Lucy's p.o.v

We dropped off Remi and Kai at Remi's house, but after staying alone with Francy, she was nowhere as happy as I thought she would be.

What happened to I can't wait to get home and spend time with you?

Where was the confetti, the champagne, the enthusiasm for her boyfriend?

I thought she was happy about this as much as I was?

She was staring outside the window in deep thought.

Something was wrong, I just couldn't wrap my head around what was it. Did I do something wrong? Oh shit, did I fuck something up and didn't notice?

I pulled up in her driveway but there was no reaction from her. I pressed the honk and she snapped out of it, but didn't say anything.

She got out of the car slowly and started taking her bags out. The front door of her house opened and her mom Trine ran out.

"Francy!!!" Her mom yelled and started running towards her.

Francy dropped her bags and started running towards her mom.

"Mom!!!"

"Francy."

"Moooooom."

It was like watching a slow-motion movie of two lovers finally reuniting.

She hugged her mom and they both swung left to right, swirling in circles. 

"I missed you," Francy whined.

"I missed you more." Trine caressed her hair. "I was dying without my baby."

"No, I was dying." 

Her dad Alben walked out all proud and just walked over casually like he didn't even care.

When her mom finally let her go, Francy gave him a look and he gave her the same look and next thing I know, he was on his knees and she had tossed herself over him. 

"Is that a white hair I see? You worried too much about me, didn't you?" Francy teased her father, whose whole hair had already been white for a while.

He did a surprised face taking a strand of her hair. "Is that a white hair on you too? Looks like you stress yourself too much as well. Was the getting up early, the deliveries, or life itself that stressed you out to the point of having white hair?"

"Heeeey." She hit his shoulder and put her hands on her waist. "I'm an independent woman now."

"An independent woman that has her boyfriend pick her up cause she can't drive and calls her dad to ask how to change a lightbulb."

She deliberated for a second and then sighed. "Touche."

He got up and gave her a tight hug. "Well as long as you're a baby, I can use excuses to spoil you."

She raised her head to look at him. "How dare you assume you should stop spoiling me after I grow up."

He laughed and pressed a kiss on the top of her head and then came over to help out with the bags.

Rehan ran from the door, running towards us.

Francy's scream pierced my ears as she got up and hugged Rehan.

"You got taller. " She raised on her toes to reach his height. "I'm the shortest now."

"I got a new piercing too." He brushed his hair curls back so she can see the piercing.

"And your style." She made a full circle around him. "You look so nice."

Rehan really grew up in these few months we hadn't seen him. He was taller and had bit more mature vibe. His outfits had gone from creative liberty to a fashionable bohemian style.

"Did you get a tattoo too?" She whispered.

"Not yet." He smiled.

"Did you bring gifts?" She asked.

"Absolutely." He smiled.

She hugged him again. "I really missed you. Welcome back. I wanna hear everything."

After all, hellos were said and hugs were exchanged, we were both rushed inside.

For a second I thought it might be best if I leave and let them catch up, but I was dragged on the couch with them and offered a cold drink.

They started asking Francy a million questions.

Was it hard working?

Were you tired?

How did the house turn out?

The questioning went on and on.

She reminisced about how it started, explained her job at the bakery, meeting Sole, working on the house.. her enthusiasm never fell.

Francy would answer question by question for quite some time, until all the topics were covered.

When everyone got up around lunchtime for their own thing, Francy's sour expression was back on.

She headed quietly to her room and I followed her inside.

I closed the door behind me. I was ready to ask her why was she behaving this way when suddenly Francy wrapped her arms around my waist pressing her head into my chest.

Then she started crying.

I froze on the spot.

I tried to pull away so I can see her face, but she just squeezed me even tighter.

Hearing her cry brought out an emotion in me I never knew existed. Fear, worry, protectiveness..it was too complex to comprehend. She was so vulnerable, fragile, and tiny, as she sobbed in my chest.

I've never been so caught off guard in my life.

I wrapped my arms around her, pressing her tighter to my chest.

"What's wrong beautiful?" I kissed the top of her head. Why was she crying? It felt like my heart was being torn apart like waste tissues.

She just wouldn't stop crying.

We stood there for a while until her sobbing turned into little sniffles.

We did a slow walk to her bed and I sat her down, while crouching down to look at her face.

"Done?" I asked.

She shook her head wiping a tear from her face, her mascara slightly smudged in a form of a tear.

"Well, you have to tell me. This is the first time I've seen you cry, it's a bit alarming and heartwrenching to see you cry. I don't know how to help you out."

She suddenly took my hand in hers and looked at it as she talked.

"We did finish the house on time but..."

"But?" I tried to meet her eye but she kept looking down.

