The bus ride was nearing its end, the sun beginning to set as they approached the suburbs. Most of the students on the bus were asleep, some engrossed in their phones, while others chatted quietly, excited to be back to familiarity. Balloon and Nickel had just woken from their nap, still holding hands as they looked out the window. They were only around the corner from school, and reality was setting in. Tomorrow, they will have to face Baseball and Suitcase. Neither of them felt ready for this, but at least they had tonight together to prepare for any possible outcomes.

Balloon wore a worried expression as he gazed out the window, the proximity to their return filling him with dread. The stress of keeping this secret from Baseball and Suitcase was overwhelming. He wanted to tell them but knew he had to wait. His hands grew clammy, and Nickel, noticing, pulled away to wipe his hand on his pants. Balloon's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Sorry..." he apologised.

"You're fine," Nickel responded with a small smile. He understood how stressed Balloon was, feeling overwhelmed himself. Nickel was determined to make sure Balloon had a good night tonight. Maybe they could cuddle, eat snacks, watch a movie—anything to take his mind off tomorrow. It could be like a stay-at-home date. This should be a happy time for them both; they were finally together after all these years. It wasn't fair that they had to worry about what others would think. This was their time, and Nickel was going to make tonight all about keeping Balloon sane and happy.

The bus pulled up in front of the school, and they were finally home. As soon as the bus stopped, everyone quickly stood up. Candle grabbed her bag and took out her crystal and metal stick, which she used to get everyone's attention when they weren't paying attention. She clinked them together, and everyone stopped, turning to face her.

"Before you all run off, I want to say that I am proud of each and every one of you. I know this camp wasn't very long, but you all achieved so much. I've seen growth in every single one of you. Now, does everyone have a way home? If not, I don't mind driving you. My car is parked in the school parking lot," she announced with a content smile.

Most of the students declined, grabbing their bags and making arrangements to walk home, take the bus, or call someone for a ride. Balloon and Nickel planned to take the bus to Balloon's house, just a ten-minute drive up the road. The only one who needed a ride was YinYang, which was expected since he was still young and didn't want to take public transport alone.

Fan raced off the bus excitedly, thrilled to be back. He couldn't wait to get to Test Tube's house, where he was spending the night. A comfortable bed, all his favourite snacks—finally, a decent night's sleep, as long as he didn't stay on his phone all night. Fan practically lived at Test Tube's house, and her parents didn't mind; he had almost moved in at this point, with most of his stuff already there. Fan and Test Tube were also taking the bus, so they stepped off the school bus and made their way to the bus stop for the regular city bus.

Lightbulb and Paintbrush lived in the opposite direction of that bus route, so they decided to walk to Lightbulb's house instead. They said their goodbyes to Test Tube and Fan before heading off.

As Lightbulb waved at Balloon, who was stepping off the bus, Balloon faintly smiled back. He didn't feel too good.

Silver Spoon and Candle stepped off the bus with YinYang, heading toward the back entrance of the school where the car park was. Silver Spoon had carpooled with Candle on the day they left for camp, so he was going with them. He was tempted to ask Candle if she wanted to stay the night at his place; he didn't want to leave her yet. He had really enjoyed all the attention from her and feared that he'd miss her dearly once they parted ways.

Before they walked into the school, Candle waved goodbye to the students at the bus stop. Then, she entered the building with Silver and YinYang. Silver planned to ask Candle to stay over after they dropped off YinYang. He didn't want to risk YinYang getting annoyed with him. Though they had made amends, YinYang still wasn't too keen on Silver being lovey-dovey with Candle; they were just tolerating it.

Trophy and Knife had their own cars, which they had left in the school parking lot. Taco and Microphone had carpooled with Knife, so they were heading back with him, and he'd drop them off at home or wherever they wanted to go. They'd probably want to stay together.

