Word Count: 2,913

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Rule 1: Murphy's Law is always in play

            Ahyoung was supposed to be on a diet but the second she arrive home after the fourteen hour flight from America she immediately found herself gravitating towards the kitchen. It wasn't technically her fault, going through two years of vigorous dance training meant she was on a strict protein and grains diet. Anything that couldn't be found the food pyramid wasn't allowed in her stomach. That meant two years without candy, chips or ramen. She wasn't even allowed to eat plain white rice.

            Carrots, plain chicken , and whole wheat bread was what she ate everyday for every meal for seven-hundred and thirty days straight. Which is why when she returned to Seoul from the States she immediately attacked her kitchen.

            Dropping her bags in the darkness of the house Ahyoung beelined straight for the rice cooker. It was funny, all of those times in training when they took a break for their lunch of a slab of plain dry chicken, a small of scoop of wheat heavy grains and seaweed she that the thing she missed the most at that time was white rice. Steaming, perfectly cooked, white rice.

            Ahyoung salivated as she padded closer to the rice cooker, praying that there was rice leftover from her older sister's dinner. As she placed her hand on the handle of the pot and found that it wasn't warm like she was hoping she held her breath in anticipation.

            “Please, please, please.” She muttered pressing her thumb down on the button to unlock the cover from the base. Slowly, she leaned over the counter and peered into the pot.

            Disappointment flooded her growling stomach as she shut the lid, “empty.” She frowned. Ahyoung usually despised plane food, but on the plane ride back home she found herself looking forward to each disgusting meal. That was how much she missed rice.

            “Ahyoungie!” The lights of the kitchen were suddenly flicked to life and the girl squinted from the brightness. When her eyes had adjusted, she looked up in the direction of the voice and found her older sister standing in the doorway of the kitchen with a baseball bat. Minah wore a pair of old shorts and a worn out blue shirt and her hair was a complete mess but she looked absolutely furious as she hefted the bat at her imagined thief. She hadn't changed at all.

            However, when Minah realized it was her beloved kid sister she dropped the baseball bat and attempted to cross the kitchen towards Ahyoung. Unfortunately for Ahyoung's sleepy older sister she managed to drop the heavy baseball bat on her toes.

            Ahyoung's eyes widened in surprise and rushed towards her sister, grabbing one Minah's arms to hold her up.

            “Ow!” Minah wailed as she hopped up and down, her hand closing around her foot. “! Look at what you made me do! I missed you, how have you been?”

            “Unnie! How on earth did you manage to do this? Why did you have a bat?” Ahyoung tried to keep the laughter out of her words as she helped her sister to one of the barstools at the counter top. “I missed you too, do we have any rice left?”

            Ahyoung turned away to grab ice from the freezer. She pulled open the door and scanned all the frozen produce.

            “I haven't started the ice maker for summer yet. Just give me the peas.” Minah motioned for the bag. Ahyoung grabbed it out of the freezer and handed it to her sister, “You scared me! I thought you were an ax murderer.” Minah complained as she pressed the peas to her toes. With her free hand she makes a scooping motion that can only mean she wants a hug.

            Ahyoung wraped her arms around her sister for the first time in two years.

            “Yah,” Minah says as she pulls away and examines her sister from head-to-toe, “You've lost some weight and developed some. You've grown into such a beautiful young woman.” Minah announces proudly and attempts to ruffle Ahyoung's hair.

            “Hey,” Ahyoung ducked her head and wiggled away from her sister not unkindly. “You sound like a mother. Do you have any food left from dinner?” She teases as she turns away to face the fridge again.

            “Well Mom's not around to say it, so I figure I have to,” Minah jokes, keeping her voice light as she mentions their dead mother. Ahyoung keeps searching through the fridge, trying to show the least grief as possible. “And I think there's some tofu left?”

            Ahyoung snorts as she buries her head further into the fridge, “What am I going to do with just tofu?” She asks but in her mind she's thinking that if she managed to get her hands on leftover tofu she would devour it in seconds.

            Minah swats at her younger sisters arm, getting up from her barstool with little sign of pain and wiggling her toes. “Yah, don't eat leftovers. Why don't you rest? It's like 3 am, I'll make you something really delicious for breakfast.” Minah offers.

            Ahyoung turns to face her sister with raised eyebrows, “You'll make something delicious for breakfast?”  She asks dubiously. Her sister had changed. Two years ago Minah was terrified of touching the stove, which left Ahyoung to cook all the meals. Which was better anyways because Minah was one of those people who could burn salad.

            “I had to manage without you cooking our meals for two years.” Minah said, trying to sound offended, “I think I picked up some wicked skills.” Her older sister herded her towards the couch in the living room.

            “Why are you pushing me over here?” Ahyoung twisted half-heartedly but Minah kept her grip.

