Okay! Request from eyyobro for Stress/Iskall hanahaki! (I somehow pronounce and read this as hana-ah-key..) Forgive me if it's bad, I had to bang my head on the table to think of some plot events! Also, please, please tell me if you see a mistake! I think I got them all but I really ain't sure..!

ACykaofSouthEastAsia and Whaler3000 y'alls are coming soon! (Hopefully-)

Also NO JUDGIES! It was requested "And Stress is madly in love with him and stuff,..." So uh, we definitely covered the 'madly in love' and 'stuff' part and maybe took it kinda far...

Word Count: 7,390
__________________________________

He was basically puking a rainbow and putting the skittles AD to shame.

Flowers of all sorts- Daisies, roses, poppies, violets, sunflowers, alliums and more. They were all coming out of his throat.

Stress stared at him, wide eyed from the seat next to him. He never heard what she said because he was to busy staring. Staring at the ground far, far, below their seats on the roller coaster. The flowers were already down there, and there was no way Stress liked him. She didn't like him. She never could and never would. He ignored whatever Stress was saying and looked at the fallen flowers- The only thing that was missing, was him.

"ISKALL!?-"

[—————]

He looked at his newest message and fought down the flowers. It was from Stress..

<——Stress——>

I'm sad..

What happened?!

Idk I'm just sad :(
Can you come over?

Already in ur direction

Thx <3

________________________________________________________________________________

She sent a heart! She sent a heart! STRESS SENT A HEART!

Iskall smiled a little kinda way too much over-the-top happily at that. Then realized- Wait he had to go to Stress's... But she invited him! But they were friends... What if- Wait she'd still hate him. Wait was he sure about that though...? Yeah, yeah he was. Should he tell her...? No. Wait that meant he'd die then... Well at least him and Stress were friends.. But-

Oh no...

He swerved into a tree-top and got on his knees. It was sad that this was a routine. After the flowers passed, he took off yet again, quickly making it to Stress's base.

He barely even pulled a hand up to knock when the door flung open and he was engulfed in a hug.

Keep it down Iskall. Keep it down. KEEP IT DOWN! He hugged her back, trying to not coat her hair in flowers.

"H-hi Stress.."

"I'm sad."

He nodded. "So I'm taking it...?"

She nodded and grabbed his han- Holy cow she grabbed his hand! He smiled like an idiot, then bit his lip to stop. She smiled back at him and winked. Wait wha-

"Sit!" She commanded, pointing to the sofa. He nodded and did as told while she went to get the nail polish and make-up for him. He sank back as his thoughts declared a war.

Like she-

Don't even. . .

Even-

Iskall shut up!

NEEDS IT!

I said, shut up!

It's true though.

Well have fun choking on flowers then.

Iskall froze a moment before rushing into the bathroom, barely making it in time before the flowers came in small heaps. And if the current situation wasn't enough, Stress, of all people, knocked on the door. Granted it was her base, but he would've settled for a pizza dude or something..

"Iskall? You ok in there?" He paused a moment, the plinking and plopping sounds of his flower-barf noises taking over his ears.

"Uhm..." He puked again. "Yes....?"

"You sure? You sound sick..." He could hear the concern lacing her voice. But he couldn't let her know! And he couldn't tell her she was sick either, she'd worry! After thinking a moment,  he did what he had to-

"Yeah yeah! I'm just..., uh... just taking a dump.." He mentally facepalmed. Nice one Iskall..

"Uhm..." There was an awkward silence for a moment as he puked yet again. The full roll of TP caught his eye and he realized that.. well just align the facts and you'd figure out he was lying.

"Uh.. Stress...?"

"...Yes?"

"I uh.... out of toilet paper..."

She paused for a very long time. "Uh.. Under the counter...."

"Thanks.." "Yep.." He let out a breath- A non-flower one this time, thankfully. He sighed as he put the current roll in an ender chest, and replaced it. He was not going to take that risk. Girls were way to observant sometimes. It was creepy.

---------\

Stress sighed as she looked around. She had a blank mind. Meaning she was bored. Meaning nothing could distract her thoughts. Iskall always had a thought or an idea.. He always knew what to do.. She groaned as she went up to make something to eat.

Iskall always had Swedish fish with him that'd he'd eat.

"Shut up Stress..."

Iskall! iSkaLl! ISKALL!

"Shaddup!"

Fiiiiiii- ISKALL!

She tossed down her plate due to her frustrating mind.

You know, in a way this is all Iskall's fault.

"It is, isn't it.."

Ha got you to think about Iskall!

"I hate you, me.."

Bending over to pick up her mess, she accidentally she cut her palm. Fun day.. She sighed as she down the hall to clean out her palm. Walking into the farthest bathroom (Becuase today everything just had to suck) she opened up the cupboard underneath the sink and caught a glimpse of a pink nail polish. Hm..

You know-

"No."

You're sad..

"I am?"

Mmmmmhhmm...

