(A/N: Ahhh sorry that i haven't updated! Summer started for me and i had work >.< sorry sorry (haha Super Junior) but i will do another update tomorrow! in thanks to the 100+ subscribers and comments i now have!! Wahh this is amazing guys, i'm so glad you all like my story <3 ! Well that's all i wanted to say so hope you enjoy this chapter!)

That Afternoon:

Suzy's room had hard wood floors that matched her book case, desk and dresser. The walls had a soft pink color, giving off a warm fuzzy feeling. She had book quote wall decals but the one thing that stood out was the tree. No, not a real tree but a hand printed one. It was the end of elementary school when Suzy, Sulli and Jaebum made it. The leaves were their hand prints andeven had their names painted below. Over the years, a new ‘leaf’ was added with each new friend they made. Now the tree had ten leaves.

"Slow down Sulli, I can't understand you when you're shoving all that in your mouth" Sulli bit another slice of her pizza before sulking again. Some people had ice cream or chocolate as comfort food, Sulli had pizza.

"Hey, don't start pouting again! What happened after that?" Krystal sat cross legged on Suzy's bed and Suzy was laying on her stomach on the floor where Sulli was devouring the entire box of pizza by herself.

I wanted a piece

She waved her hands "Nothing! I told you he said nothing! Just stared at me like I grew another head! I wanted to die. Oh my God I was mortified” another angry chomp.

Suzy patted her back "I'm sorry that happened Ssul but think of it this way. Did you say it just to get an "I love you back"? Or did you say it because you truly meant it and getting an "I love you" in return would just be a plus but not the reason for it?”

Sulli frowned for a solid five seconds before she tossed the pizza in the box. "I said it because I love him."

Suzy smiled "Maybe he wasn't ready for it yet. People can be in two different stages in relationships, it happens." Krystal snorted. Sulli turned to her "What do you think?" 

Krystal hesitated "I'm sorry to say this Sulli, because I care a lot about you, but sometimes people only 'like' people. That their incapable of loving the other. Not saying Taemin can't love but maybe he just likes you..?" Sulli’s eyes brimmed with tears and she snatched another slice.

Suzy smacked Krystal's head "what the hell Krystal?!"

"I understand you want to help her out but you can't give her false hope. It's a fifty- fifty chance. So I don't want to raise hers up just so she can get crushed. I was giving the other opinion. Sorry that it bites" she snapped.

Suzy furrowed her eyebrows “Lately you've been off to me. Is there something wrong?"

Krystal shakes her head "No. The topic of love is giving me a rash, that's all"

Suzy rubs Krystal's arm "Don't worry, you'll find your man soon" Krystal mumbled something that Suzy couldn't get.

"I'm sorry?" The doorbell rings, saving Krystal. Suzy could hear her mom welcoming Jieun. "Sulli stop eating the pizza! And where is Hyeri? I texted her half an hour ago" Sulli hugs the pizza box and Krystal throws a pillow at her.

"Don't get grease on my pillow! Don't touch it Sulli!" Suzy scrambles for her pillow but it smacks Jieun in the face when she walked in.

"Heyumph!"

The pillow slides down Jieun’s face revealing a frown.

“Mine!” Suzy shoots up and grabs her pillow. “Ah welcome Jieun!”

“Yeah great welcome” Jieun grumbles, Suzy beams at her.

Krystal giggles and Sulli gives a meek wave.

“Sorry, was aiming for Krystal”

“You have horrible aim then” Jieun remarks. Krystal sticks her tongue out for further mocking. The corners of Sulli’s mouth turn down.

“We said no more pouting!”

“Put that back down!” Krystal lowers the stuffed animal.

“Jongin gave me that on our first date” Suzy says referring to the stuffed bunny.

Krystal drops the bunny like it was toxic, like it burned her hand. Jieun gives her a knowing look that Krystal blatantly ignores.

“I see pizza….Sulli?” Sulli once again repeats the story but it’s easier this time. Her heart is no longer heavy.

“Suzy helped me though, she said that he just might not be ready to tell me, and I kind of sprung it on him so I shouldn’t really worry”

“Hmm I see, oh Suzy, your mom said that she got us ice cream downstairs, Krystal help her bring it up.”

They both nodded and dashed for the stairs. The ice cream lovers of the group were Suzy and Krystal. Once they left Jieun turned back to Sulli. She was staring at her phone, as if waiting for a call or a message but either way, she wanted his name to pop up on her screen.

