It was the night Ming invited Mei's friends for dinner and they all sat at the table, eating some traditional Chinese food. They were all enjoying Mr. Lee's food and were complimenting him when they tried something new. Through the dinner, they talked about the usual things they liked but would get a slight glare when 4*town was brought up.

"Thanks for having me!" Tyler suddenly said as he put his utensils down. He stood up while Ming nodded, trying to stop her eye from twitching since he didn't clean up his set.

"No problem,"

"Gonna head out, bye guys!" Tyler said as he walked away from the table and left the house. The girls said bye to him before the door closed. Ming sighed and stood up, pushing Tyler's chair and bringing his plate to the sink.

"That boy has no manners," She mumbled while shaking her head. Jin put his hand on Ming's shoulder and smiled gently in an attempt to calm her down. She smiled back at him and the two sat back in their seats. However, her smile quickly fell when she saw Miriam picking some broccoli out of her braces. Scoffing, she turned her head.

"Bad table manners,"

"Oh! Yeah sorry, Mrs. Lee!" Miriam said apologetically and frantically. She stopped picking at her teeth and tried using her tongue to remove the veggie.

"Mhm," Ming sighed. Priya looked over at Miriam then Ming before at Mei. Mei looked at Priya and shrugged, confused by the reaction as well. Abby's eyes wandered back and forth between the two, just to get some action in.

"So 4*town," Abby said, tapping her fingers against the table. The girls seem to brighten up at the mention of the concert.

"It was so much fun! We were still able to get a picture with them and meet them!" Mei expressed, happily tapping her, now red panda feet, against the ground.

"Mei Mei," Ming warned and Mei understood but she didn't put it away immediately.

"My panda my choice mom," Ming shook her head but still cracked a smile. Mei started chatting with the girls about the sleepover they were having after this, suggesting scary stories, crushes, and of course 4*town.

"I got a scary story, you'll be frightened," Priya said, dramatically waving her hands around. Abby and Mei locked eyes with each other and turned to Priya.

"Betcha you can't scare us," Mei said, proudly crossing her arms.

"Bring on the fear!" Abby shouted, though one stern look from Ming made her quiet down. Priya smirked at her friend's attempts of fearlessness, she knew the story was going to terrify them. After feeling a tap on her shoulder, Mei uncrossed her arms and turned to Miriam.

"Can you show me where your bathroom is?" Miriam asked, seemingly giving up on retrieving the dumb broccoli out of her teeth.

"Yeah!" Mei pushed her chair out and stood up, leaning down to offer Miriam her hand.

"Come o-"

"It's down the hall to the right," Ming interrupted causing Mei to pull her hand away from Miriam, who seemed disappointed by the action. Mei awkwardly shuffles back into her seat under the pressure of Ming's glare. Miriam just nodded and abruptly stood up in her seat, knocking it over causing a light bang.

"S-Sorry Mrs. Lee!" Miriam quickly pulled the chair back up and ran down the hallway as her face became bright red.

"What's with her?" Priya asked while looking at Mei who was staring at Miriam's chair. Mei, sensing Priya's eyes on her, looked away and hummed.

"Dunno. And mom," Ming crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and turned her head away.

"Mom, you said you were gonna try and be more welcoming towards my friends. Especially Miriam!"

"I am! I have no problem with... your friends," Mei and Ming had a staring contest for a few minutes, each not backing down. Abby was shaking her hands up and down under the table as a way to express her excitement.

"Votes on Mei," Abby whispered to Priya who nodded in agreement. They would never say it out loud as an open bet because they knew that's not why they were staring. Since they were so deep into each other's eyes, only Abby, Priya, and Jin noticed Miriam had come back.

Miriam opened her mouth to greet everyone again but stopped when she saw the staring. Shuffling into her seat, she hung her head low and sat carelessly.

"I think it's time for your sleepover!" Jin said as a way to hype the girls up. It worked and the girls started cheering as an outlet for their excitement. All except Miriam.

"Thanks for dinner mom!" Mei said as she stood up and grabbed her utensils and plate. Her friends stood up and grabbed their utensils and plate.

"Thank you, Mrs. Lee,"

"Yeah, thanks, Mrs. Lee!" Priya, Abby, and Mei circled the table and put their plates in the sink. Miriam glanced down at her stuff and followed her friends, making sure she didn't drop anything this time. While Abby and Priya started walking to Mei's room, Mei stayed behind for Miriam.

"You ok?" Mei asked earning a slight shake of Miriam's head. Concerned, Mei put her hand on Miriam's shoulder and Miriam turned her head to her.

