Miku's POV:

   Without a thought I threw myself against Len, sending the both of us sprawling out of the knife's route.
I did it!

I started crying.

"Miku, what..." Len rubbed the back of his head and sat up. "Hey, you okay?"

   I glanced in the direction where the knife had come from and saw an unmistakable head of brown hair along with a red shirt. Why couldn't Meito just give up? Did he really think I would ever be his girlfriend after everything he's done?

"Miiiikuuu...you okay?" Len asked again, giving me a big comforting hug.

I nodded a little and allowed him to pull me to my feet. Maybe surviving after dark wouldn't be as easy as I thought it would be...

   That was when Meito leaped out from the shadows with his knife. He ran at Len with his hand raised.
Len whipped around and grabbed Meito's wrist. The two of them started wrestling each other for the knife.

"If...I can't have...her...no one...can..." Meito growled through clenched teeth.

"Back...off...you don't...own her..." Len shot back.

   And me? I just stood there watching, in shock. How was I supposed to handle this situation? What could I possibly do to help? I'm just a stupid crybaby that can't even pull together enough strength to keep living.

"That's...that's it." I mumbled and marched straight up to the boys. "THAT'S IT! ENOUGH!"

They both froze and stared at me like I was some kind of alien.

I pointed a finger at Meito. "Drop the knife! Just DROP IT!"
Obviously he wasn't going to drop the knife, but Len used this opportunity to snatch it away.

"Go away, Meito." I clenched my fists and glared up at him. "I'll never, ever forgive you if you don't. Leave me alone!"

Meito was taken aback. He looked so surprised that I would ever stand up to him. That in itself gave me the strength to keep an angry face.

"You heard her. I'd get lost, buddy." Len tossed the knife threateningly.

"Give me that!" I demanded and grabbed it away from him.

"Wait, Miku! Don't..."

   I chucked the knife as far as I possibly could and turned back to the guys with a huff. "I'm sick of dying."

Len let out a sigh of relief. He probably thought I was going to end myself right then and there.
Meito shoved his hands in his pockets and gave me one of his creepy smiles. "Come on, Miku..."

"Go-a-way." I repeated slowly. Maybe that would help him understand better. When he didn't budge I kicked him in the shin.

With a whole lot of angry mumbling and glares he finally left.

"Let's go." I marched off in the opposite direction with Len jogging after me.

"You're so cool." He laughed when he caught up to me.
My shoulders relaxed. I let out some deep breaths and squeezed Len's hand. Hopefully this would be the end. I didn't want to have to restart everything again, I just want to keep living with the people who actually make me laugh and smile.

Is that really too much to ask?

   We walked and walked for what felt like forever. I felt like I was leading, but I don't even know where we were going.

I wonder if my mom is at home...and if she's drunk or not. Is she wondering where I am?
That's where I'm going...I'm walking towards my house.

"Congratulations." Len spoke up suddenly.

"Huh? For what?" I asked, bewildered.

He grinned. "It's officially midnight. Happy tomorrow, you made it."

"I...made it..." I parroted, not realizing exactly what he meant at first.
I made it...I survived. Was the rolling finally over!?

"Frick." Len whispered and started speed walking down the sidewalk, dragging me along with him.

"What?"

"Hear that?"

I listened.
Footsteps.

"I'm not scared of Meito anymore." I announced, ready to turn around and confront him.

"That's not Meito." Len pulled on my arm to keep me going. "Come on, we're going to have to run to your house."

"Okay." I nodded determinedly. I had survived yesterday, so I can survive now too.

"Count of three...one...two...three."

   We broke into a sprint past all the buildings. It didn't sound like we were being followed anymore, but better to be safe than sorry.
That's probably Len's new motto after witnessing me die all those times.

"There! That's...that's my house!" I gestured to the structure and jumped for the door. Thankfully it wasn't locked, which also meant that mom wasn't home yet.

Len slammed the door shut behind us and peeked out the window. "I don't see anyone anymore. Hopefully we shook them off."

"Yeah." I agreed.

An awkward silence followed.

"What um...what time is it?"

Len checked his phone. "Twelve o'eight."

"Okay. I know we had pretzels at the mall, but we didn't have dinner so...do you want something to eat?"

"Yeah, sure! That sounds great!" Len grinned and followed me into the kitchen.

   We whipped up some coffee and I found some bagels. There wasn't really a lot to eat since I did all the grocery shopping and I had been trying to starve myself before today.

Then there was a knock at the door. Len and I both jumped at least ten feet before running to the front window to sneak a peak outside.

I screamed and opened the door.

"DAD!?"

He dropped everything he was holding and enveloped me in his arms. I held on to him so tight I thought I might kill him.
And of course I started crying again.

"Miku, my little Mi-Mi, you're so big now...I missed you so much." He said softly.

"I...missed...you...too..." I wailed.

Dad pulled back and smiled down at me. His eyes suddenly clouded and he touched my cheek. "What happened? Are you alright?"

Embarrassed, I covered my scratch. "Uh, yeah I just um...wait does mom know you're here?"

"Of course not...I've been trying to track you both down for years. Where is your mother?"

"Out at the...out."

Dad nodded sadly. He already had it all figured out. Then he noticed Len. "Ah, and you must be the lucky boyfriend."

"Dad!"

Len grinned and shook my dad's outstretched hand. "I wish."

Wha?

"Hey wait, you're that guy from the park!" Len exclaimed. "The one with the guitar!"

My dad narrowed his eyes. "Ah! Now I remember you! How unfortunate. If I had stayed a little longer I might have been able to see my daughter sooner." He turned to me. "You played your recital so beautifully, Miku. I wish you hadn't run out so quickly."

"You were...you were there!?"

"Of course I was. That's how I found you. Did you get my flowers?"

"I...I did..." I stammered, realizing the flowers that Miss Kasane gave me were actually from my dad.

"My big girl!" He cried and gave me a big hug again. "Now, all that's left to do is..."

"Miku!" Came my mom's voice. "Honey, are you home?"

She didn't sound drunk tonight. That meant she would spend the whole night crying and cleaning and...

She came inside and let out a scream twice as loud as mine had been.

In the next minute my parents were hugging and kissing and crying. It was totally gross and sweet.

Len sighed. "I think you're going to be pretty happy from now on."

I slipped my hand into his and tried to ignore my pink face. "Yeah...I think I will."

"Get over here both of you!" My dad called from outside. "We're going to get some midnight ice cream!"

Len and I laughed and walked into the night. My parents leading the way.
I had gotten my wish. I was going to be able to live with the people that made me laugh and smile, for the rest of my life.

The end.

A/N: HEEEEELLOOOO ROLLING GANGERS OR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T FOLLOWING ME AND MADE IT THROUGH THIS CRINGEY BOOK!

I know I know I know, I probably should have made it longer, but I was running out of stamina, inspiration, and ways to kill Miku.

YAY! She has her dad back :D

Anyway, I hope you got some amusement out of this book.

Keep rolling!

~A.R.G