“Sulli I’m going to tell you something and I want you to promise me that you won’t hate the messenger”

Sulli was confused. What could Jieun possibly say that would make her flip? She places her phone faced down on the ground.

“Alright, I promise.”

Jieun’s face contorted which caused Sulli to be even more scared.

“Don’t tell anyone I told you this okay?”

“Okay”

Jieun took in a breath. Sulli was holding hers.

“I saw Jiyoung and Taemin kissing today”

Suzy and Krystal came back upstairs with an extra pair of hands.

“Look who finally decided to show up”

Hyeri scrunched up her nose “I was at work, mind you and I walked over here thank you very much!”

Hyeri still didn’t have a car or license, she usually got a ride to the hang outs with one of the boys or Jiyoung and Jiyoung wasn’t answering her cell.

“Well we are glad you could grace us with your presence”

“Oh no the pleasure is all mine my Queen” She even did a little curtsey. Suzy shoved her

“Shut up” The giggled until Hyeri took notice of Sulli’s pale face

“Hey are you okay?” Sulli was still in shock

“How?...How could..”

Krystal pursed her lips “What’s wrong with her? When we left she could speak”

Jieun stood up and grabbed a cup of ice cream from Suzy’s hand

“Not sure but do you know what I think she needs?” She swallowed the strawberry ice cream “I think she needs to go out”

Hyeri placed hers down and offered Sulli a cup “You think you’re up for it?” concern was evident in her voice 

The shock was passing over and anger was setting in. “Without a doubt”

Jieun turned to Suzy “You’re coming along right Suzy?” The glint was in her eyes

Suzy stopped mid swallow and coughed “Mhmm, uhh anything for a friend”

The coldness of the treat was freezing her over.

Present Day:

Hyeri felt out of place. She felt nervous. The last time she was in Suzy's room was that day. Nothing changed though, her room was still pink with her books scattered around the floor.

"You can sit there while I get you some clothes. You can take a shower first" Hyeri wasn't paying attention, her only focus was in the far corner wall of the bedroom. Suzy tapped her shoulder causing Hyeri to flinch

"I'm sorry." Suzy backed away but Hyeri offered her a soft smile.

"No it's okay. I'm still kind of.."

Suzy understood though "The bathroom is-"

"Down the hall on the right. I know" Hyeri headed for the door, she stopped before it though. Her voice was soft "I like how the tree survived the harsh winter." Suzy glanced at her friend tree, all the leaves were still there "It gives some people hope. Hope that they maybe shouldn't hold onto but hope they need to keep going" Hyeri glanced over her shoulder, and walked out of the bedroom.

Suzy slumped onto her bed. She doesn't know the reason herself why she kept the tree, why she didn't just paint over it. Maybe it was her inner self, her inner self having that same hope. Suzy got up and traced over the painted branches "Do I still want you? Do I still need you?" She didn't know the answer. Some minutes passed and Hyeri came back into the room. Her hair wet, damping Suzy's cloud pajamas.

"Your mom saw me and gave me a hug. It was nice. Um she said she was sending up some hot chocolate soon" Suzy didn't respond. Hyeri shifted her feet, Suzy sighed and patted the carpet as she sat down. Hyeri crawled over to the carpet and picked up a book

"To Kill A Mockingbird" Hyeri smiled "I gave you this book" Suzy took the book from her and placed it aside. Hyeri sniffed and tried untangling her hair.

"I don't think you heard me but I want to say thank you" Suzy glanced at her "So thank you"

"Can I ask you something" Hyeri nodded "why did you agree to come here?" Suzy wrapped her arms around her legs, rocking back and forth slowly.

Hyeri sighed "I don't know. I guess because I couldn't go home like that, and you....I felt safe with you." Suzy stopped rocking "it's been a long time since I felt at ease and I was surprised it was with you." Suzy leaned back, her back resting on her bed frame. "I...I think it would be unjust for me to continue being so hostile with you when ...when I don't know everything"

Suzy's eyes widened "Jaebum told you?"

Hyeri shook her head "The other day...we were hanging out and he brought you up. He’s been… I don’t know what but he’s been talking about you a lot. I was obviously mad and yelled at him. He didn't defend himself which pissed me off even more"

Suzy chucked "was a surprise that you had such a temper. Didn't expect it"

Hyeri's lips twitched "but he said something that made me stop. He asked me...he asked me if I thought you could really do something like that without a reason. He knew you the longest and he curses himself every day for not being mature and listening to you so he asked me why"

Suzy bit her lip, her hands playing with the carpet. Pulling out the fuzz. "Why did I hate you so much? Because you were the reason for Sulli's death?”

