"Honey, when will you bring your friends actually into this house?" Mom asked, telling me goodbye.

The past days Rebecca picked me up and dropped me off. She and Ana are neighbors and my house was actually on the way. No detour.

It was Wednesday and those last two stays with avoiding Thomas went well. Rethinking, I hope it's not rude, but it's just so embarrassing in what state he must've seen me. And he even hugged me from behind, pulling me close to him.

And since Becca and Ana introduced themselves two days ago, my mom is bugging me to invite them over. She went crazy when I told her I found friends.

"Just not today.", I groan. "And please stop bugging me about it." I grab my backpack and make my way to the bathroom. It became a thing the last days.

I quickly took one of the pills so they would get into my system once I'm at school. No big deal.

"Bye!" I shout one last time before closing the front door. Making my way to the backseat, I also greet those two.

"Hey Hope!" "Hey." They both send me a welcoming smile.

"I'm still working on those tote bags," Becca starts, "And I think I might actually go insane! Why can't I be as talented as the ones who painted those inspiration motives?"

Ana let out a chuckle. "You are a professional at other things, though you make your paintings look good, it just takes more time." I nod in agreement. "I'm not really good at anything. Maybe baking, though I don't always have time for that."

"You bake? Awesome! This weekend, sleepover. We'll bake, wich means you bake and I'm the DJ and Ana dances." Becca looks at me through the rear view mirror.

"Becca, I don't dance to your music. You always complain about classical music." "Well, I don't care." They continue to argue a little.

"We can have the sleepover at my house. My mom would be all over the moon to meet you." I suggest quietly. "Really? That's gonna be awesome! I would hug you if I wouldn't be driving."

"Do you have indoor pool? And a gym would be preferable so I can practice. For the evening would be a home cinema relaxing, don't you think? Oh and I'm so excited to see your home spa!" Ana list.

I could feel all the colors in my face drain away. Maybe I misunderstood their wealth 'cause we got neither of those things. Maybe a living room with TV and a big couch, though that's nothing near a home cinema. Panic bawled in my stomach and it felt like it was crawling up my windpipe and blocking my throat.

"I'm just kidding." Ana laughs it off, "You look like a ghost, Hope. It was just a joke, I'm only excited to see your room."

I try to relieve and let out a big breath. Rebecca eyed me through the rear view window again. "You know that you don't have to be ashamed of anything, right?"

"Uh, yeah." I force a smile on my lips,"Be ready for our own collection of horses." The words leave my mouth before I can stop them.

Both Ana and Becca turn their heads to me, Becca could 'cause we found ourselves in a parking lot. Then, out of nowhere they burst out into laughter and I couldn't help myself but to join.

"I bet one of them is white and is named Unicorn." Becca wipes away an inexistent tear. "Yes!" Ana squeals and adds, "And a black horse named Moon!"

We continued to laugh together, giving imaginary horses names. When it became late we had no other choice than to run to class, which we had all together.

This time, we sat more in the back and bickered through the whole lesson.

Becca had also announced that she would bring the tote bags with her at Saturday. I'm already looking forward to this sleepover. Of course it wasn't my first, though it was the first one in years.

Soon we stood outside, taking pleasure in getting warmed by the warmth of the sun. Yellow shaped were forming all over the place and I couldn't help but admire them for a second.

When the sun falls down and the sun shines in my room, creating more golden and sometimes orange shapes, I would get lost in them all the time. They are so pretty.

Averting my eyes, I try to follow they conversation again and hop back in. They, no we are talking about Anas ballet lesson the other day.

It's been a really long time since I felt that comfortable around people and I never knew missed this feeling until know.

"Yeah right? And then he- uh he..." Ana trailed off, staring at something behind me with big eyes. Even Rebecca went silent, no offense.

They both kept staring behind me, so when I turned around, I came to the determination it was a certain person.

A certain Thomas.

"Hello there, mind if I borrow Hope real quick? No? Awesome!"

My supposed new friends only nodded as if it was Dylan O'Brien who just pulled me with him. I wish.

"So, uh, didn't notice you went to my school." He awkwardly rubs his neck. No shit Sherlock.

"Uh yeah. This school is pretty big so I guess we just didn't happen to run over each other often." I shrug, not ready for this conversation.

"Listen, I know you probably won't want to talk about it, so you obviously don't have to but please listen to what I'll tell you."

I gulped. "Go ahead." "Just hear me- what? Uh, yeah alright." He cleared his throat and I saw a faint blush on his cheeks, maybe because he is embarrassed. I would be in his place, I mean I am in my place. Anyway.

"First of all, I won't tell anybody what happened in your room 'cause I can imagine you wouldn't want that and I really don't want to step over a line. This is probably basic, but you can always talk to me. Like, I saw you this panicked anyway and I really don't want you to go through that again."

Once he started, the words just flooded out and I could only listen to what he had to say.

"We don't know each other well, I am aware, but I'm friends with your brother and I really wouldn't mind being friends with you, too. To be honest, I already saw you around here. We have some classes together but I didn't find the courage to come up and talk to you."

His face gained a little more redness.

"I won't talk about it if you don't want to. I won't ask nor bugg you about it. I'll leave you alone from now on, if that's what you want. I promise, no word in this direction will ever meet somebody else's ears and if you do want to talk, your words and feelings and stuff are safe with me. And I won't give you pity or something."

He gulped and looked around with his eyes. I myself needed some time to process what he just said. He wanted to be there for me. He wanted to my friend?

"You would want to be friends?" I asked. His eyes shot back to mine. "Of course. I would love to."

"Thank you, for all that."

Thank you for calming me down when I felt like dying, I wanted to add. I felt tears sting in my eyes and tried to blink them away. Somebody cared for me. He didn't think I was weak? Or does he?

"Do you know think I am weak? I would completely understand, though, I would think-" "Hell no, you are probably one of the strongest persons I know now. You stand here smiling and all." The brunette interrupted.

The tear dropped. My vision kept getting blurrier and I felt shame wash over me. Shame that I was crying again.

Two arms wrapped around me. I stiffness at the sudden touch, though soon the warmth coming off of them felt comforting. My eyes closed and my arms wrapped around Thomas's torso. More relaxed, I let myself fall into the comfort he gave.

The shame got washed away. I felt at peace in his arms. I shouldn't feel this comforting, good and at peace in his arms, yet I do.

"I'm sorry." I mutter. "You don't have to be. It's okay." He hugged me a little bit tighter.

Like that, we stood until the bell rang. With a last reassuring smile we parted ways. My tears were long dried, though how the hell should I act now when I see him again? Hugging and crying may be even worse than the panic attack.

First things first, I had to face my friends. I bet they spied on us.

I silently groan.

Why do I have to face people? Why was it so hard for me? Why so complicated?

And why the fudge did I feel so. much. better after hugging Thomas?

//°°\\

A/n:

Man this chapter took so darn long. I was thinking for days on how to write their conversation at the end.

It was so cringy but I hope you still enjoyed.

Also I hope this was still realistic and all.

I do wish I could've wrote more but that was all I got, I don't know.

Any tips?

Have a good day or rest of it!

WrittenBy09