𝚠𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 (𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎)

𝐯𝐢𝐢𝐢.

𝐯𝐢𝐢𝐢.

The tension in the room was palpable as Rue unleashed a torrent of raw, honest emotions.

Though she wasn't even sure why she had agreed to this confrontation in the first place, Rue was determined to hold nothing back.

She laid it all out on the table, leaving no stone unturned as she confronted her friends and Joe's family about the way they had been treating her.

Rue made it clear that she felt like an outsider, shunned and excluded by the very people she had known the longest.

She minced no words in expressing her hurt and betrayal, particularly towards her former best friend True, who she felt had abandoned her for not wanting to forgive Joe.

Rue's piercing gaze swept across the room, challenging everyone to hear the full weight of her grievances.

She was done tiptoeing around the issues and letting the group's toxic dynamics continue unchecked.

Rue's raw vulnerability was matched only by her steely resolve - she was drawing a line in the sand, making it clear that she would no longer tolerate being treated as less than or having her feelings dismissed.

Even when Joe tried to interject, attempting to steer the conversation in a different direction, Rue refused to be silenced.

This was her moment to unburden herself, to demand accountability from those closest to her. And as she delivered her ultimatum, informing True that she could no longer see her as a best friend, the room fell silent, all eyes turning to Joe.

Rue had spoken her truth, now it was up to the others to decide how they would respond - whether they would finally hear her out, or continue to push her away.

The future of these relationships hung in the balance, the air thick with uncertainty as Rue prepared to make her exit, Joe in tow, ready to buy the guitar he had promised as a reward for her participation.

It was a bittersweet moment, a painful reckoning that hinted at the possibility of change if only the others were willing to truly listen.

Joshua kissed his teeth. "They don't even know they are low-key dating. It's high school all over again. Rue curses us out and Joe rewards her," Joshua said.

Jonathan shook his head. "Man, Rue just said she's not our friend, but he is going to reward her by getting her a guitar," Jonathan said in disbelief.

Trinity pouted. "How did I get on the cutting board when I've been Team Rue the whole time?" Trinity asked.

True pursed her lips. "You're married to Jon, you got cut off by association," True answered.

"That's fucked up," Jeremiah said.

As Joe watched Rue intently browse the vast selection of guitars at the music store, a warm smile spread across his face.

Despite the earlier disagreement that had left him feeling frustrated, seeing the genuine joy and excitement lighting up Rue's features as she carefully inspected each instrument was enough to melt away his lingering irritation.

He knew his cousins would likely give him a hard time later for so easily forgiving her outburst, but in that moment, Joe simply couldn't hold onto his annoyance.

There was something about Rue's infectious enthusiasm, the way her eyes sparkled with childlike wonder as she reverently plucked the strings, that made it impossible for him to stay upset.

When Rue finally turned to him, a hopeful smile playing on her lips, and asked if she could purchase two guitars instead of one, Joe couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow in amusement.

"You think you deserve two after your performance earlier?" he replied teasingly, arms crossed over his chest in mock sternness.

Rue's pout was almost comically exaggerated, but Joe recognized the underlying sincerity in her expression.

"Fine, I'll get one," She conceded, "but hey, they deserved it. Be lucky I ain't curse your ass out."

Chuckling, Joe shook his head. "I thought we made up after you let your good sis threaten my life," He countered, earning a lighthearted chuckle from Rue.

"We did, but that doesn't mean I can't curse you out for thinking I was going to be fake with your cousins," she retorted, a mischievous glint in her eye.

As they continued their playful banter, Joe couldn't help but wonder just how serious Rue had been about cutting his cousins off.

"Are you going to cut them off or was that just to make them see you weren't playing anymore?" He asked, genuinely curious.

Rue's response was characteristically ambiguous. "A little bit of both," She said with a shrug, before finally selecting the guitar she deemed perfect and beginning to strum it with a contented hum.

Satisfied, Joe made his way to the register to pay for Rue's new prized possession.

As a reward for his generosity, Rue rewarded him with a series of playful, lingering kisses - first on the cheek, then trailing down the side of his neck, causing Joe's breath to catch in his throat and his pulse to quicken with anticipation.

Giggling mischievously, Rue sauntered away, guitar in hand, leaving Joe frozen in place, his body alight with a familiar, ever-present desire.