.

"How can you stand him?" one of the patrons muttered as she placed her returns on the counter. Emily shot her a confused look.

"Who?" Emily asked, looking around for the source of the girl's annoyance.

"Him," the girl spat, jerking her thumb over her shoulder. Emily looked past the disgruntled girl in front of her and saw Taehyung making his way toward the exit. When he reached the doors, he turned and waved at her before leaving.

"Taehyung?" Emily asked, arching an eyebrow.

"If that's his name, then yes." the girl huffed. Emily pulled the books off the counter and pulled up the program she used to check out and check in books. That anyone could dislike Taehyung completely baffled her. She hadn't known him that long, but her gut, which was usually correct, said that Taehyung was the same person with everyone else that he was with her.

"He's usually very sweet," Emily said gently. "What did he do that was so terrible?"

The girl, Lily, Emily saw on the computer screen as she scanned the first book, looked at her, mouth agape. "You're kidding, right?" Emily took the books she scanned and moved them to the returns cart, rolling her eyes once her back was to the girl.

"No, actually I'm not." She answered, dropping the books onto the cart harder than necessary. Emily turned to face Lily, taking in her perfect posture and neat as a pin hair and clothes. "Do you actually have a reason to dislike him? Or are you just a snob?"

Lily's jaw dropped at Emily's harsh tone and part of her immediately wished she could take it back. Another part of her, the fiercely protective part of her didn't regret anything she said, but the horrified gasp from behind her made her cringe in shame nonetheless.

"Emily!" Angela said, horror apparent in her voice.

"What?" Emily sniped back, as she whipped around. "She's making snap judgements about someone that's precious to me and she has yet to give me any reason for why she can't stand him."

"That's no reason to--" Angela started before Lily cut her off.

"You want a reason?" Lily asked through gritted teeth, hands fisted at her side. "I don't like him, because every time I see him he's lost in the clouds, running into things and causing general chaos!"

Emily opened her mouth to respond, but Lily brought up a hand, cutting her off.

"And he's nothing but a disgusting playboy! One who has obviously got you under his spell!" Lily spat, crossing her arms in irritation.

Emily gaped at Lily. Taehyung? A playboy? And I'm under his spell?

"What on earth are you talking about?" Emily asked in a quiet voice. She couldn't make heads or tails of anything Lily was talking about.

Lily shook her head and closed her eyes. Tipping her head back, she drew in a deep breath muttering something along the lines of "You poor little fool" before fixing her gaze on Emily.

"He's playing you." She said bluntly. "He's surrounded by a gaggle of girls all the time and they all fall all over themselves to talk to him. You're not the only one he flirts with." Emily didn't even know how to respond to that.

"Wait," Angela broke in. "Who's Taehyung? I thought you were seeing Jimin."

Emily's head snapped toward Angela at that and her eyes narrowed. "That's none of your business. Jimin and I aren't on speaking terms anymore. I'm sure that's no shock to you." Hurt flashed across Angela's face at the bite in Emily's words.

"I see." Angela said, calmly. Without another word, she turned and went back to her office.

"Seriously?" Lily said, nose snarled and lip curled as she looked Emily over. "And you preached at me for being snobby." The ache in Emily's chest intensified. She hadn't made up with Angela yet, she was inexplicably missing Jimin, and now she'd made a total butt of herself trying to defend her only friend.

Emily's mouth opened and closed as she tried to find the words to say. What do you say to a total stranger to explain why you're acting crazy? Sorry, that was my best friend who's actually a fairy? My life has been a mess because the only guy who I've had any interest in in years was lying to me and probably isn't even actually interested in me and the only person I really consider a friend is actually a shifter?

Lily shook her head at Emily's inability to speak and pivoted away from the desk. She'd only made it a few steps when Emily found her voice.

"Lily!" she called out. The few patrons trying to study glared over at her for raising her voice.

"What?" Lily snapped, turning to face her.

Emily hung her head and drew a deep breath in through her nose, exhaling out her mouth before responding, "I'm sorry."

Lily scoffed, "Sure. Whatever." She turned and started walking away again.

"No. Wait!" Emily called again, making her way around the circulation desk to chase after the girl. When she reached Lily she got in front of her, halting her progress. "I am so, so sorry for my rude behavior."

Lily's gaze flicked over Emily as she considered her. Emily pushed on before she could leave again.

"I know it's no excuse, but my life has been a complete and utter mess lately. I shouldn't have judged you so harshly and I shouldn't have made assumptions." Emily told her, gaze shifting to her scuffed high tops. "Taehyung is the only person in my life I trust right now and it really ground my gears for someone to judge him so harshly. I'm sorry that I turned around and did the very same thing to you."

Silence stretched between the girls. Emily wanted to crawl out of her skin waiting for Lily's response and almost collapsed when the girl answered in a much kinder tone than she'd been using originally.

"I forgive you," Lily said. "I understand having tough times, and I understand feeling like you have no one else you can count on. I shouldn't have been so hard on him for being an airhead, but I still can't stand a playboy."

With that, Lily stepped around Emily and made her way out of the library. Emily watched her go and shook her head in disbelief.

"Airhead? Playboy?" she muttered darkly as she made her way back to the desk. "Just who does she think she is?"

///

Lily was still mulling over her conversation with the library worker. Had her boss called her Emily? How anyone could put so much trust in someone who was so obviously playing them was beyond her, but as Emily had pointed out it wasn't right to make assumptions. Lily was almost through the courtyard when she tripped on an uneven stone. Arms pinwheeling through the air Lily squealed as she got closer to face planting.

Just when Lily was sure she was going to bust her face open, a strong hand wrapped around her wrist and yanked her up to standing. Rather than the hard, stony ground of the courtyard, Lily's face met a firm broad chest. Looking up at her savior, Lily couldn't help but gape at the handsome man in front of her. His sharp jaw was dusted with stubble and his black hair was stylishly askew.

"Careful there," he murmured, releasing her wrist.

Lily pushed her long hair back behind her ear, "Thank you for saving me from face planting."

The man chuckled softly, "No problem." Lily scuffed the toe of her boot against the ground, unable to look at him without blushing.

"Well," he said, rubbing the hair on the back of his neck. "I guess I'll see you around. . ."

"Lily," she supplied with a small smile.

"I'll see you around, Lily," he said, turning to walk away.

"See you around, uh. . ." She called out.

Turning to look at her, the man smiled, "The name's Jack." 

You can thank my WattSquad for the birth of this story.  When I started Wish I figured I would write Wish and that would be that.  One day I was asked if I would write stories for the other members too and I decided why on earth not.  Updates for Shift will be about as sporadic as Wish, but even more so, because parts of it happen during Wish.  I hope you enjoy this story!