"Hm?"

"What's wrong?"

"It's just that I don't usually do that at my house," Miriam said, rubbing her arm and rubbing the back of her foot with her other foot. Mei hugged Miriam while watching her mother to make sure she didn't do anything sketchy. Miriam however noticed Ming's suspicious stare and decided it was safer not to hug back.

"Mir?"

"Yeah?"

"We're going to my room now," Mei said, mostly as a message to her mom to stop being so harsh to Miriam. Mei pulled away and Miriam followed her into Mei's bedroom where Abby and Priya were at. They were standing over Mei's sketchbook and were flipping through her drawings.

The most recent ones were red pandas which Abby found kinda ironic while Priya knew it was to be expected. They found Mei's drawings great and appreciated any chance they got to look at them. When they saw the duo, Abby closed the book and tossed it on the desk.

"Sup Mir and Mei!"

"Hey, did Mrs. Lee say anything else?" Priya asked, her eyes specifically on Miriam. She noticed her friend's posture was more bent over and hunched rather than straightened like her usual. Her mouth was closed and her head was aiming towards the floor more than a wall and she looked like she was in an awful mood.

"Targeting her again, over some dinner etiquette," Mei threw her head back and groaned. She swore her mom said she would work on it and now she isn't. Though, Ming wasn't one to go back on her word so Mei found it odd she suddenly would.

"You good Miriam?" Abby asked, now standing in front of the tall girl. Miriam noticed Abby almost instantly and looked around, slowly recognizing the new setting. A smile was brought to her face. Her friends were here and she was in a different room than Mei's mother.

"Yeah, yeah I'm great Abbs!" Miriam's regular pumped, energetic energy was back and it caused the girls to cheer. Now in a good mood, Miriam decided to repay Mei with a hug after accidentally rejecting it earlier. Mei gleefully accepted the hug and the two hugged, jumping a bit.

"A hug without us? This isn't the Mei and Miriam show!" Abby exclaimed, stomping her foot on the ground. The two girls laughed and pulled the others in a new hug, this time welcoming the group in their arms.

Now that everyone was happy, the girls' sleepover officially started. They sat on the floor to discuss the 4*town concert, upcoming 4*town songs, and new 4*town merchandise that was coming out. Periodically, they swooned over their favorite 4*towner and even sang some songs by them.

"Nothing, the hallway only seemed to get darker," The four girls were on the floor, listening to Priya's scary story. Mei and Miriam were huddled under a blanket and Abby was under a separate blanket, making her look like a pillow. The lights were off, the only light being a flashlight because nightfall came.

"Why is he still walking," Mei whispered and Miriam nodded in agreement.

"He approached the door, hands shaking,"

"When he twisted the doorknob, bam!" Priya said causing the girls to huddle under the covers even more. Priya smirked and angled the flashlight to make it seem like an entity was in the room.

"It tore his face off with a clean cut. He screamed," Priya said and the door to Mei's room swung open causing Priya to chuckle. The perfect timing made her smile but the girls instantly screamed. Abby flopped to her side and covered her head with the sheets while Miriam and Mei hugged each other tightly.

"I have fruit!" A voice said, putting their arm out with a plate of fruit.

"Poison berries!" Mei screamed and the girls screamed again. The person pulled their arm back and flipped on the lights, revealing Ming.

"What is going on?"

"Scary stories, did you hear of the one with the berries?" Priya responded, basically speaking up for the other girls who were too paralyzed to move.

"Oh! I have, why are you telling it?"

"They thought they could handle it,"

"Which they couldn't," Ming rolled her eyes and put the bowl of fruit on Mei's desk. She turned around to leave but grimaced when she saw Miriam and Mei huddled under one blanket.

"Too close," She said, shaking her head. She closed the door as Priya grinned and turned the lights off again causing the girls to scream.

"No. No more stories!" Abby said, poking her head from the blanket. She rolled across the floor and flicked the light switch on.

"It was only one,"

"One too many!" Miriam said as Mei leaned closer. Miriam looked at Mei and for a second she thought about leaning closer as well.

"Hmm, too easy," Priya sat on the floor with the bowl of fruit. She began eating some and the girls shared a look of fear. Sensing that, Priya held the bowl out which made the girls jump back.

"Want some?"

"Nuh-uh,"

"I'm good dude,"

"Absolutely not!" Mei said, transforming into her panda form. She attempted to swat the bowl out of Priya's hand but Miriam grabbed her arm.

