"Hey, so, you remember that donut place you mentioned at the mall? …If you're up for it, I was wondering if you would like to go there on Saturday at 12?" Anon's question over the phone the other day still causes me to beam with delight.

He asked me out! On a date! Me, of all people!

I know this is our third date together, and a lot has happened since the second one, especially…

"I… love you Anon…"

"For the first time in this world, I truly feel like I'm not alone… I love you too, Stella."

I have never been happier in my entire life during that moment, that beautiful and tender moment with him.

Just thinking about that and how he's asked me to go out with him today causes butterflies to flutter in my stomach, making me feel like I'm floating on cloud nine, which reminds me…

I really have to find a nice outfit to wear, and fast!

I've been running in circles around my room for the past 15 minutes, looking for the perfect outfit to wear on our date! 

Where the heck is it?! I feel like a chicken with its head cut off just scrambling and my messy room trying to find the perfect outfit!

The past couple of times I've seen him, I've worn nothing but hoodies and graphic tees, childish crap! I mean… He's never said anything bad about that; he wouldn't be the type of person to judge me for it. After all, he likes anime too!

…Still, I just wanna look the best I can, not just for him but for myself as well…

Despite my determination and persistence, I still can't find that outfit I've been dying to wear on our date! That white cotton sweater with the black skirt, it was really cute! It must still be in the wash or something.

"Stella, tu es prête, ma chérie ? C'est presque l'heure de partir!" I hear my mother call out from the cracks of my door, reminding me of how little time I've got left.

"Almost ready, Mom! Just a minute!" I call out while trying to mask the desperation in my voice.

"Of course, my dear, I will be downstairs when you are ready!" I'm barely able to hear her footsteps grow quieter as the sound of my heartbeat begins to drown out any outside noises

Stupid! Stupid! C'mon Stella, you've had days to prepare for this! Why'd you have to ruin it at the last minute like always?! 

I lash out at myself as my room feels like it's beginning to close in, as if the weight of my failures is pushing it in to crush me. I fall to the floor as I succumb to the storm of negative emotions ravaging my head.

This is why no one ever liked you! You're nothing but a stupid, lazy, irresponsible spazz! You can't hold any friendships! You can't step outside without getting scared of a loud pop or a toy gun! 

My breathing becomes rapid as I can feel the tears ready to leave my eyes, threatening to ruin my newly applied makeup.

You're never gonna be good enough for him, Stella! You're nothing but a disappointment to your crush.

My crush who… asked me out…

I can feel my breaths becoming more controlled.

"Getting to spend this day together with you, it's the happiest I've been in a long time." Anon's words from our second date emerge from my memories

My crush, who's shown me kindness and understanding, offering companionship in a time when I've felt completely alone. 

I slowly lift myself off the ground, letting out a sniffle as I feel my lungs begin to relax, regaining a hold of the situation.

Despite having a broken leg and being recently attacked, my crush made the extra effort to come all the way over to my house. All to see if I was okay…

A smile forms on my lips, completely replacing the anxiety painted across it just moments ago. Taking a deep breath, I step towards my dresser, my hands reaching toward the middle right drawer,only to be hit by a wave of surprise.

Not at the fact that my backup outfit isn't where I thought it was, or something silly happened, like my favorite anime DVD magically appearing my drawer. …But how I was able to get myself under control like that… 

How did I even?... I've never been able to do that before! Maybe it…

As I try to wrap my brain around it, I shake my head to snap myself out of it.

No, we can worry about that later, Stella… Right now, we gotta get dressed! And thankfully, it's a lot warmer out than usual today.

Opening the middle drawer, my eyes spot the outfit in question, perfectly folded, waiting for such an opportunity!

I wonder if Anon will remember it.

"Au revoir, ma chérie! Message me or your father when you need to be picked up!" said the blond-haired Stego, waving from the passenger window as I close the door.

"Thank you, Mom! I love you so much!" I wave back at her as I watch the smile on her face grow. "Drive safe, okay?"

"I will, Darling. You and Anon stay safe, too, okay? I love you!" 

"I love you too!"

Her smile remains as she turns towards the driver's window, gazing at the passing cars as she's determining when it's safe for her to merge onto the road.

Or at least I think that's what she's doing. I kind of forgot all the rules of driving since it's been a year since I last practiced… It would be cool to learn how to drive as well as Mom, though. I could be like Takumi from that one old racing anime, Initi-

HONK

Crap! Shit! What was that?!

The sound of the outside world snaps me out of my trance.

I can feel the anxiety inside me rising after being violently pulled away from my thoughts.

Deep breathes Stella… You're gonna be okay. We just gotta wait for Anon now…

Turning away from the city streets, I see the colorfully painted sign in front of the large cafe.

Glory Hole Donuts

These are easily the best donuts in all of Volcadera Bluffs! Their selections live up to their name, for sure! Boston Cream with vanilla frosting!

Cinnamon Sugar Coated Jelly Donuts!

They've even got Crème brûlée styled donuts! With real burnt sugar coating serving as a glaze!

They truly are a glorious donut shop, although I'm still confused as to why Anon had such a problem with the name. I mean... it's supposed to represent what they serve. However, he didn't say why except when he mumbled something about 'destroying my innocence.'

Before I give it more thought, I feel a vibration emerge from my right pocket. That must be him!

I reach to grab my phone, lifting my phone closer to my eyes; I'm able to confirm my suspicions.

(ANON) Saturday 12:00 PM almost there, be there in bout 1 min

Awesome! He's almost here!

As I wait for him to arrive, I take a moment to lean against the street light to my right, my eyes analyzing all the scenery in front of me. Dinos, both young and old trek alongside the sidewalk, mingling and going about their day as they enjoy their weekend. Some of them enter stores, and others just take a moment to chat with one another as they enjoy the warm weather.

I have never seen any of these people before in my life, but just seeing them be able to just go out and enjoy life without a care in the world makes me happy. It makes me hopeful that I can one day have that too.

