They say friends can be your second family. A family even more important than the one you were born in. And that's because you choose it by yourself. There are no legal bonds connecting you, no obligations towards each other. Just a group of people deciding to be together.

Easy as that.

When I met the girls for the first time, I thought I found mine. A family that could have finally accept me for who I am. And love me for that. Not because they had to. Not because I was their own flesh and blood.

Just because I was me.

Daphne.

The skinny girl, the pale one. The shy, the depressed, the good student, the one who follows the rules, who does what she is been told. The good girl. The suffocated one.

The broken Daphne Stark.

''D I've been looking everywhere for you. What are you doing here?''

Zoey's sweet voice wakes me up. Blinking my eyes, I find hard to adjust on the daylight, but I do my best, getting up from the bench I was laying.

''Are you okay? I was so worried.''

''I'm fine.'' The roughness of my voice surprises me.

Was I really sleeping?

''How did you get here?'' She asks and I take my time to observe my surroundings. I'm outside the East Wing, blocks away from the building our courses took place. And the worst part is, I can't even remember how I got here.

I recall leaving Khloe behind and then walking around the campus. I guess my feet brought me in this place.

How ironic.

''At the beginning I thought you went home, but then you left your things behind...'' She says, signaling towards my bag.

I nod rubbing my eyes.

''I didn't feel like coming back to class. I was going to wait until the lesson was over to take my things. Thanks for bringing them.''

She just nods, letting her curls bounce around her face. ''D what happened?''

Her tone is calm and careful. As if she is afraid, I'm going to break down if she pushes me too hard.

''Khloe didn't tell you?''

''No. I asked where you were, but she never responded. I could tell something happened between you two, just by the look on her face. She seemed...''

''Relieved?'' I say with a bitter smile.

''Why would she be relieved?'' Zoey asks confused.

I shrug my shoulders, looking down at my lap.

Because she finally got rid of me.

''D talk to me. What's going on?''

I feel her hand rubbing my back in comfort and tears slip down my cheeks.

''Hey...'' She whispers coming closer to hug me.

''I-I'm such a f-fucked up case Zoey.'' I mumble between sobs.

''No, you are not. Don't say that.''

''It's t-true. I bring everyone down w-with me.''

''The only person you bring down is yourself. And guess what? I'm not gonna let you do that. Come on.''

Grabbing my stuff, she tugs me along, like a mother with her sniffling kid.

''Zoey...''

''You are coming with me. If you think you are just another fucked up case, then you really have no idea...''

Twenty minutes later we stand outside Zoey's apartment door. She goes through her purse, trying to find her keys, silent curses escaping her lips.

''Shit. I am sure I brought them with me. Come on!'' Whining she turns her bag upside down, letting her things scatter across the floor.

Lip glosses, textbooks, phone charger, wallet, a pack of condoms...

''Fuck.''

Yep, no keys.

''Josh?'' I ask, meaning her roommate.

''No. He has classes today.'' She mumbles, taking one of her glosses and spreading some on her lips.

''What about a spare key?''

Her eyes light up. ''You are genius D!''

''Hardly.'' I mumble, kneeling next to her to put her things inside the bag.

She walks on the other side of the hallway, ringing the bell. I look at her, waiting impatiently outside her neighbor's door.

Suddenly, a man makes his appearance from the stairs, holding bags with groceries.

A very handsome man, may I say.

''Zoey?''

''Martin hey!'' She yells, almost too excited. ''I got locked outside my house.''

''Oh, I see.'' He chuckles. ''Give me a sec, and I'll bring the key to you.''

He unlocks his door, closing it discreetly behind him and I turn to Zoey in an awe.

''I didn't know your landlord was so young.''

''Cutie huh?''

I nod in agreement, because let's face it. The guy looked like he just came out of a novel.

''He studies literature. Wants to be a writer. Or he is one. I'm not sure. He just moved here the past month.''

''Wait...'' I say confused, but my words get cut off by Martin, who appears again holding a pair of what I assume, is Zoey's apartment keys.

''Here you are.'' He says, offering us a smile.

''Thanks darling. You are a life savior!'' Zoey sings, leaving a kiss on his cheek.

We both turn around, heading to her studio and I would swear, I saw him peering at us through the crack of his door, until we were safely inside.

''Zoey...'' I say, following the tiny brunette around the house. ''Did you say he moved here a month ago?''

''Yes'' She answers nonchalantly. Throwing her shoes away, she unhooks her bra under the tank top she was wearing and throws it behind the couch too.

''Ahhh free the tits!''

I laugh at her action. ''You rarely wear bras...''

''I know, these two cupcakes here need their freedom. But occasionally I have to lock them behind laced bars. I feel guilty.'' She fake pouts and I chuckle.

''You are crazy.''

''But I made you laugh. So that counts.''

I smile again, watching her walk towards the kitchen.

''That landlord, Martin...'' I start.

''He is not our landlord.'' She yells.

''What?''

''He is not.'' She says, again taking a few sips from a bottle of water.

''Then why did you give him your keys?''

''It was Josh's idea. He moved here a month ago and we became some sort of friends, I guess. Especially these two. They spend a lot of time together. Josh has a huge crush on him...so he suggested it and I really didn't mind.''

''But Zoey. Don't you think that giving your house keys to someone you don't know is a little bit...unsafe?'' I ask hesitant.

''Well you and I both know we are broke, so it's not like he can still something from us. My lingerie collection and mr. X (her pink vibrator) are my most prized possessions. And I don't think he is interested in them either.''

''I wouldn't be so sure.'' I mumble.

''No, seriously. I believe he secretly bangs Josh behind my back. I've seen them looking at each other like dogs in heat.'' She says laughing.

You definitely haven't seen how he looks at you then.

''What did you say?''

''Nothing... Just be careful.''

