freckles

* chapter twenty one *

"Oh my gosh." Claudette covered her mouth while she chewed her first piece of steak, ever. "This is so good! Jin! It's amazing!"

"I'm so glad you like it." He smiled from beside her, cutting up his piece of meat as well. "You like how it was cooked?"

"It's perfect!" She put another piece in her mouth, eyes wide while she chewed, Jimin watching lovingly. "Wow, steak really is worth all that talk."

"So this is your first time eating steak?" Taehyung asked politely, not judging or anything, just asking a simple question.

"Ah, yeah." Claudette, looked down, nodding to a non-existent beat. "I could never afford it."

"What do you usually eat?" He continued, taking a scoop of Jimin's mashed potatoes in his mouth, Jimin poking him with his fork.

"Bread and fruit." Claudette shrugged, crossing her legs and adjusting the napkin on her lap. "They're fairly cheap in Paris. Plus the bread is really good literally everywhere."

'She only eats bread and fruit...' Yoongi slowed his chewing, processing her words.

'I'm going to make sure she eats well.' All of the boys vowed to themselves, unaware that they all were deciding the same thing.

This was new to BTS. They knew how lucky they were, being so stable in the economy, having plenty of money and never having to wonder if they were able to eat dinner that night.

Yes, they knew there were poor people in the world. But it's been so long since they've really encountered someone themselves.

'Now I have someone to spend my money on.' Jimin smiled to himself, stirring his gravy aimlessly, his mind wandering off to all the places he wants to bring Claudette to, all the food he wants her to try. 'It was getting boring just buying things for myself anyways.'

"Do you guys always go out to eat?" Claudette directed this question to all of them, cutting up her next few pieces of steak.

"Yeah, we do a decent amount." Hoseok spoke up, Taehyung too busy trying to steal Jimin's food. "We're usually out and such, rarely home unless the schedule is down. Staff usually buys a bulk amount if we're at practice or at a shoot."

"But we enjoy homemade food as well." Namjoon took a sip of his drink, not looking at Claudette.

"Well I'm really good at cooking." Claudette didn't look at anyone either. "I could maybe make you guys a French meal or something before I have to leave."

"Woah really?" Hoseok's smile grew. "You'd do that for us?"

"Yeah of course." Claudette nodded quickly. "You've all done so much for me, it's the least I can do."

"I can take you grocery shopping tomorrow." Jungkook leaned forward, wiping away the gravy from his mouth with a napkin. "Maybe in the morning? We have afternoon practice."

"Oh I could find something to make with what you guys already have." Claudette looked up at Jungkook, noticing that he was the farthest away from her compared to everyone else. It was a bit strange, considering what he said a few hours earlier.

'I bet he feels bad.' Claudette swallowed, looking down at her plate. 'Maybe I should stay by him tonight while we're all out.'

"Everything alright Claudette?" Namjoon looked over at her, Claudette jumping slightly.

"Yes yes I'm good!" She held her thumbs up, smiling shyly, Namjoon chuckling to himself before turning forward again.

'Ah what a cute girl.' He shook his head slightly.

---

"Are you alright Jungkook?" Claudette stayed back with Jungkook as everyone walked to the cars. "You seemed really quiet."

"Oh me?" Jungkook smiled. "I'm fine."

Claudette nodding, Jungkook not carrying conversation. "Can I ride with you to wherever we're going next?"

"Oh yeah sure." Jungkook nodded, pulling out his car keys. "Jiminie!"

"What?" Jimin shouted back, turning around to face Jungkook as he walked.

"You're going with Yoongi Hyung, Claudia is with me."

"But-"

"Thank you Jimin!" Claudette smiled, following Jungkook to his car, Jimin shutting his mouth to wave back.

'Ah fine. At least I got her to smile.' Jimin went with Yoongi, Hoseok and Jin in the car already.

"So are we all going to ignore the fact that Jimin has the fattest crush on Claudie or-"

"Hoseokie hyung shut up!"

---

"Should I get a hedgehog yes or yes?"

Claudette giggled, standing beside Jungkook as he crouched down to see the little ones in their bottom cages. The other six were ... in the same building as them.

For the short two minutes Jungkook had crouched down, Claudette was finally taller than him, able to finally see the top of his fluffy head of hair-

And he's a giant again.

'I feel s a f e.' Claudette followed Jungkook the giant to the guinea pigs in the next aisle, taking a deep breath.

"You alright?" Jungkook glanced over at her as he walked, his hands in his pockets.

"Ah sorry." She rubbed the back of her neck, Jungkook looking down at her once they stopped walking. "Yeah I'm okay. I'm just practicing my deep breaths."

"Oh that's a good idea." Jungkook nodded. "You can't seem to remember how to breathe before and after an episode?"

"Yeah, everything is just, pounding." Claudette closed her eyes briefly, imagining an episode of her's. "The world is moving so so fast and if I don't catch up, everything is going to leave me behind and I'll just crumble-"

Jungkook held her hand, keeping his eyes on the guinea pigs.

"I won't let you crumble." He turned his head, meeting her eyes which were already on him. "I promise."

"Th-thank you." Claudette knew she was staring, and she didn't care. She was focussing on Jungkook, that was way more important than embarrassment.

"Don't thank me." Jungkook smiled, holding up their hands. "We're friends, remember? This is what friends do."

'I'm his friend!' Claudette smiled widely, agreeing to Jungkook's cheery statement

'I want to be more than friends.' Jungkook's smile quickly diminished into a soft remain of a once bright smile, his eyes on the furry animals in front of them.

He messed up already with her. If he can't be a good friend, how could he ever be a good boyfriend for her?

Taehyung talked things out with him. Jungkook will keep Claudette at arm's length until he is confident in his ability to be good enough... not just for himself, but for her.

Maybe one day he and Taehyung will ask her if she wants a poly relationship.

Maybe one day.

"Oh fuck I lost Ettie." Jimin turned around wildly, Jin shooting him a glare. "Shush Hyung, I have a bad mouth I know."

"Well good luck finding her in this place." Jin sighed, looking up from his phone. "It's a zoo in here."

"Not unless I shout."

"No-"

"ETTIE!"