Chapter 53b: Ess' Friends & Associates: Affection from her by warelander

It was Saturday. A day had passed since the debacle that was the cheerleader performance to set the mood for the Primp vs Blueo match.

Sig and Hilda were scouring their local game shop, looking through their offerings as thoroughly as possible. They flipped through game cases as if they were magazines, looking through each row to see if the one item they desired was somewhere to be found.

The duo was at the verge of running out of rows to look, but as luck would have it, they were in luck.

''I found it.'' Sig announced, holding up a copy of the Axel Kid remake.

''Nice! I'm su-hehehe~ sure that Jaan will like it.'' Hilda celebrated.

''I hope so. She's been down because of the cheerleading thing…'' Sig got a reassuring pat on the back by his pink friend. "I hope this game is good."

While Sig went over to pay for the game, Hilda took some time to eye the merchandise section of the shop. She never really paid that much mind, though something caught her eye.

A non-curse induced grin came across her lips, one that only widened when Sig approached her.

''Go ahead Sig. Hehehehe~ I wanna look at something real quick.'' She told him.

''Sure thing.'' Sig respected her wish and went on ahead outside the shop.

Outside the boy didn't have much to do for the moment than to stare into the shopping center. It was packed as usual.

Everywhere, someone was entering some kind of shop, every bench was taken, from every corner someone was heading to some kind of destination.

The amount of voices heard nearly everywhere was also rather impressive. People could be chatty, but this time around, it was so much that Sig could swear to have heard someone call his name.

''Sig!''

''Yo, Sig!''

Turns out, he did hear correctly.

Not far away, he could see Marvett and Lagnus, head towards his direction and it turned out, they weren't alone either. Those self-titled banshee trio girls, consisting of Merigu, Shosu and Emii, were also tagging along it seems.

The spacey boy gave his friends a small wave to greet them.

''Hey guys.''

''Sig, great timing. I know it's sudden, but these three really want you to see Ess.'' Marvett pointed to the trio of shorter girls.

''They say it's really important.'' Lagnus added, hoping to get some context himself.

''What's the matter with, hihihi~ her?'' Hilda joined the group, also extending a wave to greet her friends.

Now all of their eyes were directed at the younger trio of friends, all three of which felt visibly awkward about it. Emii especially hid behind Shosu, who was twiddling her fingers, staring into nowhere in particular, while Merigu, as the self-appointed leader, felt it was up to her to take charge.

''Uhm, hi Sig. We're friends of Ess and uhm…well, you see, she…and we. Well…'' Merigu stumbled over her words, trying to articulate her request despite her nervousness.

She was soon interrupted by Shosu though, who stepped forward, visibly anxious to get to the point.

''Ess is feeling terrible and maybe you can cheer her up.'' Shosu put it bluntly and straight to the point.

The group was unsurprisingly, well, surprised by this, especially Sig.

''Is it because of yesterday?'' Sig could only guess. The banshees nodded.

''Sorry to hear about that, but what was up with her anyways?'' Lagnus wondered, while scratching the back of his head in a curious fashion.

''And why Sig specifically?'' Marvett added.

''It's that…she likes you. Like, like-likes you, so…'' Merigu attempted to explain, not entirely comfortable with spilling a secret like that. The visibly surprised faces on Sig, Marvett, Hilda and Lagnus' faces only made it even more awkward.

''...Please help….Ess needs you.'' Emii finally spoke up, catching everyone off-guard. The blonde girl looked as if she was really stressing herself, by putting herself into the center of attention like that.

Sig took a bit to think about it. She did hurt Jaan with her actions, but why did she do that anyways? If he was the one that could help, perhaps he could also help Ess and Jaan make up.

''Okay, I'll go. You all coming too?'' He asked his friends.

''Of course. Let's help her.'' Marvett joined her childhood friends in his decision.

''We're with you.'' Lagnus agreed.

''Hehe~ Look at you being the big supporter. I'm in.'' Hilda playfully ruffled Sig's hair a little, before putting an arm over his shoulders.

The boy returned the gesture with a smile, one mirrored on the Banshee Trio, who were glad to have passed one of the most important steps of their mission.

