“By blood we're bound
Through ups and downs
Through smiles and pouts
Comfort crowd
You can always count.”
….

“I'm sorry,” I say quietly to no one in particular.

Their heads all snap towards me.

“I'm sorry for…coming into Star's life and indirectly into yours and ruining a lot of stuff for you guys. I promise it wasn't intentional. I didn't realise how much I was…messing everything up until it was too late. I tried to…set things right. I had to give Sam his spot back and, I decided to push star away because I know that I was coming in between you guys.

“But…it was hard. She kept coming back to me when she saw that you guys weren't going to come back and I tried to push her away, I begged her to leave and go get you guys back but she just…didn't listen. And, I guess you could say I also got caught up in my own world and my feelings so I…I just went to get her back. Honestly, I don't regret it because it has been an amazing time with her. She makes me happy and I really love her too.”

They're all dead silent and I appreciate that they're listening. It feels like they're actually trying to reason.

“But…I knew that she wasn't fully happy because of course she loves you guys so much and misses you. I wanted her to come get you back. I just…don't know if that's possible, if you'd agree, but I guess it's worth the try. I know you guys miss her too,” I add quietly.

“Well,” Sam begins, trying his hardest not to give me that condescending stare of his and failing. “As much as I want to hate you Jordan…I can't, sadly. You are an amazing guy,” she says through his teeth and I give him a tight smile, trying hard not to laugh.

“You are thoughtful,” he goes on with more seriousness this time and more emotion in his eyes. “You're kind, you're well, extremely good looking I'm almost jealous.” He adds an eye roll.

Everyone tries their hardest to stifle their laughter.

Damn Star your best friend is so cool.

“But what I'm trying to say is, you're not the shitty person I originally thought you to be. You're a good guy and you're…you're great for Star. And yeah, I'm sorry for being shitty to you and I accept your apology as well.”

He gives me a curt nod and sticks his hands into his pockets, staring hard at the grass. It wasn't the warmest of apologises and I could see it was kinda hard for him so I appreciate the try.

It's probably the most I'd get out of him anyway.

“And I'm sorry,” Emily begins and my heart soars. I look over at Star's hopeful face and bite my lip. I think she might really get them back.

“I wasn't really the best person either. I was…jealous of you.”

I let out a soft gasp and tear my eyes away from Star’s blank stare because I can't look at her any longer. Even Sam looks taken aback.

“Yeah…I was. You were this pretty, talented, amazing girl and you had this hot, popular, jock guy who was obviously head over heels for you, who I liked too. And everything was going so well for you with music and me…I just broke up with Sam and my career in modelling and fashion design wasn't going anywhere and I was bitter and I'm sorry. Yeah you did a bad thing by hanging out with him behind our backs but…our reactions weren't so reasonable and we're sorry.

“I promise I'm not jealous of you anymore. I just got a scholarship into an art school. I realised I was good at art all along and I have Sam who I love very much and no one's life is perfect and yeah…”

“Omg Emils congrats!” is the first thing a teary eyes Star says and runs over to give her best friend a tight hug.

“Thanks.” I can hear Emily's genuine smile.

My heart warms at the sight.

When she pulls back she gives one more quiet, yet cute apology.
“I'm sorry Emily, I'm sorry Sam. I know I shouldn't have left you guys when we have known each other longer. I just –”

“Yeah was so googly eyed for Jordan we get it!” Sam murmurs and I can't help but chuckle. My cheeks get warm though at the statement though.

“I was going to say I just wanted us all to be friends you idiot!” she says swatting his arm.

He playfully rolls his eyes. “Whatever.”

“Anyway, I think we're all good now. Including you Jordan,” Emily says, tears already glimmering in her eyes.

Just let it out darling, it's okay.

Before I know it we're all in a big group hug and the two girls are bawling their eyes out. At least that's what I thought until I started hearing Sam sobbing.

We all pull away in surprise and Sam is trying to clean his tears in futility.

“What are y'all staring at?”

We all burst into laughter at the sight of him trying to act cool about it.
Suddenly Emily gasps.
“Omg Sam you're crying in the park!”

She and Star burst into another round of laughter and I just stand there dumfoundedly.

“Okay so one time Sam was sad,” she explains. “And we were in the park and he said he felt like crying so we said he should go ahead, that crying was okay but he said he couldn't do that because we were in the park but here he is… crying in the park.”

“Shut up.”

This time I join in the laughter and Sam eventually does too.

“Oh yeah!” I suddenly remember something. My hands swiftly go into my pockets and emerge with two of the tickets that brought me here in the first place.

“Are those what I think they are?” Emily asks and I nod.

“Tickets to Conan's concert next month. Wanna come with me, Star and a friend? The more the merrier.”
I raise my brows at them and they look back and forth between each other, their smiles growing wide and their eyes shining.

“Of course!” Emily cries enthusiastically.

Sam walks up to me and places a hand on my shoulder making me flinch in surprise. Then to my surprise he gives me a comedic smile.

“I love you man.”

Another round of laughter.

With his hand still on my shoulder he looks back at Star. “I love him. We love him now.”

In the middle of our laughter I catch Star’s eye. She smiles at me gratefully and I give her a wink.