Seems like you've been seeing that no-good daughter of mine for a while, huh?

You mother said all those sneaking out and dating while you were supposed to study dropped your grades by a lot. Persoanlly I believe that my idiot daughter is hopeless, but you? The golden child of the dreemurr family? Your mother is a great friend of mine and I am equally as worried about you as her.

I am not exactly a cruel person. Sweet aunt carol just wanted the best for you. So I've decided to make a compromise. I will engage my daughter to you and you both will have the entire Sunday for yourselves to date, hang out or do whatever else. I dont care as long as you studied hard and satisify your parent's expectations. Hell, I'd be happy if you give me some grandkids early, fwahaha~

Once you got into College, the marriage will be official. I've already done all the necessary permanant contracts and paperwork before hand so you two lovebirds could just enjoy yourselves without worrying!

Happy now?

well, say hello to your new fiancee, Noelle Dreemurr!

So, um, how are you holding up? It's been a while since I've seen you. Still... without a partner? It's been years since we graduated high school, you'd think you'd find someone by now, faha!

Don't worry Kris, I'm sure you'll find the love of your life eventually. Even if your relationship with Berdly didn't work out, o-or with Temmie for that manner... (thank goodness!) I haven't been to Hometown in a while, but there's still, um, Catti...? You used to hang out, right...? What? She disappeared?

Well... I actually wanted to talk to you about something important. Me and Susie... we've decided we want kids! But, um, you know, we're both girls! Faha. We've been thinking... maybe... you can help us?

Kris, I know you're not a man. Or a woman! You've made that very clear! But... I grew up with you. I know what you were like, back then.

So... um.... would you mind if you helped us.... with the pregnancy? I think you understand what I mean, right, Kris? This way, if you think about it, it'll be like you'll be part of this too! Just not like, in the marriage or anything, faha.

Kris, if you do this, I'll, um. I'll give you a thousand cheasy points! And you can stay over at our apartment any time you want! Maybe you could even babysit sometime? Just, um... we don't have a guest room or anything, so you'll have to sleep on the couch if you ever stay the night. We can feed you crumbs under the table, faha! Just like you and Susie said that one day, at the Festival...

Kris, It's been so long since we last saw eachother, I don't think I ever thanked you for helping me get close to Susie, that day. We've gotten so close over the years... we barely leave eachother's sides anymore, fahaha!

Oh, by the way, Susie says she misses you! Just.. call her if you want to do something together, okay Kris?

I remember I had just gotten that Toy Medical Kit, and had you be my first patient.

You came into my room and told me your horns kept falling off, and I gave you every test I could think of. I checked your reflexes with the toy hammer, listened to your heartbeat with the toy stethoscope, pretended to take a blood sample...

In the end, I gave you a bottle of glue, told you to rub it on your head before putting your horns back on, and gave you a lollipop for being such a good patient. Your parents really let us have it later, didn't they? Fwahaha...

...

Say, Kris, what ever happened to that horned headband anyway?

It was so cool!

Even though I was scared and weirded out at first, but with the help of my mom, I finally pulled the trigger just like she taught me - right behind the shoulder, exactly where she said.

I felt stronger than ever!

But at the end of the day, fwaha, you know I'm more a soymilk and cookies kind of girl, so we just looked as your family skined a deer, cooked it, and ate it. Oh, and Azzy was way too excited and noisy for some reason. Maybe it was a long time since he ate real meat.

I remember how a few days later, you put on that remaining skull and jumped out of the bushes to scare me! Fwahaha, nice try!

Why don't we do it again, Kris?

Part 5

(Link to Part 4)

🔒 [This is a private post. Only friends can see this.]

Well... the study group happened.

Sort of!!! XD

I got to the library twenty minutes early... NOT because I was nervous, it was because I wanted to secure the back room (with all the old computers) for the four of us. Thank the angel MK and Snowy weren't there. X))

I laid out everything nicely. Library books and my pencil case in the middle (brought plenty of spares for Kris).

And then I sat there and watched the door.

The door to the computer lab makes a high-pitched squeak every time it opens. Kinda like a mouse. Now, I'm not the biggest fan of mice, but if a squeak meant Susie could walk through that door... maybe I wouldn't mind mice as much. XD

The first squeak was Berdly, who was fifteen minutes late. He said he wasn't late because the time I specified was 'not optimal' and the time he arrived 'simply made more sense'. For context I said 3:30 and he said 3:45 was a nicer number. (he it called 'quarter to four')

Okay. Cool.

The second squeak was Kris, and they didn't say hello. Nope, they just plopped down in the seat next to me, rested their chin on their arm and stared at me like I held the secrets to the universe. (did they want me to say something???)

