It was only a matter of time before Baseball and Suitcase arrived at school, and they would have to confess what had happened at the camp. Time was ticking, and more students were arriving. Paper and OJ walked in, chatting as they headed to their lockers in the senior lounge. Soon, Trophy and Cheesy entered, with Cheesy cracking jokes and Trophy laughing and smiling, as usual. Paintbrush and Lightbulb weren't there yet, but that wasn't surprising—they were always late to school. The influx of students only made Balloon and Nickel more nervous. Balloon's leg was shaking under the table, and his breath was extremely heavy. He couldn't even glance at the door without feeling physically sick; every shadow passing by in the hallway filled him with fear that it might be their friends.

Nickel carefully moved his hand to Balloon's leg under the table, gently rubbing it to calm his nerves. He scooted his chair closer and looked at Balloon with a supportive, faint smile.

"Keep breathing... it will be okay," Nickel assured him. Even though he didn't believe it himself, he knew what trouble was coming. But he couldn't bear to see Balloon struggle any longer. He wanted to keep him calm and hopeful, at least until the storm and rain came crashing down.

Balloon took a few deep breaths, closing his eyes for a moment as he tried to relax. Nickel continued to soothe him, rubbing his leg and assuring him that everything would be okay. The other three looked nervous for Balloon and Nickel but tried to stay positive, not wanting to freak Balloon out. Instead of Balloon constantly glancing at the door to see if Baseball and Suitcase had arrived, Test Tube, Bot, and Fan kept watch and promised to signal if they saw them, allowing Nickel and Balloon a moment together to de-stress.

Nickel fully turned to Balloon, swivelling his chair to face him. He grabbed both his hands and rubbed the back of them with his thumb. He stared into Balloon's eyes, and though there was an obvious nervousness behind them, Balloon knew Nickel wasn't as calm as he seemed. Still, he was grateful for Nickel's efforts to keep his cool. Soon after, Test Tube cleared her throat and tapped the table to grab their attention, signalling that Baseball and Suitcase had just walked in. They quickly parted their hands, took a deep breath, and turned to face them. It was finally time.

Baseball and Suitcase ran up to them after spotting them in the corner of the room, thrilled to see their best friends. They both slightly questioned why they were sitting with Test Tube and Fan, since they didn't usually hang out with them, but after being on a camp together, it made sense that they would get closer. Plus, Test Tube was Bot's older sister after all.

Suitcase raced up and swung her arms around both of them, squeezing them tightly. She missed them like crazy; things hadn't been the same without them around. Balloon trembled in the hug, his heart pounding with fear.

"I am so glad you are both back! Five days felt like so long!" Suitcase pulled back, smiling widely and so happy to have their presence.

"Yeah, it's been weird without the two of you constantly bickering all the time," Baseball joked with a smile. He ruffled his best friend's hair and leaned his arm over their chair.

Bot, Test Tube, and Fan had to remain calm and not act suspicious. They had to hide their worry for Balloon and Nickel, but it was so hard. They were constantly glancing at each other, barely able to keep themselves still, stressing out about what was to come.

Suitcase could sense that something was wrong. She knew when her friends weren't acting normal, and Nickel hadn't complained about being stuck with Balloon yet, which was odd. Were they finally friends again? Had they made up? It would be kind of weird if they had, but nothing Suitcase and Baseball couldn't handle. They might actually get some peace if the two of them finally stopped being at each other's throats with insults. Sure, it would be strange to get used to them being nicer to one another, but they'd adapt.

Suitcase smiled faintly, her arms crossed over her chest, a concerned look on her face. She knew something wasn't right. She could tell when Balloon had anxiety attacks, and he seemed like he had just had one. He was trembling, his eyes seemed distant, and he barely gave her any eye contact. Something was off, but she wouldn't assume.

"Heh... Nickel hasn't complained about how annoying you are, Balloon," Suitcase joked. "Are you two... friends again?" She smiled faintly.

Baseball's eyes widened at this realisation. He wasn't as good as Suitcase at spotting these things, but now that she mentioned it, they did seem a lot closer than usual. "Oh yeah... you two seem oddly different with each other!" Baseball added.

Test Tube, Bot, and Fan exchanged glances, keeping their mouths shut. They were going to sit and watch, staying silent until they needed to speak and defend Nickel or Balloon. For now, they let them take control, not wanting to get involved.

