no. iii

[imaginarynumber]

A. Phone: So...The other night was a really big deal or something, huh? "Prom"...Everyone has been talking about it, and I wanted to go...but. [There's a sheepish laugh.] I guess in the end I was a little too shy...

But I'm wondering how it was, and what it was like. Would anyone want to share their experience with me? I don't mean to be nosey but...[She regrets sitting it out, plain and simple.]

B. Park: [Anyone who ever said ice cream at night was a bad idea is an idiot. Well, she would never really say that because it's mean, but she definitely doesn't understand why anyone would have a problem with it. The warm, spring evening air is just perfect for relaxing on a park bench and digging into your favorite treat.

Of course, a small black haired, euphoric looking girl emphatically tearing apart a cup of chocolate ice cream isn't the most every day sight.
Or the most lady like, despite having the kind of figure that would make you think she were watching her weight.
Honestly, she was still too used to eating popsicles...Maybe one of the grocery stores might have them? She swings her feet off the edge of the bench as she wonders.

Wondering and wondering and wondering until the spoon stops digging so tenaciously and her lips slow into a purse.

Too bad she doesn't have anyone to share it with.
Yeah, she's kind of lonely.]

Comments

[imaginarynumber]

[She's kind of been isolating herself, that whole "self-fulfilling prophecy" thing.]

I'm fine. [Her spoon idly diggings around in the chocolatey mush. Not as good as seasalt but hey...]

Just kind of...adjusting, I guess. Maybe a little too comfortable in the routine of schoolwork.

What about you? Did you go to that Prom?

[drank_the_milk]

[Not to worry. Yuna's an expert at dragging people like that out of their shells. She's been doing it to Mami for the better part of a year.]

Yeah, I went. You didn't really miss much.

[Truth be told, she had a fun time except for getting her heart broken on the dance floor. She's just trying to play that one off.]

[imaginarynumber]

[Xion tilts her head, looking in close to Yuna's face curiously.]

You didn't have a good time...?

[drank_the_milk]

It was just a little disappointing, that's all. I guess I got myself a little too excited and it didn't live up to what I was expecting out of it.

[Which is more or less true.]

[imaginarynumber]

[Xion frowns.]

I'm sorry Yuna.

[There's kind of an awkward pause, because she isn't exactly sure how to act.]

...Are you okay?

[drank_the_milk]

Huh? Yeah, I'm fine! Don't worry about it!

[Let's try turn that one around on her, since she usually tries to just deal on her own time.]

Are you doing okay, though? You looked a little lonely out here all by yourself.

[imaginarynumber]

[Xion smiles a bit sheepishly.]

I did...?

I'm just not very good at making new friends, I guess...I don't have a lot of people who want to come get ice cream with me, so I usually just go by myself.

[drank_the_milk]

Call me next time, I'll definitely come with you! And we can try out that recipe for homemade sea salt ice cream sometime too. I remember that being pretty good.

[imaginarynumber]

[Oh, she thought about it, Yuna. But she didn't want to bother you...]

Okay, it's a plan. [Nodnod. And noticing her ice cream is getting all melty, she hurriedly sticks her spoon into her mouth.]

Mmf...

[Right, gotta take the spoon out before she keeps talking.]

Is anybody you know from home here in Mayfield, Yuna?

[drank_the_milk]

[No bother at all! She'll be expecting that phone call next time.]

Good! Looking forward to it.

[Yuna laughs a little as Xion mumbles through the spoon.]

Yeah, just one. My teacher from home is here. His name's Negi Springfield. Some of my classmates from Class 3-A used to be here too, but they've been droned for a while now.

[imaginarynumber]

[Xion makes an "O" shape with her mouth in understanding.]

Oh...I see. I'm sorry that they got droned, Yuna.

I haven't seen anybody from my home here, yet.
[Pause.]
It isn't as easy as I thought it was going to be, though. Not having them around...[Of course she's speaking of her two best friends in the whole wide universe.]

[drank_the_milk]

They're probably better off back home anyway. But I know that doesn't really make it any easier on you, either.

[Yuna smiles sympathetically, putting a hand on Xion's shoulder.]

You can tell me about them if you want, if it'll make you feel a little better.

[imaginarynumber]

[A long pause.]

...Yeah. They're definitely better off.

I wasn't ever supposed to see them again anyway. It's just not as easy as I thought it would be.

[drank_the_milk]

Not supposed to see them...? Did something happen?

[imaginarynumber]

[Xion looks down at her swinging feet.]

It's complicated.

...Really complicated.

[drank_the_milk]

Well, if you don't want to talk about it, it's all right.

[imaginarynumber]

I'd like to. I'd really like to, but...

It's hard. [She looks to Yuna.]

When I'm ready, you'll be the first one.

[drank_the_milk]

All right. Just give me a call anytime you want to talk.

[And now she's feeling a little bad for keeping her own secret earlier, when it seems like Xion's worried about something that's actually really important.]

...Hey, Xion?

[imaginarynumber]

[Xion nods and smiles, but the smile disappears after Yuna's tone changes.]

What is it?

[drank_the_milk]

Actually, something did happen at prom. I, uh... kind of got rejected by someone I really like.

[imaginarynumber]

[Xion purses her lips, imitating when Yuna put her hand on Xion's shoulder a moment ago.]

You got...rejected?

Oh Yuna, I'm so sorry. [She doesn't understand much about love, let alone has ever felt that kind of attraction, but she can still feels empathetic. She saw how important Bell was to Beast.]

I, um...[But she doesn't really know what to do about it.] Are you okay...?

[drank_the_milk]

[Yuna sighs, frowning. She does feel a little better finally having said something, but she's still feeling kind of down.]

I don't know. This was the first time I'd ever liked someone that way. So I'm not really sure what to do, you know?

[imaginarynumber]

Yeah, I can imagine it must be really hard to deal with... [Xion wiggles closer to her friend.]

I'm sorry that I can't give you any advice...I don't think I've ever felt that kind of love before. [Until a while ago she didn't even know she was capable of emotions like that.]

[drank_the_milk]

It's okay. It's probably something I need to figure out on my own anyway. But thanks for listening, at least. I feel a little better getting that out in the open.

[imaginarynumber]

I'm always willing to listen to my friends!

[But honestly, she feels really bad for Yuna, and she wishes it would've worked out. She's so nice...how could anyone reject her?

It's awfully hard to wrap her head around.
Poor Yuna.]

But, um. I'm sorry that I wasn't there to support you.