As I analyze the world around me, my eyes take notice of the group of people emerging from the bus that just stopped. I spot the first figure that emerges or rather waddles from the bus using a pair of crutches.

A bald human dressed in a green jacket with blue jeans, his lack of facial features being the most prominent.

Anon!

I feel the fluttering of wings in my stomach as the plates on my back twitch with delight. I begin to make my way toward my date, eager to be able to see him for the first time in days. 

"Anon! It's so good to see-" I stop in place as I take notice of his rather grim expression.

He's facing my direction, but his eyes seem to fixate on something on his right. I look to see where his eyes are pointed, only to see nothing but an empty bench.

It wasn't until now that I finally realized what was happening, and I feel bad for forgetting.

Remembering what he told me about how he's been… seeing people… The same people who died a couple of months ago, which explains why he looks like he's just seen a ghost.

"A-Anon? What's wrong?" I slowly approach him as the expression on his face becomes more disturbed. "It's me, Stella!"

However, the cogs finally turn as his head twitches, as if he's being woken up from a bad dream.

"Hu-what?" He mutters confusingly, his eyes finally meeting my own.

"Is… everything okay Anon?"

My question caused him to sigh as he adjusted his crutches and pulled himself together.

"Oh, uh yeah. Sorry about that, I was just uhh…"

How do I say this without sounding mean? C'mon, Stella!

"Were they visiting you again?" I ask as gently as possible, desperately trying not to come across as callous.

"Yeah…" He looks away for a moment.

You idiot! Now you made him feel bad!

"Oh… I'm sorry…" My eyes face the ground out of shame for my callous remark.

"Oh no, no, don't be at all!" His tone suddenly lights up as I feel the touch of a hand on my shoulder. "Sorry, it just comes and goes at times."

He's not… mad at me?

I see him sporting a smile on his face as his crutches rest under his free hand, his other hand trying to hold all his weight on one crutch.

"Anyways, you ready to hang out?"

He's not… he's not mad at me?! He's excited too!

"Absolutely! I can't wait for you to try it!" I beam with delight as my tail coils around my leg. "These donuts are to die for!"

Anon chuckles at my response, seemingly amused by my schoolgirl levels of glee.

"Sounds good! Let's go check out Glory Hole Donuts," his face slightly cringing after uttering the store’s name. "Let's see if they're as 'glorious' as you claim them to be."

I giggle in response. "They are! Believe me!" 

"I like your outfit, by the way. I uh… remember that one being your favorite back in school."

YES! He noticed!

"Awww, thank you!" I turn my head to the side in a poor attempt to hide my blush before facing him again. "I was hoping you would."

As I finished speaking, the two of us just left smiling at each other wordlessly, as if we'd placed each other in a trance. 

"...amisupposedtohugherorkisshernoworsomething?" he muttered under his breath as the look on his face became more nervous.

I can feel my cheeks turn red from his words, or rather his mumbling. Why does he have to be this cute?!

"I don't know…" I reply shyly yet sweetly. "Why don't you tell me?"

And before he's able to react further, I wrap my arms around him as my lips meet his own, melting us away in a sweet embrace, his lips finally fighting back against my own as we lock ourselves in a kiss.

After a couple of seconds, our lips finally parted, and I can see his eyes widen entirely and his face growing as red as a cherry. As I analyze his stunned response, I can feel myself begin to get nervous.

Oh no… Did I come across too strong? Did he not want to kiss just yet? Way to go, Stella…

…

"Uhhh… y-you too," he mutters as the slight smile returns to his lips.

My anxiety was now completely eclipsed by my uncontrollable giggling, laughing at the look on his face.

"You should have seen your face! Heheheheheh, you are just too cute!"

"Cute… Y-yeah…" Anon laughs nervously as he tries to find the right words. "Okay, let's uhh… Let's go now, yeah?"

"Okay! Sounds good!" I nod as the two of us begin to walk toward the entrance of Glory Hole Donuts.

Thankfully, the bus stop was only about thirty feet from the entrance, so we didn't have to walk that far. I can't imagine it's easy for Anon to walk right now, even with the crutches.

As we walk through the entrance, I hold the door open for him, eliciting a smile and a 'thank you' from him as we enter the cafe.

And as we step through the door, I'm hit with a blast of different sensations. 

The strong scent of yeast and other sweets invades my nostrils to an absurd degree as the cacophony of beeping, talking, and other noises in the restaurants make it difficult for me to hear my own thoughts.

My eyes barely catch Anon's concerned look as I gaze across the establishment, noticing how many people are actually here right now, both in the line in front of us and how all the seats in the cafe.

The number of people in such a small space makes my lungs feel smaller and smaller.

There's too many people here… There's…

No… No, you're okay, Stella… You're not in any danger.

I take a deep breath as my lungs begin to feel normal again.

No one's here to get you. Like you and Anon, they're all just trying to enjoy some yummy donuts on a Saturday afternoon. It's all going to be okay.

Taking another deep breath as I continue to reassure myself, I feel myself return to reality, no longer intimidated by the world around me.

"Uhh… You okay, Stella?"

I turn to see Anon looking at me with worry with a degree of surprise, surprised at my ability to calm myself down like that.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Sorry about that!" I reassure him. "Ready to order now?"

"Uh… Y-yeah, let's do it." Anon agrees as he almost trips over his words.

The two of us enter the queue as we wait to place our orders. Thankfully, it goes by relatively quickly. I always get anxious when the person in front of me always takes too long to order whenever I get takeout.

And before long, Anon and I are able to place our orders. I ordered a Creme Brulee donut and a nice cappuccino! Usually, anywhere I would go for something like a vanilla iced coffee, but the cappuccinos here are to die for! I especially love the little hearts they do with the foamed milk too.

"And I'll have a Coffee with one milk and a powdered-jelly donut, please." Anon addresses the human cashier in front of us.

