My nerves were a complete mess by the time I made it to Yolei's. All the food that I ate with Cayden, was struggling to stay down as my stomach twisted with anxiousness. Maybe I should've taken her up on her suggestion of coming with me. Who knows what Jade will say to me? I'm expecting the worst but I'm hoping for the best.

When I entered the familiar cafe, I instantly saw Jade seated by the window, sipping on a latte. She was in a tan knit sweater and black jeans with her long dark hair down. My heart grew heavy at the sight of her, familiarity coming at me in waves.

I missed her. I missed Jaci too.

They were both such a big part of my life that I found it hard not to miss them. Which made this all hurt even worse. What if this was it? What if I was cutting the last tie to my previous life? I didn't know if I was quite ready for that.

"Vi Vi?" Jade's familiar voice called, diverting me away from my thoughts. My brows knitted together at the nickname she chose to use. Maybe she's not mad? Jade cleared her throat, "I mean... Vina?" she said, correcting herself with confusion laced in her tone.

I shook my head, sitting down at the two-person table. "You can still call me Vi Vi. I just didn't know if... maybe you were mad at me?"

Jade tilted her head, swallowing her latte. "No-no of course not. Jaci was cruel to you, and I'd prefer to not be grouped in with her choices and actions."

My body instantly relaxed, feeling comfortable now that I knew what Jade's intentions were. It's like all the pent-up anxiousness and stress left my body when I knew I was sitting in front of someone who still cared about me and had my best interests at heart.

"I'm so sorry for not reaching out sooner. I didn't know how you felt or if you were mad at me too," Jade said, her voice growing soft.

"I'm not mad at you—I thought you felt the same as her."

Jade shook her head firmly. "I could never side with her. I was your friend first, and Sebastian was a complete dick. Also, you seemed happier after the breakup, and at some point, I knew you had been lying about Griffin, but I didn't care about the details as long as you were happy—Unlike Jaci who seemed to take it extremely personal," she said, shaking her head. "I do wish you would've felt like you could've told me, but I see why you didn't... I mean that was two big secrets you were holding in. You liking women—and dating Sebastian's best friend."

I let out a deep sigh, feeling like a weight has lifted from my shoulders. "You have no idea how much this means to me. I've missed you so much."

Jade smiled. "I've missed you so much too. God, life is definitely not the same without you Vi Vi."

It feels so gratifying knowing she's on my side, and that she stuck by me. It made every shitty thing that recently happened fade now that my best friend was back. I grinned as a waitress came over and set a cup of tea in front of me.

"I ordered your favorite herbal mix," she said, smiling as I drank the warm beverage. "Has Jaci tried to reach out or apologize to you at least?"

I shrugged, swallowing my tea. "The day after it happened... yeah?"

Jade sighed. "It seemed like she was only upset because she felt bad. Not because you did."

"Yeah that's mostly why I never responded but it also had to do with me not being able to get past what she said," I said. "But... my lack of response caused her to tell Sebastian—who then barged into Cayden and I's condo."

Jade blinked a few times, "Hold on... wait, you and Cayden have a condo together? Also, Jaci told Sebasian? And Sebastian came to her place? Wow, that must've been horrible."

I forgot Jade didn't know that I fully moved in with Cayden. It's weird but I've never really called Cayden's condo our place aloud before. And if I had, it was when I was talking to Cayden personally. "Yeah, I moved in with Cayden after everything with Jaci happened—Griffin offered as well, but I somehow ended up at Cayden's. Now she insists that we call it our place instead of just her place... so yeah that's sort of the story behind that."

Jade smiled adoringly, "That's so fucking cute. She seems like a really nice person Vi Vi. Seriously. I've never seen you happier," she said. "You even look different—like you have a different glow to you... although that could be that Florida sun."

I chuckled, "Probably, but Cayden does make me really happy. She's just so perfect, so sweet and accommodating, and she always makes me feel so comfortable. Her love and care is just so pure along with her intentions."

Jade smiled harder, her white teeth showing. "Ugh, you deserve to be happy like this. And for Jaci to try and tell you that you don't or to willingly get in the way of that, shows her character," she said. "I completely cut all ties with her—like moved out and everything."

My brows raised, shock visibly showing on my face. "You moved out?"

"Yeah, now I live in this cute high-rise overlooking the city. It's still in SoHo, and it's such a pretty place. I actually prefer it there too."

