The Friendship Equation | NCT DREAM

Chapter 2: The Invitation

/THE GIRLS/

The atmosphere around the lunch table is thick with tension. The usual chatter and laughter have been replaced by an uneasy silence, punctuated only by the occasional sniffle or sob from the crying girl. The other six friends exchange concerned glances, unsure of how to comfort her.

Some look down at their plates, feeling awkward and helpless, while others reach out to offer a tissue or a gentle touch on her arm. The group's usual dynamic feels off-kilter, with everyone acutely aware of the emotional weight hanging in the air.

The tension is palpable, a mix of empathy, discomfort, and the desperate wish to make things better. "I'm sorry Melody I didn't know that one of his friends would see it and that you would be this hurt," Briar genuinely explains as she feels a deep, gnawing sense of guilt and regret.

What started as a playful dare has clearly gone too far, resulting in her friend's visible distress. She watches the tears fall, feeling a sinking sensation in her stomach. Her usual confidence and humor are replaced by a profound discomfort and remorse.

She wants to do more than apologize, to take back her actions, but she's also afraid of making things worse. The laughter and excitement of the dare have evaporated, leaving her to grapple with the heavy consequences of her actions. "It's okay Briar you didn't know," The sobbing girl utters biting her lips thinking of how she's going to avoid Mark today.

"She's right Briar, don't feel bad and plus we were all in on it too if anything we're all to be blamed for not objecting to the idea." Amelia states looking down at her fingers on the table in disappointment while picking her nails—a habit she picked up a while ago from stressing out about relationships too much.

With a sweet smile on her lips Rosabella voices, "Look on the bright side there's still a high percent chance that Connor didn't show it to Mark yet."

"I hope so. Although nowadays we barely speak he's always been someone whose looked out for me since middle school and for him to see me post that..I just don't want him to think differently of me." Melody says with a shaky voice receiving a few 'mm's' and 'oh's' in response. "Don't worry Mel even if he does somehow see it we'll be here to make you feel better and if he makes you feel bad about it then we'll-"

"Kick him in the balls," Ophelia starts and gets cut off mid sentence by Zoey. "I was gonna say explain what exactly happened that night in full detail but yeah Z, that sounds perfect too." Ophelia says sarcastically finishing off her initial sentence before it was misguided by the likes of the other.

As the alarm rang on Ava's smart-watch, signaling the end of lunch, the seven girls exchanged quick, concerned glances. Their conversation, filled with shared worry, was abruptly cut short. The beeping sounds seemed almost cruel, an intruder in their intimate moment. They stood up reluctantly, silently promising each other that this discussion wasn't over.

The weight of their unfinished words hung in the air as they gathered their belongings and slowly made their way back to class, each girl lost in her own thoughts.

/AVA AND JAKE/

She was late. So fucking late. And to think she was the one with the watch.

Ava rushed into the lecture hall, her cheeks flushed from hurrying across campus. She scanned the room for an empty seat and spotted one near the front. Without giving it much thought, she made her way over and slid into the chair, her breath still catching up with her.

As she settled in, she noticed the guy next to her who she had recognized to be Jake Lee they had never spoken to eachother before but he and the rest of his friends are fairly popular at the College but unlike the others he was one of the non-problematic ones. He had a dark, brooding presence, his posture rigid and his eyes fixed straight ahead. His expression was one of intense focus, almost menacing.