            “I haven't finished cleaning you bedroom yet. I thought you were arriving in the evening today and I was going to finish it after lunch. Just sleep here. I'll bring you a blanket and pillow.” Minah said sheepishly and shoved her sister so hard she almost tripped.

            “Hey!” Ahyoung said as she almost tripped over her suitcase and toppled onto the couch, “Alright, alright. You don't need to push.”

            Minah disappeared for a moment to grab a blanket and pillow while Ahyoung cast longing gazes towards the kitchen. Damn she was so close to that rice.

            “Here.” Minah reappeared with a comforter and pillow in her arms. She dumped them over her sister who hissed and attempted to yell at her Minah, her voice muffled by the blankets.

            Minah patted her sister's head affectionately. “Good night sis.” She said turning the lights off for Ahyoung.

            Ahyoung smiled at her sister as she fixed the blankets around her comfortably, “Good night unnie.”

            “I'm glad your back.”

            “Me too.”

…

            Minah was true to her word. Around four hours later Ahyoung awoke to the surprisingly delicious smell of French toast. Pushing the blankets that were tangled around her body away, Ahyoung pushed herself into an upright position and knocked hair out of her face.

            “Good morning!” Minah sung from the kitchen as Ahyoung swung her head around to move her nose in the direction of the food. “Did you rest well little sis?” Ahyoung nodded, wide awake as she squinted in the direction of the food.

            “I smell bacon,” she threw her legs off the couch and stood up, “American style breakfast?” She padded up to her sister, trying her hair up and getting a clear view of the bacon that was sizzling in the pan and the stacks of French toast steaming and ready to be eaten. Ahyoung's mouth was watering.

            “Isn't French toast, like French?” Minah wondered as she flipped a piece of bacon with her chopsticks, “So doesn't that make this a French style breakfast?”

            “I don't know unnie,” Ahyoung eagerly grabbed one of the crispy bacon slices of the finished plate and stuffed half of it in , “As long as it tastes good.” She said through her mouthful of bacon.

            “Yah, eat slowly!” Minah cried as Ahyoung shoved the rest of the bacon into ,  “Chew! You're going to choke!”

            Ahyoung winked at her sister, grabbing another piece even though was full, “This is the first piece of decently cooked meat I've had in two years.” she proclaimed, “I don't have time to chew.” She said and headed to the fridge behind her sister. Opening it, she noticed all the empty shelves.

            “Yah, don't we have any juice? Milk?” Ahyoung's hungry eyes scanned the shelves. She was unable to find anything so she just shut the door and walked to stand in front of her sister.

            “There's a small grocery store down the street,” Minah said, “You remember it right? Why don't you take my wallet and buy some drinks?” her older sister offers as she patiently turns another piece of cooking bacon.

            “The one next to the hair salon?” Ahyoung asks, thinking back to when they used to raid the candy isle, “Are you sure you want me to go? I can stay here and finish cooking.” She offers. Minah shakes her head.

            “It's fine, you haven't been around the neighborhood in ages, why not familiarize yourself with it?” Minah grinned at her and handed her younger sister her wallet, “It'll take me a while to finish this up anyways.”

            Ahyoung shrugged as she agreed with her older sister then turned to grab her sneakers off the ground in the living room.

            “Are you going out like that?” Minah examined her younger sister with a critical eye, “You look like a kick boxer.”

            Ahyoung glanced down at what she was wearing. She hadn't changed since arriving so she was still wearing her baggy grey sweatpants, skin-tight cropped white tank top, and over sized burgundy coloured hoodie that hung of her shoulders.

            “What's wrong with what I'm wearing?” Ahyoung asked with a single raised eyebrow as she reached for her phone and sunglasses after noticing the bright morning sun.

            “Aigoo,” Minah crooned at her younger sister, “You've changed, you used to be so conservative about what you wore out. I guess going to the States fixed that.” Ahyoung ginned at her sister and saluted with two fingers.

            “I'll be back.” She said then ducked out the door.

            Ahyoung had missed her neighborhood, she had missed being able to walk outside for maybe two minutes and reach of convenience store, and most of all she missed all of the street food.

            Unfortunately for her it was too early for to get any real street food so she gave up looking for an open vendor and focused on finding the grocery store. It had been awhile and Ahyoung could barely remember which direction she had to turn to get to the store.

            “Where the hell am I?” She murmured, pulling her headphones out and examining her surroundings. She stood on the sidewalk of an intersection. It was too early on a Saturday morning for there to be many cars but there were a lot of kids outside playing on the empty streets.

            “Jesus.” She said in English, scanning stores praying to spot a landmark that would trigger a memory. Thankfully she spotted a street food vendor she and her sister used to buy roasted walnuts at and immediately decided she wanted to take a right.

             Ahyoung did take the right turn, just one intersection too early. After swearing several times under her breath, many wrong turns and several kind but confusing ajumma's to point her in the right direction she finally found the way to the blessed store.

