"Let's go into this store next!" Auburn beams as she grabs ahold of my hand, tugging me in that direction.

Auburn and I had decided to head to the mall just to shop around and get out for a bit.

"Anything you want." I laugh, allowing her to drag me around like a little rag doll.

As we get into the store, Auburn begins to pick up things immediately. I could already tell we'd be here for a bit so I decided to look at some stuff too.

I made my way over to the graphic tees, browsing through them trying to find one I liked.

"Jungkook?" I hear from behind me and I turn to see Mark standing there with his new girlfriend at his side.

"I knew it was you. Sup man how's it going?" Mark asks, talking to me as if we were best friends.

I assume he didn't know Auburn and I were dating. It's not like we were trying to hide it but still. We weren't exactly running around school telling everyone.

"Just shopping." I say as if it wasn't already obvious.

"Jungkook I-" Auburn's voice starts then stops. I look past Mark to see Auburn standing there, her face like she'd seen a ghost.

"You two are here together?" Mark's girlfriend pipes in and when I don't say anything, unsure of what Auburn would want me to say, she speaks.

"Yeah, Jungkook and I are dating now." Auburn says as she joins my side, getting real close.

"Oh really? Cool." Mark says but his voice doesn't sound too impressed.

"We should all get some food at the food court." Mark's girlfriend then says and I make a face without meaning to.

"Oh come on, it's not weird unless you make it weird." She says and I know she's referring to the fact that Mark and Auburn use to date.

"I think we'll have to pass. Maybe next time." Auburn says but the tone of voice is screaming, 'there won't be a next time, bitch.'

"Let's go, nice seeing you Jungkook." Mark says, not bothering to acknowledge Auburn as he starts to pull his girlfriend away.

Once they're out of sight, I turn to Auburn. "Are you alright?" I ask and right away she nods and forces a smile.

"Peachy. Let's keep shopping, Kay?" She says as she makes her way back over to where she once was.

I watch her for a moment, seeing right through her lie. I knew running into Mark like this bothered her, not that she'd admit that out loud.

Still, I didn't let it bother me. After all, it had barely even been 2 months since they broke up so of course it was weird.

Shaking the thought away, I go back to looking at the t shirts.

—
When we get back to Auburn's place I can tell she's being quieter then usual.

Even though she wasn't admitting it, I knew she was bothered by what happened at the mall.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I ask and right away she gives me an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry. I know running into fuckhead Mark and his insanely hot new girlfriend shouldn't have affected me how it did. I guess it's just painful seeing them because he already treats her so much better then he treated me the whole time we were together." Auburn sighs, letting out what she was feeling.

I let out a breath as scoot closer to Auburn, pulling her into a hug as I rested my chin in top of her head.

"Don't apologize, I get it, okay. I know what it feels like to see someone you dated treating someone else the way you begged to be treated. It sucks and I don't blame you for being upset. He didn't deserve you, and that's why he doesn't have you anymore." I say and Auburn squeezes me tighter.

"Thank you for being so understanding about it all. I know it's not fair to you that it still gets me a little. You don't deserve that." She says, her voice sad.

"Auburn, Listen." I say as I pull back to look at her. "As your boyfriend, I'm here for you no matter what. Yeah, it isn't the greatest feeling ever to know it still bothers you but at the same time, I get it. Sometimes trauma from relationships takes time to heal and I won't make you feel bad about that. One day it won't bother you as much but until then, you don't have to apologize for feeling upset over it. Mark is an asshole and he always will be one. So just don't let him get to you."

Auburn looks up at me, nodding slowly. "Where would I be without you." She sighs as she buried her face into my chest again.

"With that asshole, probably."

We both laugh at that. "Thank you, Jungkook, for everything. I really appreciate you. You're an amazing boyfriend." Auburn smiles.

"I told you, I'll always treat you right. I swear that to you. You never have to worry about being treated that way again."

I lean forward, taking her face in my hands as I kiss her softly,

Auburn kisses me back, her kiss full of passion. As if she was saying something without actually saying it. Saying how much that meant to her. How much she appreciates that I care for her. Just happy that I'm not like her shit bag ex.

When we pull away, I place a single kiss on her forehead as I take her hand in mine.

"Don't worry about a thing. I promise you, as long as we're together, You'll always be treated like a princess." I say and Auburn giggles. "Why not a queen?"

I smile, leaning into her ear and whispering.

"I'm saving that for another time, that's a promise."

——
A/n: Get yourselves a Jungkook and never settle for less folks🥹🥹❤️