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WYNNIE

"But really, we should be leaving. How long have we been here?" Starra was sipping on a dry martini, but I had settled on some sparkling water. The whole idea of this bar bothered me. Why would I want to taste something that's supposed to be alcoholic but it isn't? That's not even the point of drinking.

"I don't know. I'm just glad this isn't the type of bar I'd have to drag you out of because you're drunk," I laughed. "Some people bring their own shit," Starra commented, discreetly nodding in the direction of a table across the bar. It was a random couple, a girl and a guy, snuggled up on one another with a flask in the latter's lap.

"Hmph, I should've thought of that," I grumbled.

"But back to the topic: You basically want Trippy to only be your friend. That's controlling, Wynnie. That's like Trippy coming over here and saying you can't be friends with me."

"It's not. I can't be a little bit selfish? It's like she never has time for me anymore...or like she finds me boring," I said, a little defeated inside. "I'm not tryna keep her from the rest of her friends, I just want more me and her time."

"Honestly, Wynn. What it sounds like to me is-

"Evelyn."

I dropped my fork on my plate and started to stand up from the mini table we sat at by the windows.

"Wynn- What?" Starra followed my gaze as Khangela and Trippy entered the bar, happy expressions on their faces. "Wynn, sit down. Chill out. She's on a date, you don't want to ruin that for her."

"Even if it's a date with Khangela?" I asked, turning my head sharply to my friend. "It's like a fucking slap to the face after what she said this morning."

"Trippy has been after her for how long? I'm sure this isn't personal, Wynnie. Hell, she doesn't even know that you're here right now."

"She never notices me, but everything's always Khangela this and Khangela that. How come she can't see what a snake she really is?" I huffed.

"C'mon. I think it's time to go," Starra mumbled, laying the money down on the table and shoving some sugar packets into her bag. "We can go back to my apartment and chill," she offered.

"No. I'm going over there. Mr. Hartfort won't be here to stop me this time," I vowed.

"Wynnie, no!"

A few heads turned towards us, and suddenly I could feel Trippy's eyes on me. I immediately calmed myself down and kept my back to my best friend. Did I ruin their date? What is Trippy thinking right now? I collected my things and allowed Starra to take me out of the bar, going the circular way around so we'd avoid the happy little couple.

I wonder what expression was on Trippy's face.

"Do you have feelings for her, Wynnie?" Starra asked me seriously as soon as we stepped out into the darkening evening.

I fumbled for my words before deciding on a yes.

"You can't do this. You need to come clean to Wynnie about how you really feel. You're playing best friend but you wanna be in a girlfriend's place. Shit ain't gonna stay sweet between the two of y'all if the both of you can't figure out your feelings," Starra said, then held up her hands, "I'm not saying that Trippy deciding when she wants a piece of you is right either, but you're the one who has hidden feelings. It doesn't seem like Trippy does."

"I can't come clean. It could ruin the rest of the friendship that we have," I sighed.

"Then so be it. You can't hide these feelings in your heart no more. They're starting to show. And you're only pushing her away inch by inch keeping this to yourself. Lay it out there for her to know- if she's a real friend, you know what she'll do," Starra shrugged.

"Have you ever been in love with your best friend, Starra? Do you know what that feels like?"

Starra stood across from me, her arms folded across the chest of her bright orange tank top, faintly stained with deodorant, her jewelry clattering in the breeze. "No, I don't, Wynnie."

"Then I don't think you know how I feel," I said, walking away from her. "I'll find my own ride home."

"Wynnie, I'm not against you. I'm trying to help you," Starra said firmly, "I didn't mean to overstep any boundaries if that's what I di-

"It's fine, Starra. Really, it's fine," I mumbled, shoving my hands into my pockets and making my way to the front of the parking lot away from her.

Confess my feelings. Please. Who the fuck do I look like?