Rewrite the Rules

Ready to roll: Part 47

"Alright, breakfast brigade, ready to roll?" I scanned the faces around me, double-checking if everyone was prepped. A quick glance at Namjoon confirmed he was good to go, phone pressed to his ear presumably finalizing the car arrangements. My gaze flicked to Daisy and Samina, who seemed both intrigued and slightly bewildered by the whirlwind of activity unfolding in my apartment.

"The only problem," I sheepishly admitted to Samina, "is I have no idea how to navigate the labyrinth that is this building's sub-basement parking. Think they have a map at the front desk, or should I just wing it?"

Samina chuckled, a low rumble that sent a surprising thrill through me. "Lost before we even leave the building, huh? Sounds about right for this morning," she teased. "Don't worry, we'll figure it out together."

Daisy, ever the pragmatist, chimed in, "Speaking of scary, did anyone else see that imposing figure lurking in the hallway?"

"Relax, Daisy," I reassured her, forcing a smile. "It's probably just a security officer." With a deep breath, I marched towards the door, the others trailing behind me.

As I approached the imposing figure, I plastered on my most courteous smile. "Good morning, officer," I greeted him, my voice a touch squeakier than intended.

The officer, a man with a kind face and a gentle smile, returned my greeting. "Good morning, miss. I here to help you find the basement parking area."

Relief washed over me. "Actually, yes," I admitted. "We're a bit lost.

The officer chuckled. "No worries at all. Follow me, I'll show you the way." With that, he turned and began walking, his confident strides a beacon of hope in our seconds of disorientation.

As we descended in the elevator, the doors slid open, revealing a brightly lit parking garage. Several luxury SUVs gleamed under the harsh fluorescent lights. And there, leaning casually against one of the vehicles, was Namjoon, a smile lighting up his face as he spotted us.

Relief flooded my system. At least some things were going according to plan. We hurried towards them, the click of our heels echoing on the polished concrete floor.

As we drew closer, I caught snippets of conversation – the melodic lilt of Korean interspersed with a few English phrases. Just as I reached them, I heard a teasing remark from Suga, something about Charlie's Angels. A blush crept up my cheeks, a mixture of amusement and nervousness.

"Good morning, gentlemen," I greeted them, my voice regaining some semblance of normalcy.

J-Hope, his smile as bright as the sunshine streaming through the high windows, returned the greeting. "Good morning, ladies!" His gaze swept over the group, lingering for a beat on Samina before he turned to Namjoon.

Introductions commenced, Namjoon's voice a soothing balm amidst the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. He gestured between us, making the introductions. Then, something unexpected happened.

J-Hope, with a flourish that seemed straight out of a movie, bowed slightly and took Daisy's hand, placing a delicate kiss on her knuckles. My breath hitched in my throat. Was this... flirting? Before I could process further, he reached for Samina's hand, his eyes locking with hers in a way that would make any woman blush.

"I wish Namjoon had mentioned he had such beautiful friends," J-Hope remarked, his voice smooth as silk. "I would have joined you all for breakfast if I could." The compliment hung in the air, heavy with unspoken intent.

Yoongi, ever the quiet observer, finally spoke up. "Hello," he greeted us, his voice a low rumble. "Nice to meet you all. So, breakfast it is? That's a shame, we're actually heading to the studio. Maybe another time."

J-Hope and Yoongi climbed into one of the SUVs, leaving us with Namjoon in the other. As the sleek vehicle pulled away from the curb, the tension finally eased, replaced by a flurry of excited chatter from Daisy and Samina.

They were like a pair of overstimulated chipmunks, bouncing between topics at lightning speed, their questions and observations leaving Namjoon visibly amused.

"So," Samina squealed, her voice barely above a whisper, "what is it called when someone has a glow-up but they were already glowing?"

Daisy, ever the pragmatist, wrinkled her nose. "What do you mean?"

"Like with Hobi," Samina continued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial hush. "I mean, he's always been gorgeous in pictures, but in person... oh my gosh. I couldn't breathe."

A blush crept up my cheeks as I stole a glance at Namjoon. His lips were quirked up in a faint smile, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. I couldn't help but grin. At least someone was enjoying the chaos.

"Listen," I interjected, eager to shift the focus, "I was just surprised that Yoongi spoke to me. That's the greatest number of words I've ever heard him say."

Namjoon, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, chuckled. "You know why? He was embarrassed."

My eyebrows shot up. Embarrassed? About what?

"I said this before," I clarified, my voice rising a touch, "if he wasn't..." I trailed off, searching for the right words.

"Waving 'it' at you," Namjoon finished with a smirk, his voice laced with amusement.

"Exactly!" I exclaimed, relief washing over me. So that's what it was about. "I mean, he's not exactly known for his social skills, but still. It's better he was told."

"Yeah, you don't want the world to see that," Namjoon agreed, his voice laced with a hint of mock seriousness.

The revelation hit Daisy and Samina like a bolt of lightning. "Oh!" they exclaimed in unison, their eyes widening comically.

We all erupted into laughter, the tension of the morning dissolving completely. Tears welled up in my eyes as the sound of our laughter filled the car. Maybe, I thought, a little chaos wasn't such a bad thing after all. In fact, it might be exactly what I needed.

The laughter subsided eventually, morphing into a comfortable silence as we continued our journey. The landscape outside the window began to change, the towering skyscrapers of the city giving way to rolling hills and patches of scrubland. A sense of anticipation bubbled in my chest. Where exactly were we headed?

"We're almost there," Namjoon announced, his voice breaking the silence. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, briefly glancing at the screen before tossing it onto the passenger seat. "I made a reservation at this place I thought you guys might like."

"Where is this place?" Daisy asked, a hint of suspicion creeping into her voice. We'd already had a few surprises this morning, and frankly, she wasn't sure what to expect next.

Namjoon's smile remained undeterred. "It's an authentic Nevada ghost town," he explained. "Supposed to have an amazing breakfast buffet."

"Authentic ghost town and breakfast buffet in one sentence, interesting," I said.