Francy's p.o.v

I nervously tapped my boot on the ground. It was Halloween and this is what I get? Nervous breakdowns in rush hour on this glorious festival.

The sky was getting dark even though it was still pretty early. People were already out and about for the festival. Kai and Ace both had plans after this for the festival but I was too nervous to even think about it. Especially since I had planned to go with Elric before well...that happened.

Kai and Ace were immersed in conversation, unable to notice my mini heart attacks every time I got to see someone who looks like Elric.. Lucy.. ugh.. I wasn't even sure who I was meeting today. Lucy or Elric.

"Sorry I'm late. I was looking for a place to park."

My breath stopped as he approached us. Damn it, he was still perfect. Even with that gloomy expression, I had seen many times before we dated.

Um..Were we really dating? Aren't I getting a bit full of myself here? Few dates do not count.

I noticed he glanced at me before turning his whole attention to Ace. Was I staring too much? Was it obvious I still like him?

"So what do you have in mind for a present?" He asked Ace.

"Nothing." Ace uncrossed his hands. "I mean this is Rehan we're talking about. In order to get him a great gift, we have to follow only two rules. One, everyone must have an individual gift aside if they want to give something as a group. So I say we just focus on finding cool individual gifts. Two, and this is more of a rule between us siblings...Rehan likes unordinary things so buying him something like a board game, cologne, a pc will just not work."

"So we are all buying something individual?" Elric asked.

"Yeah, but even better if we can find something really nice and we can all chip in together." Ace answered.

"But I would still have to buy an additional gift." Elric said.

"Well yeah but.." Ace smiled. "If the group preset is awesome then the individual gift can be a pen and he wouldn't care."

Elric sighed but Ace tapped his shoulder. "Since Lucy here doesn't know what to really get Rehan I'll go look with him in the mall and Kai and Francy , you two can go and search the rest of the shops in the city square.' Ace almost headed out but Kai pulled his hoodie back.

"Why do you get to go with Lucy and I can't?"

Ace's brow went up. "Because he's my best friend."

Kai who was a bit taller than him straightened up. "Well since you get to see him every day, I want to go with him now. I have so many things to ask him that I didn't get to at dinner. I'll also be doing your finances so I mean I need to establish a connection with Lucy."

Ace seemed revolted by the idea. "No. This won't work. Sorry."

Kai was the one flaring up now.

I subtly glanced at Elric. He sure was popular.

His eyes shifted away and he sighed again indifferent to the whole situation.

After some bickering, Ace turned towards me. "Francy I'm sorry to do this to you, but you have to pick a brother. Who goes with Lucy, Kai or your oldest most caring brother?"

They both became silent glaring at each other.

"I'm cold and I would really like to speed things along," I complained. "Let's all try to be adults here."

Kai glanced at me then at Elric. "We will never make a choice, you know that right? Come on pick."

Elric turned towards Ace with the most annoyed glare I've seen so far.

Ace sighed. "Okay, okay. Since we both can't make up our minds, we can let Francy go with him. That's fair."

WHAT?

Kai nodded. "Seems like a fair solution. I guess I can ask him later when we grab something to eat."

I CAN NOT LET THIS HAPPEN.

I glanced towards Elric, but he didn't react at all.

"Fine." I sighed and turned on my heels. Might as well get this over with.

We separated from Ace and Kai and headed down the streets to look at the shops. He was walking a few steps behind me and I kept staring straight ahead. The least eye contact the better. That way we can avoid any awkward conversations.

"So what exactly are we looking for? Can you give me an example?" He broke the silence giving me a startle. Okay Francy. No eye contact and you'll be fine.

"Well, I already bought a 3D pen for him. It looked like something he can have fun with."

"Oh." He also said something behind me I couldn't hear.

"And I'm sure Kai got him a levitating plant since I saw the warranty in his room." I added.

"So I'm the only one who needs a gift?" He asked.

"You and Ace. He buys things last minute, but he has luck so he always gets a good present. Actually the best present. I can never beat him. Kai came close once but Ace still always wins when it comes to picking Rehan's present."

"You sound jealous."

I wanted to laugh. Yes I was feeling bitter lately. The only thing I could think about was that Ace was the luckiest in the family. Jealous? Probably.

"Yeah well. Being a sister in this family is a thankless job."

His laughter made me turn my head. I locked eyes with him. His expression was softer than what it was when he was with my brothers. Or at dinner. He seemed like he always was, when he was with me.

I miss that.

I quickly turned away. This was a mistake. I should have just...

