The first day off from school. Carmen sat in a studio. She didn't really have a reason to come in today, she just felt like it. Syrus stopped coming after his mother passed, he was also hospitalized from the incident. Alex stopped coming even before that. With the two of them gone, Arlin had no reason to come anymore. Carmen didn't care too much for any of the others, but it was better than being at home. "Home..." she sighed. It didn't feel like home. She walked outside for some fresh air. She sat against a side wall out of the way and just breathed. She had come a long way since she moved from England with her mother almost 10 years ago. As she was reminiscing, a tall figure approached.

"What do you want?" she sneered at him.

"I got worried when I couldn't find you this morning." he feigned concern with his dark voice. "I've been looking all over for you." he gave a devious smile.

"No one asked you to find me, cut the crap!" she retorted with a glare.

"Everything will be easier if you would stop resisting me." he bent down and softly brushed the hair out of her face. She grabbed his hand and threw it aside while growling at him.

"I'm not your play thing so back off!" she stood and walked off. He furrowed his eyebrows while examining his hand.

"Just wait and see, Мало мыши*." his angry expression morphed into one of eager anticipation. Carmen wandered the streets only with the intent to distance herself from that guy. "How can that sick bastard act like he owns me?" she grimaced in disgust. As she walked, she passed a flower shop. "Huh...I ended up all the way here." she turned to across the street. There was a cemetery. A solitary figure stood among the monuments. He lightly rubbed one and bowed, then walked away. "Syrus?" she wore a remorseful expression. "So he still visits her?" She walked to Gentle Leaf Cafe, a nearby tea shop that they used to frequent before the incident. It was busier than usual. She ordered a drink and sat by a window. The group of unusual guests was quite loud. "I think they're from my class?" Moments later Syrus walked in. He looked over at the group then to Carmen. His somber expression twisted. He looked at her skeptically as if he had been imagining her being there. Carmen gave a small smile and waved. He just turned away and joined the rowdy group. "I get that he's still bitter but geez..." She pouted a bit and finished her drink. She stood and walked to the door but stopped. She then walked to over to the table Syrus sat at. Skai, Anya, Jem, Mini, Sai, Tori and Kid were also there chatting loudly.

"I told you sooo!" Kid poked both Skai and Anya on their arms repeatedly. Skai groaned and Anya lowered her head.

"I...there's no need to make such a big deal about it..." Syrus responded, he turned his face away. He was blushing a bit. "I only came cause you said it was important."

"It's obvious why we asked you here." Skai sighed.

"Yeah!" Kid stood up and leaned in close to Syrus. Syrus pulled back reflexively. "Thanks!" Kid grinned. Syrus nervously returned the gesture.

"So you're finally making new friends?" Carmen said and grinned wide with her hands on her hips.

"What do you want?" Jem scoffed. Carmen giggled a little. Everyone else stared, on their guard.

"Just checking up on a friend!" Carmen said in a cheeky tone and put her arm around Syrus.

"Don't touch me, Carmen." he said coldly. The group turned their now confused gaze to him. He used her given name. Carmen pretended to pout.

"You're no fun, Syrus!"

"You two friends?" Kid said with a smile, devoid of the hesitation his friends shared.

"Yep!"

"Not really..." They answered at the same time.

"Geez, almost ten years and this is how you treat me?" she became genuinely annoyed.

"Didn't seem to matter last year." he rolled his eyes and stood up. "We done here?" he looked back to the group.

"Yes." Skai gave a firm answer.

"What? No, stay!" Kid jumped at Skai's emotionless response then pleaded to Syrus.

"I don't have time for this." he looked over the group then to Carmen. He gave her an irritated look saying "Don't bring up the past!" and walked out.

"Boo..." Carmen pursed her lips together pouting more. "He never changes." she turned to the group, eyeing the twins with a cocky expression and waved. "Ta ta kiddies!" and left the shop.

"What the hell was that?" Mini complained.

"Can't believe he would be familiar with someone like that..." Anya leaned back and relaxed. Sai looked to Skai and he nodded.

Carmen groaned. "Today is not my day." The sun was getting low in the sky as evening came. She gave in and made her way back to her place. She was greeted at the door by two young children.

"Hey, let me in!" she smiled as they clung to her legs.

"Where were you, sis?" they whined.

"You know I'm not actually your sister, right?" she laughed and grinned.

"So?" the older one pouted.

