"No."

"Yea..." Megan sighed in embarrassment, leaning her cheek on her palm. Lillie stared at her wide eyed on the other side of the table, the straw of her iced coffee hanging out of her mouth as it dropped open.

"Well, what did he say?!" Rose, the third person at the table asked, nearly spilling her hot chocolate as she leaned forward. Megan shrugged.

"Well, first he made it known that I had the wrong number, politely may I add. Then... He asked for me to continue the story."

"What were you ranting about, may I ask?" Lillie tilted her head, making the blonde-brunette blush.

"T-That's not important! But anyway, I told him everything, he gave me a bit of advice, and then we agreed to talk again in the future. He was really cool about it, too. I mean if a stranger wrong number dialed me and started rambling, I'd be a crumbling mess of emotion..."

"I see..." Rose started twisting her brown hair around her finger "And then?"

"Oh, that's it."

"That's it?!" The listeners blurted.

"Yup. He said he had to help his sister with something, I think he said she was transferring- I dunno." Megan shrugged "But anyway yeah, that's how I spent my Wednesday evening."

She looked up, only to sweatdrop at her friends expressions. They were smirking "Uhh... guys?"

"So... Do you think anything will come out of this?" Rose asked slyly, elbowing her side.

"Like what?"

"Like, I dunno," Lillie giggled "Romance?"

"Oh please..." Megan pushed their faces away with her palms, an irk mark forming on her forehead "As if that would happen."

"Yeah but think about what an amazing story it would be to tell your kids?!" Rose squealed "Oh your father and I met when--"

"Rose!" Megan blurted, cheeks reddening "We aren't going to date! We aren't going to get married! And we aren't going to have kids!! That would be ridiculous, and besides I have a-- uhh... Standards! I have standards!"

Lillie raised an eyebrow "Oh yeah? What are these 'standards'?"

"A face, for starters. Right now Rafe doesn't even have one I can match the voice to. He may as well be Phone Guy."

"Valid point... but what if--"

"Plus he may be on the other side of the country!" Megan continued "I know long distance is a thing but-- wait... why am I even considering this?!"

Especially since I already have a relationship to think about...

"Eyyo!"

Megan shrieked as a pair of hands slapped onto her shoulders from behind, causing her to nearly jump out of her seat. She turned quickly, a hand on her chest as she glared at the dark skinned sunshine child "Holy chicken shit, Hau!"

"'Holy chicken shit'." Sun stepped out from behind him "That's a new one."

"Yeah-- well-- Shut up!"

The boys smirked and pulled up chairs to sit at the table. "So?" Hau began "What's the juice?"

"Megan dialed a wrong number and ended up talking to a guy."

"Lillie!"

"What? It's interesting." Lillie held her hands up "And it's about time you started talking to people outside our group."

"Ugh."

"Megan, it's healthy."

"Ugh!"

The blonde huffed "Fine, be that way."

The two best friends turned their heads away with a huff. The rest of the group watched awkwardly, until Sun cleared his throat.

"So, anyway. Did you guys hear the news?"

The three girls turned to him, eyebrows raised "News?"

"Yeah. Apparently a new student's transferring to our class." he said matter of factly with a grin. Rose gasped.

"Another one?!"

"Yep."

Megan frowned "When there's only two months of the year left? Who does that?"

"Dunno-- wait, I feel like we've had this conversation before."

"Gladion?"

"That must be it..."

"No no," Lillie shook her head and pointed out the window "Gladion."

They all turned their heads, eyes scanning the area outside for said boy. Lillie was right, he was in fact out there, walking down the sidewalk on the other side of the road. Rose stood.

"I'll be right back."

---

So this is where things got awkward. Rose had dragged the emo all the way into the cafe they sat in, and forced him into a chair right next to Megan. The pair had turned their heads away instantly, shielding their vision with their hands as their faces remained in a twisted grimace. Their friends watched, confused as all heck to why they had yet another change in relationship. First enemies, then friends, then so incredibly close they'd be mistaken for a couple, then presumably enemies again... And now, they look like they were two complete strangers forced to sit on a bus together without any form of distraction. And God damn was it painful to watch.

