*3 years ago*

I stopped my leg from bouncing as I felt panic rise in my body.

It could also be because of the cold air that made me shiver to my very bones, as I stared at my phone screen.

Me: Can we meet at the blossom tree? I need to tell you something.

Sure! Be there in 20, though. Connor is here, and dad said he has a surprise for Ethan.

My hand clenched around the phone at her reply, as I couldn't help but feel jealous and left out.

Before Connor arrived in town few months back, it was just us, Miles and I. Ethan hung out with us sometimes but that was it. But then, out of nowhere, Connor came into town and waltz his way into our life. Miles and Ethan welcomed him with open arms, while I couldn't help but be a sour sport.

The guy isn't bad per say... But well he's too nice.

Fine. I don't like how he's taking Miles away from me, basically hogging her. Before he was here, I had all her attention but now that it is somehow divided, I don't like it.

I hate it when he's the reason for her laugh, or when she ditches me to hang out with him instead.

I know she doesn't mean to hurt me, she doesn't know I'm a hopeless romantic who's in love with her, which is why I've decided to stop being a baby and come clean about what I feel.

It is Christmas Eve, and I decided to confess today and texted her to meet me here, under the blossom tree in the town park, before I could overthink and back out.

It's been an hour since she texted me and well, an hour since I've been waiting under the blossom tree.

Another hour passed and the heaviness in my heart only grew as I noticed people slowly heading out of the park as the sun set, painting the sky in all the beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow, and the snow grew taller by an inch every 5 minutes.

I glanced at my phone to see the many texts I had sent, still unanswered. I pushed my glasses up my nose as I felt my resolve slowly deflate and my shoulders sagged.

I couldn't stop the mental images that took over my brain, that included Connor and I couldn't help but feel like she chose Connor over me, that easily.

I blinked away tears that welled up in my eyes and with one last look at the park entrance, I started my long walk home in the snow, with a broken heart.

*

"But I wanna meet her too." Grace whined for the hundredth time following me around my room, while I sighed again, grabbing my phone.

"For the last time Grace, no. You can meet her when she comes over, sometime." I finally said looking back at her, making her face light up.

"Really? She'll come to meet me?" she asked, jumping in excitement. "When? When? When?"

She sang as I sighed, massaging my temples, because I couldn't help but be unsure about that question myself.

"Soon, okay?" I finally said, bending down to her height, making her nod her head and squeal.

"Okay!" she ran out of my room making me sigh in relief.

Grace loved Miles, as she always brought Grace all sorts of candies, and well, they both share the same sweet tooth. She was 8, when Miles suddenly left and it was very hard for me to explain to her, why Miles doesn't come over anymore, as I wanted answers to many questions myself.

I checked my phone to see it was noon already. Dylan texted me last night, that everyone plans to meet at Miles' place at 12:30.

I've been checking the time every half an hour since I woke up.

'Quite pathetic.'

I shook my head.

I still had half an hour to kill, and I was already done taking a shower, and changing into something comfortable. We were only planning to laze around and just talk, basically catch up, so I decided on some grey joggers and plain black tshirt.

I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a granola bar, and poured myself some coffee.

To be honest, the thought of catching up makes me a little nervous. It's ironic how sceptical I am now that I have a chance to have answers to my questions that were left unanswered.

Now that Miles was here, I was just happy to have her back and I'm not sure if I want my questions answered. Even if she does have a valid explanation, there's a lot of graves that would be dug and I doubt anyone of us would be comfortable with that.

I shook my head to clear my head before getting up from the counter, checking my phone to see it's 12:15.

I groaned, seeing no point in stalling anymore and decided to head to her place already. I mean, I have nothing to do and live closest to her, I'm sure she won't mind.

'Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.'

I groaned before walking out of the house.

*****

After Jimin finished performing serendipity at the alter, it was finally time for Jungkook and I to walk down the isle.

As everyone applauded for Jimin, I turned my head to look at my beautiful husband to-be, at the same time he turned to look at me.

Jungkook smiled his signature bunny smile before turning to grab me by my shoulders and giving me a light shake, making me frown.

"Miles!" He said shaking me. I wanted to ask him, why he's shaking me like a fucking bottle of soju, but I couldn't focus on anything but his beautiful doe eyes, the little moles on his face and his hair that was gelled back, exposing his forehead.

"Miles! Miles!" He continued shaking me.

Miles? Why is he calling me Miles? My name is Emily.

I swear if he says the wrong name at the alter...

and my name really IS Emily. Fuck!

God, I need to stop watching Friends.

One second I'm standing at the alter, about to get married to the love of my life and the next second I'm in my room, sitting up on my bed, drenched in water and gasping for breath.

Once I had caught my breath, I looked over to the side of my bed to see none other than, Ryder fucking Green laughing so hard, he had to grab the headrest for support to stand upright.