"Have you two eaten?" she playfully poked their stomachs.

"No..." they answered reluctantly.

"Then get out of here!" she pointed down the hallway on the other side of the room. The nodded unwillingly and ran off. Carmen walked to a room. She lied back on her bed. "Mother." She started to doze off when-

BZZT BZZT

She sleepily reached for her phone "Kanamura?" Her drowsiness faded in the instant she saw the name. ["Can we talk? You know where I'll be, and...sorry for before."] She smiled without meaning to. She closed her mouth and covered it with her hand. She grabbed a coat and peered out the door. No one was around. She quickly walked out, making sure to shut the door quietly. She walked for a while until reaching a small movie theater, on the curb sat a person. She walked up to him, he turned to face her.

"You actually came." Syrus said in disbelief.

"You contacted me, that never happens." Carmen teased and sat down next to him. "And I knew something was up with you when I ran into you before." Silence. Syrus looked away, a troubled expression on his face. "Anytime now." She joked, trying to lighten the mood. Syrus sighed and began to speak.

"Arlin..." he looked down. "We got into a fight."

"What?" Carmen's eyes widened. "Must have been serious for that guy to get mad, huh?" Syrus just nodded his head without a word. Carmen put her finger to her mouth pondering something. He let out an even bigger sigh.

"I really fucked up this time..." he turned, now facing the street as Carmen was. "I have never seen him that angry."

"What was it about?" she leaned back on her hands. No response. "Okay...with all that's happened, you gotta let loose or the stress is going to kill you." she turned her head to Syrus with a serious look. "I'm worried about you."

"You? The one who was so quick to ditch me when your social status was in jeopardy?"

"I...ugh!" she grimaced. "Look, I can't talk about it but there is more to it than you think." her face continued to contort into a pained expression.

"Wait...what's going on?" he stopped brooding and moved toward her. She shook her head. Syrus grabbed her by the shoulders. "Carmen!"

"Wouldn't you rather talk to Dunley than me?" she refused to meet his gaze, while changing the subject.

"What?" he pulled away a bit. "No..."

"So you don't like her?"

"Huh? Why are you bringing this up now?" he averted his eyes. "Besides she rejected me." Carmen perked up.

"Seriously?!" she gave a dubious look. "Why?" Syrus's face grew a little flushed.

"She called me a 'creep'." he laughed in a self-mocking way.

"She doesn't know what she's talking about!" Carmen shouted angrily. "Don't take that shit from her!" Suddenly a smile came to Syrus's face. Carmen's anger eased into bewilderment. "What? Why are you smiling?"

"It's funny really..." he paused. "It doesn't really bother me."

"Eh?!" Carmen was taken aback by Syrus's unusual confession. "You're already over it?!"

"Mmm, after everything settled down, I guess I didn't really care that much..." His voice faded until he stopped talking, looking to Carmen. His eyes had a serious expression, but his lips looked uneasy. "What?"

"Th-that's good...I guess." Carmen said in a hushed voice. Staring into each other’s' eyes, Syrus lifted one of his hands and brushed away Carmen's bangs. Her face grew hot.

"I think it was my subconscious trying to deceive me." He said questioningly, his eyes locked on to hers. They sat in silence as Syrus rested his hand on her cheek. Carmen closed her eyes and leaned in. Syrus met her halfway. They kissed. Gentle at first, Syrus wrapped his arm around her shoulder while Carmen rested her hands on his thighs. Moments later, Carmen pulled away.

"No...we can't." she said unsure of herself. Syrus covered his lips with his hand. "Sorry..." she said in a conflicted tone.

"It's fine." Syrus replied flatly. Carmen groaned and threw herself back on the curb. Syrus followed her with his eyes then continued to the building behind them. "Wanna watch something?" He gave a small grin and laughed a little. "Everyone always said we had terrible taste in movies!" Carmen began laughing at Syrus's unexpected suggestion.

"Fuck it, why not!" She raised her hands above her head, surrendering. She pulled herself up and walked into the theater with Syrus, holding hands. No snacks or drinks, they went straight into the theater. It was completely empty. They laughed. "We really do have terrible taste in movies!" 

From around the corner a husky figure crept closer. His brilliant teal eyes practically glowed in the dark of night as he watched. Time slowed to a crawl as his resolve wavered. An hour and a half later, the two left the theater in strained silence. Syrus refused to make eye contact the whole time until they parted ways.