Goth's POV a few days later

I smile, walking into a shop holding the Valentines Day pin from Palette. I look at the displays for the summer sales in the cases, then looking at the pin again. I find a nice one in a case and one of the workers notices me eyeing it and the sign saying Customization available!

"Do you see something you like?"They ask

I nod.

"Any customization you'd like?"They ask

"Umm, could the gem locket look like this?"I ask, pointing to the heart on the pin

"Oh yeah! Some emerald and amethyst could definitely do for that."They say, taking a picture of the pin

I smile and pay them in advance.

"We will have this done in three hours. Come back soon."They say

I smile at them, thanking them. Then I head out to the other stores. I wander around and tuck my pin away. I explore other stores, then glance towards the beach that the lines of stores are by. I see some of my classmates playing or running about. I continue walking through the shops and exploring the attractions while killing time. Some kids bump into me as I was admiring a window display. I glance over and they jolt, horrified.

"Shoot! We're sorry!"Some say

"Run! Before Palette sees!"Others say

They all run off quickly.

What even makes them fear Palette? Him of all people? But he is powerful....and also so sweet...

"I heard my name called?"Palette says

I glance over, seeing Palette walking across the sand, completely shirtless. I quickly turn away, my face on fire.

Chill out, Goth! It's just Palette enjoying his time on the beach!

I shake my head, taking deep breaths to calm my soul down.

He's my best friend....Why is my soul reacting like this? It doesn't matter, it's not like he saw me either!

I keep walking , then my phone dings to tell me that the three hours are up. I turn around to head bac

"Oh! Hey Gothy!"I hear Palette say as I walk into the shop

I glance over, seeing him run over but stop at the entrance since it doesn't allow anyone shirtless to enter. I wave to him and turn to see the staff member that I spoke to sitting at the front counter and waving to me. In perfect view of Palette.

Shoot...

I go over and the staff gather near the counter as they smile at me. It was a slow day for business today so it only made me unfortunately stand out to their focus. They each are seeming to catch onto my situation as they each look between me and Palette waiting outside, gazing through the glass. They smile at me with sly glances. The one I spoke to waves them away and hands me the necklace, the gems fused into a heart in a golden locket on the chain, shaping a heart just like on the pin.

"You like it?"They ask

I nod.

"T-Thank you."I say, holding it carefully

They nod and I leave the store, tucking it away.

"Hiya, Gothy! What were you doing in a jewelry store?"Palette asks

I look up at him and feel my face burn. Then it hits me.

I feel love for him....I don't just want to change his life as his friend...Soul racing, cheeks burning, shyness around him, joy at the thought of him, loving the nickname or his voice....I'm gay! Why'd I have to get a crush on my best friend? Sure, he protects me and makes everything brighten up, but at what point is it out of friendship or not? Where does it cross that line? He could, and probably is, doing this out of friendship and doesn't even see me like that! We're best friends! Can't I have a best bud who has my back without falling for him? Is that too much to ask? Did my parents have this issue? Gods, I am such an idiot...

"Gothy?"Palette says as I hide my burning face in my hands

I can't ruin this...Calm down....

I feel my face cool and my soul slow down again. I sigh, lowering my hands.

"I-I'm okay..."I say

He smiles at me and I feel my soul skip again.

This isn't going to be easy....

"What were you doing in there? I saw you get a necklace..."He says

"I-I u-umm...I was just picking something up."I say

"It looked a lot like the pin design that I gave you..."He says

He actually saw...

"O-Oh....Forget it. I was going to give you this on your birthday but there's no point in keeping it from you now.."I say, extending it to him

He looks at it with his eyes twinkling, looking amazed or in awe of it. He takes it and clips it around his neck, the locket dangling against his rib cage. His soul glows, making the gems twinkle and reflect the light it gives off. I blink a few times and focus on his eyes or his face at least before my face burns to a crisp again.

"Thanks, Gothy! I love it!"He says, hugging me

That nickname is going to be the death of me!

He pulls away and smiles at me, his eyes twinkling with their usual warm glow. Then he glances around.

"Those critters giving you space?"He asks, referring to the Reaperlings

"They watch from a distance these days."I say with a shrug

He nods, rubbing the back of his head.

"You alright?"I ask, noticing his change in mood.

"Yeah..Just thought about some things..."He says

"Like what?"I ask

"My fa.....no, Dream sent me a bracelet last week thinking it was my birthday. The card was just another rant of his closing with happy birthday and a confident statement that he KNOWS it is that day when it wasn't and signing off as Father. And the bracelet spelled out I'm Dream's son so it's more of a collar or a sign of ownership than anything. The thought is just frustrating...But only makes me love your gift more."He says, smiling as he holds the necklace gently

Okay, so he failed that test. I'm not going to try to persuade Palette as he asked now.

"So, your birthday is in two days..How do you plan to spend it?"I ask

"I don't know....How is a birthday usually spent?"He replies

"However you want to spend it! It's a day to treat yourself and be with all your loved ones! Sometimes family plans surprises for the birthday person as well..."I say

"Okay, that might explain why Radier and Gradient kicked me out of the house."He chuckles

"How'd they do that?"I ask

"I made them keys to the house and this morning they kept suggesting places for me to go. I was settled with painting when they took my set of keys and locked me outside."He says

I smile, able to see that happening.

