*Have a very special chapter as a thank you for 400 reads!*
(And DEFINITLY not because somebody is threating Balloon's life... heh... *glances at Balloon*)

*Contains lots of swears and yelling* *and multiple pov changes*

*Paper's P.O.V*

... What's wrong with Balloon?

This question has been in my mind ever since talking to him in the elevator. I wanted to talk to him last night, but he wasn't in the mood.

I saw his eyes however.... A dull looking yellow mixed with heavy bags underneath them and tear streaks down his face. He was definitly NOT okay, and his face proved it.

Does.... Does he really not trust anyone? Does Balloon really not want help? Or is he wanting help, but believes that since nobody likes him, he isn't deserving of help.

I'm trying to get through today, but I'm not feeling it today.... Maybe I'll take a break to sort my mind out.

Yeah. I'll do that! I stop what I was doing and head to OJ's office to ask for a small break for today. 

I just walk in since he knows me well enough. He turns around at the sound of me walking in and smiles with that cute smile I love.

'Stop thinking gay thoughts! I'm going to die of embarrasement one day!', I think to myself as I shake out the previous thought of OJ.

I've also accepted the fact that I might like OJ more than a best friend and it's making me all giddy and hot when I talk to him... UGH! 

"Oh! Paper! What breing you here today?", OJ asks as I walked in further.

"Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to ask if I could have a break for today. I don't really have the energy to do much right now.", I asked OJ.

Balloon and OJ were both on my mind and it's driving me insane! I'm worried for Balloon's mental health and I'm daydreaming about OJ being mine at the same time!

"A break? Yea! Sure, you can have one. May I ask why??", OJ questions. Crud...

What do I say!? I'll just tell him it's about Balloon, I know he's gonna get upset, but whatever. Balloon is a person just like us, and he has feelings as well!

"I've just been too worried about Balloon honestly.", I confessed. I see OJ's face frown a little...

I hate it when he get's upset. It makes me upset. 

"Again? Paper, I know you care, but-", OJ starts, but I cut him off....

"OJ listen. I understand Balloon isn't liked and that you believe he isn't worth caring for!", I exclaim, visibly upset. "But Balloon isn't like that anymore! Balloon's changed! I've hung out with him and I can see that he's changed!", I continue on.

"You hung out with him!?", OJ questions in shock. "Paper! He could've hurt you! Balloon is not to be trusted!", OJ claims, with a hint of anger in his voice.

"OJ, it's been 6 years since season 1! 6 YEARS! Don't you think it's time to just drop it? Give Balloon a chance to prove himself?", I ask, sounding a little desprate.

"...", OJ doesn't say anything...

"Like I said before. People can change. And everyone deserves a second chance... Even Balloon...", I say before leaving the office.

... *sigh* I think I'm gonna need another day of this short break I'm taking.

*OJ's P.O.V*

... A second chance?

Does Balloon deserve a second chance? Has he truly changed his ways?

I continue to ponder these thoughts about Balloon. Sure, he looks upset a good chunk of the time. And yea, everyone here talks a little bad about him. But is it too much? Have we gone too far??

Paper seemed super defensive about this, which was super adorable and concerning. Wait... adorable? I mean....

Yeah, Paper is super cute at times. He's caring about eevryone here; even Balloon; he has this cute and sweet smile that gives me butterflies in my stomach and-

I feel hot... I put a hand to my face and feel it burning. I'm I blushing? About Paper!?

"Huh?", I mutter out to myself. Why am I thinking about Paper like this??

It's not like I like Paper... right?

'Focus! I'm suppose to think about Balloon and his changed ways', I think as I put the thought away for later.

I hear a knock at the door. "Come in!", I call out to whoever was behind the door.

I see Pickle walk in. "Hey.." He greets.

"Hey man. What's up?", I ask.

Yeah, me and Pickle had a fall out with our friendship/alliance, but we made up and now we're close again! Same with Bomb. It took me a little longer to forgive Bomb, but we eventually made up. ...

Is the same possible with-

"Um. There's something going on in the living room.", Pickle said.

"Oh? What's happen?", I asked. What's going on?

"Salt and Pepper were mocking Balloon. Balloon heard and he ran off somewhere...", Pickle mustered out, staining.

"What? Oh boy... I'll try to sort this out.", I say, getting up from my desk and heading to the living room.

I see Salt and Pepper standing off to the side still gossiping, but Balloon nowhere in sight...

I walk up to the 2 girls to sort the situation out when my mind wonders to Balloon....

Where did he go? And... was he really that hurt by Salt and Pepper?

*Balloon's P.O.V*

I'm in the lifeguard hut. Crying. I come in here sometimes by myself, when I'm down...

