"So, a while ago, I decided to gather up all our old classmates. All of them were on board with going back."

"Back where?" Monoma asked, interrupting her story.

She looked him as if he were crazy, "Malcom, I know you're forgetful, but honestly."

"It's Album."

"Right, Album." She frowned, shaking her head. That would most likely be difficult for her to remember. "The school. We're all going back to the school. To burn it to the ground."

"Well, I'm always up for burning things." Monoma wasn't an arsonist, but that didn't mean it wasn't fun to watch things burn. Candles, matches, camp fires. Something mesmerizing about it.

"Interesting. That wasn't what you were saying before. I thought you had a life now? A life you couldn't leave for a couple days, what changed?"

A couple days? That was too long. Fuck. It was fine, Album would just have to deal with what Monoma set into motion. The only problem was Monoma didn't want her and Album alone together, and so ever since she'd said they were going somewhere, Monoma had decided he would butt in. But he didn't have days. And it sounded like Album hadn't planned to go. And now he was making Album go. Monoma had unwittingly given this girl what she wanted.

He wanted to die and kill her at the same time. He did neither. "So, why did you all decide to burn the school now of all times." He asked ignoring her question.

Ila was silent and sighed, grabbing Monoma's-or rather Album's hands. "I was scared before." She admitted. "I was scared because they broke me so completely. And I didn't know how to put myself back together, for years. I let them control me so much. I hate to admit it, but it's only now after years have passed that I'm ready to do what I should've done a long time ago. Burn that school to the ground."

Monoma had so many questions about how they broke her, about what was happening, about what this school had done. But Monoma was disguised as Album, and the only way to keep his cover was to not ask those questions Album was already supposed to have answers to. Something told him not even Album was dumb enough to forget something like this.

Monoma didn't know how much time he had left, however, it couldn't be long. He had to wrap this up. "So, what time, what day?"

"We've decided Friday, right after school, meet me outside, and we'll go to the others."

Monoma nodded silently, "Alright, I'll be there, see you later Ila." A rather abrupt end to their meeting, but Monoma had to go, he could feel his own quirk failing him. He turned, and started walking towards the cafeteria, when Album came out at that exact moment.

Monoma froze. Shit, everything was going up in flames, and the only thing Monoma didn't like to watch burn was himself.

"Two Mal-I mean, Albums?"

Monoma felt Album's quirk melt away as his own reached the time limit. Monoma managed to smile lightly, though it was strained, "Hey."

Album looked from Monoma to Ila and then back to Monoma. "You bast-"

"Hey, language." Monoma interrupted.

"What are you doing walking around with my face!"

Ila frowned and bit her lip, "he wanted to know what we were doing this weekend and what was going on, I thought it was you and that you changed your mind so I…" Ila trailed off.

"Yes, and now I know everything." Monoma said smirking. He really was a genius.

Album simply glowered and came stomping over towards him. Monoma took a few steps back, only to run into Ila's hands, as she stopped him from backing up further and into her.

Album bent and wrapped his arms around Monoma's waist, flinging him over his shoulder. "What do we do?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know, but he doesn't need to know this. I don't want him to know this."

"Didn't stop you from snooping into MY private life." Monoma growled, hitting Album's back. "Let me go you gorilla!"

"Not in your life you friggin weasel."

"I'm sorry, I thought he was you." Ila murmured, and took a deep breath. "Okay, I can fix this mistake."

"How, I already know everything!" Monoma said, focusing on kicking Album.

"How can you fix it?" Album asked.

"I know someone, they can erase his memory of this conversation."

"They can?"

Monoma froze. Oh no, he did NOT want that. That was not going to happen. Not only because he didn't want to forget the information he'd worked hard on gathering, but he also refused to let some inexperienced moron mess with his head. They would probably turn him into some stupid human, all thoughts fleeting like Album.

Monoma would die before he became like that moron. "Look, wait, we can talk about this." Monoma said, writhing even more violently than earlier.

"That's a good idea." Album said. Of course he thought it was a good idea that moron, he wasn't thinking of the consequences.

"If you do this I will never forgive you." Monoma growled, kicking and punching Album.

"I can live with that." Album grumbled dryly.

"Wait, no, we can make a deal-watch where you put your hands!" how was no one hearing this. Or did they and they were all just ignoring him. That was definitely possible. And not only was it possible it was plausible.

"Well maybe if you weren't thrashing around like a toddler, I could pay more attention!"

"You better remove your hands from my person this instant you gorilla and you better not touch my ass again or I will murder you!"

Ila groaned, looking like she wanted to bang her head against a wall. "Oh yeah, you're in a REALLY good position to murder me." Album said sarcastically.

