Meet me Behind our local McDonald's

by Convoyhoo

Summary:

Christine (Pomni) returns to her normal life pre-circus. She needs to find the others somehow: gaining enough traction on her blog and Youtube channel. Destiny happens to make her depend on the weird young guy who hangs around at McDonald's every day.

or

Felix (Jax) doesn't have anywhere to go and is slowly losing himself not knowing where to start to find Pomni. Destiny happens to make him depend on the girl who needs him for her new posts.

[Funnybunny who doesn't know each other at first]
[Slightly OOC]
[Quite inspired by The Aftershow fanfiction]
[It's like Miraculous Ladybug coded]
[Everyone will eventually appear]

Notes:

I got this silly idea while sleep deprived. English is not my first language. Yadda yadda I love funnybunny.

Chapter 1: First, Christine

Everything went white.

Once was calm and peaceful while swimming in a sea of many shades of white. The entire environment around me, even though looking blank, seemed made out of pixels. For the first time I wasn't overwhelmed by vibrant colors. I wish that feeling could remain just for a little longer...

...because what happened after that wasn't that pleasant.

Sudden change of scenery. It was almost like my eyes were screaming for everything to go bright and colorful again, since it was what I got used to most of the time. Colors went dull, I couldn't recognize exactly where I was, until; for just a few seconds, I realized.

We escaped.

It worked! But wait, what worked anyway? I couldn't remember exactly what we did or how things turned out in the end. What a shame, I got the feeling it could have been a great story for us to revisit after treating all the trauma we just earned.

My hands couldn't be released once they grip on my neck.

It was impressive to me how I could feel myself breathing the way I used to breathe.

Feel the breeze like I used to feel.

See everything like I used to see.

Just my mind felt dizzy.

First for not being able to remember how exactly we left the circus, but also slowly regaining consciousness over the small — yet important — memories Caine took away from me— from us. Our names. What was my name, anyways?

I was expecting some funny little creature to suddenly spawn and shout something in between the lines of...

You're finally back, Polly!

...No, my name couldn't possibly be Polly.

Welcome back, Susan!

It doesn't sound right.

I missed you so much, Jessie!

No... It could take a while to remember.

Maybe I shouldn't overthink about this right now— maybe leave it to later. The place I found myself in was at a dark alleyway. It honestly didn't seem like a place for a headset to be found and worn, so there was simply no reason as to why I was specifically there. I was expecting somewhere indoors.

Speaking of the headset, it was nowhere to be found. Guess the circus is gone for good. I just hope it doesn't mean my friends are also gone for good. Enough overthinking. In a rush, I got up; my limbs felt numb like it was the first time I ever attempted to take a step in life. And then — the sudden realization that I should've just stayed in place and think of a second option first. I got scared of seeing other people crossing the street a bit far away from me.

I got even more scared once I noticed someone actually paid attention to me just sitting down on the ground. The way they took fast steps to reach me, touch my face with their soft dry hands, it gave me the sensation of comfort I needed to finally realize I don't need to worry about what already happened, and I'm allowed to embrace someone's help without trying to decipher whether it's a trap or not. It was really a genuine good person who reached out to me.

They later explained it was quick they recognized my looks from a missing person post online. My family was looking for me this entire time, flooded news stations with my missing person report; enough that it was the week's topic on TV for weeks. I felt blessed and grateful for their efforts to find me, but felt bad thinking of everything they could have thought while I was missing. What mattered is that I was there now. After some weeks at the hospital — and a painfully long session of many exams I couldn't remember half of them, I finally got back to my family.

You finally returned to us, Christine!

Got to see my mom and my father again, who were super welcoming and celebrated my return with chinese food! I used to love ordering for dinner. I was relieved my life quickly turned back to normal after getting out of the hospital.

What pains me is the memories that I simply can't let go — because I don't want to. I wanted to find all my friends, make sure they're doing well and returned to their families just like me. With little to no information about who each one is, how could I get back to them? Everything I got was low reach social media accounts and a clear goal in my mind. Should just simply use anything I got in my hands.