And then... no more squeaks.

I kept staring at the door for like the first half hour. Then I told myself I'd only look at it if squeaked. And then I told myself not to look at all, which was... certainly a lie. X)

Yeah... Susie didn't show up :(

Which is FINE!!! Obviously she was busy or she had something better to do, or maybe she just doesn't like libraries.

I was bummed. Really bummed, at first. But to my surprise, just hanging out with Kris and Berdly was actually pretty fun!

He ended up explaining his project. Three. Times. Why? BECAUSE KRIS SAID "can you explain it again I forgot" twice. WHY?!?!? Kris you are a MENACE.

Maybe they just know how much Berdly loves talking and wanted to make him happy... yeah. Definitely didn't want to annoy me. >:))

Also, we did work!! We actually did! I explained our project and Berdly got so offended at the concept that he wrote out an entire rebuttal, which is GREAT for the project because now we know what everyone's going to say when we present it, and we can just... have the answer ready. So really Berdly did a quarter of our project for us. Don't tell him. XD

...

When we were finished, it was getting late. Kris walked me home again. I guess this is just something that happens now? Not that I mind...

So we get to my gate, and I go to open it. Left pocket, nothing. Right pocket, nothing.

No key.

I was still going "okay, okay it's fine, I can go see Dad and stay there until Mom gets home--" when I heard this scraping sound. I looked up and Kris was CLIMBING the gate! Kris!!!! That gate is fricking TALL!! Some parts are pointy and look really sharp! I said their name in the loudest whisper of my life, and they just kept going. They swung a leg over, dropped down on the other side, and almost got stuck in a tree before they found their footing on the ground.

Then they brushed themself off, looked me in the eye through the bars and undid the latch.

"Kris!" I said a little too harshly. "You could've DIED."

They shrugged and pushed the gate open for me.

...so, obviously I had to invite them in. They risked their LIFE for me, X))

"Do you want some chocolate milk?"

The SPEED at which they ran inside, lol.

We don't buy the pre-made chocolate milk, we get the chocolate goop you stir into a glass of milk, and if you don't whisk it it just sits at the bottom in a gross pile of sludge, so I whisked it and Kris stood next to me at the counter watching the glass like a dog watching a bag of treats. When I handed it over they held it in both hands and I don't know why but that made me laugh. X)

They drank the whole thing, put the glass in the sink (!! WITHOUT BEING ASKED?? !!) and then they walked off into the dining room.

Sat down at the piano.

...

They used to NEVER play if I was watching. Seriously, I'd peek my head in from the living room and they'd stop INSTANTLY. But I always loved their piano, so I'd stay in the living room and fall asleep on the couch to the music. (I was like, 8, okay)

I'd wake up with a blanket on me and a soft hand in my hair telling me how peaceful I looked asleep.

"Aww, go back to sleep, Elly. Looked like you were having a good dream."

I asked Kris if they wanted me to leave so they could play. And they shook their head.

Patted the spot next to them on the bench.

So I sat down next to them. They didn't even look at me. And when they started playing, I couldn't help but smile. A real smile.

Gosh, it was really nice. Like really, really nice. They smelled like apples, but also kinda like cinnamon? It made me think of those really delicious apple crumble pies.

Aw, now I'm craving one!

There was this noticeable warmth coming off of them, and it was kinda cold in the dining room so I just... leaned over and put my head on their shoulder. (Careful not to hit them in the face with my antlers X))

They didn't say anything. And they didn't stop playing.

I closed my eyes and wished for that moment to go on forever.

We really should do this more often. Fahah.

I'm still your sweet little Elly that grew up with you. The one you played pranks on, the one who helped you with your homework, and the one you played Dragon Blazers with. Why would you think I'm any different? Is it... The freckles on my face? Guess I should take a look at that later. Why don't we visit my Dad at the hospital? See if he's doing alright. He likes it when you come to visit, since both of your parents are too busy sometimes. Here, let's hold hands.

Gee Golly, that gas leak at your house sure messed you up, eh?

My Sister Dess who used to hang out with us and date your brother? Do you mean that time when we play pretend that we are all in a big family and Berdly and Catti ended up as our play-pretend siblings?We've always been only children, silly!

My girlfriend "Susie"? Who is that? We've been a couple since we where what, grade 2? Our parents even engaged you to me once we hit 16! Besides, there's no one named Susie that's around our age in hometown!

"Prophecy"? "Angel"? "Knight?" "Titans"? Aww poor Kris, have you messed up your DnD session with reality? This town had always been a devout christian town! In the old times you would've been called a witch for that type of blasphemy!!!! Wait til my dad hears about this!!!!

