CHAPTER FOUR:

↳ FRIENDS AND ENEMY

     RIN HAD SEEN HANNAH BAKER AROUND SCHOOL, she was glad the new girl had made friends with Jessica and Alex Standall, two other new kids. After that day in the cafeteria, Rin and Hannah had a school friendship, both sitting with each other during lunch– but that was it. Maybe it was because Rin was associated with the jocks that teased Hannah or maybe it was just never meant to be more. 

She ordered a latte from Skye, the barista who went to school with and she was surprised to see Hannah in Monet's. Monet's was across the street from the school and one of the under appreciated places to go to after school. Everyone was obsessed with froyo, they left the small coffee shop alone, which was a good thing. Rin wouldn't have to deal with school drama when she just wanted to relax with a cup of coffee. 

"Hey," Hannah told Rin with a shy smile, using her free hand to swipe a strand of dark hair behind her ear. Her other hand held tightly to her cup as she awkwardly stood to the side of the counter, trying to find out where to sit. 

"Hi," Rin replied with equal amount of shyness. Rin wasn't a shy girl but with girls, it wasn't her forte. After all, she was friends with all the boys at school. The only girl friend she would consider would be Sherri Holland.

"Are you sitting alone?" Hannah asked, looking around to see if she was sitting with someone. "I'm with Jessica and Alex if you want to join? There's nothing hot chocolate can fix." She smiled at the oriental girl, motioning to the spot she sat in the back. 

Rin laughed at Hannah's words but glanced at the door to see her friend entering the front door, looking around for her. "I would love to, Hannah but my friend is here."

"Okay," Hannah said. She wasn't disappointed that Rin couldn't sit with her. It was more of a cordial thing to offer to someone who may be alone, Hannah knew what that was like. "I'll see you at lunch tomorrow?" 

"Yeah, I'd like that." Rin replied, her lips curving into a smile. They both parted with genuine smiles on their faces as they walked away. 

"What are you smiling at?" 

"What?" Rin asked approaching the boy, slinging her arm around the shoulders of the jock. "Does there need to be a reason for me to smile?" 

"No," Jeff smiled down at his short friend. "I'm glad you're happy." 

Rin rolled her eyes and tugged him to a table by the window to sit, placing her latte on the table. "Did you want to order something?" 

"Yeah, I'll be right back." Rin smiled as he went to order and she held her warm cup close to her, staring at the white foam. It was a weekly ritual for Jeff Atkins and Rin Sano to get together after school. It was right before Jeff had to go to his baseball practice and before Rin had to go to her job. 

Rin's family owned the salon down the street and getting a coffee before work was the best way to survive the evening. She wasn't necessarily happy to work at the family business but times were difficult to hire extra help, and the extra allowance was always a good thing– especially when Rin was addicted to coffee.

"So, how's your week?" Jeff asked as he came back and sat down, a cappuccino in hand. 

"Crazy," Rin sighed as she blew on her coffee, wanting it to cool down quickly. "I don't know, Jeff. The other day when Zach came over we almost kissed–"

"You did?" Jeff was ecstatic, leaning forward, wanting to hear more. "Why did you say almost kiss?" 

"I just don't want to ruin our friendship." 

"How do you know that it would?" Jeff asked her and Rin sighed, knowing that Jeff was too wise and he would make her overthink things. Specifically, make her try again with Zach. He had heard all of her complaints of how cute he was and how she wanted him to like her back.

"I don't." She admitted as she stared at her coffee with a frown. "It's just– my parents–" She sighed, rolling her eyes at how dumb she would sound for her reasoning. "My parents are really traditional, Jeff. Like traditional with needed A+ in all my classes but also they want me to marry someone who's Asian." 

Jeff snorted, taking a sip of his coffee. "You're serious?" 

"Dead."

"Wouldn't that make them happy though?" 

"Yeah, it would. But I just don't know if I like him because they told me he'd be the perfect husband or if it's because he's my best friend who I love." She strung her hands together, picking the pink nail polish off of her fingers. 

"I think you're overthinking it. It's not because of what your parents are saying– what they say shouldn't matter. It's all about how you feel. You like him, so date him." 

"But what if he doesn't like me." Rin whined, dropping her head onto the wooden table, her mind thinking of the worst scenarios. "Like that kiss, I don't know if it was just because we were close or if he has feelings for me."

"You'll never know if you don't try." 

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     AS RIN APPROACHED THE JOCK TABLE, their yells became hushed whispers and Bryce shoved something into his backpack as she sat down.

"What are you guys doing?" She asked wearily, noticing how they all looked at something beside her.  It was lunchtime and Rin couldn't find Hannah and she assumed that the brunette girl had found Clay Jensen to sit with.

"Nothing, Rin." Bryce cooed, using his elbows on the table to lean closer to her. "Nothing to worry your pretty little head over." She really wished he wasn't sitting across from her at the table now.

Rin frowned at the condescending tone he used on her and she stepped on his foot, hard. A yelp came from the junior at the unforeseen action occurred beneath the table. 

"What the fuck, Rin?" Bryce hissed, bending down to massage his foot. She shrugged as the other boys surrounding her laughed at her actions. 

"Damn you're cut-throat, Sano." Marcus Cole told her with a grin and she smiled at the compliment. She felt a nudge from beside her and she blushed at the proud look Zach sent her. 

"Maybe she should be on the list–" Rin turned to see Alex Standall approach the table, tray in hand. He had become a new addition to the group and Rin accepted him despite the strangeness to his sudden friendship with Justin Foley.

"Shut the fuck up–" Bryce hissed out, glaring at Alex. 

"What list?"

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