She sighed. Maybe she did feel kinda sad..? Yeah, yeah she was. She smiled as she messaged Iskall to come over, in which he agreed whole-heartedly. (She didn't know that last bit though.) She smiled at the acceptation. He was just coming over becuase she was sad and definitely not bored!

At least, that's what she told herself.

---------\

Everything had gone well for Iskall until this point. He felt like he was dying as he walked out of that bathroom. Stress didn't seem to care much though-

"Did ya wash ya hands?"

Never mind, apparently he spoke to soon.  "Uhm.. Yeah, I did." She nodded and smiled, pointing to his previous spot. "Alright! Sit!"

He nodded and sat, trying to hide the obvious embarrassment rising to his face. Stress took the seat across from him and set a box of nail polish. He watched as she ever-so-carefully dug through the box before pulling out a lime green, dark purple, and electric yellow. She smiled over at him. "Which one?" She asked in her infamously cheery and happy tones.

"Uhmm.. Let me think.." She nodded as he looked between the colors. Green matched his hoodie, but yellow looked kinda cool though. Purple was really vibing out to him.. But then again green was still amazing! He sighed as he was getting to the point of furiously ribbing his temple in concentration. It was between the purple vibes and the green..

Stress lightly laughed and elbowed him. "Ya know there's a thing called doing two colors Iskall..?"

Woah.

"Wait. A. Minute. You're telling me, That I, Iskall, can have two colors?!" Stress nodded as she cracked up. "Iskall???"

"Oh, uh sorry, what?"

"You want both..?"

He nodded. "Yeah purple is vibin' but green doesn't fail."

She laughed. "Yeah that's true.."

Quickly, she crossed her legs, grabbed his hand and angled her elbow on her knee for the extra support so she didn't mess up.

Oddly, no conversation popped up, so they both sat there in silence, Stress basically holding his hand-

"Hey Iskall I kinda am in love ya?"

He doubled over and coughed- Normally for now. "I-I'm sorry what!?"

"Uh..." She was quiet for a moment. "What..?"

He looked at her for the longest time. "You- you just said- that you- you...!!!"

"I what....?" She looked pretty confused. Shoot. He imagined that didn't h-

He pressed his lips together rather tightly, upon feeling the flowers rising in the back of his throat. Not now... Oh please oh please OH PLEASE! Not now...! He looked at Stress, who looked genuinely concerned. "Iskall, are you ok..?"

No Stress. I have been puking up flowers becuase of you. I'm not ok.

Instead, he just nodded ever-so-speedily. She didn't buy it and felt his head. He pulled away quickly but she gave him a pitied look. 'Bout time..

"Ok dear, your burning up.. I'll get some water okay..?" He nodded as she quickly walked out. He looked around a little and saw two options- Door, the farthest, OR pantry, the closest.

He quickly made way to the latter as Stresses returning voice involuntarily made the choice for him. Quickly shutting the door and hiding in the darkness he pinched his lips together. Nearly screaming and letting out the flowers, he whipped around to some object he just backed into.

It took a moment to see it, yes, but by then he knew it was Grian. Why though...?

Grian smiled and whispered. "Hey Iskall...!"

Iskall nodded in return. Grian took a single look at him- "You should tell her whatcha be feelin bro." Calmly, he popped a marshmallow into his mouth as Iskall finally fought back the flowers.

Iskall: Point 1!

"Grian...? How did you-"

"It's kinda obvious. Especially when you puked Stress's favorite flowers next to my base."

"Oh.."

"Yeah. You should tell her. Pretty sure she feels the same."

Iskall nearly laughed at the statement but Grian just shrugged and smiled at him. "Well, I gotta scram. sTreSsY is comin'. Cya man!"

"Wait Gremlin!"

"Yessssss lover-boy?"

Iskall looked at him a moment and Grian got the silent message-of-plea. "Yeah man, I'm sure she cares too." Grian snickered a little. "Probably lov-"

Iskall threw his hands over his ears as the flowers came back. He slammed his eyes closed as he silently wished for the devil to get out. A couple seconds later his eyes opened, and to his,- (And let's be honest all of ours too-) relief, Grian was gone, with just an empty marshmallow bag in place. He stood there confused a moment before fighting more flowers- OHHH!

He grabbed the bag and puked into it.

Iskall: Point 0
Flowers: Point.... something after seven..

After getting that out, he looked at it and arranged them so the baggie was acting like a wrap or vase. They were almost beautiful in a way- That is, if you just saw the flowers being there and not 'why' or 'how' they were there.

They were a wildflower in a way..  A weed. Something painstakingly annoying that seems to mess everything up. Something you want to rip from the roots and burn for the laughs. But if you looked at it right it was also beautiful and fascinating. Something that, given time, became less of a weed-with-looks, but more of a blessing in disguise... Something, you wanted.

Sounds like someone I know.. except the being-a-weed part.

The door got thrown open and Stress gave him a confused look. "Iskall...?"