---

I suddenly got bonked with a journal.

"Got yourself thinking too much again, eh?"

"Oh no," I chuckled, "It's... Nothing. I just got distracted, my bad."

The person who just caught me off guard was my coworker. I couldn't stop staring at her perfectly made messy blonde bun being held back by only a excessively bitten pencil. She had the appearance of an attractive office lady and the personality of a 13-year old.

Barbara is the one who insisted for our higher-ups that I should get back to the company even though they were still pretty confident I was already dead. If it wasn't for her insisting — and they finally booking a meeting with me to see I'm alive — I wouldn't be able to keep living by myself, and would need to go back to my parents house and taste the bitter taste of failure.

Still, sometimes she over exaggerates and seems like she only wanted me around to be able to still have someone to joke about.  

"Let me see what you're writing about now," Barbara whispered into my ear, leaning closer, "and I'll keep my mouth shut about you not focusing on your work~"

The way her words came out melodic slightly pissed me off, and I failed the interaction by stuttering before being able to think about a good fat lie to avoid explaining the entire truth about the circus.

I was writing an article about a tutorial on jester make-up.

It was a obvious topic to make them find me, right? She would laugh and tell the entire sector I'm avoiding documents to write about stupid make-up.

"I'm—" my voice came out weird, so I cough, "I'm doing an article about—"

It was only few seconds for me to look into the window on my left, stare at the guy in a dark blue hoodie and exclaim whatever I thought about first.

"Digitaloverloadinadolescentsandhowteenagermentalhealthisimportant!"

"The wha!?"

"The— the harms of using the internet for teenagers! Something between those lines, yeah,"

you could tell on my very eyes and hand gestures it was the worst lie ever.

"Ah and you're about to interview that guy for that, huh?" She chuckled. "That's a nice idea, I just never thought you would get into someone like that. Be vvvvvvvvvvery careful okay?"

She playfully pinched my cheek before heading out.

Great, now I have someone to impress in order to avoid suspiciousness. I can't tell anyone about the circus just yet — until I have full confirmation they are the friends I knew. Barbara isn't supposed to know anything about this — great thing I never showed her my blog's link or my Youtube channel's name, she just happens to know what I do due to always getting her way to my work computer. To make fun of me somehow. 

The office was chill but I don't want anyone to know I'm not giving too much effort to actually work.

Minimum wage also means minimum efforts, right!? Besides, this needs my full attention.

While I was reflecting of what I should type into the silly make-up tutorial text, I gave my attention to the guy standing outside; the one on a dark blue hoodie.

He seemed not too old than me — actually I suppose slightly younger, maybe because of the fashion — but seemed pretty reclusive. He kept his hands on his pockets the entire time, and was resting against the Mcdonald's wall close to the entrance. It wasn't the first time this week I've seen him just staring to passersby. Besides the hoodie, his brown hair with blonde streaks and a purple side bang really gave away his teenager-like style.

Guess I'll have to talk to him for my make-pretend to clear my path, huh?

Chapter 2: Hash Browns

Pushing the door in a rush, I see the boy sitting alone in one of the tables. He made himself comfortable on the sofa part, eating only a hash brown. Judging by the way I was standing there, just staring, I got the feeling he knew I was there for him. I approach the table, keeping my cool and pretending like I’m not about to sit down with a total stranger just to clear my way about a pointless thing at work. 

 

When I finished sitting down, I stared once again at his eyes. He seemed startled. Couldn’t tell if was protective over the hashbrown or his own life. 

 

‘’Do I know you?’’ He asked, still with his guard up. I could even interpret the question as rude, but it was reasonable to act this way.

 

His voice made me shiver for some reason, ‘’Excuse me, but I’d like to interview you for an article about-’’

 

He chuckled, finding the idea quite lame. He asked what it was about, I answered talking about the ‘’harmful technology’’ subject, but he seemed to not get the appeal of why writing about it of all things. Me neither. I regret inventing this last second.

 

‘’I’m not even a teen, geez, I’m 22,’’ His eyes rolled, ‘’Do I look that young to you?’’