Just a powdered-jelly donut? At a place like this? I suppose the choices here can be a little overwhelming; they certainly were for me the first time I came here! For the longest time, trying new foods was always a… challenge for me.

After Anon finished paying, the cashier politely gave us a sign with the number 32 and told us to take a seat at any available table, explaining that they'll bring the order to our table once ready.

Wait, I thought this place was full...

I look towards the seating area and find a booth by the window that's completely empty, almost as if it's calling Anon and me toward it.

Fate looks kindly upon us today.

I take Anon by the hand until I remember he needs both of them to use his crutches. Nice going, Stella.

He simply chuckles at my blunder, and I direct him toward the booth as the two of us make our way. Thankfully it's not too crowded, so neither of us has to squeeze through any crowds, although Anon is moving slower than I, careful not to take a wrong step and fall on the floor.

As we reach the table, I motion Anon to take whichever seat he likes more; he takes the one on the right and carefully lowers himself to the seat on his good leg as he rests his crutches on the side of the booth. I take the seat adjacent to his as we settle in and get comfortable.

However… Before the two of us acknowledge each other, I notice a strange expression on Anon's face emerging, the same expression from moments ago outside.

Fear, guilt, sorrow… Painted across his face as clear as day. However, his eyes are fixated on something outside in particular.

…or someone

I follow where his eyes are pointing, and an anxious feeling coming from my gut emerges as I do so. A part of me thought for a second that Trish somehow found us again and was back for revenge, but my fears subsided when I remembered the… struggles Anon told me he was having.

All I see when I look out the window is the city streets bustling with life with cars passing through.

A sympathetic expression forms on my face as I turn to face Anon. He's been there so much for me. The least I can do is try to do the same for him.

"Anon… Is everything okay?"

Anon snaps back to reality as the words leave my lips, once again caught off guard after being ripped from his own little world.

"O-oh uhh yeah, haha sorry about that." Anon chuckles as he forces a smile. "Just thought I saw uhh… Well, uhhh-"

"It's okay Anon; you don't have to hide anything. I'm here for you." I gently ask as I reach across the table, taking hold of his hand. "Was it… someone you knew?"

The false sense of nonchalance quickly fades from Anon, his shoulder drooping slightly after being caught in his white lie.

"Yeah…" He sighed with dejection. "It…. It was Naser."

I can't even imagine how horrible that must be for him to be constantly attacked by the spirits of the dead, judging and tormenting him for someone else’s actions.

"If you feel comfortable…Did you want to talk about it?" I gently ask.

The somber Human lowers his head, trying to muster up the strength to open up about the struggles that have been eating him up. The bags under his eyes seem less noticeable, but I can still sense a tremendous amount of turmoil remains. 

Anon's head rises as he clears his throat, preparing to speak.

"I've been…. Struggling a bit the past few days with… Well, everything."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"After your father dropped me off, I received a visit from an old acquaintance, Moe…"

The owner of Dino Moes?? What would he want with Anon?"

"Moe came to your door?"

"Yeah… he told me that he was the one who ordered Trish to kick my ass, but only because he was forced into doing so by Ripley… Fang and Naser's dad."

Anon begins to fidget with my hand as he tries to find the right words. 

"Turns out Trish was put in jail after she attacked us both, and Moe wanted to see if he could make peace between Ripley and me. But when we got there, he… didn't want anything to do with me. He even told me that his-"

Anon's eyes suddenly widen as he stops mid-sentence, followed by a sense of sorrow as if what he was about to say next was too painful to recall. 

"It's okay, Anon… You don't have to say anything else if you don't want to…" I gently pat his hand as our eyes make contact.

"B-but… After that night, my…. 'visitors,' shall we say, have been acting differently."

"Differently? In what way?" I ask, trying to understand his description.

Anon broke our eye contact as he gazed out the window. "Usually when they appear… they usually remind me of how I fucked up or… how I've hurt people."

A frown forms upon my lips. It hurts me to see Anon think like that. It wasn't his fault; none of it was!

"But… the past week, they've changed. They seem almost… depressed."

"Depressed? What do you mean?" I ask him to elaborate.

"When normally they would follow me and talk shit to me, now they're just… sad. Sometimes they'll appear and lament their shortcomings. Other times I've seen them in tears, crying about what happened or like now when Naser…"

His lips tightened, discomfort growing on his face like he was taking a bite out of a lemon.

"He was begging me… desperately crying out for me to save his sister."

Goodness… That must feel terrible for Anon to go through, being tormented by the pleas of lost souls despite knowing there's nothing else you could do.

"I'm so sorry… That sounds horrible." I console him, trying to prevent the tear from escaping my eye.

"It… Yeah… Thanks, Stella…" He somberly nods before noticing my reaction to his revelation. "W-wait, Stella, are you crying?"

Way to go, Stella. Now you're doing it in public again.

"O-oh no, sorry about that, it's-" I try to deflect, only to be interrupted by the tray of baked goods and beverages being placed in front of us.

"Here you go! Sorry about the wait!" The human server addressed us with a smile. "I hope you two enjoy!"

"Thank you! We will!" I smile back at her as she returns to the front counter, preparing for the next horde of customers.

I bring my attention back to the tray in front of us containing our order. On my side of the tray lies a plate with a beautifully crafted creme brulee donut.

Totemo Oishi...

I take a moment to admire its perfection, the burnt hardened sugar glazed across the top of the pastry, covering the custard-filled yeasty goodness in a caramelized blanket of heaven. I can feel my mouth just watering at the sight of it.

To the left of my plate, I notice steaming radiating from the mug as if it's beckoning me to it. My eyes spot the brown-colored foam, bubbling slightly at the surface as a white-colored heart floats above the surface. 

I will never understand how the baristas are able to pull that off, even with my knack for art!