"Uh....." He stood there and hid the flowers behind his back. But Stress noticed it.

See! Girls were scary observant... Unless Iskall just sucked at being discreet.. No, girls were just observant.

She grabbed his arm- Not his hand but he'd settle for just a look his way so whatever- And pulled it from behind his back, Iskall not fighting her on it at all due to his jelly-arms.

She looked at the flowers a moment before arranging them a little better. "They're so pretty... Are they for me...?"

She looked at him with the wide, hopeful, puppy eyes. And he probably would've said 'yes' to if it wasn't for the feeling of more flowers. "Uhm... No..? They're for my uh... Crush.."

Stress blinked twice as her face fell, sending bombs of guilt at Iskall's feeling's. "Oh..."

He nodded and pretended to check the time. "I- uh... yeah.."

Stress glanced at him a little and used the quietest tone ever. "Are you-... you going on a date with her soon..?"

He began to say a yes, but stopped. He could NOT do that to her.. She was acting so.. sad? It was weird. But that didn't quite matter becuase she didn't deserve to feel like that. "Nope!" He said with a somehow smile. She brightened up a bit and smiled too. "Do you have to go though?"

He nodded. "Mhmm..!"

"Well uh, bye then?"

"Bye Stress-" He went to smile but still saw a small glint of sadness in her eyes. He though about what Grian said.

You know what? If there was even the tiniest chance that that idiot was right, he was taking it with a side oh hope. So, feeling confident, he tried not to puke.

"Hey Stress..?"

"Hmm...?"

"Uh.. You wanna get coffee Wednesday..?" Oh lord what did he just do. Quickly, he added on. "I gotta be at work by like 9:30 and know that you wake up early sometimes and all and just figured since I'd be up to we could try and kill some time and all and I'm sorry you don't have to if-"

"Of course!!" Stress smiled and was practically beaming. Iskall smiled. "So I'll come rescue you at.. eight..?

She nodded happily, which caused his smile. "Alright! It's a da-" Stress's face brightened so much in hope, but he backtracked in fear. "A dayyyyyyyyyyy. It's a day!"

She let out a small breath a nodded. "Cya then?" He nodded. "Cya then!" He walked out, not hearing the small but could-be-meaningful word she muttered- The same on that could've gotten him that date with that girl. But alas, it remained a word; unheard.

---------\

She looked around, confused. Where had he gone...?

Oh...

She thought back the... earlier.. When she said.. that..

He probably ran off.. She wouldn't blame him. Smiling, she figured he must be hiding. What a tease! He probably knew she was bore to and started a game of hide-and-seek! He was such a nice guy...

Walking around, she passed the bathroom at one point. She snickered a little at what Iskall had previously said. He must've felt so comfortable with her and trusted her so much to say that!! So sighed as she checked the room and kept walking.

Eventually, she decided on just baiting him with Swedish Fish. She opened the pantry, but was gifted an Iskall. I mean, she wasn't gonna argue..

But in some seriousness, what was he doing? "Iskall?" She questioned.

He just said something like 'Uhhh' and hid- Oh! She grabbed his arm- Not his hand but she didn't wanna push it- And easily pulled his arm out.

She took one look at what it was and arranged them neatly so they were better-dispersed. She smiled up at him. "They're so pretty... Are they for me...?"Silently, she wished they were..

She could feel her hopes rising- This was it! They'd be for her and he'd ask her out and "Uhm... No..? They're for my uh... Crush.."

"Oh..." She blinked a moment, needing to re-hear the words in her head. It.. they..

Not her....

He checked the time or something. She didn't care though.. He didn't care..

"I- uh... yeah.." Sparing a glance at him, she quietly asked a question that may just kill her.. "Are you-... you going on a date with her soon..?"

She tried not to draw back as he opened his mouth to speak. Please don't say yes, please don't say yes, please don't say-

"Nope!" He said with a smile. She relaxed and smiled, then remembered him checking the time earlier. "Do you have to go though?"

He nodded. "Mhmm..!"

Not the answer she wanted but it was still an answer.. And still another chance to listen to his voice!

"Well uh, bye then?" She said, secretly dying becuase she hated telling him 'bye.'

"Bye Stress-" He stopped his sentence and smile, seeming to debate something. She watched curiously before he finally spoke, "Hey Stress..?"

"Hmm...?"

"Uh.. You wanna get coffee Wednesday..?"

Did he just!? He did! She nearly screamed in glee, but he blurted on some nonsense. "I gotta be at work by like 9:30 and know that you wake up early sometimes and all and just figured since I'd be up to we could try and kill some time and all and I'm sorry you don't have to if-"

"Of course!!" He was an idiot. Of course she'd say yes! Why would she say no?  "So I'll come rescue you at.. eight..?"

Stress smiled and happily nodded, Iskall smiling in return. "Alright! It's a da-" Oh man. Oh man oh man OH MAN! He was gonna ask her! Wait! What if Stress was the 'her?!' Oh my- "A dayyyyyyyyyyy. It's a day!"