Nickel felt a lump in his throat, struggling to speak. He swallowed, his lip trembling as he tried to get the words out. Balloon couldn't even look up. His leg started bouncing under the table again, and he felt like he was going to throw up. This was it—this was the moment. It could either end really badly or be a perfect one. Sadly, he feared the worst was yet to come. Baseball and Suitcase already looked uncomfortable knowing they were possibly best friends, let alone dating! He wished he could just leave, but he couldn't.

Noticing the bouncing, Nickel realised Balloon was having another anxiety attack. At this point, Nickel didn't care if Baseball and Suitcase were watching—they would find out anyway. Nickel moved his hand onto Balloon's leg and rubbed it, whispering in his ear that everything would be fine and that he needed to breathe. Suitcase and Baseball stared, watching this scene unfold. Now they knew something was definitely off—they were a lot closer than they initially thought.

Nickel took a shaky breath and turned to face Baseball and Suitcase.

"Look... as you know, Balloon and I have known each other for a lot of years, and we used to be close. As you both know..." He swallowed, feeling sick with his words. "Throughout this camp, walls were broken, and feelings were put on the table. It's not like it wasn't always there; I always felt this way. I just tried to hide it from you, from Balloon, from everyone. I painted my feelings with hate and tried to avoid how I truly felt, but I—" He looked up at Baseball and Suitcase, who were stunned in place. Suitcase's eyes looked glassy, and not because she was happy.

"You're dating," Suitcase finished his words, nodding as she looked away. She put her hand to her lip and bit her nails, shaking her head. "Five days you leave... and you come back and tell us you're a couple. Wow... okay." Suitcase laughed bitterly. She wasn't sure what to feel. She wanted to be happy for them, she really did, but her stomach was tied in knots. She felt angry. The amount of bullshit they put her and Baseball through—they had tried over and over again to make the two of them friends again, dealing with their constant fights, being forced to pick sides. Not to mention Balloon knew how she felt about Nickel. And what about Baseball? Their best friend, was he now to be left aside as his two only guy friends started dating? She wanted to be happy for her friends, but at this moment, her emotions were getting the best of her.

"Look, yes, we're dating! But what's wrong with that? I mean... nothing really will change! Things will just be a little different but still the same. I can't help the way I feel about him. And... I know I should've told you guys, but I didn't want Balloon to know how I felt about him. I tried so hard to forget, especially after Balloon hurt me. I didn't want to feel that way about him. A-and then, on this camp, things came to the surface and... Apparently, Balloon feels the same. B-but it's not like this was just random! Our feelings have always been there, just hidden. It was bound to happen eventually—probably. Look, I know you're upset, but just—" Nickel tried to explain, stumbling over his words, stuttering and shaking.

"Upset?" Suitcase laughed bitterly. "You put us both through hell, the two of you! You made us deal with your constant fights. We did everything to try to get you two to just... tolerate each other. Now suddenly you're dating! And you're telling us it's no big deal? That you've always had these feelings! I... I don't know what you want me to say! It's been five days! Five days ago, you two were fighting. The whole reason you went on this camp was because you hated each other and wouldn't stop fighting. Now you're telling us you're a couple. This has to be a joke. Tell me it's a joke." Suitcase was shaking. She wasn't understanding or processing anything, and she felt a hint of jealousy... Balloon knew how she felt about Nickel. He knew.

Balloon couldn't let Nickel deal with this all by himself. He pulled at his hair and took a deep breath before slipping off his seat. He stood beside Nickel, looking at Suitcase with glassy eyes and a shaky body. He felt like he was going to be sick, but he stayed strong.

"Suitcase, I know this is a lot to handle. I know it is so sudden. I mean, it's to be expected... As you said, only a few days ago we hated each other, and I agree, it's a lot for me to take in too. B-but you have to understand, we've always had this connection. We both tried to hide it. You... you don't see how we are alone, even when we weren't on good terms... Nickel always made me feel... safe. I... I wish I could explain it better, but... I'm sorry. We put you through so much, and you both didn't deserve it. And... I know..." He took a deep breath, his words stuck in his throat. "I know how you felt about Nickel... but I did this anyway." He shakily said. "B-but I mean—it's not like you had a chance... he's gay!" Balloon instantly regretted saying that. It was true... but maybe a bit brutal.

Suitcase scoffed, shaking her head as she turned around. "Still. Best friends aren't supposed to date their best friend's crush... and what about Baseball? His only two guy best friends... I can't do this right now." Her voice broke. This was not how she wanted things to go. She was so excited to see them both, but now it felt like everything was falling apart.

