Chapter 28

Sayori woke from a nightmare, clutching the front of her sleeping girlfriend's shirt.

"Sayori..? What's wrong..?" Monika asked, still groggy with sleep.

"Sorry... I-I had a nightmare..." Sayori explained, nuzzling closer against Monika's chest.

"Hey, hey! It's okay! You're safe now. I'm right here." Monika whispered words of comfort.

Monika wrapped her arms around Sayori's waist, singing sweet nothings and 'I love you's into her ear as Sayori calmed down.

"T-Thanks, petals..." Sayori said sleepily.

"'Petals'?" Monika giggled.

"Sorry... Yeah... You were a flower in my dream..." Sayori said sheepishly.

"So I'm a flower?" Monika mused with a grin.

"Well yeah. You're tall and pretty and you smell nice." Sayori explained.

Monika laughed, combing her fingers through Sayori's hair.

"Thanks. And I think you're pretty and smell nice, too." Monika replied.

Sayori yawned, shifting a bit to get more comfortable.

"Let's go back to sleep, okay? We have school tomorrow." Monika said.

Sayori nodded weakly, her arms moving to wrap around Monika's neck.

Monika listened as Sayori's breathing slowed and she went limp in her arms, smiling softly as she nodded off as well.

~~~

Sayori woke to the sound of Monika shrieking downstairs.

"Who the fuck are you?!" she heard a familiar voice sound.

Oh no...

Sayori sprang out of bed, quickly pulling on a shirt and underwear before racing downstairs to the sound of arguing.

"Madelyn! Hi! Welcome home!" Sayori stepped between them before her mind had time to even process what was happening.

Looking around she noticed the frying pan in Monika's hands and the pocket knife in her mother's.

"Who the fuck is she?" her mother asked with disgust, nodding towards Monika.

"She's with me, Madelyn. She's just staying for a bit." she explained.

"Did I give you permission to have guests?" the woman asked in a growl.

"N-No mo- I mean Madelyn!" Sayori corrected herself.

"Didn't think so. She can stay two days. Any longer and she's paying rent. Got it, bitch?" she spat to Sayori hatefully.

"Yes, Madelyn." Sayori nodded, grabbing Monika's hand and rushing back upstairs.

"Who was that?" Monika asked once they made it inside and locked the door.

"My mom." Sayori sighed, rubbing her temples.

Monika nodded in understanding, hugging Sayori from the side.

"I.. I didn't know.. She was coming, I'm sorry." Sayori said softly, turning to hug Monika properly.

"It's okay. She just surprised me, is all." Monika assured her.

Sayori sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Could we go out and do something today, maybe? Sorry, I just... I can't be around her..." Sayori asked timidly.

"Of course. Why don't we put on our shoes and we can go, mmkay?" Monika patted her back gently, smiling at the worried girl.

Sayori nodded eagerly, quietly making her way back down the stairs with Monika at her heels.

"Good. She's in the shower." Sayori whispered, breathing a sigh of relief.

Monika squeezed her hand gently before they slid on their shoes and silently slipped out of the house.

Monika laughed as they pulled out of the driveway, shaking hee head lightly.

"Sorry, Sayo, but your mom is like, scary." Monika said.

"I know, right?" Sayori giggled.

They drove around aimlessly, nothing but the sound of the engine and soft piano from the radio accompanying them.

"So..." Sayori began after some time, "Where should we go?"

"I don't know, what about we just drive around a bit and see where it takes us?" Monika suggested.

"I'm down." Sayori shrugged in agreement.

Monika nodded as she began towards the direction of the park.

~~~

"At least it's really nice out." Sayori breathed deeply, closing her eyes as she took in the fresh air that smelled of the flowers all around.

Monika closed her door and locked it, coming up behind her lover to wrap her arms around Sayori's petite waist.

Sayori leaned into the touch, smiling as she opened her eyes to fall upon the beautiful girl holding her.

"I found a job yesterday." Monika whispered into her ear.

Sayori tensed, turning around to face Monika as she forced her smile wider.

"That's great!" Sayori said with more enthusiasm than usual.

It was her mask. She couldn't tell Monika she wanted her to stay with her when Monika was determined to live on her own.

"You sure?" Monika asked, immediately catching on to Sayori's true feelings.

"Positive. It's awesome, petals." Sayori assured her as Monika giggled and blushed.

"Yeah. Now I can get a place of my own and give you a bit of space." Monika proclaimed, pulling Sayori closer.

"Yeah. Great." Sayori hid her face in Monika's chest as her smile faltered.

"Um, I forgot to mention. Natsuki's coming over tonight." Sayori said, telling a half truth.

They hadn't planned to do so, but Sayori needed her best friend and she knew Natsuki wouldn't pass up the chance to be out of her house.

"Sure! What about your mom?" Monika asked.

"Oh, we shouldn't have to worry about her. She only comes if she's being chased or if CPS hears I'm being unattended. With my luck she's staying with one of her boy-toys." Sayori rolled her eyes.

Monika nodded silently, rubbing Sayori's shoulders comfortingly.

"Hey, you know what? Let's pay Yuri a visit. I haven't seen her outside of school in a while. I'm sure she'd like to congratulate us." Monika pulled her towards the car.

"Sure! Maybe Natsuki wants to come too, could we pick her up?" Sayori asked as she sat in the passenger's seat.

"Of course!" Monika nodded as she started towards their destination.

"What day is it, by the way?" Sayori asked.

Shit, I was hoping she wouldn't find out just yet!

"I-I don't know, I think Saturday?" Monika flubbed.

"I meant of the month. I think I'm supposed to do something today." Sayori trailed off, thinking.

"Oh look at that, we're here!" Monika said quickly.

Sayori unbuckled, sprinting from the car and to Natsuki's door.

"Who's there?" Natsuki's scared voice came from the other side of the door.

"Hey, Nat! It's Sayo!" Sayori chirped gleefully.

The door unlocked and Natsuki quietly stepped outside, shutting the door silently behind her.

Sayori lunged forward, wrapping her bestie in her arms in a tight hug.

Natsuki giggled, patting Sayori's back before pressing her shoulder to back her away.

Sayori hurriedly pulled her into the car, sitting in the front with Monika while Natsuki climbed in the back.

Monika put her phone away as Natsuki's buzzed in her pocket.

What a weird coincidence!

Natsuki gave a hum of agreement to whatever was on the screen before Monika drove off to Yuri's house.