Hau, being the one who is scientifically proven to not be capable of staying quiet for over fifteen minutes, decided to break this uncomfortable silence they had fallen into "So! Gladion, before you came along the five of us were talking about the new transfer student. Have you heard about that?"

"No," he lifted his head, raising an eyebrow "How could I have known?"

"Well, you were the last transfer student, so I figured you would have some sort of idea."

"...What kinda logic is that?"

"Hau's logic..." Megan muttered from next to Gladion. He opened his mouth to retort, however he remembered his promise. He shouldn't even be sitting next to her, but Rose wasn't to know that. So instead he only rolled his eyes and addressed his other friends.

"Do you know who it's gonna be?"

"I've heard she's daughter of a successful businessman." Sun explained with a shrug

"So she's rich."

"I guess."

"Seriously?" Megan's head shot up, nose wrinkling slightly "Gladion's rich. This chick's rich. Are all transfer students rich?"

"In our class, yes." Lillie sighed, exasperated.

"So, basically you know nothing about her, other than the fact she's rich?" Gladion asked.

Sun squinted at him "Why are you so interested? Are you looking for relationships or something?"

Megan flinched.

"No of course not!" Gladion blurted, mouth opening in horror. He made a glance in Megan's direction, but no one saw it "I just have a theory."

"What's that?"

"Just that--" he paused "No, nevermind."

"Aw!" Rose whined "Come on, tell ussss!"

"No, I was just being stupid. Pay me no mind."

"Buzz kill..." Hau muttered.

Gladion only shrugged "Anyways I gotta get going. I was actually on the way to a friend's, until somebody dragged me here." He glanced at Rose, who only looked away awkwardly. Sun gasped sarcastically, feigning an offended expression and placing a hand to his heart.

"You have friends... besides us?"

Gladion's eyebrow twitched "Yeah... I'm leaving."

"I'll come too!" Lillie volunteered, standing abruptly and shooting her hand in the air "It's that friend, right?"

"Yes?"

"I haven't seen him in ages! You have to let me come!"

Gladion sighed "Fine..."

He began to stand, but accidentally bumped his knee against Megan's causing both of them to jolt away. Their group stared at them in complete shock.

"What is up with you two today?" Rose asked.

"Nothing!" They replied abruptly.

"Are you sure?" Sun knitted his eyebrows together "Two weeks ago you were dancing together, and now you can't even--"

"Yeah that's great!" Gladion laughed nervously, speed walking around the table and grabbing his sister's arm "Anyway gotta go so, peace. Adiós. Sayonara. Bonsoir. Proshchay. And in every other language, buh-bye."

And he left, with Lillie in tow who seemed just as confused as Sun, Hau and Rose. The three of them turned to Megan for some form of enlightenment, but she had already shielded herself by burying her face in her arms, which were crossed on the table. Sun sighed, grabbing his beanie and slipping it over his head.

"Well I need to go, too." He stated "Ein and I are going to see a movie tonight--"

Rose and Hau smirked.

"As friends! So I need to get ready." He began inching towards the door "so err, yeah good talk. Megan stop being weird... Bye!"

Megan sighed when hearing the ravenette, hoping the other two would follow close behind him. But alas, she heard that screeching of the chairs as Hau and Rose sat down either side of her.

"So. Chicken shit." Hau began.

Did he just...

The girl lifted her head, irritated that he had quoted her to insult her, and the fact he was literally inches away from her face. "What?"

"What's going on?"

"Nothing's going on."

"I call bullshit." Rose slammed a palm on the table, earning a few unwanted glances from other customers "You and Gladion are acting weird."

Megan's eyes narrowed, daring for her to continue "Weird how?"

"Avoiding each other in class today? Shielding your eyes? Jumping from a single touch?!" She held her hands up in a confused manner "It's like your toxic to each other now! I thought bringing him in here would lighten the mood between you two. You guys are usually so happy around each other."

Oh so that was her plan...

