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A Day Off

Link and Barry join Leo at the table, now that they finally have his attention.

"We noticed that Nic hasn't been coming to school lately. The first day, we just thought he needed time for himself. The second day, the only reason we looked for him was because Barry needed his laptop back. So we went to the market, and we didn't find him. Barry started to think, that maybe he did something bad to himself. We ran to his home and checked the entire house, but we found nothing. I began to wonder where he could've gone. So, we went over to see Kinsley and Catherine, and they told us they haven't seen him, and that he might've been out back making his garden. So we went to check to see if he was there, and we discovered....he rebuilt the Cubix."

"What..?", Leo replies shocked.

" I think he went in to go look for her", Link states softly.

"What makes you say that?" Link gives him the letter Nic wrote.

"When we went up to the machine, he left this note for us." Leo begins to read the letter, growing slightly emotional.

" 'Barry, Leo and Link, just know I won't be gone for long, I will return eventually. Do not bother to look for me, I do not want you to get hurt.' He doesn't want us to find him. "

"I mean, at least he's where he wants to be right?", Barry questions.

" Link, I'm saying this with all due respect, but we can't do anything. Nic is where he wants to be, and if I were as smart as him, I would operate on the Cubix and we can return him to us. For now, I guess we just have to wait."

"Yeah, Kinsley said the same thing. I mean, I understand Nic wants to see her again, but I guess we'll just let him have his time, and he'll return on his own. He's safe in her dimension, and he's probably having the time of his life. Hey, at least we know, he's a lot happier now", Link explains. The boys paused for a moment, sitting quietly while thinking about Nic.

"Hey Link", Leo calls to him.

" Listen, I'm really sorry about pulling myself apart from the group. Ever since that incident, I couldn't see myself watching Nic get killed again. It broke me so much when I thought he was going to die, and it hurt me even more to see him depressed after her departure. I thought by isolating myself, I could've easily moved on, and that I would simply forget all of that ever happened. I guess not, it just doesn't feel the same when I'm away from you three." Barry secretly smiles to himself, as to Link, he finally decides to make peace with Leo.

"I'm sorry to, that I called Tessa toxic, I just didn't know what I was saying because I was mad at you."

"Technically you were right, she was toxic, but she's been changing lately." Link and Leo grew quiet for a moment, whilst Barry looks back and forth at them.

"Friends?", Link questions, holding out his hand.

" Friends", Leo replies, shaking his hand and hugging him. Tessa returns to the table, and everybody sits down.

"Oh Tess, I haven't properly introduced you to my friends. Friends, this is my girlfriend Tessa, and Tessa, these are my friends Link and Barry."

"Hi", she responded happily, shaking Link's and Barry's hand

" Nice to meet you Tessa", Link replies.

"Well, sorry if I'm too nosy about the situation, but what's wrong with Nic? You don't have to tell if it's too personal." The boys began to smirk at each other, with Barry chuckling a bit.

"Well, it all started...", Link begins to explain, telling the entire story of Nic and Elle. Meanwhile, back in 5J, Nic and Elle walk together on a sidewalk, talking with each other.