Curious to see how Anon's order turned out, I moved my eyes to see the golden bun on his plate, powdered sugar covering the top as red jelly dripped ever so slightly out the side. I look up to see Anon entirely in awe of his donut, his eyes focused on it as if he's been entranced by someone dangling a pocket watch in front of his eyes. "....fucktheselookincredible" 

A giggle escaped my mouth after Anon mumbled his first impressions of the donuts. He took the words right out of my mouth.

"I told you, didn't I?" I stick my tongue out at him, playful

Anon's saddened expression is now replaced with playful annoyance as he lets out a sigh.

"...I said that out loud, didn't I?"

Amidst my giggling, I nod to him as he sighs again. I can hear him chuckle as he mutters 'of course' under his breath. 

This is probably the first time a donut has gotten me out of an awkward explanation!

Our table was silent for the next three minutes as we enjoyed the delectable culinary perfections in front of us.

After my final bite, I stare longingly at the white plate in front of me, containing nothing but a few specks of glaze and crumbs, and all I can do is mimic Anon's words in my head.

That was absolutely incredible…

The glaze's crunchy and sticky texture and the soft squishy yeast made my taste buds the happiest they've been all month! I took a moment to savor every bite I could, but now I wish I got two donuts!

Anon, on the other hand, gobbled his donut almost immediately. He must've really liked it! 

Although I remember how quickly he ate his Chinese food when he stayed for dinner the other night, we were a bit worried that Anon might not have enough to eat at home.

After we finished our donuts, I began telling him about how I'd been preparing for the Winter Solstice and explaining its connection to astrology and its effects on our spirits. I don't think he really knew what I was even talking about. I'm happy that he was still listening to what I have to say, even asking questions about it!

"So because the night is longer, certain zodiacs are more impacted by the Winter Solstice than others, right?"

He never seemed to take an interest in astrology before, but I'm glad I may have been able to help him open his soul to the wonders beyond!

Not long after, Anon asked me about Rosa and if I was still mad at her.

I remember Anon telling me over text that they met at the park. At first, I was really worried because I thought he… Thankfully it wasn't.

Apparently, after we got home from the mall, Rosa got really mad at Anon and blew up on him outside my house, but Rosa called him to the park to apologize for her actions, and she even opened up to him about her dad. I still remember how much I cried with her the first time she told me what had happened. I couldn't even imagine losing either of my parents!

But I could never stay mad at Rosa. It definitely frustrated me how she and my parents were monitoring my every move, treating me like a child that needed supervision. It made me feel like such a burden. But I understand why they did it, why both of them did it. They just wanted to protect me… If anything, I should apologize… 

I wanted to call her yesterday, tell her I'm sorry for how I acted and that I'm not mad about her spying on me. She's my sister, and there's nothing she can do to ever change that. 

But still I… I couldn't bring myself to do it, not yet, at least. What do I even say? How will she react to me calling her? Did I ruin things between us? How do I-

"Stella?" A masculine voice calls out, pulling me away from my thoughts. "Are… you doing okay? You seem a little quiet."

I return to the waking world as I acknowledge the concerned human boy awaiting my response.

"Oh, y-yeah! Sorry about that, I just got a little distracted, is all." I try to play it off. I don't want to ruin our date, not again.

"Are you sure? You can talk to me, Stella." Now he reaches out for my hands, caressing my scales with his smooth skin. "If it's too overwhelming in here with all the people and shit, we can step outside; it's no trouble at all."

He thinks I'm having another panic attack? I guess that makes sense how quiet I've been. But aside from earlier, I've actually been pretty calm. 

I'm actually surprised how quickly I got myself back together, both here and back at my house. 

"Stella?"

Right! He's waiting for me to say something.

"Yeah, I'd like that." I nod at him as a smile grows on his face. "There's a lot of cool spots to check out in this part of town!"

Anon shuffles himself out of the booth, grabbing his crutches while trying to balance on one foot. "Perfect! Sounds like a plan!" 

Following pursuit, I rise from the booth as I check my pockets and make sure I'm not leaving anything behind. Phone, wallet, keys, cards? All there!

And without further delay, Anon and I walk out of the cafe to enjoy the city streets.

For the next little while, Anon and I began to explore the city as we enjoyed our day together! Roaming the streets of Volcadera Bluffs as we visited all of the cool stores, our eyes came across all without any goal other than enjoying each other's company. 

And, of course, after scoring a couple of pretty nice finds from the shops, we found! 

We stumbled upon this store called 1UP Gaming that had all kinds of video games ranging from modern to retro. The earliest system I ever owned was a PachyStation 2, so I thought it was so cool to get an idea of what types of games were around back in the day. As much as I was enjoying myself, Anon was in heaven.

Contrasting the lost soul I saw almost a month ago, I now saw a kid in a candy store as he bounced from shelf to shelf, eager to see all the glorious and awesome games before his eyes!

And it wasn't just video games they had here. They had books, anime, and even those cool space tabletop games with the figurines you put together!

Needless to say, Anon and I both left the store with bags in our hands! I managed to find a pretty good deal on this game I've wanted to try for a while called FaR: Pachymata, a cute white sailor moon T-shirt, and even a plushie for Ghibli since I know how much she loves cuddling up with those things!

Anon only bought one thing there, but he was pretty happy as the cashier was helping him with his purchase; I think he got that new Rock Ring Eternal game for the Xrox? I'm not too familiar with Xrox or Rock Ring, I've never really been much of an FPS kind of girl, but I have heard a lot about it! I'll have to ask him more about it at some point.

I pretty much know all of the stores in this part of town! They've got pet shops, clothing shops, bookstores, convenience stores, and other cafes. They've even got a shop dedicated to occultism called the Heart of Arcana!

It's been forever since I've been! I wonder what kinds of new things they've got in stock, some new incense, new constellation guides, or maybe even!-

"Heh, you okay there, Stella?" 

Anon's amused question pulling me away from my own little world. I turned to my right to see him smiling at me, the same kind of smile someone would give when they see an adorable little puppy. 