Oh... He wasn't... oh..

She let out a small breath of disappointment and nodded sadly.. "Cya then?" He nodded. "Cya then!"

She sighed, and muttered a quiet 'tuh' under her breath. He almost said it.. But he must not have wanted to.

She walked out of the pantry and sighed. Day-tuh, date. Why couldn't it just be a date.. She could've asked him- Told him if she had wanted to, but alas, these words remained unspoken.

---------\

It was Monday.

Iskall sighed as he sunk onto his couch. It was Monday, and he asked Stress to coffee Wednesday! That was about 48 hours! Give or take becuase current time! 2 days! 2,880 minutes! 17,200 seconds!

Now 17,199 seconds!

He leant over as he puked out some more flowers. He was doomed... He groaned and sat there, wasting his life away like all those impeccable teens who sit all day on the couch and their beds, playing video games and only getting up when the old pizza from the couch ran out or if they needed to take a pee becuase they drank all the soda. (Sound familiar?)

And then it was Tuesday. 11:03 am to be exact. Iskall coughed up some more flowers and looked at the floor and couch. You'd think that a giant flower monster took a nice old poop in the room.

He felt a small buzz in his pocket- A message. Quickly, he opened it. Sure, it may have been Grian, but for once it wasn't a meme so it must be something important. (We're also leaving out how he noticed Stress's name too.)

<——!!!DON'T RESPOND!!!——>

Stress.

What about her?

I hear y'all are going for cOfFeE

no..

Yeah I hear. From the air vent.

What even r u
The thing they based 'Gremlins' off of
Satin himself
Or that one imposter from Among Us who always vents

Don't assume my best friends gender!
Geez you people and assuming the devil's a dude..
But I'll forgive u bc the Among Us reference

Is he?

Can't say

Lol whatever
But what about Stress tho?

Hmm. Someone's antsy.
Friday.

And?

#MayormaynothavetoldMumboaboutStess

GRIAN!

#Wemayormaynotbeplanningsomething

WHAT DID U DO

#Hopeyoulikeamusementparks

...
wut

So me and Mumbo r gonna build an amusement park!
Me builds him smarty ppl stuffs
Bam! Ferris wheel and roller coaster and all that shazam

why

For y'alls iZzA-dAytE

*it's a date

And u just agreed so have fun lover-boy!

Well.. How do I ask!?

Figure it out

HOW

A note?

I hate u

Friday
I'll send u the coords :)

there's a reason ur named don't respond

there's a reason ur still single
________________________________________________________________________________

Iskall sighed as he closed the messages. Grian was a pain but if anyone told Grian that Iskall did occasionally appreciate him, that someone would die.

The day seemed to drag as the clouds sat over-casted and dull, stretching their forms out to move ever-so-slowly. The birds lessened their chirping as the world seemed to slow and stop, all in order to watch this grown man sulk around, fearing the day to come. He mentally laughed and kicked himself.

And here he was, supposed to ask her to go with him Friday..

---------\

Life was freaking amazing!

The sun was shining brightly, birds were going at there chirping and the sky was full of light! Flowers were springing and the world was just a a happy peace!

And deep within the walls of a bathroom, in front of the mirror, Stress was happily brushing her hair and singing some song. Today was the day! She perked up quite a bit and made some final adjustments to anything she could. She was in her normal shirt, cardigan and shorts, but still! Couldn't hurt to help where she could! She took one last look in the mirror and frowned..

So many little imperfections...

She sighed and leant over the counter, using some light make-up to try and fix nothing but the mistakes her nervousness and self-doubt caused. She stopped after a couple minutes and did another look-over.

Eh.

Maybe if she just-

Ding dong!

"Knock knock!" She heard him say. She sighed and smiled a little. He wasn't gonna judge her... Right..?

The bell rang again and she hurried to open the door. "Uhhh h-heeeyyyy Iskall..!" She jittery half-smiled. He smiled. "Hey Stress! You look-" He paused as he looked at her, a clear frown evident on his face.

Oh no... She looked like a fool didn't she!? Why did she even.. Urgh! Stupid stupid stupid!

She reddened a little and looked down, stammering. "I- I- I uhh... uhhh. I-.. Bu-... Uh-.."

Iskall still looked at her, an emotion- Disappointment- On his face. "Stress...?"

She didn't say anything for a response. He grabbed her hand and dragged her into the bathroom and she gave him a confused look. Iskall sighed. "Close your eyes Stress."

She nodded and did as told, wincing slightly at the feeling of something mildly damp covering her face. "Iskall...?"

"Yeah?"

"What's that..?"

He carefully pulled it away and held up a washcloth. "It's a washcloth."

Stress looked at him and could feel herself pale. Her makeup...

"W-why.....?" Stress quietly questioned. She felt so exposed right now.. That was the only real comfort she had in this situation.. Normally she never used it but right now, with Iskall staring at her, it was like she could feel every every single imperfection being highlighted and flashing like a light, drawing all attention... Shamefully, she looked down.