"Yeaaah no, I don't think that would be the case this time around." Megan rubbed the back of her neck "We're... kinda giving each other space right now."

Hau frowned "Why?"

"Stuff... happened."

"What stuff?"

"If you haven't noticed, I'm not saying."

"What stuff?"

"Hau--"

"What stuff?"

"Gah! Stop it!" She yelled out, causing a few more bystanders to look her way "It's not any of your business, Pineapple. It's nothing you need to concern yourself with."

"Are you--"

"I can assure you I am quite positive."

"No." Rose shook her head "Are you okay?"

Megan closed her mouth before the usual 'I'm fine' escaped by default. Her lips pursed together and her hand reached up, wrapping around the pendant around her neck "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I dunno, your face is all like..." her made weird motions with her hands, a grimace forming on her face "...It's hard to explain, it's dull. It's conflicted. It's--"

"Just like before?"

Hau's eyes widened "Something really did happen, didn't it?"

Megan sighed, looking away from both of them by staring down at her hands, clasped together on the table. She shouldn't be leaving them in the dark like this; they were her friends. But she couldn't tell them either. Despite their personalities Rose and Hau were smart. Even if she was to leave out the details of Megan and Gladion's relationship, they would most likely catch on.

She wasn't taking any chances.

"We just had a small... disagreement about a routine." She lied as best as she could "We're going to talk about, and hopefully sort it out during the weekend, so it's nothing to worry about."

It was obvious her friends didn't believe her. Their eyebrows pulled downwards as they stared at her, while she lied to their faces. She bit her lip, unable to look up at them as she basically curled into herself. It was apparent that the topic bothered her a great deal.

Hau was the one to break the silence they had fallen into, resting a hand on Megan's shoulder and forcing a smile "Well then, I hope you guys can sort everything out soon."

Rose's eyes widened slightly "Hau--"

She paused, seeing the boy lean back and shake his head behind Megan's back. His expression was serious for once, so that meant it was legitimately best for them to drop the subject, for now at least. With a sigh the brunette stood, grabbing her purse and ruffling Megan's hair.

"Alright then. Just know that Hau and I are here for you, so are Lillie and Sun. And I'm sure you and Gladion can sort it out. You guys are literally the perfect team."

Megan gave a small smile "Thanks, Rose..."

"No problem... now I gotta go!" Her energetic smile returned "I have a date with my handsome boo."

"You mean Grunkle Guzma?"

"Hey he is twenty four!"

"Still older than any of us."

Rose slapped her friends upside the head "shut up!"

With a snicker they bid their not so single friend goodbye until tomorrow, watching as she exited the cafe and walked down the path outside until she was out of sight. Then, Hau turned to Megan.

"She's right, we're all here for you. There wouldn't be anything you can say that we won't listen to."

"I know, Hau." She sighed, flicking her hair away from her face "But, some things are preferred to be left unsaid."

"Like what?"

"If I wanted you to know, I would've said them."

"Fair point..." Hau leaned forward on his elbows, smirking at his older friend "So how am I supposed to know what you tell me is the truth from now on?"

"You don't. That's when trust comes in." She winked. Hau scoffed.

"Yeah whatever, Megz."

---

Okay.

Today was the day.

After class, Megan would let Gladion talk and she would listen. Was she set on this?

Yes.

Was she ready for it?

Absolutely not.

She fiddled with Gladion's pendant as she continued to walk down the sidewalk, eyes fixed on the concrete and lip tightly clamped between her teeth. Not even the soothing voice of Rebecca Sugar chiming through her earphones could ease her nerves. God damn she had never been so nervous, not ever.

Today could end two ways. She and Gladion would kiss and make up, or they would fight and break up...

And to be honest, it would probably all lie on her and whether she can keep herself from jumping to shitty conclusions. She didn't want them to break up, but at the same time she didn't want to hold him back by being with him. Was it true that he knew the risks and conditions of them dating, and he seriously didn't care? Or was he just oblivious by his feelings...

Maybe this talk will confirm that. Maybe this talk will confirm the best thing for them, whether that be their relationship rekindling, or being put out once and for all...

