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Chapter 1: Half Written Story

Y/N POV

"So how was dinner last night? Did everything go smoothly with the Steinfelds?"

My eyes flutter open slowly at the raspy sound of my best friend's voice. It takes a moment for them to adjust, even if it's still dark out. I wipe the sleep away from them and shake my head roughly, hoping that the movement will kick me back into reality. I hadn't even realize I had drifted off until Flo's voice filled the quiet of the car.

"Shit I'm sorry, I must've dozed off. What did you say?" I ask, my own voice low and more than a little raspy. No matter how much rest I get lately, I can't seem to be anything other than tired. And my voice certainly proves it.

Florence chuckles softly before shaking her head after taking a quick glance over at me. "Good thing I didn't let you drive when you offered. We wouldn't have made it!" She chides.

I reach down to where her hand rests on the gearshift and flick. It's currently 5:25 in the morning, it's far too early for her teasing. And frankly, I'm in no mood today.

"Ouch! Bloody hell!" Florence exclaims, pulling her hand back instantly and cutting her eyes over at me with an intense glare. Standing my ground, I glare right back.

"That's what you get for being too annoying too early. And you could be sleeping too if you would've had me take Griffin up on his offer to drop us off at the airport this morning." I say.

Even though she keeps her face trained on the road ahead of us, I don't miss her eye roll at the mention of the offer she declined with an intense sort of immediacy the second I relayed it to her.

"Griffin didn't do anything, you know. I don't know why you're so mad at him." I say with annoyance. Her anger and loathing towards Hailee I can understand. But having an adverse reaction to any mention of Griffin? That I don't understand. Nor will I tolerate it. Not even from my best friend.

I eye her carefully as she takes in a deep breath. Typically, Florence wouldn't hesitate at saying whatever is on her mind without any sense of tact or filter. But since she's been back, she's been more careful around me. I haven't decided if I appreciate it or if I find it infuriating.

"He didn't. And I'm not angry at him." She says plainly, her words falling flat.

"Could've fooled me." I retort, unwilling to cut her any slack.

"Griffin didn't do anything wrong. And I'm not mad at him. I promise. I'm just...I'm just nervous about the whole thing, ok?" She says, voice laced with genuine sincerity.

"What are you nervous about? It's just Griff." I say. I want to be able to say something more, something better that would help ease whatever concern she's having. Unfortunately, I don't actually know what that concern is.

"That is the concern. That he's Griff. And he's straddling a very precarious fence. I'm just worried about what could happen if he leans too far in one direction. I don't want you to end up even more hurt." She explains.

"I'm not made of glass, Flo. I'm not so fragile that I'll shatter just because of a few cracks. And Griffin isn't going to hurt me, not intentionally, at least. Yea, he's Griffin. He's Hailee's brother. But I'm his best friend, just like you're mine." I say softly, hoping to ease her mind a bit.

"I know you are. But the difference in Griffin and myself is that my loyalty lies entirely with you. And I'm afraid that his can't." She admits.

A quiet settles itself between us, the only sound coming from the hum of the engine and the jazz music playing softly through the speakers.

After a few moments pass, long enough for the emotional storm to calm itself, I'm reminded that the whole reason I woke up to begin with was because Florence asked me something.