"W-was that older girl me?" I question curiously. There's a long silent pause and I wanted to break it but I couldn't.

"Uh," she begins, but I know this is hard for her, so I interrupt.

"Ky, you don't... " I try but she blurts out.

"I-It was you Jay. It has always been you!" She sighs exhausted. I can hear the hurt and pain in her voice as she sighs. Knowing that she felt this way for so long makes me feel like the villain. I wait patiently for her to finish explaining, but with her it's like waiting centuries.

"Sean knew also. He knew that I had the biggest crush on you and he went after you to make me jealous, I guess. I know I sound like the biggest fucking nerd in history, but I was in love with you." I quickly stand and unlock the stall door. I look down and see Ky sitting down on the floor with her legs sprawled out and her eyes focused on me. I smile at her messy locks sitting on top of her head and I sit down in front of her.

"I was in love with a girl who didn't even look my way," she chuckles lowly. I stare sadly at her with a huge pain of regret in my heart. I bring my hand to her face and she looks directly at me, her green eyes stare at my boring brown ones. I lean in to place my lips on her smooth soft peach ones. This one actually feels right. Butterflies erupt in my stomach and just the feeling of her kissing me back makes me do summer salts. She smells good, she taste good, everything is just good. I don't even want this kiss to end and I think she feels my drift.

I couldn't pull away this time. The kiss deepens and she pulls me into her lap.

"I just can't believe you're gay," Mari chuckles and I roll my eyes annoyed. I was excited she had returned, but not so excited that she had so many jokes. with me and Ky relationship, up her sleeve.

"I'm not gay," I defend annoyed. I lightly slap her with a throw pillow and she burst out into giggles while taping a box down and writing "stuff" onto it. She's terrible at packing by the way.

"So much has happened since I've been gone that I don't know what to believe," she sighs and rubs her forehead. Not much has gone on. I constantly ran into Ky, a person I hated once upon a time—maybe still do.

By this constantly running into one another, I started to fall for her and now I'm dating her or whatever you want to call it.

"Not really..." I try to explain but she's not off the "love life" subject.

"And you can't have both! It's either you're into this gender or the other. I don't really believe in that bisexual bullshit," she groans. I could only smile at her.

"I don't know, I guess I'm just curious," I shrug nonchalantly and play with the thread to my sweater.

A 23 year old women that's curious. Sounds a little bit strange. This whole rollercoaster ride with Ky has made me act like a teen, and I hated every bit of it! But it was a different feeling for me and it made me more opened and less uptight about things.

"Aren't we all curious?" She states wearily and grabs another box and begin to fill it with kitchen mugs.

"I can't believe you're just now packing!" She adds on. I can tell she's annoyed, and I'm annoyed myself. I packed a little while she was gone but not enough .

"I know, but I've just been busy with,"

"Ky? Yeah, I know," she smiles teasingly. Ugh, I hate when she does that.

"Quit it!" I blush as she continues her teasing. She giggles for a while but returns back to Mari.

"Does she know?" She questions once the laughter dies down. She's referring to California and me telling Ky. I quickly advert my eyes elsewhere.

'W-well, " I stammer nervously because I didn't necessarily discuss that with Ky.

"You didn't tell her that you're moving to California!?" Mari shouts shocked. I grow completely nervous and afraid. Why are we yelling?

"Well it never really crossed my mind. With Joe's transfers, my dad hospital bills and his care giver... "

"Did you at least tell him?" I haven't seen or talked to my dad in 3 years. He's been in the hospital suffering. The day I took Joe in, he told me he doesn't want us to see him like that, sickly. I tried multiple times but I could never see him like that.

"No," I murmur and she stops what shes doing and looks at me confused.

"Well did you tell anyone you were packing up your life here and moving it to Cali?" Mari stares at me skeptically. I shake my head no and bite my nails.

"Jay, then what are we doing packing? Do you even want to go? " I look at her shocked. She's my best friend, I'll follow her to the moon and back if I wanted too. It's not just about following her, I want a better life too! For Joe and I because I work at a lousy Cafe for a living. My life sucks! So maybe California is the best decision I made in my entire life, besides being the guardian of Joe.

"How can you ask me that, of course I do!" I mumble lowly.

"Then you have to at least let them know," she explains and I nod in agreement. Telling Ky is going to be a challenge, but seeing my dad will be the hardest.

"So how's things with you and Jeremy?" I question. She slowly turns away with a sad frown upon her face.

"There isn't really much there. He gave me an ultimatum; him or California, I chose California," she sighs and writes "kitchen crap" onto the box.

"Why would he give you an ultimatum?" I question concerned and she pauses for a while and tends to her phone for a bit.

"Hey, what time do you have to be ready for your date?" She questions as she looks up from her cell and smiles. I pack the last picture frame from the wall and place the box with the others.

"Don't try to change the subject Mari!" I glare and she groans out and folds her arms childishly.

"I'm not really changing a subject because there was never one. Plus I have to go pick up Joe from school," she adds as if that's a reasonable reason to avoid this topic.

"I can pick her up from school! You just be Mari and get rest! You've been in California for a month, the least you can do is stay off your feet for a while."

"She's my spirit animal! You know I have no problem with spending an entire day with her. She misses me so therefore I am going to pick her up and maybe take her to a movie or something—while you prepare for your date."

"Mari-" I try but like always, she builds a wall.

"With the infamous Ky," she finishes her sentence excitedly. I stare at her for a while seeing that she is just trying to shoot me away like always. I hate when she does that! I had to figure out through Joe that she had broken up with Jeremy.

"Mari am I your best friend or not?" She looks at me as if I asked, "can pigs fly?" Which is basically the question I'm asking.

"Of course you are! What kind of question is that?" She question shockingly.

"So far you haven't been opening up and telling me what's on your mind. It's like I'm some stranger you talk to randomly but knows so much about," I groan.

"Jay, I don't mean to make you feel that way, it's just I have so much bottled up and I don't feel like letting it out. In due time, I will let you know but for now please understand," nod in agreement but deep down I don't. I'm the person she should unleash that bottled up feelings to because that's what we've always done.

"Okay," I whisper disappointedly.

"Okay!" She demands, referring me to drop it. She moves closer and wraps me in a tight hug.

"I love you so much Mari," I whisper into her shoulder and she laughs.

"I love you more Jay."