Fallon stayed at that coffee shop until it closed. Since he refused to call his mother for a ride, he settled for asking Aster for one. He wanted to spend more time with her to make up for the time they lost since the accident.

Out of the kindness of her heart, Aster agreed to give him a ride home. It wasn't far from her apartment and she could t just leave him injured and alone. Deep down, she also wanted to catch up with him.

"Thanks again for the ride," Fallon told her with a smile on his face. How could he not smile?

"It really wasn't a problem. I... hope you get better, Fallon," Aster sincerely spoke as she pulled up into his parents' driveway. Their house was bigger than she was used to. It wasn't a mansion, but it certainly wasn't a townhouse.

"Thanks," Fallon replied and scratched the back of his head. "Can I um... have your number again? My phone kinda broke and I just got a new one."

With a laugh, Aster complied and they exchanged numbers and bid each other goodbye.

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Aster missed community group that week, and Heather knew something was going on with her friend. She invited her out to lunch later that week to catch up.

"Hey... what's going on?" Heather inquired as they sat down with their food. She'd been concerned about her friend, but knew better than to be too pushy for information.

Aster's eyes met her best friend's and it took everything in her not to let it all out there in public. She lowered her head as her vision became foggy with tears.

"Um..." Aster began to say. "There's so much going on right now." She laughed a little while holding her head up again. The tears threatened to fall, but she wouldn't let it.

Heather reached out and put a hand on top of hers. She could see how close Aster was to breaking and being in public was not the best place for that.

"Let's head back to my place. You can spend the night if you want. Just a girls' night in." Heather hugged her as they stood up from the table with their food. It was a good thing they got it to-go.

Aster didn't say a word the entire ride back to Heather's apartment, but once they go in, she plopped down on the couch and let it all out like a broken dam.

"School is stressful. My parents are constantly fighting and they want me to be their little messenger back and forth between the both of them. The guy I told you about, he invited me to dinner with his family on Sunday. Like it's all chaos, Heather. Everything is piling up..."

Heather allowed Aster to unload some more before she spoke.

"You are so strong, Aster," she began. "You take everything head on, but I think you need some rest and time to recenter. And more time with Jesus."

Aster sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. This was not the first time she heard this.

"I feel so weak, though. I don't even know how much time I have to fit everything in. Some girl quit right when I started at the coffee shop, so I'm covering her shifts until they hire someone else. No one is applying, though. I work right after classes. You know I'm at church if I'm not at work. I just want to scream..."

"Yeah... you're at church, but are you really there?" Heather sighed and looked at her friend with more concern. She noticed a difference in Aster, and she was not sure if it was for the best.

"I... don't know," Aster whispered and turned to face Heather. She hugged Heather tightly as she let the tears fall from her eyes. "I don't know what to do anymore."

Heather hugged her friend and started to cry for her, too. She saw how heartbroken Aster was. She wished she could switch places with the girl so she could be happy like she used to be.

As Heather embraced Aster, she began to pray for her as they always did for each other through the good and the bad. In that moment, Aster needed it more than ever. She was grateful to have such a solid friendship with Heather. It was because of her faithfulness that Aster started going to church and getting involved. They went from lab partners to best friends within a year.

"Thank you so much, Heath," Aster whispered at the end of the prayer. She slowly ended the embrace and leaned back into the couch. "I mean it. Thank you for everything."

Heather dried her own tears. She missed her best friend immensely. She was ready to help her get back on her feet again.

"You know I'm always here for you. I'm literally in the building next to yours," she laughed and lightly smacked Aster with one of the pillows.

That got Aster to laugh a much-needed laugh.

"How could I forget? Now are we gonna have a girls' night in or not?"

"I thought you'd never ask!"

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Hey y'all! It's good to be back :)