She still hasn't contacted me!

Matt repeatedly thought about her gloomily. Did Avril realize that Matt was really a loser? Matt couldn't even stand up for himself yesterday. Isn't that a good point to stay away from Matt? Just stay away from a guy who can't stand up for himself. He's not going to be a cool boyfriend that you can brag about with your friends. Especially if your friends have tons of achievements. Matt's brow furrowed. Did he just think of a girlfriend?

"Why is your face creased so much now? Your forehead is wrinkled too! I'm worried you'll have wrinkles at a young age!" Warren commented.

Warren was chopping up a fried egg filled with vegetables and meat sprinkled with awful plastics. Matt snorted. "You're more pathetic, Knock. How can you eat plastic like that? Maybe you can eat plastic that doesn't break down with soil."

Warren laughed instead. "You're so pathetic. This is Katsuoboshi, Matt. Technically, it's a skipjack. Compared to plastic, people usually think of it as similar to wood shavings."Why wasn't Matt surprised by Warren's weirdness? Matt stabbed the spaghetti with his fork. 

"Yeah, whatever"

As usual, Warren was completely insensitive. Instead, Warren cut his food proudly. "This is called Okonomiyaki. Japanese food."

"You really like Japanese food" Matt said.

"My mom is Japanese" Warren replied briefly. "I've told you a hundred times"

"Excessive! It can't be a hundred times" said Matt lazily.

Okay! Matt needed food. No matter how many times Matt turns to the popular table, he won't be there. It's Thursday. Today is Avril's scheduled broadcast on the school radio. Where is that girl now? As if hearing Matt's question, it wasn't long before Avril's voice came over the school's loudspeakers. Her soft, warm, yet energetic voice makes anyone automatically hear her voice. 

Avril told a joke about her tardiness. Everyone in the cafeteria laughed at Avril's joke. Even the weird Warren laughed. At least for this matter, Warren had the same taste as everyone else.

Matt put the spaghetti into his meal while listening to Avril's voice. Last Friday he was so close to Avril. Matt could hear Avril's voice directly. Then, a disturbing week for Matt played in his head. Strangely, Matt didn't feel bothered at all. how Avril surprised him and suddenly showed up at his house. How she smiled broadly and said his name.

"Matt!" someone said in an urgent tone.

No! That wasn't the way Avril called him. Her voice was usually laden with the promise of pleasure, fun and even...

"And he's daydreaming now" Warren said with concern. "You guys aren't being bullied anymore are you?"

Matt blinked his eyes. Instead of Avril, in front of him stood Kim. The girl was sitting and watching him with a pitying expression. Wait a minute, what the hell is that expression? Matt didn't think he deserved pity.

"I don't. I don't know about Matt" Kim said weakly.

The girl was wearing black again today. Black sleeveless t-shirt and tartan skirt again. Only, this time the tartan skirt was a mix of twilight colors and yellow stripes. Still, Kim didn't take away the emo vibe from her at all.

"Stop this ridiculous chatter!" Matt said. "I'm fine."

Kim didn't seem to accept Matt's words. "You can talk to us. We're already friends, right?"

Matt wanted to add that Kim managed to force them. However, seconds later he decided not to say it at all. "I'm okay. Really!"

Kim nodded in the end. She heard Avril's voice which really made her comfortable. "I usually just like her voice. But, now, I guess I'm a fan. I mean, hey! Avril Miller is really cool."

Avril played a song for them. It was Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud. Good song choice. Quite in line with Matt's current feelings. What if Avril decided not to know Matt at all? Would Matt have to chase after Avril? The thought sounded crazy in Matt's head. But, it seemed worth a try.

"Matt knows Avril" Warren said. "Looks like they're pretty close"

Matt glared. Oh, come on! Warren had only seen Avril approach Matt once. Can Warren at least let Matt wrestle with his own thoughts? This sucks! It's like Warren is pouring salt on the wound. Didn't he realize that Matt was upset right now?

"Really? Wow, I'm impressed! I thought you only knew us" Kim said. "Maybe that's why Avril helped us yesterday"

Matt shook his head. He had thought about it a thousand times. But, Matt wouldn't let himself hope at all. "She's just being Avril. You clearly saw her helping Val yesterday in the corridor"

Kim nodded. "Makes sense. So, how close are you to Avril? How does it feel to be close to Avril?"

Getting to know Avril turns your world upside down and you even start to doubt your decision. But, Matt didn't say that at all. "We weren't close. We didn't even meet five times"

That's another crazy thing. How could Avril's effect be so great when they only met a few times? Kim raised her eyebrows. Apparently, what Matt just said didn't satisfy her at all.

"Think of it as close!" Kim said, not listening.

Matt gave up. Finally, he realized that Kim was quite stubborn. Maybe she forced Warren to have lunch with them. Unfortunately, he seemed to be enjoying their little group in the cafeteria. Warren had no problem at all being dragged here by Kim.

Kim looked down and took 3 tickets from her bag. Ah! Tomorrow is Kim's performance. Her first show was at 1pm. Warren had said that she could catch up after school. It just so happened that they had nothing to do on Friday.

"This is for you" Kim said, giving one ticket to Warren and then two to Matt. "This is for you."

Warren glanced at the tickets in Matt's hand. "Why did you give him two?"

"I want Matt to ask someone" Kim said mysteriously.

Kim really wanted to tell Matt to ask Avril. But, somehow, Kim wasn't sure about Matt at all.

"You don't think I want to ask someone too?" Warren said insensitively again.

Kim screwed up her face. "I know you don't have anyone to ask."

Matt looked at Kim. "I'm not sure either, Kim! What if the tickets are wasted?"

Kim brushed off the air. "Don't worry about it. Just in case."

For the first time, Matt was grateful to know Kim. Really! Matt wasn't sure he could bring Avril along. But, those two tickets seemed to give Matt strength. Maybe being friends with Kim wasn't so bad after all. Avril's voice rang out again. Now, all Matt had to think about was how to ask Avril. Would Avril come over to his house today? Johanna seemed to know the answer.