I reached over the table to softly grab her hand, "You deserve to be happy too, you know."

"Thanks, Vi Vi," Jade said. "I'm really excited for this new chapter of our lives. Even though we have a few more months until graduation—I know life will only continue to get better."

"Oh yeah," I laughed. "I mean we're only in our early twenties."

Jade chuckled, "So tell me all about Cayden. Does she hate me already?"

"No... I don't think so? I don't know she still feels weird about how it all went down, but you did the right thing in a way. You just didn't reach out quick enough, but I see your reasoning behind it."

"So she hates me?" Jade concluded. "I mean, I see why... but how will I be your maid of honor now?"

I let out an airy laugh, "Jade you're reaching."

Jade shrugged, "I'm always reaching, but you know what they say, after that one terrible relationship, you find the literal one—and by the looks of it..."

"Yeah-yeah," I said, shrugging the topic off, even if I recently had thoughts of really committing to Cayden.

I know we wouldn't get engaged anytime soon, but I do contemplate it eventually happening at times. And she's the only one I could really see myself committing to in a lifelong manner.

"Shut up! You definitely have had thought about this Vi Vi! Spill the details now."

I rolled my eyes playfully, remembering how easily Jade picked up on my thoughts. "Fine... I have, but it's really soon, so it's just a thought—nothing more."

Jade grinned. "I get that completely. All that matters is that you've thought about it, which is so fucking exciting," she said. "How is living together going?"

I shrugged. "I... It's good—perfect actually. I just think it's still a lot since our relationship is so new."

Jade nodded. "I get that. Technically It is a lot since you kind of skipped over the dating basics, but maybe that's all in your head. If it's going good, don't worry about the newness of things y'know?" She said. "Honestly, don't worry about anything in general—take it one day at a time."

I sighed, "Yeah you're right. I just overthink sometimes."

"Oh yeah, I know," Jade laughed. "How was Florida?"

I pursed my lips, deciding which part I should tell first. Meeting Cayden's friends, meeting Cayden's parents, or my parents flying down to Florida. It was a lot... I mean, all of it was a complete mess.

"Well, I met Cayden's friends, but it was all just a lot. I mean I was still adjusting to being in a new place after everything that happened with Sebastian and Jaci."

"Fucking assholes. I still can't believe she told him, and I'm sure he was fucking terrible to you, knowing how he was when he was in a relationship with you." she said, her tone growing irritated.

I nodded, "Yeah, it was really bad, which is what made Florida somewhat of a bad experience. And then meeting Cayden's friends only reminded me—"

"Of us." Jade said, her face softening.

I nodded, a grim look on my face. "Yeah, and it was just really hard."

Jade frowned, "I'm so sorry Vi Vi. Seriously."

I shook my head. "I'm past it. You're here now, and that's all that matters."

Jade smiled. "Was the rest of the trip better?"

I chuckled. "Definitely not. Cayden's parents for one, separated us and sent me to the guest room, and then my parents flew down to Florida after they heard about Cayden and I."

Jade sucked in a breath. "What the actual fuck? You seriously can't catch a break can you?"

"I literally can't," I laughed. "But Cayden's parents actually ended up admitting that they were caught off guard by Cayden bringing me home to meet them and even stuck up for Cayden and me, which surprised us both. I even ended up leaving my parents in Florida, telling them to basically leave me alone until they can accept me and my life."

Jade shook her head. "That's insane," she said before slowly smiling. "Good for you for sticking up for yourself, I'm really proud of you."

"Thank you Jbug."

She nodded with a smile until suddenly she tilted her head in thought. "But how did your parents know where you were at?"

"Well they already knew I was down in Florida with someone who I claimed as a friend, but when Sebastian told them it was Cayden, they asked the Meleri's for Cayden's parents' address details and flew down."

"Sebastian is such a fucking dick. Ugh. And I thought my parents were crazy," Jade said. "At least Cayden's parents seem like they like you though."

"Yeah, I guess we'll see how that all plays out though," I said, hoping that they still managed to continue to like me. "And same with my parents... who knows what they'll do."

"We'll take it one day at a time right?" Jade asked, giving me a reassuring smile.

I smiled softly, happy to have another person around to help keep me grounded. "One day at a time."

"So... when can I meet Cayden?" Jade asked. "In a more formal way, I mean."