"That seemed like a little bit of an over reaction," Necronomicon chided as Kyle stepped in the door. Kyle left his bag by the front door and walked into the living room.

"I don't think so, actually," Kyle sighed as he sat down on his living room couch. "Despite Tobias's accusation, I do know what it's like to lose a friend... It hurts more when you know something could have been different, but that's all behind me now. At least he knows Chum Chum liked him; that they were on good terms when he..." Kyle trailed off. No one except Fanboy knew the exact events of what happened that night other than Chum Chum had fallen off the roof or out of a window or something. It had been over instantly, so he had not suffered much, but according to the rumors, Fanboy had been sitting on the curb in shock until morning when someone finally found them.

"That boy is trouble." Necronomicon insisted. Kyle shook his head.

"He's not... He's just human, no matter what he thinks... Come to think of it, I haven't got a reason not to like him aside from the fact he insults me from time to time and gloats over me... He might just be angry at something I did..."

"Are we talking about the same person?"

"Hm? Oh... Probably not. You were talking about Fanboy, right? I was talking about the friend I lost... But I'm also thinking: do I care anymore? I haven't seen him in three years."

"I'm only a book, not a relationship expert."

"Relationship? What on earth are you talking about?"

"A blind man could see it, dear boy. Don't be so surprised." Kyle blushed and looked at the ground. "If you ask me, though, it might be worth a shot, depending on your intentions. You are simply trying to patch up a friendship, aren't you?"

"YES!" Kyle snapped, flustered. His face was as red as his hair. "Of course that's the only thing I'm interested in! Who asked you, anyways? So nosey..." Kyle lied down on his couch. "Then again... Maybe he'll have an idea of how to cheer up Fanboy."

Sigmund leaned on his desk and flicked through his phone lazily. The surface of his oakwood workspace was cluttered with pens and papers and patches of fabric. "Sir," his secretary spoke over the intercom, pulling him from his daily events. "The summer line has to go out next week! Are you almost done?"

"Hm? Oh yes... Almost..." The truth was, he could only be farther from being finished if he destroyed his materials. There was no rush for a wizard to get work done quickly, though. He could start "working" then and be done by Tuesday. "Just give me a minute darling, I am very busy, you know?" The hardest part was coming up with new designs; there was not a spell to enhance creativity.

Sigmund's phone buzzed in his hand, startling him a bit. No one knew his cell number; everyone called his work phone. He did not recognize the number, either. After it rang twice, Sigmund answered it, still befuddled. "Hello? I think you have the wrong number."

"No, it's the right number." Kyle said placidly over the phone. "Listen, Sigmund... Do you want to meet up? I want to talk to you." Sigmund blinked and stared ahead, slightly in shock.

"Uhm... Sure... Where and when?"

"There's a new cafe in town... I was thinking there? Monday, maybe?"

"Sounds good..."

"See you then."

"Yeah..." Sigmund put the phone down and pushed the intercom's button. "Miranda... Cancel my Monday appointments. I have a small meeting." Sigmund sat back, wondering what Kyle could possibly want after three years. It was not like him to confront people, so maybe he was planning something? Sigmund shook his head, and with his nerves getting to him, charmed his equipment to start working on the summer line.

Kyle sat at a small table in the middle of the cafe. He had texted Sigmund the address, but that did not guarantee he would find it. He had tried to dress nice, with a casual, blue polo and some beige slacks, but he was still wearing his sneakers. The bell on the door dinged, and Kyle looked up. He had to do a double take, because the man at the door looked like a man. A nicely dressed, thin man with long white hair, but still a man. He adjusted the sleeve on his black suit. His green eyes scanned the room and landed on Kyle. "Ah, Kyle," he smiled and walked over elegantly and sat across from him. "You haven't changed a bit... Aside from a few more freckles, that is. Oh, and you got your awful braces removed!" Kyle cleared his throat.

"Yes, I did. You look... older... Like you're twenty five. Shouldn't you be eighteen?"

"Ah, ah, yes, but who would hire an eighteen year old for the fashion industry and still treat him with respect? They might not have hired me at all unless I put a spell on them, but even then they treated me like I was not as good as they were. So I used a spell to make myself look older is all. It's what this wedding ring is for, as well." Sigmund raised his left hand, and sure enough, a gold band was around his finger. "They treat you better when they believe you are married."

"Sounds like you're doing well." Kyle nodded.

"Ah... Well, I have a month of work to do in two days." They laughed at his joke.

"I haven't been practicing my craft much." Kyle muttered. "I mean, after I was expelled, I tried, but I kept saying "what's the point? They'll never take me back". It all kind of fell through the cracks. I've been focusing on normal school work instead."

"Oh, Kyle, Kyle, Kyle," Sigmund frowned and shook his head. "The point of practicing magic, even if you won't get anywhere with it, is you have a gift only a select number of people are able to possess! Our numbers are declining, you know? In the modern world, less and less people are able to recognize raw talent when they see it."

