“It's times like these
Wish I had a time machine.”
….

“You got tickets for them too?” Star asks me, staring dumfoundedly.

“Yeah…I was hoping with them I could get them back, for you,” I explain as I give her a small smile.

She looks at me with adoration for a moment but then her face falls. “They don't really like Conan like I do so I don't know if it'll even work.”

“Hey, it's not really about the tickets it's more of the…thought that will count.”

She shakes her head, her expression still gloomy.

“It won't work. They never want to speak to me again.”

“That can't be possible. They love you Star, if they didn't they wouldn't get so mad that you did something like that to them.”

“I don't…it doesn't really matter if they love me or not. What I did was wrong.” She stuffs her hand into her hoodie pocket as walk along the sidewalk. I see her shiver slightly.

“I'm sorry.”

“No I didn't mean it like that! Hanging out with you wasn't wrong. I honestly loved every moment of it. I meant I should have told them long before that I knew you.”

“It's fine,” I say quietly. We pause as a car drives past us before crossing the road. Every time I think of the whole situation, I can't help but feel guilty. It was really all my fault she lost them and now she's with me, somewhat happy and they're there, sad that they're best friend is gone but they're too mad to get her back. And it's all my fault. I caused these amazing best friends to split apart.

I have to make this right.

“So they're really not talking to you, at all?” I ask as I glance at her.

She shakes her head and looks off to the other side, her eyes look lost, like she's zoned out and strands of her hair fly around her face as a strong, icy wind blows.
“The last time I tried to talk to them, which was about a week ago they barely said anything to me. They just said that I chose you over them and that was all they knew. That it wasn't hard to understand.”

My jaw hardens. This is just not fair. It's understandable, but not fair. They're being too hard on her.

“Hey it's okay Jordi,” she says with a light chuckle, glancing down at my hands.

I unclench my fist and take deep breaths.
“Don't worry Star, I'm gonna make sure you get them back.”

“You know you don't have to do that.”

“I know, but I'll try.”

***

“Perfect.”

Star glances at me nervously.

It's such a wonderful coincidence that they're at the park just when we get there. Star really knows her best friends really well.

And maybe a little too well, because she felt that since Emily stopped bothering me, something might start to happen between her and Sam. I learnt that used to be together, that Star even met them when they were together but they just…went apart for no reason. She said she always felt like there was still this spark between them.

As I watch as they flirt playfully with each other, I can definitely tell that they are meant for each other.

They haven't spotted us yet.
“Come on,” I tell Star but she shakes her head quickly, her feet are rooted to the spot.

“Star.”

She shakes her head again.
Under any other circumstance I would've said she was acting adorable but now we really needed to meet her best friends before they left.

I have to grab her by her wrist and drag her against her will towards the two of them.

They stop their silly banter as soon as we get closer to them and their faces immediately fall and contort into disgust.

Star tenses up in my grip. I hold her tighter as I stare at Sam and Emily as confidently as I can. There's something refreshing about knowing they hate me and that I don't really mind.

I don't hate them and I think they're really awesome people who have every reason to dislike me but I'm not really bothered by it and so I can be chill around them.

“Hey,” I start to say but they don't even wait for me to go on and start walking away.

“Wait!” My head turns around to face Star. Her face is etched with worry and I just want to hold her at the moment but I think she won't want me to.

My heart soars as they stop and turn around slowly.

“Can you just listen, even if it's the last time you listen to me, please?” she begs and pulls away from my grip, wrapping her arms around herself but standing her ground as confidently as she can.

“I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for ruining what we had guys. I've been a terrible friend and I know and I'm sorry,” she goes on as tears stream down her face. I clench my hands but keep them to myself.

She'll be fine. She just needs to say this.

“I love you guys so much and I miss you so badly. I miss you Emils and your overly dramatic behaviour that I find really adorable, I miss your enthusiasm for fashion and the colour pink, I miss your kindness and sweetness and your never ending desire to make sure everyone around you is okay. And Sam, God I miss you so much, I miss our banter, your silliness, your crazy obsession with sports, your humour…you always make me laugh when I'm down and I need cheering up and it's now I realise how precious that is. I miss you guys both, I miss hanging out…” She's sobbing now and my heart is breaking. Her best friends just stare at her, wordlessly as she goes on but I notice that Emily blinks rapidly as if to prevent herself from tearing up. A faint smile plays on my lips.

“I just…screwed up real bad and I should have told you guys about Jordan. I really didn't choose, I couldn't choose between you guys and I'm sorry and it hurts because I want to have you all but I know I can't. You guys are amazing and I love you so much but Jordan is an amazing guy too, he's literally so sweet and I don't know…I got so caught up in him. And I wish you guys could see him for who he is, he's not bad at all. He's…he's, I just–I love him.”