Trophy couldn't wait to get home! He had been texting Cheesy the entire time and now Cheesy was coming over tonight to hang out. Trophy couldn't stop smiling, which of course, Knife, Taco, and Microphone teased him about, calling Cheesy his "boyfriend." This made Trophy blush and get defensive, insisting they were just good friends. However, Trophy did have feelings for Cheesy, though Cheesy didn't know yet, and his friends always teased him about it.

Before heading to the car park, Knife stopped, looking at Balloon and Nickel. He just couldn't let it go. Losing Pickle had shattered him; Pickle was his everything. Now, because of Nickel, he felt he had nothing. Trophy had Cheesy, Taco and Microphone had each other, but Knife had nobody. Pickle was not just his boyfriend, but his best friend. Seeing Nickel with Balloon, seeing Nickel happy while he was hurting, infuriated Knife. It wasn't fair that Nickel got a happy ending after what he did. Knife's grudge against him still stood, and now that camp was over, he was determined to make Nickel pay. If Knife couldn't have his boyfriend, neither could Nickel. Nickel had almost forgotten that once camp was over, Knife would be back on his case. Seeing Knife approach made his gut sink and he felt sick.

"Hope to see you both at school tomorrow," Knife sneered evilly. Balloon's stomach churned with fear; he didn't know what Knife had planned, but he didn't want him hurting Nickel over a simple mistake. They already had enough to deal with, and now they had to worry about Knife too. Nickel felt frustration and anger surge through him. He wanted to punch Knife in the face. His fists clenched, his body trembling with rage as he looked coldly at Knife, who wore a smug expression.

Test Tube noticed the tension and knew someone had to intervene before Nickel actually threw a punch. She nudged Fan, who was still on his phone. Fan glanced up, realised what was happening, and looked at Test Tube with a puzzled expression. What? She wanted him to do something? What made her think Knife would listen to him?

"Do something, now," Test Tube quietly snapped at him.

Fan gulped and nodded, quickly putting his phone in his pocket and walking over to Knife.

"Knife, Taco and Microphone are waiting for you. Just leave them alone, please," Fan pleaded, using his best puppy-dog eyes—the ones Knife struggled to say no to.

Knife scoffed, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes. "Yeah, whatever... I don't want to waste time with them today anyway. I've got better things to do." He scoffed before walking off, stopping at the gate and turning around. "But they better still watch their backs," he snapped before stepping into the school and catching up with his friends.

Nickel took a sharp, deep breath. Balloon placed a hand on Nickel's shoulder, rubbing it gently to help calm him down. He wished Knife would just let it go. Ruining Nickel's relationship wouldn't bring back Pickle; Knife needed to understand that. Balloon hoped that Candle might talk to him, perhaps provide some counselling and change his mind about this whole revenge thing because it was becoming ridiculous.

Test Tube crossed her arms uncomfortably over her chest. She was relieved that Fan had stopped a fight from happening, but part of her felt uneasy about Knife listening to Fan without hesitation. Knife really did consider Fan a friend, didn't he? It made her a little unsettled. She knew Fan promised he was committed to her, but she couldn't help feeling nervous. What if Knife tried to take Fan away from her? For now, she pushed that thought aside and walked up to Fan, grabbing his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze to say thank you.

"I'm surprised that Knife just... listens to you. He doesn't listen to anyone," Balloon commented to Fan.

"Heh... yeah, me too. I wasn't expecting that. Maybe he really does have a soft spot for me," Fan shrugged a bit.

"Hopefully not too soft of a spot. You're still my boyfriend," Test Tube interjected.

"Of course! I wouldn't even think about leaving you, Test Tube," Fan smiled up at her.

Test Tube stared down at her boyfriend, a small huff escaping her lips. She trusted him—he was too cute not to trust. She understood why Knife couldn't say no to him, because sometimes neither could she. Shaking her head, she looked back up at Nickel and Balloon.

"Are you two catching the bus?" Test Tube asked.