Suzy closed her eyes, the scene was about to play back in her head and she can’t handle that, not in front of one of them but Hyeri’s voice cut the scene first.

“No, you didn't cause that car to hit her. You're a human being and...if you could fight and protect an ex friend that hard...something must have happened that caused you not to keep Sulli safe. Because no matter how much I'm weary of you, I can't deny the fact that you try to help as much as you can."

Hyeri turned her face to the side, not wanting the other to see how her eyes got misty. Suzy face showed a wry smile. She wanted to throw herself on Hyeri and bawl her eyes out because she was here right now. But it was too early, the scar wasn’t healed yet.

"Suzy your face is getting all red! Your mom is going to think I made you cry or something!"

Suzy took Hyeri's hands. "We will never be the same. I can’t trust any of you right now but that’s only right now. You have to gain it back, you can gain it back. Jaebum only knows because he wouldn't stop pestering and...and he's Sulli's cousin."

Hyeri was okay with that, not okay -okay just okay. She wanted to know but she and Suzy weren’t friends anymore. That string was broken but Suzy still treated her as one despite the words she said. And she owes her life, her purity to her once called friend.

"Okay Suji"

Suzy smiled at her real name. It wasn't that awkward afterwards, like two friends catching up from being apart for a while, bittersweet.

"Do you know what's funny?"

Suzy titled her head "what?"

"The fact that Myungsoo actually thought you had his pictures." Hyeri was bubbling with laughter but Suzy had a look of horror on her face

"Oh my god! That means he actually sent some!" Hyeri stopped laughing and mirrored Suzy's face. They shivered "Gross!" "Really Eunji??"

"If he was that scared I wonder how lo-" Suzy clamped a hand over Hyeri's mouth, stopping her question.  A knock to her door and hot chocolate ended their night. They shared Suzy's bed, not close but comfortable enough to sleep. There was still a lot of issues unresolved so their breathing was heavy. Suzy rolled around and poked Hyeri's cheek

"You’re welcomeHyeri. The tree...it's still there because I still care for each and every one of you. If I didn't it wouldn't hurt this much" Suzy heard Hyeri's breathing even out, signaling her slumber. There were footprints that were coming up the steps. They were heavy ones and clearly male. Suzy slipped out of her bed and stealthy walked over to her bedroom door. Making sure Hyeri hasn't moved, Suzy pulled open the door and walked into the hallway. A bedroom door has light shining and she quietly knocked on the door. It creaked open and out came Suho.

"What are you still doing up?"

"And what are you doing just coming home? Mom said you went out after dinner"

Suho shrugged "You mean the one you didn’t attend?”

Suzy sighed and bit down on her tongue “I was being immature” he motioned her to go on “oppa can you not? You just came back and I don’t want to be mad at you. I know you were trying to help and you know I love you…”

Suho pulled her into a hug, her words being muffled in his shirt and his head resting on top of hers “I’m sorry. It wasn’t in my right to do that without talking to you first since you’re the one that would have to perform.”

He felt her nod and noticed that she wasn’t hugging him back. He lightly pushed her back so he could see her “I met with some old friends. Mentioning old friends, Yoona informed me that Hyeri is here" Suzy nodded "Yeah, it's ..."

He smiled at her, never missing the opportunity to ruffle her hair and when her hand went up to slap his away he saw it. “Why does it look like your hand is swollen?”

Suzy took that as her clue to wrap things up “Wow it’s late! I’m tired” she even yawned really big to emphasize her ‘tiredness’.

He took the hint but that didn’t mean he would question her later "Alright kiddo, you should get to bed now, you have school tomorrow"

Suzy winked at him "you do too mister" He laughed and Suzy shushed him

"Yah! Do you want Mom to come out? Or worse Yoona?"

Suho frowned "I'm older" She rolled her eyes at her pouting oppa "Goodnight."

Both bedroom doors shut and Suzy shuffled back into her warm spot, sighing in content, having the low snores of Hyeri lull her to sleep She hadn't heard her friend's breathing in months, it was always annoying during sleepovers but if you haven't heard it since the last, it's comforting.

(I haven't checked this story for grammar or spelling mistakes :( i'll do that later)