Chapter 3

Monika had slept with her cat jumping on her chest, his tail swishing back and forth against her nose and making her wake with a sneeze.

"Ugh, Ludwig! Get off me, you big baby!" Monika slurred, pushing her fat ash grey cat from her as he jumped onto the floor.

Monika sat up and was immediately greeted with the thought of a certain blue eyed princess.

Oh, right! I get to see Sayori today!

Monika leaped from her bed, an enormous grin plastered to her face.

The thought that the brunette would now be able to spend at least fourty five precious minutes with her crush gave her the motivation to get dressed and ready for school in ten minutes.

Monika shared her house with her parents, who were so busy with work in another country that she only saw them on Christmas.

Not that Monika minded, as living practically alone had many perks. Such as no bedtimes or curfews, or the ability to invite people over on a whim whenever she pleased.

She checked the clock, realizing she still had about an hour before school started.

I wonder what Sayori's doing right now...

~~~

Sayori rushed around feverishly, not realising until moments ago that she would be late for school.

She sprinted out of her house, across the highway, and into her favourite Mendy's.

"Late again, hun?" Dev, the manager and a close friend of Sayori's family, called as the young girl burst through the door.

"Yeah." Sayori panted, out of breath.

"Here ya go, hun." she handed Sayori ten dollars and a sack full of french fries.

"Thanks, Dev! I'll pay you back, I promise!" Sayori said, taking the bag.

"Don't worry about it, love! Just make sure you get to school and learn for me, okay?" Sayori nodded as she sprinted out the door.

She sprinted back across the highway and down six blocks, panting as she finally arrived at the school.

Monika had just parked her car and noticed the shorter girl coated in sweat, panting heavily with her hands on her knees.

"Hey!" Monika called with a wave.

Sayori instantly put on a pained smile and waved back weakly.

"Did you run all the way here?" Monika asked as the blonde approached her.

"Uh, yeah. I kinda don't have a car of my own. Heheh." Sayori scratched the back of her neck nervously.

"Oh, well I'm, I could give you a ride sometime. I-If you want to, of course!" Monika suggested with a smile.

"Oh, um, thanks! T-That'd be great, actually!" Sayori nodded eagerly.

"Okay, well, um... I-I'll see you at c-c-club!" Monika said as she headed off to class.

"B-Bye!" Sayori called after her, her heart hammering in her ears.

~~~

Oh gosh... I can't stop thinking about her!

Sayori felt frustrated as she stared down at her maths book with utter confusion, not comprehending a single number.

The bell rang and Sayori jumped up, eager to rush off and see Monika once more.

"Oh, hey, Yuri!" Sayori called as she threw open the club room door, startling the violet haired girl.

"O-Oh! H-Hello, S-S-Sayori." Yuri replied shyly, picking up the colored pencils she had dropped.

Sayori giggled, finding it kinda cute how Yuri always stuttered.

"What's up?" Sayori smiled.

"N-Nothing." Yuri mumbled as she stood, walking over to the back of the room.

Sayori followed her, not really having anything else to do.

Suddenly Natsuki burst through the door, grumbling angrily as she plopped on the floor at the back of the room.

Sayori walked over to her friend, sitting beside her.

"What's wrong?" she asked gently.

"Him." Natsuki said simply.

'Him' being Natsuki's father and a real jerk, Nate Fields.

"Whadid he do this time?" Sayori rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"He threatened to burn my precious manga!" Natsuki said as if they were talking about her firstborn child rather than a few books.

"Why don't you let me hold them for you? I keep offering, ya know." Sayori suggested with a shrug.

"I know..." Natsuki mumbled, crossing her arms.

"What's going on?" Monika cocked her head as she strode towards the pair.

"I need a place to keep my mangas." Natsuki said simply.

"Why don't you keep them in here? That way nothing can happen to them!" Monika suggested with a grin.

Natsuki nodded, advancing for the closet at the back of the room.

She reached for the top shelf, grunting as she stood on her toes but to no avail.

Yuri walked behind Natsuki, gripping her hair between her fingers and biting her lip.

"I-I can h-h-help you." Yuri offered shyly, a blush dusting her cheeks.

"T-Thanks." Natsuki nodded as she flushed deeply.

Sayori chuckled.

Man, they're so clueless!

"What's so funny?" Monika asked, sitting beside the blonde.

Sayori motioned for her to come closer as she leaned towards Monika's ear.

"They totally like each other." Sayori whispered with a giggle.

Monika glanced towards the two who were stuttering like crazy to one another and laughed.

"You're right!" Monika blushed as she smiled at Sayori.

Sayori smiled back, feeling her heart race.

~~~

"Okay, everyone! That's it for today. Monday, we should all share a poem we've written, okay?" Monika asked cheerfully.

Everyone nodded as they left the room and parted ways to go home.

"Hey, Nat!" Sayori pounced on her shorter friend.

"What?!" Natsuki asked, a bit annoyed by Sayori's outburst.

Monika bit her lip, watching how close Sayori was to Natsuki enviously.

"Wanna come hang out today? I got some more flour and sugar~!" Sayori sang.

"If this is your way of asking for cookies, it won't work." Natsuki shrugged the girl away and continued walking.

"Aw, come on~! Pleeeease~?" Sayori begged, shaking Natsuki gently by the shoulders.

"Okay, fine! Just quit it already!" Natsuki shoved her roughly.

"Monika! Do you wanna come, too?" Sayori twirled around to face the brunette in question.

Monika tensed as a bright red blush filled her cheeks.

"S-Sure! I-I can drive us there." Monika offered timidly.

"Okay! Let's gooo!" Sayori pumped her fist with a grin.

Natsuki sighed as she and Monika followed after the bubbly girl.

Am I really about to go to Sayori's house?!

Oh my gosh I can't believe I just invited Monika... to my house...!