Adagio slogged herself out of the bank, growling and clutching the rejection notice for her loan. It was unsurprising to hear that most banks didn’t feel content with funding an adult club. Nevertheless, she had been from bank to bank to bank, constantly hearing excuse after excuse. Trudging her way downtown, she sat down at the bus stop to catch the fastest ride back to her apartment. The sound of sniffling next to her caught her attention and she looked over to see a teenage girl whimpering in a little ball in her seat.

Shrugging, Adagio figured making conversation would take her mind off her failed finances, “Something wrong, kid?”

The teenager squeaked, wide-eyed as she drew away. Her eyes were bloodshot and soaked with tears, coupled with breathy whimpers. “W-What?”

“You’re crying,” she said stiffly, “What’s wrong?”

“N-No! Don’t worry about me! It’s not something you should concern yourself about!” The girl said, sounding scared now, “It’s not like I have big grown up problems! No, it’s just being dumped by another girl!”

Adagio winced, “Oooh, I know how that feels, kid,” she said, laying a hand on her shoulder, “How long were you with her?”

“Over a month…” The girl whimpered, wiping her eyes.

Adagio groaned in sympathy and rubbed Sonata’s shoulder. A month was nothing to her, but to a teenager, a relationship lasting a month was a big deal, “Poor kid. How did it end?”

“...She left me,” was all the girl said, turning away and shaking a bit.

“Aw…” Adagio pouted. She couldn’t help but feel sympathy for this girl. She could remember being in this position when she was in high school as well, “...You want a burger or something?”

“...W-Wha?” The girl looked at her again, “...But… why? ...Why are you being so nice to me? ...You don’t know me… You must have better things to do.”

“The thing is, I really don’t,” Adagio snickered, looking across the street at a mexican resturant, “You like tacos?”

“I’ve never had them…”

“Oh are you missing out,” Adagio chuckled, taking her by the hand and pulling her to her feet, “C’mon, we’re gonna fix that.”

“....Thank you…” She looked at her gratefully, “No one’s ever done that for me before.”

“I can’t see why that is, you’re a sweetheart,” Adagio smiled.

Ten minutes later, the girl was scarfing down tacos like a bum dying of hunger. Adagio was both surprised and laughing.

“I guess you were hungry,” she giggled, slowly eating her fries.

“I haven’t eaten all day,” the girl, who had earlier introduced herself as Sonata Dusk, smiled sheepishly, “...And I never knew tacos were so good.”

“What rock did you crawl out from under?” Adagio asked with a chuckle. Sonata had perked up considerably once she had gotten some food into her and was one of the most adorable things Adagio had ever laid eyes upon. While she was still considerably upset, Adagio could see she was on the mend.

“Well I… my parents are vegetarians, and they usually expect me to be the same way. But I’ve had chicken and pork before...so good!” Sonata pouted, “The only places I can ever eat meat if at my friend’s house or if I have allowance money to get a burger.”

“Oh vegetarian parents are the worst,” Adagio gagged, patting her hand, “Old girlfriend of mine had vegan parents. Went to the hospital several times.”

“Ewwww!” Sonata made a face, “My parents tried the vegan diet once, and it was terrible! Yuck! It was even worse going back up!”

“And it’ll kill you if you keep it going too long,” Adagio said, whistling softly, “You’re skinny as a rail. Last thing you need is a life without burgers.”

Sonata looked at her with wide eyes, then nodded and shook a bit, “I can’t believe I even said that… I… never told anyone.”

Adagio raised an eyebrow, “I’m sorry?”

“...I have an eating disorder,” Sonata admitted, not looking at her now, “Sometimes I skip meals, other times I’ll make myself throw up.”

“And why do you do that?” Adagio asked, squeezing her fingers.

Sonata sighed, looking down at her lap and seemingly at a loss for how to answer. She looked about herself, still not meeting Adagio’s gaze, “About two years ago… I kinda had to get surgery from this, uh… I don’t know, this problem I had with my stomach. I forget what it was. But I lost over thirty pounds after the surgery, and I… just loved how I looked. I was really skinny. Then I gained the weight back after a few months and just… kinda felt sad. I wanted to look like I did back then, I guess…”

Sonata was breaking Adagio’s heart into more pieces with every passing minute, “Oh, you poor baby,” she cooed softly, squeezing Sonata’s hand.

