I wake up with a groan to the sound of my own body hitting the floor and the pain that accompanies it. Confused, I look around and find myself on the floor of my living room with a blanket haphazardly wrapped around me. It's at this point where I begin to put the pieces back together. Falling asleep on the couch, still wearing the clothes I'd worn yesterday, the bitter sticky feeling that coats the inside of my mouth from not brushing my teeth before passing out, it's all coming together. The question is, where'd Yoongi head off to?

I frown slightly as I pick myself up off the floor, rubbing the elbow on which I'd landed to try and ebb the pain. Yoongi wouldn't have left without reason, right? He's probably got a schedule or something, and he just didn't want to wake me up. I rummage around the living room for my phone, finding it wedged between two of the couch cushions. I hit the button to turn on the screen, noting that it's already 10:30 and viewing the four notifications that appear before me. One of the messages that greet me is from Yoongi:

Hey, sorry about having to leave so soon. We had to prep for a schedule and my manager wanted me back. I didn't wanna wake you so I just let myself out. Thanks for hanging out! It was a lot of fun ^^

I look at the other messages, all three of which are from Juyoung.

helloooooo

wanna hang out today?

I'm still down to see that movie if you want

I consider Juyoung's offer. Half of me does want to get out of the house, but the other half of me just wants to stay in and work on music or maybe try and get something productive done at home. I decide to clean myself up and think about it, then get back to Juyoung afterwards. So, I head upstairs and plug my phone in in my bedroom before going to take a shower. I wash my hair, take my time pondering, and ultimately decide to pass on Juyoung's offer as I emerge from the steamy utopia known as my shower. I throw on sweats and a black t-shirt and decide to let my hair air-dry. Stepping out of the bathroom and entering my bedroom to send Juyoung a response, I realize how much of a mess my room is. God, it's like a teenage boy lives in here or something. There are dirty clothes tossed into a pile beside my bed, various knick-knacks on the floor and pretty much everywhere else, and the carpeting could do with a vacuuming. I smile, knowing what I'm going to do today.

The first thing I do is pick up all of my dirty clothes and get myself started on some laundry. Afterwards, I pick up all the trash that's on the ground and either throw things away or set them on my bed to be displayed later. Then, I vacuum. Now, with a growing pile of tchotchkes to sort through, I decide a little redecoration's also probably in order. I start sorting through all of my little action figures first, putting a select few on display on top of my bed's headboard and filing the rest away in a shoebox in my closet. Then, I move on to various concert memorabilia, taping some tickets and photos to the wall in a mediocre collage. After doing this, I pick up the rest of my things and move to display them all on my dresser. It's at this point that I notice that old photo of Juyoung and me and I stop. I pick up the frame slowly and deliberately, taking the black piece of wood and glass and handling it as though it might combust in my hands. Examining the picture carefully, a sad smile spreads across my face. Things made a lot more sense when that picture was taken, I'll admit. Now, I've got two best friends who seem to hate each other, and things just seem to keep getting more complicated. I remember the photo of Yoongi that's behind this one, and internally thank myself for not tearing it up or throwing it out despite wanting to several times. I open up the back of the frame, gently removing the old picture and smiling again. On the back is the phrase Silver & Gloss, soon-to-be stars, written in Yoongi's messy scrawl. That was before Juyoung. That was before Yoongi auditioned for Big Hit. That was before I got my job at the library. That was before Jieun and Jintae. That was before Juyoung and Yoongi started butting heads. That was before Juyoung started flirting. That was before I woke up.

There's a knock at the door.

I put the photo down, confused, and leave my bedroom, making my way downstairs. I look through the small peephole to see who is on the other side of my front door, and I'm met with Choi Juyoung. At this point, I realize I never texted him. I got so sidetracked with cleaning my room that it completely slipped my mind. I open the door and greet Juyoung quickly.

"Hey. Not to sound rude, but what are you doing here?"

"Hello to you, too. I wanna go out. Didn't you see my texts?"

"My phone was upstairs, and I was going to respond, but I got sidetracked."

"Alright, fair enough— it happens. What were you doing?"

"I was cleaning my room. It was like a bomb went off in there." I chuckle halfheartedly. If awkwardness could kill, I'd be on the verge of death.

"Right. So, are we going to go?"

"Dude, look at me. I'm really not set for going out today." I gesture to myself for good measure.

"Okay. We can just stay in, then!" He chirps, and steps inside the house.

I watch, more than a little taken aback, as he takes off his shoes and walks over to the couch, plopping down onto it as if it belongs to him. I close the front door, totally unsure as to what I should do. Juyoung turns on the TV and looks in my general direction, motioning for me to come sit with him.

"I'm going to grab some drinks, gimme a sec," I say, walking towards the kitchen.

Once I'm alone, I get myself a bottle of water and try to clear my dazed head. This is very, very new of Juyoung. I don't think he's ever acted like this before. In all of my time knowing him, I don't think he's ever been this clingy. I mean, sure, I've ignored his texts before and he's come to my house uninvited, but something about this is so different. I guess it's just because I know how he acts when he flirts, and that I don't feel the same way about him. But what do I do? He waltzed into my house like it's his own and even now I can hear him flipping through the TV channels. Do I ask him to leave? Do I grin and bear it? Do I try to talk to him about it? I sigh, taking a drink of water and grabbing another one for Juyoung. I'm gonna have to sit through this and hope it doesn't end in Juyoung doing anything I'll have to make him regret. I reenter the living room and find that Juyoung has picked out a movie to watch, something I'm not familiar with. I hand him the bottle of water and take a seat on the opposite end of the couch. Juyoung gives me a strange look but his eyes settle on the screen shortly after, leaving me to squirm in the air of discomfort this disrupted lazy day at home has produced.

