So I meant to post this over the weekend or on Monday by the latest, but your author is a perfectionist. It doesn't feel right to post updates just to update. I like to write chapters that are meaningful and not just fillers. I'm the kind of writer that can't write if there's a lack of inspiration (which is why I've lagged on updating my other stories.) I write when inspiration hits me.  Also, I promised JeTi Moments. So I present to you this chapter before the plot thickens. Anyway enjoy~!

“Steph!” Tiffany stopped in her tracks. She just finished with class and was on her way to have a late lunch when she saw Jessica walking towards her.

“Hey Stranger,” Tiffany waves to the girl. “ I haven’t seen you since Namsan, and you’ve been replying late with my text messages or don’t even reply back. I’m getting the feeling you’re avoiding me again,” Tiffany pouts.

“WHA-WHAT?!?”  Jessica was a bit stunned. “I’ve just been really busy with banquet stuff. I am definitely not avoiding you.” There was a sense of panic in her voice, but all of that went away when she heard Tiffany giggle.

“Relax, I know. Hyo and Soo have been very vocal about not seeing you much outside of class especially Yoong.” Tiffany says. “You know sometimes I wonder if Yoona likes you better than me.” Tiffany jokes.

“Hey I could say the same thing with Krystal sometimes,” Jessica says. “Whenever I see her she always brings you up at least once and talks about all the things you two do.” Tiffany, Krystal, and Sunny all study Business so they saw a lot of eachother.

“Well if you’d give us some of your time you wouldn’t think that way.” Tiffany says. “Besides, it’s a given that Krystal is close with me. We take similar classes.”

“I know.” Jessica says. “It’s tomorrow night by the way. The banquet I mean.” Jessica reminds Tiffany.  “Have you picked out what you’ll wear?”

Tiffany shakes her head. “I’m not sure what you’d wear to that type of event. Have you?”

“Yeah, I went with Krystal actually.”  Jessica says.

“And you didn’t invite me to tag along?” Tiffany pouts once more.

Jessica chuckles, “You sound like a jealous girlfriend.”

“HAHAHA!” Tiffany slaps Jessica on the arm. “Very funny.”

“There goes your sarcasm again.” Jessica says with a laugh. Sure Jessica’s little joke about Tiffany being a jealous girlfriend was funny, but Tiffany couldn’t help but think about the conversation she had with Yoona that night they came back from Namsan Tower.

“Unnie….”  Yoona Looks at Tiffany with a serious expression on her face. “Do you like Sica Unnie?”

“Sure I do, I like her a lot.” Tiffany responded, but Yoona shook her head because the older girl didn’t seem to understand her question.

“Do you ‘like’ her? As in, do you see her as a woman you could have feelings for?”Yoona asks.

“...”

Tiffany didn’t need to answer Yoona; the younger girl knew what she would say.“If that’s the case Unnie...I hope you don’t take this to offense when I ask that you stop giving Sica Unnie false hope. Now I’m not accusing you of trying to lead Sica Unnie on….” Yoona sighs. “It’s just...I’ve seen Sica Unnie go through a lot over the last 2 years...The last thing she needs is drama. She may seem tough on the outside, but Sica Unnie is very fragile. You’ve experienced it first hand when she practically confessed to you indirectly. I just don’t want to see either of you get hurt….”

“Steph? Are you listening?” Tiffany’s train of thought stopped when she finds a hand waving in front of her face.

“Huh? Sorry I spaced out for a moment.” Tiffany says apologetically.

“You sound a lot like me,” Jessica laughs. It made Tiffany smile at her. “You’re weird too.” That earned her a slap on the arm. “And violent.”

“Yah!” Tiffany glared at the Ice Princess.

“Had I known your friendship would be painful I would’ve rethought starting over again,” Jessica meant it as a joke,but something about what Jessica said bothered Tiffany. It reminded her of how messed up their friendship had become and for that she frowned. “Hey, I was joking.” Jessica stopped laughing and cupped Tiffany’s cheeks. The sudden action startled the eye smiling girl.  “I’m glad to have you back.” Jessica smiled. It was a sincere smile, a smile she hadn’t seen in Jessica very often.

“You better be joking.” Tiffany pouts.

“I’m sorry Miyoungie~” Tiffany scowled at the sound of her Korean name making Jessica laugh. “I know it was a horrible joke.”

“You better be sorry Sooyeon.” Tiffany says.

“Of course, I wouldn’t want my best friend to be upset.” Jessica says.

“Best friend?” Tiffany asks.

“Yeah,” Jessica nods as she looks at the confused girl. “Just because we’re starting over it doesn’t mean you’ve been booted off of the best friend list.”

“Really? Even after everything?” Tiffany asks.

“Really.” Jessica reassures the girl. “I mean, You may not be at the top of the list,but you’re still on it” Jessica joked with the girl.

“Yah!” Tiffany yelled at her.

“It was a joke Steph.” Jessica says with a laugh. “Do you really think I rank my friends?”

Tiffany wanted to believe that, but she couldn’t help but think there was some truth to the statement. Tiffany knew she wasn’t at the top of the list anymore because Jessica had Sunny and Hyoyeon who both secured the top spot. To be honest, Tiffany wouldn’t be surprised to know that she ranked lower than Yoona. They had been apart for a long time, and people change over time. It’s something you can’t deny; change is inevitable. Change was a part of life.

“To answer your question, the event is semi-formal so a nice dress would do.” Jessica says. “If you’re not busy today, I thought we could shop for your dress. I just finished my last class of the day. My evening class got canceled. Plus it’s friday night. We haven’t had our JeTi nights in a very long time. Don’t you think it’s time we bring those back?” Jessica said with a smile. Back in the states they would designate friday nights as JeTi nights. They would have sleepover every friday and it would alternate between being at Jessica’s and Tiffany’s house.

Grrrrl~!

“Do you think maybe we could eat first?” Tiffany says and both of them laugh.

“Come on,” Jessica hooks her arm around Tiffany like she used to in the past and leads her towards the bus.

***  

“You really didn’t have to pay for the dress,” Tiffany says as they walk out of the department store.

They’d just finished picking out Tiffany’s dress for the Banquet after having their late lunch and now they were just strolling around the mall window shopping,but mostly talking to each other. Texting was one thing, but talking face to face brought life to their conversation. It was somewhat nostalgic for them to be talking and joking around with eachother like they used to before Jessica decided to go to Korea.

“You didn’t have to pay for lunch earlier,” Jessica says in response.

“Yah, you can’t compare the two. This dress...” Tiffany lifted the bad up. “...was way more expensive than our lunch.”

“If it bugs you so much, think of it as a late birthday gift…” Jessica wanted to facepalm herself for not thinking before speaking. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have...”

“It’s alright,” Tiffany says. “We’re starting over again aren’t we? How can we move on if we can’t talk or joke about the past?” Jessica just nods. Tiffany was right. If they really wanted to start over they needed to face accept the past and put it behind them. They shouldn’t have to walk on eggshells when referring to the p