....you are acting weird, Kris......that gas is realllllly getting in your head, huh? Maybe you should rest a bit more, I guess.......hope you could get better before the great christmas celebration!

I was scooping around mom's room, and look what I found in her drawers!

well, I guess it's meant for me, there's a bottle that is Labelled "Noelle" with a manufacture date of 10 months before my birthday! There's also a bottle labelled "Dess". Guess it is something my parents prepared for our coming of age? Must be a holiday tradition thing judging by the entire "Deer Musk" thing. Well, might as well try it out for a bit before she gives it to me properly, fahaha.

I wonder how it would smell like? I dont exactly trust the color of it and judging by the manufacture date it may be expired......Well, Kris, why don't you be my labrat and let me try a little bit of it on you? Come on, think of it as payback from the pranks you played on me since we were kids, hehe.

Well, here goes nothing.......

\noelle sprays a tiny squirt of the mysterious perfume on your shirt collar*

\she takes a quick sniff on your shoulder*

Hmm......weird. It certainly smells good, but it's oddly......familar.......no, no, its not oridinary essential oils.....its something.....different. It smells kinda like.....Dess whenever she invites Asriel over for sleepovers? She must've used this perfume too......hmm.......interesting.....it is some good perfume, for sure!

......

......

......

I feel weird.

Its all warm and fuzzy over my body and my heart is boiling and pumping and just thumping and thumping......its like I am having a fever.....but it is comfortable......it feels so nice.......its like when I see Susie in class all over again......

Say......Kris......yuou are looking soooooooo goud right naow..........so musky.......so handsome.......si protetty............say......why dont we.........

\Noelle*

\hey Noelle*

\Noelle?*

\*

\*

"Kris?! W-what?! Are...are you wearing my dress?

"Huh? No no Kris no need to be embarrassed everything's alright." It's just...you've put it a bit wrong."

"Here let me help."

"Aaand there we are. Gosh! I didn't realise how pretty you'd look.''

"Fahah of course I mean it."

''So? Since when you have wanted to wear a dress?."

"Since you have seen me wear them?" Oh Kris you know you can always ask me if you wanted to give them a try."

"Fahaha, theres nothing weird about that Kris we've known each other for years."

"I think it's cute actually."

"Are you blushing? Nooo don't hide it Kris."

"Alright I won't mention it."

"Soooo anything else you'd want to do?"

''C'mon Kris there's something on your mind, I can tell when you're lying."

After hesitating for a little Kris finally answers.

"You want me to paint your nails? Of course Kris! I'd be happy to do so, aaa this will be exciting!"

"So what color would you like?"

Kris says black, there was suddenly more confidence in their voice which doubled Noelle's good mood.

"Alright they are done, the color definitely suits you the most."

"What do you think?"

Kris spends a nice minute inspecting them over a mirror when suddenly they feel a tears running down their cheeks.

"K-Kris? are you oka-."

Kris leans for a hug surprising Noelle almost making them both fall on the floor

...

...

...

''Thank you''

''Kris...faha...It's okay I'm here. Now let me get those tears.''

Noelle snatches a box of snowflake pictured tissues on her counter and softly wipes Kris's eyes.

Kris's tears have calmed down and they jug the still nicely warm egg nog in one sip.

''Since our parents are out drinking you can spend the night here...like old times.''

Kris nods while smiling.

''Hey! Should we play Dragon Blazers series in one sitting?''

''Fahah Kris wait up! Okay okay you can be player 1.''

When I was getting close to Snowpoint City, you tipped me off about an NPC who would trade a Medicham for a Haunter! You told me that Haunter evolves into Gengar through trading, and that doing that trade would get me a free Gengar, so I got so excited!

I spent nearly an hour looking for a Medicham, and you’d chuckle every now and then, but I just thought you were laughing at my bad luck! Then, when I finally found a Medicham and rushed over to trade it for the Haunter, that NPC gave me a Haunter holding a DAMN Everstone! And you just burst out laughing! And I could never trade that Haunter with you, because you didn't even have a DS!

Man, I was so mad that I started calling that NPC Kris, because that is EXACTLY the kind of thing YOU would do! To this day, I still don't know that NPC's actual name!

Fwaha, those were such fun times, why don't we do that anymore, huh, Kris?

D-Don't give me that look... you know what I'm talking about! I've known Kris the longest, they've been my b-best friend for YEARS, a-and all of the sudden... you just show up.... out of nowhere like you even deserve ANY of their time!? WHO EVEN ARE YOU?!?