She kept her head down when she entered the building, not even sparing the receptionist a glance as he greeted her as usual. She only moved on and quietly made her way to the studio her class had been assigned to. When entering she could tell people had been gossiping. Not about her, but about something new and exciting. She could sense it; it was in the air. She caught sight of her friends talking to other classmates, probably about this one particular interesting thing.

Must be Rose's big mouth...

She made her way towards the mirror and dropped her bag before pulling a hairband off her wrist with her teeth, bunching her hair up in a middle ponytail as she couldn't be bothered to do it at home. She prefered it when her hair draped over her face like a curtain, anyway. But unfortunately, it was part of dance policy to keep long hair tied back. So she had no choice in the matter.

"Artemus."

God dammit. She thought the weather today was clear of hoes.

Without turning around, she growled "What do you want, Vape?"

Leven raised a questioning eyebrow "Vape?"

"Mist. Vape. Whatever. Why are you near me?"

The boy smirked in amusement, leaning up against the mirror which Megan saw from the corner of her eye "You hear about the new girl?"

"You mean the rich one that's supposedly joining our class?" She side-glared "No. It's not like it's been the talk of the studio."

"Well anyway, I heard she's coming today."

"Your point?"

"My point is," He leaned in closer, warm breath tickling her skin as he whispered in a secretive manner "Guard your hunky rich boyfriend over there. I heard she has a cute little attraction for him."

Her head whipped around "How the fuck could you know anything about her?"

Leven's glasses glinted slightly "That was a funny reaction. And you didn't even deny it when I referred to Aether as your boyfriend..." He tilted his head slightly, allowing his azure bangs fall over his eyes "Is there something you aren't telling all of us?"

"Get away from me, Leven."

"Haha... No." His fake sickenly sweet voice suddenly disappeared. It had became low, sadistic, and dangerous. His expression darkened to the point his smirk became more than just annoying. It was terrifying. With one swift movement he was in front of Megan, grabbing her shoulders gently so it didn't hurt yet firmly so she couldn't get away. She was too shocked to say a word.

"Listen to me, Artemus." He hissed "You thought that what was between us was a simple arch nemesis relationship, didn't you? But I see it differently..."

His nails began digging into her shoulder blades "The way I see it. Every encounter. Every interaction. Every single word exchanged between the two of us...

...Is an opportunity for me to rip apart the mind and soul of the person I hate most."

Megan's breath hitched.

"These next couple of days are going to be a little different between us, Artemus. So buckle up. The ride will start, as soon as the new girl walks through those doors."

Megan stood frozen as Leven stepped away from her and placed his hands in his pockets, walking away from her with a victorious smirk plastered on his face. He had achieved what he wanted to; shake Artemus up to the point she couldn't speak. To the point she couldn't move.

The harder it is for Megan to approach Gladion, the easier it is for her to get close to him.

Megan was snapped out of her trance as Kukui entered the room, bright as ever, clapping his hands together to get everyone's attention. Quietly Megan's friends made their way to the girl, including Gladion who for some reason seemed quite troubled. It confused her, but she still hadn't regained the ability to speak.

"Right, class." The man beamed, moving towards the speakers and crossing his arms "I'm sure you've all heard the rumours by now, about the new student joining us. I can confirm that these rumours are in fact correct."

The room erupted with excited whispers, making the instructor chuckle.

"Yes I know you all are excited to meet her, so let's not wait another second shall we?" He turned to the door, that was still open "You can come in now, missy."

And she did come in, with her chin held high and her long curled hair bobbing behind her as she grinned brightly at the entire class.

Megan's breath hitched for the second time in the past fifteen minutes. Then again, so did the rest of her friends. Except Gladion. He looked like he had seen this coming, by the tight grimace that had graced his lips.

Interrupting the rest of the class from admiring their new classmate was Lillie, who let the girl's name slip from her agape mouth in the form of a high pitched shriek.

"SADIE?!"

It seemed Megan had miscalculated. There were far more than two ways this day could end.

And it was almost guaranteed that it would head in a bad direction.