''I will. Now enough with this shit. We said we are going to talk about fucked up cases, right?''

I nod hesitant.

''Good. I have a lot of things to say. But first...Tequila.''

I was in my third shot, when I finally started to talk about my fight with Khloe.

Zoey was listening patiently to my story. No interruptions, except the occasional sound of our glasses, every time we drank another one.

''That night I was gone, after the coffee we had together...I spent it with someone.''

''Is it the boy who gave you this necklace?'' She asks quietly.

Touching the chain around my neck, I shake my head. ''No. He is just a friend. I met him the same day. We just talked and...nothing happened between us.''

I feel the need to make it clear. As if I'm going to get judged by it.

''Even if it happened, it's your choice Daphne. I'm not going to argue with you about it. I'm the last person on earth who can judge. Honestly.''

I nod, giving her an appreciating smile.

''Khloe...I talked to her the next day. I know my parents were looking for me and she got dragged in this situation...it's just...the way she spoke to me. She didn't even let me explain myself. Calling me irresponsible and cagey. Her words hurt me. She made me feel like the worst person, lying to my friend, being selfish for my own pleasure. But I never wanted that. I swear...''

''I know D. You don't need to explain yourself to me.'' Zoey says squeezing my hand.

''I guess it was just building anger. She was drowning by being my friend. Or my crutch, as she said by herself.''

''She said that?'' Zoey's eyes go wide and I see her face dropping, after seeing me nod.

''She didn't mean it. I'm sure of it. You know how much she loves you. Sometimes we hurt the people we care about the most.''

''I know she loves me. But that doesn't mean her words were nothing but true. She spoke the way she felt. And she felt compelled Zoey. Compelled on living some of her best years supporting me. I never wanted that. For any of you.''

My tears are practically blinding me by now, while I take another shot, feeling the familiar hotness in my stomach.

''I'm such a liability. For everyone around me. You, my parents...''

''NO. Stop saying that.'' Zoey yells, taking the bottle from my hands.

''You are my friend and I'm with you because I want to. I don't care if you don't like going out anymore, or if you take two hours to finish your coffee, or if you get anxious for choosing a dress. The qualities I saw in you and choose you to be by my side, are still there. You are still the Daphne I met years ago. Just quieter and more shy. And guess what? That's okay.''

''It is?'' I ask hesitant.

''Of course. You know, I never told you how much I admire you.''

''Me? Why?'' I look at her confused.

''Are you kidding me? You are one of the best students in class, you have a photographic memory. I need to read something 1000 times and still I'm not able to remember it. You just do it with a blink of an eye.''

''Wow great virtue.'' I say mockingly.

''You are one of the most kind hearted people I know. Always there for the others. Friends or not. You think yourself as a coward, someone who is always hiding. But you are not. A coward person wouldn't go to a drug dealing or find the courage to stand up to them. The girls told me what you did. You are brave Daphne. Too brave. And your anxiety won't stop you for being the badass you are."

"Cause you Daphne Stark...''

She says, pointing her finger to me ''Are fuckin awesome.''

A huge smile comes to my face and I move forward enveloping her in a hug.

''Thank you.''

''Anytime.'' She mumbles rubbing my back. ''Now tell me. What happened these past few weeks.''

I end up talking to her about Jackson between shots and laughs. By now I was pretty drunk and while we shared another sip from the bottle, Zoey finally said.

''I may or may not tried to seduce our professor, while having occasionally sex with my gay roommate.''

Her words leave me speechless and I almost chock on my drink.

''Wh-hat?''

''Yep.'' She says, taking another sip.

''You mean Mr. Evans?''

''Of course, who else?''

Wow.

''And? How did it go?''

''Well we established the fact that we both want to fuck each other brains out. But...''

''But?''

''He is kinda married and playing hard to get.''

''He is married??'' I ask in shock.

''Yes. And before accusing me for being a homewrecker, he indicated it.''

''And then took it back?''

''Sort of. He is just...too moral.''

''You say it as if it's a bad thing.'' I laugh looking at her face.

''Well when it's keeping me from getting what I want...''

''Do you like him that much? Or it's just the fact that he doesn't bow to you the way you are used to.''

She stares at me, knowing well what I am talking about. Zoey always had the guys kissing her feet. She is that girl. The one everybody wants to hang out with, the one all the men dying to have in their bed. But what excites her the most is the chase. And sadly or not, she doesn't have it often.

''I don't know...'' She whispers. ''It's not only the thrill that makes me want to be with him. ''

''No?'' I say raising an eyebrow.

Shaking her head, she continues. ''He talks to me Daphne. Like he really talks to me. He doesn't see me only as a pretty face. I can tell by the way he speaks. When he says I don't deserve to be the second choice, that I should look for something better. He makes me feel like I'm not just a hot body. Like I am...''

''Important?'' I add smiling.

''Yeah..'' She whispers. ''Fucked up right?''

I wanna say to her the truth, but I'm not sure if she is ready to face it. Love for someone like Zoey, is complicated and I don't want to screw her up, by telling her she is falling for him.

''Well I guess if nothing happened between you two, there is no need to worry about it. You'll see how that goes.''

''You are right. Fingering someone isn't a life changer.'' She says, taking another sip from the bottle.

I choke on my own spit looking at her shocked. ''He...where?''

''In class. And before you freak out, we were alone.''

''Zoey...''

''I know, I know... I'm playing with fire.''

We look at each other taking another shot.

''If someone told me at the beginning of the year, that you would end up dating a drug dealer and I would be kneeling on the floor for one of our professors, I would've laughed.'' She says.

''Tell me about it.''

Standing up, she walks towards the tv connecting her phone. Doja Cat's voice blasts from the speakers, and Zoey yells at me: ''Cheers to the fucked up cases D!''