His frown however, deepened. He tilted her head up and forced her to face him- Not like he could fix the fact she diverted her gaze.

He slowly leant forward, almost so they were mere inches apart. "Stress?" His voice was soft and gentle. "Hey look at me ok?"

She shook her head and he sighed. "Stress. Look at me."

She debated her options a moment. At least she got to look at Iskall.. Slowly, Stress rose her head and eyes to meet his, and her voice was just a whisper. "...Yes..?

He gently smiled and looked at her. "You don't need any of that. You're beautiful without it.."

She stopped and looked at him. Her cheeks flushed red but she couldn't look away. Did he just... Say that she...

He warmly smiled at her and she returned it. Time seemed to slow as neither realized how much closer they had gotten. Stress blinked twice at how close they were.. Almost-

Iskall cleared his throat and quickly took a step back. "So uh.. we should get going.." Stress nodded. "Right.. right.."

---------\

Iskall slowly drew his finger to the bell and pressed- No going back now.

He smiled a little. "Knocks knock!" He rung the bell again. Wait was that to many times. Or to little!? Wait what if-

The door opened to a Stress. Best. Door. EVER!

"Uhhh h-heeeyyyy Iskall..!" He could tell she was nervous just by her smile. He laughed to himself becuase so was he. He smiled a little at her behavior- It was cute. She was too though "Hey Stress! You look-" He stopped as he noticed something on her- Makeup.

She didn't need that....

She looked down and began stammering. "I- I- I uhh... uhhh. I-.. Bu-... Uh-.." He looked at her a moment, disappointed in himself. Was he the reason she felt she needed it...?.

"Stress...?"

When she didn't respond, he grabbed her hand and dragged her into the bathroom, ignoring her confused look. He sighed. "Close your eyes Stress."

After she had, he wet a cloth a little and gently wiped it over her face, brushing off the makeup.

"Iskall...?"

"Yeah?"

"What's that..?"

He smiled a little and pulled his hand back, holding up the cloth. "It's a washcloth."

Stress looked at him and paled a little

"W-why.....?" Stress quietly asked as she looked down.

Why? She didn't need that! Did she feel bad without it..? Stress hadn't worn it before..

Carefully, he tilted her head up, trying not to frown as she looked away. Slowly, he leant forward to make a point, and used his softest tone. "Stress?" He waited a moment. "Hey look at me ok?"

He sighed as she shook her head. "Stress. Look at me." He used a firmer tone- She needed to know she didn't need that. It broke his heart to think she thought she did. He looked at her and finally she seemed to let up and look up. "...Yes..?

He gently smiled. "You don't need any of that. You're beautiful without it.." And he meant it. She really didn't need it. She was beautiful without it.

He smiled at her as she went a shade of reddish-pink. It brought out her eyes.. Those were like little prized gems. A small strand of hair fell over her face and she was still beautiful. He noticed her looking up at them and- Oh...

They were close... really close... Like, close close..

No! Nope! Ha! Not today! Nope nope nope! He quickly cleared his throat and took a step back. "So uh.. we should get going.." Stress nodded. "Right.. right.."

---------\

By the time they had arrived, Iskall was half-listening to Stress's blabbering and nodding along. Ok, so it may seem sorta rude, but he already knew it all! Not that he stalked her.. He just.. Maybe sorta kinda always took the time to detour her direction.. Just to make sure everything was ok though!!

Iskall opened the door once they had got there and Stress smiled. She stopped a moment before grabbing Iskall's hand, basically dragging him into the place.

He went to pull away becuase of the indubious feeling of rising flowers but he didn't- A certain someone's smile gave him the inability to as he tried to hold down the flowers. Once they got to the front though, she let go. Iskall couldn't have been more disappointed yet relieved- It's quite funny how love works.

Stress looked over at him. "What should I get?" He shrugged and smiled playfully, easily telling her what she should get. Stress blinked. "That's.... my favorite order!" She smiled and Iskall laughed. "I know!" Iskall playfully nudged her and she laughed while nudging him back. Inside though, she was dying!

That little chirpy voice in her head kept screaming all sing-songy. Cuz' he knew her order! He knew her order! He knew her order! Wait did he stalk her.... No, he just had paid attention.. Oh gosh! He paid attent-

A voice snapped her from her thoughts. "Earth to Stress? You alive in there?" She paused then accepted the coffee Iskall was handing her. "Uh sorry sorry! I was thinkin..?"

Iskall smirked and batted his eyes. "About meeeee?"

Yes. "No!" Stress half smiled. "Erm, sorry. You wish!"

Yes. Yes I do. Iskall thought. Instead, he laughed. "I'm just joking Stress!" She smiled and nodded. "Thanks for the coffee again by the way.."

