Chapter Three is here! Yay! (throws confetti everywhere) Well, so it's not that big of a deal, but it is to me, because, well, it took me awhile to write this, since I decided mushy stuff is probably not my best area...But oh well. Me hopes you enjoy anyway! :D

Numbuh Four: Because she will never admit it, ah'm goin' ter say that she don't KND.

Aw, Numbuh Four, you ruin all the fun. I thought they were actually going to believe that I owned KND for a second.

Chapter Three

It was nearly lunch time, and I still couldn't exactly figure out why I found myself staring more and more at Kuki. I wasn't supposed to still like her. I thought I had given her up years ago...but, apparently not. Damn hormones.

So I was sitting there in the hallway, minding my own business when I see the asshole, I mean Evan, come walking up to me. At first I thought maybe I was just seeing things, but he looked like he was REALLY upset about something.

The roses. How big of a dumbshit am I? Why'd I have to give her roses?! Why not just a Happy New Years card? WHY IS MY LIFE SO DAMN FRUSTRATING?!

"Hey, Beetles, we have to talk. NOW."

"Sure, but if it's 'bout the roses—" Those were the last words I managed to get out of my mouth before I was knocked out cold in the face.

#########

I woke up looking into an irritably bright light. Was I in Heaven now? No, I deserve the other place after what I did. Giving roses to a girl that already has a boyfriend. Yeah, only stupid me would do that.

"Numbuh Four?"

I turned my head, but still, all I could see was that damn light. The voice sounded familiar, but it seemed to echo along in my head like a broken record player. "What? Please, give meh another chance! Ah won't do it again!"

A soft giggle. Then, "Do what again, silly? You're safe now."

I blinked my eyes as a shadow appeared over me. "Yeah, but ah don't wanna be 'ere! Ah'm too young!"

There was a long silence after that before a hand touched my face. Instead of shouting like I should've, I remained quiet. I liked the softness and smoothness of the hand as it caressed my cheek.

"Are you...an...angel?"

The hand drew back then, but the light did not. "Angel? What are you talking about?"

All at once my blurry vision became clear, and who but Kuki Sanban was sitting in the chair next to me.

"Oh, Numbuh Three, ah-ah-thought...eh, never mind."

I am so stupid sometimes. I actually thought she was an angel...that I had actually gone to Heaven...

They expect us to come to school to get an education – but this just proves I haven't learned anything in the past eleven or twelve years of my life!

"It's okay. I'm just glad you're finally awake."

"Yeah, well, ah'm gonna kill that Evan when ah see 'im! 'E is gonna wish 'e was never born! Ah'm gonna kick his—"

But I was cut off by a faint, "Shh," and the hand returned to my face.

"N-Numbuh Three?" I whispered, feeling myself blush. Here she was, beautiful as ever like she actually was an angel, stroking my cheek. How could a guy not blush at something like this?

"Evan is a jerk," she said, frowning. "I dumped him."

Was she absolutely POSITIVE that we weren't in Heaven because I swore I heard angels singing right then and there!

"Ya did? Numbuh Three, ah'm sorry, it's all mah fault, ah..." My words drifted off as her face came close to mine, giving me a gentle kiss on the cheek.

I remained speechless, probably as red as ever, watching as she pulled back. She couldn't possibly...but...Evan...Um, gulp?

"Now, get some rest, and stop stressing and worrying over me," she said, smiling as she turned to leave. "Oh, and I left something for you on the table next to you." Then, she winked and left the room.

What the hell. What just happened?

Last thing I remember was Kuki telling me that she broke up with Evan...but...what happened next? Wait. No, no, no, no. That...that...didn't happen. No, I'm just daydreaming again. That didn't happen.

But it did, didn't it?

Kuki Sanban kissed me on the cheek.

KISSED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.......

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why does everything happen to me? Why does my life have to do this? Just when I get out of liking her, she kisses me on the cheek!! WHY?! WHY?!

Hold on.

She was right – she DID leave me something on the table next to me. There was an orange teddy bear with a red "4" stitched onto its stomach looking at me. I picked it up, and I noticed a folded piece of paper fell off it.