"I'm glad I came today." He said.

I continued walking but my heart had stopped. "Why?"

"Because after what happened and the dinner, I was sure you will keep on ignoring me."

Now I stopped. We were standing in the middle of the road, with people passing us by. I turned around to face him.

"To be honest, I want to ignore you."

He put his hands in his pockets. "Why?"

"I..." The air was so cold, that I could see my breath. I nuzzled into my coat.

"Because you hate me?" He asked.

I shook my head. "No. I don't hate you. But I'm angry."

He suddenly looked annoyed. "Well you're the one who said we should split."

"You're the one who agreed." I added, irritated he decided to pick a fight now.

"Because that was the only option we could think off." He said, raising his voice. "But you're the one who said it first."

I bit my tongue to calm down. "Yes I know. The person I'm angry with is at myself. Because I said it first. If you have said it then I can hate you. Then this would have been easier. Standing here, talking to you would have been easier."

He stared at me, calming down as well. "So what does that mean?"

I clenched my hands into fists trying to control my emotions. "It doesn't mean anything. We both agreed that was the best thing to do and I stand by it.It made Ace happy, it made things easier for us..."

He came a step closer. " But we can't be friends or talk normally?"

"No." I shook my head. "I don't want to be friends with the guy I like. I need to get over it first. I'm surprised you can do this."

We stayed silent for a second, but neither of us moved. I stared down at the ground.

"But It hurts more when you ignore me." He said and then lifted my chin up touching me for a second. "Won't it hurt you if I stop talking to you or look at you again?"

My heart jolted with pain. I knew exactly what he meant by that. I hurt just thinking about dinner and how he barely looked at me.

I tried my best to keep my tears to myself. "So you think being friends will hurt less than ignoring each other."

He nodded. His eyes were piercing right through my heart. It would be so easy to just say yes. In fact, I was jumping to say yes.

But this is why I know...If I let myself talk to him again free like I used to or even relax around him I would never get over him. Never. This was one boundary I knew within myself I shouldn't cross.

"I just can't do that. I won't ignore you and I will keep the conversations for the sake of being friendly, but to be friends. No."

He stared at me and for a second there he seemed like he wanted to say something else, but ended up complying.

We walked a bit further in silence and eventually I got into a shop that had some random things.

"Among the things here, I'm sure we can get him something Rehan will like." I said breaking the silence.

"Doesn't he ever tell you what he wants for his birthday?" He asked, lifting a weird toy up.

"Yes, he does. But his list is impossible." I sighed. "He wants a two-headed, fire breathing white snake they cooked up in a lab in China, or a plane ticket to Fiji where this guy Redwood, he idolizes, is. He is some sort of student prodigy in science. Or he wants a mermaid's tail or a lizard's brain.."

"He is the youngest right?" He asked.

"Yes." I nodded. "We spoil him too much, but he always covers for us and I've honestly never seen him mad or angry. I like that about him."

"Your family is great Francy." He said it in such a sweet tone, my knees almost gave out.

"Thanks..hey. What about this?" I picked up a box of flavored utensils.

"No.I'm not getting him utensils."

"Too uncool for a present from Lucy?"

"I don't want to buy your youngest brother a fork and lose to your older brother." He answered and pulled out his phone.

I tried not to laugh and continued looking around. He suddenly came really close behind me.

"Francy.. I just got an idea for a gift."

I turned around and was so close to his face. "What?"

He leaned away. "I'm not going to say, until I can actually make sure to get it but um.. do you mind doing me a favor."

"What?" I was a bit confused.

"Don't give your presents to Rehan before me."

Sounds strange but I guess it's a surprise for Rehan. "Okay. I don't think Ace and Kai will mind either."

"Great. Now let's go."

"Where?" I asked. "I'm not sure Ace and Kai are done yet with shopping."

"We'll text them from our location later. Come on."

He left the store and I ran after him. He was heading straight to the festival vendors.

"Where are you going?" I yelled after him.

"Come on."

He was so fast I had to run after him. Finally, he stopped and I could catch up taking a breath.

These boots were not made for running.

"Since this was a promise we made before we split up I think we should keep it." He said.

I looked around. "You want to go to this festival together?"

"Yes. I mean nothing interesting has started yet since it is early, but we can eat some candy apples, get our fortune read, go see some of the masks..You said it yourself. After this we won't be friends and we will barely see each other so..."

I hesitated.

He smiled. "Do you hate the idea?"

I smiled back. "No..."

"Then let's go."