He nodded. "Of course!" He went to smile at her, but got caught in her smile. Slowly, he felt the flowers rising in the back of his throat. He coughed a little into his hand and looked at it. Quickly, he hid the leaf and the small dandelion behind his back. "Stress I ah-"

Again, he coughed into, but harder. Stress, her features laced in concern, quickly asked. "Are you ok??"

He nodded and stumbled out something inaudible. "I- uh...-" He coughed again. "-Got to-" Another cough, another flower, "-GO!"

"Wh-"

Iskall erupted into a minor coughing fit and was out of there within seconds, leaving behind a confused Stress. It pained him to see the look on her face, but he knew it would hurt more to hear her rejections- So he left.

---------\

She did something wrong didn't she.. Of course she did! She smiled to much didn't she?! No.. She probably thought aloud.. No he would've never spoken to her again if he had heard her out in the past.. Stupid, stupid, stupid Stress. Her one shot and she blew it-

New message: Iskall

Sucking in a breath through her teeth, she braced herself for the worst.

<——!Iskall!——>

Stress I am SO SORRY!
|• • • •|
________________________________________________________________________________

She waited anxiously as he typed..

1 minute..

He was probably blaming her.

2 minutes.

Yeah he hated her.

3 minutes..!?

Did she seriously get him this mad!?

3.5 minutes!

She probab-

<——!Iskall!——>

Stress I am SO SORRY!
Please please please let me make it up to you! I didn't mean
to leave so suddenly but something... came up..! I'm sorry!
I didn't expect it and I apologize and I know your probably
mad so if you don't respond that's ok I get it! Just please
know I really want to make it up to you somehow (that is if your not mad..)
Stress?
I'm sorry..
________________________________________________________________________________

She smiled a little as the messages of apologies kept coming in. He cared..

New message: Iskall: Stress I'm sorry!

He's being friendly. Stop being stupid.

New message: Iskall: Stress please respond!
New message: Iskall: I didn't mean anything by it!! Let me make up for it!

"Yeah your right.." She muttered. She probably was, but-

New message: Iskall: Stressy...!
New message: Iskall: Hello?

-He still he gave a care and that mattered! She waited a moment, not responding and simply enjoying the messages-

New message: Iskall: STRESS PLEASE JUST LET ME KNOW YOU SEE THIS! LEAVE ME ON READ FOR ALL I CARE!

It was started to lag now..

New message: Iskall: READ! I AM ASKING TO BE LEFT ON READ!
New message: Iskall: I JUST WANT SOME ACKNOWLEDGEMNT!
New message: Iskall: HATE ME! IDC! JUST DO SOMETHING!

She chuckled to herself at just how far he was taking it.. In a way it was kinda sweet.. She smiled as she responded.

<——!Iskall!——>

READ! I AM ASKING TO BE LEFT ON READ!
I JUST WANT SOME ACKNOWLEDGEMNT!
HATE ME! IDC! JUST DO SOMETHING!

I could never hate you!

OH THANK DEAR LORD YOUR ALIVE

I am?

...
Well I got a response so I know I must be in heaven..

Yet I'M the one talking to YOU!

So you forgive me...?

Ofc!
I mean.. you DID say you'd make it up to me tho..

Uh...
I'll pick you up tonight @6 ok??

Ok...?
Do I get a hint?

Uh..
You don't need to wear makeup becuase one, we're the only people.
And two, you don't need it

Thanks..

It's tru
K I gotta get! Bye Stressy!

Bye Iskall!
________________________________________________________________________________

Her heart was all sorta of nuts, and she wouldn't have denied it if someone said she was drooling. Well... This was going to be interesting..

---------\

He banged his head on the wall endlessly. It was nothing short of a miracle that it hadn't broke yet. Yet!

Why, oh why did he say tonight? Where, oh where had his brain gone!? Nervously, he messaged Grian.

<——!!!DON'T RESPOND!!!——>

Grian...

What did u do Iskall

Nothing!

U msgd me back.
U did something.
What wuzit

Uh..I told Stress..

U told her....?

I'd pick her up tonight for ditching today?

Ha! Idiot!

HELP ME!

Well..

WELL WHAT?!

I may or may not have expected u to screw up

Thx for the confidence

And finished the amusement park ferries wheel roller coaster thingy

...
Grian..

No need, I know I'm amazing

I-..

Stop being dramatic and praise me

I.... am grateful for ur existence..

THANK UNOW BYE ISKALLI need to go get Mumbo to appreciate my existence!

Good luck w/that..

S'cuze me.

Sry ur amazing bye

Better.

________________________________________________________________________________

He sighed as he droned his life away sitting on the couch and puking flowers. He could procrastinate right now.

---------\

"False!"

False shook her head and smiled, sinking down into her seat- Stress had called her over to yell in her face about the Iskall thing. "Yes, sTreSsY?"

Stress rolled her eyes and False snickered. "Keep rollin' your eyes and maybe you'll find a brain back there."

"Ouch!" Stress countered, throwing a hand over her heart. "I have a brain!" False nodded and made a 'hmm' noise. "Yet you can't see Iskall likes you."