My tio told me that if I ever felt alone or overwhelmed, that I could use his hut to cry about it. Yeah, my tio lifeguards here in Hotel OJ. He does it every Friday and Saturday.

However, he won't be here this weekend, he was sick. Not that it matters.... 

Salt and Pepper really hurt me... I don't really remember what they said, but it cut me deep. I was having a real crappy day today, and this really did it for me.

I managed to sleep last night, only to be woken up by a nightmare at 4 am. Staying up, I then get made fun of by Nickel at 8 am. I get breakfast only to hear people muttering about me, making me almost have a mental breakdown. And now, this happens!

I'm so SICK of being treated like I'm some sort villain! I've changed! How many times do I have prove to them that I'm not the same as I was back then!? I'm tired of being outcasted by everyone!

... I have endure this just a little longer however. I'm still collecting snacks in prep for my grand escsape. 

'It's going to be worth it! No more pain and hurt once I'm out of here!', I convince myself. 

It's almost time to leave this place once and for all. I just need to hold out a little longer. I managed to get more snacks today, but maybe a few more wouldn't hurt.

My backpack was already packed with clothes. I just need to pack my snacks and I'll be ready to leave.

I take a shaky breath and try to calm myself down. I've been in here for a good while now. I didn't really eat lunch and my stomach is growling. I should get some food...

I look at the clock and it says 6:30 pm. It's been a minute.... I'll get a quick meal.

Maybe some leftover Chinese food from last night. (Is it weird that I had this vivid dream? that these weird people came and tried to get some food?)

I start to make my way to the kitchen when I see Salt and Pepper still... I try to hide and sneak my way into the kitchen. I make it luckily and head to the fridge. I pull out the leftovers and grab some of it.

I get some steamed rice, an eggroll, and some broccoli and put it on a plate. I put the rest up and put the plate in the microwave; unfortunally. I know once I start this, Salt and Pepper are going to come in and start to harrass me....

I start the microwave and just like I thought, Salt and Pepper head towards the kitchen.... Crud!

"Well well... Like, look who decided to show his ugly face Pepper!", Salt exclaimed.

"Hehehe! Yea! It's Balloon, Salty Salt! Like, what do you think your doing bud?", Pepper says back.

'Bud? yea right...', I think. "Just getting some food... nothing more... please leave me alone...", I mutter... I'm going to die aren't I?

"Did I hear that right??? You want us to leave you alone???", Salt questioned with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "I don't think that's an option here.... right Pepper?", she asked.

"That's right Salt! We can't leave you alone right now....", Pepper scowled...

'I'm a dead man.....', I dread as I began to shake a little.

"You got us in trouble with my future boyfriend! And now... your going to pay the price", Salt angrily stated. 

"Boyfriend? OJ doesn't even like you....", I whispered out loud.... 

"... What did you say???", Salt scowled. Oh shit.........

"!!! I-I-I.... I d-d-didn't say a-a-anything! I-I swear!", I plead. I am SO DEAD!!!

"YOU DID NOT JUST SAY THAT OJ DOESN'T LIKE ME!!", Salt yelled.

"Salty Salt.... OJ really doesn't like you... Maybe you should let it go...", Pepper confessed, hoping to calm her BCFF. It... doesn't work.....

"PEPPER! HOW COULD YOU! YOU KNOW OJ IS JUST PLAYING HARD TO GET! SO DON'T GET INVOLVED!", Salt yelled again.

This is making me really uncomfortable. I'm shaking really bad and I'm not really paying attention to everything....

...... I think I'm going to have a mental breakdown.

*Trophy's P.O.V*

I WAS taking a nap in my room, but I woke up due to yelling.

"Ugh....", I mutter as I get up.

I couldn't really sleep last night. Balloon was just eating up my mind and I can't shake him out. On top of this, Cheesy was plaguing my mind like the parasite he was.

I don't get why! It's not like he's cute when he's laughing. Or adorable with his real shitty puns! FUCK! I'm doing it again! I need to stop thinking gay!

I'm NOT GAY! I am not gay for Cheesy either! No matter how much I'm in denial; which I'm NOT!; I don't like Cheesy!

I shake my head and just walk out to go to the first floor. I continue to walk and hear more shouting... It sounds like Salt yelling at someone. 

I make it to the first floor and head to the kitchen to see.....

Salt yelling at Balloon, Pepper trying to calm her BCFF and Balloon......

Balloon is on the verge of a mental breakdown. FUCK! I GOTTA DO SOMETHING!

Anger takes over and I storm up to Salt, blocking Balloon from her view.

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING!?", I yell at Salt.

"GET OUT OF HERE TROPHY! THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!", Salt screamed back.

"IT IS MY BUISNESS NOW! YOU INTERRUPTED MY NAP!", I snap at her.

