POV: Darleen

"What exactly did she say to you," Jade paces in front of me.

"We've been talking, catching up as friends. We were doing this thing, emotional support buddies. She told me she was having a hard time with the breakup and the cheating and was just going through a lot. I said I was going through some stuff so we just agreed to be there for each other and keep in touch."

"How did you know she was about to hurt herself?" Vida asks.

"She called me, hysterical. Said nothing was making sense anymore and that she couldn't do this anymore. Saying all sorts of stuff. I got freaked out and when I told her I would come down to be with her, she freaked out. She was saying stuff and then she just hung up on me. I tried calling and calling but she wasn't answering. I panicked okay, I thought she was going to hurt herself so I called you." I finish.

"What is even happening right now?" Jade sighed and plopped down on Vida's ottoman.

I caught the first flight to L.A. and rushed over to Vida's apartment where they currently had Skylar coiled up on the couch. I tried to wake Skylar up but she was out of it. It's like her body just went into shutdown mode. No matter how loud we were or how hard we tried to wake her, she wouldn't budge.

Looking at her like that makes me sick to my stomach.

"Why didn't she just call us?" Vida ran her hand down her face and sat on the arm of the couch. She was still in her work uniform.

"She's confused and lost. She doesn't feel like she can turn to either of you." I say.

"Damn it, how did this happen? What is going on?" Jade cries into her hands.

"Didn't you notice her slowly spiraling downhill?" I ask Jade.

"No! This literally came out of left field. I'm just as clueless as you guys. One minute we were fine, the next this! I don't know what the fuck is going on. I'm so confused and lost. I just don't know what is what anymore. If anyone knows anything it's her!" Jade points at Vida.

"Me!?"

"You've been fucking her behind my back for weeks! Didn't you think that was odd for her? Skylar isn't exactly the cheating type."

"Don't push this on me, the only reason she came to me in the first place is because you kept putting her off! She needed me."

"Oh fuck off, you just wanted to fuck her and you know it."

"Screw you!"

"Enough!" I shout.

They both go quiet.

"This isn't helping anything. So everyone just shut up. I get it, you both love Skylar. Can we move on please? Fighting isn't going to help anything. She needs us, all of us. I can't be here for her so you two are going to have to suck it up and work together." I say.

"What do we do?" Jade asked.

"If I know anything about emotionally unstable girls, and unfortunately I'm an expert. The only thing you can do is force her to face the problem and get her to talk about it. If you let her put it off or avoid it, it will only get worse. Communication is key. For some reason or another Skylar doesn't want to talk to either of you, fix that. Open up communication again. Forget about who did what and who loves her more. Just fucking be a friend for her. She needs friends to help her get through this. Can either of you do that?"

"Of course I can," Jade said.

"Yeah, I'll do my best." Vida relented.

"I'm gonna stay here a day or two and just talk to her, get her to calm down. She could have had a psychotic break. If that's the case we need to get her help, real professional help."

"Oh, Skylar..." Jade whimpered and wiped her tears.

"She'll be okay. She's strong. We just have to be there for her." Vida moved to comfort Jade.

"I'm scared," Jade admits.

"Me too." Vida grabbed her hand and interlocked their fingers.

I smiled.

Progress.

After we tucked Skylar in, Vida assured us she could watch her while Jade and I went to get Skylar's car. I found myself sitting passenger side of Jade Tate. A girl who I once despised, to a frenemy, to actual friends. This is definitely one of those moments where you ask yourself, how did I get here?

How was it me and her again?

The only answer, Skylar.

We both care about her so here we are.

"I didn't know you two were talking again," Jade said as we drove leisurely through the night.

"Relax I'm not trying to steal your girl," I roll my eyes.

"I always thought she looked happier with you," Jade says out of nowhere.

I look over at her and raise a brow in question.

"You could always bring something out of her that I couldn't. For that, I'll always be jealous of you."

"You have nothing to be jealous of. You're super famous now. I'm yesterday's news. Besides, as I said, I'm not here to steal Skylar away." I look back out the window.

"Don't be so sure."

"Will you cut it out?" I grumble.

"You still love her."

"What!? I do not."

"Why are you here then?"

"It's called being a good friend, you should look it up."

"Why are you getting defensive?" she challenges.

I feel my cheeks heat up and glare at my own reflection in the window.

"It's okay if you still love her, she's not an easy person to get over."

"Jade just stop. Can we focus on the task at hand please?"

"Did she say why she hates me? Did she tell you?"

"She doesn't hate you," I sigh.