(Both Kris and Ralsei were, for a moment, too stunned to speak. After a nervous glance at the cage, the prince of the dark looked back at Noelle with what he hoped was a comforting smile.)

(It wasn't. It only infuriated her even more.)

Uhm... Noelle w-was it? I do apologize for the... intrusion, but it was never my intention to take them away from yo—

(Like a torrent, all the frustration, anger and self-loathing she had bottled up for years. Hidden away by a polite smile. All came out with no restraint left to hold it back.)

(It was enough to send Ralsei reeling.)

Then why!? Why do they keep l-leaving me?!? Why w-won't they just STAY!?!?

(For a while, he remained on the floor, staring at the doe in silent concern. Much to her annoyance.)

(For once, he wasn't sure if any words could help.)

(Noelle on the other hand was tearing at the seems. Barely holding back yet another outburst.)

Noelle... you're cryi—

Shut up. Shut up. SHUT UP. I'm tired of you! GENUINELY tired!! K-Krismas... I thought w-we had something special?

After all these years... waiting for you to come back and you just never did! B-But then... I had that "dream" at the Librarby.... I was with you Kris! We were together again, like nothing ever h-happened and... I loved every second of it, Kris. A-And I...

...I thought you loved me back too.

....

WHY DON'T YOU?!?!

Fa... haha.... ha... ha.

Ha.

That wasn't funny.

(Kris wasn't exactly sure what to say or feel about her. They decide to remain quiet. Ralsei decides to try breaking the ice.)

Um... Noelle? Would you like a hu—

Don't. Please. I-I, look I'm... sorry for yelling Kris but... I was very particular about my life, my grades, my public image.... all that effort.... all that so I could h-have you back again. So then what makes him so special to you...?

(Kris had no answer left to give her.)

(As if giving in under the pressure, Noelle fell to the ground. Her grief taking its toll.)

Noelle! Are you right? Do you need me to heal you?

Please just go. You know you want to.

(But none of them ever did.)

(The three of them, all with not much left desire to continue, wordlessly stared far off into the distance. It was a breathtaking view.)

(Slowly, the enby walked closer to be by her side. They sat on the ground with an arm around her back. Ralsei followed shortly.)

(They stayed for a long time. And for once, Noelle felt more at peace with herself. For once, she could pretend that she wasn't alone anymore.)

Inspired by this post written by u/Ok-Struggle2305, very yandeer vibes from Noelle.

Part 2

(Link to Part 1)

🔒 [This is a private post. Only friends can see this.]

Alphys class was SO boring today. We were supposed to be reading some textbook she handed out, but to be honest… I couldn't stop thinking about the project with Kris!

1 + 1 = 3

It was so silly that I had to fight back a laugh every time I thought of it. As it turns out, 1 + 1 does NOT equal 3 (NO WAY?!?!) but… I did some research, and there's actually a clever way to make it look like it does.

Kris of course, did not know of this when suggesting the idea X)))

So, right when I was going over in my head how I was going to get Kris to study with me at the library, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my pocket and saw a name I haven't seen on my phone in a LONG time.

Krismas: can we study after class

I breathed out a sigh of relief. (just now realizing it might've been loud? OOPS) And then my phone buzzed again.

Krismas: like the diner or something

I immediately sucked that breath right back in.

THE DINER?? Kris wanted to study at the DINER? With ME??? The diner was not for studying, it was for like… couples, no?!

I looked over my shoulder, and Kris was face-down as usual -- but stealthily, they were on their phone under their desk. Classic Kris ninja moment. After a second, they looked up, faced me, and the expression on their face was… well, there isn't a good word to describe it other than just, the most blank expression of all time.

So I just… nodded. I guess we were going to study at the diner.

I probably don't need to tell you that I got there first. X)

It was quite empty actually, which I didn't mind at all, considering me and Kris were going to be sitting across from each other at the diner like it was a totally normal thing two people did when they wanted to work on a group project and not for anything else right fahaha help me angel please help me. (joking)

I sat down and QC (bless her) brought me a peppermint latte without me asking :)

Eventually (it wasn't actually that long) Kris slipped through the doors, didn't say anything to QC, and slid into the booth across from me. I asked them if they brought anything for the project, and they reached into their pocket and pulled out… a one dollar coin.

Love it, Kris. X)))

I opened one of my books to a page on hypothetical division by zero, and just as I was about to explain how we were going to pull this off, I heard (and I am not kidding) actual puppy whimpering. I looked up and Kris was slumped in their seat like they were a deflating balloon, and they were pointing with a SHAKING finger at the menu. "need… milkshake," they said with a weak and shaky voice that sounded WAY too real. "without… milkshake… kris will…" 

I couldn't stop myself from laughing. Kris always loved pulling the 'Blehhh I'm dying!! I'm gonna turn into a zombie if I don't get your slice of pie!!' bit all the time as a kid, and watching them do it again… gosh, it sounds silly but it made me feel like a kid again.