"You seem pretty excited. I guess it's been a while since you've been to this Arcana Hearts, huh?" The bald Human inquires, still with a grin on his face.

Reminder to show him pictures of Ghibli as a puppy.

"It's called Heart of Arcana! Not Arcana Hearts." I correct him to see his eyes widen a little bit. Did I come across too strong? "S-sorry, I didn't mean to blow up."

The smile returns on Anon's face as he shrugs his shoulders. "Hey, don't apologize. I get it. Plus, it does seem like a pretty cool store and right up your alley too."

"Yeah…" I shyly respond before the enthusiasm returns to my voice. "But you're right! It has been a while since I've been here. I've done most of my astrology shopping online."

Anon gives me a sympathetic look as he knows exactly why I prefer to shop online. 

"Yeah… That's completely understandable, don't worry."

Oh no… I didn't make him sad, did I? C'mon, Stella! 

"It's okay, though! It's been so long since I've been. I'm excited to see what kind of new stuff they've got!" I smile at him as I express my anticipation.

My enthusiasm elicits a happy chuckle from Anon. "That's good to hear! Hopefully, they've got some good stuff."

With our resolve strengthened, the two of us make our way across the street toward the building, and the sign becomes more visible. 

The words "Heart of Arcana" are written in an ashen white font as an eye sits inside the 'o' in the title, as a pentagram symbol rests above the title. 

…I'm really glad Rosa isn't here to see me go into this store right now.

The two of us enter the building as our eyes are greeted with the sight of…

Good heavens…

This. Is….

THE BEST STORE EVER!!!!

They've got everything there! Crystals! Tarot Cards! Occult-themed artwork! THEY EVEN HAVE SPELL BOOKS TOO! I'M SO EXCITED I-

"...Holy shit, this store is awesome."

Wait, did he?!

I look towards Anon to see him briefly admiring the store's beauty before he notices me. His face turned bright red as embarrassment grew like a balloon.

"I… mumbled that, didn't I?"

I can't help but giggle despite how happy I am to hear about his newfound interest in the mystical arts.

"No, you said that out loud!" My confirmation causes Anon to sigh as his spaghetti has been thoroughly spilled.

I hope I'm using that phrase right; I remember hearing it a couple of times from my pen pal that I used to message on those anime forums. I haven't heard from him in a while; I hope he's been doing okay!

I look around the store with schoolgirl glee, appreciating the lovely collection of tarot cards that rested upon the display cases, the shelves lined with various crystals ranging from fluorite to obsidian; I have no idea what I want to get!

And then my eyes spot the most captivating relic that resided in this store.

My feet drag themselves to the display cabinet as if I'm a puppet controlled by an unknown force. Coming face to face with my quarry, I'm able to get a better view of this beautiful item. 

In front of me laid a beautiful crystal ball that glowed with a purple hue as it rested on a maroon wooden stand, silver accents lined around the stand as all of the zodiacs circled around it as if the very stars themselves powered it! After admiring its beautiful features, my eyes take notice of the price underneath the display case

Only $29.99? For a crystal ball as magnificent as this? That's an absolute steal. Of course, I'm gonna-

…Wait a minute. Mom gave me about 70 dollars, and I've spent…61 dollars already. 

I knew it was too good to be true…

A sad sigh escapes my mouth as I lament my decision to splurge at the video game store rather than save it for here. I mean, I didn't know what there was to get here anyways but still.

Anon seems to take notice of my melancholic aura and approaches me with a concerned look in his eyes.

"Hey, Stella… Is everything okay? You seem a little bummed out."

"Yeah… I just saw something really cool here and didn't realize I only had 9 dollars left."

"Oh, that sucks…" Anon sympathized with an aura of slight stoicism. "What was it you were looking it?"

I sadly point towards the display case, directing Anon's attention to the radiant glass orb.

"...hehehehehshewantsthebigball"

I can feel my cheeks turn red in embarrassment, annoyed at Anon's rather childish joke about my predicament.

"Wha- Hey! What's wrong with wanting such a beautiful piece of art?! I've always wanted an orb as beautiful as this one." I pout in protest, causing his face to match the hue of red on my face.

Merde… He didn't mean to say that.

"Oh, shit- Sorry… I didn't mean to do that, I was just joking Stella, I didn't mean to…" He trails off his words as he stares at the ground in shame. "H-how much is it?"

"Oh! The sign says it's about $29.99, but it's probably around $32 after tax."

"And you said you only have nine dollars left?" A gentle smile forms on Anon's lips. "Tell you what, how about I lend you 23 dollars so you can get it?"

He's… offering to help me buy it? 

I can feel my body floating as I swell with joy from Anon's offer. 

"So what do you say-"

POOMPF

Before Anon can finish his question, my arms wrap around his chest as my tail coils around his waist, pulling him into a tight hug while I giggle with glee.

"THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! YOU'RE THE BEST!" I repeat, not caring how much of a scene I'm making in the store.

"Ha ha ha ha. Of course, It's no problem at all!" He smiles as he gazes into my eyes, his expression succumbing to my infectious happiness. 

Those eyes… It's like they're compelling me forward like a magnet to steel. Who am I to deny that? I close my eyes as my lips swiftly meet his own, locking us in a sweet embrace.

We stay there for a couple of seconds, yet it feels like an eternity until Anon is the first to pull away. His usually pale skin now resembles that of a strawberry.

"Hi, there! Can I help you two?"

A voice interrupts our moment of silence, pulling us back to reality. Oh no… We made things awkward, didn't we? Our eyes meet the Triceratops employee to our left. He's standing there with an uncomfortable smile as he awaits our response.

Anon is the first to speak, his cheeks still rosy red. "O-oh shit, sorry about that! We were wondering if we could buy that purple crystal orb right there, please?" The flustered Human asks as he points toward the display case.

"Yeah, of course!" The cashier nods with a smile as he pulls out a set of keys.