Looking up at her, Sonata shook a bit, sniffling, “I just want to be pretty… to feel good about myself! But I never seem to!”

“Never feel good about yourself, or never be pretty? Because you’re gorgeous,” Adagio smiled, patting Sonata’s hand.

“B-Both, but… it’s okay, you don’t have to say that,” Sonata wiped her eyes again, “Everyone tells me that. But I just… I don’t know how to believe them…”

Adagio cooed again, Sonata was breaking through every mental barrier at this point, “Oh I mean it, sweetie. You’re just so nummy, I could eat you up.”

Sonata blushed heavily, wide-eyed, “Y-You mean it? Really? I… you’re so beautiful and… you’re just… thank you…” She looked down shyly.

“You’re welcome,” Adagio smiled, coming around the table to sit on Sonata’s side of the booth next to her, “You want more tacos?”

“Well, sure… that’d be nice,” Sonata blushed and looked at her with a little smile, “They’re so good…”

Adagio signalled the waitress for more tacos as she wrapped her arm around Sonata’s shoulder, “I’m glad you like them,” she smiled, taking a chance and nuzzling her.

A tiny squeak emitted from Sonata, but she otherwise didn’t resist. She looked away a little, still blushing all the more.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?” Adagio asked softly.

“...No,” Sonata shook her head, “I just, well I… I like this…”

“I’m glad,” Adagio smiled, pulling Sonata closer and gently nuzzling her hair.

Sonata shook, then proceed to bring her arms around her, shaking a bit, “You… smell really nice…”

“Thank you,” Adagio cooed softly, cuddling Sonata close to her, “Oh you are so cute!”

“You really think I’m cute?” Sonata looked up at her now, her cheeks pink.

“Mmhmm,” Adagio nodded, nuzzling Sonata as the waitress laid more food down in front of them.

Sonata looked at her more, her eyes gleaming, before she smiled more, “So… you’ll be my friend?”

“Of course,” Adagio smiled, bringing her other arm up around her in a full hug.

“Oh, thank you!” Sonata hugged her more now too, shaking, “You’re… You’re so nice! You’re like an angel… You just… came to me when I needed help…”

“Oh I’m no angel, but you’re welcome,” Adagio smiled, her heart fluttering at how adorable Sonata was, hugging her tightly and nuzzling her under her chin.

Sniffling, but not sadly for a change, Sonata hugged her tighter, “Well, you can be my angel, anyway…”

“Okay, I can do that,” Adagio giggled, sighing softly as the scent of Sonata’s hair filled her nostrils. Already she was formulating a plan in her mind. From the sound of it, Sonata had a very rough time at school. She would have to fix that.

With more of a smile, Sonata then pulled back a bit, proceeding to eat another taco, “Mmm… soooo good….”

“You enjoy it,” Adagio smiled, nuzzling her hair, “Where were you headed, anyway?”

“Home…” Sonata sighed, “All by myself. Mom and Dad are gone for the weekend… Like freaking always… It’s like they’re not home anymore…”

Adagio nodded and kissed the top of Sonata’s head without thinking, “Why don’t you come down to my place and I can drive you?”

A little squeak escaped the younger girl, but then she looked at her, her mouth stuffed full of food. She then swallowed, “You’d do that?”

“Of course. Where do you live?” Adagio asked with a smile.

“South Ashfield…” Sonata murmured, biting her lip, “I know, I know… ‘Poor little rich girl, what could she possibly know about misery?’...”

“Are you kidding? Parents always out? Forced to be a vegetarian? From the looks of it you get treated like this at school,” Adagio whistled, “And you may be rich, but be honest: How much of that money are you actually allowed to touch? That’s what I thought. C’mon, let’s head out. I live seven blocks down.”

“Okay…” Sonata nodded, finishing her last bite, “Thank you, Adagio.”

