FanFictionReader225- Who knows what would have happened?

Dobby908 (guest)- No need to apologize! I'm so happy you like the story so much! I freaking love Vocoloid and Nightcore and have a (minor) obsession with their songs.

Bored411- Poor Riko, but this time she'll try to get out of it herself with a few unexpected visitors.

Killjarkidranger- Oh no don't worry!

KasumiAkemi- Yes you were right!

Alice Kitten- Masami will get over it eventually, I swear, and thank you! I'm so happy that I finally 300 reviews!

BizzyLizy- You're welcome! Don't worry, things will get better eventually.

GoldenLombaxGirl- Woah that's deep. Like it though.

Medieval Midnight- Glad you like the chapter! And uh thanks I suppose?

Thank you for all the favorites, follows and reviews! I'm already thinking of what to do for my next Ouran fic, so if you can, please take the poll that's up on my profile!

~CWA

Chapter 37

I don't go to school. How could I possibly go to school in the messy, teary condition that I'm in after my fight with Masami? My eyes are all puffy and red. My face feels sore. My chest hurts and it feels like a giant weight just keeps presses harder and harder into it. I'm a total mess. After I got home from Masami's, I wasted no time in changing back into comfortable clothes. I then spent the next hour or so screaming in denial and anguish and it may have led to a small fit that I tossed everything that was on my desk, aside from my laptop, onto the floor in one dramatic sweep. Then I just plopped onto the ground, lazily grabbing a pillow and blanket from the bed by stretching my arm out for it.

I haven't moved since. Well that's a lie. I did get up, briefly and with much trouble, to get Cuddles out. She's now curled beside me on the floor as we both bury ourselves in the blanket. The floor is a lot more comfortable than I thought it would be to be honest. Even if it wasn't, I don't think I can really bring myself to get up anyway. I sniffle slightly, wiping at my eyes with the back of my hand. After crying so much, I don't think I have any more water left for there to be tears but man do my eyes itch.

I deserve it. I'm a horrible friend. I should have just told her the truth instead of keeping it secret. The last time I got into this funky mood, thanks to Chiko and Umi, Haruhi had talked me back to reality but I'm trying so hard to do that for myself. It proves harder than I thought it would be. I can't seem to shake the dark cloud that has formed over me, covering me this never ending tears. Everything just seems so dark. So… dull. Numb. Nothing. I just want to detach myself entirely from everything.

But I can't do that. I know I can't.

I stare at my phone. It's sitting close enough to me that I can just reach it and text someone. Text anyone. Someone to make me feel better. Someone to cheer me up. The twins would no doubt want to send me clothes to make me feel better. Tamaki would probably just want to come over and hug me or something. Kyoya may not text back, but he probably will with some sort of self help advice. Hunny would suggest getting cake or ice cream. Harauhi would probably be the most helpful because she would give me actual advice.

But Takashi? I know that he would make me feel better instantly. Even if it has nothing to do with what's going on. Even if it's just a hello or something, it would make me feel a lot better. But after everything that's happened with Masami… I don't think I have the heart to text him.

I can see the screen on my phone light up as the notification goes off, again and again, signaling that someone is messaging me. But I just can't grab my phone. I can't seem to will my arm to just stretch out just a bit more to grab it.

Yeah I'm not moving. I am not going anywhere. At all. For who knows how long, I will just stay here. Possibly even die here. I sniffle a bit to myself and after a bit of groaning, I decide to myself that I just can't let it consume me like this. I manage to sit up on the floor, leaning against my bed as I curl the blanket around me. Cuddles situates herself between my feet as I bring my knees to my chest. Sniffling a bit more, I do grab my phone and finally I'm able to see the messages.

85 missed messages. Yikes. I gulp a bit and after a shuddering breath of mild fear, I am able to look through the messages. Some are from Janet, asking if her advice has helped and if I need anything. She even offers a coupon for a free ice cream if I tell her how it went. There's a few from Mother that aren't very important. Just the casual I don't really care what you're doing just remember that there's an art gallery opening. She has to go to in about a month or two and because I'm part of the family I have to go with her. Which sucks.

I continue to scroll through the text messages. There's a few from the twins saying that they missed me at school today and unlike the other times, there's no snarky comment at all. Tamaki has texted wondering if I'm okay and he even offers to cancel club today for me if I need some time, but it was sent a while back ago. Haruhi has texted saying everyone is worried and she'll stop by later to make sure I'm okay. That's sweet of her. Chiko and Umi have even texted me. Chiko's texts are full of concern and worry as she texts me asking if I'm okay and if she needs to do anything or if it's her that's caused me to skip out on school today. Umi has texted with concern, but there's a few that's more aggressive concern. Things like get your ass here before I go to your house and drag you out of bed.

