Coming back briefly to finish this fic. A lot of people have gotten really invested in it, and my guilt outweighs my desire to move on lol If you like this chapter, be sure to leave a heart or comment so I know you want to see more! Previous chapter: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/581822792/ ♡ “Hey, Undyne…” I murmur awkwardly, shifting my weight off of my prosthetic as I open the door to let her into the house. “It’s been a little while, hasn’t it…?” Two weeks have passed since Mettaton… ended things. I can’t say I’ve moved on, or even really started to recover at all. But I can’t just let the rest of my life fall apart. My friends still need me... “Eliza…” Undyne stares at me in surprise for a few seconds, her mouth dangling open. “You cut your hair!!” “Oh… yeah.” Actually, that’s false. After I showered one day last week, I was too deep in depression to go through the effort to dry my hair. Mary stepped up and tried to do something fancy with it using a straightening iron, but the two of us quickly learned the hard way that my hair should never come into contact with a straightener. Long story short, Mary burned my hair and we had to chop it off up to my chin. "It's so cute!!" Undyne proclaims with a big smile, but her expression falters after a moment. "Did you do it because of… nevermind. The, uh, the reason I wanted to come over… was to invite you to my proposal to Alphy," she explains in an unusually low voice, looking away. I blink, startled. "That soon? Really? Of course, I'd love to come help." Undyne hesitates. "Are you sure? I know things have been… weird, I guess, since… well, you know. Met… He's going to be there too, remember? I just don't want things to be uncomfortable for you. If you don't feel like going, I'll totally understand, so don't even worry about it." The pang I feel in my heart has become a familiar beat by now, but I do my best to ignore it. "I appreciate your concern, but I want to come, trust me. You guys are my friends, and I want to see your relationship grow. Even… E-even if things ended between me and Mettaton… whatever 'things' even means," I add in a murmur, "you are both still important to me. I wouldn't miss your proposal for the world." A relieved grin spreads across Undyne's face, and she suddenly squeezes me into a hug. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!! I love you so much!! You're one of the best friends ever!!!" After a moment she sets me back down. "And if there's anything I can do to help with your situation too, I want you to tell me right away. Okay?" I nod slightly, smiling a little for the first time in days. "I will, Undyne. Do, uh, do you want to come inside?" I offer, gesturing towards the living room. Regretfully, she shakes her head. "Sorry, Eliza. I would really love to, but I have a meeting I need to run to. I'll be sure to catch up with you some other time, though!" Disappointed, I shrug. “Sure thing. See ya, Undyne.” She gives a wave before jogging off back to her car, and I shut the door quietly, resting my head on the back of it. Nothing I said to Undyne was untrue. I deeply value my friendship with her and her to-be fiancee, and I want to be there to see their relationship grow. But I withheld my exasperation, my anxiety, for her sake. I can’t see Mettaton right now. I have no choice, but… I can’t be near him without feeling the things I’ve felt this whole time, without thinking about the months we spent together, without suffering that ever-familiar panging in my heart. But I have to be there for Undyne. I want to support her, and I’ll do anything I can… So I’ll just keep my discrepancies to myself, and do my best to just avoid being alone with Mettaton. It’s really about all I can do. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and after a moment I pull it out, checking the notification. It’s a message from Undyne: “I’ll come pick you up before the event!! Thanks again <33” Despite myself, I smile faintly as some of the weight on my heart is slightly alleviated. Gosh, I really love my friends. They somehow manage to make even this pain more tolerable. ♡ Music: "What Could Have Been" from Arcane, by Sting, piano version by Grim Cat Piano Art and writing by me! All Undertale content and characters belong to Toby Fox. ♡