            “Finally.” she muttered pushing the door open and stepping into the over air conditioned store. The store seemed completely empty, the woman working behind the counter even greeted her.

            Ahyoung beelined straight for the drinks isle. Unknown to Ahyoung however, the tiny grocery store was not empty.

…

            Jeon Jungkook hadn't seen Ahyoung in years but he was being honest when he didn't expect to see his MIA next-door-neighbor looking so different. He was standing in the back of the store browsing though ice cream flavors for breakfast when he heard the electronic bell attached to the door ring, symbolizing that someone had entered. Jungkook had turned curiously to see who had come grocery shopping so early and he almost didn't recognize her.

            The Ahyoung he had known was a bit bigger around with no shape but cute bloated cheeks and chubby fingers, short, shy and walked around in a shuffle. She definitely never looked anyone in the eyes and always dressed to blend in.

            However that girl who walked in had Ahyoung's distinct features, but Jungkook had no idea who she was. This girl was (though admittedly still quite short) walked inside the store with no hesitation and pushed her sunglasses to rest on the top of her head where her ponytail base sprouted messily slightly off to one side more than the other. Ahyoung always wore her hair down, neatly brushed and straighted. Her cheeks, although they still sported what appeared to be baby fat, had reduced along with her waist. This Ahyoung had a figure, slim waist and a defined difference between her chest and stomach.

            Her appearance wasn't the biggest change. The once timid girl who had blushed just looking at him strode confidently into the store, past him without even looking around to see if anyone was watching. She didn't care who was watching.

            Jungkook's eyes followed her as she made her way towards the drinks isle and took less than three seconds to realize that the drink she wanted was on the topmost shelf. Sighing in frustration, the beautiful girl reached a hand up, even getting on her toes to try and reach her prize. The thin white tank top she wore that barely covered her belly button rode up as she extended her arm and Jungkook caught a glimpse of a toned stomach and what he swore was a piercing.

            In front of him, Ahyoung struggled for a moment then lowered herself flat back down on her feet, admiting defeat as she stared up at her beloved drink. Jungkook found himself moving towards her without even realizing it as he stepped up beside her and reached up easily for her drink.

            “Here,” He was close enough to her to smell her sharp apple scented shampoo, “Ahyoung-ah.”

            Ahyoung had been turning to grab the drink from the stranger's hand and was opening to thank him when she recognized his voice.

            No way.

            No freaking way.

            She turned her head to look at him and her facial expression immediately soured when she caught sight of his handsome face.

            Jungkook and his parents had lived next door to Ahyoung and her sister for almost all of her life. Minah used to babysit him when she need cash urgently to pay bills. His parents were a kind younger couple who wanted to help Minah raise Ahyoung in anyway. Their oldest son Jungkook was a handsome handful even when he was four years old and could barely talk over his large growing teeth.

            Ahyoung had played with Jungkook growing up until they were around seven years old when Jungkook realized he would rather play with boys his age. Ahyoung was okay with that too, she had begun to notice that Jungkook didn't want to play with her new Barbie's and she'd rather play alone then with someone who wanted to take their heads off.

            They didn't speak again until their first year of high school when, by chance, they got into the same school. Jungkook had begun growing them, he was such a cute good-looking young boy and he grew into a gorgeous, flirty, confident teenager.

            With all the girls at school crushing on him, Ahyoung was no exception. She felt, though, that she had some unfair disadvantage to her crush. She lived next door to Jungkook, their bedroom windows faced each other and she usually saw him in the mornings before they went to school.

            Now seeing him still as good-looking, better looking if that was possible, taller and older with that y smirk that he had developed in their second year she couldn't help but find herself suddenly angry.

            She had confessed to this boy. And he had given her heart right back.

            “Oh god. What do you want?” She couldn't stop the words before they were out. Jungkook's eyebrows raised in amusement. And surprise. Was she angry at him?

            “A thank you,” he said still offering the drink, “I just saved you the humiliation of asking the store owner for a stepping stool.”

            Her eyes, a gunmetal grey that was so unusual for a Korean, narrowed and she glared at him.

            “Are you going to take this?” For some reason Jungkook found himself wondering just how pissed off he could get her, “Or are you just going to leave me standing here in the rather foolish position?” he dangled the bottle in front of her face.

            If her eyes could shoot lasers, Jungkook had a pretty good idea where she would aim them.

            “No thanks,” She shot back grabbing two random drinks from a shelf she could reach and stormed away from him.

            Jungkook blinked, setting the drink back int it's place on the top shelf and wondering why this girl had such a acid reaction to seeing him. He hadn't seen her in two years, but he had a feeling he'd be seeing a lot more of her now.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it so far! It's just the first chapter but I hope you come back to read the rest of them when they're up^^

I also think it'd be awesome if someone could maybe make a poster for this fic? I would but my photoshop skills are gross and don't deserve to be displayed~~