Dreams are Reality chapter 3

“Chelsea stop. I don’t believe any of it. Kenjii is a nice guy, he told me he wanted to ask Nao out, I don’t think he’d lie, not to his friend.” Charlie said with a serious face. Naoto turned towards them, and was surprised to see Charlie’s reaction. She had never seen him without a smile on his face.

Naoto wiped her eyes. She jumped as she heard a musical noise, but noticed it was her phone. If it’s Kenjii, just press ignore. She repeated to herself. She looked at the caller id. It was Charlie.
“Yello?” he asked
“Yeah.”
“That you Nao?”
“Yeah, it’s you, right Charlie?”
“Yep. Look, Ai called us to tell you to come to Chels and Kels’s”
“Kelsea and Chelsea’s? Do I have to?”
She heard Charlie asking Nick to ask Ai. Charlie sighed.
“Well, judging how Ai sounds, yeah, she really wants to meet you here. She says she’ll be here in a sec, she’s gotta go check on her grandma and she’ll be here ASAP.”
“Oh, great…”
“So we’ll see you here?”
“Yeah, wait, is Kenjii coming?”
“I don’t think so, we haven’t called him yet, and he never comes without notifying. Well, see ya soon. I don’t know what’s wrong but I can tell you’re sad.”
“A bit.”
“Well, hope ya feel better. Bye”
“See ya.”
Naoto hangs up. She sighs. “Oh great, a trip to the tramp. Whooo… It’s going to be so much fun.” She says to herself. She stands up and starts running towards Chelsea and Kelsea’s house.

