AN; Here's the next chapter without such a severe cliffhanger, as promised; let me know what you think!

(((Plz don't hate me...))))

NANOSOUNDS: Are you sure you didn't lose count Rythian? :/

ENDERMAGE: Positive. Zoey had the most Pringles by far; Ross was the next person, but by a large amount.

DINORAWR: It can't be Zoey. She's been so upset.

ENDERMAGE: Hasn't everyone?

NANOSOUNDS: Lewis and Alex and Zoey as primary suspects followed by Duncan and Ross... Sounds a bit ridiculous, doesn't it? :(

DINORAWR: I'm sorry, I refuse to believe Zoey is on this list. Maybe she was on a Pringle diet.

NANOSOUNDS: I don't want to believe Ross is on there in all honesty either... But I guess we can't rule them out if they're the matching lists.

ENDERMAGE: Did Echo ask for the lists as her prize?

NANOSOUNDS: ... No. She simply asked that everyone forgave Alex and her for causing a little bit of disruption and that no one asks anything about it, to which everyone agreed.

DINORAWR: Where is Echo anyway?

Kim looked up to see Echo on her bed, reading the conversation on her laptop having turned her status to 'offline'. Echo looked up at Kim and smiled sadly.

"I told you, I'll talk to everyone on Monday. I just need a bit of space." Echo said, smiling at Kim as she nodded, typing again.

NANOSOUNDS: She's asleep on her bed. I think the party crashed her out a bit. Does anyone know what actually happened? Alex told us that he tried to kiss her but Echo asked that no one else talks about it so I don't actually know.

Echo gasped as she looked up at Kim, stunned, as she shrugged playfully. "You need to know what we think, or we need to know what happened. Just saying." Kim said firmly as Echo looked at her, worried.

ENDERMAGE: She told you he had tried to kiss her?

DINORAWR: Yeah... Although you would have seen that, right Rythian?

ENDERMAGE: ... Yes.

NANOSOUNDS: So what happened?! Do I need to go beat up Alex because I will do it if he hurt her.

Kim stuck her tongue out at Echo as she laughed, concealing her shaking hands from Kim behind the keyboard. What if Rythian had seen her?

ENDERMAGE: They were chatting and Alex tried to make a move on her. Echo rejected him and Alex tried to grab her wrist. Just as Echo said.

DINORAWR: When did Echo mention Alex grabbed her wrist? I didn't hear that.

ENDERMAGE: Oh... Maybe he didn't then. It must have been from my angle, sorry.

Echo read this in shock. She hadn't mentioned the wrist to anyone and she knew Alex wouldn't have either. That meant... That meant that Rythian had seen everything and was covering up for her. So he had seen the kiss. Seen her do nothing to stop it. Had he heard her too? No wonder he had tried to be so nice to her! Why did he keep spying on her!?

Kim looked up as Echo's status suddenly came online and noted Echo's livid face. "Woah, Echo, what's wrong?" She asked as Echo joined the conversation.

"Rythian. I am fed up of him right now." She spat out as she began typing.

*ECHOSOUNDS HAS JOINED THIS SESSION*

DINORAWR: Hi Echo! How are you feeling?

ECHOSOUNDS: Did you see me Rythian?

NANOSOUNDS: Hey, Echo, chill... alright?

DINORAWR: Chill? Why, what's wrong?

ECHOSOUNDS: Can everyone be quiet and let Rythian reply because I want an answer. Did. You. See. Me?

ENDERMAGE: ... Yes.

DINORAWR: Um, what's going on?

NANOSOUNDS: I'd like to know too... :/

ECHOSOUNDS: Why were you watching? What need was there to spy on me?!

ENDERMAGE: I wasn't spying, I was worried!

ECHOSOUNDS: Oh, you were worried? Well. That makes everything alright for watching me.

ENDERMAGE: You were in the shed with Lewis and Hannah! You didn't come out with them, I thought something had happened!

ECHOSOUNDS: Yeah, because they were really going to murder me in the shed. Grow up.

DINORAWR: Echo, what is going on? I thought you were behind the shed with Alex the whole time?