“You’re welcome,” Adagio smiled, nuzzling Sonata’s hair.

Adagio pulled her car up in front of South Ashfield High School, waiting outside as she eyed the congregation of students around the front door. Looking down at her watch, it was going to be any minute when everyone was let out of class. Sonata didn’t know she was coming to pick her up. But quite frankly she loved seeing those surprised looks on that adorable girl’s face.

Before long, the school bell rang loudly and a plethora of students ran out. Actually ran, excited to be out of school for the day. As they dispersed near the front gate, one in particular stood out to Adagio. That being Sonata, who was walking with her head hanging low, hands clutching at her backpack straps.

Adagio watched as two girls and one boy both pointed at her from behind her back. Waving to their friends, they all crept up on her, one of them grabbing ahold of the trash can beside the door. Adagio wasn’t having this and let out a sharp whistle, catching the attention of Sonata and the kids who were sneaking up on her.

Sonata looked up, surprised at seeing her. Although oblivious to what had been going on behind her, she jogged over to Adagio. Unable to help it, she threw her arms around her tightly and clung. Adagio wrapped her arms around Sonata and hugged her tightly, looking up to glare at the students who had been sneaking up on her before returning to nuzzling her hair.

“How are you doing?” she asked softly.

“Not good. Everyone’s picking on me,” Sonata sniffled, “I try telling them to stop and leaving me alone, but they won’t! And telling teachers just makes it worse because now they want to get back at me for getting them in trouble!”

Adagio ran her hand through Sonata’s hair, cooing softly as she cuddled her, “Poor baby. You want me to do something about all this?”

“There’s nothing you could do, but thanks…” Sonata murmured, burying her face in her neck.

Adagio had no intention on listening to her, but stroked her hair and tightly held her, “C’mon, get in the car, sweetheart.”

Nodding, Sonata released her from her grip and went around to the passenger side door. She slid into the seat, placing her backpack onto her lap and closing the door.

“Thank you for giving me a ride,” Sonata murmured.

Adagio snickered, her adult mind always fond of spotting double entendres even when they were likely unintentional, “Of course, Sonata. You want me to take you straight home?”

Sonata nodded, “Yeah, that’d be good. I wanted to get a head start on studying for my exams, anyway.”

Adagio smiled through her disappointment and turned down to Sonata’s upper class neighbourhood. As she pulled up in front of the house, she could clearly see that Sonata was going to be alone for the next few hours.

“Alright, here we are,” she said, reaching over and giving Sonata a one-armed hug.

Sonata returned it, nuzzling her, “...Do you want to come in? My parents aren’t home.”

Adagio briefly pictured just what would happen if Sonata’s parents came home to find a strange woman in the house with their gay daughter, and smirked. She loved instigating drama.

“Of course,” she smiled, getting out of the car with her.

“Awesome,” Sonata smiled too, hugging her backpack, “So, can I… be honest about something?”

“Of course, you can be honest about anything,” Adagio smiled as Sonata led her inside.

“I… don’t have people over much,” Sonata admitted, going toward the kitchen, “Not that I don’t want to have friends over! It’s just hard to tell my friends I live in South Ashfield. I know this isn’t a mansion, but you’d never think some average suburban family lived here. So I just kind of don’t tell them I live here and try everything I can not to bring them.”

Adagio smiled and followed her, gently patting her shoulder, “Oh I know how that feels. Growing up, my family lived well too and I got shit for it from the other kids as well.”

“Really?” Sonata smiled a little, glad to see someone understood, “Yeah, that’s exactly why. When I was in grade school, I brought some friends over. You know, not thinking about it. They just… they were in shock, but then they got angry and left. When I confronted them at school the next day, they were mad because now they thought I was a rich, snobby little prissy. That I wasn’t like them and just pretending to to pick on the ‘poor people’. It just made me scared to go through that again, losing friends because of where I live.”

“It looks like word got out anyway,” Adagio said softly, sitting down next to her at the table and laying her hand over her’s, “You seem to be pretty lonely…”

Looking at her sadly, Sonata nodded, “...Yeah. I am. I do know this other girl, Aria… but I don’t think she likes me very much.”