"Yeah, Nickel's staying over at my house tonight," Balloon replied. He was glad Nickel was coming over; he wasn't sure he would last the night without a panic attack if Nickel wasn't staying over.

Test Tube smiled. "I hope you both have a good night. I know tomorrow will be scary, but at least take tonight to relax and spend time with each other." She paused before adding, "Oh, that reminds me! I won't tell Bot unless you want me to, but we can wait until tomorrow for you both to tell them. No matter when you tell them, they will be extremely supportive." She smiled reassuringly.

"Thanks, Test Tube," Nickel responded. "I think it's only fair if they find out tomorrow, along with Baseball and Suitcase." He sighed. "You're right, by the way, tonight will be nice. We don't even have to think about tomorrow if we don't want to. We have the house to ourselves, right, Balloon? We could eat snacks, watch a movie... whatever you want, okay?" He turned to Balloon, waiting for his reaction.

Balloon nodded gently. "Yeah, that sounds nice actually..." He smiled weakly. The stress was still evident, but the happiness of having Nickel by his side was beginning to show.

The bus pulled up in front of them, and the four of them stepped on, swiping their transport cards. They found a four-seater section so they could continue chatting, their bags at their feet. It wasn't long before Fan started rambling about movie suggestions to Balloon and Nickel. He was trying his best to distract them from any thoughts of tomorrow while also getting extremely distracted himself as he delved into plotlines and story plot holes. Sometimes, when he talked about shows or movies he was passionate about, he would go off on a tangent, forgetting to control himself. Nickel and Balloon didn't mind too much about the rambling, it kept their minds busy from thinking about tomorrow.

Eventually, they arrived at the bus stop near Balloon's house. It was time for them to depart, and they said their goodbyes to Test Tube and Fan. Test Tube gave them one last reassuring smile, though she couldn't shake her worries. She was concerned about Baseball and Suitcase's reactions tomorrow. Part of her feared they wouldn't understand; if only they had been at the camp to witness how everything had unfolded. They had no idea.

But Test Tube was determined to be there for Balloon and Nickel if things didn't go well. She knew the other Bright Lights would also support them. As for the situation with Knife, she was at a loss. There was no bringing Pickle back—he had already moved to another school, a strict one, and his parents refused to let him speak to Knife. Maybe when he turned 18 and was officially an adult, he could get in touch with Knife. But for now, Knife was left missing him and blaming Nickel for what happened.

Balloon and Nickel waved as the bus departed. Once it was gone, Nickel took Balloon's hand. Balloon gave him a faint smile before they started to walk. It was only a two-minute walk from the bus stop to Balloon's house. They didn't speak during this short walk, enjoying the peaceful silence as the sun set and the sky darkened.

They arrived at the house just before dark. Balloon found his keys, unlocked the door, and pulled his bag inside. He dumped his bag by the door and took a deep breath. It was nice to be home, even if he wished for a little more time at the camp.

Nickel used to visit Balloon's house a lot when they were younger and occasionally in their teens when Baseball and Suitcase wanted to hang out. They preferred Balloon's house because it was the biggest, and his parents were loaded. It was funny how, on the rare occasions Balloon's parents were home, Nickel tried to act as if he and Balloon were still close. He didn't want them to think he had hurt Balloon and risk being banned. Balloon always played along too, which Nickel now realised meant Balloon didn't want him to leave. If Balloon wanted Nickel gone, he would have told his parents how Nickel treated him. But he didn't.

What would Balloon's parents think when they found out about their relationship? That was a question for another day; they were already dealing with enough.

Before long, Balloon's cat crawled up to him, meowing. She was a cute, small black cat, about two years old. Balloon's smile grew as he picked her up and nuzzled her. "I missed youuu," he hummed happily.

Seeing Balloon happy, even if just for a moment, made Nickel smile. He reached over and gently patted the cat's head, eliciting a contented purr. Nickel loved Balloon's cat. Whenever he came over, he would usually be holding her or playing with her using those cat toys attached to strings. He didn't have the money for a cat of his own, so he had grown really attached to Balloon's cat. It was funny, considering he and Balloon hadn't been on good terms for years.