I looked at the empty glass in his hand in disbelief and punched his elbow of the arm supporting him, on the headrest, making him lose balance and fall forward, face first on the bed, with his knees hitting the floor.

He picked his head from my bed in surprise, as I kind of forgot where I was and hit his arm with quite some force.

But when his wide eyes landed on my glaring face, he burst out laughing again.

This bitch...

My hair was drenched and there was water dripping down my face as my nose flared at his audacity to laugh at my face after what he'd done.

I decided to be the mature person I am, and grabbed the hardest pillow I could find and slammed in on his head, which was still on my bed, might I add, repeatedly.

"Why. Do. You. Always. Have. To. Be. An. Ass." I said with every hit, while he tried to dodge them while still chuckling.

He finally caught hold of my arms by the wrist with his ape sized hands and held them so they were far away from each other, making me drop the pillow between us.

But by pulling my arms away, he also pulled me slightly closer, making me drop my glare as I felt heat rise up my neck.

His laughter died as well, leaving a smile on his face, as he sat there looking at me. "Sorry, but you look like a wet kitten, glaring at me like that, I can't take you seriously."

That made my glare return and I gritted my teeth. "And who's fault is it that I'm all wet at" I glanced at the clock on my side table before turning to look at him. "12:30, on a FUCKING SATURDAY." I yelled when I realised that today was supposed to be my rest day, specially after the fight yesterday.

A smirk slowly grew on Ryder's face as he looked at me with mischievous eyes while I frowned.

As if a light bulb went off in my head, I realised what I said, but it was too late because Ryder was now full on smirking.

"You really have no shame, do you?" I said grimacing at him and his dirty mind.

He responded with a grin on his stupid face, shaking his head, while I just rolled my eyes.

I gave him an unimpressed look before snatching my wrists from his grasp, scooting to the side of the bed to get off and head to the bathroom.

"Why are you in my room anyway?" I proceeded to remove my hair that was stuck my still wet face, thank to the devil Green. "Stalking ain't pretty, Ryder." I said finally standing, and looking down at him.

That earned an amused chuckle from Ryder, as he started to get on his feet again, looking at me. "Your dad let me in, grumbling about how it's too early to be awake and just told me to head ups- What is that on your face?"

My hand stopped midway while I was removing a strand of hair from my face as I looked at Ryder, frowning, before my eyes widened as I looked at his gaze on my face.

The way he was looking at me was in complete contrast to how he was, just a second ago. His gaze hardened and was set on my face, more specifically, my jaw.

I complete forgot about the huge purple bruise on my jaw, until this moment and now, it was a little too late. He probably couldn't see it before because of my wet hair sticking to my face.

Lexi was supposed to use makeup to help me hide it, before any of them got here but well we didn't expect anyone to come this early.

His jaw ticked as I saw his hands clench into fists, making his veins visible.

A nervous chuckle escaped my lips as I brought my hands up to my face, slowly inching towards the bathroom. "Yeah it's probably my hair, it's all over the place. I should go take a shower, make yourself home."

I rushed out the words before turning to grab the bathroom's doorknob, when a hand enveloped mine, before I could grab it and made me turn to face a very livid Ryder, as I crashed into his chest.

"Who. Did this?" He gritted out with clenched teeth, glaring down at the bruise on my jaw, as his hold on my wrist, tightened.

I squirmed under his gaze and avoided eye contact with him, trying to find words.

What is wrong with me? Why can't I find words? It's never been hard for me to lie.

'Well you've never lied to him, before.'

Things change. People change.

'Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.'

I was pulled out of my internal battle against my conscience, which I was clearly losing, as Ryder grabbed my chin softly, so softly I almost couldn't feel it, and made me raise my head to look at him.

I noticed how his grip on my arm loosened a little, but his eyes were a different story.

They were anything but soft. They held so much rage that it made me squirm under his gaze.

"Who. Did. This. To you. Miles?" He asked his tone impossibility low, making me feel his chest vibrate, because of how close we were.

"I fell." I finally said. My cheeks were burning at this point, at our proximity and because of this situation, overall.

He raised an eyebrow. "You fell?"

I nodded, backing away from him, making his hand fall from my chin to his side, but his other hand was still holding mine in a firm grip.

"You really expect me to believe that?" He scoffed, gliding his tongue across the inside of his cheek and he raised his eyebrows at me.

Ugh give up already.

"Yes." I said pulling my hand from his and crossing my arms over my chest, regaining my composure, now that there was a little distance between us. "Because it's true. I'm pretty clumsy, you know that." I said with a straight face.

He crossed his arms copying my posture. "Yes I know," he said tilting his head to the side. "But I also know it when you're lying, Miles. I can see right through you."

I didn't let my posture or expression falter, but I couldn't stop my eyes from fluttering and I knew he noticed.

