My Plushie (SeaChaos)

Part 18 - Left

~Nanners' POV~

"Nanners?" Ze asks in shock, his expression seeming as if I was the last person he expected to come into the shop willingly. I smile and nod before shutting the shop door close behind me and approach the counter where only Ze seems to be working while observing my every move cautiously. Just to be cautious myself, I glance around searching for any person at all from the usual crowd of friends. With Chilled missing, Gassy explained to me that Ze haut went ahead and hired more people to look after the shop including the group of friends I came here with. While I am a bit irritated Ze went along and hired against Chilled's wishes I understand whatever was holding him back from hiring suddenly disappearing does make it tempting, and I can't come up with Avery good reason as to why Chilled was so against it in the first place. In the end it seems clear that Chilled is the main one with something to hide while Ze is more like the guy who was dragged into following along with Chilled against his will. It only irritates me further to know the one who I care about so much more is the one who is actually troubled by some sort of secret he still refuses to tell me. Now that we're kind of technically together I don't really want to risk asking him and him denying me making me angry, or if I ask him he will tell me and I won't like whatever he tells me. I'm hoping whatever it is will be over with soon, and from the lack of disappearing yesterday throughout the night I'm hoping it's already over with.

"Hey Ze, I thought I might visit after we left off... Sort of...." Ze laughs and shakes his head. The bastard must have felt all of his anger pour out when he exposed me in front of Chilled like that. Still, despite the grudge I still hold against him I understand why he would want to tell his best friend of this supposedly terrible thing I did to them, even if I don't understand the severity of the action. I still don't understand why it was such a severe attack towards them, it's just a mascot after all and at this point I don't want to find the other more important one anymore in fear Chilled would just leave me right then and there.

"Did Chilled actually hear?" Ze asks curiously and I nod slowly, a bit wary of how confident his expression is that Chilled had heard it. Maybe Chilled had let him know or something about his situation... I shouldn't start doubting Chilled right now, not now while I feel so light and glad and even more so relieved the awkward tension between Chilled and me has ended. "I see, so what's up with you two now? Finally together?" My silence makes him laugh awkwardly as if he asked the wrong question but I just finally sigh and shake my head, trying to calm his awkwardness.

"We - we are. Ze, what's with you two?" I go right towards the question I've been meaning to ask him since I entered the shop. Ze looks at me for a long time before sighing and glancing over at the clock in the wall, sparking irritation in me. It's as if he's showing he isn't going to tell me anything and he's just wondering for how long I'm going to pester him. Ze notices my irritation and looks directly at me with a clear expression on his face.

"Chilled... Chilled and I have been sort of... I guess you'd say we have a special relationship," Ze mutters and when he notices my obvious disapproval he quickly shakes his head. "No, not like that. It's more like we both have a common goal and it's just Chilled who is more affected by it and I need to help him. If it were up to me I'd tell you about, I'd tell Gassy about it but it's not up to me. It's up to Chilled. Convince him and I'll tell you everything," Ze explains and I immediately feel like I've lost the fight. Asking Chilled is something I've avoided doing and if Ze can't tell me I have no chance to knowing what is up with them. I sigh, listening slightly as the shop door behind me opens and glance over to Gassy and Diction heading inside.

"Sorry guys, I need to head out for the day. I'll see you maybe tomorrow," Ze calls out as he climbs over th encounter an spats Gassy's shoulder while Gassy turns around seeming irritated.