"My raw talent was used up learning how to make last minute decorations for parties that no one came to." Sigmund looked hurt a moment.

"You are still angry about that, huh?" Kyle shook his head.

"Not really angry... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that; that's not why I called you. It's all in the past."

"Ah... Why did you call me, Kyle?"

"I'm not sure. I wanted... See something happened and it made me think maybe you and I should have been friends this whole time..."

"Friends?" Sigmund was surprised. "You want to be friends again?"

"Kind of... I've been lonely a lot. I only have Necronomicon to talk to."

"Ah, but what about your other friends, that superheroes duo? They seem to like you a lot."

"Oh... They aren't exactly a duo anymore, and the one that's left doesn't want to be, or thinks he can't or something. He won't talk to me about it."

"Mm, yes... That is sad. Kyle, do you want to be more hospitable and invite me to your house?"

"My house?" Kyle asked incredulously, "Why would you want to go there?"

"Why wouldn't I? It is the house of my friend Kyle!"

"I see what you mean." Kyle said and rose from his chair. "Oh, wait, do you want a drink first?"

"No, allow me to buy. I'm the working man after all."

"Very funny." Kyle rolled his eyes, but let Sigmund buy him a coffee anyways.

They sipped their drinks as they walked, and Sigmund continued to tell Kyle about his business. "We are putting out a summer line next week," Sigmund said, "Of summer colors, like blue and green and yellow dresses and shirts. The dresses have hats to go with them."

"Very interesting." Kyle nodded. He stopped and looked up as they passed the water tower. Fanboy had not been at school that day, as himself or as his Tobias persona. "Do you mind if we check in on Fanboy? Or, um, he likes to be called Tobias now."

"Ah, yes. I would like to see him as well!"

"That's good and well, but it won't be a fun visit. You might be a little disappointed."

Kyle climbed up the edge of the deck ladder and gave an exhausted sigh. Sigmund was already waiting, and he looked younger. His hair was still long, but at least he looked like a teenager like he was supposed to. "Why did you climb? You could have teleported. You kept me waiting."

"Why are you like this again?" Kyle asked and wiped sweat off of his forehead.

"I had to undo the age charm to use my teleportation magic. My second charm is busy working on my designs."

"Whatever," Kyle said and rang the doorbell. The door opened slowly. Tobias looked at them for a moment, as if confused about what to say or do. "Hey, um... You were kind of upset the other day, and I wanted to check on you."

"You were worried about me, Kyle?" Tobias opened the door wider. Sigmund blinked.

"My my, look at you! You look nice without that ghastly cape and mask. You still look like an idiot, of course, but pretty people are never as smart as me." Kyle glared at him. "I'm not pretty; I'm fabulous. There's a difference."

"Sorry, he was with me when I decided to come up here." Kyle sighed.

"It doesn't matter," Tobias walked away from the door and Kyle followed. "He's right. I'm an idiot."

"That's not true," Kyle said. Tobias sank down on the couch and Kyle sat next to him. "You're not stupid. You just don't apply yourself." Tobias scoffed and crossed his arms.

"Well, I'm still alive, so you can leave now."

"...Why would you not be alive?" Sigmund asked quietly, though neither of them heard him.

"Why...? No, I know why. I get it; you're really depressed, but... This is a little too much... Cooped up in your house all day..." Kyle trailed off. If he did not want to think about it, he would not stay in the house. Remnants of the boy were everywhere. "I miss him too, but I know it can't come close to how you feel." Kyle hunched forward.

"You weren't kidding when you said it would not be fun," Sigmund said from the doorway. "I know the way to your house, Kyle. Should I wait for you there?"

"Yeah," Kyle nodded and waved, and Sigmund pulled the door shut. Tobias looked at him. "What is it?"

"...You and Sigmund... You're friends now?"

"Well, I want to try. I mean, we stopped being friends for a stupid reason ten years ago. It's not like I hate him anymore..."

"He's gay too?" Kyle jerked his head to the side.

"Eh? What?"

"You didn't notice? He called himself "fabulous", Kyle."

"No, I meant that "too" part. As in also?"

"Yes... Why? You look so shocked."

"No, no! I'm not gay! Why does everyone keep saying that?" Tobias turned sheepish, a slight blush on his face. He rubbed the back of his neck.

"I didn't mean you... When I said that, I never thought you... Well, it would make sense."

"Don't go spreading rumors about me!" Kyle snapped.

"I won't. Then again, there's no such thing as bad publicity. I'm just kidding! Don't look so offended!"

"I just don't know... I've never had those feelings for anyone."

"The only one I cared about was Chum Chum and he was like my brother."

"Ah... Yes... I understand." Kyle reached his arms out awkwardly and pulled Tobias into a hug.

"What are you doing?"

"Um... A hug. To make you feel better."

"It's fine..." Tobias sat back a little. "I told you before I don't feel like being cheered up. I just want to be alone a while..."

"Okay. I have to go entertain a house guest."

"Good luck with that guy. He's so... You know." Kyle nodded, and he left the water tower feeling a lot better.