Stress gagged and went red. "He- No!- Ha- H-he.. Wha.." False nodded. "Yep!" Stress shook her head and began her previous actions of tearing through all her already torn-through clothes. "No he doesn't..." She muttered. False barked a laughed and nodded. "Sure. Keep tellin' yourself that." She nodded. "I will..."

"False!" Stress jumped up and held something up. "Wha-"

"Hard pass."

"Really...?"

"Yep."

Stress mumbled and began searching again. False sighed and began tapping away.

"False ya gotta help me here...." Stress grumbled. False nodded. "I am." Then, the blonde walked over, picked out jeans and a white sweatshirt and handed it to her. "Here."

Stress laughed and shook her head. "No way!"

"But," False countered, "I messaged Iskall-"

"You did what?!" Stress looked at her like she was a madman.

"-I messaged Iskall. And he said that it'd be cold and to wear something causal. It's not anything fancy."

Stress nodded. "You still messaged him.." False shrugged. "And yet I figured out your issue. I'll see ya later Stress, I gotta go stop Etho from using my base as a TNT stock-hold."

Stress grabbed her arm. "Don't go! I need you! What am I going to do!?" False laughed as she quickly made a quick-escape out the door. "DON'T MESS UP!"

Stress sighed and mumbled incoherent nonsense. Don't mess up.. Yeah right.

---------\

Did he have to knock? If so how many times... Or is the doorbell the better option? What about both? Would that wor-

Before he could process, his fist was against the door and the door was being opened. Stress smiled. "Hey Iskall!" He smiled sheepishly. "H-hey Stress..!" He felt so out of place next to her. There she was, in a white sweatshirt and jeans that she probably randomly chose, and curled hair looking nothing short of stunning. "You uh.. You look nice.."

Stress smiled. "You do too!"

He did too! He stupidly smiled. "You ready?" She nodded and stood there a moment, clearly thinking. "Stress...?" Nothing. He tried again. "Stress??"

She blinked. "Hm? What? Yeah?" He laughed. "Ya zoned out." She half shrugged and seemed to come to a decision. "Sorry, let's go!" Quickly, she grabbed his hand and smiled. He went bright red and weakly smiled. "Ah- right.." He slowly nodded and began walking to the coordinates Grian had sent. This better not be a prank...

And it wasn't.

It was.. beautiful. Grian and Mumbo really must have worked hard on it. It had the sparkly lights, the happy music, and all the fun rides, each one decorated with all the lights and colors. The smell of deep fry and junk food filled the air. Iskall smiled at Stress, who was looking around and admiring the place. "Like it....?"

She nodded and smiled. "It's.. amazing! How did you even do it? I've never seen this here before! Heck! It wasn't even here yesterday!"

Iskall laughed and rubbed the back of his neck, instantly feeling the emptiness now in his hand. "Well.. uh.."

Stress paused. "Did you do this for me...?!"

He slowly nodded. "I- Uh, I mean Grian and Mumbo-"

He shut up feeling Stress crush him in a hug. He smiled and hugged her back. "Thank you thank you thank you!" He laughed again. "Of cou- WOAH!"

He followed Stress as she suddenly began dragging him around the whole space, admiring just about everything about it. The wood had a fresh white painted coat, the lights were sparkly and bright, music was coming from speakers- And, oh! The Ferris Wheel! There were so many pretty carts..

Iskall laughed as he listened to her droning on and on about it.

"Here!" He said, handing her some cotton candy. She smiled. "Aaaaaa thank you!" He laughed and nodded, going back to being her personal pet as she dragged him along.

He had to be careful though- He'd already had some close calls in front of her, barely escaping with either a restroom emergency (very common lately,) getting food, thinking he saw something, and hiding.

Suddenly, Stress stopped in front of the Ferris Wheel and grinned at Iskall. "This next??" He shook his head and lightly smiled. "I'm surprised you didn't say the roller coaster for the..." He mumbled for a moment before picking back up, "For the eleventh time." She held up her hands and laughed. "Hey not my fault it was fun! Now either it'll be the twelfth time or the Ferris Wheel!"

Iskall smiled as he looked over the control panel- Which, thanks to Mumbo, was self-operating. "Once, twice, five or ten times around?"

Stress pondered a moment before smiling. "Well how fast can we go...?"

Iskall shrugged. "Wanna see?" Stress nodded and he flicked the 'demo' button. A small piece of paper fell out and he quickly read it.

'The number you pick isn't just the number chances you get to go around Iskall'

Odd.. He sighed as he tucked it away and watched the Wheel. It went at a normal pace. Stress looked over. "How does it even know that everyone is out? I mean, like if someone got in last and it stopped correctly, the last person would be stuck on the top. How would it know if someone was on the top or not?"

