Rey lets me hide in my room for the afternoon.

Honestly, I'm grateful for it.

I run my fingers over the clean, white bedding, the satin cold against my skin. It's relaxing.

My phone buzzes. It's a message from Katelyn.

Not like I receive messages from anyone else.

'Bee, come down to the park ASAP and meet my friends.'

I hesitate, wondering if I should take up their offer. I grab a hoodie- it actually did belong to Kate but I took it for myself- and head down there.

Kate is sat on an old blanket, threading together flowers into a daisy chain. I used to make them a lot as a kid.

They're with 3 others- 2 girls and a boy.

Kate spots me and smiles instantly. "Hey, Bee!" they hop up and drag me to the blanket, seating themselves again. "These are my friends." They point at the boy. "Felix," they point at the taller of the 2 girls. "Tiffany," and finally to the remaining girl. "and Laurie."

Laurie smiles. "Hi, Bee!" she's got a broad Irish accent. "How're you doing?"

I nod, staring at her shoes. Light pink Sketchers with those lights in them. I like them.

"I'm good." I reply after a moment, realising I had just stared at her feet for 5 solid seconds. 

Tiffany speaks next. She wraps some of my hair around her finger. "Woah, Bee, you're so pretty!"

Tiffany looks exactly like her name, if that makes sense. Tall, blonde, slim with the correct amount of curves. I can tell her family are rightists.

"Thank you." I smile shyly. "You're really pretty too."

She grins, as Felix walks over and pulls me into a massive bear hug.

Ah, shit, here we go again.

My breathing stops first, my eyes widening in panic. I'm vaguely aware of someone, Katelyn, maybe? telling Felix to let me go, which he does. I stay frozen to the spot, taking in deep, calming breaths.

"Bee, I'm so, so, so sorry. I should have asked, I- I'm really sorry."

I vaguely nod. "Don't worry about it." I mumble after a few moments.

"Bee, come sit!" Tiffany pats the space between her and Katelyn. Laurie sits leaning on Felix, which arises suspicions they are a couple.

Katelyn takes the daisy chain they've been making and places it on my head. "Very lovely."

I giggle softly, my hand reaching up to brush my fingers over the small, white flowers.

I remember, before she developed arthritis, Mrs Caddel used to take me into the nearby forest. She was a very spiritual woman, and had a particularly soft spot for the woods. She would gather up wildflowers and she would skilfully craft them into flower crowns, teaching me to do the same. 

So now, I use my knowledge to make one for Katelyn in return, I lie on my stomach and pierce and thread each white flower through. 

It's peaceful. There's the quiet hum of Laurie's Spotify playing, and the pleasant sound of a group of people co existing in silence.

Silence isn't always negative. Sometimes silence is comforting; it wraps itself around you like a blanket and holds you close.

I like this kind of silence.