"You better shut up and let me go or I'm gonna smack YOUR ass and there's nothing you can do to stop me because I AM in a PERFECT position to do that."

"Do it, I dare you."

Monoma hadn't been expecting that, he just thought Album would let him go after that threat. But Monoma wasn't one to not follow through on his threats so he did, as hard as his position would allow.

Album's grip loosened in surprise and Monoma wriggled out, falling harshly to the floor. It hurt like hell, pain rocketing through his body. But Monoma ignored that and jumped to his feet, running as fast as he could back into the cafeteria filled with people.

He was pretty sure Album screamed something like, 'I'll get you for this', but he closed the door and hurried over to his table too fast to be sure.

After school, Monoma had mixed feelings about walking home. He wasn't exactly scared of Album and Ila but he was scared of what kind of mess their stupidity could get him into.

He thought about asking someone to walk him home, but Album would probably just knock down his door like an oaf even if he did make it safely home. Plus, he didn't want anyone seeing where he was living. And he didn't want Ila to see either. He did have work today, lots of clients lined up after school so he couldn't sit there and contemplate too long.

Down where his home was there was a lot of twisty alleys. He figured he would lose Album and Ila, go attend to his clients, and by the time he got home, it would be too late. Plus, they'd probably never even find his home, so if he could shake them he could get home without incident.

Now the question of if he could shake them. He had faster reaction time than Album when it came to fighting which was why he'd always considered himself "faster". However, when it came to running, Album had longer legs, and more energy than he did too.

This was terrible. He couldn't ask someone to walk him home, couldn't go straight to work, couldn't stay at school and wait around. And shaking them was risky. But he did know those streets better than them. But he also had bright blonde hair that they could easily follow.

This was the only chance he had though. He refused to let Albutt win, and he also refused to let some stranger start poking around in his head. And the only way to do that was to go all out.

But Monoma was fine with that. It was his specialty anyway. He couldn't be sure if anyone was following him, or if Album and Ila were even that desperate, but he took off as soon as he was off school grounds anyway, in the direction of his alley way home.

Monoma entered the dark street, and ran down, looking back once to check if anyone was following him. While doing that, Monoma felt himself run into something solid, which shouldn't have been possible because he could've sworn there wasn't a wall at the end of this alley.

"Oof," Monoma fell backwards and would've hit the ground, but he felt arms wrap around his waist to steady him.

"Falling for me already?" Monoma turned back around to see Album's stupid face in his field of vision. Monoma bit his cheek and pouted. Cheesy pickup lines were supposed to be his thing.

"No, just nearly fainted from how ugly you look today-or rather every day."

"You weren't even looking at my face when you fell."

"Nearly fell."

"But didn't fall cus I caught you."

Monoma flushed red from irritation and embarrassment. "I didn't need you to catch me, you gorilla! I would've done it all on my own!"

"But you didn't."

Damn, Monoma was supposed to be the one seducing people and making heart rates speed up too, not the gorilla.

"Now, if we're done with the banter-"

"-You started it."

"-Then I believe it's time for us to go blondie."

Monoma hated that name but didn't comment and turned to see Ila at the start of the alley, and Album was of course, in front of the other end. Which meant he had no escape. He must've taken too long plotting his escape route and given them enough time to block it.

Album also didn't seem mad about earlier, which was strange. Monoma half thought he would beat him up when they saw each other, not flirt. Or maybe Album hadn't seen it as flirting, god knew he was a moron. "Why do you want to erase my memory so bad huh?" Monoma challenged, not bothering to try and break out of Album's grip.

He finally figured out why Album had caught him instead of let him fall. Now his arms were iron, preventing Monoma's escape. This must've been Ila's plan. Album was too dumb for this. Which only proved his theory that she was dangerous. "Why?" Album asked, "Because you can't shut your damn mouth. AND I don't want you to know anything about this. So I'm shutting it down before I turn in to another one of your crazy plans. I'm also making sure you can't get blackmail on me again."

"Wait this is important enough for blackmail?" Monoma hadn't known it was that important but silently thanked Album for the information.

"What…" Album was dumb but he seemed to realize he'd just revealed something he shouldn't. "You bitch…"

"Is that all you can call me?"

"Well you are, you're always calling me a gorilla even though I'm not! So if anything, you're the one calling me the wrong name!"

"I never said it was the wrong name, I acknowledge that I'm a bitch, and I'm proud of it. You, however, can't seem to accept that you're a moronic gorilla. Though that is an insult to gorilla's I suppose."

