A doctor walks into his office with my mother and sits down. 

“Sit Please, Mrs. Rattlehead. I understand your husband was busy… but this is very serious.” 

My mother shifts nervously in her chair, straightening up. 

“Well yes he had business… what’s this about? Isn’t Vic’s physical therapy going well?” My mom asks worriedly.

The doctor sets his glasses down on his desk and takes a deep breath.

“His physical therapy is going just fine. He will be able to go back to school regularly tomorrow as planned. But as for his condition… I fear it may be getting worse. You should keep a close eye on him.”

\*the next day, the first Monday of December.\*

Poss sits silently at her table, completely zoned out.

“-and that’s when… Poss… are you listening?” Lychee snaps her from her trance.

“Mhm.”

“You’re not listening to a damn thing are you?” Lychee studies her face a moment. “You’re just worried. Relax, Kenji said he’d come back today. Besides what’s the worst that it could be?”

Poss snaps up, getting close to her face, her voice becoming eerie.

“You weren’t in there. You don’t know.” She begins to shift back to normal (kinda). “But it will be so weird between us. I know it will be.”

Lychee pauses a moment taking in her sister’s words. She wants to take everything into consideration before speaking, which is a first for her.

“I think we need to talk about this. If you don’t mind?” She asks in a nurturing tone.

Poss doesn’t get the chance to respond because i walk through the classroom door. Sunglasses and a mask on. 

“You know you’re not supposed to wear sunglasses- ahh shit what do I care?” Our teacher, Garlic Butters says. He knows my situation currently and makes the exception. He just wanted to be a little comedic hoping it would lift my spirits a bit.

I take my seat in the back of the class, unusually quiet. People aren’t used to seeing an unlively Vic. 

Poss‘s heart breaks a little bit seeing me so distant and cut off. She wants to say something, she needs to! But she can’t. She doesn’t know how, or what to say. It doesn’t seem like she can help me now. Besides, if she looks at me too long she’ll probably just turn red.

She tries her best to focus back on the lesson, her grades slipped a little after the hospital incident (at least in her eyes. In reality it went from a 98 to a 97).

“You good man?” Corvus whispers to me from his seat.

Wave and Jojo are also there, trying their best to make sure I’m alright, but they know better than to try and reason with me since I put everyone else before me and my own troubles.

“I’m doing fine. For real. I just need to get used to this.” I say to them quickly, trying to mask any insecurities I’m having.

“Well… we wanted to hang out later, if you wanna join-“ Wave says before I accidentally cut him off.

“Sorry guys I got work tonight.” 

They collectively sigh, wondering why I’m starting work again so soon.

“Dude are you serious?” Jojo asks me annoyed.

“Yeah. I am. That cyberpunk jacket is expensive and it won’t buy itself.” I snap back.

Corvus looks at me confused. 

“It’s almost Christmas. Just ask your parents for it or something.”

“You know I hate asking people to get me things.”

Poss, still focused, gets elbowed by Lychee. 

“What was that for?” Poss whispers. 

Lychee then stares, developing a plan in her head. Oh yeah, this is gonna be a good one.

“Nothing… tee hee…” Lychee says under her breath.

That night, I’m behind the shelf of my local bookstore, working like I used to. My boss was hesitant to let me work again but I assured her I wanted to help since she’s been so sweet, and since she’s old I knew she needed the help.

\*meanwhile, Lychee uses her parents against Poss again, making her go out on the town with her again. A tactic that works perfectly for Lychee’s plan.\*

She bursts the door to the bookstore open.

“Welcome in-! oh no…” I say to myself.

Me and Poss meet our gazes. Both of us look away instantly. 

“NO NO NO! I’m not ready for this! Why is she here so soon?! I don’t know what to say to her! Not good! Not good!” I say to myself in my head.

Meanwhile Poss ducks her head and follows Lychee to the back of the store.

“Is this why you brought me here?!” Poss semi whispers.

“Maybe… just enjoy it. Such a cute clerk over there. You should say hello to him! Poss, you know you want to!” She teases.

After an agonizing half hour of them browsing and whispering, and me standing behind the counter like a dork, lychee approaches with a stack of books.

“Is this everything ma’am?” I say trying to avoid looking at the two of them.

“Yes, that’s good. Here’s my card!” Lychee says, handing over her parent’s credit card. “So, when do you get off?”

“…about five minutes ago.” I say with a shaky breath. 

I check my phone after checking out their books and handing them their receipt. My mom is going to be late picking me up… she got off late too. And my dad is out of town. And Kenji went out with friends. I’m gonna have to wait a while…

“Dammit!” I yell a bit too loud. 

That mistake landed me in the position of Lychee offering me a ride home, and since I had a lot of make up work to do for class… I didn’t see another choice. So now, I’m stuck in the backseat of a car with the girl I like, and it’s awkward as HELL.

Lady & Gentleman Season 2 Episode 1