Light shimmered into Needle's room. Another day of isolation. These days off have been torturous. It's not like she hated it, it was nice to not be overworked, but each day became more repetitive and boring. There was no stimulation, at least any positive stimulation.

Her body ached as she pushed herself up to a sitting position. She stared at the ruffled sheets, growing more awake at each second. Eventually she felt like moving some more, moving the blanket from above her and then moving her body to the edge of the mattress.

She glanced at the alarm clock. 12 AM.

Needle rubbed her eyes as she silently seethed, pushing herself out of bed.

She sighed, stretching her arms, letting out a yawn. She pulled her arms down and her eyes stared at the door. Hunger panged in her stomach, she didn't eat any dinner yesterday as she had just been too lazy to make any food. Now the sewing object feels hungry. Needle raised her arm to the doorknob-

They don't have work today.

The thought caught her dead in her tracks. Her tired eyes widened with worry. She almost went back to bed but..

Are they up? The sewing object nervously grabbed her doorknob, anxiety slowly rising in her. It was so nerve wracking if they were there, yet it was so awkward to see them. His avoiding gaze compared to her intense glare. She tried shaking off the nerves before twisting the knob and leaving the room.

The air felt stale as she walked out into the hallway. Needle's eye looked to the next of her, at the end of the hallway was an open door to her old room. Coiny and Pin weren't in there anymore, which meant she might bump into them.

Her throat closed up. She squeezed her clammy hands as she stalked around the house. Needle should feel comfortable in her own house but the past several weeks she did not feel okay. It was a bouldering feeling in her gut that she just couldn't shake.

Everything was so silent, but that had fooled her before. The sewing object checked every nook and cranny until every place was swept.

They weren't in the house.

She sucked in a huge breath, realizing that she was holding her breath the whole time. She was finally able to feel relief.

Her body relaxed as she walked to the kitchen, opening the fridge. It was almost empty. Needle wanted to leave the house and get the fridge stocked but it had been so long since she had actually left the house and shopped by herself.

Should I go get food? She paused to think on that thought. Sure.

She moved herself to a dresser near the hallway, turning back to take a quick look at the time.

It had just turned 12:17.

I'll need to be home at 2, so I can be gone for about... 1 hour 36 minutes.

She turned to get her wallet from her drawer. She opened the drawer, reaching into it. Oh fuck. The sewing object realized it was gone, they had taken her wallet. Again.

She'd have to ask one of them to buy her groceries. But who?

Out of the two, Coiny was definitely the one who seemed to tolerate her more than Pin - who had glared at Needle every time she had turned her back. The reason mostly being that he barely remembered what happened due to being drunk, but that didn't seem to deter him from believing Pin's every word.

She quickly went to her room to get her phone. She had barely used it before, mainly just to text her co-workers and Teardrop. Her hand shook as she picked up her phone to text Coiny. She scrolled a bit to find his contact, clicking on it slowly. She walked herself out of her room and to the kitchen. She paced back and forth as she tried to gather her thoughts into a coherent message.

Hey Coiny,

Sorry for the message but the fridge is running low on food, so if you could stop by any store and buy some food that would be great. Nothing in particular, just get whatever you like.

Please and thank you,

Needle

She stared at her phone for several minutes. Her eyes flicked from the message she wrote to the send button. Her nerves started to pick up.

Does the message come off good? Was the formalities okay? What if it wasn't? Should I ask for something specific instead? No, not after what happened. Oh no. What if he's still angry at me and pretending to like me. What if he got pissed off at me for sending the message? What if he shows Pin the message? What if Pin has his phone and sees the message? Oh please, please not Pin.

What if's and questions flooded her mind.

Needle would never like to admit it but she was deathly afraid of what Pin would say to her. That moment had really fucked her up, not that her head wasn't fucked up enough. The sewing object's hand was violently shaking as she pulled it up to the send message.

I should just delete the message and forget about this.

Needle almost considered that solution but the gnawing of her hunger seemed to push her out of it. The sewing object sent the message.

She slammed the phone on the counter, not hard enough to break it. A shock running up her arm.

She staggered away from the kitchen, clutching her arm. She felt as if a pit was in her stomach. It was unnerving. She fucked up, she could feel it.

She plopped herself down on the couch. Holy shit. Her gaze was vacant, she felt as if she wasn't her body, a numbness invading her. I can't do this. I'm so done for. Why would they listen to me? They hate me. She sat there, thoughts swarming her head. She had never felt so anxious before, at least not as anxious as other times. Her hands gripped the couch she sat on. Needle hated living with two people who hated her. To avoid them and feel unwelcome in her own home. It was just so overwhelming and repetitive.