Roughly twenty minutes into the movie, Juyoung moves, shifting closer to me. I know exactly what he's doing because I did the exact same thing last night trying to get closer to Yoongi. Unfortunately, I am not embracing the situation as Yoongi did last night, but I'm already as far away from him as I can be. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I focus my attention completely on the boring rom-com before me and try to pretend Juyoung isn't gradually getting closer and closer to me. What's he going to do when he finally gets over here, anyway?

More time passes. As much as I try, focusing on the film becomes impossible because I just keep thinking about how I am going to deal with Juyoung when he finally gets too close. The movie is at its most climactic point now, and the leading couple is finally going to get that ever-so-romantic and ever-so-overrated kiss in the rain. As I look at the two onscreen lovebirds doling out heavy doses of gross statements of affection, my mind shifts back and forth from thoughts of the boy beside me to thoughts of the boy who was beside me last night. Things were very, very different with Yoongi yesterday. I wasn't uncomfortable at all— if anything, I was chomping at the bit for things to move, and I was bummed when I woke up without Min Yoongi at my side. When Juyoung leaves, it's going to feel like a weight lifted off my shoulders. When I got closer and closer to Yoongi last night, I kept thinking about him kissing me at the library. I had to keep convincing myself that it didn't mean anything, and yet I felt myself longing for it. Today is a sense of déjà-vu gone horribly awry, to the point where it's almost tainting yesterday.

The sky opens up on the screen as the two lovers finally share that ever-anticipated kiss. Juyoung moves his final few centimeters and puts his arm around my shoulders. He might as well be trying to hold onto a plank of wood— I'm that stiff.

"You, okay, Rin?" Juyoung asks, giving me a concerned look.

"Um, sort of. I feel a little sick, actually," I lie.

"Why didn't you say so? You poor thing." He gives me a sympathetic smile and brushes some hair from my face. I do my best not to move away from him. "What can I do to help?"

"I'm just going to run to the bathroom if that's okay. Sorry for ruining the best part of the movie, Juyoung." I laugh a little, trying to lighten the mood.

"Let me know if you need me for anything."

I take a slow breath as I stand up, Juyoung removing his arm. "Right."

I make my way to the upstairs bathroom, walking slowly and focusing on my breathing. I splash my face with some cold water, trying to make myself wake up. I mean, come on, Silver, can't you just tell him you're not interested?

Silver could, I'm sure, but Rin's another character. My legs feel weak, my body feels hot, and my head is all over the place. I was about thirty seconds away from a panic attack down there. I can't let this continue or it's going to really mess with me for the rest of the day. I mean, how could Choi Juyoung cause this much stress for me?

To clear my head more, I decide to get my phone from my room with the intention of using it as a distracting tool for when I go back downstairs. I unplug it and the screen lights up.

And there's my saving grace.

Hey, are you free? Sangmi just called me and she specifically wants you for a shoot. It's about twenty minutes from your place.

I look at the time. 12:41. I quickly call Yoongi's number, waiting for him to answer me.

"Rin?"

"Hey. Do you still need the model?"

"Yeah. Hey, are you okay? You sound a little shook up—"

"I'll do it. Send me the address, I'll try and be there in fifteen. I assume I don't need to do hair or makeup or anything, right?"

"Woah, woah, okay. Yeah, they'll take care of hair and makeup. Just drive safe, okay? Promise?"

"Sure."

"Can you promise me one other thing?"

"What?"

"Will you tell me why you're so upset when you get here?"

I think about it. Is it worth it to make things between Juyoung and Yoongi even worse than they already are? Telling Yoongi is just going to make him hate Juyoung more, right? Can I do that to my two only real friends? Then again, maybe Yoongi will have advice for me. Or maybe I can ask Jin, or Hoseok, or even Sangmi. They're my friends, too, I suppose. There's no reason I can't ask for advice from them.

"Yeah, I'll tell you. See you soon, Yoongi."

He seems resolute and a little somber as he speaks. "See you soon. And take care of yourself."

"I will. Bye."

I hang up and make my way downstairs. Juyoung is still there on the couch, waiting for my return.

"Feeling better?" He asks.

"A little, yeah, but something just came up." I walk to the door and throw on some Converse, giving Juyoung an apologetic look.

"What's going on? Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just got a call to do a modeling gig and I'm going to be late if I don't leave right now."

For just a fraction of a moment, Juyoung's expression wavers, undoubtedly thinking about the last time I did a modeling gig. But he quickly perks back up, and whether the smile on his face is genuine or not doesn't really matter.

"Great! Good for you! Want me to drive you there?"

"Nah, I'll be out late, and I don't want to bore you. You won't be doing anything the whole time, so it really won't be worth your while." I don't give Juyoung much of a chance to respond before I open up the front door and nod towards the driveway.

"Sorry, again, but I've got to lock this."

"Yeah, no problem," Juyoung replies, jamming his shoes onto his feet.

"Thanks. Sorry about having to end this so abruptly; I feel bad."

"It happens. Today was fun, anyway."

With that, Juyoung kisses my cheek and catches me completely off guard. "Bye, Rin!" He exclaims, and then hurries down the driveway. I fumble with my keys, lock my front door, and make my way to my car, just feeling like I need to get far away from here for a little while. As I pull out of the driveway, my phone vibrates with Yoongi sending me the address for the shooting location. I glance at it and put it into Maps, then start the drive.

I make the decision to give Sangmi my contact information when I get to the shoot. So far, she's done only good things for me.

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hello!

this chapter was way longer than i expected it to be, whoops!

sorry about there not being an update last week, stuff was a little hectic. but hey, i've got one out now!

as per usual, feedback in any form (including constructive criticism) is greatly appreciated; it makes me a better writer.

thanks, and try and make grilled cheese a bigger and more important part of your life,

sam

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