"It's you," the words slipped out involuntarily.

"It's me." His green eyes sparkled playfully.

Of course, it was him. Of course. As if Kuki's life wasn't complicated enough. There he was with his stupid charming smile. Annoyingly messy blonde hair. His freckles more prominent against the summer tan that had yet to fade.

She feels dizzy, nauseous even, and this time she knows it isn't because of the brightly colored orange and pink gym. Even for her, that color combination was too abhorrent sometimes (especially when it was a rotten tangerine and sickly salmon.)

The worst part was that it made sense. Why wouldn't Wallabee Beatles, athlete extraordinaire, join the basketball team? Well, the last time she had seen him, he had barely breached five feet, so excuse her for being a bit shocked.

Uneasily Kuki slipped on a smile. She hopes to hide her wariness, "I didn't know you were back in Virginia!" (Why hadn't he told her he was back in Virginia!?)

"Australia just couldn't handle all this," He says with an arrogant smirk and a wave at his (okay, she has to admit) impressive physique. He tells her the real reason he moved back to the states (His dad got reassigned once again). Still, he can't resist adding little tidbits of how he was the best athlete Blackfriars Priory School had ever seen.

Kuki wants to cry; she can't even pay attention to his words. All she wants to do (NEEDS) to do is throw herself upon her bed and sob until she cannot breathe anymore. Purge the water from her body until she can slip into a meaningless slumber far away from this 6'2 (he tells her this proudly) monstrosity of an eighteen-year-old.

"You alright there, Kuki? You're looking a little green." He's stopped his tirade of gloating to take a good look at her. There's concern on his (annoyingly) handsome face. A look that brings butterflies to her stomach no matter how hard she tries to stop them.

"You remember my name!" She blurts this out without thinking it entirely through, a thought that has escaped from her brain (where it is meant to stay privately). Her cheeks burn even hotter as she realizes how stupid she sounds.

But Wally doesn't call her that, simply saying with a chuckle, "It's only been four years, ya know, and we were best friends, so it'd be pretty hard to forget you." He says the last part quietly, and there's a tenderness to his voice that is the very opposite of its usual bluster. (Is she imagining it, or are his cheeks red?)

Kuki's heart is in her throat, and she wants to cry again but for different reasons now. Confusing reasons that make her head spin like the beloved Rainbow Monkey merry-go-round of her youth. To make matters worse (or better, at this point, she honestly can't tell), it looks like Wally is about to say something else. Something that makes him shuffle his feet and look at the ground.

"I actually-" Whatever he was about to say is cut off by the sound of the coach's whistle.

"Basketball tryouts will be starting soon. Please line up by grade so we can begin!" His short shout echoes through the gym. Coach Senger was a human megaphone.

The moment was gone; Wally straightened quickly and tugged on his orange tank top. "Sorry, Kuki, you heard the coach. It seems like I have to go." Kuki nods and smiles at him. It feels a bit more natural this time.

"Maybe we can catch up sometime," She says this in a bubbly way. Or she tries to, it ends up sounding unconfident.

Wally looks at her once again, a strange gleam in his eye. She feels uncomfortable and itchy. "Sure, I'd like that." With that and a relaxed smile, he leaves to join the rest of the group trying out.

Kuki quickly let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and left the gym. She feels weird, which is odd because she rarely ever feels that way. It's cold outside, early March, not yet blending into the warmer spring weather. For once, she doesn't mind the cold. Even though her blue sundress and sandals aren't suited for this weather. The cool breeze feels nice on her warm face and sweaty forehead.

Humming the Rainbow Monkey theme song comforts her more as she walks to her car (A green bug with cute decals.) As she's driving home, the soft music she listens to eases her stress even more. By the time she's home and starts on her homework, she is completely calm.

Abby calls her when she is finished with her homework but interrupts her private reading time. (Though honestly, Kuki doesn't care, Catcher in the rye is suiting up to be the most dreadful book she's read for English yet).

"Abby! How are you?" Her chirpy voice isn't fake now, as she sets her book down on her nightstand.

"Girl, Abby saw you not even five hours ago at school. What could change between now and then?" Her voice is as calm as ever, but Kuki can hear her smile. She can't help but giggle, and soon the both of them are laughing together crazily though nothing hilarious had occurred.

It goes on like this for a while, with them talking about silly things and complaining about coursework. The call's highlight is talking about how one of their classmates had broken into the science lab to use a beaker as a bong. (Kuki laughs so hard, she cries).

At some point, the call turns quieter, a peaceful calm that settles over their conversation. This is when Kuki takes the leap and discusses something. Something that has been in the back of her mind since earlier that day.

"Wally's back in Virginia," She breathes shakily, "Back in our town, I mean."

"Really?" Abby's voice is tense and quieter than before. "Did you see him around town or something?"

"I talked to him after school in the gym," Kuki laughs bitterly. If she was younger, Kuki would've thought that their meeting there was fate. That destiny designed it so she would have last period P.E. and that basketball would be moved to the gym because it was too cold outside. She knew better now though, she'd not think about serendipity and planned fortuity (That only led to disappointment.)

"Did you talk about …" Abby trails off, and there is a long moment of silence. It isn't the comfortable silence that was between them seconds ago. Kuki doesn't finish Abby's thought, though she knows what Abby is referring to. She knows it too well.

"Oh, actually, I just realized how late it is. I should probably start to get ready for bed," The change is abrupt, and Kuki's voice is wavering, but they both ignore it. Abby doesn't question the fact that it's only 6:30 either. Kuki loves her for this (and many other things.)

"Goodnight, Kuki, I'll see you in Gov tomorrow," Abby's gentle voice makes Kuki feel momentarily better. She really is so lucky to have such an understanding friend.

"Night Night, Abby, Sleep well!" She ends the call with the last bit of energy she has left. Letting her phone drop with a thud to her rug-covered floor, she collapses even further into her bed. Using up the last bit of control she had within her.

Crying doesn't describe what happens after. Kuki collapses into an ocean of hurt and her own tears. Sobbing over the boy that she had loved ever since she was ten (and had never stopped loving.) She surrenders herself wholly to her feelings even though they are painful and frightening.

And she wishes that Wally will move back to Australia soon and that she'll never have to see his beautiful face ever again.

What did Wally do? Why is Kuki so hurt? Where the heck is Hoagie?!

Author's Note: This is a story that I've been working on for a while. The gang are adolescents now and with that comes a flurry of confusing emotions. This is partly based on my on experiences and I'm so excited to have the chance to finally publish this fan-work that has lived in my head for so long. Comments, questions, and critiques are all welcome! Feel free to let me know what you think of this story!