"She's right, y'know? You guys are just expecting me to just deal with the fact you're dating?" Baseball questions. "After five days of us not seeing you? I mean, it's a little crazy of an ask!" Baseball added, placing a hand on Suitcase's shoulder. He felt horrible seeing her cry.

"We aren't asking you to just accept this! We get you may need time, but the least you can do is respect our feelings!" Nickel snapped at Baseball, his anger growing.

"Respect your feelings? What about our feelings?! It's all well and good for you two because you didn't have to spend years dealing with your constant fighting. It's a lot for us to take in; we can't just be happy that you're suddenly dating!" Baseball snapped back. "It's a big jump from hating each other a week ago. It will take us time to process this all... I mean, we've only ever known you two to hate and fight each other. It's a shock." Baseball tried to explain his point of view.

Bot felt like they were about to cry. Watching their friends fight like this broke their heart. They didn't want their friend group to fall apart, and they hated to pick sides, but they definitely weren't leaving Balloon and Nickel's side. They could understand why Baseball and Suitcase were upset, but after a while, they would have to accept that it is what it is. They couldn't force them apart, especially if they loved each other. Bot didn't want to get involved, so they kept quiet, uncomfortably looking away from the fight, their eyes glassy and wet, trying to keep it together.

Test Tube and Fan could see how torn Bot was and how much this was affecting them. They were fine to keep out for Balloon and Nickel, but once it started hurting Bot, they had to step in and do something. They couldn't see Bot like this.

Test Tube stood up and cleared her throat, grabbing everyone's attention.

"Look, everyone's a little tense right now. This is a lot to take in. Maybe we give Baseball and Suitcase time," Test Tube suggested. "They weren't at the camp; they didn't see what we saw. They just need more time to process this. You can't force it out of them. But Baseball and Suitcase, you can't get mad at them right now. You need to give each other time." She tried to reason with them. Fan nodded in agreement. He didn't do well under arguments and got a bit nervous and emotional himself, so he stayed silent, staying close to Bot and making sure they were okay.

Suitcase inhaled sharply, sniffling a bit. She wiped her eyes and huffed.

"Yeah. I need space. Don't talk to me for the rest of the day. Please." She turned away, her body trembling as she tried to wrap her head around this.

"We need time," Baseball added, following Suitcase.

The two of them grabbed their books for class and immediately left the room without another word.

The moment Suitcase and Baseball left, Balloon broke down in tears, sobbing uncontrollably. Panic surged through Nickel as he quickly turned and grabbed Balloon's wrists, pulling them away from his eyes. He then wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close. Balloon sobbed onto his shoulder, clutching him tightly, his body shaking like crazy, struggling to breathe. Nickel had to hold everything together. He needed to be strong, but he was struggling so much. This was all too much—hearing Balloon sob, seeing Suitcase and Baseball so upset with them for something they couldn't control. He couldn't take it. His eyes became glassy as he silently let tears fall, holding Balloon tightly as they both allowed their tears to flow.

Bot wrapped their arms around Test Tube, whispering a soft thanks. They were so thankful that their sister was there for their best friends. Seeing Test Tube get along with Balloon and Nickel made Bot feel happy, but the horrid feeling of Baseball and Suitcase not understanding Balloon and Nickel's feelings hurt Bot so much.

The bell suddenly rang, startling everyone. Those who hadn't already grabbed their stuff would soon be flooding into the room to get to their lockers. Balloon pulled back from Nickel and took a shaky deep breath. Nickel wiped away Balloon's tears with his thumbs and kissed his nose. Both of their eyes were puffy and red; it was clear they had both been crying.

"We just need to give them time..." Nickel assured Balloon softly.

The two of them stared at each other. Nickel grabbed Balloon's hands and looked into his eyes, continuing to assure him that everything would be okay. He didn't care who was passing by or who was watching; he wasn't going to hide that Balloon was his boyfriend from anyone.

While the two of them were having their moment, Fan felt an arm around his shoulder and jolted, looking up to see Knife.

"Yikes... What happened with them?" Knife snickered softly, smirking a bit. He enjoyed witnessing Nickel's misery.

"Ugh, Knife, get your arm off my boyfriend and get lost. The last thing Nickel and Balloon need right now is to see your face," Test Tube snapped at Knife.

