Wow, these are alot of chapters that I've submitted! And I still haven't even gotten through the second day of my break yet! It's still the first day and I've submitted all the chapters for my favorite viewers! So I wanna say thanks to everyone and tell you guys that more chapters will be up soon! So keep checking in for more chapters! I hope you enjoy this one!

Talking
Thinking/Memories
Important words/Emphasis

Chapter 8: Fireworks of Happiness

It's been several weeks since Koji reconciled with Karen. Even after showing her a field of her favorite flower, he still doesn't wanna talk to her. It seems that Karen has broken his heart more than she thought. Even though he's happy now, deep down in the bottom of his heart, he's still suffering. Karen woke up to a temperature change in the weather. The change wasn't too serious, it's just that it has gotten a little cooler than usual. She checked her calendar and noticed that summer is already ending. She just couldn't believe that throughout the whole summer, she wasn't able to go chill out at the beach by herself, while wearing a nice looking purple bikini to show off her slim, sexy body. So instead of pouting, she just shrugged her shoulders and went into the kitchen for breakfast.

"Morning Mom."

"Oh morning Karen. Breakfast is on the table."

She went over to her usual spot at the breakfast table and ate her eggs. Suddenly, she remembered something.

"Oh mom, today's the Fireworks Festival."

"Oh that's wonderful. Who're you planning to watch it with?"

"Kai, of course."

"Are you sure?"

She stopped eating for a moment and had a blank expression on her face.

"Yeah… why do you ask?"

"Isn't there anyone else that you would love to watch the fireworks with?"

She thought for a long moment while her mom continued making breakfast for Jeff. It was not after Jeff came out of his bedroom that Karen remembered about who to watch with.

"Oh… him… I'm not sure if that's a good idea Mom…"

"Well you are his first friend when he first moved in."

"I know but… what if he still doesn't wanna talk to me… I mean I appreciate all the good things he's done for me, but he's still avoiding me… I just don't get him Mom."

"I know he still can't get over the fact that you're dating Kai, but right now, Koji needs a friend."

"Yeah… I guess you're right… I'll go find him."

Meanwhile, Koji was busy eating breakfast at the inn. It was a rare occasion for him to eat breakfast there, but he didn't have any food left so this was the only place left to get some. It was also the first time for him to actually eat eggs and bacon with alcohol as a drink. Suddenly, Karen came in and sat next to Koji.

"Hey there…"

"Hmm? Oh hey."

"Isn't that a little dangerous? Wine for breakfast?"

"Hey, at least I'm eating something."

She laughed for a bit and Koji smiled. It has been a long time since Karen had ever laughed at Koji's sense of humor. She always remembered how he would be so sarcastic about something or even tickle her tummy while she's on a step ladder stocking up on something and she would always laugh. Even though he doesn't have the greatest sense of humor, he still would make her laugh.

"Hey Koji, the Fireworks Festival is coming. Do you think you wanna watch with me?"

Koji put down his fork and finished off the bottle of wine and gave Karen a small smile and then it faded.

"I'm sorry Karen, but… I think I'll watch the fireworks alone."

"Oh… okay then."

"Hey cheer up! At least you got Kai! Don't worry!"

He put his hand on her head and petted her like a little kitten. She smiled a bit and watch Koji leave the inn. Then she ordered a cold bottle of wine to sooth her after a rejection. Then, Ann arrived after cleaning.

"Morning Karen! You sure look gloomy today."

"I'm sorry Ann… I'm guessing that Koji still doesn't wanna be near me… I asked him to watch the fireworks with me tonight, but… he just plain shot me down."

"Oh, I'm sorry Karen… But just think about it, Koji's still hurting inside. You really hurt him bad… Now, I'm not trying to make you feel bad, it's just… I think that Koji's just doing this to ease his pain."

"Yeah… I guess you're right. Maybe I should just leave Koji alone for a little while."

She left the inn and went straight over to Kai at his shack, who was stocking up on fireworks.

"Hey sweetie, what's all this for?"

"Oh it's for the festival tonight. The fireworks look really great this year."

"Wow, must be romantic."

"Yeah… look Karen, I wanna talk to you about this relationship. It's been bothering me for quite some time now."

"What's wrong? I thought you loved the idea."

"Yeah I did, for a while. It's just… I don't think I'm the right guy for you… do you get what I'm saying?"

"I'm guessing that you don't want me to be your girlfriend… is that it?"

He gave her a warm hug and Karen embraced it.

"I'm sorry I have to do this Karen… but I'm not the right guy for you… Koji is…"

"I don't know about Koji… I'm still getting some time to know him a little more… besides… he still won't talk to me after everything that he's done to make me happy and to make me his friend again…"

"Look, Koji needs a friend right now… and you're the perfect friend for him…"

She looked down in sadness and hugged him for one last time.

