"The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart."

- Elisabeth Foley

The drive home is the least enjoyable part of the trip. Thirteen-odd hours and I'm just about done with Liam and all that comes with him. When you're trapped in a car with another person you're reminded of the things you worked so hard to forget. If I have to listen to one more Eminem song I will, in fact, murder him despite making a promise with his fiance to not to.

It also hasn't been helpful that I have felt nauseous the entire trip due to the anticipation of Ben's promise. Part of me wants him to be sitting on the front step when we pull up but the other half is down-right terrified of what that means.

While I have been doing a lot of thinking and reflecting on the subject of us I still have no idea what to say. What I do know is that all it will take is him being near me to drop all my walls and I can't determine if they will stay that way.

As the car starts to slow in preparation to pull into the driveway a shadowy figure comes into view sitting on the front step, growing my anxiousness. However, I quickly notice it's too small to be Ben and soon takes the shape of my ex-best friend Morgan.

I can't help but glance around as I slip out of the car while Liam grabs our two suitcases. Is he here? Was he ever here? Clearly staking out my house to catch me wasn't as absurd as I've been assuming.

"He's not here. I sent him packing." Morgan says, keeping her seat on the top step of the front porch, her eyes following me as I move up the walkway. Quietly Liam slips past us and into the house, careful to avoid both of our gazes. His way of stating its none of his business.

He waited.

"Oh," I say, trying to cover up the fact that I'm melting into a puddle on the inside when I'm supposed to be angry. There's a more pressing issue to address, Morgan's presence.

"Why are you here?"

Morgan laughs under her breath as she chews on her bottom lip. I stand in front of her for a long while and watch as she stares off into space. It's been almost four months since we stopped talking and as the silent air hovers around us all the anger and resentment is nowhere to be found. Before I can convince myself to just go inside and forget she even came I seat myself next to her in hopes she'll speak.

"Prestley told me everything." She says, casting a sidelong glance at me.

I find myself nodding my head. If Prestley has been Ben's friend this long chances are he had a lot to tell. I figured at some point she would beat it out of him. That or he willingly told her. I'm curious to know which.

"Did you have to beat it out of him?" I ask arching a brow.

Morgan raises both of her brows and puckers her lips. "Surprisingly no. I think his friend told him what happened. He was actually pretty pissed at me." She chuckles.

I find myself chuckling under my breath as well. It's not every day Prestley yells at Morgan. I can picture him stomping up there stairs much like Liam did after the funeral, only Prestley would be spewing a whole string of curses.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry," Morgan says shifting so that she is facing me. "it's just..."

"Fucked up."

Morgan laughs, "Yeah. Pretty fucked up."

We sit there in a moment of silence, both of us no doubt caught up in our own thoughts. I'm not sure why now of all times she's decided to make amens but I'm thankful. Though it would have been nice to have her this entire time now is better than never again.

"I get why you didn't tell me now. I don't agree with your why, but I get it." I admit casting my gaze down onto the ground.

"Funny, I was thinking you were right."

We laugh softly untill silence comes again. It's never been the awkward kind, always the comforting sort. We could sit and read together for hours and still tell people we had a fun time.

"So how did you two meet?" Morgan asks, leaning against one of the support columns of the front porch.

A small involuntary smile sneaks onto my lips as I sigh. "Which time?" Me and Ben have such a long history, it's odd to think Morgan has no idea just how long I've known him. Or how many times we've met. Guess we've both been keeping secrets from the other.

Her brow knits together. "All?" She asks with a hint of uncertainty.

"Well for starters we met online back when I was twelve." , explain with a hint of humor. Back then I would have never thought we'd still be in contact let alone whatever thing we're in now...

"Shit. You've known him for six years?"

I chuckle, a small smirk coming to my lips as the first words he ever spoke to me in discord. Woah, simmer down. It made me so mad back then but now it brings a warm feeling to my body. He hasn't changed one bit since then.

"Yeah, I guess it has been." I muse.

"And the other times?" Morgan probes.

I laugh a small nervous laugh realizing that our gaming past is the least complicated part of our relationship. Figures...

"The first time we physically met was actually at the party he hit Aaron at, though I don't remember most of that."

Morgan bites down on her lip. "He did seem oddly protective over you that night. Even left his truck up there to ride back with us."

The knowledge makes my heart ache as a ping of resentment washes over me. He knew and he protected me, just like he always has. When I thought about it that way I can't help but feel special.

"And we officially met when we literally ran into each other while texting each other." , admit sheepishly my cheeks heating a little.

Morgan gapes at me, a smile slowly spreading before she chuckles.

"As your hopefully reinstated best bitch I'm going to tell you right now this shit is meant to be."

I laugh a bitter laugh. "Wish it was that simple." , mumble my voice carrying the sadness the thought brings.

Morgan gives me a nudge. "He was sitting right there when I got here. I think it's that simple."

It's now me who chews on my bottom lip as the smile returns to my lips. I wanted to believe he would be here but I didn't want to hope. Hope always hurts when things don't turn out and I'm done with hurting.

Maybe, just maybe, this is different. Maybe all I need to do is reach out. I want so badly to reach out...but I still haven't figured out how to approach him. How do I tell him I'm sorry for being a condescending hypocrite? How do I apologize for treating him like the enemy when I know in my heart he would never hurt me. How?