"And then she gave me this really evil stare like she was just going to smack me in the face. It was horrible." Kuki gossiped as she pulled her legs up onto the sofa to sit Indian style and face her friend. "I mean just because I wore the same dress?"

When Kuki had gotten home Abby had text her and told her that she wanted to meet up and catch up. So Kuki replied that they'd do a movie night at the treehouse. As they sat and ate the popcorn they discussed school issues and what was going on with them and Kuki had come onto the subject of Hattie.

Abby reached her hand into the plastic blue bowl next to them and took a few salted chips, placing them into her mouth coolly, munching them and clearing her throat.
"Well this girl don't seem to nice." Abby hummed. "And Numbuh 5 wants you to have decent friends. Not fickle ones…"

"The rest of them are okay." Kuki assured her. "Ruth's real nice, and Bradley, I hang around with him a lot more than I hang around with Hattie. Wally knows Hattie and Bradley though!"

"Really?" Abby mused.

Kuki nodded. "I don't know why but Hattie and Michael don't seem to…get along with him. Wally won't tell me why though."

Abby looked thoughtful for a moment, took a handful of chips and munched on them. She then spoke when she swallowed the food. "Girl, maybe if Wally doesn't get along with them then you shouldn't get caught in the middle. Don't choose between your best friends and your new friends."

Kuki nodded. "I know."
She pulled the blanket from the sofa and placed it over her lap. Staring at the pictures on the screen and wondering what was going on in the film. It was hard enough to understand this film but as the two of them had chatted throughout it and now that they were halfway through, Kuki had no idea of the storyline.

"Anyway, Numbuh 5 wanted to tell you something girl." Abby said excitedly.

Kuki's eyes brightened with curiosity.

"So Numbuh 5 was sat in math class today just staring out of the window and this paper aeroplane hits her on the head. So Numbuh 5 turns around and glares and Donny who obviously threw it and he told Numbuh 5 to open it. So she did, it said 'Hoagie likes you.' Numbuh 5 just shook her head knowing that he was being stupid but then Numbuh 2 had this real…weird look. Numbuh 5 went up to him after class and he dragged her away into a quiet corner and told Numbuh 5 that Donny was right and he thought she was perfect and then he kissed her right on the lips!" Abby said hastily.

Kuki gasped and squealed with excitement, "Oh my god really? What happens now?"

Abby shrugged. "Well Numbuh 5 asked Hoagie what he wanted to do and he asked Numbuh 5 if she wanted to go to the movies tomorrow night!"

Kuki beamed. "What did you say?"

"YES!" Abby snorted.

Kuki screamed and pulled her best friend into a hug.

"I'm soo happy for you!" Kuki exclaimed, flapping her hands childishly with a huge grin on her face.

Abby giggled and looked down at her knees with embarrassment. She then gave a sly grin and looked back up to Kuki. She then spoke with a playful and tormenting tone.
"So how's things with you and Wally now that you're not spending much time together? You're obviously still hooked on him 'cause you keep mentioning him."

Kuki gave a small smile and blinked. "I don't know. I obviously don't think I like him any less but…since I've been at school I've kind of felt like…I like someone else too? Is that even possible?"

Abby cocked an eyebrow. "Not for you usually. You like this other guy as much as you like Numbuh 4?"

"I don't know, sometimes I think I do, then I really don't feel comfortable around but other times I feel like I'm just wasting my time with Wally and Michael seems pretty interested, plus he is a nice guy and I think I really do like him." Kuki shrugged.

Abby shook her head. "Michael? The guy that Numbuh 4 doesn't like?"

Kuki nodded. "I don't know why but I really have a soft spot for him, you know? Sometimes though, I just think that it might be because he really reminds me of Wally."

Abby shook her head. "Numbuh 5 would say stay away from going further than friends if Numbuh 4 don't like him. You're not wasting your time with him girl, Numbuh 5 knows he likes you but he's just too proud and scared of rejection to say anything. Just give him time or…maybe make the first move."

Kuki blinked. She thought for a second and then looked up at her friend. She was about to reply when they both heard the creaking of the front door. Both girls turned to watch the door open and see a blonde boy walk in, his orange hood covering the parts of his face that his fringe wasn't. It was obviously raining quite heavily as his sweater was a deeper shade than usual as it was soaked through. His usually golden blonde locks looked more of a dark brown and hung even more messily over his eyes than normal.

