Fionna didn't show up to school today. It was as uneventful as it can go except she refuses to respond to my messages or receive my calls. Normally, I wouldn't have been worried but she acted so strange yesterday that I cannot help but wonder what the hell is she upto.

It's hard for her to keep anything to herself, even about her own life and I really appreciate that. Unlike her, I let my own thoughts and emotions eat me up from inside instead of spilling them out. That familiar feeling isn't pretty at all, hence, my concern for my best friend is only valid.

"Where are you lost, cupcake?" Josh's voice distracts me from my thoughts.

"Have you talked to Fionna?" I ask, shutting the locker behind me.

His brows furrow in confusion, "No. What's wrong?"

"She isn't receiving my calls and isn't at school today," I inform him, surprised that he didn't notice it himself.

"Oh, about that. She had a headache so she skipped." He shrugs it off but his words just leave me more confused.

It isn't a surprise that Josh knows something about Fionna that I don't. We're all best friends and they wouldn't ever agree to it, but they are both closer to each other than to me. The thought saddens me at times, pokes at my insecurities but I'm trying to make my peace with it.

What confuses me is why is she ignoring me? If she could tell Josh about a headache, she could've simply told me the same. Unless she's lying. Because god knows, I can tell something's off even through a text. That's just how our bond works.

"I think I'm going to drop by at her place to check up on her. You wanna come along?"

We both make our way to the parking lot where I realise that Dylan never gave me the keys this morning. That ass! He must've done that on purpose because he likes to mark his dominance over the car.

"I'll pass. Gotta head home."

When we reach his car, I realise that I have no way to get to Fionna's other than walking alone for twenty five minutes. I can ask Josh for a ride but it'll be completely out of his way which would be inconvenient for him.

"Alright then, see you tomorrow." We exchange a brief hug and I turn around to start walking when he stops me.

"Where's your car?" He asks, a slight frown etched on his forehead.

"Dylan." I shrug like it's the most obvious response, because it is.

"Well, are you gonna walk till Fionna's?" His frown continues to deepen which actually confuses me a little.

"Yeah?"

"You're an idiot. Hop in, I'll give you a ride."

"Josh, it's way out of your route and you literally just said that you have to be home." I remind him but instead he pulls on the sleeve of my t-shirt.

I smack it away, stepping back from him when he huffs at me, "That was before I realised your brother's an asshole. C'mon, Fay."

Before I can even respond to him, another familiar voice interrupts us, "What are you kids bickering about?"

"About what an asshole your best buddy is." Josh immediately snaps.

"Which one?" Kace smirks, his smug expression only makes Josh glare harder at him.

"Actually, both. But right now, specifically, Dylan."

Kace lets out an exasperated sigh, "What did he do now?"

"Took the car," I tell him.

"Right. Where are you headed?" Kace asks, chewing on the gum.

"Fionna's, and Josh's headed home." I narrow my eyes at my best friend who gapes at me.

"Are you going to walk till hers?" Kace looks between the two of us. "C'mon, I'll give you a ride. See you later, Josh."

"Are you sure?" I ask Kace. He turns around with a confused expression.

"About giving you a ride? Yes. C'mon, weirdo."

He pulls at my t-shirt sleeve to drag me along with him and unlike Josh, I don't swat his hand away. Instead, I just awkwardly turn around to wave at a very surprised best friend shaking his head at me in disappointment.

Once I'm buckled in Kace's car, he pulls out of the driveway and gives me a side-glance without uttering a word. This should be awkward but it isn't, mostly because Kace has driven me to places before when Dylan abandoned me.

"Didn't you guys have practice today?" I decide to break the silence and he shakes his head.

"Coach gave us a day off." I just nod along that information, wondering if Dylan went back home and why didn't he wait for me. My brother's a jackass. Kace draws me away from my thoughts, speaking up, "Is Fionna alright?"

I bite on my lower lip in deliberation before sharing my thoughts with him, "I don't know. Josh said she has a headache but she isn't responding to my calls or texts and she has been acting really weird from a couple of days."

His brows furrow together in confusion, "Does that have anything to do with why she has started freaking out around Dylan again?"

"You noticed that?" My eyes shoot up in surprise. He glances at me, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Of course. I think everyone noticed it apart from Dylan."

