JOCELYN POV:

The wind was vicious against my cheeks as I walked down the sidewalk. Every step more tiring than the last as I felt my nose turn cold and red, "One more block." I mumble to myself as I pick up the pace as the familiar store comes into view.

"Yes!" I sigh softly as my feet step though the doors. I look around until my eyes fall on the snack aisle. I make haste as I go over and start sorting though the snacks, struggling to decide which one, "Sweet or salty?.. Maybe sour.. I didn't know they even sold this flavor!" I gasp softly as I pick up the bag of only peach flavored gummies.

"Mind blowing ain't it?" An unfamiliar voice spoke up and i look to see a woman with red hair and dark skin. Her eyes watched me carefully as she stepped closer, "Pass me the chips." She points to the barbecue chips and I nod my head before grabbing it for her, "Y-Yeah.. I'm not from here.. So I kinda lost my head for a moment." I laugh softly and she hums before opening the bag and taking a chip out, crunching it slowly.

"You seem like cool peoples." She speaks again and steps closer,"We should hang out." My eyes widened, "Me?" She looked me up and down one last time before nodding her head and shoving another chip in her mouth. My heart was beating wildly as as my head nodded, the thought of a new friend making my tummy full of butterflies.

"She could be my first real friend since Alicia didn't work out.." I look her up and down quickly as she crunches her chips, crumbs all over her face. She wore a black sweatsuit and a nice pair of sneakers as her red hair was thrown up in a messy too bun.

I like her. :)

"You good?" She leans in and my cheeks burned as I slightly leaned away, "I-I'm okay." I give her a nervous smile as she looked me up and down once again. She nodded,"Good. Let's go." She grabs my arm and quickly pulls me out of the store. "I didn't get to pay!" I hold up my snack bags and she waves me off, "I know the owner. He won't care." I frown gently and huff softly, "Can I stop at my place, at least?.. I need to grab some winter clothes if we are gonna be out." I pull against her arm and she stops walking. She frowned for a moment before she nodded her head, "Actually, why don't we just chill there? I think that's a cool vibe." She cooly responded and I felt my cheeks warming as she looked down at me. I nod my head quickly and she took the lead once again, her hand coming down to grab mine.

My eyes widen as I looked up at her, "O-Oh okay." I mumble softly and she gives me a side eye, her eyes cold yet calculating before she sighed softly and squeezed my hand tighter, "Speed it up, shorty." Her long legs made her look even more like an Amazon as I sped up my pace. I was a second away from jogging at this point, "I-I'm trying! Why don't you slow down?" I whine and she huffs softly, before slowing slightly, "Because my feet hurt and I wanna chill with you." My cheeks burned again as my eyes moved to the ground, "Oh.. I can speed up then." I squeeze her hand before rushing ahead until the familiar building came into view.

"It's that one!" I point to it and she follows my finger before she nods, "Nice place ya got." I nod my head and smile up at her, earning a curious look from her. The walk was silent as we occasionally sneaked little glances at each other which only made my heart nervously beat faster and her hand squish mines tighter. We stoped at the elevator and I pull a napkin out my pocket before pressing the button. I hear a soft scoff behind me and I look up at her, "Dont laugh.. it's not funny." I couldn't help my pout as the corners of her lips lifted up slightly, "It is.. Now go on." I send her a little glare before stepping in the elevator and watching her follow.

I pressed the floor button before stepping back and putting my hands behind my back, swaying gently as she watched me. My stomach did a little flip as our eyes caught and I quickly diverted my eyes to the floor as I stopped swaying, "Sorry." I mumble and she hums softly. The elevator doors opened with a soft ding and we quietly stepped out.

My fingers fumbled in my purse for a moment until I pulled out my keys and stopped at the front door. "Are you still hungry?.. O-Or thirsty?" I unlock the door and look up at her. She watched me before nodding, "Water is good, shorty." Her hands looked large around the door knob as she closed the door behind us. I nod my head quickly and bend over to pop my sneakers off, "O-Okay." I could feel her eyes burning holes in me as I rushed to the kitchen to get her a cup of water.

"S-So!-" I start pouring water in her cup as she follows me to the kitchen, "What would you like to do?" I smile at her as I hand her the cup. She took it and watched me carefully as she took a long sip, filling the room with silence. I nervously fumble with my fingers and watch as she moves the cup from her lips, "You smoke?" My eyes widen as I quickly shake my head, "N-No.. How about a movie instead?" I try to avoid it and she hums softly as she nods. She looks away towards the living room and I let out a silent scream as my nerves made me want to curl up and hide in a little hole.