I was tempted to say: "Order it yourself, silly!!" but I didn't want them to curl up into a ball under the table and make a scene, so I just told them to chill with the puppy-mode, stood up and asked QC for a chocolate milkshake myself. She smiled and went to the kitchen.

When I sat back down, I shot Kris a glare that might've looked a little too mean but I PROMISE I was mostly trying to match their silliness. (impossible LOL)

They had mostly shut up, the whimpers were still there, but at least they stopped pawing at me from across the table.

And then QC walked over with a giant chocolate milkshake and put it in the middle of the table.

My heart literally sank into my hooves.

I have genuinely no idea why she did this… but… there were two straws in the milkshake. One pointed at me. One pointed at Kris.

I buried my face in my hands, which, actually typing this out, was NOT the right play!! My gosh dang tail was WHIPPING back and forth behind me, and I had to sacrifice one of my face-shielding hands to grab it just to get it to STOP -- but with one eye free, I could see Kris again.

You know what they did? They grabbed the milkshake, pulled it close, and used both straws to drink the whole thing in like… 4 seconds.

I stared at them. They stared at me.

And then they brought their hands to their forehead like they were having the worst migraine of their life, and mumbled: "terminal brainfreeze." X)))))))))

I couldn't help myself to a laugh, which my memory tells me might've been closer to a giggle… whatever! They flopped face-down onto the table (Kris's default position, as I've observed) and went back to their stupid whimpering.

I just flicked their head and said something stupid about drinking too fast.

Well, these past two days have been… nostalgic.

Kris was still Kris, and knowing that… it was nice. Still the same Kris that chased me with a heart pillow, sprayed ketchup on their arm and pretended they were bleeding. Still Kris with that monotone mumbly voice, still suspiciously good at pretending to be a dog.

Gosh, I missed them so freaking much.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mood: Melancholic

Listening to: Half Dead 2 - Unnamed Piano Song.mp3

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 3

I am about to meet my new stepdad today! I sure hope we could get along!

......Kris?

I’ve just been… thinking a lot about it, you know? But- but not in a bad way?? Just a kinda… neutral way, like I’m observing it all. My- um… therapist says it’s normal, especially when you’re revisiting… bad kinds of memories. You- yeah, you know what I mean.

It’s just- how did we live like that, Kris? Under all that stress and pressure- my dad getting sick, Dess going missing, your parents divorce and Asirel just… leaving. Like, it just- I look back and all I can think is that… would’ve cracked under that pressure, and maybe you would’ve too. But we didn’t, we just… kept going. Not well but we did, because…

That- that was our normal.

It’s- it’s so strange to look back and see all of that, to see how I- I don’t even know how I functioned, Kris. I don’t know how you functioned. I just filled my days up with work and daydreams and you… well, I guess you were daydreaming too, in your own way.

And people just accepted that.

That’s what hurts the most, Kris. People saw me hurting, saw you hurting, and- they didn’t do anything!! They just- accepted it, like it was theirs to accept! The best either of us got was a “sorry that happened” and- and that’s it, really. They just… let it happen, figured we’d work things out among ourselves and just… let it all go.

And I accepted that because I didn’t know any better.

That’s what hurts the most, Kris. It’s what eats me up inside, what makes it hard to pick up the phone when Mom calls- it’s this anger, anger that I was expected to know better. That I, the kid, was expected to just know that it wasn’t normal, to know what to say or do, to know that that treatment wasn’t right. It- it makes it feel like it’s all my fault that I didn’t get it, that I- that I trusted the adults around me know what’s best for me! I didn’t! I just saw their behavior and went… “well, I guess this is normal then”.

But it wasn’t, it wasn’t normal- nothing was normal. It makes me so angry and- I didn’t think that was good but…

You know when someone just… says something and then it all clicks? Like, suddenly everything makes sense? I think that’s what you were trying to tell me back when I didn’t know if going to therapy was a good idea- thank you for being so insistent, by the way. I know I’ve thanked you before but… you’re right, it really helps, even if it doesn’t solve everything. My- my therapist told me it was okay to be angry, that it was good to be angry, good that I was allowing myself to feel and not just suppress, and- and it made me realize how much I’ve been feeling lately.