Not much later, the friends were guided into the luxurious and advanced Tetra household by the trio of red, green and yellow freshman girls.

''Mr. Zed! We're back!'' Merigu called into the home.

Indeed, the not overly loud, but certainly distinct stomps of a mechanical body were fast approaching. For most this kind of robot would seem threatening, especially being directly eyed by him, but the students knew better and weren't the least bit phased, this was their cafeteria robot afterall.

''You have my gratitude. As do you Sig, I appreciate your assistance.'' The robot gave as much of a thankful bow as his rather large body allowed.

''Uhm, no big deal.'' Sig wasn't quite sure how to respond seeing his school lunch provider being parental.

''Please follow me.'' He instructed the teens to follow him to the Tetra daughter's room.

Ess was lying on her bed in her pajamas, her head buried into her tear and make-up stained pillow and the curtains closed to leave everything dark. She had been like that ever since she came home on friday. Cutting herself off from everyone as best as she could, not having to face anyone anymore.

The silence was suddenly broken by the all too familiar sound of a robotic hand knocking on her door.

''Cut it out, Papa! I said I'm staying here forever!'' The girl didn't even bother asking what he was here for. She just wanted to curl herself up and be alone forever. She already felt that way anyways.

''There is someone here to see you.'' Zed gave room for Sig to start making his entrance.

The boy really wasn't sure how to go about that. Even with the walk from the mall to here, he didn't feel the least bit prepared. As if looking for guidance he looked towards his friends at the other side of the hallway, who gave him supportive thumbs ups.

Gathering his courage, he gave the door a knock, waiting for a response that ultimately didn't come, it was clear he needed to make a move.

''Hey. It's me, Sig.''

Ess jumped a bit at the very unexpected sound of her crush's voice. This was the first time he had ever been over at her house.

A million thoughts raced through her mind in a very short amount of time, why would he, all of sudden, visit her for the first time ever.

Then it hit her, he was probably there to call her out on making his genie friend feel bad. What else could it be? He didn't care about her.

Nobody did as far as Ess was concerned.

''Go away!'' She yelled, much to the dismay of everyone outside.

''B-but Es-''

''No!''

The plan was looking to be a bust already. In an act of desperation, the Banshee Trio rushed to the door, pressing themselves against it.

''Ess, give him a chance to talk!'' Merigu called out to her friend.

''He came here for you, Ess!'' Shosu also hoped to reach her.

''Ess, please listen.'' Emii was still more timid about it, looking as if on the verge of tears.

''Leave me alone! Make them go away, papa!'' Ess sounded like she herself was about to burst into tears. This was not what anyone involved hoped for.

Defeated, Zed and Ess' schoolmates chose to retreat into the living room, trying to come up with something else.

''That was a bust…'' Lagnus wished he could give some more useful input than to state the obvious.

''When I'm sad all I need are friends and hugs…I'm not good at this…'' Sig was himself distraught over how all of this went, even a supportive hand on his arm by Hilda didn't do much.

''There has to be-heeheehee~ a way we can get her to listen.'' Hilda mused to herself.

''I know Lag asked about this already, but what was up with her yesterday? Maybe we can work from there.'' Marvett deduced, it was as good of a lead as any.

It was at that moment that Zed took on a surprisingly somber look for a robot, something that was not lost on everyone in the room.

A robotic sigh escaped his systems. He already heard most of the story from the Banshee Trio. It should have registered in his programming that things were going to escalate like that, but he always dearly hoped that it wouldn't.

Silently, the caring bot grabbed a nearby photo of a man with silver hair and placed it on the living room table, for everyone to see.

''Ah yeah, her dad is that TetraTech guy and I guess he built you, right?'' Lagnus asked the robotic host of the meeting.

''Affirmative. My creator and a loving father, yet too caught up in his work and the eyes of the world on his research.'' Zed began to exposit, with all the teens giving him their undivided attention.

''Ess always wished to spend more time with him. She denies it, but his absence seems to have made her feel inadequate.'' He continued on.

''Oh no…'' Marvett voiced what everyone in the group was thinking.

''She has been seeking validation and affection from others since. I suppose yesterday was the boiling point. My shame protocols have been running non-stop for failing to recognize this.''

