This chapter is mostly Noodle and 2-D thinking, no action, sorry! There will be more action in the next chapter, though, so you willjust have to wait a little while!

Chapter 2: Confused

2-D was sat cross-legged on his bed, meditating. Well, trying to. Every time he tried to clear his mind, thoughts of Noodle crept into his head. Eventually, he gave up and flopped back onto the bed.

This is wrong, he thought. She's barely a teenager! This has to stop happening! He sighed and swung his long legs over the side and stood up. But she seems to want me to kiss her! Does that make it wrong? God, this is so confusing!

He pressed his fingers to his temples, feeling the familiar ache of a migraine beginning. He went across the car park to the studio kitchen and got himself a glass of water to wash down the painkillers that lived in a bottle in his jacket pocket. He rested his head against the wall and waited for the small pills to take effect. After a few minutes he felt better, and wandered around the studio for a while. He opened the door and the soft sound of a guitar drifted through the corridors, making the singer sigh again. In the music he could hear a mix of emotions, but it sounded so sad. It was the sort of music only Noodle could play, but it sounded so different to her usual, joyful songs.

2-D couldn't resist walking upstairs, and he stood with his back against the wall outside Noodle's bedroom, listening to the music. It was hypnotising and he found himself closing his eyes and going into a trance-like state. He slid down the wall and sat on the floor. He was so out of it that he didn't notice the music stop and the door open.

"2D-sama, what are you doing?" Noodle looked down at him curiously.

"Oh, um, hey Noodle, I just…dropped something." His eyes opened, and he looked embarrassed, and quickly stood up.

"Oh, OK then." Noodle smiled and flicked her black hair out of her eyes.

Those eyes, thought 2D, so dark and beautiful. Her face is just so perfect…Stop it! Inside he screamed at himself. She's like a sister to me! What am I doing?

Noodle frowned at him. "Are you alright, 2D-sama?"

He felt his face grow hot, and he stumbled backwards "Yeah, I'm fine, I've just got a lot on my mind, 's all. I've gotta go… practise now. Bye!" He mumbled quickly, and then rushed of down the corridor.

Noodle smiled, and then shook her head. She collected her guitar from her room and wandered outside into the sunshine. She climbed up into her favourite tree and settled down on the large branch at the top, where she was hidden behind the leaves. She had been coming here often lately, where she could sit and think in peace. Today the band didn't have to go anywhere, and Murdoc usually didn't call them to practise until in the evening, so she would not be disturbed for a few hours.

She plucked absent-mindedly at her favourite guitar. She had a lot to think about, and this was one of the only places where she could actually just sit and think without some noise in the background, or someone banging at her door or shouting. Most of the time she thought about her life, or music, or Japan, but today she had other things on her mind. Like 2-D.

She sighed. She was so confused. I love him, she thought, but now it feels different. Before I loved him as a brother. That's what he is though, my big brother! But now I feel like he is more than that. I don't know what to do! I don't want to tell him! He probably just thinks that I am a silly little kid anyway, and that I just have a crush, but I don't, it's more than that! And what if Russel found out… she shuddered, and for a few minutes she concentrated on playing the tune of Feel Good Inc.

After a while, her thoughts wandered back to the blue-haired singer. But what if he feels the same? She asked herself.Before he almost kissed me…well, at least I think he did. What if he had wanted to? What would have happened? And if Murdoc had seen us, he would have gone mad and hurt poor 2-D again.

Noodle sat in the tree for hours, arguing with herself and trying to organise her thoughts.

"Tomorrow,

Tomorrow comes today."

2-D sang quietly to himself as he stood at the window in the corridor, watching the small Japanese girl playing her guitar. She was sitting in a tree outside the studios. He noticed that she had gone out there quite a lot recently, and she seemed more subdued that usual. Instead of running around Kong Studios in her normal hyper state, she spent more time by herself, either in her room or outside, and she always had her guitar with her.

The vocalist stared out of the window, trying to sum up the courage to go outside and talk to the girl. But, once again, he chickened out, and just stood at the window.

"Dullard!" 2-D leapt into the air, scared by his band mate. Murdoc chuckled, and then came to stand beside him. He frowned.

"What's up with that girl lately? She's been so…" He thought for a second. "depressing. Usually she's the only lively one 'ere, what with you off in your own world and Lardy always in 'is room." He turned to 2-D. "D'you know what's up with 'er?"

2-D looked flustered. "No, why should I, I dunno what's wrong!"

Murdoc raised a barely-visible eyebrow, but decided not to comment. H had noticed the younger man acting different lately too, less sociable, and he seemed to be taking more than his usual overdose of painkillers. Still, it didn't seem to be causing much harm, so he didn't really care.

"Well, if you do find out what's wrong, try and sort it out, 'ey? I can't stand seeing her look so fuckin'upset." With that, he strode off down the corridor and out to the car park.

2-D turned back towards the window. The truth was, he did know what was wrong with Noodle. She felt the same way as he did, but was too afraid to admit it. Well, at least that's what he thought was wrong. In the week since Murdoc had almost caught them outside the studios, they had found themselves alone together a number of times. Each time it felt awkward, but not unpleasant, and they both seemed to enjoy being together, but neither of them had actually admitted it.

2-D looked out of the window and started singing again.

"Everybody's here with me,

We got no camera to see…"

I know, this chapter sucked, but the next one will be better, as I didn't know what to write for this one! Please review, it helps me with my writing! And it might make me write the next chapter quicker! ;-D