"What the..." I said aloud, before my eyes began to read what was on it.

Hey, Numbuh Four!

Yeah, I know what Evan did to you, and I feel really bad. I knew I shouldn't have told him about the roses...but I didn't think he would go all beating up people about it. He really has a temper, so I broke up with him. I mean, he chose to pick a fight with like, one of my best friends! He should know better. I mean...it's not like I've been cheating on him with you. We're not a couple or anything...the roses were just a gift...uh, right?
Well, I hope the teddy bear makes you feel better, as well as the picture below. I'm sure it will put a smile on your face. It did for me!

Love always,
Kuki "Numbuh Three"

The note was so confusing to me that I had to read it a grand total of three times to get everything straight in my mind. "We're not a couple or anything..." The sentence repeated in my mind. The "Love always" thing wasn't surprising, however; that was how Kuki always signed cards. But the picture...

Well, let's just say it DID put somewhat of a smile on my face, seeing as I really can't because my face hurts so badly. It was the picture I remembered from Numbuh Three's room. The day that I asked her out.

The one where she was hugging me, squeezing my insides out of me, while I sat there, confused with my tomato red face...as usual. We were only eleven back then. Six years ago.

Crazy as it seems, but I think I like her again.

My thoughts became interrupted as the door opened again, and I struggled to hide the note behind my pillow. I kind of forgot about the bear...but that's just dumbshit me again.

"Hey, Numbuh Four!"

Even though the voice belonged to Hoagie, I was reminded of the note Kuki had given me. That was the way she had started the note after all...UGH!! Pull yourself together, man!

"Uh, Numbuh Four?" He waved a hand in front of my face, and I shook my head.

"Eh, sorry, jus' a little bit tired, ah guess," I lied. I can't believe I've gotten myself so worked up about Kuki that I have to resort to lying.

"Oh, well, I heard about what happened...just popped ya one in the eye, huh?" He teased as he nudged me in the shoulder, and I pushed him off.

"Yeah, yeah, ah wasn't ready fer it, ah could've taken 'im, though."

There goes that damn ego of mine. I swear I've got to learn how to control that thing of mine sometimes.

"I bet," he said and chuckled. "So I bet you already heard about the big break-up? It was pretty bad and everything, she just went nuts—"

"Numbuh Three went nuts?" Sure, I'd heard the two had broken up, but if anyone had to go nuts it would have to be Evan...I mean, being dumped by a girl so beautiful as her would make me go nuts, too!

"Numbuh Three?" Hoagie stared at me for a second. "Evan and her broke up?"

What the...?

"Um, yeah, that's what ah thought ya were talkin' 'bout!"

"Oh, no! I didn't hear about that one! I was talking about that big fight Numbuh One and Lizzie had in the hallway! It was horrible! Numbuh One was yellin' so loud I bet the principal even heard it! I don't know what they were fighting about, but it ended up that he broke up with her, and she went bawling into the girls' bathroom."

Somehow this story didn't have the same effect on me like it did with Kuki's breakup. "Oh, well, ah knew it'd 'appen sooner or later...ah mean, isn't it obvious with him and Numbuh Five?"

He smiled. "Yeah, I guess so," he paused. "So, I saw Numbuh Three come in here...what did YOU TWO do?" He was raising his eyebrows up and down in a taunting matter.

Cheeks scorching like they were sun burnt, I shouted, "Nothin'!"

"Sure, but that doesn't explain this teddy bear!"

"'EY! Give that back!"

"Not until you tell me the truth!" I hated being stuck in the nurse's office, feeling as if you had been hit by a truck, so you couldn't possibly think of jumping up to get that stupid bear from one of your best friends.

"Okay, foine, but if ya tell anyone, ah swear ah'll kick yer ass! TWICE!"

"Alright, geesh, you guys must've really did SOMETHING in here, didn't you?"

Hoagie can be such a pervert sometimes, but really, we're senior guys in high school. Can ya really blame him?