Then I reach Hunny and Takashi's texts. Hunny is saying Takashi is worried and that he's even ran into a pole because he spaced out. He says everyone is worried, even him. He says that Takashi wants to come by later, but then Takashi said that I probably just needed alone time and he didn't want to intrude. It's sweet that they wanted to come over, but decided not to because they wanted to give me space. Though at this point, I think it'd be kind of nice to have someone to talk to. On the other hand, if someone did come over, I may end up cracking and spilling everything about what's going on. I don't know if that would be a good or bad thing. Shaking my head slightly, I finally look at Takashi's many, many messages/

Takashi's texts are filled with the most words I ever heard/read from him. Paragraphs of words are in one single text saying that he's worried and that if I do this again to let him know. Some texts say that if I need anything, someone to talk to you or anything in general, to let him know. He even offers to go to the ice cream shop to get ice cream for me. He says that if I didn't come to school because of Chiko and Umi that they seem to be worried about me which means that they are probably genuinely trying to be friends with me which means I shouldn't worry; though such a text also means he knows what's happened between Umi and Chiko. I vaguely wonder who could have told him before shaking it off to continue reading. Each text is just filled with so much concern and love that I'm a bit flushed.

My heart swells with adoration. Takashi you sweetheart. You don't have to do all this for me. Yet he's offering and really trying. I smile slightly to myself. The first smile today. His texts are the only one I can bring myself to reply to with ease. Biting my lip slightly with a goofy grin, I type my message out and hit send.

To- Tashi

Hey. Sorry to worry you… Tell you what, on our next date, we can talk about what's going on. Is that okay?

I don't even have to wait before he sends a reply almost instantly.

From- Tashi

Saturday. Meet me at the park at seven.

I reply a quick sounds good to me with a goofy, stupid grin on my face. I know I probably shouldn't be this happy to go on a date with Takashi, especially after that fight with Masami, but I can't help how he makes me feel. And who knew out of such an event, I'd get another date out of it?

It takes a while, but eventually I'm able to actually move. I put Cuddles back in her cage, cooing at her like the baby she is. For some strange reason I don't really understand, just cooing at her and holding her for a while makes me feel better. She, along with Bubbles, is just my little baby. My whole heart practically. I move myself down to the kitchen, despite not really being that hungry. I try to fix something to eat and considering it's my kitchen and not a restaurant, the options are limited. Noodles or noodles? Or wait, what about some bread and noodles?

I snort to myself and just grab a packet of the noodles and quickly fix them. I don't feel like eating but I have to at least try to eat something. Especially since I've eaten anything all day. I have to take care of myself. If not for myself, then I have to do it for Haruhi. My friends. Takashi. The people that worry themselves silly about me. I have to eat. After much struggle, I'm at least able to take a few bites of the noodles after I sit down at the table with a fresh bowl of steaming food.

I don't get that far into the bowl before my stomach starts to protest the food, grumbling and sending a small bit of pain to my gut. I crinkle my nose slightly at the sensation. Stomach why must you betray the thing you need to survive? Traitor. I set the spoon down and take just a second to deeply breath, hoping that would help. It doesn't. Thankfully, the sound of my front door opening brings a welcome distraction from eating. I just hope it's not Mother.

I breathe a sigh of relief when I see the girls standing there in my living room. Chiko and Umi, both out of uniform and in casual clothes, are looking around with a bit of awe and fascination. Umi is going straight toward the pictures that hang by the stairs while Chiko is a bit for fascinated with the holes in the walls that are a result of the now (hopefully) dead sna-cock-rat. I would be wondering why they are even here, but I am a bit more confused as to how they even found my house, nevertheless actually got in. A small shuffling noise causes me to notice Haruhi I'm done with this shit Fujiko as she stares at me with a dead expression.

She jabs her thumb toward Chiko and Umi,

"They made me bring them here with me when they heard I wanted to come check up on you… And what did I say about not wearing pants?"

I stick my tongue out at her briefly. Though her words bring Chiko and Umi's attention to me, which makes me stop slightly. Chiko eeps at my lack of clothing before averting her eyes, gesturing toward my lower section with a please put pants on for the love of all that's good. Umi, however, has a goofy expression on her now slightly flushed face and a dazed gleam in her eyes as if she is a thousand worlds away. I guess the sight of me in just a tank top and a pair of underwear is too much for her.

Shrugging off their reactions, and Haruhi's mild glare at my lack of respect, I brush past Umi on the stairs and disappear into my room to pull some shorts on. For extra measure, I even quickly put on a sports bra to wear under my tank top before I finally meet them all back in the living room. When I reach them, they're all sitting down on the couch, eyes focused on me as I enter.

"Is this an intervention," I quirk an eyebrow, "because my addiction to ice cream isn't that bad."

