We got a good chapter for ya today folks! Enjoy.

------

Mono walked up to Tato's house, pulling his hood off his head. He'd came straight here after visiting Six, and he continued to replay the conversation in his head over and over again. She was being abused by her own mother but didn't want to get help...? He didn't get it.

As he entered the house, however, he was caught off guard by the commotion from upstairs. He ran up, entering Tato's room to see Sam and Taylor wrestling on the ground, Sam clearly winning.

"DONT CALL ME SAMMY!"

"LEAVE MY KNEES ALONE THEN!"

Tato was just sitting at his desk watching everything quietly with pure fear.

"Uhm. Guys? Gu..guys. GUYS!" Mono shouted, finally getting their attention.

"Oh, hey Mono." Sam said nonchalantly like she wasn't just going feral on Taylor, who sat up with a huff.

"I'm not even gonna bother asking." Mono took a seat and everyone settled down, Tato sighing in relief.

"So what happened?" Tato asked. "Was she ok?"

Mono shook his head.

"No she wasn't. She's having some...troubles at home but she's still not too open about getting help. I just said to let us know if she needed anything."

"Damn." Taylor said, and the others agreed. Damn was about all they could say at that point.

"You think we should do something tomorrow? Maybe hang out? Sleepover? She could probably use it." Sam suggested, scrolling through her phone.

"Hm..I dunno..her mom doesn't really like her going out." Mono responded, laying back on the bed with a sigh.

"Ask her man, she needs some friend time." Tato said, turning to his games again.

Everyone eventually did their own thing as they usually did when they hung out. Tato continuing to draw before moving on to reading, Sam scrolling through her social media, Taylor playing videogames and Mono watching videos. He did message Six, telling her what the group had said. He hoped she'd agree but also worried about the consequences if she did.

-------

The rest of Sixes day went by as it usually did, but when she received a message that night this time she responded.

"Hey Six, I know you probably wanna be alone rn but the others and I figured you could use a break. If you wanna we're hanging out tomorrow, a sleepover. You could stay the whole time or just for a little while and leave. Your choice 😁"

Six read the message a few times, debating a million times before finally messaging back.

"I'll see you tomorrow then."

----------

"She said yes." Mono sat up and the others looked at him.

"I knew she would!" Tato said smugly. "Me big smart."

"Did she say if she's gonna stay for the sleepover?" Sam asked.

"No but we'll still have it just in case."

It wouldn't be anything crazy, just some movies, videogames, talking till they fall asleep. If Six stayed and enjoyed herself then eventually it might become a regular thing. At least that's what Mono hoped. He still wanted to see her more and more. Call him weird but he actually cared about her, besides she was pretty cool.

----------

The night passed slowly for her, most of it spent tossing and turning. But by the next morning she had a plan. After she got up she showered and dressed, than began making breakfast. As she did she heard soft footsteps behind her before the creak of the kitchen chair.

"Morning mom, how'd you sleep?" Six tried to keep her tone light as usual.

"Nightmares same as always.." Her voice was rough, and she coughed hard trying to clear it. Six grabbed a glass and filled it with water before handing it to her mother, patting her back to help her cough.

"I'm alright...ehem..I'm alright." She said catching her breath. She gulped down the water before fixing her tired eyes on the table.

Silence filled the air as Six finished up plating breakfast and when she set the plate down in front of her mother when she suddenly spoke, catching six off guard.

"I'm sorry..." She whispered. Six sat down in her own chair, looking at her mom. She didn't speak, feeling hesitant to do so.

"...I don't feel like myself anymore Six...I haven't for a long time..and..you have so much pressure on yourself now because of me. I'm your mother but you take more care of me.."

Her eyes teared up, the scars on her face bunching together as her expression turned pained.

"I wish I could be better for you. I'm sorry sweetheart...I'm so sorry..."

Six felt her chest growing heavy but she still couldn't speak, instead placing her hand over that of her mother's. She wanted to say she forgave her. She wanted to say it would get better. She wanted to say everything would be fine...but she couldn't. Because she didn't know.  But this was a rare instance that her mother was actually there, not a shell of herself...so.. maybe...

"I know you don't think you need it but.. maybe talking to a therapist would help you.." She began saying. She paused to gage her mom's reaction, but there wasn't one so she continued.

"I can't really help you as much as you need..so.. maybe we should give it a shot..?"

Suddenly her mother looked at her. Six shut up, holding her gaze when she wiped away her tears. Then she nodded.

"Maybe that's for the best...we should try it."

Six's heavy chest felt so much lighter at those words, and with a small squeeze to her mother's hand a smile, she made a mental note to talk to Mono. With that settled breakfast passed in a comfortable silence for once. As she cleaned up Six spoke again, this time taking a chance.

"I made some friends and they..well they asked if I could stay over tonight.."

Her mother watched her clean, eyes following her daughters movements.

"How long have you known them?"

"A while now, they're all very nice and fun. They helped me get used to school."

"......"

Six felt tensed again worried shed say no.

"Alright..but make sure everything is done here before you go."

Six looked back at her mom and smiled again, nodding.

"I will."

--------

Later Sunday night Taylor got caught. He was messaging Valentine when Sam being her nosey self looked over his shoulder.