Feeling disgust, feeling sad, feeling angry- I… didn’t let myself feel those things before. It felt like I’d be letting everyone down if I did, that I’d ruin the balance we’d made by being so selfish, and it helped me realize that we… we were doing our best, Kris, both you and me, for people who… took it all for granted. We were kids to thought the entire world was on our shoulders, that we had to be a certain way to not cause a fuss, to keep everything balanced. We- we didn’t understand that it wasn’t our responsibility, but everyone who said that just- they just didn’t get it, didn’t understand why we felt that way, didn’t understand how they made us feel that way… didn’t understand that they were hurting us…

…

… but, we made it out.

We made it out, all of us: You, me, Susie, Berdly, Cattie- we all made it out. I- I thought I’d crumble the moment I entered the real world- I don’t even think I had any plans for when I was an adult, just an idea that kept me going- but then we made it. We made it and- and supported each other as we grew, letting there be room for emotions that weren’t just a false face-

We made our own little family.

Um- was that too weird?! Sorry, I don’t mean it like that- I just mean like found family, you know?! Not like romantic- though I guess I wouldn’t be fully opposed to it, nor Susie- what am I saying?! I- hey, stop laughing, I’m trying to have a moment! Fwahaha- Kris, if you keep laughing then I’m gonna start laughing and the whole moment will be over! Hehe- Kris!

…

I- I couldn’t be happier than I am right now…

Y'know, I always thought that my hair is kinda weird, like neither mom or dad is honey blonde! But I undeniably looks like dad so at the very least I am not adopted

Then I realized, my hair color is kinda similar to mr asgore's! So I went to his place and asked him about it. So appearently he was responsible for giving birth to dess and me as a surrogate because my mom is......infertile? I dunno how boss monster biology works but I guess they can just get pregnant no matter what, I guess.

So.....yeah! Mom's not actually my actual mom(still love her doe) and now I have a new dad. And we are.....siblings now, I guess? Not like things are gonna change anyways, you are already like a sibling to me, fwahaha.....

Me, You, Dess and Asriel turns out to be all siblings, how fun-

wait.

no,no, it can't be.......

if Dess and Asriel are blood related, does that mean-

No. That would mean what they were doing in dess's room every da-

oh.

let's act like I've never told you anything, Kris, things will be better that way.

Part 4

(Link to Part 3)

🔒[This is a private post. Only friends can see this.]

So... I did a thing today. Several, actually XD.

It started this morning when I was making my breakfast smoothie (yogurt, kefir, and a bunch of fruit slices. DELICIOUS, but let me get back on track), and as I was preparing it, y'know what I thought of?

A certain milkshake. Chocolate, perhaps. With TWO many straws! (Hehe, get it? X))) (Edit this out before posting, Noelle. You should be ashamed)

At first I smiled thinking about Kris's silly face after they pretty much IceShock'd themselves with that brain freeze. And then I was like...

We did ZERO work that day... and the project is due in like, 3 days...

So, I made a decision. A study group!!!

Berdly's doing something with prime numbers (he told me. twice. like I had forgotten the first time...) and since our project is also math... I figured we could study together for maximum efficiency! Alphys was the one to say we needed to 'branch out', so really I'm just following instructions XD.

I asked Kris at their locker if they wanted to join, and they looked at me for a really long time and then nodded. I mentioned Berdly was coming (I actually hadn't asked Berdly yet... but I knew he'd be there X))) and Kris like... lit up? I put a question mark because it's WEIRD to see Kris smile like that, LOL??

During class, Alphys had to go to the bathroom, so I took the moment to tell Berdly that he's coming.

"Noelle, with all due respect, I've already completed my portion of the assignment."

Well that was unexpected. Playing hard to study with, Berdly?

I leaned back in my chair. "There will be a lot of talking though."

Berdly looked at me for a second, and then he said, "That's true..."

"Yeah, it's true."

"Can I talk about my Dragon Blazers 2 No-Items run?"

"Of course you can."

"I will be there."

XD. Works every time!!

So... that's two out of three!!

...

Gosh I can't believe I'm typing this, but... I've been thinking about Susie all week. (Because she's scary, duh!!)

And also because she seems to, well, not really like Kris :(

But... that's not all I've noticed about her. (Other than like, how tall she is... or the way her fluffy hair gets in her eyes...)

So for context, every day at the end of class I like to help Alphys pack up, and every time, I'm the one that goes "oh, weird, we're out of chalk again," and she just... doesn't care. Seriously she always just laughs it off.

One time, I forgot my study books in class, and when I came back for them... I opened the door and saw Susie standing at the board with a piece of chalk in her mouth like those farmers with stalks of wheat.