"A storm ruined the green house. The glass got shattered, there was no way of fixing it and with it, we lost our best move for the project. It was what could make us stand out in case there was someone with a similar idea involved." Another tear slid down as she talked. "We might not win now. I let myself down. I let you down."

She had a small hiccup. "I'm just really really frustrated. Yeah, we get to go home earlier, but It didn't end like it was supposed to. This summer was supposed to have a happy ending. It just happened too fast. And there was no point in staying there and..."

She started crying again and I instantly got up hugging her, pressing a kiss on her cheek.

The smell of her fresh-scented shampoo and salty tears was going to be burned into my memory with the feelings of this helplessness.

I brushed a strand of hair away from her face."It's not your fault, but how can you say you let me or yourself down? That is just an insult to all the work you've been putting in so far."

She wasn't responding so, I rubbed her back until I felt her calm down. "Just because it was your key move, doesn't mean you won't win either way. You worked so hard for everything and you went through so much so bravely. Please stop crying. My heart breaks for you."

She sat in my lap and wiped her tears.

I smiled. "There you go." I helped her wipe her tears. "Better?"

A smile showed on her face. She nodded.

"Okay." I smiled finally able to breathe. "You had me worried for a second there. I thought you were acting this way with me cause I did something wrong."

She raised a brow, sniffling. "If you can' tell the difference between my angry face and this, we're going to have a problem."

I laughed. "Alright. I'll do better."

She wrapped her arms around my neck, leaning her head on my shoulder. "I just can't hide my true feelings with you like I do with others. Sorry for worrying you.

I rubbed her back.  "All is good. You can lean on me anytime."

She pulled away and smiled. "Give me a second to wash up."

She walked to her bathroom and then heaved in horror. "You didn't tell me I look like this? Oh my god...you might as well kill me now."

She immediately ran the water.

I chuckled. Guess we're back to normal.

***

Francy's p.o.v

Friday

Few days after my return home, I had masterfully gotten my affairs in order.

Reunion with cats   check

Work on the decorations in the journal, while Remi focuses on the text itself so we can still try and win first place. check

Hear almost all of Rehan's travel stories check

Hear nothing at all about Halo. check, check and check

I was a bit surprised that she was nowhere to be found these days, no call or annoying meetups and for a second I wanted to ask Rehan if he actually did throw her to sleep with the fishes, but I realized if he did,

I said nothin', I know nothin'.

I picked up Momo under my elbow and headed to the kitchen for more coffee.

Rehan was there playing a game on his phone.

"Since when do you play games?" I walked over and picked up Momo properly, so she was comfortable.

"After watching the competition with Lucy and Ace, I wanted to try it out." He answered focused on it. "You don't get the urge to try it?"

I smiled. "I'm saving myself for Elric's game when it comes out officially."

Rehan chuckled. "Well, it might not be that long now. They already called him and reinstated their game in the world game development competition."

"I heard. But they still want to clear their name and find the hacker who did it. I don't think they're gonna sleep until they do."

Rehan lost and closed the game, looking at me. "You should go and see the game. They have a competition tonight. I'll come with you."

A rush of excitement ran through me. "Should I?"

"Definitely. We're gonna cheer them on, annoy the other players..plus it's their semi-finals today. If they win again today, they're going to the finals with only one other team."

"You know what, you're right. I should come and support them.  What's the dress code for it?"

"Oh just casual.." Rehan waved his hand nonchalantly. "Or..go in black, if you want to annoy Halo since you're coming as Lucy's girlfriend."

He might have said it without thinking, but that was not such a bad idea after all.

"Black huh..." I leaned over the counter, petting Momo in my arms. I mean.. I could go all out as Sandy did in Grease. The more I thought about it, the more I fell in love with the idea.

How much time did I have?

**

"Where's Francy? Is she coming?" Elric asked opening the door to the car so everyone can hop in.

"Here baby."

I walked by the entrance wearing black leather pants, a tight white crop top and a pair of sunglasses dropped to the tip of my nose so he can see my wink.

I was so hot, even I asked my mirror reflection, who are you and how did you get in the house?

Never did I think of looking so provocative and like a bad girl, but looks like I might just pull it off for one night after all.

It was after I took off the sunglasses completely, that I noticed everyone was with their mouth hanging open.

Fully immersed in my role, I walked over to Elric taking his chin and closing his mouth. "You're staring darling."

"Not only dressed like that, but her personality is different."Ace turned towards Rehan. "Quickly. Call an exorcist."

Rehan fully aware of how I got this idea, just laughed and got inside the car.

Elric was still too stunned to say anything.

I made a full circle around the car and sat in the back seat. You know, just in case. Don't want Elric running off the road or something.

We drove to the place and I got out first looking around. It seemed like a regular alley, only there were a lot of people in front of the place, so I figured where the entrance was.

