"Do you see him?" Hoseok asks looking around the parking lot.

"No." Jungkook says doing the same.

"He said he was coming today right?" Hoseok asks.

"Yeah." Jungkook says looking down at his phone.

Hoseok anxiously looks around the area until he finally does spot Taehyung.

"Tae!" He shouts getting his attention and waving.

Jungkook looks up and he is stunned.

Taehyung approaches them a bit hesitantly.

"Hey." He says laughing nervously.

"Your hair." Jungkook says looking at it.

"What?" Taehyung asks his hand going to his freshly dyed hair nervously.

"Forget the hair. I need an explanation. And a hell of a good one." Hoseok says.

"Oh." Taehyung says looking down and still self-consciously messing with his hair.

"A whole week of no school and ignoring my messages. And even telling me to go away when I came to check on you." Hoseok runs off everything Taehyung has done.

"I know. I didn't mean to tell you to leave Hobi. I'm~." Taehyung's breath hitches. "I'm going through something right now and I just. I needed to be alone."

"What are you going through that you can't tell me about. You tell me everything Tae." Hoseok says feeling hurt that his best friend didn't trust him.

Taehyung sighs as the all to vivid images come back to his mind.

"I can't do this." Taehyung whispers to himself.

Taehyung has been talking to himself a lot lately.

"What is it Tae? Did something happen with your dad?" Hoseok asks.

"N-No. It's n-not that. It's ju-just." Taehyung closes his eyes trying to form words.

"Hey. You okay?" Jungkook asks reaching out to touch Taehyung's arm.

"Don't touch me!" Taehyung snaps slapping Jungkook's hand away.

Jungkook pulls his hand away quickly holding both hands up.

"What's up with you Tae?" Hoseok asks lowering his voice.

"I really tried Hoseok. I really fucking tried." Taehyung says turning to leave.

"Wait where are you going?" Hoseok asks grabbing Taehyung's wrist.

"Don't fucking touch me!" Taehyung says snatching his arm away and pushing Hoseok so roughly that he bumps into Jungkook.

"You need to calm down Taehyung." Jungkook says. "Talk to us. You can talk to us we're your friends."

Taehyung shakes his head. "I can't."

With that Taehyung turns away and walks towards the exit of the campus.

Before he walks out of the gate Taehyung has a sudden realization.

By leaving he's being a coward.

He's hiding just like he wanted him to.

"Stop being an idiot." Taehyung says to himself turning back towards the campus. "It's school. It's just school. He can't do anything here."

Taehyung fixes his hair again.

He doesn't know what he was thinking dying it such a light brown color.

The halls aren't too full since the first bell hasn't rung yet.

Taehyung walks to class quickly with his head down not wanting to draw attention to himself.

When gets into class only a few people are there.

"Cool hair." One of them says when they see him.

"Thanks." Taehyung says smiling a little at the guy.

"You're Taehyung right?" He asks.

"Um. Yeah. I am." Taehyung says sitting at his table. "Why?"

"Because I think you're cute." The guy says smiling.

Taehyung nods and forces another smile. "Thanks."

"Would you maybe want to hang out sometime? Like at my place?" He asks.

Taehyung feels himself tense up.

In the past he would've accepted the invite without a second thought.

Without knowing his name, his address, his number, nothing.

"Something wrong honey?"

Taehyung exhales shakily his eyebrows knitting together.

"Taehyung?" The guy says.

"What?" Taehyung asks.

"I asked what was wrong dude. You look kinda pale." The guy says.

"No. I just. I remembered something." Taehyung says.

"So is it a yes to hanging out?" The guy says with another smile.

"No. I can't. I'm sorry it's just...no." Taehyung sputters out.

"That's alright. I'm new here so I understand why you wouldn't want to hangout with a stranger." The guy laughs.

"You're new?" Taehyung asks.

"Yeah. I transferred. I'm Taeil." The brunette says standing from his seat and walking over to Taehyung.

"It's nice to meet you." Taehyung says holding out his hand.

"You too." Taeil says laughing a little while shaking his hand.

"I'm sorry if I was being weird. I'm just. A bit weird I guess." Taehyung says.

"No worries I am too." Taeil says. "But who's says there's anything wrong with that?"

Taehyung smiles a little and laughs as the bell rings.

"Let me know if you change your mind and want to take me up on my offer to hangout. My mom and sister might be there but I promise they'll only irritate you for a minute. We can play some video games. I just bought some new ones." Taeil says laughing.

"Sure. Thanks Taeil." Taehyung says.

"You can call me Tae if you want." Taeil says.

"Everyone calls me Tae so that'd be kinda trippy." Taehyung says.

"Right. I didn't think about that." Taeil says. "Then you can just call me Hyung."

"Cool." Taehyung says nodding.

Jungkook approaches the two of them and silently takes his seat.

"I'll see you later Tae, hopefully." Taeil smiles.

"Later." Taehyung says smiling as Taeil returns to his seat in the back of the classroom.

"Who's that?" Jungkook asks after Taeil is out of earshot.

"New kid." Taehyung says.

Jungkook hums opening his binder.

"Jungkook." Taehyung says getting his attention. "I just. I wanted to apologise for acting so weird. I don't mean it. I don't mean to I mean."

"It's alright." Jungkook says. "I just want you to know that I'm here for you. Always. Okay?"

Taehyung nods. "Thank you."

"Come on. You're not going to cry are you?" Jungkook says jokingly.

"No. It's just." Taehyung wipes away his tears. "I'm really grateful."

"Nooo." Jungkook groans. "You're gonna make me cry."

"I'm sorry." Taehyung laughs sniffing a little.

"It's okay." Jungkook says. "I hate seeing you upset Tae."

"I'm not upset." Taehyung says.

"Then why are you crying?" Jungkook asks.

Taehyung shrugs wiping his eyes again as more tears fall.

"I'm just happy I'm with you again." Taehyung says.

Even though Jungkook is confused by Taehyung's words he doesn't question them.

"I'm happy too." Jungkook smiles.

Taehyung looks up at Jungkook with teary eyes but Jungkook's smile immediately makes his tears go away.

No matter how much pain Taehyung has been in the past week the thought of Jungkook seemed to ease the pain just a little.

Even though Jungkook didn't know, he was the only reason Taehyung pushed himself out of bed this morning and came to school.

Because he told Jungkook he would.

And a part of Taehyung knew that as long as Jungkook was here he was okay.

Is that weird?

Taehyung smiles back at Jungkook before lowering his head once again to wipe his tears.

"By the way. Your hair is lovely that color."

--