Av 😒🌻🥰:

Hey!

Do you think you can pick me up and take me with you to the bar? 👉🏻👈🏻

Jungkookie 🙄🐰💜:

What happened to Tae? 😠

Av 😒🌻🥰:

He got caught up at work and can't make it...

Jungkookie 🙄🐰💜:

He makes his own hours Av!😤

He can't take one damn night off??

Av 😒🌻🥰:

PLEASE KOOKIE! 🙏🏻🥺

I really don't want to go alone...

Jungkookie 🙄🐰💜:

🙄 Of course, I'll come to get you Av.
Be ready and outside!

Av 😒🌻🥰:

You da best! 🥰

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"I just don't understand, Av! How can you still be with him when he's like this?" Kookie rants as we make our way to the bar.

This is an argument me and Kookie continue to have. I feel like I spend more time defending my relationship than actually having one. My head is pounding, I'm already anxious about meeting up with Jimin and this talk isn't making anything better.

I get his points, I do, but I love Tae and I'm not ready to let go. I know this is just a small bump in our relationship, he's stressed and frustrated he hasn't caught a break yet. All I can do is support him and cheer him on, things will get better and we will be stronger.

"Enough, Jungkook!" I shout cutting him off mid-rant.

He sheepishly turns his head to look at me, his big eyes filled with sorrow. I instantly regret raising my voice at him. I've only ever yelled at him a few times in the years I've known him, once when he ditched me at a party for some girl and I had to find my way home alone, once when he broke his arm doing a dumb dare from Jake Henderson and once when he kept trying to push me to make up with Jimin.

Each and every single time resulted in him being deeply hurt and an awkward quietness would replace our close friendship. I could already feel it settling between us and I couldn't let that happen right now I needed him.

"I'm sorry for yelling. It's just...let's not talk about Tae anymore?" I reach my hand over and pat his.

"I don't like the way he treats you, Av. He's always letting you down and you do everything for him. I just think you deserve better," he nervously runs his hands along the steering wheel avoiding eye contact with me.

"He doesn't treat me badly, Kookie he's just really stressed with work right now. He doesn't let me down, I understand how hard he's working. I'm still very happy with him."

He lets out a sigh and nods his head. "Fine, but if he fucks up, his ass is mine."

"Agreed," I laugh and lean over to give him a quick peck on the cheek. "You're the best friend I could ever have!"

"Remember that after seeing Jimin," he chuckles turning his bunny smile to me.

"Oh my gosh, shut up," I playfully punch his arm only for him to gasp.

"I'm being serious, you're gonna make up with Jimin and suddenly he's gonna be your best friend again."

"Yeah, right," I mumble under my breath, a frown takes over my face.

"Hey, it will be okay seeing Jimin again. Plus I'd never give up your annoying self," he parks the car and gracefully climbs out.

We link arms and make our way into the bar. "You're stuck with me forever Jeon."

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My leg bounces under the table as I wait for Jungkook and Viv to show up. It's been seven years since I last saw her and, on top of it, the way we ended our friendship made me extra jittery.

Had she changed much? Was she still angry with me? Would she even bother trying to have a friendship with me again?

I ordered drinks for everyone so they would be ready when they got here. Kookie his jack and coke and Viv her vodka cranberry. When the waitress sets down the glasses, my body tenses as I watch Kookie and Viv stroll into the bar, arm in arm with grins on their faces.

I watch Kookie scan the room and raise my hand to wave him over. I can't take my eyes off Viv as they make their way over to me. I thought she was beautiful as a teen, but now the woman walking towards me was breathtaking. Her short auburn hair that I remembered is now long, loose waves that fall down her back. She never used to wear makeup, but now the soft amount she applied amplifies her full peach lips and wide green eyes. She's grown into a woman's body, full in all the places I couldn't help but appreciate.

When they reach the table, Kookie greets me joyfully and scoots into the booth to sit beside me. Viv offers a small hi and scoots in next to Kookie. I don't miss the way she fidgets and refuses to make eye contact with me.

I've no one to blame but myself for my behavior.

"Hey, I ordered us some drinks already," I say cheerfully trying to break the tension.

I push both glasses towards them and Kookie stops grabbing the vodka.

"Here we can switch, Av," he smiles offering her his jack and coke.

She looks up at him and flashes a beautiful smile while accepting his drink. I can't help stop my lips from drooping a little at the action.

"You don't drink vodka cranberry anymore?" I ask confused. That was her go-to drink in high school, she refused to drink anything stronger than that.

"Ha, she hasn't drunk that since sophomore year at the glow party. Now she can't even smell it without being queasy," he teases nudging her arm slightly.

Jealousy flares through me watching her giggle and slap his arm as he teases her. Their playful banter and closeness eating me because that used to be us.

"Oh. I'll remember for next time," I plaster a fake smile on my face trying to keep the mood light.

We spend the next hour with Kookie dominating the conversation, when Viv did speak up, it would be to address Kookie. She barely said a few words to me. As she sips on her fourth drink of the night, watching some people on the dance floor, I make eye contact with Kookie and motion for him to leave for a little.

He catches on right away and excuses himself saying he needs to use the bathroom. Viv lets him out and when she sits back down our eyes meet and she quickly looks away.

"Hey, uh, Viv...can we talk?" I ask nervously.

She turns around to stare at me, her brows furrow and she bites on her lower lip. "We have been talking all night, Jimin."

"I just wanna apologize, Viv..."

"For what exactly, Jimin? For ignoring me? For not coming home? For abandoning me and our friendship?" she spits out.

I sigh realizing she's not going to make this easy. And why would she? I know I hurt her and broke her trust.

"For all of it, Viv. I was young, we were far away from each other and I just got caught up in college life..." I reach out to softly take her hand, "you're my best friend, Viv."

She snatches her hand away from me as if my touch has burned her. "Things are different now, Jimin. No hard feelings or anything, I've moved on from it all, but we aren't best friends anymore."

"It doesn't have to be that way though! We can start over," I plead.

Kookie comes back face filled with concern as he sees her scowling at me. "You ready to go, Av?" he cuts in reaching out his hand for her to take.

She nods and allows herself to be pulled from the booth. I quickly exit too and grab her wrist to stop her.

"Let's just text and get to know each other again?" I ask, desperate for her not to be completely out of my life again.

She chews on her lip thinking about it until Kookie nudges her. She groans but pulls her phone out of her pocket. "Fine, give me your number, I'll text you."

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