"And Josh, which is a little weird." I frown to myself. "Anyway, I am on a mission to know what's up with her."

"Can I accompany you?"

Again, that question should be awkward but it isn't. Fionna and Kace get along pretty well, actually, most of us do unless it's Kace or Ethan annoying the shit out of me. A supportive group of friends is sometimes nice to have, regardless of twin-rivalry Dylan and I sometimes share when it comes to our friends being competitive.

"Sure, I don't see why not." I shrug. "Although, I should warn you, she doesn't know I'm coming over."

A slow teasing smile takes over his face, "Even better."

I roll my eyes at his response, about the same time when he pulls over in Fionna's driveway. Her parents are probably at work, her mother's a doctor and her father's a lawyer which is why she's over at my place a lot — with their absence, it gets lonely for her sometimes.

Kace rings the bell for us and it surprises me when her mother opens up the door. She smiles at both of us, seeming slightly tired nonetheless.

"Hey, Jo." I give her a brief hug and Kace smiles at her sweetly.

"Hi, Dr. Quinton."

"Call me Jo, Kace. I've told you so many times now." She pats at his back as both of us walk in. "She's been locked up in her room all day. Do you guys know what this is about?"

Kace's the first to shake his head, followed by me, "We will find it out though. Can we go upstairs if that's okay with you?"

"Of course, honey. Just call for me if you guys need anything." She beams at us.

We hop up the stairs to Fionna's room and I knock lightly, turning the doorknob with Kace hovering with his tall height behind me. We both peek inside to find her sitting in her bed, her eyes glued to the laptop screen and headphones over her head.

Kace clears his throat, looking slightly amused with her state, "Fionna?"

She screams. That dumb bitch lets out a loud yelp when she finally notices our presence, and I take an instinctive step back, stumbling into Kace's body. He provides me with immediate support, his arm going around my waist to hold me up. I try to avoid putting too much thought into his touch.

"What the fuck!" Fionna stares at us with wide eyes, her hand on her heaving chest.

"What the fuck is wrong with you!" I gape at her. "Why did you yell?"

She removes her headphones and shuts down her laptop, "What are you both doing here?"

"You didn't come to school." Kace gives the most obvious response, entering the room even further and jumping into her bed to lie down on the mattress.

Fionna raises a questioning brow at him, "And you were concerned?"

"She was." He points at me, turning to give me a cheeky smile.

I roll my eyes at him and focus my attention on my best friend who looks distressed, "What's going on? You clearly don't have a headache."

"Josh's the only one who would still buy that excuse, by the way." Kace peeps in; I can't help but agree with him.

"Okay. Just... I don't want to talk about it, okay? I'm fine." Fionna avoids my gaze, only adding to my worry.

I step further into the room, trying to read her face but failing miserably. A sigh escapes me when I reach her bed and swat away Kace to give me some space to sit in front of Fionna. He lets out a low grumble but moves nonetheless.

"What is it, bub?" I ask, using our nickname that no one else is allowed to use.

I notice her biting her lower lip, knowing that she's on the verge of giving in. Her eyes move to Kace and he frowns between the two of us, "If you want me to leave..."

"No," Fionna cuts him off, "I- It's stupid, you guys."

"You're seventeen, babe. You're allowed to be stupid." He assures her and I roll my eyes, but internally I'm grateful that he's comforting her.

"That don't call me babe rule applies to you too, Kay." She reaches over to smack him but I hold her back, eyeing her. "Alright, okay. I'm going to tell Dylan that I love him."

Kace is the first one to react because he sits up straight behind me. Normally, I would crane my neck to look at him but at the moment I'm too dumbfounded to actually do that. My lips part to take in a breath and end up on choking on air.

I start coughing hysterically which might seem like an overreaction, but it really isn't when you know Dylan and Fionna well enough. Kace starts rubbing his palm up and down on my back and Fionna shakes me by my shoulders before offering me a glass of water.

After gulping down the contents, I wipe away the remnants of tears that came up. I clear my throat and stare at Fionna, "Please tell me I heard you wrong."

"No." She frowns at me, clearly taken aback. "What's wrong with it? I just want to get it out of my system."

