So, Shiemi, Izumo, and I went shopping today.

"So… you and Rin, huh?" Shiemi said, breaking the silence as we browsed through the store.

"Huh?" I exclaimed, almost dropping my bag. "I… don't know what you're talking about."

"You're best friends, but it looks like there might be something more," Shiemi continued, her eyes full of innocent curiosity.

"Oh, please," I said, rolling my eyes. "He's my best friend. He doesn't look at me that way."

"Lia, come on," Izumo interjected, giving me a knowing look. "We're your friends. We can tell when someone's in love."

"I am not!" I said, my voice louder than intended, startling an elderly woman a few rows over.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of," Shiemi said, offering a kind smile. "I'm a little jealous, though. How do you get him to stop yelling?"

"He never yells at me," I replied, shrugging. "If he did, I'd just stop talking to him."

"No, you wouldn't," Izumo said, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.

I sighed. This was turning out to be a long day.

Xxx

Sunday was too hectic for me to write in my journal, but today I woke up in Rin's room, around 3 AM, screaming as if my life depended on it.

"What?" My eyes adjusted to see Rin standing beside the bed, his expression a mixture of concern and confusion. "What happened?"

I realized I was covered in a cold sweat. I looked away. "It was just a nightmare. It doesn't matter."

I turned to face the wall, trying to push the memory away.

Rin placed a hand on my shoulder. "Hey. You can tell me."

I shook him off gently. "Just go back to sleep."

"Don't," he said, his voice more tender than I expected as he turned me to face him. "I know you're trying to protect me, but I want to be there for you, too. Like it used to be."

I sighed, the weight of the nightmare pressing on my chest. "All right. I dreamed I was back home, with my real parents. But then Mephisto came, and…"

My voice broke, and I struggled not to cry, but the tears came anyway. Rin sat down beside me on the bed and, after a moment's hesitation, pulled me into an awkward hug. I buried my face in his shoulder and let the tears fall.

After a moment, he let go, cheeks tinged red. "Are you okay now?"

"I'm fine," I said, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be," he said softly. "Stop looking out for me so much and start looking out for yourself a little more, too."I smiled. "If it makes your life easier, I will."

"It does," he said, lying back down on the futon.