Noodle looked out of her window solemnly.
Her thoughts seemed to be cloudy again.
This happened to be a very strange sensation for her.
She was used to thinking clearly and usually having the answers...
but not this time.
The answer seemed so obvious.
She was obviously going to end up back with 2D.
She was going to forgive him soon.
She wasn't even as mad anymore.
She truly just wanted this whole fight to be over.
He didn't know she just opened her window and heard his words about her.
This whole ordeal was changing him.
He seemed to become more and more brave by the day.
Not too long ago he could barely find the courage in his heart to tell her all he felt.
Now he was going through great lengths to get her back.
She hated to hear him cry.
She hated this whole state of mind they'd both been in.
She was just afraid.
Afraid of what she could do or say.
After he slept with Paula she knew their motives in a relationship were different.
Very different.
She knew Leon's motives and they were fairly similar.
Although Leon annoyed her, he did help her.
He made her realize a few things about herself.
She just had to explain things to Leon and hopefully they'd be friends...
then she'd have to explain a few things to 2D.
She got off of her bed and picked up her phone.
Her tiny fingers quickly dialed Leon's number.

"Hello? Leon, Isogashī nodesu ka? I mean...are you busy?"

She nodded her head as he mumbled words into the phone.

"Ok! Let's have lunch today. I'm in desperate need of a conversation with you! Ok. Sayōnara."

Noodle hung up the phone and quickly headed for the shower.

About an hour later Noodle was on the couch patiently waiting for the doorbell to ring.
Her short hair was pulled back in a small ponytail and her lips were lightly decorated with a pink lipgloss.
She had on a pair of dark shorts and a T-shirt.
The door bell rang and she opened the door.
Leon stood there with a grin on his face and flowers in his hands.

"Oh Leon...flowers? This was not necessary..."

"But I felt like you deserved them."

Noodle smiled and fidgeted uncomfortably as she placed them in the house, completely unaware of who was walking up behind Leon.

2D stopped in his tracks. He saw this smaller man hand Noodle some flowers and he saw her smile. Was this seriously the guy he felt like he was loosing her to? He seemed a lot shorter and closer to her height. He was just a tad bit off of ginger and his hair was much flatter than 2D's.

"Um, 'ello there stranger...Noodle o's dis?"

2D had no idea why he asked. He knew exactly who it was.
Leon turned around and stared at 2D. The bluenette felt slightly uncomfortable due to intensity of the other mans's gaze.
His bright blue eyes reminded him of his own before his accidents.
Leon beamed at 2D and held out his hand.

"So you must be Stuart!"

"2D. Please jus' call me 2D."

2D reluctantly took the man's hand and shook it.

"Ah. I just thought that was Noodle's nickname for you."

"No. Mos' people call me tha'. Noodz is the only person I let call me Stu anymore."

"Ah I see."

"So of course yew mus' be Leon. Noodle talk 'bout yew a lot."

"Oh... yeah that's me."

Leon seemed slightly uncomfortable standing here in front of this guy. He could feel discomfort on everyone really.

"So where yew off to?"

"Toochi-kun, we're going to grab some lunch...shouldn't you be at work?"

2D suddenly realized that Noodle was trying to cut the whole ordeal short.

"Noodle, don' worry 'bout ih'. I got t'e res' of the day off. I's weird...I've been gettin' a lot of days off. Then again dey won't replace my lesson car an' ih' keeps breakin' down. Evah since tha' kid 'it tha' tree i's been a mess. I shouln' be like tha' fo' so long."

He looked up to see Leon giving him a vacant and uncomfortable stare while Noodle looked slightly annoyed.

"I'm sorry. Yew shoul' go. I'm jus' ramblin' now."

Noodle felt relief as she waved goodbye and Leon started to walk away. Suddenly Leon turned around to look at 2D again.

"Hey man! Do you want to join us? We have room for one more!"

Noodle looked at both Leon and 2D in discomfort. 2D caught Noodle's expression.

"I don' fink tha's a good idea...yew two jus' 'ave fun."

"Oh come on! I'll pay! The place we're going to has open mic and I know you're an awesome singer."

Noodle had no idea what Leon's motive was, but she felt uncomfortable with it. 2D shrugged.

"Awright, but I'm not gonna sing."

2D hopped off of the porch and walked beside them.

Once they got there 2D had no idea what to do. Leon even knew what her favorites were and everything. It made him feel uneasy. He shouldn't have agreed to come. It made everyone uncomfortable. Noodle couldn't take it anymore. She had to get out before her head exploded.

"Um...I must...head to the ladies room."

Noodle got up leaving the two men alone.
2D looked over to find Leon staring at him...just blankly.

"2D, we both know Noodle loves you more."

"Wha'?"

"Look. I'm usually a very nice guy...but Noodle is VERY special. I need a pretty little number like her around. I'm everything she NEEDS. She needs to be with someone her own age. Someone who's pure and...clean if you catch my drift."

