park jinwoo ; ethereal [ ✔ ]

chapter 9 ; the pick-up

When I wake up for the next day, I get a text from Eunwoo. He was advising me not to go to school due to all the assholes there. I text him back just before I start getting ready that I don't care anymore. It couldn't get any worse unless they jumped me or something. I had people who supported me and that was more than I could ask for.

I finish getting dressed when my phone begins to ring. I check who it is before I answer and hear Eunwoo's soft voice on the other side. "If you're still going to come to school, at least let me take you there. I hope you don't mind Rocky tagging along." Before I can respond he's hung up. I'm sighing and shaking my head, finishing getting ready for the day.

My doorbell rings once Eunwoo gets here and I hurry out, clambering into his car. I always sit in the front with him while Rocky's in the back. "Morning Emily," Rocky's poking the back of my head lightly and I duck away from him.

"Morning Rock-eater," I snicker and he goes into a small pout, rolling his eyes.

"Not going to say good morning to your savior? I see how it is."

"Good morning Eunwoo," I end up laughing at his behavior. He smiles back and drives us to school. 

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I'm not too surprised when I go the whole day without seeing Jinjin at all, but I don't see Bin at all too, which makes me worry a little. Eunwoo and Rocky follow me whenever they can to scare off the other students, protecting me from insults and such.

The final bell rings and I walk out with Eunwoo and Rocky, since he was planning on taking me home too. However, once we get out to the parking lot, I notice Jinjin's car and Bin's car parked and waiting. I look at them and see that they've finally acknowledged one another for the first time since they've got here. I can only tell because they don't seem too pleased with the other.

I shifted in place, not realizing I had stopped until Eunwoo stops a few steps ahead of me with Rocky just beside him. "Why're you stopping? Did you forget something?"

I shake my head at him and gesture towards Jinjin exiting his car, slamming the door shut, then to Bin, the opposite of Jinjin. Bin manages to get to me first despite Jinjin getting out of his car first. He grabs my shoulders and starts lecturing me about the video and about skipping yesterday despite all the shit that went down. I simply stare at Jinjin coming closer from behind him.

"Hey, get the fuck off her. She's obviously not comfortable with being lectured about that," Jinjin's grabbed Bin's shoulder, pulling him back and away from me. That's when Bin rounds on him.

"Why does an asshole like you care? You've known for how long? A few days? I've known her for seventeen years." He's glaring at Jinjin and clenching his fists. All I can manage to do right now is fumble through my muddled mind and try to figure out what to do.

Jinjin's already snorting and retorting, "You say you're her best friend but you seem more like a scolding mother than anything else."

I finally manage to speak up, my eyes flickering between them, "Please stop arguing. It was an accident. That's it."

My words just seem to go in one ear and out the other for Jinjin, as he continues on. "If you were really her best friend, then how come you left her alone at the party? Huh?" He's kind of getting closer to Bin, face slightly twisted in anger and his arms veins sticking out from clenching his fists so tight.

I hurry forward a few steps with words tumbling out of my mouth, "You're not wrong, but stop. Please." I'm pleading with them now. I really don't want them to get physical.

And then I wish Jinjin hadn't have said those words. Mine just seemed to fly past Bin and he's lunging towards Jinjin. He grabs the collar of his shirt and gets in his face, spatting the words, "Oh yeah? And what the fucking hell did you do?" I've never seen him this angry and I'm terrified. His usually sweet face was distorted into one of pure rage.

I begin to panic as Jinjin's obviously thinking of what to say. Whatever he's going to say, I just know it'll make things worse. I end up throwing myself at Bin, clinging to his side to try and get him to let go. "Don't hit him Bin! Jesus Christ, just stop it you two!"

Bin looks down at me before sighing and letting Jinjin go. He moves away from him, but I'm still clinging to Bin. I'm afraid that if I let go he'll just run at him again. I can't let go. I don't want him to hurt Jinjin.

Bin doesn't even look at Jinjin before he's unwrapping my arms and holding onto one of my hands. I follow him willingly, and I only give a glance back to Jinjin. I tried to give him a mere glance, but I couldn't help to stare at the expression on his face. Anger and bitterness.

I can't stand looking any longer, so I turn back to Bin. We get in his car and he calms himself down before driving us to his house. We don't say anything the whole ride.

-----

When we got to his house he immediately got out the car and just walked inside. I waited for a while for him to calm down more before I go in after him. I greet his parents and they tell me he's in his room and looked rather upset when he stormed past them. I thank them and assure them that everything's fine. Then I'm hurrying to his room. I don't bother knocking (he also didn't lock his door either) and simply enter. He's sitting on his bed, back against the wall and his head tilted back. He always stares at his popcorn ceiling when he's real bothered.

I climb onto his bed, sitting next to him and mimicking the way he was sitting. He doesn't look at me and we sit in silence again for a long time. He finally talks after what felt like forever.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there... At the party... I'm a real shit friend," he's talking so soft, I just barely manage to hear him. I don't look at him, but I can tell he's about to cry. My body moves automatically and I'm snuggle up against his side.

We remain silent for a while again, but I'm sure he can tell I forgive him. When I move to look up at his face (seeing as my head is kind of resting on chest (Jesus I'm dying)), we come face to face again. I stare in his eyes, and he does the same. I can feel his breath tickle my mouth, and I can tell that mine must be tickling his too. I find myself moving forward slowly.

Oh my god. I'm finally going to kiss him.

We're centimeters apart-- almost there-- when suddenly a phone starts ringing.