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Natasha and Arianwyn go to a room in the house, where they are alone. Arianwyn asks Natasha:

"So, what did you want ?"

Natasha takes a deep breath and tries to calm her voice before saying:

"I... Don't think we should be friends anymore..."

"Wait, what ?!" Arian exclaims. "Natasha, you can't be serious..."

"Yes, I am. I don't want it anymore."

"But... But why ? What did I do ? Can I make it up ?"

"No you can't. Look... Just go, please..."

"Nat..." Arian says, looking extremely sad.

Natasha walks out of the room, leaving behind a desperate and sad Arianwyn. The latter just stands there in shock, not understanding what's happening. Natasha goes in the hallway and leans against a wall, letting out a deep sigh. 'I'm sorry, Arian...' She thinks. 'It's what's best for you... This way you won't have to witness all of... this. This'll hurt, but I figure it'll be worth it...'

She walks away, to avoid meeting Arian on her way out. However, she can see the silver-haired girl going for the front door, on the verge of tears. Arianwyn exits the house and just before she closes the door, Natasha can hear her, crying.

Natasha quickly hurries up the stairs and into her bedroom shutting the door behind her. She fears tears going down her cheeks. She doesn't want to lose Arianwyn, but she knows it is for the best of things. She lets out another sigh as she drops down onto her bed.

She never wanted to have two alcoholic parents, she didn't want to lose all of her friends, she didn't want to move.

'Come on Nat, get it up, be brave..' She slowly pulls herself off her bed and walks up to the window. She looks down at the city below. She lets out another deep sigh. 'I can do this.' She shivers. 'I can do this.... somehow.' She then turns around and looks around her room. It suddenly seems so bright. Not, that is literally is, but the way she suddenly feels she can't help but feel better.

The following day, Natasha goes to school. Her mother is better, which helps her feel a bit more cheery. However, it seems her father is gone for good. As she's about to enter the school, someone grabs her arm and say, in a voice she only recognize too well:

"Where have you been, lately ?"

Natasha turns around to see Shadow Zibonzi, looking at her with a very weird look. She doesn't know what to answer and just stands there, looking worried and muttering under her breath. Shadow Zibonzi then says:

"We've got to talk."

He gets her with him under a tree, near the school's east wall, and takes a deep breath, before sighing. He show her something that looks like a forced smile and asks again:

"So... Where have you been ? I said I wanted to talk and you. never. showed up."

"Yeah, erm... It's... Personal, and I honestly don't feel like talking about it..."

"Good enough of a reason to stand me up ?"

"Well..."

"Yeah, sure. Look: this time, I'll let it slide because I'm nice. But don't do that again... Unless you seek for trouble."

He pats her head and heads back to school, saying over his shoulder:

"C'mon, otherwise you'll be late !"

---

I follow him, though reluctantly.I reach the classroom all of the students eye me oddly as I walk over to my desk and sit down.

During the class I keep seeing Shadow Zibonzi glance at me. I all of a sudden feel shy... and a bit worried. I'm thrilled when the classes end, I hurry as quick as I can out the door. But, I can't help but feel Shadow Zibonzi's glance. I hurry into the lunch room where I see Arianwyn chatting with Belle-Chan. I feel her eyes on me, but I quickly hurry past.

Then I go find a seat near the edge of the room where there is an empty table. I sigh as I sit down. I can't help, but glance at Arianwyn who seems to be happy. I guess she got over yesterday.

I take a bite of my sandwich. "I did what was best." I tell myself quietly. "You did what was best?" I spin around to see Shadow Zibonzi standing there. "I..."

"Whatever it is, I want to know." He says while sitting in front of me.

He grins and starts eating. That's very disturbing... What does he want from me ? Why is he always following me ? And why is he being so intrusive... He seems to get impatient and asks again:

"You did what was best ? About what ? What was it ?"

"I'm not sure I'm ready to talk about it."

"Just tell it already..."

---

I'm there, sitting in the lunchroom. As usual, Belle-Chan is talking about sweets and recipes and birds. It's fun. Then, I see Natasha enter the lunchroom. I can't help but feel my heart squeeze, in almost a painful way. I look at her. She avoids my glance and rushes past me, going to sit in the edge of the room, alone. Why did she do that to me ? Why ? I don't understand... It hurts. Really, it does ! I thought we were doing nicely, though... She was a good friend, and I really enjoyed being with her... Now I'm feeling really sad.

"Arian ? You okay ?" Belle-Chan asks.

"Yeah, of course." I reply.

I don't want to tell her about it. Not yet. Shadow Zibonzi is heading for Natasha's table. I have half a mind to get up and stop him before he can pester her again, but... Somehow, I don't feel like doing it. She clearly doesn't want me to be around her anymore. With my luck, she'd rather be with him than with me...

I have to hold back my tears, because I feel them coming. I can't cry in the middle of the lunchroom ! I suck in my breath and keep on eating.

---

I sigh. "Please, don't you understand the answer no?" I feel a bit impatient and suddenly feel like wanting to leave the room.

"Nah..." Shadow folds his arms in front of him.

"Uhh." I let out a little moan. I'm annoyed now. I jump up out of my seat and hurry out of the lunch room. I hope maybe a walk in the park will help calm my nerves. I keep going not looking back till I reach a little ways into the park. I look around, Shadow Zibonzi is coming up. I let out a deep sigh, trying to be prepared.

"Shall we talk now?" He looks serious, yet a creepy kind of serious. I shrug.

He walks up to me studying me. "You have a bad life.. Don't you?" He says bluntly.

I fight to not gasp. "Um..." He gives me a half creepy half odd smile.

"I know how it is, one second Arianwyn and all of those other weird girls are your friends." He pauses, "Then the next second they see the amazing person you truly are and then you're kicked out of their little Group." He says group louder as though its a slang word.

"I...I.." I stutter not knowing exactly how to reply.

He gives me another creepy grin. "Now, you have no idea who you truly are, you can be more than that scared self always looking behind your back."

I feel my eyes widen.

"Natasha, I saw the way you fought, Your a true shadow, but because you've made friends with Arianwyn before..." He pauses, "...You got a soft spot with all of those.. angel girls." He chuckles. "You can join us, you can be the true real self you are." He pauses again. "But, there is only one question... will you accept?.."