Knife removed his arm from Fan's shoulder and put his hands up in defence. "Jeez... relax... I'm not gonna do anything..." He scoffed, then after a moment, he asked again, "So what happened?"

"Suitcase and Baseball weren't accepting of their relationship," Fan answered quickly.

"Fan!!" Test Tube exclaimed angrily.

"What! He asked..." Fan crossed his arms defensively.

"Doesn't mean you had to tell him!" Test Tube snapped back.

Knife chuckled, glancing over at Balloon and Nickel who looked like a mess. He felt a little sympathy for Balloon but none for Nickel; he thought Nickel deserved it.

"Heh, well deserved," Knife said, crossing his arms and shrugging.

"Can't you annoy someone else? This isn't the time!" Test Tube snapped at Knife.

"Hm, well Taco and Microphone are doing their own thing... Trophy won't leave Cheesy's side, I am bored, and oh yeah... my boyfriend was expelled and won't even talk to me! So no, I don't have anyone else to annoy," Knife retorted sarcastically. "Best I've got left is Fan~" He teased as he ruffled Fan's head. Knife knew how much Test Tube disliked him being around Fan, finding it amusing since Fan reacted exactly as he wanted—getting flustered and nervous quickly.

"Go find YinYang," Test Tube insisted, pulling her boyfriend away from Knife.

"Look, as much as it was fun hanging out with the little guy at camp, I'll look like a loser if my only other friend is literally a kid with no friends," Knife pointed out. "Besides, I've got a counselling session this morning or something... sounds lame," he added with a scoff.

"Good, you need it," Test Tube snapped back. "Look, I've got to go to science and walk Bot to their class. Fan, can I trust you to look after Balloon and Nickel? You have literature with them, right?" Test Tube asked.

Fan nodded confidently. "Yeah! We have literature together. Don't worry, babe, I got this," he assured her, though Test Tube still felt a bit uneasy, concerned he might unintentionally say something to upset Balloon and Nickel.

Test Tube gave him a look, rolled her eyes, then leaned down to kiss his forehead before pulling back. She glanced around, expecting to see Bot, only to find they had disappeared. Frowning, she worried about them, hoping they were alright after witnessing their friends' fight. Assuming they had already gone to class, Test Tube decided she would text her just to make sure. She took a deep breath and hurried off to her locker to gather her science materials before heading to class.

Fan looked up at Knife, who was still standing idly beside him. Awkward and nervous, Fan opened his mouth to speak.

"Test Tube's right... You should go before Nickel or Balloon notice you," Fan commented tentatively.

Knife scoffed. "Do you think I care? I'd love to laugh right in Nickel's face!" he snapped angrily.

Fan frowned, feeling uneasy being alone with Knife again, especially after recent events. Balloon and Nickel would be upset if they saw him talking to Knife now—Knife was the last person they needed to encounter.

Fan thought quickly, trying to devise a plan to get Knife to leave. "What if I message Pickle?" he suddenly suggested.

"What?" Knife turned to face Fan, looking down at him.

"Yeah— I mean, I have him on Instagram... I can message him and say you miss him. You said he's blocked you on everything, right? Maybe I can reach out and see how he's doing for you. Maybe he still loves you and is just waiting until he's 18 to see you again," Fan said with a faint smile, hoping his idea would work.

Knife visibly tensed but tried to mask it. "Whatever... do what you want. The moment he sees my name in the message, he'll ignore it. If he really loved me, he would've tried to sneak out and see me. His parents probably brainwashed him into thinking I wasn't good enough," Knife snapped harshly, clearly upset whenever Pickle was brought up.

"It's worth a try, isn't it?" Fan suggested softly.

Knife crossed his arms, letting out a frustrated huff. "I guess," he conceded reluctantly.

There was a moment of tense silence between them before Knife spoke again. "Why are you still helping me after all the shit I put you through? I could've ruined your relationship with Test Tube... you could've lost all your friends," Knife pointed out. "No matter how hard I try to make you hate me, you still treat me with respect... why?" he asked genuinely.

Fan shrugged slightly. "I dunno... I like you," he admitted with a faint smile. "I-I mean, not in a crush or romantic way, of course. I have a girlfriend who I love... but I think you've got this softness about you that not a lot of people are willing to see. And... you've been hurt, so of course you'd be mad and lash out," Fan explained hesitantly. "I think if people gave you a chance, they would see a different side of you." He smiled up at Knife, finding this side of him unexpectedly endearing, despite Knife's usual demeanour.

