"GOSH, HE BEGGED you to take him back?" Katrina Burman stuffed a fry into her mouth, a bit of ketchup sticking to her lips. 

They were in Verona's favorite restaurant, a little diner she loved to frequent. Verona and Katrina had made a tradition of spontaneous adventures to the diner, whether after a long week or a bad day or just to catch up. She had grown to love the late-night talks with Katrina—both Katrina and she were frank and honest, which resulted in a lot of meaningful conversations. Katrina tended to be overdramatic and overeager, but she was also transparent. . Her transparency was probably one of the main reasons why Verona trusted her so much—Verona valued it above anything.

"Yeah, and then he called me heartless." 

Verona had long ago learned to not let people's words bother her. While her mentality lessened the sting, there was still a certain bite that came with what others thought.

Katrina gasped, "Oh no, he didn't!"

"Yeah, and then I was like I only care about things worth caring about, and you are not on that list."

Katrina gasped again, "Oh no, you didn't!"

Verona smiled, "Oh, yes, I did."

"Verona Wang: savage extraordinaire." Katrina nodded in approval. 

Verona absentmindedly bit into another fry, "And then he thought that Roman and I were a thing again."

Katrina smirked at this, giving Verona a side-eyed look that she was all too familiar with. 

"What?" Verona protested.

"Jordan Myers is a jealous jerk, but he has eyes."

Verona shook her head, "Nothing's going on with Roman and me."

Katrina smiled knowingly, "Sure. And that's why you hate Emilia Atwood."

"I don't hate Emilia!"

"And that's why you look like you're about to throw up whenever she walks by, huh?"

Emilia Atwood was Roman's current girlfriend. She was dainty and sweet, the complete opposite of Verona. Verona wasn't sure how Roman scored her, but he was oddly sweet and gentle with her.

Emilia was also probably the nicest and kindest person in all of the school. She had petals for a heart while Verona had thorns for a spine. Emilia was a water lily while Verona was a prickly rose. Emilia was the soft tinkling of a melody, the bright glissando on a piano, while Verona was a stormy Beethoven piece, the tempest in the wind. 

Verona hated to admit it, but she tended to compare herself to Emilia sometimes. Maybe it was because they were just opposites, but sometimes, she did have a bit of curiosity in how it would be to be less like herself and more like Emilia.

"I completely accept that Roman and I are long over and gone," Verona stated calmly.

A smile began to spread across Katrina's lips, "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear."

Verona turned around in her seat to see Roman enter the diner. His hair was damp and fluffed up. He had probably just come from swim practice and ran out of a quick rinse in the shower. Verona's heart jumped in her throat when she saw him. 

It was nothing. She was probably just hungry.

"Hey." Roman nodded down at the two of them. Emilia was by his side, her arm linked through his. He was towering compared to Emilia's tiny frame.

"Hey," Verona replied, meeting his gaze.

"Sup, Rona." He greeted before turning his attention to Emilia. 

"What do you want?" He asked Emilia, smiling gently down at her.

"Oooh! What's good here? I've never been here." Emilia brightened.

"The milkshakes are pretty good." Katrina piped up.

"Can I get a milkshake?" Emilia asked Roman, "What flavors are there? What's the 'everything' flavor?"

"They just mix a bunch of flavors together as a challenge. I don't know why anyone would try it, but if you drink it all, you get a free milkshake for the next time, I think." Katrina explained, her mouth stuffed with food. 

Roman's eyes darted to Verona at this, and she instantly knew they were thinking of the same thing. On their first date, they had come to this diner and tried the-everything milkshake. They both managed to finish their milkshake but had been so sick the next day that they couldn't go to school. Verona's eyes crinkled slightly at the memory. 

Verona shook away the memory."The strawberry is the best." Verona said softly.

Roman glanced at her, "Do you want anything?"

Verona shook her head, "Nah."

Roman went off to go get the food, leaving Emilia with Katrina and Verona.

"So how was your week?" Emilia asked with a bright smile. She was so bright, sometimes, it seemed inhuman.

"It was okay." Verona admitted honestly, "I had to deal with some...pests." Verona trailed off as she caught Katrina's amused guffaw.

"Oh, did you get an exterminator?" Emilia asked innocently, glancing between Katrina and Verona in confusion.

"Oh, you could say that I guess." Verona shrugged, "The pest was my ex."

"Oh, Jordan, right?" Emilia nodded in understanding, "I can see why you broke up with him. I worked his table once, and he didn't tip me a single cent."

"See?" Katrina swatted Verona's arm, "I told you you shouldn't have dated him."

Verona gave her a dry look, "When he asked me out, you were the one who was gushing about how cute our babies would look. You were more excited than me."

Katrina shrugged, "You never listen to me. I didn't think you would listen to me at that time. Anyways, did you watch that Hidden Figures movie?"

Emilia perked up, "No, I haven't! I want Roman to watch it with me, but he doesn't like historical movies. Have you guys watched it? We should watch it."

Katrina frowned, "Roman doesn't like historical movies? That's all he and Ve-"

Verona sharply kicked her under the table. Katrina was her best friend, but she also sometimes lacked the mind to think about what she should and shouldn't say. While Emilia had never been jealous or upset about Roman and her previous relationship, Verona also felt awkward whenever Katrina brought it up. It wasn't like there was anything to be insecure about in the present, but it probably still wasn't a good idea.

"Hey." Roman returned from waiting in line for his food. He slid into the spot next to Emilia, "I got our food."

He handed Emilia her shake, pulling out some cheese fries for himself.

He slid a shake to Verona, "I got you a strawberry shake. You can even have some of my fries."

Verona looked up at him, "I said I didn't want anything."

"I got an extra-large fries. I can't finish it all."

Verona replied quietly, "Thanks." 

Without asking, she grabbed one of his fries, dunking it in her shake. Roman met her gaze with a challenge as he dipped one of his fries into Verona's shake without asking. She shot him a dirty look.

"What? I bought you the shake." He protested.

"Don't touch my shake."

"Then don't touch my fries." He fired back.

"Ugh," Verona said, pushing the shake between the two of them in compromise. She reached for another one of his fries.

"So." Katrina began, leaning forward, "I heard someone called Verona heartless. What do you say we go beat him up?" 

Verona gave a tight smile at this. She lifted her head to meet Roman's gaze, who was examining her with narrowed eyes. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze oddly understanding. 

"I wouldn't take what he said too seriously." Roman commented lightly, in his own odd attempt to make Verona feel better, "He has the brain of a walnut." 

"Then how big is Verona's brain for dating him?" Katrina grinned at Roman. Katrina and Roman had never been good or close friends, just mere acquaintances. But when Verona and Roman had started dating, the three of them had started hanging out together more. Their favorite bonding activity was to insult her together.

"I don't think she has a brain." Roman gave a toothy smile, ducking as Verona threw a fry at him. 

The four of them chattered for a bit longer, talking about the new Infinity War TV spot and some trailers. Verona's cheeks flushed from laughing and smiling, a warm feeling settling inside her chest as she glanced around the booth.

When it was time to go, Roman held the door open for the girls. As Verona walked through the door, she paused, looking up at Roman. He was only a few inches taller than her, but sometimes, he felt so unreachable.

"Thanks." She said quietly.

Roman's stormy gaze quieted to gentle waves, a look of understanding in the depths of his irises. That's what she liked about Roman's company—he understood her, and it was so hard sometimes to find someone who didn't need words to get you.

That's what she liked about Roman's company— he understood her, and it was so hard sometimes to find someone who didn't need words to get you.

"That's what I'm for." He replied softly.

~~~