Chapter Thirteen - Fog

- Eli's POV -

For a while after I left Yuri's house, I drove around the opposite side of my neighborhood to cool off. I'm not mad at her, but what was that? That's not like her at all. I mean, that was, crazy. Why would she just do that. She doesn't love me right? She's just, really attracted to me for some reason. Yeah, that's it...I had to get outta there. I mean, I would've definitely enjoyed it in the moment, but I'd regret it later.

I need to get home. I have to tell Nat how I feel. I need to tell her. I pull into my driveway and get out of my car. I go into my house.

Natsuki:"Oh, hey Eli...Is everything alright? You look pale, well, more than usual."

Me:"Huh? Y-yeah, I'm alright, hey can we talk? I-I uh, need to tell you s-something..." She stops mixing her batter and comes a little closer to me.

Natsuki:"Sure Eli, what's up?"

Me:"Well, uh, I...Don't really know how to tell you this...But I, uh, I-" This is crazy! I can't tell her now! She'll think I'm insane! "I...just wanted to let you know that Y-Yuri made sandwiches for me while we were working, so I won't be hungry enough to cook. But I'll go to a drive thru for you." Perfect Eli...Ya gobshite.

Natsuki:"Okaaay...Is that all you needed to tell me?"

Me:"Y-yup! Thaaaat's it...Heheh."

Natsuki:"Alright then...Oh! That reminds me, about your little stunt this morning, y'know when you kissed me on my head?"

Me:"Y-yeah?" Here it comes, the verbal beatdown I knew was coming. I brace myself.

But it never came. Instead she came up and hugged me, I love it when she does that. Her hugs are second only to Sayori's. But both of them can make all my worries just melt away.

Natsuki:"Thanks, I know you were trying make me feel better, I actually was a little upset that you chose to help Yuri instead of me. But I know you were just trying to make sure she didn't feel neglected. A-and It's not like I was jealous or anything! Anyways, I appreciate it..."

I smile and hug her tightly. Everytime I hug the little short-stack, I just want to pick her up and swing her back and forth like a kid and it's doll. I can't resist the urge to kiss her head again.

Natsuki:"Gah! Alright once a day is enough! Ah! I mean-"

Me:"Once a day? Can do. I'm holding you to that..."

Natsuki:"I, uh, don't...Yeah okay...Jeez, why're you such a goofy moron?"

Me:"I don't rightly know...Maybe I ran into a wall when I was a kid."

Natsuki giggles, I wonder if it hurt when she fell from heaven? Only an angel could make a sound that divine. And her cute little fang when she smiles drives my crazy! She's so precious.

I go over to her and start to help. She goes to protest, saying that she's got it covered, but she's only got half of the cupcakes done. Instead she flashes me a big beautiful smile and we continue working together. I don't know why I didn't realize that I loved her sooner. She's perfect.

- Monika's POV -

Well, after the club meeting yesterday, Natsuki stopped me before I left and asked me if I was okay. I explained to her that, although not being able to be with Eli hurt, I knew that she was really in love with him. Truely in love. I was simply under the illusion that I loved him. I'm still working through my feelings, but Nat and I are all good now. I wouldn't let something like this tear us apart.

Although apparently, despite me sending her a message, telling her in fine detail about Natsuki's feelings, Yuri still went and tried to seduce Eli. She knew the contest was canceled two days ago. Why in the name of all that is pure and holy did she do this. I'm on my way to her house right now. And I am not happy.

Eli sent me a text, telling about Yuri's actions and how it kinda freaked him out a little because she normally doesn't act like this. He of course had no idea about our contest or that Natsuki told me that she loves him. He also told me that she put his bleeding finger in her mouth and that it wasn't the only time she's put his fingers in her mouth!? What the f*ck!? My god, if I'm not around, she just goes crazy. It's unreal.

I pull into her driveway and knock loudly on the door. Yuri timidly opens it.

Yuri:"H-hello?"

Me:"It's Monika. We need to talk. Now."

Yuri:"Oh, okay. Come in." I walk in and stand in front of Yuri's couch with my arms crossed.

Yuri:"W-would you like a cucumber sandwich? I made them today."

Me:"...You know why I'm here Yuri." I say in a stern voice.

Yuri:"*sigh* Yes, I suppose I do. Please, have a seat."

Me:"I'll stand. How could you do this to Natsuki!? What the f*ck were you thinking!? You knew the contest was off, you knew Nat's feeling for Eli, why did you still try to sleep with him!? Were ya just that horny for him? Huh? That you'd betray your best friend, just to get some?"

Yuri:"*sniffle* Is that really how little you think of me?"

Me:"It wasn't Yuri. Not until this sh*t today. Because you don't behave this way. This is not like you. So there must be some reason. Some motivation for these amoral actions. And I want to know what it is..."