Album's grip was slowly constricting more, though he probably didn't even realize how tight he was squeezing. Monoma had worked him up too much for that. Still Monoma bore the pain with an easy smirk, even if he knew there would be bruises around his middle tomorrow it didn't matter. He'd already formulated a plan of escape.

Monoma let a small portion of the pain he was feeling shine through on his face, "Album, that's a little tight, isn't it?"

Album glared at him but loosened his grip. He loosened it too much though and it was enough for Monoma to free an elbow and jab him in the chest with it. Album released him and Monoma took off, already hearing Ila's footsteps running after him. "You little shit!" Album coughed.

"You should be grateful!" he could've jabbed him in the throat, but had decided on not killing him.

Album cursed his name and Monoma glanced back to see him getting up and running too. Then, he turned around and kept going. Monoma felt a little dizzy from so much activity, but since rent wasn't his main concern, eating habits were slightly better. That was how he had made it this far.

He kept running hearing their labored breaths behind him and his own. He might've given up, if they'd wanted to do anything else. But his mind was a place only he was allowed to be in, with thoughts only he was allowed to hear, and memories only he was allowed to remember. Nobody was going to know what went on inside his mind. Not his best friend, and certainly not a stranger.

"Listen, we can talk about this!" He called again, looking for other side alleys to dodge into. He found none, only the tall chain link fence that was coming. Could he scale it before they got to him?

One thing was for sure, he never thought he'd be running from Aldumb and his stupid girlfriend. He jumped on to the fence, the metal biting into his hands. Neither of them said anything to his statement, they were probably focusing more on running like he should be doing.

He tried to climb up the fence but it wasn't going well. He glanced behind him at Ila closing in and Album right behind her. It gave him an idea.

He still tried to climb as high as possible, but still couldn't get over the fence before they got to him. He was too high up for Ila to reach, but Album grabbed his leg.

He kicked Album off, and using his head as a boost, Monoma leaped over the last little bit of fence.

Perfect. By the time they climbed the fence, he would be gone.

Monoma took off down the alley, and cut around the corner. He remembered he still had to work today, and that thought nearly sapped the rest of his energy. He'd taken too long already. He had to hurry.

Turning, he saw no one behind him and ran into something else. Monoma fell to the ground and looked up at the guy he'd bumped. Damn, he was supposed to be more graceful than this.

He told himself it was just an off day. Usually all his plans went off without a hitch and words never failed him like they had today. But it was just a strange time, and he'd feel better in the morning. "Sorry sir, I didn't see you there."

The man turned to look at him and Monoma barely stopped himself from cringing. Burly beard, and knarly teeth. And Monoma didn't want to stereotype but he screamed murderer. He took a step forward and growled, "I'll teach you to look where you're going."

Monoma didn't want to be taught anything, but he had to admit, he really did have to start watch where he was going. "Oh, that's not necessary, I was just going." Monoma tried to smile, but it probably came out as a grimace and nervous looking.

He really had to get out, but Album and Ila were back the way he'd come, and this guy was blocking his way home. Monoma felt a hand on his arm and without thinking struck out as hard as he could.

He couldn't explain it, but the touch sent cold shivers up his spine in a way no one else's touch had. Not even strangers. Monoma actually loved touching people, loved how warm they felt, how alive, how real. But that touch was different. It had felt cold and lacked everything he'd associated with touch.

The man bent over, hissing and cussing, and once again like with the rich man in the parking lot. All Monoma could do was sit there and stare for several minutes. He wasn't sure why his body wouldn't move, but it wouldn't.

Finally, as the man rose, Monoma took a step back, and turned to race out of the alley back the way he'd come. He didn't look back this time, not only scared of what he would run into, but also scared of what he would see behind him if he did.

He saw Album and Ila, they were talking in front of the chain gate. Monoma's worst fear right now was that they would let the man behind him have him. But he refused to even think about it.

Then, however, he felt a hand grab the back of his shirt and yank him behind the corner. He tried to scream but no sound would come out, all he could do was make a strangled sound in the back of his throat, so quiet, he knew no one had heard it.

"Ugh, stupid shit got away. What are we going to do? Now that he knows we don't want him telling anyone I know that moron is going to tell everyone who will listen!" Album crossed his arms and sighed. His chest hurt, and so did his head. Album rubbed the spot Monoma had pushed off of. "Little brat probably ran all the way home by now."

"You're probably right." Ila conceded. "We should go back then. If we go back straight the way we came, we should be able to get out of these confusing backstreets."

"I don't know, something doesn't feel right." Album grumbled.

"What do you mean?"

He shrugged. "I don't really know. It's probably nothing, let's go."

Ila nodded and they turned, starting to climb back up and over the chain link fence.

A/N Muhahahaha see you next week.