 

‘’Yeah, right,’’ It was my time to roll my eyes as a way to release tension. 

 

Talking about this article out loud just made it sound more stupid, since I’m nowhere close to a journalist or a researcher. I wonder if he could see through me that it was a lie just to get into him somehow. I’m the type of person who doesn’t believe in coincidences, everything has a meaning even though we can’t tell at the time: that’s what made me stick to him, and try to start a normal conversation this time.

 

I could forget the lie for now, and focus on the guy. I got a gut feeling about interacting with him, and he could be the key for me to find my friends somehow. I know I couldn’t do this alone.

 

‘’I just… I just really need to finish writing something, you know?’’ I awkwardly chuckle, ‘’I got my blog, and sometimes I also do Youtube videos, I got a terrible creative block so I was thinking of- getting help somehow?’’

 

The last sentence got out of my mouth almost mythically. I’m usually shy, and asking for a favour from a stranger was just as painful as death itself. We miss all the shots we don’t take; I can cry about this later.

 

‘’There’s something I need from someone, too.’’

 

He points at the balcony. 

 

‘’Well hand over this thing over there, I don’t want to be seen doing that,’’ He started muttering the last few words out of embarrassment, giving me a paper with some information, ‘’And don’t peek.’’

I nodded, trying my best not to read what was written. Judging by the nature of the request, I assumed he was trying to apply to work there; I don’t see any shame in looking for a job, but I could tell he was slightly embarrassed of having this need. It was quick until I returned to our table.

 

‘’More hash browns?’’

 

He left a confused sound while turning his glaze into me. 

 

‘’If you want I can order you some more hash browns. You seem to like that.’’

‘’How do you know?’’ He was acting suspicious again with his guard up.

 

I scratched my head before extending the subject, ‘’You order it everyday, I just assumed it’s your favorite.’’

 

‘’Oh, great. A stalker.’’ The guy sounded ironic before sighing and turning his glaze away. ‘’Now I know the article is a lie, huh. I wonder what this all mean?’’

 

He smirked, looking directly at me. I choked on nothing while repeating ‘no no no’ over and over, taking a sincere laugh out of him. Right after genuinely having fun with my presence, after noticing what just happened, he turned back to his neutral facial expression; almost like shutting down, and staring at nothing instead of me. 

I snapped my fingers, getting his attention back. He got caught in a hard trance, since he didn’t notice I was out for a few minutes and came back with two harsh browns; one for each of us. The neutral face wasn’t worn out, and out of respect I remained quiet. Silence made my thoughts return to my head, causing a repeated circle of overthinking.

 

Where 's Jax? Ragatha? Zooble? Gangle? And Kinger… I worry about each one of them, and fear that I’ll never be able to see my friends ever again. God knows if all of us were located in the US, even. 

 

Sounds like a sin saying this, but I missed the circus dearly. I adapted to it; I learned that it was my new reality. Even though Caine played with our minds countless times, tricking us to believe there was an exit, I was starting to get at peace over the fact I could be Pomni forever. And have the others forever. Until he took this from us, and gifted everyone with a second chance. I can’t remember what exactly happened, no matter how much I try to dig into my memories. Everything seems blurred and I’m slowly forgetting their voices. It hurts.

 

Before I could realize, my watch started beeping. Work day, of course! I needed to be at the office around 9am, and it was 8:40. The building and McDonald’s were next to each other, but I preferred to arrive as early as possible; I didn't want to risk being late. 

 

‘’Oh shoot!’’ I exclaimed, ‘’Need to go.’’

 

I got up in a hurry, looking back at him. ‘’Hope you liked the harsh brown, uhh…’’

 

I quickly noticed he left it untouched. He is socially awkward just like I am; it’s noticeable. I thought it was fun to hang around even though he’s not the best at starting a conversation. Two brains working together is better than one, so he could indirectly help me find the others. I just need time: those posts and videos need to go up every week, every day even. And I can’t let anyone at work know about any of this. Well, the boy didn’t need to know the full story, either. At least not yet.