"Wha' a' yew tryin' to say 'bout me?"

"I'm saying she doesn't need to be with an old man who's a constant smoker, a whore, and from what I've seen, kind of dumb."

2D looked at Leon with a mixture of confusion, anger, and slight disgust.

"Look 'ere, I may be older an' I may smoke, but yew are no bettah than anyone. I know I can be a lit'le dull an' I 'ave a bad past wiff women but i's not yo' place to say so!"

Leon chuckled slightly.

"Give her up. It's best for everyone. I'm playing the good boy role just so I can get what I want from her. At first I cared about how she felt and I was trying to be a nice guy, but now that I see it works for you favor some things are gonna have to change. Just stay out of my way and everything will be fine. I stay happy and she stays happy. You want to see her happy...right?"

"Yew listen an' listen good ya' fuckin' yank! I'm not lettin' 'er go to some cunt like yew! She trusts yew an' yew're nothin' but a wanker! Yew jus' want someone to be yo' fuckin' arm candy! She's mo' than tha'! I love 'er an' I'm not gonna sit an' watch yo' sorry arse 'urt 'er!"

"If anyone is hurting her it's you! She told me what you did!"

"Wha' goes on between us is none of your fuckin' business you bloody li'l twat!"

Leon's smile grew wide and devious. Noodle walked forward and looked at 2D.

"I could hear you yelling at him all the way back there! What's going on?"

"Noodz, e's not good fo' yew!"

"It's not like you to be insulting someone like that! Especially that loud!"

"Did yew even 'ear wha' e' said?!"

"I don't care what he said! You don't speak to anyone like that!"

Leon smiled deviously out of Noodle's sight.

"Toochi-kun...go home."

"Noodle...jus' listen to me...trus' me..."

"I can't trust you. Please go before things get worse."

2D nodded his head and walked out and back on his way home, defeated.

There he sat by the window. He couldn't wait for her to return so he could explain.
He needed to say sorry to her.
She was right, he shouldn't have used those words.
Noodle walked onto the porch followed by Leon.
He was looking at and apologizing.
2D could tell by the way his eyes looked what he was saying.
Noodle nodded her head and turned around to walk inside.
He looked and saw 2D in the widow.
Leon smirked as he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her toward him.
Quickly he pressed his lips against hers.
Noodle's eyes opened wide in surprise.
2D felt as if he'd just been stabbed.
It was one of the biggest pains he'd felt in a while.
He wanted to lunge forward and kill Leon...but he couldn't.
Maybe that's what Noodle really wanted.
She broke the kiss and spoke to him while blushing.
He had a sad look on his face as she turned back around and turned the doorknob.
Then she walked inside to see 2D sitting there in shock.

"So...yew kissed 'im..."

"Yes...no...not really. He kissed me. It doesn't matter. You have to explain what happened."

"Why? It doesn't matter. You chose him!"

"2D don't tell me what I did."

"I saw yew!"

"Toochi..."

"You couldn't see me sitting right there? I don' even know-"

"Stuart!"

Noodle walked forward toward him.

"Stop."

She looked into his black holes for eyes.

"Tell me what happened to cause you to go crazy like that."

"E' tol' me e' was bettah for yew an' insulted me. Then e' said e' pretty much needed yew to be 'is trophy! I los' ih'!"

"I know you did."

2D grabbed Noodle's hand.

"I'm not the same guy yew fell for Noodle. I'm now this...awful and emotional fing...I 'ate ih'."

"No. You're still the same. You've just gotten brave. That's all."

"Noodle ih' kills me. If yew're gonna keep seein' tha' guy then I don'-"

"Toochi, I miss you like crazy...but Leon really is a nice guy."

2D's heart fell.

"So...yew...wha'? Noodle yew are smarter than this. Yew know e's usin' yew!"

"Toochi, I love you...but even if he's using me...maybe things can change. Maybe he is better for me..."

"I love yew too. So much it 'urts... Don' believe tha'. Yew're too smart to fall fo' tha'. Fings won't change wiff guys like tha'. Noodle I need yew. I know yew coul' do better than me but I-"

Noodle jumped up and kissed 2D. She used so much force she almost knocked him over. He was caught in this moment by surprise. He didn't know what to do. He just continued to kiss her desperately. Desperate to make her understand. He wanted to love her. He needed to. The kiss deepened while Noodle intertwined her fingers with his.

2D broke the kiss.
He looked at Noodle once more.

"Toochi-kun...I need you..."

"Noodle I need yew more than yew know...please...stay wiff me? Don' go back to tha' guy..."

Noodle quickly pressed her lips back into his.
Although the second kiss was quick it lingered and mixed with the feeling of the first kiss.

"Even though not everything is finished and worked out, I'm not going to leave you. I promise."