"Wanna go to my room? We can bring the kitty if you like," Balloon said with a smug smile, knowing how much Nickel loved his cat.

"Yes, especially bring her," Nickel replied with a wide smile. Seeing Balloon happy, even for a moment, made him feel good. Nickel hoped to keep distracting Balloon from all the stress.

Balloon handed Nickel the cat, then picked up his own bag and grabbed Nickel's bag for him. They headed upstairs together. Balloon's room hadn't changed much since Nickel was last there. It had soft grey carpets, a double bed, cute red fairy lights around the ceiling, a mini flat screen with LED lights behind it across from the bed, and in the corner, a desk with a red gaming chair, PC, and monitor.

Balloon placed the bags on his gaming chair, kicked off his shoes, and flopped onto the bed. Nickel gently placed the cat on the bed and sat down beside her, slipping off his own shoes and crossing his legs on the bed. It had been years since he had been over alone. Just him and Balloon, alone in the entire house—it felt weird. It hadn't been like this in years.

Balloon sat up and crossed his legs, turning to face his boyfriend with a sweet smile. "Soo... what do you wanna do? It's still really early," he hummed happily.

Nickel turned slightly and smiled back. "Yeah– hm, we could play a game on your Xbox? Or... watch a movie and cuddle... heh, whatever you want, I'm down for it." His cheeks flushed a little at the mention of cuddling, still feeling giddy about being affectionate with Balloon.

Balloon's smile grew at the suggestion of cuddling. He scooted back against the bed and reached over to his bedside table to grab the remote. He kicked the blankets back and wiggled his way into bed, then patted the spot beside him. Nickel's eyes lit up as he crawled over and squeezed in next to Balloon. He wiggled under the bed sheets and leaned against Balloon's chest. Balloon wrapped his arm around Nickel and pulled him close. Meanwhile, the cat curled into a ball on Balloon's lap.

Nickel enjoyed the sense of safety being so close to Balloon. He missed the times at Balloon's house when it was just the two of them, and he cherished their closeness, now stronger than ever. It felt so right to be in his arms like this. Resting his head on Balloon's chest, Nickel closed his eyes and listened to his heartbeat quicken. It was adorable how nervous Balloon still got whenever Nickel was near. Glancing up with a smirk, Nickel teased playfully, "Your heart is racing a lot, Loon."

Nickel loved that he could still tease Balloon. It was a part of their dynamic, always teasing and bickering. It was comforting to know that even now, as they were dating, they could still be themselves with each other.

Balloon looked down at Nickel, who wore a cute, smug expression. Balloon scoffed as his face flushed, then turned his attention to the TV, scrolling through Netflix to find something for them to watch together. The anxiety about tomorrow lingered in the back of his mind, but being in this moment with Nickel brought him a sense of peace and happiness he hadn't felt in a long time. Not only did he have his best friend back, but he also had him as his boyfriend. Whenever they were together, it was as if all the sadness and troubles in the world faded away. Nickel had a way of making him feel safe, like nothing could hurt him.

Balloon put on a random movie that he and Nickel had seen before and set the remote aside. He wasn't really in the mood to watch anything, knowing that something might trigger his anxious thoughts about tomorrow. He needed a constant distraction to avoid being alone with his thoughts. Glancing down at Nickel, who was watching the movie and resting comfortably on his chest, Balloon smiled faintly and gently ran his hand through Nickel's messy locks. Nickel shut his eyes at the touch, his body shivering slightly. It felt nice, though he wasn't used to this much affection. He tried his best not to let out a purr, but even if he did, he could always blame it on the cat.