 

‘’I almost forgot-’’ I took some steps closer to him, making his glaze return to me, now his facial expression completely changed to curious, ‘’My name is Christine. Do you have any socials we can chat on…?’’

 

My few words came out a bit shy and muttered. He just shaked his head negatively, avoiding using words this time. 

 

‘’I work nearby at the tall green building, we can see each other more often, who knows? Heh.’’

 

He just nodded. I muttered okay, and was about to leave the place. While I was heading out, he spoke once again.

 

‘’Felix.’’ He now spoke confidently. ‘’My name is Felix. See ya.’’

 

‘’Bye bye!’’ I shouted right next to the exit, waving at him. ‘’See you tomorrow!’’

 

Once I left, I started thinking about everything during my walk to the office. It was all so embarrassing… I could lose my job from being caught writing during work, of course I needed an alibi. But Felix seems more than just this. I prefer to trust my intuition. 

 

My routine went normally after that. Working for a bit, writing the clown make-up tutorial, writing the stupid technology article, staring at the window to see Felix standing there watching the street…

 

Now that he knows about me and the building I work at, he looks like a stalker now. Maybe he’s suffering from something, since I can assure anyone that standing outside a McDonald’s every day is not normal. It 's been weeks. 

 

After that day, others passed and he disappeared for almost an entire week. Overthinking started haunting me. Did I scare him away? Did he think my project was lame enough to never visit this area again, and to avoid talking to a loser? I hate the feeling of being less than others. I’m glad to be able to return to my family and job, but I was way more appreciated for what I did at the circus.

 

At this point I just wish we got out another way around. Uncertainty pains me just too much. I feel lost. The only few friends I ever had are now missing. I wish Felix and I could work together. I wish I could see him again and tell him everything that’s going on, and hear a positive approval rather than an ironic ‘’you’re crazy’’. 

 

Why didn’t he even bother to give me his number? I was too creepy, I regret ever talking to him. Stupid, stupid. I needed to think better than this. Why am I being so impulsive? I was never like this. Stupid, stupid. 

 

Six days after my first and last interaction with Felix, I headed back to the McDonald’s, this time to casually make a McCafé order just a few minutes before work. I was already adapting to getting back to zero on my plan, and the tutorial was released yesterday; it gained no traction yet, so I need to be more obvious. The technology article was also done, and all I did was lie in every quotation that I pretended it was Felix’s lines at our interview that actually never happened. It turned out great, and maybe I could refine it to become a scientific article someday, who knows. Great material to show others I write about smart things.

 

I was calm and not feeling anxious at the slightest. I was just about to get my order until I looked at the balcony to get it.

 

The employee looked back at me.

 

I recognize that blonde and purple hair.

 

It was Felix.

 

So that’s why he disappeared, huh? I thought, starting to feel dumb for not entering this place in six days. It was so obvious. Stupid, stupid.

 

‘’There you go.’’

 

He quickly handed me my breakfast, avoiding any chatting. Screw all my regrets, I insisted on talking to him. 

 

‘’Are you enjoying the job so far?’’

 

He crossed his arms in disapproval. He was there out of responsibility and need. It 's honorable. In a sudden change of mood, he smirked.

 

‘’What, you want free ice cream or something?’’ 

 

‘’I mean if you could give me some.’’ I smiled, almost trying to copy his smirk.

 

‘’I’m not getting paid enough to please the customers that much-’’ he completed, ‘’I’d appreciate if you complimented me to my boss so I could be promoted quicker.’’

 

I chuckled. ‘’If only you helped me with my article!’’

 

‘’I told you- I’m not a teen!’’

 

‘’That wasn’t the case!’’ I jokingly pretended I was disappointed, crossing my arms. ‘’Now I’ll only forgive you in exchange of free ice cream.’’

 

‘’Nuh uh.’’

 

I laughed before heading out with my order in hand and my watch beeping like crazy. I feel like Felix wanted to stop me to say something, but I didn’t even look back. I realized too late. Stupid, stupid.