 After fiddling around trying to find the right one, he sticks it inside the keyhole and turns it as the lock sings a mechanical tune, and lifts open the case as the crystalline ball is exposed to the store's air.

"I can help you two right there at the front!" The cashier gestures towards the front of the store towards the table containing a line of computers and cash registers.

I smile at him as the two of us walk toward the checkout.

"Sounds good. Thank you so muc- SHIT" '

CLACK

Anon's expression of gratitude is swiftly cut off as he accidentally drops his left crutch to the ground, as he tries to catch himself in a moment of fear. However, his hand freezes in place as he lets it fall to the ground, the expression on his face turning from fear to surprise as his eyes point toward his leg.

He's able to stand on his left leg without a crutch, and there's no grunts of pain as he's standing completely still. 

Just the sound of his breathing as he gazes in shock. Anon's head turns towards me, his mouth doesn't open, but his silent expression tells a thousand words.

What? I can walk again?!

But how?!

Are you seeing this, Stella?!

"A-Anon! Are you okay?" 

A few seconds pass as he gazes towards his leg in bewilderment, adjusting his footing in the process.

"I… I think so…" Anon straightens his legs. "My leg it's… a bit sore, but I can… I can walk."

Despite sharing his surprise, the emotion inside me erupts into one of joy and excitement, happy for my b- friend that he's able to walk on his own.

"Oh my god! Anon! That's awesome!! You're okay!! I'm so glad you're okay!!" I wrap my arms around his waist, pulling him into a tight hug.

He's been in so much pain, and I can't imagine how hard it must have been to walk around with those crutches for months and months! How much he's had to constantly worry about where he's stepping or how excruciating one wrong move could be for him! I'm so glad he-

A muffled chuckle cuts off my inner monologue as he returns my embrace. "Thanks, Stella… Although I don't think I'm quite out of the woods yet."

Wait…

"Did I just say that out loud?..." I can feel myself light up with embarrassment as my blunder provides some humor to Anon at my expense.

"Yep." The Human answered bluntly before letting out another chuckle. "Usually, it's me that's doing the mumbling, trying to steal my thunder?"

His silly remark caused me to giggle a bit. "Mayyyyyybe."

"You're adorable." His lips curl into a tender smile as he gazes into my eyes

Like before, we stand there in silence for a good moment, smiling as we hold each other in our arms. I wish this moment could last forever. Eventually, Anon begins to lean in as he closes his eyes. I mirror his actions as I do the same, preparing to meet his lips as we-

"So… were you two ready to purchase?" The cashier awkwardly calls out to us, reminding us that we're out in the open.

Anon quickly pulls away as his cheeks turn red, this time with embarrassment.

"Shit! Uh… yeah, sorry about that. We're ready!"

Awwww, that seemed like it was going to be a very sweet moment. Why does society have to be so stingy with acts of affection in public? Oh well, nobody said we couldn’t continue this later.

Anon bends down slightly to pick up his crutches, exercising caution not to add pressure to his formerly injured leg. He still must be pretty nervous about hurting again. Without further delay, we make our way toward the cashier.

Once I have the crystal, the will of the stars will reveal itself before me!

"You're adorable."

Crap…

After leaving Heart of Arcana, we explored the streets some more until we came across a park in the center of one of the busier areas of town. It looks like everyone's getting in the festivities since Christmas is not too far away! 

Multi-colored lights are strung across the park's palm trees, and Christmas statues of snowmen and Santa Claws are set up for everyone to see and take pictures of. It's all so cool!

I've always loved Christmas, especially after learning the origins of Christmas! 

"Did you know that Christmas originated from a Germanic pagan celebration called Yule? It was a wonderful time of celebrations, gift exchanging, and spiritual reflection! Just like Christmas!" I enlighten my Human companion on the fascinating tale of the origins of the world's biggest holiday.

"Yeah… Cool.." A somber aura gripped his voice, his face frowning as he stared blankly into the distance.

Did I say something wrong? Oh no, I hope I haven't been annoying him too much! Although, come to think of it… I did notice he seemed a bit quiet when he found this park. Did something happen to him here?

"Hey… Is everything okay?" I ask him.

"Oh… Yeah, it's all okay... Sorry." Anon half-heartedly answered with a facade of nonchalance, but it didn't convince me.

"Are you sure? We can sit down on one of the benches and talk." I stop before him as I take hold of his soft, smooth hands. "O-only if you want to, of course."

The mask finally cracks as Anon finally lets out a defeated sigh. "Yeah, okay… I'd like that."

"Awesome, wanna sit over there?" I point towards the bench resting under a rather large tree, its branches remaining undecorated.

Anon nods before we walk towards the bench and take a seat. I shift myself, so I can make sure my tail has enough room.

A couple of seconds pass as we both observe our surroundings, neither of us having the strength to make the first move.

However, turning my head towards Anon, I see the melancholic look in his eyes. Something must really be bothering him. His forlorn demeanor gave me enough resolve to speak at long last.

"So what's wrong, Anon? You can talk to me." I reach out and take hold of his hand and interlock my fingers with his. "I'm here for you."

"Things… have been a little bit difficult lately." Anon directs his attention toward me. "This park, in particular, brought back some… Memories I would've preferred to stay buried, and it's been kind of bumming me out, along with some of the other shit I've been dealing with lately.

"What kind of… 'shit?'" I inquire, my tongue feeling strange after muttering that word since I don't often say bad words like that.

"Before I came to Volcadera Bluffs, my parents signed me up for a one-year agreement that started in January. My dad told me that I'm on my own when the lease is up." 

Anon turned his head, looking away as he stares into the distance "'Once the lease is done, Anon, either college or the service. I don't care which.'" He deepens his voice as he imitates his father, mockingly putting on a stern face."

"And… So your lease is ending soon, right?"

"Yeah… I'm pretty much screwed in a month or two." His eyes pointed toward the ground as his shoulders drooped. "The military wouldn't accept a mentally ill cripple like me, and my grades weren't good enough to get into any college, for that matter."