"Do you wanna make sand castles with me?"He suggests

"Sure."I say

He grabs me by the hand and eagerly leads me to his spot on the beach. He starts gathering sand and we kneel down around the lumps formed, carving out a sand castle as we talk and laugh. This is a good way to spend the day. Then we just start to mess around with each other once the castle was finished. When it got closer to sunset we start to walk back home and I was flapping the sand out of my wings. We laugh and he interlocks his arm with mine, our hands holding each other's with intertwined fingers. I walk him home and make sure that he is let in by his scheming brother and cousin. Then I went to my home, finding an invite on the welcome mat to my home. I pick it up and open the envelope as I go inside, finding that it is an invite for Shino and I to come over for Palette's birthday as planned by Gradient and Radier.

"Hey, Shino! You got any plans this week?"I call down the hall

"Not yet, why?"She asks

"Come here!"I say

She skips down the hall with Raven close behind.

"What's that?"She asks

I show her the invitation and she smiles widely.

"I'll reserve that day for him! Ooo! I'll get a gift ready!"She says

Our Reaperlings laugh as she gets excited, running off to her room.

"You got her hyper again."One of the panthers say

"Then again, it doesn't take much to get her excited."A hedgehog says

"How come I'm not invited along with you two?"Raven asks

I glance at him blankly. Well, not completely. I was giving him a look that said Really? You had to ask that?

"Maybe it's because we were there when Palette got his soul broken and wasn't a jerk to him! Hint hint!"Shino shouts in response

"Wait...What?"Raven says

"Yeah, that happened. While you were busy thinking of reasons not to trust him, he got tortured with experiments by that figure that came after me but took him instead. He almost died while there before I got him along with that Slate guy out of there. And he found out that the person that saved him from dying only looked to use him for their own personal gain that they get using the radiation from his soul. In addition to being attacked by this guy he trusted. That's why we left the other day with you looking at us in disapproval, remember? So yeah, his life has sucked lately in addition to whatever you've been up to with him. So yeah, I wonder why he hasn't invited you or his family doesn't want you there."I explain with a sarcastic comment at the end.

"His...family?"He says, seeming lost in shock

"Yes, his family. His brother that stopped you from hitting Palette with your scythe. Gradient, the boy that froze you with glitches. And you met his cousin Radier when he came to play with Shino. That's the only family he's willing to consider or trust in his home."I say

"Oh thank goodness, I thought I'd get in trouble with his parents."He sighs

"I wouldn't be too relieved. They're pretty strong and nasty when upset. Forces to be reckoned with. Gradient went to kill Slate after all when he found out what he did to his brother. And his parents aren't in the picture at all."I say

"What do you mean?"He asks

"His parents abandoned him in the middle of nowhere and forgot about him. Really, you couldn't have been more wrong about him being untrustworthy. Expecting the abandoned one to abandon others. Get to know him and you'll be surprised how badly you misjudged him."I comment

His face goes pale.

"So that's what he meant..."He says

"Now, what do you mean?"I ask in return

"I went to find him when I got some answers on why the kids fear him. Turns out while on a sugar rush or something he covered the bullies' houses in paint with messages warning them to back off! I told him at the park that I trust him now, showing him the proof as well and he just snapped. He shouted at me, breaking down and saying that I'm just trying to use him like some Slate guy or his family he tries to escape and that I was unfair to him. I didn't realize until he left and now this explanation how bad I hurt him....I didn't mean for that, I was just trying to-"He explains, then tries to excuse it

"I know, protect me. He knows too. And no matter what you meant to do or cause, you still did it. And you couldn't have chosen a worse way to open up to him. Using that of all things as a claim to give your permission or trust after everything would've hurt him. You cast him out but as soon as you saw use for him, you let him in and say so to his face? Especially after what Slate did, he will see you as no different than that jerk or the parents that abandon him. You even used the same excuse as his parents, that you didn't mean to. He has heard all the excuses before, Raven. So using them will only hurt him more. Don't be surprised if you're the one being avoided and tested now by him. He gave you so many passes, letting your actions that hurt him slide but he only can take so much. Now it's your turn to show why he can trust you and what you bring to his table."I cut him off, explaining what's wrong before he could make the mistake

He looks down and shakes his head.

"I can't even summon my scythe anymore...Father says that it's because my soul and powers aren't in line anymore...Whatever that means."He says

"I think I understand why. My scythe and list are based on the value of innocence and protecting those who are innocent. I can't get near the guilty or the magic connected to it doesn't function as well. Your power may be the opposite of mine, seeking out the guilty. And now that you judged an innocent person as guilty by mistake and your soul knows it, your scythe may refuse to be formed until it is settled. When balance to the value it is focused on gets restored."I speculate

He sighs.

"I'll think of something to make it up to him."He says

"I bet you will."Shino says

I walk to my room with a smile growing on my face. I drop into bed and gaze at the ceiling.

That was the best beach day I've had in a while....

TBC