"Mei don't, that just a mess for you to clean up," Mei groaned and crossed her arms and leg like a toddler. She huffed and turned her head.

"Mei,"

"No,"

"She's mad she lost my challenge," Priya interfered. Miriam turned to Priya, her brows knitted as she tilted her head.

"What challenge?"

"That she wouldn't get scared,"

"It happened while you were in the bathroom," Abby mumbled, standing up and re-wrapping the blanket around her. Miriam let out a soft oh and sunk into the sheets. Mei noticed and frowned, transforming out of panda form. She got on her knees and hugged Miriam.

"It's ok Mir, now let's go to bed before Priya has another story in mind,"

"I actually do-"

"Not! Grab the bags!" Abby said as she pulled out Mei's drawers and grabbed the sleeping bags. She handed Priya hers and took her own out but when she looked for Miriam's it wasn't there.

"Abby?"

"It's not here," Abby whispered. Miriam sighed and tried not to show everyone how upset she was. She swallowed and flashed an awkward smile.

"It's ok, I can uh, I'll just text my mom," Miriam started to leave but Mei grabbed her hand and swirled her around.

"Sleep with me!"

"What?"

"My beds big enough for two," Mei said, gesturing towards her bed. Miriam turned around and walked up to Mei's bed.

"You sure girl? I don't wanna make you uncomfortable!" Miriam expressed her worry by holding Mei's hands. Mei blushed and smiled at Miriam, a firm reassuring smile.

"I promise it's ok, besides you don't want to go outside in the night,"

"Or if the monster-"

"NO PRIYA!!" Each girl took turns showering and changing into their spare pajamas before getting in their sleeping bags. Mei let Miriam get in the bed first and she climbed in after.

"You guys want more berries?"

"Priya!" Abby snapped, sitting up from her sleeping bag and glaring at Priya who laughed dryly. Mei shook her head and pulled the sheets over her and Miriam.

"Night guys!" Mei said, reaching over and shutting the lights off. She laid down and closed her eyes as her friends said good night. Barely a minute later, she felt a shift in the bed, though she didn't open her eyes. She did however feel her stomach get butterflies when Miriam put her arm around Mei and dug her head in the crook of her shoulder. Mei bit her bottom lip so she didn't scream from excitement. Love this.

It was the middle of the night when the door to Mei's room opened up. A figure stepped inside and looked around the room, spotting two girls on the floor and Mei in the bed. The figure ended up being Ming, and she smiled when she saw the three of them. She started to leave but stepped on Miriam's beanie. She picked it up and scoffed, knowing she was still here. Ming stepped over Abby and shook Mei's shoulder.

"Hmph?" Mei said drowsily. She rubbed her eyes with her free arm and looked up, tensing a bit when she saw Ming standing over her.

"Mom?" She whispered.

"Why are you sharing your bed with Miriam?" Mei raised an eyebrow and turned her head, seeing Miriam asleep next to her. Her mouth hung open and her chest rose and fell with every breath. She looked so peaceful.

"Mei!"

"Shh, you could wake her up!" Mei scolded in a hushed whisper. Ming scoffed at the back talk and crossed her arms.

"Answer the question, Mei. Did she force you in the bed?"

"No, what? Her sleeping bag was missing so I let her sleep in here," While Mei talked, she felt Miriam shift in the bed and rest her head on Mei's shoulder.

"Get up."

"Huh-"

"Get up Mei Mei," Ming demanded, a fierce look on her face. Mei looked at Miriam one more time before she attempted to get out of bed. She felt thankful when Miriam reached out and loosely held on to Mei's arm.

"Oh crud, I can't wake her up. Sorry, mom," Mei said with forced sadness. She tried to turn over but Ming pulled the covers off of both girls.

"Mom! She could get cold!" Mei said but Ming didn't care at all. She saw Miriam shivered a bit but paid her no mind.

"Get up Mei Mei," Mei frowned and took Miriam's hand off of her arm, feeling her heartbreak when Miriam's brows curved upwards and felt around the bed. Ming stepped over Abby and left the room as Mei did the same, though she purposely nudged Abby's arm as she left. Abby shot up immediately and looked around the room, her fists at the ready.

"Mei?" Abby whispered but Mei put her finger over her mouth before pointing at Priya before she closed the door. Abby understood and crawled over to shake Priya.

"Psst, Priya! Wake up!" Abby shook Priya roughly making Priya wake up. She rubbed her eyes and looked at Abby.

"What?"