Hearing him in such low spirits makes my heart ache. Surely his parents aren't that cruel! But is it really my place to comment on such matters? I've barely heard him talk about his parents.

"But he can't just leave you out in the streets alone. I'm sure your parents love you!" I squeeze his hand.

My words caused Anon to shoot me a rather unpleasant look, not one of disdain towards me but simply bitterness.

"No, Stella… They really don't…"

Why did I say that? Oh no, great job Stella! Now he's just gonna think you're stupid for being so presumptuous.

"O-oh… I'm… s-sorry.." I shrink with embarrassment over my incorrect affirmation, causing Anon's expression to soften a bit.

"Sorry, it's just…" Anon struggles to speak as he tries to find the right approach. "It's complicated with them, I…"

"It's okay… You don't have to talk about them. How about we talk about something else?"

"Yeah… I'd like that if that's okay, sorry.." He rubs his neck with his free hand. 

I give him a supportive smile in an attempt to soothe his worries. "There's no need to apologize at all. I understand."

His expression of discomfort was now eclipsed by the smile forming on his lips. 

"Thanks, Stella. I promise I'll tell you about it another time." Anon softly confided before he gained a curious look in his eyes. "Although, there was something I've been meaning to ask you."

He wants to ask me something? Is he gonna ask me to be his girlfriend? I can feel myself getting excited at the prospect already!

"I understand that… what happened caused some issues, but was there anything you planned on doing after high school?"

What.

Awww… I was hoping his question would've been something more… romantic, but that's a good question.

The shooting it… scarred me, and it reopened a bunch of wounds that I thought I would never have to live through again. 

Seeing all of those people die… 

Losing my best friend…

For so long, my house was the only place I felt safe, and even then, I was a little bit on edge. Just stepping outside to get the mail was a big step on its own. When I hung out with Rosa for the first time in ages, Mama and Papa were so proud of me.

For a while, I didn't think anything after High School was even an option…

"It's okay…" Anon's supportive voice pulled me out of my own world. "I understand a lot has happened since that day. I'd imagine you'd put a hold on something like college or anything."

"Before the shooting…" My words caused a slight degree of surprise on Anon's face, probably not expecting me to even say the word 'shooting.' "I originally planned on studying Art and Animation at the University of Pangea.".

Now I'm the one who is staring into the distance as I'm forced to dig up a rather painful yet recent memory.

"But… For a while now, I didn't think that would ever come to be. For so long, I didn't know… anything really." Anon's grip around my hand tightens. "I didn't know what my future held or if I even had one, to begin with.

I found the dormant sadness that consumed me for months begin to rise to the surface, as I began to feel a small amount of tears well from my eyes.

"I searched for an answer for so long, trying to decipher the stars that held my fate, but I couldn't... I looked to the skies and saw nothing but darkness."

Anon offers a sympathetic look as his hand begins to caress my cheek, wiping away the tear from my cheek.

"Hey… Hey… It's okay, Stella. You do have a future, and I'd even say you have a bright destiny ahead too." Anon smiled as he tried to lift my spirits. "You are smart; you are kind, you are talented. You will find your way no matter what you choose to do.

He's been so kind to me, far kinder than I deserve.

…No…

Think more positively, Stella…

"Thank you, Anon. I needed to hear that…" I sniffle as my lips mimic his smile

If he can see so much potential and goodness inside me, then… Maybe I can find a way to see it too.

Our eyes remain locked for a few seconds, wordlessly lost in each other's gaze, the both of us grinning with love.

I was worried… If I said "I love you" to him too soon, if it was a 'spur of the moment.' type situation. I spent days thinking about it, but this moment right here?

It was all the reassurance I needed.

Anon adjusted himself and moved closer to me, placing an arm around my shoulder. Feeling safe in his presence, I lean into him, resting against his chest.

We stay there for about a good five minutes, not a single word being spoken by either of us, just simply enjoying each other's company as a warm, gentle wind blows through the park, rustling through the leaves and grasses on the ground.

That is until I had a question come to mind.

"Hey, Anon?"

"Yeah, what's up, Stella?"

"If you did decide to go to college, what did you wanna study?"

I look up from his chest to see the gears in Anon's head turn. The days behind us may have been dark for us, but surely he had some idea of his future.

"I mean… I thought engineering would be an interesting major. I remember making some pretty cool stuff in science class, like this one time I made a railgun. I figure it would've been a fun degree where I could just make cool shit like that all the time." 

I… hope he's not talking about an actual gun. I don't really know what a rail gun is, to begin with.

"But I mean, aside from that? I thought about sound design." He shrugs as his gaze returns to me.

"Sound design? You mean like my dad?!" My face lit up with surprise as I leaned up to face him at eye level. "That's so cool, Anon! I didn't know you were into that sort of thing!"

The bashful Human let out a chuckle at my excitement. "Well, I'm definitely nowhere near as skilled as your dad. I'm lacking the futuristic setup, but yeah. I played around with some programs here and there and there, but nothing too crazy."

"Still, I had no idea you were even into it! When did you start playing around with sound design?" My question caused a worried look to grow on Anon's face.

"I'm sorry!! Did I say something wrong?" I ask to defuse any annoyance I may have caused him.

"Oh! Nah, you didn't, don't worry. It's just that I…." He attempts to force the words out as he avoids my gaze. "Yeah, sorry! It was an old buddy back from Rock Bottom who taught me, you know... Nothing serious!"

He lets out a nervous chuckle as I see through his lie. Considering how caught off guard he was, it sounds like he came up with it on the spot.

I have a pretty good idea of who got him into it, so I can understand his hesitation.

"Anon… It's okay…" I take hold of his hand, gripping it gently. "I know how important Fang was to you. You can talk about it."

I watch the fake smile on his face morph into dejection as he's forced to come clean.