BANG!

Needle jumped at the sound. She quickly looked to where the bang noise had come from, the coffee table was now shifted. A stinging sensation suddenly came from her foot. I must've hit the table. She leaned to pull the table back to its original position. The sewing object looked down to the remote which laid on top before her gaze flicked to the TV. She reached out to grab the remote.

Needle could only now notice she was shaking. She tried to shake off her anxiety as she turned on the TV.

She flashed through channels, trying to find something to keep her mind off it. She came across a channel with no signal. The static created good background noise, not loud enough to mess with her but still loud that she could hear it over her thoughts.

A ding rang from the kitchen and Needle shot up, her nerves picking up again. She nervously ran over to grab her phone. She took a look at the message preview.

K

A wake of relief flooded over her. It was good that he didn't hate her enough to not let her starve. Another message popped up, making Needle open up her phone.

what yogurt do u usually get

like the brand

Needle's mind blanked for a moment before writing her next response.

I don't mind the brand or flavor.

She did care, but she didn't want to push her luck, she sent the message and sighed in slight content.

K

we'll be back soon

She sighed in slight content, soon they'd be there.

-

The day seemed to pass quickly as it turned into night in a blink of an eye. Especially since Needle wasn't doing anything besides waiting for food. The two still haven't come home and she was still hungry. Turns out, soon for them, meant until midnight.

It had been so boring just waiting. These days that Loser had given her off were good but yet it felt like agony. Did she like working for Loser? I sure hope I don't.

The thought gave her dread. To feel any pleasure in working with a tyrant somewhat disgusted her. The more she thought about it, the more she felt uneasy. Perhaps she just liked the stimulation it gave her and it least gave her something to do. In her house there was nothing to do, sure there were chores but she finished all of the chores. Laying around the house made her limbs feel like spaghetti. Needle felt as if she had bags under her eyes, she was so unbelievably tired.

She groggily dragged her hand up to the sky, holding it to the light on the ceiling. The shine

Needle could hear the door creaking. Her body shot up from the couch, peering over to the door. They're home already?! The lock rattled a bit before the door opened. Needle pushed herself into the couch, hoping she would disappear in the moment, yet she couldn't. Pin and Coiny pushed the door open, full bags dangled from their arms.

Their synchronized laughter stopped as the thumbtack made eye contact with her. They clearly weren't expecting her presence as she usually just stayed in her room for most of these break days, only coming out when she was hungry or wanted to shower.

She could feel her heart drop in the moment. Each moment with them in the same room was so awkward and nerve-wracking. She hated it, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Pin glared at her. Coiny's eyes darted to the ground, trying to nudge Pin's feet to the kitchen with his own. The thumbtack didn't move though.

"We got you the stuff," Pin growled, dropping the bag of groceries, "You can put them where they belong yourself."

Needle nodded before uncomfortably staring at the ground.

"So? No thank you, no nothing? How disrespectful are you?"

What about you? How disrespectful are you, Pin? Is what she would have said but the sewing object just hung low and bit her tongue.

"Thank you," she muttered after a few heartbeats.

"Good." Pin moved, allowing Needle to grab the groceries, moving them to the kitchen and hastily stuffing them in the fridge.

"Oh, and we brought some Gelatin's Steakhouse, if you want some of course," he said, placing the bag of food on the circular dining table, "It's steak... of course."

Needle walked over to the table.

"It's the top one that's yours."

She nervously grabbed it, ready to crawl back to her room.

"You should sit down with us, it's been a while since we've all ate together," Pin's eyes shot to him, looking at him with exasperated expression, yet she didn't say anything, "It'll be like old times."

Old times? It's not ever gonna be like old times. At least, not anymore. Yet she kept those thoughts to herself.

"Sure," she murmured, "I don't have anything better to do."

"Oh, how unfortunate," Pin murmured, slamming down some forks and knives. It was probably meant to be inaudible but Needle heard it anyway.

Coiny sat down, pulling a chair for Pin which she accepted. The sewing object moved to sit at the opposite end.

She opened the box, quickly grabbing a knife and fork. She kept her head low and eyes on her food as she started to eat.