Balloon couldn't stop looking at Nickel or smiling at him. He had never taken the time to just... look at him, always fearing Nickel would call him out for being weird. When they weren't on good terms, he couldn't just stare at him. Now, he remembered how much he liked Nickel's face and how handsome he was. Balloon moved his hand from Nickel's hair to his cheek, gently turning his face to look at him properly. Nickel's eyes glistened as he turned to face Balloon, their eyes locking. Both of their hearts raced in their chests—they loved each other so much.

Balloon leaned down, his eyes fluttering closed as he gently closed the space between them and kissed Nickel softly on the lips, holding his cheek tenderly. Nickel's eyes fell closed too as he kissed back softly. Turning to face Balloon, Nickel felt Balloon's arms move from his cheek to drape around his neck, pulling him closer. The cat jumped off Balloon's bed and left the room—a fair call. Nickel scooted closer, shifting onto Balloon's lap, his hands resting on Balloon's beating chest as their kiss continued.

Balloon was fully engrossed in the moment, his mind completely consumed by the sensation of kissing Nickel. His lips moved gracefully against Nickel's, and each kiss sent a shiver down his spine. He found himself unable to get enough of Nickel, and he gently played with the hairs on the back of Nickel's head. Nickel responded eagerly, scooting closer and becoming more breathless by the second. It was clear that Balloon was using the kiss as a form of distraction, trying to escape from his troubled thoughts and immerse himself in the pleasurable sensations, as he kissed Nickel even more passionately and urgently. He was clearly using the intimate moment to distract himself from his thoughts, hoping to forget about everything else for just a little while longer.

Nickel didn't want to stop kissing Balloon—he loved kissing him—but he needed to make sure Balloon was okay first. He pulled back, their lips parting, and moved his hand from Balloon's chest. With a faint, nervous smile, Nickel crossed his arms and looked down at him, as if to say he knew something was wrong.

Balloon puffed his cheeks and let out a huff, looking away from Nickel's gaze. "Oh, come on," he muttered.

"Don't 'oh come on' me. I know you're not okay," Nickel said, giving him a concerned look.

"I'm fine," Balloon insisted, looking away. He hated that Nickel could tell when he wasn't.

"Looney, I know you aren't fine, and that's okay." Nickel shifted back beside him and took his hand. "Tomorrow will be a lot, and this next week will be a lot, but it's nothing we can't face together. You have me. And remember what Test Tube said? We'll have her and the others. Candle will try to talk to Knife... It will be okay." He squeezed Balloon's hand. "Even if it isn't, I won't leave your side. I'll stay over at your house every night if I have to! And no, not just because you have a comfy bed and indoor heating, but because I..." He paused, his face flushing pink, a nervous smile quivering on his lips. "I love you, and I want you to be okay." He admitted, smiling nervously at Balloon, his eyes locking with his. Balloon felt his eyes becoming glassy as Nickel spoke. He sniffed and smiled faintly. "Love you too," he said, almost in a whisper. Taking a shaky deep breath, he tried to relax. He leaned his head back against his pillow, let go of Nickel's hand, and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close.

Balloon was exhausted. Even with the hours of sleep on the bus, stress had taken its toll. With the movie still playing in the background, Balloon shifted to lay fully on his side. Nickel did the same, and they snuggled closer, their legs tangling together. They gazed at each other with faint smiles, and Nickel leaned in to kiss Balloon's nose. Balloon scrunched it up and snickered. He felt better—not completely okay, but better. Nickel always had a way of making him feel better, even when they weren't on good terms. Somehow, Nickel always knew the right things to say or how to make him laugh. It was funny; even though they had seemingly hated each other for years, whenever Balloon was down or upset, Nickel made it his mission to cheer him up. Whether it was with dumb jokes at others' expense or by acting like an idiot to make Balloon laugh, Nickel always managed to lighten his mood. He always played it off so casually, like it meant nothing. But now Balloon realised it meant everything.

It wasn't long before they both drifted off to sleep, their legs tangled together, Nickel's head buried in Balloon's chest while Balloon held him in his arms.