"OOOOoooooOoo vAlenTine?! Tay who's that?"

He turned his screen away and rolled his eyes.

"None of your business-"

"tAylor haS a gIrlfrIend~!"

"He has a what?" Tato peeked up from his book, raising a brow.

"She's not my girlfriend we just hung out for a while!"

"That's what they all say." Sam smirked, dramatically patting his shoulder. "Guess videogames aren't your only love interest?"

"To be honest I thought he was fruity." Mono said sipping his coffee, and Taylor glared at him.

"I'm not gay either what the hell man!"

"You did ask sus stuff when-"

"WE DONT TALK ABOUT IT."

They laughed and Taylor just crossed his arms, not really angry at them but still miffed. There was a nock on the door and Tato looked at Mono.

"You wanna get that?"

"... You're right by the door dude."

"Yeah but it's still far away."

"You're right there-"

"I'm a couch potato get over it."

Mono rolled his eyes and got up, walking past Tato to open the door.

"Six, hey!"

He smiled, stepping aside and she and waved a little bit, stepping into the house. The others welcomed her.

"Your mom say you could stay?" Mono asked and she nodded once. She leaned up to him and whispered.

"I need to talk to you later." Then she walked over to the group and joined them, leaving him slightly nervous. Talk about what?

"Alright everyone, first order of business, food. Because food is amazing."  Tato said.

The five of them talked for a while before finally settling on something. After the order was sent out the true fun began. Game after game of Uno was played and friendships were tested. Then a game of Monopoly that didn't even get finished because honestly who finishes Monopoly.

The food arrived and everyone ate, even Six although not too much. Mono was still glad she ate something though. After they ate they played some videogames, and it was discovered Six was way too good at platform games and parkour. Like way too good. Better than Sam who was the parkour pro of the group.

After everything was said and done, then came the most cliche moment of all.

"Seven minutes in heaven." Taylor held up a bottle, showing the group who at in a circle on the floor.

"Oh my god no." Sam grumbled and Tato who as sitting beside her suddenly turned red.

"On my god yes! I mean a highschool sleepover isn't complete without it."

Begrudgingly everyone agreed and Taylor set the bottle in the middle of the before spinning. And it landed. Between Taylor and a bowl of ice cream.

"HELL YEAH!" He pumped a fist in the air and grabbed the bowl before scrambling into the closet.

"So that's why he had ice cream.." Mono said watching him go. "He didn't invite his new girlfriend so it makes sense."

"How do you think they met?" Tato asked.

"Pfff she probably almost killed him." Sam snickered.

"That's a weird way to meet." Six said with a snort and Sam shrugged.

"I've heard weirder."

Sam proceeded to name a very weird list of ways to meet including in a prison holding cell, and after a few more minutes the alarm on Monos phone went off.

"Taylor stop making out with your ice cream times up." He called out.

Taylor came out the closet, (yes I just wanted to make a gay joke), and had chocolate all over his mouth.

"......."

"....."

"......"

"....."

".....don't ask." He said. And with no explanation he walked to the kitchen.

After that very weird moment he returned cleaned off and the game continued. Tato and Six. When they came out they showed the group a very long handshake they'd spent the entire time making. Mono and Taylor in which Mono looked truamatized as he came out, but nobody asked why. Tato and Sam....we don't talk about why Tato had a shit eating grin on his face when they came out. Taylor and Sam, but they didn't last the full seven minutes because they'd probably have killed each other.

And finally, Mono and Six. Oh boy.

As the closet closed behind them Mono looked at Six and she looked at Mono before they sat down in the floor.

"We don't have to do anything you know."

She nodded and they sat in silence for a bit before she slowly scooted closer to him. She leaned her head on his shoulder and he looked at her quietly. Then he lightly kissed her forehead. When he did she looked up at him.

"...I was hoping for a little more than that.." she said softly, her cheeks turning red....

I'm not sure I even have to say what happened next do I?

---------

Seven minutes up and the final match of the game over, everyone returned to the living room where they watched movies. A few scary ones which Tato could barely handle, some funny ones who's dad jokes Sam quickly wrote down for her own use, and some random videos of people failing to do things. That's always fun to watch.

Eventually the others fell asleep, leaving Mono and Six the only ones barely awake. Six gently nudged Monos shoulder and pointed towards the front door. They quietly got up and slipped outside, Mono putting his hands in his pockets.

"You alright?" He asked her gently and she nodded.

"Yeah, tonight was really awesome..I haven't had fun like this in years."

"That's good." He smiled. "I'm glad..that was kinda the point of all this anyway."

She snorted softly, looking down at the porch.

"My mom was different.."

Mono watched her, listening as she told him the events that had passed Saturday morning. After she finished he put an arm around her shoulder.

"...So what do you want to do?" He said as she hugged him from the side.

"..I need your help..and I won't be a jerk about it this time."

Mono smiled a little and kissed the top of her head.

"We'll figure something out."

-------

Over 2000 words boi! This is the longest chapter I've written by far. Honestly surprised myself. Anyway I hope you enjoyed because I had to write this in little sections all day 😅

As always stay safe drink water or milk or chocolate milk or energy drinks for Christ sake drink something, and get some rest. Mono out.