"Mei wants us awake, I dunno for what though-"

"If Miriam doesn't have a sleeping bag, why is she still here?" Both girls quieted down and understood why Mei woke them up. Ming was about to talk badly about Miriam.

"I wasn't just gonna kick her out, it was probably misplaced."

"Mei Mei, it is inappropriate for two girls to sleep in one bed,"

"How?! We're literally sleeping, at a sleepover!" Abby sat on her butt as Priya put her glasses on to fully wake herself up.

"Listen to me, Mei Mei. You cannot sleep in the same bed as Miriam,"

"Just her?! What's wrong with Abby or Priya? What if their bags went missing?!"

"That's a different story-"

"How mom!" Mei was shouting at this point and Priya grimaced at the volume while Abby eyed Miriam in the bed. However, she couldn't see Miriam's face because she was sleeping, facing the wall.

"Don't yell at me, Mei Mei! I am your mother and I know what's right and wrong!"

"So what's wrong?! Miriam doesn't have a disease or anything so what's the problem!?"

"Fine. That girl is way too comfortable with you." Abby and Priya shared a look of confusion. Miriam was always like that, even around them.

"But-"

"Don't talk over me, Mei Mei. She is too comfortable around you. The way she treats you and acts around you is severely unacceptable and will not be allowed, Mei Mei. Do you understand?" There was silence until Abby and Priya saw pink clouds under the door.

"So you don't like Miriam? T-The same way Grandma didn't accept Dad!"

"I-"

"That's exactly what's happening, mom!"

"Ming, Mei. What's going on?" Jin asked after a door opened up. Abby crawled next to the door to try and listen more but the Lee family had quieted down or gone in the parent's room to talk.

"Woah," Priya said as another door closed. Abby stood up and walked over to Priya who stood up as well.

"What's her deal? Miriam never did anything wrong!" Abby whisper-yelled, shrugging her shoulders. Priya looked past Abby and watched Miriam in case there was any movement. Nothing. Abby watched Priya get down and shake both sleeping bags, hoping to get the went back to bed effect. Abby started to say something but stopped when Miriam curled up on the bed.

"Mir?" Abby walked up to the bed with Priya and sat on the edge. Abby put her hand on Miriam's shoulder and heard Miriam start crying softly.

"Uh, it's gonna be ok," Abby awkwardly gave Miriam a side hug before retreating to the edge of the bed again.

"No, it's not Abby!" Miriam choked out. Abby played with her fingers and looked at Priya anxiously. None of them really ever saw Miriam cry unless she fell during skateboarding. But she wouldn't cry too hard and Mei would help her up. Then the two would hobble to a close-by bench and Mei would treat Miriam's wounds.

But this was different.

"Mei's mom said she'd warm up to her," Priya muttered. Of course, that didn't change anything, in fact, it only made Miriam cry even more.

"I don't understand, what's wrong with me?" Miriam whimpered as she gripped her head.

"I dunno-" Abby started to say but the door opened and Mei stormed inside. She slammed the door and poofed into her panda as she sat on the floor.

"What's her problem!?" Mei groaned and crossed her arms on the floor. She looked up and saw Abby and Priya standing by Miriam with a worried look on their faces. It triggered Mei's fight or flight response and she rushed over to the trio.

"Miriam?" Mei asked kindly. She put her hand on Miriam's shoulder and frowned when she felt Miriam's body tense up from the contact.

"She must've been awake when you guys were arguing," Abby informed as Mei transformed out of her panda form. She climbed on the bed and shook Miriam's shoulder gently while Abby and Priya just watched, internally taking notes.

"Mir? Mir it's just me, my mom isn't here right now," Mei whispered, moving around the bed so she could look at Miriam. Miriam knew what Mei was doing and put her head in a pillow. Mei sighed and carefully moved the pillow away from Miriam, revealing Miriam's wet face.

"I'm here Mir," Mei opened her arms for Miriam to hug her. Miriam eyed Mei's arms cautiously before crawling over and hugging Mei.

"I'm sorry Mir, I tried talking to her but she just wouldn't listen to me."

"I heard some of it and thanks for defending me,"

"I will always fight for you Mir,"

"You think they like each other?" Priya whispered, leaning down so she was next to Abby's ear. Abby nodded.

"I'll give it a week,"

"Two weeks,"

"Do they know we can hear them?" Mei whispered as she rubbed circles on Miriam's back.

"I don't mind, just don't leave me right now," Miriam mumbled back. Mei giggled as Miriam dug her head in the crook of Mei's shoulder.

"I won't,"