We both stood there with determined looks on our faces, neither of us backing down before his gaze softened as he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, before looking down at me.

"Look, if you don't wanna tell me, that's okay. Just... tell someone please. Tell Alec?" He said, his tone desperate. "Does he know?"

"Yes" His face lightened. "He knows I fell in the hall yesterday." I said, moving away from him, heading to my closet to get clothes to change into, while he groaned.

"You're impossible." He said with his head in his hands.

I walked out of my closet with my clothes in hand. "I know." I said fake smiling before turning towards the bathroom, when stepped in to block my way, again, making me groan.

"Fine," he said looking down at me, scanning my face. "I'll believe you this time, because you obviously don't wanna talk about it, but I just want you to know that, if I find out that it is what I think it is, I won't be so understanding." He growled, making my eyes waver from his eyes to his lips for a split second, but that was enough for him to notice, as a smirk grew on his lips.

I rolled my eyes at his dramatic self, before pushing him out of my way and walking in the bathroom, finally, to take a much needed shower.

*****

I walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my hair and my bruise, now concealed.

I changed into some grey shorts and a dull blue t-shirt, as I couldn't risk Ryder seeing the bruises on my stomach area, which were much worse than what he had seen.

(Outfit above, minus the sunglasses and sandals)

I walked out to see my room, now Ryder-free. My mind replayed the last half an hour, and heat crept up my neck just thinking about it.

I knew the whole group would be concerned if they saw the bruises, which is why I asked Lexi to cover it in the first place, but I didn't expect, Ryder to get so wound up.

I don't even want to imagine what would happen if he saw the bruises on my stomach.

I shook my head, dismissing the thought before removing the towel to let my hair down. I decided against using the hair dryer and leave them to dry on their own.

I walked down the stairs and headed to the kitchen. Duh

Only to hear, laughter before I could enter.

I walked in, to see Ryder perched on one of the island stool, opposite to mom as they laughed together.

They stopped mid conversation and turned to look at me as I narrowed my eyes at those two.

"Good morning Em." My mom said chuckling, but I could clearly hear the 'you woke up when half of the day was over'.

I gave her a blank look before heading to the counter to pour myself some coffee. "What's so good about it?" I muttered without turning, in no mood to deal with the human species.

She chuckled. "You didn't tell me your friends were coming over. I would've prepared something, honey." She said motioning towards Ryder while he smirked at me.

It was then that I noticed him wearing grey sweatpants and well, I'm grateful I didn't notice them when we were upstairs just inches away from each other.

"They weren't supposed to come before 3 mom. I guess someone doesn't know how to tell time, yet." I said with a pointed look at Ryder, making him frown and look down at his phone, taking it out of his pocket.

'Of his grey sweatpants.'

Shut up!

"You shouldn't speak to your friends like that Em." Mom shook her head, sending Ryder an apologetic look.

Ryder groaned. "No she's right. We weren't supposed to be here until 3, Dylan decided to mess with me and told me the wrong time." He said scratching the back of his neck.

I sipped my coffee to avoid looking at his perfect self.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience Mrs. Waters. I'll just come back later." He said nervously, getting up from the stool, making me look up at him.

What are you apologizing to her for? You drenched me in water, you asshat.

I thought, shaking my head.

"Oh no honey, just stay. Why would you leave? I know how close you guys were, it's been 3 years, I'm sure you have so much to catch up to. Also it's Amanda for you, you know that. You're not a stranger." Mom said getting up from her stool, making Ryder sit down on his, looking at me and him simultaneously, during her little speech.

Ryder turned to look at me, while I shrugged in response, before taking a huge gulp of my coffee.

He nodded making my mom walk over to place her cup in the sink. "Great. I'll leave you two to do, whatever it is that teenagers do these days." She said smiling at both of us, before walking out, grabbing her phone to make some calls, probably.

"So... " He trailed, looking around, making me roll my eyes.

"Coffee?" His eyes snapped to my curious ones, before he nodded.

I turned to grab a cup and turned on the coffee machine, when I heard footsteps enter the kitchen.

"Hey Em, have you seen m-" I winced when I heard Alec's overly cheery voice and turned to see him going still, when his eyes landed on Ryder as he turned in his stool to look at Alec.

My eyes widened when I realised the gravity of the situation and stepped forward. "Ale-"

"What is he doing here?" He growled, his eyes not leaving Ryder's confused ones.

I'd be confused if I was him too, which is why I empathised with him.

"All my friends are coming over today, Alec." I said, moving to stand next to him.

"I didn't know he was still your friend?" He said still glaring at Ryder, while I grabbed his arm, making him turn to look at me.

"Yes he is." I said in a warning tone.

"Hey, is everything okay, man?" Ryder said, still confused at Alec's reaction.

"Oh trust me, you don't wanna know." Alec said with a dark chuckle, before turning to look at me.