"Feelings don't get out of your system by getting your heart broken," Kace speaks up and I notice the way Fionna's expressions falls at his words.

"How are you so sure I'll get my heart broken? What if he likes me back?"

I absolutely despise how hopeful she sounds. It's because I know my brother, and he doesn't feel anything for her other than considering her my best friend, and sometimes maybe his good friend. I chew on my bottom lip to put it across in a manner that would hurt less.

"You're my best friend, Fi. I wouldn't ever want you to do anything that would hurt you. He's my twin and you can call it magical powers but if Dylan felt anything for you, I would've told you to shoot your shot long ago."

I know my words are slightly harsh but it's the truth. Her scowl only turns deeper, "Alright, maybe he doesn't feel anything for me. But what if he gets to know that there is this person out there who likes him and he entertains the thought of being with me and something works out?"

Kace takes an audible breath behind me and I want to do the same because when I showed up here, this was the least of what I expected. Taking Fionna's hands in my own, I move a little closer to her.

"Don't do it, bub. Just trust me."

She reads my face and then moves to stare at Kace who nods along with me, "He's my best friend and her twin. You're my good friend and her best friend. We both only want the best for you. If you still decide to go ahead with it, you'll have our support."

"No, she won't." I swat at Kace. "I will never support this. You shouldn't go ahead with it."

He gives me a sideway glance but then I crane my neck to look at him when he speaks, "It's not our call, we're coming from a good place where we want to protect our friend from getting hurt but it's ideally her decision."

"Kace, you don't understand—"

"Just trust me, Farrah. I understand and if Fionna wants to go ahead with it then she should."

His gaze is too intense, as if he's asking me to process each word he spoke. He isn't wrong, but the protective best friend in me just wants to save her from the heartbreak. Kace gives my shoulder a light squeeze and I reluctantly nod along.

When I turn to Fionna, she's staring between the two of us weirdly but shakes it off in a second, "So, it's settled then? I'm going to tell Dylan."

"I—" I'm about to protest when Kace tightens his hold on my shoulder so I bite back the words, and rephrase, "Whatever happens, I'm here for you."

"Yeah, me too. If you want." Kace shrugs.

"Aren't you two cute." She smiles, first genuine smile I've seen yesterday.

Maybe she didn't need my advice, all she needed was my support and assurance that no matter what decision she takes, I'll be there by her side. Kace wasn't so wrong, after all.

"Where's your other half?" I ask Kace, getting more comfortable on Fionna's bed.

He frowns at my words but responds anyway, "I don't keep tabs on her, you know."

"No, I don't know. You two are attached to the hip." I tease him and he just rolls his eyes at me.

"Yeah, what's the scene between the two of you?" Fionna's curiosity perks up.

He lets out a loud grumble before getting up from the bed, "There's no scene between us, like I've already mentioned hundreds of time in the past."

"Okay, no need to get all riled up. Sit down." I gesture back to the mattress but he shakes his head, looking slightly pissed and I know May's topic just threw off his mood

"No, I'm headed back home. Do you want me to drop you off?"

I look back at Fionna, "Will you be alright and just please respond to my texts?"

"Yes, I will, bub." She gives me a tight hug and I get up from the bed.

After Kace also bids her goodbye, we make our way to her driveway. I get in his car and he pushes in the car keys in the ignition rather aggressively, which makes me scowl a little.

"Are you pissed?" I ask, my voice a little shaky because if he says yes, I have no idea how I would react.

"No." His voice is a little off when he drives back to the road and I nod to myself. But then he speaks up, looking at me, "Actually, yes, I am. Why does everyone assume there's something going on between May and me? Isn't that stereotypical and offensive, to assume that a girl and a guy can't just be friends?"

I'm taken aback by his outburst and sharp tone but I don't let it show on my expressions. I take a deep breath nonetheless, "I'm sorry I teased you. You're right, it is stereotypical and offensive and it won't happen again."

His expressions calm down almost on instinct, "Yeah, whatever."

I don't have it in me to start up another conversation. My mind is too preoccupied with the fact that my best friend is going to confess her feelings to my twin brother. And that no matter how much I try, I do hypocritical shit. All I can do is try to work on it.

•••

thoughts so far?