Chiko covers her laugh up with a small cough as Umi openly giggles into her hand. Haruhi isn't nearly as amused as she just continues to mildly glare and motions with her hand for me to sit across from them. Sighing slightly, I do as asked, but I'm not necessarily happy about it. Haruhi did say she was going to come by so I should have at least expected her to as she as she said. After all she's not one to just say something. At least I managed to bring myself a bit more together before they came by so at least they're not finding me in my room cuddling to a snake in a blanket with teary eyes.

"So…What is it," I finally ask, my voice above a whisper.

Oh who am I kidding? I know what this is about. This is about me missing school. Possibly about Masami too. I look down and fiddle with my thumbs slightly as I wait for them to speak up. It's actually Umi who speaks first and as I glance up at her briefly, I see that the goofy expression is long gone from her face. Her eyes are gleaming with concern as she licks her lips slightly.

"Riko," she speaks up, a bit softly, and after I give her a small nod of consent, she reaches over to grab my hands with hers, "We're worried about you. And Masami for that matter."

Masami. Hearing the name out loud causing me to break again. I pull away from Umi's hands with a bit of sniffling, the tears already beginning to swell up in my eyes once more. Damn it. I knew this would happen. I knew I would just crack. Like an egg. And the yolk is all my inner feelings and I can't help but let them scatter around. I just can't keep it in. I babble a bit through tears and I'm barely able to see the concerned and slightly surprised look that the three girls share.

"M-Masami," I choke out, "We're not best friends anymore. She y-ye-yelled at me. S-Said that s-she c-couldn't believe I w-would keep t-this f-from her. And I d-don't blame her. I m-mean I'm a h-horrible friend f-for n-not telling her."

I sob and end up becoming such a mess that Haruhi moves from her place on the couch to sit beside me and I don't hesitate to throw my arms around her and sob into her shoulder incoherently. I am practically ruining the jacket of her uniform with my tears and a bit of snot. But I just can't seem to stop crying. The dam breaks and like before, it just flows out. Though everything is a bit muffled from her jacket and my own crying, I am able to hear Haruhi softly tell Chiko and Umi that I'm dating Takashi. Oh. I forgot that they didn't know about that.

I glance up briefly to see their looks of confusion and a bit of understanding, but they don't seem upset. Unlike Masami. I sniffle again before I finally pull myself away from Haruhi, though her arm is still pulling me into a comforting side hug. Man this is screwed up. I'm supposed to be the comforting older sister. Maybe one day, when things are better, I will be, but for now it seems the roles are switched. But I have to admit, I feel very… comforted. Warm. Loved. Adored. Just because I'm here with my friends and the physical touch of a hug is a bit comforting, but after sitting like that for a few seconds, I grow a bit uncomfortable and pull away from Haruhi's side hug, but she seems to just look at me in understanding as she pulls her arm and hand back into her lap.

All of them are looking at me with understanding looks of sympathy as they nod to themselves just a bit.

"Riko," Chiko speaks up softly, "Why did you hide it from Masami? I mean I understand me and Umi since we just now became friends and all, but to my understanding, you've been best friends with Masami for a while. And I know she has or at least had a crush on Mori-senpai, but I'm sure she would be understanding."

I sniffle slightly and wipe at my eyes with the back of my hands.

"I thought it was b-because of Kyoya," I explain truthfully, "I mean, he's scary, but… I just didn't want to hurt her either. I mean she is my best friend, even if she says differently now. I still think of her as the best friend I have grown to care about. And she adores Takashi so much I just couldn't bring myself to hurt her. I just couldn't do it. So I didn't tell her. I didn't think she'd find out. Maybe it wasn't t-the best decision, but I'm only a teenager. A seventeen year old with so many problems and I just… I just shouldn't have to be dealing with this."

My voice cracks slightly at the last word, but after telling them I feel like a weight has been lifted. I feel much better now. Even if I'm still sniffling and crying slightly and my heart is still pounding a thousand times a second. Taking a few deep slow breaths help a bit as I am able to look at them much clearer, my mind free from all the stress and panic.

Maybe I'm just a bit more delusional than I thought, but I can swear that I saw Chiko and Umi share a look. A look that says they have a plan and are going to do something. I'm almost scared of what they have planned. But I'm so tired at this point, I can't bring myself to be that scared as I give them a slightly exasperated look.

"Just what are you two planning," I ask, my voice weak.

Haruhi nods in agreement, glancing between the two girls with a thoughtful expression. She's probably wondering what they are up to as well. But instead of giving us a direct answer, they stand up from the couch with sly smiles on their faces. It's almost creepy with how much they are just like the twins at this moment.

"Nothing," they chime in union, but the determination in their eyes say otherwise.

"So glad you're doing better Riko," Umi adds, "But I think it's time Chiko and I leave. I think it's time someone talks to-"

Chiko nudges Umi a bit roughly in the ribs, shutting her up instantly, before they high tail it out of my house with a trail of fire following them.

Huh.