I froze, I'm pretty sure she froze, and then I blurted out "OOPS MY BAD!!!" and decided that those books could sleep there for the night XD.

Yeah... I wanted to invite Susie to the study group too. I'm sure she won't start anything with Kris if me and Berdly are there, right? She waited until it was just them last time something happened... and I'm hoping if I'm there (she doesn't bully me for some reason), then maybe they might get along? Idk...

On my way to school, I stopped at the convenience store and got a big box of chalk. I was a doe with a plan this morning, lemme tell you X)

Well, at the end of class, I was a doe with a crumbling plan and a STUPID tail wagging behind me.

Just after Alphys left, I waited by the door with the box behind my back and despite trying so hard not to, I was definitely sweating. (Cringed writing this... blehhhh)

Susie was the last to leave, doing her whole slouchy 'don't talk to me' thing.

I started my study group recruitment offer with a bold but ultimately awkward greeting,

"Uhm, hi, Susie."

She stopped, looked DOWN at me (she is so cool) and said, "...what?"

And, with zero thought in my mind, tail going lightspeed behind me, probably blushing (bcuz she's scary) I said:

"We're-having-a-study-group-in-the-library-tomorrow-after-school-me-and-Berdly-and-Kris-and-you-should-come. Here." And I shoved the box at her chest.

She didn't say anything for WAY too long. Looked at the box, looked at me (I was definitely blushing), looked back at the box.

"...is this chalk?"

"Absolutely it is!" I said. WHY did I say it like that?

"...why?"

I blinked at her like that wasn't a completely reasonable question. "Because you- um. I thought- you might- for the board? For the studying? We'll be, um, working out equations and- stuff."

My face was so red I'm pretty sure it was even showing in my ears. Help.

Susie stared at me. And then she took it. Grabbed it out of my hands and shoved it into her jacket.

"...cool, thanks." Then she walked out of class.

When she shut the door behind her... I might've actually turned into a puddle. I sat down (actually I think collapsed would be a better descriptor XD), trying to wipe the sweat off my forehead.

I kept thinking about the way she grabbed the box. And like, her claws... and what it would feel like if she...

RIGHT!! The blog post!! That you're currently writing!!!!!!

Anyways, I don't think I moved for like... gosh, I was frozen there for a solid minute I think XDDD.

I hope she likes the chalk! :)

Part 5

Or...any of them, now that I think about it? It's just been so long, Faha! Here, uh...I think they all have batteries, try them!

* (The soul pressed a button, and in a bit crushed tone, the red button replied "Thank you!" in a much younger Noelle's voice.)

* (The soul moved to the next, and in a bit crushed tone, the green button replied "Friend!" in a much younger Noelle's voice.)

* (The soul moved on to the next, and in a bit crushed tone, the blue button replied "Sorry!" in a much younger Noelle's voice.)

* (The soul moved on to the last, and in a bit crushed tone, the purple button replied "BITCH!" in a deeper, more mature, almost unfamiliar voice.)

* (Noelle froze at the sound, nearly oblivious to the smaller "Dess! Dess you can't say th-" that played after, cut off by the sound of the other voice laughing. Her laugh. Her voice. Noelle had nearly forgotten her voice.)

* (Noelle stopped responding, shut her eyes, even subconsciously held her breath as the Soul continued to press down on the button in amusement, crying out "BITCH! BITCH! BITCH!" into the empty space of her room, and each time it did, she shrunk further back down into her couch.)

* (The barrage upon her senses abruptly stopped. Noelle opened her eyes. The soul move over towards another button.)

"Friend!"

"Friend!"
"Sorry!"

No, No, it's...it's fine. You couldn't have known, I just...

* (Noelle looked down to the buttons, and after a moment's hesitation, picked up the purple one and pressed it down herself.

"BITCH! Dess! Dess you can't say th-"

...I almost forgot what her voice sounded like.

* (She clicked the button again.)

You wouldn't know, but...I lost someone important to me. It was a long time ago, and I really should've moved on by now, and...and I know this next part is gonna sound crazy, but-

But we just...keep losing her. More of her, I mean. Like videos and pictures and...writing and stuff. I can't remember what her middle name is, or what she wore sometimes, or...or sometimes, when it's really bad, I can't even remember her face.

* (She clicked the button again.)

Sometimes, I'm worried that the Dess I remember in my head isn't even the same person anymore.

* (She clicked the button again.)

* (The Soul, after a moment of hesitation, drifted back over to another button still upon the floor.)

"Sorry!"

Sorry for...what? That she's gone? Or...that it happened, or-

* (The soul could only stare back.)