Elric was suddenly right beside me, wrapping an arm around my waist. "Don't you dare get out of my sight!" His tone carried an order.

Oooohhh. I don't know where this came from, but hi...

My mood was interrupted by my phone. I answered it, stopping at the entrance..

"Hi." I looked at Elric who was scanning the people around us and even glaring at anyone who'd turned this way.

This was just priceless.

The familiar voice on the phone was friendly as always.

"Yeah, I'm out now. But thanks for calling. I'll give you a call later so we can talk. You doing okay?" I said and Elric looked down at me confused as he heard a male's voice on the line.

"Ahahm. Yeah, I'm great. I just settled down at home and got back to normal. Of course, Tim. Bye."

"Tim? " Elric raised a brow.

"Yeah, Tim." I smiled and put the phone back in my bag. "I worked with him in the bakery remember?"

"Aha." He sized me up. "He calls you like this all the time?"

I pressed my lips trying not to laugh. He was not having anything today. I took his hand and kept walking. "Nope, he was just checking in. Come on, let's go inside."

The place was nothing like I imagined. Yes it was crowded, and it had computers everywhere, but it was actually huge.

There were so many people and there were food counters, drink counters, merch, and other things. I got the urge to roam around, but seeing how on edge Elric was, I figured I shouldn't rattle him before the game.

We walked to the meeting place and Halo was there, with her usual arrogant face and fake attitude.

I wished Remi was here to see this.

We both gave each other acknowledging nods to keep it professional, while she smiled at Ace and Elric. On the other hand, she completely avoided Rehan and stayed as further as she can from him. She just looked awkward around him. Guess he did something after all.

I pulled Rehan next to me as Ace, Elric and Halo went to their designated seats.

The crowd was in anticipation of the game. There were screens on which they could follow the players as they gamed, and then those closer to the line could watch the hackers as well..

BEEP.

The buzzer went off and the game started.

I was amazed to see both Ace and Elric do so well, guarding while Halo played.  They were like fast machines typing codes whenever someone would try to break into their system. I was so proud of them.

They seemed well prepared. They knew where the attacks would come from, they studied their enemy.

There was no room for error and they made sure all weak spots were covered.

Despite keeping up with the tempo they attacked back. The more I watched the more I realized Ace and Elric were an offense team once they were provoked.

You could tell their bloodthirst by the way they kept attacking the servers and the gamers kept getting interrupted in their game.

It provided just enough time for Halo to get in the lead.

The crowd cheered them on and whistled, yelled and some even booed them. But the thrill was there. Lots of them were recording with their phones. The thrill was inside.

The fight was hard, and I don't know how much time had passed, but the buzzer went off, and our team had taken yet another first place.

Rehan and I started jumping in the line with our drinks clinking in the cups and popcorn flying everywhere.

After the next team won, there were only two teams to go to the finale and compete for the final prize. The host came over to Elric and Ace and asked the crowd to calm down.

He spoke over his headpiece. "We have our two winning teams that are going to the finale."

The crowd went wild and the host calmed them down again. "For today's surprise, we have a big money prize for the first place winners. Congratulations."

It was the moment everything before it went dark. I could see Halo, in slow motion, leaning over Elric and hugging him.

I clenched my fist and almost headed there, but Rehan pulled me back. "Wait a bit."

Halo pulled away in a second and then whispered something to the host.

He gave her a nod and then called someone.

"I'm going to kill her." I almost strode over there again, but Rehan pulled me back and held my wrist tight. "Wait for the right timing. She already got herself on a cliff."

huh?

"Last time I talked to her..."Rehan continued explaining. "she seemed to have realized she likes Elric."

"I'm aware of it." I almost went crazy, but he shook his head and went on.

"And I found out she might think that if she tells Elric her feelings, he might respond back."

My eyes widened upon realizing what he meant.

"So?" Rehan asked. "What are you going to do?"

A guy with a professional camera told them to pose together with the host and next thing I know, that little.. stood next to Elric, putting an arm around his waist, another one on his chest, and she leaned over him, for the photo.

It's not that he hugged her back, but he didn't push her away either.

Once the photo was taken, and everyone moved away. That was it. I had already made my choice about her fate. Guess I wasn't that good of a person after all.

I walked over to her taking a deep breath to calm down and talk properly.

"You just crossed every damn line and you know it." I was barely getting my words out.

Halo kept glancing around at Elric and Ace, a bit nervous. "What are you saying? What's this about? Out of nowhere..."

It might have seen out of nowhere to everyone else, and she knew that damn well.

"Francy?" Ace took my elbow, but I took my arm out and focused on her. "I warned you not to go gunning for my boyfriend."

She took a step back trying to act innocent. "I just took a photo."

Elric suddenly interfered, completely confused. "Francy, can we talk it private.."

"No!" I pointed a finger at