It was uncomfortably quiet. The only sounds being chewing, the clinking of utensils and faint breathing. It made her squirm in her chair a bit. She cut into her steak, it didn't look pulling the steak to her mouth. It was very dry, making her grimace. She hates dry food, they knew that. It had to be on purpose. She chewed on the shriveled meat for way too long before finally swallowing. She still found it a struggle to do so. Yuck. Her face was distorted, she hated that. Yet there was nothing else so she continued.

The noise of thunder vibrated through the house.

She heard a loud, elongated hum and flicked her eyes up, "Looks like it's raining, huh? Pretty hard too," Coiny smiled, trying to make small conversation. Needle didn't respond, keeping her head low. She picked at the meat with a fork, a knife tightly gripped in her right hand.

Pin didn't seem to respond either. Everything was just silent, slight breathing filling the air along with the pouring rain and thunderclaps.

"So uhh... when do you go back to work?" Coiny asked.

"Why do you want to know?" Needle spat, glaring at the coin. She dug the fork deep into the steak.

"Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of bed," he awkwardly chuckled, avoiding her piercing gaze, "just asking a question." Needle's eyes softened. Don't be so harsh, Needs. she chastised herself.

"Knock it off." Pin grumbled, jabbing Coiny with her elbow, earning a soft 'ow' out the other, "she clearly doesn't want to talk."

"No, no, I was being mean."

"So glad we're finally on the same page, Needle. Yes, you were being mean before and you are being mean now." Pin spat. The sewing object did not respond, biting her cheek to stifle any response.

Coiny nodded slowly in confused affirmation.

"You're an asshole." Pin muttered, putting a piece of steak in her mouth.

Needle's eyes were wide as she stared at her steak. Me? I'm an asshole? ME?!

"Yes you are." Pin replied.

Needle shot her head up, a shock of embarrassment rolled through her. She didn't mean to speak her thoughts out loud but she chose to engage.

"How am I an asshole?"

"You're a pain in the ass, extremely stuck-up, a killjoy, passive aggressive, a huge bitch, a control freak, fucking crazy in the head-"

"Now that sounds more like you than me," Needle muttered.

"The fuck you just say to me?" Pin snapped.

"You heard what I said."

"You're so disrespectful."

"Disrespectful? Do you even remember fucking yelling at me for having a party in my house and deadnaming me?!"

Pin looked down, the first glimpse of shame appeared on her. Coiny seemed shocked, she must've never told him.

"It sounds like you're more disrespectful than me." Needle added, picking at her steak.

"I'm pretty sure Pin was sorry for that and we can all now forgive each other, right?" Coiny asked.

"I'm definitely not sorry," Pin glared at her boyfriend before looking back at the sewing object, "I was wrong for dead-naming you, I know, but every other word out of my mouth was true."

"You're a horrible friend, you're barely pitiful, and you're a freak," She spat, "and like Coiny said, you've made our lives miserable."

Coiny shot up with a baffled wheeze, "I said that?"

"Yeah, you did." Needle muttered. She could feel her muscles tense. Don't lose it, you have self-control in you.

"Well, I'm sure I didn't mean it." He nervously chuckled, a guilty expression plastered on his face.

Pin turned to glare at him, "we do mean it."

"Of course you mean it, you guys are just assholes. Especially you, Pin," she turned to Coiny, "and you're so obviously trying to save yourself from being kicked out of this house and keep what little relationship we had in tact."

"Whaaat?" Coiny stretched out while Pin had a 10-yard glare piercing through her, "come on, I would never do such a thing, I mean not never but- I'll shut up right now." He made a zipping motion with his mouth.

"Do you think this is a joke? To zip your mouth up and pretend to be a mediator when it's so obvious you're gonna take the love-of-your-life's side," the sewing object stopped there. The air was stale as she circled her thoughts before finally deciding to speak again, "Just because I have an important job to do doesn't mean you two can run around, goofing off, wasting my money, and messing up my house. You guys just keep ruining everything. It's been like that since I've met you. You don't even deserve half of the hospitality I give you two, I should've let you two rot on the street while I had the chance, but instead I let you stay. Who knows why I did that, maybe I've gone crazy," she paused once more, "I don't care anymore, I hate both of you."

Tension swirled in the air. The thumbtack just glared at her, deep in thought.

While Needle tried to keep herself calm and collected but inside she was panicking. Am I being harsh, I don't think so. I'm just telling the truth... right?

"You've changed Needle," Pin finally growled, breaking the tension, "ever since you got that stupid blue ribbon."

"What?"

"You heard me! You became selfish, stuck-up and a bitch."

"Okay, let's calm down, not fighting would be the best thing right now." Coiny said, pushing his hands in front of the two.