Knife took a deep breath. He knew he shouldn't, he knew it was wrong, and he knew Fan had a girlfriend. But with nobody watching, Balloon and Nickel absorbed in their own moment, Knife looked down at Fan as he rambled on. He shook his head, rolling his eyes. Moving his hand under Fan's chin, he gently lifted Fan's head up. Fan fell silent, eyes widening as he stiffened in place, his face turning dark red. He wanted to ask what Knife was doing but couldn't find the words. Before he knew it, Knife leaned in, closing the distance between them, and pressed a small kiss to Fan's mouth before quickly pulling back. Dropping his hand from Fan's chin, Knife crossed his arms.

Fan stood there, bewildered and flustered. His body trembled, his eyes shimmering with confusion, panic, and a hint of anger. His stomach churned, feeling weak in the knees as if his entire body was on fire. His heart raced in his chest. He had never been kissed by a guy before, despite being bisexual. The kiss had stirred up a whirlwind of emotions within him—confusion, surprise, and an unexpected attraction. He didn't understand why, but that kiss had sparked something in him, something he wasn't prepared for.

Fan felt his head swirling with thoughts too quickly to process. How was he going to explain this to Test Tube? Should he even tell her? She'd probably never let him near Knife again. And why did Knife kiss him? Was it because he sensed Fan's slight crush on him? Or was it just a way for Knife to alleviate his own loneliness after his boyfriend's expulsion? Was this some new form of bullying? Making Fan squirm and blush with a simple kiss? It felt so unfair. Fan trembled, his hand shaking as he touched his lips, while the other rested on his pounding heart. Despite the confusion and shock, deep down, he couldn't deny that the kiss felt strangely good. Damn it. Was Knife trying to prove something? Why did he do that? Fan wanted to ask so many questions, but the words refused to come out.

Knife took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, looking down at the flustered mess in front of him.

"Heh, just wanted to see how you'd react if I kissed you," he chuckled slightly. "And to say thanks... for everything, I guess. But now that you've got what you wanted, you have to promise me something." He placed a hand on Fan's shoulder. Fan gulped nervously, meeting Knife's gaze.

"Firstly, stop trying to impress me. I already like you. And secondly, stop flirting with me or mentioning me in front of Test Tube. She loves you, and I know you love her. You need to give all your love to her, not me. Got it?" Knife warned him seriously.

Fan was even more confused now. Knife kissed him to teach him a lesson about loyalty to his girlfriend? It didn't quite make sense, unless Knife's intention was to show Fan that this was all he'd ever get from him, and to move on and give Test Tube the love she deserved. Okay. Yeah. Fan started to understand. But did Knife realise he had triggered something deep inside Fan? He had ignited feelings that weren't there before. Damn it, Knife.

The second bell suddenly rang, signalling they were already late for class. Balloon and Nickel had managed to calm down a bit, exchanging a few kisses and hugs to reassure each other. Despite still feeling emotional, they knew they had to head to their lockers and try to act like everything was fine. They had each other, and that was what mattered most right now. As they turned around, they noticed Fan and Knife nearby. Fan looked extremely flustered, and Balloon could tell Knife had likely been up to his usual antics, flirting with Fan again. But at this moment, Balloon and Nickel had too much on their minds to care about Knife and Fan's strange relationship dynamics.

"Don't worry, I was just leaving," Knife said, putting his hands up defensively as Nickel and Balloon approached.

"Mhm," Nickel responded curtly as he headed towards his locker.

Balloon shot Knife a sharp glare, silently warning him with his eyes that any comments or interference would not be tolerated. He assumed Knife already knew what had transpired, given his conversation with the ever-talkative Fan.

Knife shrugged casually and gave a small wave to Fan before taking his leave. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself, amused both by Nickel's misery and Fan's confused, flustered state. Messing with people for his own amusement was always entertaining for him. Despite the fun, he hoped his message to Fan about not cheating on his girlfriend had gotten through loud and clear.

Balloon and Nickel turned to face Fan, who was fumbling to get his books out of his locker. He could barely stand up straight, his face a deep red, and his entire body shaking. Clearly, something had happened between him and Knife. Balloon raised an eyebrow as Fan repeatedly dropped his books onto the floor. Leaning down, Balloon picked one up for him.

"Thanks..." Fan whispered nervously, taking his book and holding it close to his chest. "We should hurry... we're really late for class now." He stuttered.