"Oh, hi." He muttered as he stepped in. "Sorry, I didn't know that anyone would be here tonight."

"What are you doing here so late Numbuh 4?" Kuki asked.

Wally shrugged. "Had an argument with my dad so I thought I'd let him cool off and stay here tonight. Why are you guys here?"

"We were watching a movie. Want to watch it with us?" Kuki beamed.

Wally looked up at the screen and gave a blank look. "Na, I don't like reading the credits."

The two of the girls looked at the screen to see white words rolling to the top of the black screen. The movie must have finished.

"It's over?" Numbuh 5 asked. "What time is it?"

Wally pulled out his phone and pressed a button to make it light up. "Nine forty-five."

Abby gasped and shot up. "Numbuh 5 better get back. She's gotta be up for school in the morning. You coming Numbuh 3?"

"Umm, I'll stay here a little longer." Kuki replied with a sweet smile. "See you soon Numbuh 5."

"Bye girl." Abby smiled back, then gave a wink. "Remember what we were just talking about."

Kuki laughed and gave her friend a shut up look. Abby chuckled and tightly fastened her coat before closing the door behind her.
Kuki stared at the door, wondering why she chose not to go home with Abby, it would have saved her a walk home alone. She too had school in the morning so shouldn't really be staying up much later. She must have felt bad leaving Wally on his own in the house the minute he walked in. He seemed pretty frustrated too so maybe he didn't want to be on his own…or maybe he did which is why he came down?

Kuki shook her thoughts out of her head and smiled at Wally as he hopped onto the sofa next to her where Abby was sat, helping himself to a generous amount of potato chips that were still left over in the bowl.
"That was a really thoughtful look." He grinned as he shoved a portion of chips into his mouth. "Looks like it hurt too. What are you thinking of that needs that much thought?"

Kuki just shrugged at him. "Nothing. I was just…sitting."

"I can see that." Wally said with a playful Duh tone. "So what was the thing Abby was telling you to remember? What you were talking about?"

"Nothing." Kuki replied with an innocent smile.

Wally raised an eyebrow. "Is that all you're going to say?"

Kuki chuckled and gave a nod. "Yeah."

Wally rolled his eyes and ate some more chips. He then groaned as he tugged at the sleeves of his sweater.
"Stupid rain, now my sweaters all stuck to me. I didn't bring any more clothes."

"Don't you have your pyjamas here anymore that you can change into?" Kuki asked.

Wally stopped and looked at her as if she'd just spoken to him in Spanish. "That orange onesie that I wore when we were nine? Which half of me should I try and fit it on?"

Kuki bit her lip.

"Oh…I forgot." She then gave a nervous laugh, feeling embarrassed at her last comment, of course Wally wouldn't fit in that anymore, he'd grown, not only lengthways but in build too, his shoulders were broader than they used to be and he no longer had that little piece of baby fat on his stomach, it was now a taller, toned body.
"Don't you keep any here?"

"We don't stay here enough." Wally shrugged. "Plus I stopped wearing pyjamas when I was twelve."

Kuki couldn't help but blush at this comment. The picture had just entered her head and wouldn't go away. She chose to stay quiet so not to embarrass herself again by saying yet another stupid comment. She gave a yawn.

"You tired?" Wally asked.

Kuki shrugged. "A little, it's been a long week."

Wally gave a smile. "You're telling me. I've stayed after school four times this week, only one of them was for detention."

Kuki smiled. "You mean you actually stayed back to do work? What's going on with you?"

"No!" Wally chuckled. "I mean for like extra curricular clubs like soccer and basketball and stuff."

"I was starting to wonder." Kuki laughed. "I was going to ask who you were trying to impress by being a nerd."

"Yeah, cause you never stay behind at your school. I remember you'd stay until 6 some nights." Wally pointed out.

Kuki shook her head. "I actually never have at this school. I only really work when I have to."

"Why? That's not like you." Wally said.

Kuki just shrugged. "To prove to my mom that it's not the right school for me, there's not really anything I can think I actually want to stay behind and work on, and I just prefer hanging out."

