26th January

I awake to the buzz of my phone. Groaning, I grab it from the side, putting my glasses on to see past the morning brightness of the screen. I squint slightly, ignoring the sleep in my eyes whilst trying to read.

Voicemail: 2 new messages

Sighing in relief, I put my glasses back on the side, allowing the messages to play.

"Hey Tyler! Are you free after lunch? Cassie's coming over later to practise the rest of our song, and I don't want to leave you out! See you!"

"TYLER, HI! I'M GOING TO CRIMSON'S FOR BAND PRACTISE LATER, DO YOU WANT TO COME TOO? WE COULD EVEN HELP YOU LEARN HOW TO PLAY YOUR PAN FLUTE!"

I giggle, and start getting dressed. It's a bit too early for it, but I head downstairs to make myself breakfast. Since it's a Saturday, Gúidea won't be awake for at least another hour. Browsing through the cupboards, I decide to make myself some corn flakes.

Looking in the fridge, I frown. There isn't enough milk left for a bowl of cereal. Sighing, I carefully pour my cereal back into the box. Scratching my head, I suddenly grin.

"I know! I can get breakfast at Puffet's!" I chirp to myself, giggling as I run back upstairs to grab my wallet.

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As I enter the tea room, I instantly smell the oven cooking up something delicious. A few monsters have already sat down, waiting for their morning tea. I smile, and walk up to the counter, ringing the bell. Eventaully, Puffet makes her way to the counter.

"Oh! Hello Tyler dear! It's been a while since you last visited! What can I get you?" She smiles, as one of her many arms pours some tea for a customer.

"Two croissants, one donut, and a cup of tea, please!" I chirp, listing the items on my hands.

"Would you like butter or jam on the croissants? What do you want in the donut? How many sugars? Want any milk?" She asks quickly, taking note with another pair of arms.

"Butter, strawberry jam, two, yes please." I giggle. Running the kitchen and front of house by yourself must be hardwork. Although, I guess having three sets of arms makes it easier.

Puffet goes back into the kitchen, and I vacantly look for a seat. However, I spot a familiar face in the corner near the window, sitting behind his own booth. I sigh, and walk over.

"What are you doing Impact?" I smirk, and Impact looks up at me from behind the small counter, grinning.

"Can't you read the sign?" He says, pointing towards the wall, where a piece of paper is pinned, "This is Impact's Totally Legal Business of Buying and Reselling Pokémon Cards. Can I interest you in anything?"

I raise my eyebrows at the exceedingly long name. Staring at the 'sign', I notice some small print underneath the name.

"For Double the Original Price, it says here. Impact, is that true? You know that's a scam, right? This shop isn't legal at all!" I grin, putting my hand on my hip playfully.

"It's the only way I stay in business, kid. 'Sides, Puffet says I can stay...as long as she gets at least a quarter of the revenue." He winks, making me chuckle slightly.

"I was just passing by to say hi, by the way. Maybe when you stop stealing people's money I'll think about it." I wink back. Impact grins wider.

"Aw, c'mon kid, don't guilt trip me! Anyway, do you even have any Pokémon cards?" He asks, bringing me to silence while I think. Then, I sigh.

"You got me. I...left them...at my sister's...before I fell."

Impact looks at me in surprise.

"Tyler, I didn't know you had a sister! Well, I mean, besides Gúidea. But still, why haven't you talked about her before?" He questions, slightly worried. I continue to smile again.

"Cynthia's not bad, don't worry. She's just a bit...quick to judge. That's why I couldn't stay with her. I was afraid she wouldn't allow me to see you guys!" I explain, before somebody taps me on the shoulder. I assume its' my waiter.

"Melody? I didn't know you worked here!" I chirp, as the grey skeleton shows me to my table.

"Hey Tyler, yeah I do. I'm saving money so I can move to the city when they finally let us!" She smiles, sitting down opposite to me. I notice she's wearing a pink apron with the words 'Puffet's Tea Room', along with her usual lavender scarf.

"By the way, Melody, I've been meaning to ask somebody for a while now. Uhm...Is the monster school ready yet?" I smile weakly, as Melody nods.

"Yeah! I've heard construction finishes next week. Both humans and monsters have worked really hard to make that school the best in town! I mean...it is the only in town...but you get what I mean. Why you ask?" She smiles, as I sip my tea.

"Oh...nothing. It's just I've heard so many great things about the school and all the cool lessons it teaches! There's a lot I still don't know about your kind, and as ambassador, I want to learn about it! But...they probably won't be accepting humans at the school, I guess." I explain sadly, Melody intrigued.

"Well I'm not entirely sure about that. School starts in September, so why not apply? I'm sure they'll make an expection for the ambassador!" She smiles, placing a hand on my shoulder. I smile back.

"Thanks for talking to me. You'd better get back to work." I grin, and Melody nods, going back to her waitress duties. Finishing my breakfast, I check my phone again.

11:23
Wednesday 26th January

I decide it's about time to go to Crimson's, so I go up to the counter and pay, leaving a tip for my waiter. As I leave, I text Guidea, since she's probably awake by now.

Had breakfast at Puffet's. Gonna hang with Crimson now, see you after lunch.
- Tyler

Gúidea instantly replies.

Okay. See you then!
- Gúidea

I suddenly remember something- or rather someone. Flowey hasn't seen the sun in a while, so it might be nice to bring him with me as...support? I don't know how he feels about music, especially with me playing it, but at least he'll enjoy hanging around with Castellar and Crimson. So I take a short detour towards our house.

"Oh! Tyler, I thought you were with Crimson! What happened?" Guidea exclaims as I walk in, confused. Halfway upstairs, I yell, "Nothing happened! I just thought it would be nice to bring Flowey out with me! And I need my pan flute!"

