"Ahh~ Today was great~!" Mae sighed happily, laying down on Lloyd's apartment bed, a content smile on her face.

"Why are you so happy? It's weird." The male sat down on one of the chairs. "Normally you're quiet, confused, annoyed, or upset."

The blue eyed young woman quickly sat up. "Because I was able to make two friends today!" She said cheerfully, making what looked like a peace sign to show the number two.

"Huh?" Lloyd questioned.

"Oh...! Let me explain...!" Mae said.

•

It's early September which meant it was the start of the school year. However, Kristina Maze, Angelica Kennedy, and whoever else caused a problem for Maebelle in her high school and middle school, didn't go to her college. (Most likely due to their poor grades)

At first she had multiple classes sitting by herself, however when lunch time came along is when things started to change.

Maebelle started eating by herself, well until...

"Hello? Can my friend and I sit with you?" A feminine voice asked. Maebelle had turned to look at the young women. The one who had spoken had tan skin, blonde braided hair and gray eyes. Her friend had beautiful dark skin, short brown hair in a bun, and pretty hazel eyes. Both girls looked super... nice...!

However all Maebelle did to reply was point to herself, she was really confused. People? Wanting to sit with her? Huh?

"Pfft, you're funny! Yes, we mean you! I'm Emma Heath, and this is-" The blonde said with a smile.

The other girl covered Emma's mouth. "I can introduce myself, thanks. I'm Tamara Reid." The brunette said, with a small smile, uncovering the other girl's mouth.

"I-I'm Maebelle Evans..." The long raven haired young woman said.

•

"A-And then they just sat down and we started talking from there...! It was a lot of fun!" Mae said with a soft smile. The male just gave her a blank stare. "What?" The girl asked, tilting her head.

"Doesn't that seem suspicious? When you're sitting alone, and they just want to...sit with you?" Lloyd asked.

"Huh? If you think they were acting like Kristina and Angelica, they weren't. Emma and Tamara were sweet, and had kind expressions. They were different from Kristina and Angelica, I promise." The raven haired young woman said.

"For all you know they could've been in the Onyx Organization." The male said with a sigh.

"They're not. At least, I know Tamara isn't." The female replied.

"Huh?" The light green eyed male asked, confused.

"She asked me to join her in the Gym after school for a bit of exercise, I said sure, and Emma couldn't make it, because she had work. When Tamara and I went into the locker room she picked a locker near mine. You can assume what happened then." The pale girl said.

"You're a pervert." Lloyd said, his expression blank.

"Not like that! We were just talking, that's all!" Mae said, her face flushed pink. "And I didn't see a tattoo... so, that's good, right?"

"Yeah, fine. I don't care." He said, his eyes showed annoyance, and Mae could see it.

He's acting like a child, what is up with him? Her dark blue eyes then widened in surprise when she thought of a reason. Ah...! Wait a second, this is a long shot with Lloyd, but...

"Lloyd... Are you jealous of Emma and Tamara?" The young woman inquired.

Lloyd's pale nose and ears went pink in embarrassment, and Mae could see it. "As if I'd be jealous of two college girls! I'm an adult, I have higher standards than that!" The male replied.

"You don't even know your own age..." the blue eyed girl mumbled. "I'm the one who picked it, remember?"

"S-Shut up!" The green eyed male replied, his blush darkening, which caused her to laugh.

"Lloyd, if you're jealous of them, don't be. I like you more than them. Always and forever, okay?" Mae said.

It took Lloyd a moment until he agreed. "Okay..." the whisper white haired male nodded.

"Sheesh, you're really acting like a kid." The raven haired female mumbled, before standing up and stretching. "Anyways, what time is it?"

The male pulled his phone out of his pocket to check. "It's five right now, why? Do you need to make dinner? I can walk you home."

"Ah, no, it's just that, Tamara also asked me if I could help with carrying grocery bags, since she lives in a one child household. I said yes." Mae smiled.

"You know, 'no' is an answer too." Lloyd said, an annoyed look in his green eyes.

"Lloyd..." The girl sighed in annoyance. "I'll be seeing you, I guess..." the blue eyed female said before grabbing her blue purse off one of the chairs and leaving.