I know Balloon hates loud noises and fighting, so I'm making this a whole lot worse for him, and I feel awful, but I was too angry to try to calm down.

"WELL THIS ISN'T MEANT FOR YOU! I'M TRYING TO TEACH BALLOON A LITTLE LESSON FOR SAYING THAT OJ DOESN'T LIKE ME!", she snapped back.

"NEWS FLASH BITCH! HE REALLY DOESN'T LIKE YOU! YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A SELFISH, ARROGANT ASS WHO THINKS TOO HIGHLY OF HERSELF!", I confessed to her.

"YOU TAKE THAT BACK YOU ASSHOLE! NOBODY LIKES YOU HERE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A DRAMATIC JOCK WHO DOESN'T KNOW PERSONAL FEELINGS!", she exclaimed.

"YEA NO SHIT! BUT I'M CHANGING THAT! AND I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK ABOUT ME! WHAT YOU SHOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT IT HOW YOU TREAT BALLOON!", I yell. 

I was finally going to give them a piece of my mind. Balloon is still shaking behind me, silently crying because of the yelling. I think I see people crowding around... GOOD!

"BALLOON!? HAH! YOU THINK WE CARE ABOUT BALLOON AND HOW HE FEELS!? HE'S NOTHING BUT A MANIPULATIVE BITCH WHO CAUSE US A LOT OF HARM BACK IN SEASON 1! HE SHOULDN'T BE HERE AND HE DOESN'T DESERVE OUR KINDNESS!", Salt claimed.

.... This fucking bitch. You can make fun of me all you want! BUT NOBODY! NOBODY! WILL TALK SHIT ABOUT BALLOON! I WILL NOT STAND BY THIS BULLYING ANYMORE! 

I glance at Balloon and see that he began to sob. Oh hell naw! This was the last straw....

I take my hand and... *SLAP!* I slapped her face so fucking hard. Lots of gasps could be heard...

"OW! YOU FUCKING ASS! YOU SLAPPED ME!", Salt yelled in pain. Good.

"TALK SHIT ABOUT ME ALL YOU WANT! BUT YOU WILL NOT TALK SHIT ABOUT BALLOON ANYMORE! I AM SICK OF ALL OF YOU ANTAGONIZING BALLOON EVERY FUCKING DAY! BALLOON HAS CHANGED! AND IF YOU CAN'T SEE THAT... THEN YOU DON'T DESERVE HIM!", I confessed/yelled.  

Complete silence. From Salt, Pepper, and everyone around us. The only thing you can here is Balloon's sobs.

That felt good to get off my chest. I hear Balloon open the microwave and leave the kitchen in full speed.

"Balloon! Wait!", I try and yell out to him...

But he was already gone....

*Balloon's P.O.V.*

I'm shaking and sobbing so hard... I wasn't fully aware of was was happening with Salt and me.

Trophy came in and tried to help me, which I'm grateful for. But everything was so... loud. I couldn't think straight and everything was a blur.

I have my food in hand as I was running towards my room. I did hear Trophy call out to me...

But I want to be alone right now. I don't want to talk to ANYONE right now! I was having a full on mental breakdown.

I made it to my room thankfully and close my door. I put the plate of food on my desk and sink to the light gray carpet below me, sobbing uncontrollably.

I stay like this for a good hour before I start to calm down. I'm calm enough now, so I put the snacks I grabbed put them in the drawer; which was almost filled up. I then sit on the chair and began to eat the food.

It was a little cold, but I didn't care.... I picked at it and ate about less than half and threw the rest away.

I stand up, grab some clothes and a towel and head to the restroom to take a shower. I undress and step in the shower. After about 30 minutes of showering and thinking, I get out and change into some pjs.

This was the last time I was going to have a proper shower. I was done with everything.

I was going to leave on the 30th; which was a Saturday; but I decided that enough time has passed. I was going to leave TOMORROW. A whole day earlier.

I can't deal with this shit anymore. I want to be gone from the hurt and the pain already! I'm thinking around 6:30 is when I'll leave. It's not too late and nobody is really outside around that time, it's perfect!

I head to bed, hoping to get at least a decent amount of sleep so I'm a little energized to find a place to stay in the forest.

I lay my head on my soft pillows and slowly begin to fall asleep...

'This is it... I'm finally going to leave.', was my last thought as I fall into slumber.

*End of Chapter 6*

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Alright!

Here's another early chapter!

In celebration of over 400 reads! (and again, not because Balloon is being held at gunpoint!)

I can't thank you guys enough!

Seriously! Like... It hasn't even been a week and I get over 400 hundred reads!

You guys are awesome!!!

See you on Friday!

(Now... Can you please let Balloon go? I did what you asked!)