"Alright, I think I get what you're saying…"

"I really am sorry Karen…"

"…It's alright…"

So then she left in sadness, but her hopes of Koji talking to her again would probably make her feel better. She went over to his house to talk to him, but he wasn't there. Instead, she found a note on his door.

"Karen, if you're reading this, I'm not at home right now… But still I need some time alone right now… My heart is still recovering. I've made you happy and I'm glad that I did, but… it's just that I don't think that we should see each other for a while… If we just let bygones be bygones, then things could probably get even worse… I'm sorry Karen, but that's my final decision. I hope you understand…

Sincerely, Koji.

P.S. Maybe one day we can talk again, but not right now…"

Her heart sank after reading her note and tears started falling down on her face. His words stabbed her heart like a dagger. Koji has been gone from Karen's life. She went over to Popuri for emotional help.

"So Koji just left you a note saying that he doesn't wanna see you?"

"(sniff) Uh-huh… I still don't understand why he wants to stay away from me…"

"Don't worry, he'll talk to you again…"

"That's not the real problem… my problem isn't that Koji won't talk to me… My real problem is that Koji and I will never be able to see each other again… all of those memories with him will soon be gone, and he'll be out of my life…"

She placed her hand on her back and rubbed gently. Rick came in with a box of tissues and left as quietly as he can. Karen cried for a little while and eventually gotten a little better. She wiped her eyes and smiled and thought that it's for the best. If Koji can't see her, then she can't see Koji. She left Popuri's house to go for a walk in the woods and maybe spend a little time with Gotz. Suddenly, she found a familiar face. Koji was waling in the opposite direction towards her. She quickly hid behind Gotz's house until Koji left for good. She wiped her forehead until she was caught by Gotz. He found Karen and asked her to come inside and talk for a bit.

"So Karen, why were you trying to hide from Koji?"

"Oh, It's just that… Koji doesn't wanna see me so I thought that if he doesn't wanna see me, then I don't wanna see him… He thinks that it's for the best and it won't increase problems."

"Look Karen, you can't just keep running away from Koji. Even though avoiding him may make you feel better, eventually it's gonna make you feel worse. You keep avoiding him and eventually you'll start to miss him. Then you start to hate him, and before you know it, he'll be completely wiped away from your memories. Running away isn't the answer. Confrontation is. The more you are around him, the more he'll feel better, and the more you'll grow to like him. By the way, didn't you have a crush on him at one point?"

Karen laughed and explained the whole thing to Gotz about her only knowing him for a bit and the dating Kai thing. They had lots of laughs and Karen felt a little better. Before she left, she thanked Gotz for making her feel better and left. She checked to see what time it is and it was already getting dark.

"The fireworks are almost about to start! I better get going!"

She quickly left and headed towards the beach. There she met everyone except some people. But who she's really looking forward to finding was Koji, but he wasn't there.

"Popuri, have you seen Koji?"

"Nope, I haven't seen him."

"Elli?"

"I'm sorry, no."

"Ann?"

"Yeah, I just saw him like about 15 minutes ago. I think he's at his house."

She ran to meet up with Koji as fast as she can. She was already getting exhausted. Finally she arrived at Koji's house, but when she arrived, his lights were off and no note was at the door. She looked inside and no one was in there. He wasn't in his bed and he wasn't watching T.V. The whole house was empty and inside was just pitch black. She was too late and tears had come down her face.

"I… can't believe it… I was too late… Koji's not there… I didn't think he would actually feel this way about me… (sniff)"

She leaned her head on the door and cried for a little while. 10 minutes have already passed before the fireworks had started. She looked at her watch and saw that she only has 5 minutes left. She wiped her eyes and headed straight for the beach.

"I better get going… I don't wanna miss the fireworks… I can't believe it… Koji's not gonna be watching with me… Now I'll never be able to be true friends with him again…"

She sulked back to the beach while leaving tears behind her. Koji's gone and is not in her life any longer. She arrived at the beach and received many hugs from Ann and Popuri. But when she arrived, she noticed a blue figure at the end of the pier. She walked a bit closer to the silhouette and the image became a bit clearer to her. Then she recognized him immediately. It was Koji sitting at the edge of the pier waiting for the fireworks to start.

"Koji…"

"Huh? Oh… Karen... Thought I wouldn't show up huh?"

She smiled a bit and held Koji as much as she can while finally being able to cry on him. His warm embrace made her feel so happy that he's here.

"Karen… you cry too much…"

She smiled at Koji's shining face and hugged him again.

"Karen, I've been thinking… These past weeks of running away from you has only made me feel worse… I knew I couldn't be there without you and make you feel bad… I'm sorry… friends?"

She held him so close that he actually felt Karen's heartbeat.

"The best…"

The two friends watched the fireworks together while holding each other for comfort. Summer, a season that was full of tears, anger, and betrayal, has finally drawn to a close. But how long will those tears and anger last?