Chapter 5

Monika slowly woke, feeling a slight pressure against her.

Opening her eyes she took notice of the girl snuggled against her.

Sayori is... h-holding onto me...

Monika felt her heart race as she gazed down at Sayori, a nervous lump forming in her throat.

Natsuki suddenly opened the door as the two locked eyes.

Natsuki smirked, making Monika blush in realization.

She slipped back out the door as Monika hastily followed, though was careful to make sure she didn't wake Sayori.

"Hey, Park." Natsuki greeted.

"Y-Yes?" Monika asked, feeling herself tense.

"Be real with me for a minute, okay?" Natsuki sat on the couch, motioning for Monika to have a seat beside her.

Monika hesitantly sat down, crossing her legs and placing her hands in her lap.

"W-What is it?" Monika asked anxiously.

"Do you like Sayori?" Natsuki blurted suddenly.

"I-I beg your pardon?" Monika stuttered, blushing a deep red.

"Look. I don't take kindly to people playing around with my pal's feelings. So if you like her, that's great! But if you don't you need to stop. I will not let Sayori get her heart broken again." Natsuki explained, glaring daggers at Monika.

"'Again'?" Monika questioned.

"Look, if you wanna know you should ask her. I've already said too much." Natsuki shrugged, taking a sip of her hot cocoa.

A loud thud could be heard from upstairs, followed by a groan of pain.

"Looks like Sayo's up." Natsuki snickered.

"Morning..." Sayori said as she walked down the stairs, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

She made eye contact with Monika, a light blush dusting her cheeks as she froze in place.

"H-Hey..." Sayori offered a timid wave.

"H-H-Hi..." Monika smiled awkwardly, blushing as well.

Natsuki watched the scene with interest, her lips curving into a knowing smirk.

"I made pancakes. I'll go get them." Natsuki said, sauntering into the kitchen.

Sayori and Monika continued to stare at one another, both unsure of what to do or say.

"I, uh- T-Thank you... For last night, that is.." Sayori rubbed the back of her neck.

"N-No problem..." Monika said.

"I, uh, think I should go now..." Monika said suddenly, glancing at the clock of her phone.

"R-Right now?" Sayori asked, her voice wavering a bit.

Dammit... If I'm around her much longer I don't know if I can take it...

"Y-Yeah, sorry!" Monika said, closing the door behind her.

"She didn't even say goodbye..." Sayori said softly to no one in particular.

~~~

Monika drove off to no where in particular. She just needed a few minutes to calm down.

That girl is going to kill me if she doesn't stop being so damn cute...

Monika felt her heart racing, her mind wandering around the strawberry blonde girl.

When Monika was near her she felt emotions she had never experienced before.

Her heart would swell when Sayori walked into the room, her palms would sweat as Sayori spoke to her, and she always wanted to hear the sweet melody of Sayori's laugh in her ears.

"What is this girl doing to me?" Monika whispered to herself after pulling into an empty parking lot.

She turned the car off, reclining her seat to lay back a bit.

Monika stared up at the ceiling, her heart still hammering wildly.

Sayori's hair, Sayori's eyes, Sayori's smile, Monika was dying to see them again even though she hadn't been away for more than ten minutes.

Monika felt a need to touch Sayori's hair, to be the reason her eyes sparkled, the cause of her laughter.

Suddenly, it hit her.

Oh gosh... Do I... Like her?!

Monika's eyes widened, her mouth hanging slightly open as she tried to wrap her mind around this sudden realization.

It all made sense. The reason these feelings felt so strange and unfamiliar.

Monika had never liked someone before. Never truly, honestly liked another.

But now she did. She liked her friend.

Oh man... If Sayori knew.. What would she think?! Would she want to be my friend if she knew I have feelings for her?

Monika suddenly felt panicked, uneasy at the very thought of losing Sayori.

She didn't even know if Sayori liked girls! What if Sayori was against it?

Sayori didn't seem like the type to hate someone because of that, Monika had reasoned with herself.

Still, Monika couldn't be sure how Sayori felt.

And that thought drove her mad.

~~~

"Sayo, are you gonna stop pouting and help me clean up?" Natsuki asked, rolling her eyes.

"She didn't even say bye..." Sayori said for the hundredth time since Monika left.

"I know. You've mentioned it before." Natsuki said sarcastically as she began washing dishes.

"Natsukiiiiii!" Sayori whined with a pout, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Well, what do you want me to do about it?" Natsuki shrugged.

"I don't know...." Sayori puffed her cheeks, sticking out her lower lip and kicking at the air at her ankles.

"Look, tomorrow's Sunday. Then the next day is Monday. Where you'll see Monika at club. So calm down." Natsuki said, pausing after each sentence to hardwire it into Sayori's head.

"Okay..." Sayori said, though that reassurance did nothing to make her feel better.

Sayori had had a boyfriend in the seventh grade, though he wasn't very kind and treated her roughly. They weren't together long before Natsuki intervened and helped Sayori break off the relationship.

Since then Natsuki had become very protectove of her and Sayori had left her heart heavily guarded.

Except for Monika.

Monika seemed to see right past Sayori's walls, see the real her she tried so desperately to keep locked away.

Sayori already knew she was in love and could do nothing to stop it.

"Sayori Easton!" Natsuki snapped her fingers, gaining Sayori's attention.

"Huh- What?" Sayori blinked back to reality.

"I said I was bored. Let's do something." Natsuki decided, advancing for the door.

"Wait! I'm still in my pajamas!" Sayori said, but Natsuki was already at the door.

"Natsukiiiiiiii!" Sayori whined, struggling to throw on at least a different pair of pants.

She bolted out the door and down the street, where her best friend stood waiting at the curb.

"Took you long enough." Natsuki teased, earning a punch on the shoulder from a panting Sayori.

They continued walking at a now leisurely pace towards wherever Natsuki had chosen to go.