Lyrics credited to Taking Back Sunday – "The Union"

Background info: Faye's apartment is more of a small housing complex. Have you ever watched Excel Saga? Well, where Excel Excel lives, that's how Faye's home is like.

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Chapter 4 : You Have to Learn it by Heart

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I always know to avoid the issue

got me alone so I could address you

home is where you make it, love

don't get yourself confused

besides what's it to you?

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Everyone who passed us by in the hallway probably thought... that we were a couple. For some reason, it didn't feel bad at all. I wanted to pretend, to see how it was like to be in a relationship. I laughed at myself- Faye Valentine, eighteen years old, still pretending and waiting for her prince to come and whisk her away.

"What's so funny?" Spike asked me as he heard my giggling and not to mention my lap was shifting around.

"Uh, nothing..." I answered as my laughing died down.

He looked up at me in skepticism. "Okay, if you say so."

We could hear the lecture continue through the closed doors of the large classroom. The first day would be over in ten minutes.

Spike spoke up. "I've been meaning to ask you earlier... did Vicious give you those flowers?"

I acted as if I had no idea what he was talking about. "Uh...what flowers?"

"Faye. The orchids sticking out of your schoolbag." He pointed to them.

I flushed. "Oh, right...those. Yeah, he did. Why?"

Spike sat up and positioned himself so he was sitting next to me. He rubbed his chin in thought. "So. I have competition."

"Competition? What the hell are you talking about?!" I asked frantically.

He simply smiled. "You know...Vicious normally doesn't take interest in women. Much less give them flowers."

"But he told me he was used to buying roses at the small flower shop we stopped by."

Spike looked up, staring out the skylight on the ceiling of the hallway we were in. "He must be mixed up. The guy with roses would be me."

The bell rang and Spike got up first, lending out a hand to help me up. I remembered Electra's words. And you'll fall for him, just like every other girl he's wanted.

So I declined his help. "No, I can do it myself."

"Suit yourself." Spike said as I got up on my own, brushing off light cherry skirt.

The classroom door burst open between us and tons of college kids rushed out as if their lives depended on it. I lost Spike in the crowd and turned away to the opposite direction, slowly walking to the exit at the end of the breezeway.

I felt a hand on my shoulder stopping me. I turned around only to be faced by none other than-

"Vicious?" I searched his eyes.

"Faye." He looked at me seriously. "Don't fall in love with Spiegel. I'm only warning you now before you get hurt."

Why was everyone so concerned about this bullshit? I backed away so that his hand on my shoulder dropped down. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," I said hastily before turning around and exiting the building. I looked back one last time but there were too many people to make out the ones I knew.

I continued on my way and was far out of the university when I decided to unhurry my pace. It wasn't like I was running away from anybody, I told myself.

I was on a busy street and much was going on. A fortuneteller with a bird pecking on cards was sitting on the sidewalk to my right, and across the street was a Native American sitting on an old rug filled with astronomic patterns. Odd people, I muttered.

I continued walking but stopped as I heard the sound of a fake gunshot. I turned to my side to face numerous televisions behind a glass window. All the screens displayed the words "Big Shot" and I raised my eyebrow as a blonde with too much chest cleavage appeared and a darker skinned guy with a Spanish accent blew off the smoke from the tip of his gun.

Bounty hunting.

I always considered the career. It wasn't like I was going to be a doctor or a lawyer, I just wasn't meant for that kind of thing. It bothered me that I wouldn't have much of a future. I didn't really expect one. Maybe bounty hunting would give me the fast life I've grown attached to...

I brushed the thought away, I'd have time to think about that after I graduated.

I stopped by a plain-looking café and took a seat in an empty table, eyeing the guy next to me who was rapidly devouring his slushee. Three old men sitting in a table across from him kept warning him about eating too fast.

"Slow down boy!"

"Ya old geezer! He ain't even payin' attention to you!"

"His name's Carlos, you old man!"

"Who you callin' old? We're all old you ..!"

The African-American guy with the slushee sipped the last of his drink with such force and then screamed, clutching his forehead as if in excruciating pain.

"We told ya, boy!"

What morons.

I looked out the window to see a young orange-haired girl with goggles on whiz by with some sort of scooter. Seconds later, she was followed by a barking dog. And seconds after that, an African-American woman in a leather suit zoomed by in a sleek black sports car. I watched the guy quickly stand up and rush out the door, yelling something profane.

The whole lot of them were probably bounty hunters. And in addition, insane.

Shortly after, I got up to leave. I didn't have any woolongs to buy anything, which was what I came in there for. How stupid. I had to head home soon, anyway.

I crossed the street and looked up to see the city's innovative clock tower, reading it was already 4:15 PM. I really needed a ride back to my apartment, but checking my coat's pockets, I wasn't surprised that I still didn't have any money.

Faye. You have to get back to work tomorrow and earn some damn woolongs! I reminded myself. Tomorrow was Saturday so I'd have loads of time to have some fun at the casino.

Suddenly I saw a dark red convertible skid to a stop at my side. I wouldn't have paid much attention to it but the man behind the wheel called out, "Do you need a ride?"

I didn't look at him directly, I only stared at the side doors. "No...I'm fine..." I was desperate, but I wouldn't just trust anybody.

"...Did you forget the sound of my voice, Faye?"

I looked at him more closely and my eyes widened in realization. The familiar feeling rushed through me like it did once before. It was my old crush, If you could call it that...

Whitney Hagus Matsumodo.

I hesitated, but I looked up to the sky as it began to darken. It's just a ride....

I hurried to the passenger seat on the other side and slammed the door shut. I finally turned to him and added one of my unforgettable flashes of a smile that I knew he'd never fail to remember.

"...Yes. I forgot everything."

He kept a straight face as if he had predicted my answer. "Alright Faye. I'll just drive you home."

We were silent during the ride. I thought subconsciously, So he still remembers the way.

Soon enough, we stopped in front of my apartment just as the first stars began to appear in the sky. As I stepped out of his car, I let a single nod be my sign of thank you. I paused when I heard his voice.

"I didn't lie about one thing, Faye...I fell in love with you while you were sleeping. I fell in love with Sleeping Beauty."

I smiled a small smile and turned around to walk up the short staircase to the door, walking as slow as I could until the sound of his engine was long gone.

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Lying down on a bed too big for just one person, I sighed and knew one thing: That's what happens when you're too late.

And out of all people,

I dreamed about Spike.

What competition... was all I inaudibly mumbled in my sleep.