Guidea smiles at me as I leave again, now with the half-asleep Flowey in hands and my pan flute in my hoodie pocket.

I also found an old piece of Monster Candy from the underground in my pocket too, so I decide to suck on it for a while as I make my way towards Crimson's house. Some of the liquorice flavour still remains, even after around a year.

As I knock on the door decisevely, Flowey finally decides to wake up, and is clearly annoyed.

"Tyler, why did you have to interrupt my dream? That was the best dream I've had ever since I had control of the timeline!" He moans, clearly disappointed. It must have been a good dream, as I can tell he really wants to smile.

"What was this great dream then?" I respond, as I hear someone slowly walk up to the door. Flowey blushes, and looks up at me.

"I dreamt about me, you, Guidea, and Asgore. I think we were on a beach...and we were all really happy! I...actually felt happy, Tyler... but it wasn't real. I'll never feel love." He explains, sighing.

"Well, you seemed pretty happy about the dream itself. Doesn't that at least count?" I respond logically. Flowey shakes his head.

"It was just a dream." He sighs, before Crimson finally opens the door.

"Oh, Tyler, and Flowey too! Come in!" She grins, quicklty ushering us into her bedroom. Castellar is avidly writing more lyrics to her song, assumedly another verse. I decide to place Flowey on the windowsill, where he can get a good view. Crimson takes a seat next to me, as I take out my panflute.

"So! I happen to know how to play the pan flute! And by that I mean I just watched loads of tutorial videos last night!" Crimson chirps, clasping her hands together excitedly, and I giggle.

"What are you guys even doing? And since when did Tyler have a flute?" Flowey chastises, bringing the attention of the other two. Castellar smiles.

"HI FLOWERY! I DIDN'T NOTICE YOU WERE HERE! AND WE'RE....WELL, OUR BAND DOESN'T HAVE A NAME YET, BUT WE'RE GONNA SING A SONG I MADE!" Castellar shouts excitedly.

"Ugh, music? I have better things to worry about! Like how I'm trying to feel emotions right now?! Because I feel that's a lot more important right now than a stupid song!" He recoils, hissing. Crimson's eye twitches, whilst Castellar seems hurt.

"Flowey, please try to lighten up a bit. Your soul won't return quicker if you keep on stressing about it. Why don't you listen to our song? Who knows, it could help you! Listening to music always makes me happy!" I respond, as Flowey looks at me in surprise, and then rolls his eyes.

"Fine. Go ahead, play your stupid music. See if I care." He growls, crossing his leaves.

"Ahem...so Tyler, you see the 6 pipes right? From the left, the pipes are labelled from 1 to 6. In note form, that would be C, D, E, F, G and A. Got it?" Crimson clears her throat and explains, as I hold my pan flute out in front of me. She then walks back over to the piano, probably for a demonstration.

"I'll teach you the intro for Cassie's song today, alright? So..." Crimson explains, before playing out the intro.

"So, lets' start slow. The first few notes go C, G A C, G A F, G. Easy enough, right? Wanna try it?" She demonstrates, playing the notes as she says them. I look at my pan flute, and adjust the red band around it before reluctantly trying to play.

C, G A C, G A F, G!

"Hey Tyler, that was good!" Crimson cheers, and blush.

"Thanks...but it wan't as great as your piano skills. I know that." I sigh, before Crimson places a hand on my shoulder.

"Hey kid, don't worry. Nobody's perfect the first time, you're just a beginner after all. Thngs like learning an instrument take time and dedication. You can't just pick up an instrument and suddenly become the next Picasso, and that's okay!" She smiles, and I smirk.

"Crimson, Picasso was a painter, not a musician. But good analogy, anyway. Thanks." I chirp, as Crimson blushes.

"Well, I think that's enough practise for you. Why don't you sing along with Castellar today?" She offers, and I light up.

"Oh, really? That's so awesome!" I beam, as I sit back down next to Castellar, who is now holding Flowey in her lap.

"You ready to hear us make some music?" I grin at Flowey, as he grumbles again.

"I don't get it. You're not really 'making' anything."

"Well, not right now. But we're just about to start!" I chirp, as Castellar passes me the lyrics; I assume she knows them by heart.

As I hear Crimson start the intro, Cassie counts us in. Flowey is still frowning.

Every day, I imagine a future where I can be with you
In my hand is a pen that will write a poem of me and you
The ink flows down into a dark puddle
Just move your hand - write the way into his heart!
But in this world of infinite choices
What will it take just to find that special day?
What will it take just to find that special day?

This time, Crimson plays the ending, but differently, flowing into the next verse. It might be just me, but Flowey looks like he's humming along, almost.

Have I found everybody a fun assignment to do today?
When you're here, everything that we do is fun for them anyway
When I can't even read my own feelings
What good are words when a smile says it all?
And if this world won't write me an ending
What will it take just for me to have it all?

Crimson now plays a different finish from the original one, but ends with the same notes. I hear slow clapping, and smile.

"So did you like it, Flowey?" I giggle, Flowey quickly putting his leaves behind his back.

"W-What are you looking at?! I-I wasn't clapping...!" He denies, blushing. Crimson and Castellar giggle, and Flowey sighs again.

"Okay, fine. It was...decent." Flowey spits, too arrogant to admit how much he really liked it. I continue to giggle.

"Well Flowey, we bettee be off now! See you Cassie and Crimson!" I chirp, holding Flowey's pot close and waving goodbye.

"...You knew I was lying, didn't you?" Flowey admits, blushing slightly. I nod.

"I can read you like a book. I'll be sure to bring you along next time too, if you like?" I chirp, Flowey now deep in thought. He then nods.

"Yeah. That would be nice, Tyler."

It might just be me, but I think Flowey's soul grew back a little more.