Some audible gasps could be heard across the room. Suddenly, it started to click. Sig could feel a tinge of guilt build in his throat for never catching on to Ess' attempts to approach him.

''She just really wanted to feel loved, huh?'' Lagnus rubbed his arm in an upset manner.

''Really puts that in a new p-pfft~ perspective.'' Hilda really wished the curse didn't make any attempt at sympathy sound like a farce.

The air in the room felt far heavier all of the sudden. The entire situation was even worse than anyone involved had imagined.

''We gotta think of something to help.'' Shosu punched the palm of one of her hands, this couldn't be the end of it.

''But what? What can we even do?'' Merigu felt completely helpless and defeated at this point.

As the teens began to brainstorm ideas, Sig remained quiet. All of this got him thinking. To him, things were always right when he had his friends…and hugs.

Lagnus, Marvett, Hilda, Jaan, Nasos and those weren't even all of them. In many ways he was lucky to have so many friends.

So many friends. So many friends.

That may even be it.

''I have an idea.'' Sig caught his friends off-guard. It wasn't like him to take the lead with plans. All the more reason to be curious about this.

''Let's hear it, what did you think of?'' Marvett encouraged her childhood friend to keep on going.

''We have a lot of friends here to help. Then we can all call Mr. Ess' dad and tell him Ess needs him. Either that or we all call out to her. Comfort hugs always help, and we'll give her as many as she needs until she knows she's loved.'' Sig wasn't sure how sound any of that was, it's just something he felt would help him. Lord knows if it was to apply to Ess.

''Not against it, but do you think a big-shot like Ex is gonna listen to a bunch of teenagers?'' Shosu was receptive, yet skeptical of how likely the odds of success were.

''I can lead the call. Ex has appointed me to a caretaker function, he will listen to me if I cannot perform a function with or without Ess' help.'' Zed was able to back up Sig's idea.

''We just gotta try. Maybe we can do something else for her? New friends maybe? Or a big surprise, here's your dad party?'' Sig looked over his friends, all of which looked like they were weighing how well this could work out, but ultimately approached him in good spirits.

''Aw what the heck. I'll go a-hahahaha~ and I'll invite Nasos.'' Hilda was the first to leave, to carry out Phase One of the plan.

''I know someone who can make something nice for Ess. I'm in.'' Marvett next took her turn to meet up with someone for the plan.

''I got Arle, Silv, Ringo, Maguro and Tee, if all of them can come.'' Lagnus was about to leave, though he felt himself held back by an arm. Sig wasn't quite ready to let him go.

''Not sure about the cheerleaders. I may need help convincing them.'' Sig admitted, after yesterday, they may not be that easy to sway.

Lagnus understood and confirmed his willingness to help with a fist bump, which Sig returned.

''We'll make it work, bud, trust me.''

Marvett found herself back in the mall, thankfully she had talked to Marle the other day about their weekend plans, so calling her up for a meeting there was easy since the aspiring artist was going to be there anyways.

The two met on one of the many benches located in the mall. The painter girl's happy personality gave Marvett a ray of hope that she really needed at the moment.

''Thanks. I know this was sudden, but you can really help us a lot here.'' Marvett really was glad this was going so smoothly.

''Anything to bring some joy with my art~ So, what's the matter with Ess?'' Marle asked, very curious as to what was going on. "Besides that blunder at the game. Or is that all of it?"

''That's not all of it. Long story. She and her dad are distant and she feels alone. She also has a unrequited crush on Sig, so that's also a little awkward.'' The author in the making had to admit. She didn't like rushing through explaining it all, but it was for the best to be fast.

''Oh no!'' Marle gasped. ''A real-life lonely rich kid story! In that case I'll do anything I can to cheer her up with something of my creation!'' Marle went from shocked to determined real fast.

Before Marvett could even thank her though, another voice entered the round.

''Per'aps I could 'elp as well.'' As the odds would have it, Incubus was close-by, having heard enough of the conversation to chime in.

Marvett wasn't sure what to make of it, but resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

''You sure this isn't an attempt to whoo any one of us or Ess? Mighty odd you're just hanging around us right now.''