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Naoto finally arrived. She approaches a big porch, and hears muffled barks. “Choco! Stop! It’s probably Naoto. I’ll get it.” Someone says. The door opens. It was Kelsea. “Oh hi. Nick has Choco. You hardly come here, so she doesn’t recognize your scent. Come on in!” Kelsea says enthusiastically. Naoto takes a step inside. She enters the living room, and sees some sort of indoor balcony surrounding it where the second floor should be. In the biggest single armchair sat Nick holding a Chihuahua, barking loudly. “Ah, yeah, I remember Choco.” Said Naoto, and she glances at her shoe. Charlie sat at the loveseat, and he laughed at Naoto’s memory. “Welcome to Kelsea’s house. Nao! ‘Bout time you came.”
“Yeah. Been doing some redecorating I’ve seen.”
Kelsea sat and started a conversation with Naoto. Soon entered Chelsea and approached Nick and Charlie. “Now where were we? Ah yes,” Chelsea began talking, and Naoto stopped the conversation between her and Kelsea. “Chelsea stop. I don’t believe any of it. Kenjii is a nice guy, he told me he wanted to ask Nao out, I don’t think he’d lie, not to his friend.” Charlie said with a serious face. Naoto turned towards them, and was surprised to see Charlie’s reaction. She had never seen him without a smile on his face.
“Well fine, don’t believe me. But when he confesses to you, don’t come to me for forgiveness.”
“Why on Earth would I ask you for forgiveness?”
“Tsk, tsk. Mind your manners Charles.”
“For the last time, my name is Charlie! And I’m tired of you pretending it’s all true!” By this moment he was standing. “Chelsea, I think you’re jealous!”
“What?!? How can you say such a thing! Nick! Let Choco go!”
Nick looked nervously from Chelsea to Charlie. He held Choco tighter, and the dog bit him, while running towards Naoto. She let out a yelp and lifted her feet away from Choco.
“Nick! My gosh, won’t you ever listen!?!”
“That’s enough Chelsea! I am freaking tired of you treating us that way! I don’t care if you’re the queen of England, you are just a-a-
“A little bitchy asshole sitting on a diamond pillow pretending she’s the queen’s pet with a pure gold crown too big for her fat ass head?” said someone. They all turned to the door. There was Ai, and Naoto could tell she was enraged, although she was trying to keep calm. Everyone gaped at her, they had never heard her swear before. Charlie blinked rapidly, then decided to break the stillness in the air and began walking to the door. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.” he said, while patting Ai on her back. Naoto glanced at Nick, and noticed he was shaking his head, apparently trying to tell Ai something. Kelsea stood. “More sodas?” she asked. No one answered. She walked to the kitchen, using that as an excuse to be kept out of the upcoming argument. “Nick, get your ass off that chair.” Ai said, bowing her head. Nick made no signs of movement. “I said, get off the chair.” Ai repeated. Nick began to stand, but Chelsea held him down. Ai glared at her and made quick movement of her head, indicating Naoto to go with her. Naoto stood at once, and walked quickly to the door. Chelsea glared at the three of them.
Naoto noticed Kelsea standing behind Charlie. She wanted her to come, but this was her house also, and she probably had homework to do. Charlie said goodbye to everyone and closed the door behind him. Naoto and Charlie began walking, but noticing that Ai wasn’t following, turned to see what she was doing. Ai was staring at the door, and as Naoto walked toward her, she looked at Ai’s hands. Ai clenched them tightly, so much, that for a minute Naoto thought she was going to break skin and they would have to take her to a doctor. She reached out to touch Ai’s shoulder, but she turned swiftly before Naoto’s hand had made any contact.
“She shouldn’t have done that.” she said while walking towards Charlie.
“But what did she say about Kenj?” Naoto asked nervously.
Charlie looked at her. “Horrible stuff. Well, not horrible like backstabbing, life-threatening horrible. But you would consider it backstabbing if you knew what it was.”
“But what was it?”
“Nao, I don’t think Charlie should tell you. You and Kenj already had a rough day.”
“Ai, I can handle it.”
“Naoto, really. From what I heard over the phone, it really isn’t worth-
“Ai please! I’ve faced worse right? I’m sure it isn’t as bad as you’re making it sound.” She noticed Charlie looking doubtful. “Is it?”
“Well…”
“Oh alright tell her! But you be warned Naoto, it’s not as good as I made it sound.”
“Good?”
“Never mind, just tell her Charlie.”
“Ok.” Charlie said nervously. “Well, here goes. See, the afternoon we were at Chelsea’s and Kelsea’s, that’s yesterday basically, Chels was “cleaning up”. He had stayed behind. He told us that he was going to the bathroom, but, according to Chels, he lied. Kenj asked Chels out, and she, obviously, accepted. So he started kissing her, and in a while, made out. Then Chels decided it was getting late, and Kenj felt annoyed. He started saying he loved her and that he would never ever leave her and stuff. Then he came running, and that’s when he bumped into you. I think you know the rest.”
Naoto gaped at him. She didn’t want to believe it, she wanted to agree with Charlie and Ai that it was a lie, but somehow her heart kept yelling it was true. Tears came to her eyes. She looked away, and Charlie laid his hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her. Ai hugged her, but she remained stiff and still. Her shoulders bobbed up and down. She swung free from Charlie and Ai, and ran. She ran until she arrived at her house. She ran up the stairs to her room and fell on her bed. She sobbed and sobbed for what seemed hours, until she heard something outside the balcony. She stood and approached it, thinking it was just a squirrel, or a small animal. When she looked down, there was Kenjii.
Her heart leaped. She couldn’t decide whether she should be happy or enraged. Kenjii looked deep into her eyes, and began reciting Shakespeare. “What light through yonder window breaks,” he recited, in a dreamy voice that made Naoto want to jump and land in his arms, “it is the East, and Naoto is the sun. Arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is sick and pale with grief. It is my lady, oh it is my love, oh that she knew she were! She speaks, yet she says nothing.”
“Kenjii, what are you doing?!?” she asked in a demanding voice.
“I am trying to prove to you that I love you.”
“Like this?”
“Well, you said be creative.”
“How could you?” she couldn’t hide the rising anger in her voice. Tears came again.
“Wait, how could I what?” Kenjii was confused.
“How could you ask me out the same day you asked Chels out?”
“What?!? Who told you that? I didn’t-
“Liar!” she cried a bit “Stop lying!”
“Nao, I swear! I’d never-
“S-stop! I don’t ever want to see you!” she turned away
“Nao I love you! I’d never in my life love Chels!”
“S-stop lying! Y-you’re a liar! Leave! Now!”
Kenjii began climbing the balcony. Naoto noticed and ran inside. She tried to close the balcony doors, but Kenjii put his foot in the way. “Naoto, please, I love you.” He hugged her, and she tried to get away. He let her go and she fell back. She tried to get up, and Kenjii helped her. She pulled her arm away from him and stared into his face. His eyes were shimmering with unknown guilt. She looked away, and fell on her bed. “I-I’m really sorry, for whatever I did Nao. I really am.” he looked at her tenderly. She stood and walked over to him. “Y-you really mean that, don’t you...?” she asked, already knowing the answer. She fell into her arms as they each held a tight embrace, and Kenjii lifted Naoto’s head. His face came closer to hers, and he whispered “I love you, Naoto.” She kissed him softly, and Kenjii accepted the kiss, as they each offered another, and another, repeating this pattern unto the night.