"Well, ah...ah woke up, and Numbuh Three was in the room, and she kind of, erm, touched my face..." Hoagie's tiny smile turned into something of a mischievous smirk. "I didn't really know it was her until my vision got clearer, but she...she...uh, kissed me on the cheek."

"DUDE!" Hoagie said so loudly that the school nurse, who had been busily typing something in the corner of the room, turned around and told us to "hush" like she was the librarian or something.

"Eh, yeah," I said, embarrassed.

"You should totally ask her out, she's diggin' ya, dude!"

That would probably be the understatement of the year if I hadn't already heard Kuki say that Evan supposedly liked her for her "personality".

"Nah, she jus' got through a five year relationship...ah don't think goin' out with the next guy she sees isn't the best thing ter do."

"Well, you got me there...but still, you'll have to ask her to prom or something, when the time comes...I mean, it's only January. But, really, I bet you know just as well as I do that a lot of guys are gonna pounce on Numbuh Three the chance they get." For once, Hoagie actually made sense.

I sighed, turning to the window. "Ah jus' wish she'd go back out with meh...but we both know that she didn't talk ter me fer a whole year after ah dumped her...ah even 'eard what she said 'bout me, ya know," I glanced back at Hoagie, and there seemed to be an worried expression on his face. "She called meh the biggest jerk in the 'istory of the planet and that she'd never, ever loike meh that way again since she knew she'd jus' be 'urt. Ah'll tell ya what...that hurt meh. Pretty bad, too, because ah knew ah still liked 'er. Eventually ah moved on, leaving that ol' child'ood crush be'ind...but now..."

I didn't want to finish. If I said another word, I knew I'd probably cry or something, which is odd for a guy to do. Especially me! Tough as nails me!

"Numbuh Four..." he set a hand behind my back. "Don't worry, it'll all come out okay..."

"'Ell it won't!" I yelled through blurry eyes; I didn't care if that nurse lady heard me or not. "She'd never loike me again after what ah did ter 'er! Dumped 'er even when ah found out it was all a big misunderstanding – she never loiked Evan, she jus' went out with 'im ter get over meh!"

I still don't get why I'm talking to Hoagie about this of all people. I guess I would've blurted it out to the next person that walked in the room, friend or not.

"Numbuh Four!" He slapped me hard on the head. "Get yourself straight! You don't need to get all worked up about this right now! I came in to tell you something important, but you are still moping over something that happened five years ago to listen!"

I glared at him, but then realized what I was doing was stupid, and stopped. "Ah'm sorry, Numbuh Two...ah jus'...ah dunno..."

"It's okay, buddy," he said quietly, looking at the floor. "We all make mistakes."

"Yeah, but what's this big important thing ya 'ave ter tell meh?"

He looked up. "Well, Numbuh One got something in the mail this morning...and it was from Kids Next Door Headquarters."

BUM BUM BUM!!! Cliffy! Well, not really, but I like to think so. Anyways, you know the drill, just review before I find out where you live and kill you in the middle of the night! I'm joking, people!! XD Just review and no one gets hurt! I mean, just review!

Preview of next chapter:

I couldn't believe what was happening. We were seventeen, well beyond decommissioning age, and yet here the five of us were, in a spaceship, just like the olden days.

Except, well, we weren't the same anymore. We were nearly twice our height, and Kuki had gotten out of her Rainbow Monkey phase, so she wasn't dancing or humming or whatever.

But she still wasn't out of that cute phase. I doubt she ever will be.

Nigel and Abby were laughing and flirting. I was about to comment about Lizzie, but then remembered that Nigel was now single and had the right to be flirting with whomever he wanted.

Wow, we were basically all single now, besides Hoagie, who is still going out with that airhead blonde from the cheerleading squad. Seriously, she's an airhead. I asked her once where she grew up, and she told me "in a house".

But oh well, Hoagie seems to like her enough, and that's what counts. Apparently she had been in love with him for a year, and finally had the guts to tell him how she felt. He had fortunately felt the same way about her, so they became a couple.

I just wish that it were that easy for me.