“Oh that’s a shame,” Adagio pouted, nuzzling Sonata’s hair, “You’re such a sweetheart, you don’t deserve the kind of shit you get…”

“You’re the first one to ever say that…” Sonata hugged her now, clinging.

This just broke Adagio’s heart as she held the girl close to her, patting her back as she nuzzled her under her chin, “Oh, you’re just too precious…”

“Aww...gee…” Sonata giggled, “My parents do try to help, and they mean well. But they’re always so busy and just… don’t have time for me. I… I miss them…”

Adagio couldn’t help herself and pulled Sonata into her lap, snuggling her with a smile, “Where do they go all this time?”

“Business trips,” Sonata snuggled against her, laying her head on her shoulder, “They’re business firm lawyers, working in the same company. Because their work is so in-demand, they have to travel a lot. Sometimes I go along when I don’t have school, but usually I have to stay behind for days at a time.”

“You must be so lonely around here all alone,” Adagio cooed, leaning back in her chair and rubbing Sonata’s back.

“Mm-hmm… I am,” Sonata sighed a bit, “Thank you for coming back with me, though. You’ve really done way too much for me…”

“Too much? I don’t think I’ve done enough,” Adagio smiled, nuzzling her cheek.

Sonata looked at her with surprise, “W-What?”

“You’re still so lonely and sad most of the time,” Adagio said with a pout, “I don’t wanna see you like that. You’re too cute to be sad.”

Blushing, Sonata buried her face in her neck, “You’re really sweet, Adagio… I-I think you’re just about my only friend, now. I don’t deserve you, but… I don’t want to let you go!”

“Well, you’re going to have to loosen up a bit,” Adagio smiled weakly, “You’re choking me.”

“Sorry…” Sonata loosened her hold.

“That’s alright,” Adagio smiled, leaning in and kissing her forehead.

Blushing more, Sonata looked at her with a shy smile, “I really want to spend more time with you, Adagio…”

“Me too,” Adagio smiled, nuzzling Sonata close and patting her hip.

Giggling, Sonata smiled more and held closer, “You’re really cuddly… I haven’t cuddled in… I don’t know, it feels like forever.”

“I love cuddling,” Adagio smiled, “Nothing’s better than being wrapped up with someone you love.”

“Mm-hmm…” Came Sonata’s saddened hum, “But not when the other person never loved you…”

“The girl you broke up with last week?” Adagio asked softly, gently running her hands through Sonata’s ponytail.

Sonata nodded, “Yeah, her.”

“Do you wanna talk about it?” Adagio asked softly.

“I… I can’t now, but maybe another time,” Sonata murmured, “It’s just… sometimes there are people who aren’t what they say and they use that against you.”

“Okay,” Adagio said, patting her head and rocking her in her lap, “You tell me when you’re ready, sweetheart.”

“Thank you,” Sonata murmured, laying her head on her shoulder again, “You’re so warm and cuddly, I just… I feel so much better, actually.”

“Oh good,” Adagio smiled, kissing the top of her head, “I’m just worried about how you’re going to be tomorrow at school.”

Sonata blinked, then sighed, “I don’t know, really. The minute I step into school, I just get miserable and wondering when I’m going to get a ‘Kick Me’ sign on my back.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to do anything?” Adagio asked softly, kissing the top of her head for a third time.

“...What would you be able to do?” Sonata asked.

“Oh, well I can certainly have a ‘chat’ with your principal,” Adagio smiled, patting Sonata’s back.

Looking up at her, Sonata sniffled, “Really? You’d do that?”

“Of course,” Adagio smiled, nuzzling her hair, “I’ll tell her I run a little teen hangout and you frequently talk to me about what’s bothering you at school.”

“Oh… Adagio, thank you!” Sonata hugged her tighter, “That’d be great!”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart,” Adagio grinned, kissing her cheek. Next Chapter: Let's Try That Again, Shall We? Estimated time remaining: 9 Hours, 43 Minutes