"I. Hate. This." The white haired male young male mumbled. I think this is my karma for always making fun of her... the young male thought. "Sheesh, you're really acting like a kid." Well I guess I was acting sort of like a baby about her having new friends... Lloyd ran a hand through his hair. "Guess I'll make it up to her next time I see her..."

I suppose I should be happy she has friends her age... if I remember correctly in those pictures she seemed really... Lloyd had to think about when he found those photos of when Mae was younger. She looked around five or six. Depressed and lonely. A child that young shouldn't be like that.

"But today she was really happy..." the male whispered. "Hm... fine! I'll leave her be for now." He ended up saying to himself after a few minutes.

~

"Hmm mmm mmm~!" Tamara was happily humming to herself holding grocery bags, walking along a concrete walkway next to Maebelle. "Thank you for coming Maebelle, you really didn't have too!"

"Ah, no, it's fine. I'm used to this, so it's really no problem..." The Evans girl said with a smile.

"My mom is the one who usually does this with me, but she started working two jobs, so I had to do this by myself. Well, unless Emma lends a hand." Tamara giggled.

Two jobs...? Maebelle thought, lifting an eyebrow.

"I'm assuming you don't like prying into other peoples business?" The Reid daughter smiled.

"Huh?" The long raven haired girl mumbled, her blue eyes broadened in surprise.

"Normally when other's mention something like that, they'll say something like 'well what about your other guardian? Are they being lazy?'" The brunette exaggerated. "But you didn't say anything."

"Yeah, it's just... I know people don't like talking about certain things, and I don't either. That's all, to put it simply." Maebelle explained with a shrug.

Tamara looked at her with wide hazel eyes for a few moments before smiling. "Maebelle, you're adorable."

The other female's face went bright red. "H-Huh?! Wait what...?! That's off topic?! W-What does that have to do with anything...?!" The blue eyed girl, obviously embarrassed.

"Pfft." The Reid young woman laughed. "Just thought I'd try and tease you~ and it seems it worked!" Then the female's laughter calmed down.

"Oh! My house is right around the corner!" Tamara's tone sounded happy, but her aura seemed serious and sad... and Maebelle noticed it.

"Hey Maebelle... I'm going to tell you something about me that I want you to keep secret, okay?" The Reid daughter said, and the oldest Evans daughter nodded slowly.

"...My dad died from lung cancer, because he smoked too much..." The Reid daughter said.

Huh? Maebelle thought shocked.

"...and I got bullied for that in middle school." The young woman said.

Tamara stepped on her porch. "And I think it's okay if I told only you... but with Emma... she lives with her grandparents because her parents fight too much... she got bullied for that in high school... This society isn't perfect. Maebelle it isn't perfect at all-"

"I want to help!" The other young woman said, starting to tear up.

"M-Maebelle? W-Wait- first off- why are you crying- second- what do you mean-" The brunette got cut off.

"I know this society isn't perfect! I know that well enough!" The raven haired girl said. ''You don't know who's around and who could hear you!" Ah! She made sure to quiet her voice down. Maebelle then grabbed both of Tamara's hands. "I want to help you and Emma, if you two need anything, let me know! Please...!"

Tamara was very surprised, this was the first time someone offered to help her, since Emma. She was so... grateful! "Alright." She smiled. "Thank you." The hazel eyed girl said. "Now, you don't have to keep crying. I'm sorry if what I told you was sad. I think I have tissues somewhere in my bag."

"N-No...! It's okay...! I have some...!" Maebelle said with a smile, she put down the groceries she was holding and started to search in her blue purse.

"Oh yeah! Maebelle! There's a market that comes around every couple months, and Emma and I usually have a lot of fun! Would you like to join us?" Tamara inquired.

"Sure, what day is it?" The Evans' daughter asked, a bit too busy still searching in her purse.

"The fifteenth of this month." The brunette girl answered. This caused Maebelle to freeze, wide-eyed.

"D-Did you say the fifteenth of this month? Of this month? Which is September?" The Evans' oldest daughter asked, looking up at her.