Iskall shrugged and looked at it a moment. He pointed to a small observer. "I.. I guess that observes the amount of people going on.." Then he pointed to a small wire. "And that detects how many people leave..? So I guess the observer sends out some amount of something, and it resets when the wire detects that amount of people leaving?"

Stress nodded after a moment. "You're smart." He nodded. "A- uh.. LOOK UNICORN!"

Stress whipped around. "WHERE!?"

Iskall didn't respond as he quickly puked his compliment-introduced flowers into a bush and straightened back up. "Oh uh, sorry ya missed it Stress."

She solemnly nodded in a way only she could manage over something like that before smiling again. "Three times???"

Iskall nodded as he flipped the switch. Another paper fell out and he quickly grabbed it before ushering him and Stress into a cart. While she was busy looking over everything, he read the paper.

'Three chances'

He flipped it around. Nothing. He looked at it again, slightly disappointed that it hadn't changed or something.

'Three chances'

Was it related to the other paper? He read the other one again.

The number you pick isn't just the number chances you get to go around Iskall'

Maybe...? He read the second letter a third time, and it still said, 'Three chances.' He sighed as he looked around for sight of anything, but it was him and- Oh. Him and Stress. He re-read the papers again.

Three times wasn't just the rounds he'd go on the Wheel, it was the chances he had to confess..

Slowly, he felt the flowers rise up as the Ferris Wheel lowered for the second time. He adjusted his collar, easily knowing his neck and face were probably red. He could hold it off just a lap more right?! Right! He had t-

"Iskall?" Stress quietly asked. Oh no..

"Uh.. yes?"

She smiled as she scooted closer and rested her head onto his shoulder. "Thanks for tonight.."

He slowly nodded, stiff as a board. Holy-

"O-of course.. I messed up with the coffee so y-yeah.."

"Iskall?"

"Hm...?!"

She smiled a little and looked up at him. "I thought the coffee was perfect.."

They were almost at the top.. Just over half a round le-

A loud creaking noise whirred out as the coaster stopped, right at the very top. Oh no.. He half smiled, really desperate to get out of the situation now. "You did?"

She nodded, seeming unaffected by the situation, "Just like right now." And with that, she went silent. Maybe he could hold off if she didn't say anything-

"Iskall...?" Her tone was quieter, more careful and desperate almost. This was not helping..!

"Yes..?"

He wasn't prepared for her question. There was no way he was ready. How was he supposed to be ready!? Who just asks that! Ok, granted, he almost did once or twice or ten times, but he didn't! So why did she!? I mean, who just goes-

"Iskall, do you.. do you like me...?"

He sat there dead quiet. Everything inside him yearned to say yes, but something inside him just wouldn't let him. It was holding him down in denial, convincing him of nothing besides Stress hating him and not liking him back. Logic couldn't help him now. He looked down at her.

She had a calm complexion and was looking out. But he saw something- Fear. She was scared. Scared he.. wouldn't..? He wouldn't like her. He would've laughed at that. Of course he did! Slowly, she looked over to him, and he could see the uneasiness in her eyes. He wanted to say yes, he really did. But he couldn't.

Stress watched as he ripped away from her and leant over the side, making some noise. She too, quickly peeked over to see what happened, and Iskall realllllyyyy wished she didn't- Becuase it was happening.

He began puking up the flowers- A rainbow of them.

He was basically puking a rainbow and putting the skittles AD to shame.

Flowers of all sorts- Daisies, roses, poppies, violets, sunflowers, alliums and more. They were all coming out of his throat.

Stress stared at him, wide eyed from the seat next to him. He never heard what she said because he was to busy staring. Staring at the ground far, far, below their seats on the roller coaster. The flowers were already down there, and there was no way Stress liked him. She didn't like him. She never could and never would. He ignored whatever Stress was saying and looked at the fallen flowers- The only thing that was missing, was him.

"ISKALL!?-"

He whipped around at the harsh, HARSH slap to the cheek she had delivered. She gripped his jaw and looked at him. He yelped. "What was that for!?"

"The heck were you thinking Iskall!?"

He yanked away as another round came up before she forced him to look at her again. "What. Were. You. Thinking."

He shrugged and and said nothing in embarrassment. She glowered. "You know I know those are my favorite flowers right."

He nodded and mumbled. "I know... they're all your favorites.."

She nodded then spoke in a quieter and more gentle tone. "Did you think I didn't like you...?"

Slowly, he nodded. "I-" He stopped short at her laughter and looked confused. "Iskall! Ya idiot! Of course I like ya! I have for awhile!"

He sat there a moment, slowly smiling as he felt the flowers die down and something lift in his heart. "You- you like me...?"

She nodded and smiled. "I do, and you like me? Right....?" Some nervousness laced her voice still. He smiled, lightly laughed and shook his head. "No?"

Her face fell and she went to say something before he smiled and nodded. "Yes Stress, I like you too." She smiled in relief and nearly knocked him out of the cart in a hug. He laughed and tightly hugged her too.

Now, that just left one issue- Figuring out how to tell her just how much he cared.