Pin smacked Coiny's hand away. "Coiny, do you ever wonder why we were suddenly removed from our blue rank and demoted to red rank."

"Uhh somethi-"

"That's because Needle removed us from our rank and put us way lower so we could lose our jobs and almost have no more opportunities."

Needle stared at Pin with wide eyes before shaking her head, "What are you talking about, do you even hear yourself right now?"

"Ohhh," Pin stretched, "don't play dumb with me. You know exactly what I'm talking about."

"I have no clue what you're talking about. I have no part in why you guys were demoted."

"Yes you do."

"No I don't."

"You lying bastard," Pin growled, "you know I'm right."

"I don't lie."

Pin rose herself from her seat slamming her hands on the table, "you are fucking lying! You... you know it. I know you know it."
Needle kept her expression blank, her eyes narrow, "how do you know."

"The party. You said that you'd kill me and you'd make sure I'd never come back," Needle's eyes widened, she could barely remember that, "those words stuck with me. You have thought about killing us, sabotaging us-"

"That was just in the hea-"

Pin brought her fist to slam the table, "don't you interrupt me!" Needle's composure broke a little, sinking into her seat. The thumbtack's breathing was hard and heavy, her eyes wide like crazy, but her glare sunk daggers into her.

Needle didn't speak so Pin continued, "I've always had a hunch about all of this, yes I did. I know it isn't much evidence but I notice a lot of stuff that happens around here. It is just so convenient that just a few days after you get elected second-in-command, we're suddenly down to green. There is no reason for it, at least no proper reason. The list said we 'broke laws' but after checking the laws over, we've done nothing to get demoted. Besides everyone who was actually a high rank and broke the rules was killed or humiliated, we just got a send off. It is so strange to break that, just with us. And after that it's just a string of very planned inconveniences and punishments, all done after you were promoted. They have never happened before, ever. Then soon after, a set up is planned for us, just so we get demoted. Who gets to witness all of this, you. You deliberately set us up as sabotage because of your grudge. Then we're demoted to red and you're acting strange for like, a month, and because we have no money coming in, me and Coiny are evicted. Then to save your ass-"

Needle tried to drown out her words, but Pin was very loud. "You're very lucky I kept you guys around when I should've kicked you out a long time ago," she muttered, crossing her arms, her hand with the knife not low enough to nick her arm.

Pint didn't hear her and continued her rant, "you pretend to like us enough to let us live with you. It's just so infuriating that I have to pretend to like you and enjoy your company even though I just know you did it. You're such a fucking snake, Needle. A lying, selfish snake, who ruined our lives, for what? What did we even do to deserve that? Nothing, we did jack-shit. You know what I'm saying is true, you-"

"You're lucky I keep you guys around instead of kicking you out," Needle reiterated louder.

"Kick us out," Pin blew up, her voice glass-shattering, "see if we care."

"No no no no, don't kick us out," Coiny spat out nervously, he had been so silent it was almost like he wasn't there. He put his hand on Pin's shoulder, "calm down, you're sounding crazy."

"I'm sounding crazy? Me? When we have this thing being unreasonable."

"Thing!? Fucking thing? That's what you think of me?"

"Yes, you're a thing. That's what everyone should think about you."

"You're so childish."

"Says you."

"I'm childish? Wow... I don't really think so myself."

"Well you are."

"If I'm so childish why do you steal my money, why do you wreck my hou-"

Pin ripped the red fabric from her wrist, shaking it in Needle's face, "What color is that?"

"Red..."

"Right, red. Do you know what that means?" Her voice was condescending, as if she was talking to a child.

"That-"

"We can barely earn money. The only reason we're fortunate enough to have a job is because people actually like us, unlike you. No one likes you at all."

"Not true, I have-"

"Who? Teardrop? She doesn't like you, can't you read body language?"

Needle tenses, "She does like me, you don't know her like I do."

"I think I know her well enough to know she does not like you at all. She has never liked you. In fact I don't even think she loved you-"

"Shut up!" The sewing object shot her left arm up, which still had the knife gripped in her hand. Pointing it dangerously close to the thumbtacks face.

Pin let out a mildly amused smirk, "What are you gonna do? Stab me?"

"I might." She quickly retorted.

"I bet you hope it kills me."

Needle just sat there, the sound of pouring rain being the only sound. She pondered on what she would say next until it finally reached her. "Sure. You've been a huge burden on me. I can't wait to get rid of you."