Wally blinked. "Wow, you have changed."

Kuki smiled. "You too, you'd never stay after school, even if it was for sport. 'after school is my time' you used to say."

"I've obviously taught you well then." Wally grinned.

Kuki giggled. "No, I taught you and your bad influence rubbed off on me."

Wally laughed. "Yeah that's more like it."

Kuki laughed and then stared at her friend. "Wally why did you and your dad argue?"

Wally's face dropped. He sighed and leant forward a little. "Joey's starting to be a pest at school and dad's blaming me saying that he's copying what he sees and hears me do. I said that I wasn't going to stop being myself around him and dad just flipped saying how I need to grow up and start thinking of other people and be a little more cautious with how I'm acting and stuff. I was going to blow so I just walked out. He was so out of hand."

Kuki sat and listened intently to him.
Wally sat forward and placed his head in his hands.
"It's like Joey does everything right and I'm just the reject of the family. Even if Joey does something wrong it's my fault and not his. Sometimes my family just make me feel so useless and stupid."

"Wally, you're not a reject." Kuki said, placing her hand on his shoulder.

Wally scoffed. "yeah right."

"Seriously Wally!" Kuki stated, standing from the couch and crouching in front of him to meet his eyeline. Her hands reached out and grabbed both of his shoulders.
"You're not a reject, you're not useless and you are not stupid! You're amazing Wally."

Wally looked up at her. "Kuki you're just saying that."

"No Wally, you saw me a few weeks ago, I was so unhappy with myself I turned bulimic! So many people have to go to counselling or the hospital to overcome that but I didn't because you helped me get out of it quickly and taught me to just like myself, even if I can't love myself." She told him. "Not many people could do that. If it weren't for you I'd probably be really ill right now. I couldn't have done it without you."

Wally gave a small smile. "Sure you could, you're a strong, smart girl."

Kuki blinked and gazed into his light green eyes.

"Wally, just don't think about yourself as useless, or stupid or a reject. Because you're not any of those at all. You're a great guy."

Wally gave a smile. "Thanks Kuki."
He pulled her into a hug which she gladly returned.

When they broke the hug Wally glanced at his phone. "Jeez it's half past ten."

"I'd better get home." Kuki sighed.

Wally smiled and stood up. "Come on, I'll walk you back."

"Oh you don't have to…" Kuki began.

"I know I don't, but I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you and I knew that I would have been able to stop it if I was with you." He replied with a cute smile.

Kuki blushed and opened the door, stepping out into the rain. Wally followed her closely.
The rain was so cold it hurt Kuki's face as they quickly walked towards her house. She was lucky that she only lived a block away. They soon came to her house and Kuki stood on the doorway as she tried to fish out her keys.

"Well, here you go, safe and sound." Wally smiled.

"Thanks Wally." Kuki beamed, finding her keys and holding them in her hand.

"See you soon?" Wally asked.

Kuki nodded eagerly. She then frowned. "I feel really bad that you have to walk back on your own again now."

Wally chuckled. "Don't worry about me I'm fine, I can look after myself."

"I know." Kuki smiled. "Well goodnight."

"Night Kuki." Wally said, stepping forward clumsily.

Kuki beamed and gave him a hug as she thought this was what he was going for. It took her by surprise when she heard his lips make a popping sound by her cheek as she put her chin on his shoulder. She pulled back and stared at him in confusion.

"Sorry." Wally said quickly, his face going bright red.

"Did you just try to kiss me?" She asked.

Wally gritted his teeth. "…I…I thought you were going in for a kiss so I was going to then…"

Kuki gave a giggle. She bit her lip.
"Do you want to kiss me?"

Wally shut up and stared at her. He then gave a smile and leant in, closing the gap between their lips. It was only a peck but to Kuki it was the most exciting event of the night. She felt like there was a circus in her stomach, acrobats were flying and spinning around crazily.
Kuki went a deep red as she stepped back and put her keys in the door.

"Night Wally."

"Night Kuki."

She walked in the house and closed the door. Leaning against it she gave a dreamy smile and closed her eyes, replaying that moment in her head over and over again. Maybe she wasn't wasting her time after all.