Yuri:"...Have you considred that Natsuki's not the only girl who loves Eli? Or did you just decide that I was a whore and go from there?"

Me:"Oh God...Yuri I-"

Yuri:"I mean I'm already everyone's least favorite member, might as well find a reason to hate me right?"

Me:"No, Yuri-"

Yuri:"*crying* I just wanted to know what it's like to be loved back for once...That's all. I didn't want to hurt Natsuki, I didn't want to scare Eli. I-I just wanted to be loved and appriciated. Of course you wouldn't know what that feels like Monika. Ms.Athletic popular girl, who always gets what she wants...*sniffle* But you'll come to my house and tell me what an awful person I am for feeling that way won't you?"

I'm speechless, I can't figure out the words I need to say to make this better, so instead I hug her. She resists for a second, but then wraps her arms around me and cries bitterly into my shoulder. I set us both down on her couch.

Yuri:"*sobbing* I love him. I love him so much it hurts when he's not here. It causes me pain if I can't see him. I want to touch him so bad right now I can't stand it!"

And then it all clicked. It made perfect sense as to why she was behaving so irrationally.

Me:"Yuri...That's not love. That's obsession." I say in a caring voice.

Yuri:"W-what? How do you mean?"

Me:"Do you remember when you used to cut yourself? How it was all you could think about constantly? How you got jittery and restless if you went without it for too long?"

Yuri:"Yes...I remember."

Me:"You were obsessed with it. Just like your obsessed with Eli now. That's why your feeling this way and why you're acting so irrationally. You're just having an episode. Likely brought on by Sayori's death."

Yuri:"That...makes perfect sense actually. I think you're right. He's literally all I can think about. All I care about. Just like when I would...harm myself."

Me:"Well, that makes things much less complicated. Now all we've got to do is get you to stop obsessing over him."

Yuri:"How? You remember how difficult and how long it took to get me to stop cutting myself. I don't want to have to stop coming to the Club just because I can't control my feelings..."

Me:"It won't be easy, but we'll work it all out. I'm sure if you explain to Eli and

Nat-"

Yuri:"NO! I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to yell. But Natsuki cannot find out about this! And Eli can't know I'm obsessimg over him! He's already spooked as it is! He'll think I'm absolutley insane!"

Me:"Oh come now Yuri. Our friends are much more understanding than you give them credit for. You're just imagining the worst case scenario. As usual."

Yuri:"I hope you're right. But I really don't want you to tell her. I'll do it at some point." Some point could be tomarrow, or a decade from now. And knowing Yuri it's likely the ladder.

Me:"*sigh*...Alright. I won't tell her. But you need to, and you need to do it pretty soon. The longer you hide it, the more it's going to hurt when she finds out."

Yuri:"...When did our lives get so God-d*mmed difficult Monika?"

Me:"The day Eli Gunner walked into my Literature Club. It's amazing how someone so nice and wonderful could cause so much trouble..."

I remember that day like it just happened, Sayori came bouncing into the clubroom hollering about bringing in a new member. She'd told us she'd find someone the day before, she said it was.her childhood friend. We all thought it would be a girl, Natsuki even made little kitten cupcakes.

Then he walked in. You could tell he didn't want to be here. It was quite obvious that Sayori drug him here against his will. But he still walked in with a smile on his face. The smile that melted all of our hearts. Natsuki's especially...

Yuri:"Hahaha...It sure is." I can tell this is hard for her. I think she really does want to be with him, but her feelings are all wrong. I can help her through it. That's what I'm here for.

Me:"The only way to work this out right, is for you to face Nat and Eli, so we can all help you. We're your friends Yuri, we love you, and we're gonna stay with you. Neither Eli nor Natsuki are gonna disown you. But, don't expect it to go over very smoothly when you tell Nat...Eli will probably just hug ya." I say as I let her go from the embrace I had been holding her in.

Yuri:"That certainly sounds like him. The big ol' goof..."

Me:"Yeah. He wouldn't yell at you if his life depended on it. How's he gonna hurt the cute shy girl's feelings?"

Yuri:"C-cute? You really think I'm cute?"

Me:"Uhhhhhh..." Ah crap...I wasn't supposed to say that.

(End of Chapter Thirteen)

A/U: Oh? Am I trying to get a little, "yuri" action going? Hmmm...I don't know. Tell me what you folks think. Yes or No on a Yurika pairing.

Sayori: Oooh! That's hot!

A/U: Really? I didn't figure you'd be into that kinda thing Sayori?

Sayori: Huh? No I burned my hand making cereal. What are you talking about?

A/U: ...How did you...Never mind Sayori. Just never mind.

Sayori: Okay!