"Just like you said, you'd kill me and make sure I'd never come back. You really like proving my points," she muttered. Needle's hand shook with that realization, it didn't shake violently enough to hurt but enough to be visible. The shorter object stared at Needle's shaky hand, her expression vacant. Pin then pushed herself closer to the knife, "Well then, I'd like to see you try. Kill me and make sure I never come back."

Needle's eyes frantically darted to Coiny who had huddled himself in his chair, trying to make himself seem as small as possible. Trying to escape from the conversation. She looked back at Pin.

"Come on," she pushed herself closer, "do it, coward."

"I-I can't."

"Why are you hesitating now? You didn't hesitate at the party. You were ready to fight. To choke me out and kill me. You were ready to stab me a few seconds ago. You can't wait to get rid of me. Why can't you do it now?"

"I just... I can't do that." The sewing object dragged her arm down before Pin suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling it back up.

"You want to, so do it."

Needle yanked her hand back. "Let go." She said through gritted teeth.

Pin wasn't letting go. It was a never ending back and forth of yanking and pulling. She needs to let go. If she doesn't she's gonna-

The knife sliced at her forehead, not deep to warrant an emergency, but enough to bleed. Needle dropped the knife, which blood had now painted the tip. There was a shock, the only sound was the ring of Coiny's gasp, the rattle of the knife, and the pouring rain. A drop of blood slithered down her face. The thumbtack took to fingers to dab at the cut - seething when she had touched it - pulling them down to eye level.

A small smirk rose on the sewing object's face.

"You fucking... you actually did it." Pin's focus was just on the blood.

"Don't blame me, you're the one who forced me."

Pin was silent but just looked at her as the sewing object tried to compose her amusement, "you're happy about it though."

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are." Pin somehow pulled herself higher, making her look bigger. It intimidated Needle. She shrunk in her seat.

"I'm not happy." She muttered, averting her gaze. Despite that, she could feel Pin's glare on her.

It felt like hours before Pin spoke, "get out of the house."

Needle shot her head up with her expression appalled

"This is my house. I'm not leaving my house"

"I said get out!" Her voice was stern and loud.

The power Needle had - her high rank - seemed to vanish in an instant. To say anything else, to talk back and to fight was gone. She measly picked herself up and pulled herself away from the table and to the entrance. She turned the knob and opened the door. The sewing object took a few objects before opening her mouth.

"Whe-"

"Get out."

"O-"

"Did I say you could speak? No. So get out of my house."

Needle stood with her head down, her eyes wide. She said nothing, just walking out of the house, to the pouring rain.

She could only feel a numbness in her body, besides the drops of rain touching her. So many emotions flowed through her at once. She had effectively lost her home and whatever she had left of her friendship with Pin. She stood there with a blank expression, her mind a jumbled mess. The first coherent thought finally came through to her. Where do I go now?

Needle just moved on instinct. There was a house at the edge of the block she could go to. The heavy rain rolled down her body, leaving her soaked. She walked steadily on the sidewalk, thinking to herself. It felt so surreal.

CLAP!

A loud thunderclap rang through the neighborhood. She picked up her pace.

Needle soon found herself there. She stared at a familiar purple and blue stained house, walking up to the porch. She rang the doorbell. It was a few heart beats before a very tired Teardrop opened the door.

What are you doing here?

"I..." Needle's voice was quiet.

Are you okay? The droplet signed.

Those signed words seemed to break her. Needle cried. The first time she had in a long while. She fell into Teardrop's arms. They were a bit startled but embraced the sewing needle. Continuous tears streamed down her face as Teardrop held her in silent comfort.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

( if you saw that this was published earlier, no you didn't )

Words: 4560

HEY GUYS!! Long time, no C. There are no c's in this chapter if someone tells you otherwise they are WRONG!!

I know what y'all are thinking. 'Where tf did she go? It's been like almost 6 months and there is no update' First off, HOLY SHIT IT'S BEEN 6 MONTHS?! Hopefully this long chapter makes up for that. And the truth is, I haven't had much motivation lately, and i also work on several fanfics at the same time and none of them are done. BUT I can promise you that this fic isn't over. I'll try to release chapters semi-regularly but I make no promises.

Besides that, if you wanna see more from me here is my carrd, all my socials should be there ^^ i draw and sometimes animate!! I usually update on my story when I'm working on chapters.

https://indrawzcord.carrd.co/

Anyways, what do you think of this chapter and what could be better or improved? (constructive criticism basically)

Thx for reading, drink water, eat food, sleep and have a good rest of your day/night.