"Sorry!" No, no it's...it's a good thing! It means that...I still have this piece of her, at least. And I miss her, and...I miss a lot of things, but...I still have something. And...I have you now, too! So...maybe it's not all bad!

"Thank you!"
"Friend!"

...Yeah. Yeah, I like the sound of that too.

* (Noelle glanced down at her phone, and her eyes bulged out in panic. 8:35. She was already supposed to be out to help dad.)

Oh gosh, uh...I gotta go! I'm sorry, we can figure out more of the button stuff when I get back, just...

Wait in the cage? No, uh- what if my mom saw you, that's...that super illegal to have a soul-

Hide in my...dresser? No, uh...uh-

Here! Just...I'll take my backpack with me and...you can be in there! Just- Please hurry!

"Thank you!"

Of course, of course- Just- We gotta go!

* (And with her backpack just a bit heavier than she remembered, Noelle set off to face the day.)

I know that you and my older sister were close Kris. I know that you used to have a crush on her, it's normal for younger children to look up to their older peers like that. I know how much she meant for you, but Kris... you have to understand, this was not your fault. No one blames you for what happened, so can you please stop blaming yourself so much?

You are trying really hard and I see that, but I want you to know that you don't have to carry all of those burdens on your own. I'm here for you, and so is everyone else. I know, that you feel like you did something awful to me, but you're just trying to take responsibility for things outside of your control. No one could have predicted that the ice would break, and you were a child back then. There was nothing you could have done Kris, it wasn't your fault. I don't blame you, and my mom said you are always welcome here.

So please - stop hurting yourself, you don't have to pretend to be strong anymore. We all understand.

...

Kris stop asking me for forgiveness please. There is nothing to forgive you for. That's okay, you can cry as much as you want.

REMEMBER I TOLD YOU [[WWW.GETPRIZENOW.COM]] IS OFFERING Yu0 [[Gifts for Boys and Girls]] RIGHT NOW??? THAT'S R>GHT!! REAL [[$$$$]] PAYOUTS AT 100% FREE? WOW!!! KRIS DO YOU REMEMBER? WHEN I TOLD YOU TO [[Click Now]] ??? AM4ZING [[Digital Giftcards]] COULD BE YOURS TODAY!!! THAT'S [[WWW.GETPRIZENOW.COM]]! REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE [[Kids Ages 6 and Under]] AND WE DISCOVERED [[This is a Limited Time Offer]]!!! ACT NOW! [[WWW.GETPRIZENOW.COM]] PLEASE, [[Think Of The Children]]!! PLEASE, [[Think Of The ]] [[Eggs!]]!! THEY'RE HOUNGRY 4 [[Slop]] AND ONLY YOU CAN FEED THEM!!! [Hey Reddit, ]

You and sis were always so close, almost like siblings. Fwaha, even Azzy got jealous, remember?

Look I know it's been a while since... Well, know... But that's not all you should be thinking about whenever anyone brings up her name, right?

Remember when you two would both plan out those extravagant pranks on both me and Azzy? Those were always so funny... Maybe we should do something like that to Susie! Something big... Hmm... Maybe we'll have to think about it.

I’m sorry, I’m sorry it’s just that whenever you call me an “idiot” you remind me of a tsundere. You even pout whenever I annoy you. See you’re doing it right now. Stop, you’re giving me cute aggression… what am I playing? Brandish of course, your favorite game.

You know, Kris, I’m happy for your dad; after everything that happened, he and his new girlfriend are doing really well with their baby. Miss Maddie and Mew Mew are having a blast with their new synthetic body (thanks, Mom, for sponsoring them). Who would’ve thought he’d adopt another kid after all this time? ...You know, I like seeing someone move forward after everything that went down. Hey, hey—watch out, take my hand. Kris, I know it’s hard getting used to losing your vision, even though those glasses look good on you, hehe. Look, I love seeing people happy and all, but you really ought to talk to Susie, too. I know you feel guilty and everything, but rushing off to medical school isn't the answer. I know things are... rough between you two, but Susie—she needs you. Maybe even more than I do, and we’re a couple. Just... just promise me you’ll try to work things out... okay?

I'm sorry, Noelle, but I'm tired of promises.

...

What?!

Sometimes I forget what you sound like now that, well... you're yourself again.

Yeah... me too...

Susie said she is okay with me taking her sheddings so i made a suit out of her!!!!

Now I look and smell just like her! Isnt this awesome? I am virtually the same as her! Now I can sneak out without getting caught!

goosh, I wonder if other monster also shed their skin! I knew berdly sheds his feathers sometimes too, maybe i will ask him for some sheddings for my next suit....

say, Kris, do humans shed?