Grace

The past few weeks have gone by so fast, I can't believe it's almost the end of February.

I have been swamped with school. I've written like ten different assignments and taken four huge exams, and also passed with flying colours.

I haven't had any time to volunteer at the observatory with Ali, and I could only grab a couple of quick coffees Becky.

The one thing making me feel grounded are my movie nights with Jungkook.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I have another guy best friend beside Mike. I never thought that could happen.

A strange thing has come out of our friendship. It's like he has magical powers and suddenly made me popular. Like for real, so many people I'm only used to seeing walk right past me are now saying hi to me.

All of a sudden I got like three guys asking me out for coffee.

I find it hilarious, but I can feel that Becky wishes she could be in my shoes, the first time she's probably wished for that since we've known each other.

But it's not like I can do anything about it.

Anyway, I've been slowly crawling my way through the books Jungkook lent me. He has great taste in book, I have to give him that.

I love that we can talk about them later and I can fangirl over the male lead and he does it with me.

In these past few weeks, I've gotten to see a different side of Jungkook, the guy most describe as cold, private and hard on himself.

He's probably the funniest person I've ever met. I am literally on the floor with laugher every time I talk to him. And the cold-hearted thing is most definitely not true. He has the kindest soul.

However, one popular belief I do agree with.

He is super private. But I happen to love that. It makes me trust him even more.

And right, now I have to get up and leave the library, because he's picking me up on him way from practice and he should be here soon.

Tonight we're already watching the 7th episode of The Ark. I've been dying to see what happens next all week.

We watched the previous episode in my apartment, so this time it's his turn.

I'm about to call him where he is, because I'm freezing, when I spot his car.

And when I open the door, I can see it's filled with 2 other guys.

Jin and Hoseok.

Hmm... Hoseok. Well, I haven't seen Becky that often, but I do know nothing has happened with them after New Years. She was so sad and all I could tell her was that she needed someone who's going to treat her like she deserves.

I try to not convey my a bit not-so-fond feelings toward Hoseok. It's not my business. 

I rather focus on Jin, who is sitting on my left in the back of the car, with Jungkook driving and Hoseok in the passenger seat.

"How's it going?" I ask Jin. We've eaten plenty of dinners together and I know he's super stressed over his final assignment right now.

That's why I have a box of chocolate chip cookies in my bag.

When he just shrugs I decide to pull out the box. And the smile on his face once he opens it, makes the time I spent making them worth it.

"Thanks, baby-doll," he already has a cookie in his mouth. I have finally gotten used to Jin's nicknames and pet names. Now I'm officially known as baby-doll in his vocabulary. And the funny thing is that I respond when he calls me that.

"Hey, man," Jungkook and Hobi whine in the front, "no eating in the car."

I'm about to apologise when Jin speaks up, "I need this, dude."

Jungkook and Hobi look at each other and seem to come to some sort of an agreement and decide to let it slide.

We reach their giant house and Jungkook helps me carry some of his books I'm returning to his room.

Jin yells, "Thanks for the cookies!" when we're walking up the stairs.

"He's going to eat all of them alone, you know that, right," Jungkook pouts and closes the door behind him.

"You thought I wouldn't give some to my bestie?" I say and pull out another box filled with cookies.

Of course I knew that if I gave one box to all of them, the cookies would disappear in five minutes. That's why I packed two.

When Jungkook sees the box, he claps his hands together and gives me a cute smile.

"Get the show ready and I'll make us some tea," I say and go to the water boiler he has on his table.

We've both already had dinner, so we're having only the cookies tonight.

"The flowers are coming along great," I say as I get comfortable on the bed.

He's drawn them all over the wall behind his bed, and now up on the ceiling.

"Meh, it's a really long process," Jungkook grabs his cup of tea and the box with cookies and places both on the nightstand. The computer is all set and once he's comfy, Jungkook presses play.

"Well, it's looking amazing, you've got this like always, Koo," I say before it starts.

This episode is way too intense for us to talk in between. Once it's done we both let out a deep breath.

"Wow, this one was so good," I say while I sip on my now cold tea.

Jungkook

"So good," I agree.

Grace is wearing that black shirt she wore at Becky's birthday party.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I'm reminded of how stupid I'd been for thinking Mike was her boyfriend. I've met him twice now and this guy is really cool, and he cares about Grace so much.

Another memory jumps out. That other guy, the one I was sure Grace liked, but then saw making out with Ali, Grace's friend.

I'm not sure if I should ask her about it, I remember how upset she was.

But I forget Grace can see right through me. I don't know wether that's a good or a bad thing.

"What are you thinking about?" she's lying on her back, eating a cookie.

I pause.

"Can I ask you something?" I say carefully.

Grace sits up to look at me.

"Sure, what's up?" she looks worried, not about herself but for me.

"If you don't want to talk about it just tell me and I won't pry, but I'm curious about something."

"Okay," she prompts me to go on.

"At Becky's birthday party in December," I say slowly and track her face, "I thought Mike was your boyfriend," Grace nods and suppresses a laugh. "Well, there was another dude there," I watch her features turn down, "the one you saw with Ali," Grace looks a bit distressed, but mostly curious about where I'm going with this.

"I don't know his name, but just tell me one thing, did you like him then?" I let out a deep breath, well this took me a very long time to say.

Grace's eyes widen with surprise, "How, how did you guess that?" 

"I don't know, it just seemed like you liked him," I say. She's just staring at me with amazement.

"What?" I say when she stays quiet.

"You were right, I did like him," she takes a breath, "I had liked him for a while, but I never told my friends. I can't believe you figured that out, nobody else did."

"Not even Becky?" I cut in. She must have told Becky.

"Nope, she would tell Maya and Liza and then everyone would know," she shrugs.

"What about Ali?" I ask and then tap my forehead. I remember she loves to gossip.

And now my heart hurts for Grace even more. She couldn't even tell her friends. And then she saw Ali making out with him.

"Don't feel bad for me, it was a silly crush and I was over it before I saw Ali and him." 

"Okay, but I just want you to know I would never tell anything you tell me to anyone," even I can hear the sincerity in my voice, "you can trust me."

I can see Grace's eyes get a bit glossy. "I know I can."

I open my arms and Grace comes into my hug.

"You know you can trust me too, right?" she whispers in my ear. Her hair smells so good and the energy radiating off her is making me feel at home and at peace.

"I know and I do." I say back and feel my heart growing even bigger.