"You so quiet.. You nervous." It wasn't a question as she turned her eyes back on me, making me quickly straighten up. I shake my head, "N-No I'm not. See? I'm fine!" I give her a big smile and she hums softly before walking out the kitchen. I follow quickly behind her like a stupid puppy, "Go sit on the couch and pick a movie.. I gotta use the bathroom." She nodded towards the couch before ducking out the room without another word.

I felt this was her house and not mines from how she acted so relaxed and chill. I grabbed the remote and a blanket before turning on the tv but it was for nothing as my mind wandered over this situation.

"I just met some random girl at a corner store, took her home, and she is using my bathroom... Is this how most people make friends?" I pout as I suck my bottom lip into my mouth, "She's also bossy and really tall.. tells me what to do.. and eats like a piggy." I huff softy as I flick through all the movies before stopping on Mulan. "Is this too baby-ish?.. I'm so lame.." I mumble and brunch my knees to my chest as I scroll past the family movies.

"I'm back shorty." I jump as her voice surprised me from the doorway. She sends me a confused look, "You thought I wasn't gonna come back?" I shake my head quickly as I scoot over, "N-No! You were just very quiet.." she hums softly before flopping on the couch next to me, making herself more than comfy as her arm went around my shoulders, "What we watching?" I did my best to look ahead as I felt her eyes land on my face.

My heart was racing at a million miles per hour as I nervously flicked through the movies, "U-Um I was still looking." I speak up and she hums softly before looking at the screen, "C-Can I ask you a question?" I look to her and bite my lip as our eyes connect, "W-What's your name?" My fingers nervously pulled at my shirt and I watched as the corners of her lips pulled up, "Gianna.. But you can call me anything." I nod my head slowly and she watches me carefully, "You invited me over and ain't even know my name?.. You're not from New York." She chuckles softly and shakes her head.

My brows furrowed as embarrassment made my cheeks burn. Sure it was a stupid move and I didn't think things through but I don't think she's gonna hurt or anything.

I eye her up and down as she did the same to me. "You ain't gone kill me or nothing, shorty?" She'd eyes narrowed and I couldn't help the giggle that left my lips, "No I'm not gonna kill you! I don't think I have the heart for that." I smile and she chuckles softly, her voice deep but smooth.

Like a red wine.

"How come you wanna be my friend?" I gently scoot closer as my eyes looked up at her. I could have sworn her cheeks slightly warmed before as she looked away, "Because I think you're a nice person.." She mumbled softy and I felt a smile almost rip my face in half, "Thats so sweet!" I move my hand on hers and watch her eyes widen slightly. I pull my hand back, "I-I mean that's pretty cool.. I think the same for you." I cooly correct myself and bite my lip to hide my faint smile.

"So now that we are friends.." I start and she looks at me, "We can pick a movie?" She asks and I shake my head, "Nope. We can learn about each other like in the movies." I smile and she raises an eyebrow, "What do you wanna know?" My tummy twisted nervously as my mind began to gather a billion questions.

"What's your favorite color?"

"Red."

"Favorite Food?"

"Chinese."

"Favorite Sport?"

"Basketball."

I didn't realize time began to fly by as more and more questions flew from my mouth. What surprised me most is that she didn't even seem bothered by it. Her face remained neutral as she answered my questions calmly, only once or twice her face twisted and that was when I asked her least favorite things.

"What about your favorite do-" "Listen shorty, I gotta go." She cuts me off and I felt a pout fall onto my lips, "But why?" She stood up slowly and let out a groan as she stretched out her back, "Because I wanna get home before it's too dark out." Guilt tugged at my tummy as I watched her walk to the front door.

Your first friend and the only thing you do is talk her ear off with a million questions! You scared her off!

I get up and quickly follow behind her, "I-It was nice hanging out with you." I give her a small smile as she turns around , "Same here, short cake.. It was interesting." She calmly grabbed her coat and began sticking her arms through. My cheeks felt warm as I watched her before her eyes caught mine, making me run towards the door.

She stood before me and I could help my fast beating heart as her eyes watched me carefully. My stomach felt gnarly and wild as I looked to my hands, "I-I just wanted to say that I'm learning to be more open.." I start off and watch her eyes widen slightly, "So thank you for being patient with me.." I give her a small smile and watch her step out the door.

She looks at me for a moment, her eyes calculating and calm. A small smile grew on her lips, "Weirdo." She chuckles softly and reaches into her pocket, "Here's my number. Text me whenever." I take it from her gently and look down at the card, "Thank you.." I pause as I look up to an empty doorway.

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AUTHORS NOTE:

WE MADE IT TO 400K Reads!!!

It's literally double than Angel dust and it's crazy because I thought nobody would like this and it's literally blowing my tiny brain right now!!!

Thank y'all so much for the support 🥺❤️

And how did y'all feel about this chapter and our new character? 👀👀