"Then what! I don't know what is happening right now. I just want to love her and be with her. What is the problem?"

"She's fallen out of love with you," I say.

The car slowly comes to a stop as we pull over next to Skylar's car.

"Why?" Jade's voice cracks.

"Why does anyone ever fall out of love with anyone?" I sigh.

"I don't know what I'll do without her."

"She's still your friend. She's not going anywhere. You once told Skylar that even if you two broke up you'd always still be her friend. Is that still true?"

"She told you that?"

"Answer the question."

"Of course it is, but how will I be able to be around her without showing her how much I love her?"

"There are other ways to show love other than kissing. Be what she needs right now. Show her you're not just going to vanish into thin air now that you two are broken up. Who knows, maybe she'll even fall back in love with you."

"You really think so?"

I stare out the window.

"Darleen?"

"I don't know, maybe it's possible." I finally say.

"Are you okay?" she asks me.

"I guess I'm sort of in a similar situation as Skylar. I'm slowly falling out of love with Lexi. I want to love her; I want to rekindle everything. I want to fall back in love with her."

"But you haven't?"

I shake my head no.

Jade sighs and clenches the steering wheel.

"What if it's not possible?" she asks.

"What if?"

There is a long tense silence between us.

"I guess I should drive her car back," Jade moves to get out.

"I'll take yours and follow you."

She nods and gets out.

I move to the driver's side and wait for Jade to get Skylar's car. I stare at her and think about what she said. I don't still love Skylar. I mean I do, but not like that. Right? And even if I did, it wouldn't matter because she's not in any place for a relationship.

I'm just a good friend.

I just want what's best for her.

I want to see her happy.

Because when she smiles, everything just feels right with the world again. Her happiness is contagious and she always had a way of brightening up anyone's day. Seeing her like this pains me to no end. I just want to be there for her, help her figure everything out.

That's all it is.

Right?

My grip tightens on the wheel as I follow Jade back to Vida's place.

Skylar is still the way we left her, Vida passed out on the couch next to her. I walk over to her and shake her awake.

"You can go lay in your room; I'll watch her," I say.

"Thanks," she smiles at me before walking off.

I turn to Jade next.

"Go home, I got this. When she wakes up, I'll call you."

Jade shakes her head no and sits down next to Skylar. I watch her softly run her fingers through Skylar's orange hair. Her thumb brushes against Skylar's cheek.

"I'm not going anywhere," Jade says more to herself than to me.

I sigh and sit down on the other side of Skylar.

Skylar mumbles and shifts in her sleep. Both of us freeze in place. She repositions herself so that her head is leaning on my shoulder. I smile at her. Then I catch myself and glance at Jade. She was watching.

She has this unreadable expression on her face but doesn't say anything.

"Do you believe in fate?" Jade asks me.

"Do you?"

She nods.

"How so?"

"Like how I just so happened to be the designated tour guild the day Skylar first moved to town. Like how I just so happened to live right across the street from her. Out of all the houses and all the possible tour guilds. It was always me and her. Fate."

"When you put it that way."

"What about you?"

"I don't know what I believe. Maybe."

"I believe in fate."

"What are you trying to say?" I ask.

"I think you know."

"Will you cut it out, for the last time I'm not—"

"I want it to be you." she finishes.

I eye her.

"If I can't have her, I'd want it to be you."

"Jade, get some rest." I sigh.

"I'm just saying," she adds.

"And I'm just saying I have my own relationship drama to worry about without thinking about this. Skylar can be with whoever she wants. You should support her no matter what."

"I will, but I'm just saying." She curls up and closes her eyes to sleep.

I sigh and stare off at the wall.

Fate.

What a silly thing.

Like how I just so happened to be staying at the hotel Skylar works at. And she just so happened to be working the front desk when I walked in.

Skylar cuddles up to me and rests her head on my chest.

I feel my heart skip a beat.

Damn it.

Why?

Why do I still have to have feelings for her?

Get a grip, Darleen.

You two could never be.

Never.

She likes other people, you like other people. We live so far away now. She's just a friend. A very close friend. Nothing more, nothing less.

I reach into the sofa and pull on the handle to recline the couch back.

This causes Skylar to move deeper into me.

I sigh and wrap my arms around her, pulling her into me.

If fate is real, she has a cruel sense of humor.

Like Skylar and I would ever get back together.

Ha!

Good one.

I glance down at Skylar and there is a soft smile on her face, she looks very comfortable.

No.

It could never happen.

Right?

But what if...