"Hm? Yeah, why?" The Reid daughter answered, tilting her head, a bit confused.

"I can't make it then, sorry." The blue eyed female quickly changed her answer.

"Aw, why not?" Tamara asked.

"It's um... my friend's birthday... an important friend." The long haired young woman had a soft smile on her face.

"Huh? Wait? Do you have a significant other that you didn't tell Emma and I about?!" The brunette asked.

Maebelle froze, her entire face burning bright red. "No. No, no, no. They're nothing like that." She waved her hands in front of her face. "A-And besides even if I did this was the first day I met you two... surely there are much more interesting things you want to know about me." Well... not that I have anything interesting about me to share... She thought, worried.

"Nope! I want to hear about this relationship!" Her hazel eyes sparkled.

"The one that I don't have...!" The other girl replied, nervously, her pale face turning an even deeper shade of a maroon color.

"Pfft! Anyways, thank you for helping me! I really do appreciate it. I'll make sure to pay you back at some point." Tamara smiled.

"Wait? Huh? That was just another tease...?!" Maebelle said surprised.

"Yup!" The Reid daughter laughed.

It feels like I'm getting deja vu all over again... The Evans eldest daughter internally cried.

"Are you okay, you don't look too good, did I tease you too much? I'll stop." The brunette girl said with another small laugh.

"N-No, it's just that... y-you laughing after saying that is... similar to what he does-" the long haired female immediately covered her mouth.

"He?" Tamara raised her eyebrow.

I just screwed myself. The raven haired girl thought.

"It's alright, I won't ask about it right now, however be prepared when I actually do~" The hazel eyed young woman smirked with a giggle.

Maebelle uncovered her mouth. "Um... a-alright... a-anyways I'll be going then, unless you need my help..."

"No, I can do this part myself, I just needed help carrying them home. Thanks again!" The other young woman replied.

"Yeah, of course, you're my... friend...? I think, at least...?" The blue eyed young woman tilted her head a little.

"Pfft, yes dummy, we're friends." Tamara laughed. "Anyways I should put these away, and I don't think your parents want you out this late."

"Oh...! Right! I need to head home...!" Maebelle said. "I guess I had a lot of fun being out with a person my age...? It's kind of weird..." This feels... new...? It's not bad...I guess? Haha... she smiled a little.

"You'll get used to it. Anyways, I guess I'll see you?" The Reid girl smiled.

"Y-Yeah... B-Bye...!" The Evans girl replied, she had quickly left around the corner of the street.

"She's weird, but cute." Tamara laughed a little. "Anyways, I should really get these inside." She picked up some of the grocery bags and started carrying them in her house.

~

"So I hear you made two friends today, is that where you were all afternoon?" The Evans mother, Cassandra had asked her eldest daughter while the said child was trying to cook in the kitchen.

I swear, I might murder those three one day. How do they keep finding out?! The oldest daughter thought before sighing, she then responded, "Yes mom, I did. Their names are Emma Heath, and Tamara Reid. They are very kind."

"Oh, they're females this time!" The mother said surprised, her blue eyes wide.

Seriously?! What's wrong with me having a guy friend?! But... My mom is pregnant. I don't want to do or say anything that will set her off and get her upset with me. The younger raven haired female thought, while continuing to cook.

"Yeah...! They're girls..." Maebelle nodded with a smile, still looking at the food.

"So, what did you guys talk about today?" The mother asked happily.

"Nothing much, just 'the usual' I guess...?" The daughter said with a shrug.

"HUH?!" Cassandra asked. "What's 'the usual?!'"

"Umm... I mean what a normal young college woman would talk about... I guess...?" The young woman said a bit confused herself.

"WAIT?! YOU DID?!" The other woman said surprised, grabbing onto Maebelle's arms, forcing the daughter to face her.

Why is that such a surprise? The eldest daughter thought, trying not to show annoyance, and the daughter just nodded her reply.

"OH MY GOSH! MY DAUGHTER IS FINALLY COMING OUT OF HER SHELL~!" The mother said happily.

"Mom... the food...!" The younger female said, trying to make sure her mother didn't burn herself or spill anything.

This is going to be a long night... Maebelle thought.