"Yeah..." Balloon nodded, a bit suspicious but not wanting to ask. With everything he and Nickel were already dealing with, getting involved in whatever was going on with Fan and Knife was the last thing he needed. He held his books in one hand and took Nickel's hand in his other.

The three of them made their way to literature class. Balloon and Nickel looked like a mess—puffy red eyes, saddened expressions—but they were somewhat okay. They had each other, which was enough to keep them at ease. It was their first day back as a couple, and they could tell they had a lot of eyes on them, but they didn't care. They were proud to be together, having waited so long. They deserved this happiness. As they walked to class, Nickel squeezed Balloon's hand, just checking in on him. Balloon weakly smiled back, squeezing his hand in return.

"You okay?" Nickel murmured to Balloon before they stepped inside the classroom.

"I will be... okay, are you okay?" Balloon asked, feeling like he hadn't properly checked in on Nickel. It had been all about him so far, and he didn't like that. He wanted Nickel to feel safe to express his sadness too.

"I am as long as you are." Nickel moved in and pecked his lips quickly.

Balloon smiled from the kiss, instantly calmed. A kiss from Nickel somehow fixed everything, providing a sense of safety and security, knowing that no matter what happened, everything would be okay if they were together. Still holding hands, they entered the classroom right after Fan, who still seemed extremely shaken up. They both wondered what had happened between Knife and Fan during their mini panic attack but decided to let Fan deal with it on his own. They didn't want any more drama than they had to handle.

They walked in, and suddenly everyone turned to look. A few students whispered to each other, speculating about Balloon and Nickel holding hands. Everyone had their assumptions that something happened at the camp that led to this. Paper leaned over to his boyfriend, OJ, and asked if they were dating, to which OJ responded that he thought so. OJ and Paper had gone to middle school with Balloon and Nickel, so they knew them before the animosity developed. To them, this wasn't a surprise. It had always seemed likely that something like this would happen eventually. Yet, they both looked utterly miserable right now, which left OJ and Paper wondering if Baseball and Suitcase didn't understand their relationship dynamic as well as they did. They worried that their best friends couldn't take the news. They decided to check in on Nickel and Balloon but would let them settle into class first.

The lecture on "A Streetcar Named Desire" came to a halt as Silver Spoon walked over and spoke to Balloon and Nickel in private. Everyone started whispering among themselves as Silver took the two outside the classroom for a moment. Meanwhile, Fan anxiously sat down at a desk and whipped out his phone, avoiding eye contact with anyone. His shaky hands opened Instagram, quickly searching for Pickle's username. He needed to get Pickle and Knife back together to keep Knife away from him and his thoughts. Terrified, he knew he had to tell Test Tube eventually, but not yet. First, he needed to find a way to reunite Pickle and Knife.

His shaky thumbs clicked on Pickle's username and opened his DMs. They had barely spoken before, only occasionally liking each other's posts. Fan feared that Pickle wouldn't even open his DM because they barely knew each other, except that Knife used to bully him a lot. He swallowed, his leg trembling as he tried to think of what to type. Suddenly, his thumbs started moving over the keyboard, typing out a simple message to Pickle.

'Hey Pickle, I know we don't really talk much. I just thought I'd give you a text. I know that you were expelled and forced to block Knife on everything, but I just want you to know he really misses you and still loves you, and he can't wait to see you again.' Fan looked over his message, trying to think of what else to write. 'Please message back, anything you want to say to him. He really misses you.' Fan clicked send, then quickly turned off his phone. He leaned his head onto his desk and closed his eyes. He couldn't get the kiss out of his head; it was consuming his thoughts.

Fan wasn't sure what Knife was thinking. How was kissing him supposed to teach him a lesson about not cheating on his girlfriend? Was this Knife's way of trying to save Fan from himself? Because he expects Fan will tell Test Tube, and then she'll forbid him from talking to Knife? What was his reasoning? And if it was that, why? Did Knife believe he didn't deserve a friend like that? Maybe that was it... Fan had no idea. So many thoughts swarmed his mind about what it could mean. The kiss replayed over and over in his mind... the way it made him feel... oh god, he had never felt like that before. It was like a shock ran through his entire body!

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Maybe he could trick himself into believing it was just a dream? Because he really didn't want to have to tell Test Tube. He didn't want to lose Knife as a friend, even if that's what Knife wanted. Oh, he hoped Pickle would respond. He needed Pickle to get back with Knife. He needed it to happen.