"Back in March… Fang invited me over to her place to study for midterms." He sighs, avoiding eye contact with a sense of shame. "But Fang had her eyes set on her guitar rather than the task at hand." The Human adjusts himself, placing both his feet on the ground while still holding my hand. 

Anon began to explain he found an interest in music, how Fang passed her guitar to Anon and taught him how to play, and how they would play together during their studies sessions; the answers on their study sheets remained unfilled. Apparently, he even did a little bit of the kind of work that Papa did with that old sound design program he mentioned.

"For a while now, I always kind of laughed at those who got so emotional over strumming together some strings on a piece of wood." He lets out a regretful chuckle. "But when I first saw how vulnerable Fang became in that moment, I get it now, and a part of me wanted to be able to create something as beautiful as that.."

From the way he spoke about those memories, the sense of melancholy in those eyes, memories, the truth is laid plain to see. 

He still misses her. 

Despite what she did and what she almost did to me, I can’t bring myself to blame him for that. Anon must've known her in a way few people did, perhaps better than her own family, for that matter. A brief flash of jealousy courses through my body, the image of her with Anon taunting my brain, and before I could react with envy.

I remember how much Sage's death destroyed me.

How for days, I refused to leave my room, unable and unwilling to face the world while blind to the people I still had in my life, those who I cherish more than anything.

Mama.

Papa.

Ghibli.

Rosa.

Anon...

They all knew how much I loved Sage and how close the two of us were. She was the sister I never had growing up. She was such a huge part of my life, and to have her ripped away from me in an instant?

It left me empty. The same way Rosa felt after her father died, or how Anon felt when Fang died too, despite what she did.

"Although… I haven't done anything like that in months, but I have been thinking about getting back into it. I figure it would be a cool hobby to pick up, but…" 

"But?”

"Every time I open the app on the computer, I just…”

His words trail off as he lets out a deep sigh, each word being a painful reminder.

Seeing the growing despondence on Anon's face, I take this moment to act by pulling him into a tight hug, the notion catching him off guard somewhat.

"It's okay Anon… It's okay…" I console him, my hand rubbing against his back. "I think you would be great at audio work."

"I'm sorry… I fucked things up again."

Surprised at his words, I move back a bit to look him in the eye, getting a better look at the remorseful look on his face that contrasts my confused expression.

"What do you mean? You didn't mess anything up at all!" I attempt to cheer him up with a smile. "I'm having an amazing day with you, Anon. It's always nice to spend time with you like this."

Anon turns away out of shame as he stares at the grass below us.

"I just don't wanna ruin any more of our dates, I want to be better so much, but in the end, I always feel like nothing more than a burden."

A Burden.

My heart aches at his description of himself. It's how I've seen myself for months. A feeling that is similar to that of drowning. No matter how hard you swim the surface, you are dragged below by the weight of your pain. 

I don't want anyone ever to feel that way about themselves.

I take hold of his shoulders, turning him to face me in the eyes. "Anon… You haven't ruined anything. The days I've spent with you have made me the happiest I've felt in a long time" My right hand caressed his cheek gently. 

"Besides, you're not a burden..."

A twinge of fear strikes my heart. I really hope I'm not overstepping.

"…You're my boyfriend."

And just like that, the forlorn aura that clouded Anon is overshadowed by the growing redness on his cheeks, his eyes widening with surprise.

"....doesthatmeanicancallhermygfnow…"

Oh my god, he did not just mumble that. Why does he have to be so cute?

"No." I bluntly reply.

A couple of seconds of the surprise on his face is replaced with confusion. However, my attempts to hide my laughter ends in failure.

"Oh man, the look on your face! You are just too adorable." I wipe away a tear before placing a hand back on his cheek. "Of course, you can…"

A smile forms on Anon's face as the two of us lean in to seal the deal with a kiss. Our lips suckle against one another, sending chills down my spine as we embrace.

Anon is the first to pull away as his lips curl up to reveal a tender smile. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"

"Funny, I was going to ask you the same thing."

The Human wraps his arms around me once more as I sink into his chest, wrapped in his warm embrace as we enjoy the warm autumn wind.

For so many moons, I felt trapped by my own fear, the traumas I've endured resurfacing as it turned me into a broken shell of a girl. Being reminded that I'm not alone in this storm puts me at ease. No…

It gives me hope… For the first time in a long time, I feel like things will truly get better… 

[POST-NOTES]
    Hey everyone!

    I wanted to thank you all for reading the newest chapter of Bad Apple! Now we are a good chunk of the way through, with only four more chapters left! How will they pan out? Will Anon find redemption? Will Stella find peace? Tune in on One Piece!

    Author Notes:
    - This chapter was definitely a bit trickier to write than the other ones due to it being written entirely through Stella's perspective, but I wanted to write it through her eyes to give the audience a better idea of how she continues to grow and such, the last time there was a chapter through her perspective was Chapter 6 (which was years before Bad Apple) so it was fun to be able to do that again taking everything she's been through since!
    - Originally, when I was structuring and planning Bad Apple, this chapter didn't exist until about three months ago when I decided that an additional chapter would be needed to help build Anon and Stella's relationship
    - When writing this chapter and then reading You Had Me From Hello by PumpkinBrain (check out his fics, they're incredible) I had no idea how similar the scene I wrote of Stella and Anon in the Occult shop was to one of the scenes in his fic, it was a funny coincidence, but I highly recommend checking out his work!
    - We haven't seen certain characters for awhile, but don't count them out just yet ;)

    Special Thanks to The Writer's Guild for helping me with any corrections and formatting too! Especially SomeStuff https://archiveofourown.org/users/tibicen
    He helped me a lot with the critique for this chapter! He is down to help other Snoot writers with critiques for their stories, you can get in touch with him by messaging him on Discord at SomeStuff#4517

    Thank you guys again! Be sure to follow my (new) twitter for more updates about Bad Apple and other possible Snoot related content! My handle is @ItsUmbruhh and I also update on my YouTube Channel (Umbruhh) as well, see you guys next time!