her head.

Callie opened her eyes to find the TV screen playing a video game. She blinked and yawned due to having fell asleep an hour ago. She looked up at Adstrum to see him playing the game.

"Isn't it late, Adstrum?" Callie looked up at him.

"Huh? He looked down at her. "I guess. You look tired. Why don't you go upstairs and sleep?"

"If I do you are going up to your bed too."

"But I'm not tired." He let out a small yawn and looked back at the screen.

"Liar… You just yawned"

"I hate sleep." He replied. He blinked a few times.

"I'm not going anywhere until you go to bed" She hugged his side.

"Oh, come on Callie." He looked down at her golden eyes.

"Nope." She looked up at him with puppy eyes, "You need sleep. Please?"

"Oh, alright." He saved the game and turned it off. "I'm going."

"Yay!" She hugged him and followed him upstairs.

He walked into the bathroom and brushed his fangs before heading into his room. "Good night, Callie."

"Night." She smiled and headed to bed.

Callie woke up to a sound in the night. She sat up and looked around. It wasn't coming from her room. She got out of bed and slowly opened her door to the hallway. She heard it coming from Adstrum's room. She approached the door and opened it slowly. She saw him flinching in his sleep and tears rolling down his face.

"Adstrum?" Callie asked.

"Why am I here?" He muttered out. "I thought these were over…"

She gently touched his side, "Are you okay?"

He flinched. "Callie...where are you? Why am I in Inkopolis? Why is there a Splatfest?" He clutched his head and let out a scream. In his dream he was standing in the middle of Inkopolis Plaza while a Splatfest was going on. He could see Marie sitting on top of her truck but the other truck had no one on it. And Callie's solo song, Bomb Rush Blush, was playing.

"Adstrum! I'm right here!" She shook him.

"Where?" He shook his head. "I hear you singing, but why aren't you on the stage?"

"Adstrum, open your eyes! I'm standing next to you." She said to him.

He turned to his left and saw her standing next to him, holding a microphone. He blinked and looked at her. In the real world he stopped flinching and eased up.

Callie saw him relax a bit, "Like I told you I would be…"

He smiled and walked closer to her. "Why aren't you on the stage? Why is there a Splatfest going on? I thought those were done."

"This is just… a celebration… it's… a birthday. Mine… So I get to walk around..." She lied.

"Oh...well, happy birthday." He said to her.

"Thank you."

"Why are we back in Inkopolis, though?" He looked around. "I'm so confused."

"Um Marie insisted?"

"Now that's an obvious lie. You said you didn't want to see her. Why are we here?" He asked before he felt her put a tentacle up to his mouth.

"I just… I want to you to not resent this place… Yes it was bad… but I'm sure there was some happy moments right?"

"Yeah. I made some good friends, had fun…" He suddenly pulled her into a hug, both in the dream world and in real life. "And you. You are the reason I stayed here. Your smile made my day every time I saw it on the news. I was planning to move back here just because of you, but then I heard you went missing. That you left." He had tears rolling down his face again. "I'm so happy to have found you."

"I just wanted a break from Marie's bullying… I wasn't hurt….physically. I'm happy I met you in person. Too bad I couldn't show you your older letters."

"I know what I wrote in those." He said. "I'm glad you got those."

She gave him another peck on the cheek, "Enjoy the party okay? Let's have fun together"

He nodded and let go of her. He followed her as she walked away. In real life he was sleeping with a smile on his face.

Callie seemed relieved and she pulled the covers back over him. She realized how tired she was and fell asleep on a chair next to his bedside.

Author's Note: And here's the next chapter. Thank you The Bowser Monster, ThePizzaLovingTurtle, and jdaly1 for leaving reviews. I greatly appreciate them. Also, Apikachua says hello and thanks you all for more than 50 reviews.

Sorry if this chapter seems rushed. I actually did rush it to meet the deadline. Work and family are not making writing this fic easy. And the motivation shows up at the worst times. Anyway, I'll see you with another chapter in hopefully four days. If not, then I'm running late. See ya next time, everyone.