''Eet ees true I like to visit zis establishment to possibly find the one, but zis is not for moi! Ze aching 'eart of unrequited love! I can't stand to see a lady feel zat kind of pain! Any chance to 'elp 'er, I will take, as a true gentleman and romantic would.'' Incubus' monolog in a way so passionate, it could have fit into a stage show. Suspicious for most, normal for him.

''I think he means it, Marv.'' Marle completely believed it, feeling no reason to distrust the anti-flirt.

''Sigh. We need any help we can get. Just please tell me you mean it and aren't just trying to flirt.''

''You 'ave my word, mon petit ami lapin.''

Meanwhile, Sig and Lagnus met up with the cheerleaders in the Primp City park. At least they were easy to find together, since they were in the midst of practicing acts without their former leader.

New leader Raina was not that enthusiastic about the boys being there.

''Alright freak n' diaper baby, make it quick.'' She dismissively ordered them to speak up, much to Jaan's annoyance,

''Don't listen to her, guys, what's up?'' Jaan chimed in much to Raina's irritation.

''It's about Ess, she needs us all.'' Sig went straight to the point.

Unsurprisingly, the wounds of the day before weren't conveniently healed already. Though there was little open resentment, a certain reluctance was easy to take note of.

''She needs us, that's nice. We needed her to do her job yesterday!'' Raina was still clearly the most bitter about it.

''Yeah, she ruined our performance!'' Draco chimed in.

''...I almost got burned because of her…'' Amitie muttered, really looking the most sad rather than upset over everything.

Ally didn't even say anything, the entire thing made it very difficult to be any kind of peace-keeper. Jaan didn't feel much different.

Still, the more rational side of Ally sparked up, they could at least listen to the boys first and decide from there what to do.

''It's just…why did she even do that yesterday? We rehearsed that routine for weeks and she, the leader, steps out of line. It's unfair to all of us…'' Ally was open about her disappointment, but at least wanted some answers.

''It's about her daddy issues.'' Sig was short and to the point about it. Lagnus eyes-widened about Sig's accidentally strong word usage.

Ally, Jaan, Amitie and Draco were curious, if puzzled. Raina meanwhile was still not that ready to listen.

''What does that have to do with anything?''

''She barely sees him and has been desperate to find attention and affection elsewhere. It wasn't cool what she did to you all, but she's needed someone for a long time now.'' Lagnus further explained. "It's really eating her up from the inside. Yesterday's guilt doesn't help much either."

That revelation did shake the cheerleaders a fair bit. None of them suspected Ess to carry that kind of baggage. At least none other than Raina.

The pink-haired girl was clearly conflicted, whereas the other girls were in shock, trying to process that information, she had to think back.

All the times she teased.

What her sister told her yesterday.

It was hard to read from her face what was going on in her head and without even a word, she ran off, leaving everyone else in the dust.

''Hey wait.'' Sig tried to protest, but the younger Fielding sibling was already far away.

''Let her be. I'll help.'' Jaan offered, all of the sudden the many pranks she played on Ess felt rather uncomfortable, knowing what she knew now.

''Aw shucks, let's get our leader back!'' Ally declared.

''Raina's gone though, but aight, let's go to Ess.'' Draco agreed while at the same time missing the point.

''I don't want Ess to be sad, let me help too!'' Amitie offered her own assistance.

With four more allies to their cause, things were very much starting to look up.

''Alright, Amitie, call up Arle and Silv to meet us at the Tetra house. I'll get Ringo, Maguro and Tee.''

''Gotcha!'' Almost faster than anyone could watch, Amitie was off and Lagnus wasn't far behind.

''Jaan, think we can get Yoko to help?'' Sig began to wonder about his remaining friend.

''I'm sure we can, just….ask Ess to leave her alone in the future. She's still dealing with… y'know.''

''I will. We'll make it work. All of it.'' Sig declared with newfound confidence. Jaan was certainly surprised to see him that way, but couldn't deny she loved it.

While Draco went straight for the Tetra residence, Sig, Jaan and Ally went to pick up Yoko.

With so many friends gathered, so much united desire to help this one girl out, the morale in the group began to rise.

Maybe, just maybe, they could truly make it work.

Authors' Notes:

WARE: Things have been set in motion. Next time will be the finale of Season 2, so stay tuned.