NANOSOUNDS: ... What really happened? Someone explain right now.

ENDERMAGE: It wasn't just that! Alex had been drinking and when I saw you go round to hide with him, especially after your awkward conversation, I thought you might need a distraction or something!

ECHOSOUNDS: Yeah, because you would have revealed your hiding spot as a distraction.

ENDERMAGE: I would have actually.

ECHOSOUNDS: I don't believe you. Why don't you just leave me alone?

ENDERMAGE: I'm not the one who voluntarily hid with a drunk who had a crush on me and then did nothing to stop him!

ECHOSOUNDS: I didn't know he was there! I didn't know he was drunk and I didn't know what to do, I had no escape!

NANOSOUNDS: Someone tell me and Teep right now what happened.

ECHOSOUNDS: Alex kissed me, alright? That's all there is to it.

ENDERMAGE: He also grabbed her wrist aggressively and whilst he was kissing her, she did nothing.

ECHOSOUNDS: Why does that even bother you?! You're don't control my actions.

ENDERMAGE: And neither do you, clearly! You should have pushed him away or kissed him back not just... Sat there, and allowed it to happen!

NANOSOUNDS: ... What?

ECHOSOUNDS: Why does it bother you so much that I did nothing?

ENDERMAGE: Because it could have been far worse. And you might have done nothing then too.

ECHOSOUNDS: Well, good job nothing did happen and it's none of your business then.

ENDERMAGE: I am trying to explain myself. Look, I'm sorry for the whole Hector thing too, I should have said something but you sounded upset. But allowing yourself to be kissed by someone you don't even like is stupid, particularly for you.

ECHOSOUNDS: I don't care, alright? How do you know I don't like him? Why do you think you know me so well when you don't? I actually like Alex a lot so why do you have the right to judge on what I do?!

ENDERMAGE: BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE KISSED HIM BACK. Why is that so hard to understand, if you liked him you would have done something and if you didn't you would have pushed him away. Just letting him kiss you gives him the option to assume you like him!

DINORAWR: Rythian, calm down!

ECHOSOUNDS: No, this is great, let's see Rythian lose his calm, collective mysterious facade for once. Zoey might have had a hand in your isolation. Duncan probably betrayed you too. Hey, let's even throw Alex in for the measure, and Lewis, and assume they all hate you.

NANOSOUNDS: Echo.

ENDERMAGE: ... You're not going to make me angry Echo.

ECHOSOUNDS: Weird, I thought I just did. Mind if I screenshot?

ENDERMAGE: Not at all, mind if I tell Echo and Teep how scared you were with Alex?

ECHOSOUNDS: How could you possibly know that?! HOW?! You don't know me!

ENDERMAGE: Because I could see it in your eyes! In the way you looked at the hedge, almost directly at me, looked past the side of the shed, moved right to the edge in the hopes of escaping. I. Was. There.

ECHOSOUNDS: ... You were right behind the hedge?

ENDERMAGE: Yes, and I've never felt so useless in the whole of my life then I did then.

ECHOSOUNDS: Well, that's makes two of us!

ENDERMAGE: Good. When you want to talk rationally and sensibly let me know.

ECHOSOUNDS: Couldn't have said it better myself.

ENDERMAGE: Good.

ECHOSOUNDS: FINE.

*ENDERMAGE AND ECHOSOUNDS HAVE LEFT THIS SESSION*

DINORAWR: What the hell just happened?

NANOSOUNDS: I'm not too sure, but if they're arguing then we can't exactly get any further to help Rythian. I'm going to speak to Echo, she slammed her laptop shut and stormed downstairs.

DINORAWR: I'll text Rythian. If he doesn't reply then I'll see if I can get to his house but no promises.

NANOSOUNDS: Alright.

Kim paused before drawing out her phone, texting Teep on it separately, texting normally .

... Does it feel like something else is going on here?

Kim waited patiently until Teep replied.

I have a vague idea why Rythian's annoyed, but not Echo. That's your job :) let me know how it goes.

Kim let out a deep breath as she went downstairs, finding Echo in the living room watching TV. This was going to be very difficult and very awkward.