Mistake

The morning had started as any other one did; alone in her quiet apartment. The silence she once found comforting was deafening. She sat up, pulling her worn-out body from her warm blankets. The soft sound of bare feet patting against the floor echoed against the walls. She made her way to the bookshelf, pulling out the journal she had looked over the night before. Turning to the page where her past lover's face was etched into the brown paper, she cried. Tears began to fall down her face as she glanced upon the boy's features she missed dearly.

Her heart aching inside of her chest, a small voice whispered, "Happy Birthday my love."

______

Maia had found out quickly from all her years of friendship with Rin that the girl always found a way of getting what she wants. It had been the same when they were younger. The feisty child would always scream if her parents refused to buy her any toy that ended up in her chubby little grasp. As she grew up it had only gotten worse. That brings her to the present, Rin's arms crossed as she pouts on her best friends bed. The other girl rolled her eyes as she poked at her sulking form.

"Would you stop," she asked her friend receiving a huff in retort.

The girl rolled her eyes as she stalked into her bathroom. She could hear the exaggerated breathes the girl being let out now and then. Rin had always struggled to get Maia to give in to her extravagant ideas. The "double date" she had wearily agreed on was one of them. But when Rin showed up on her doorstep telling her friend she needed to wear them all too revealing outfit for their outing she put her foot down. Rin didn't like to hear the word no. But thanks to Maia, she heard it more times that she wanted.

By the nth sigh, the girl had enough. Mouth fully equipped with a toothbrush, she stuck her head off of the bathroom door, glaring at the moody girl on her bed. The stare seemed to do nothing as Rin continued to pout, avoiding her gaze. Rolling her eyes she finished up in the restroom before coming face to face with her friend once more.

"Would you stop pouting? Aren't you happy that I even agreed to this? Why do I have to wear that too," she bit out.

The girl's lip jutted out at her friend's tone. She uncrossed her arms as her stubborn demeanor seemed to falter at the girl's change in voice.

"Why is it such a crime to want to put you in something sexy?" The latter rolled her eyes at that comment.

"Sexy is an understatement for that piece of cloth you expect this," she said gesturing to her body, "to get into."

The brunette rolled her eyes as she flicked the other girl's forehead, a pained whimper called from the lips of the other.

"You would look so hot though," the girl wined as her friend rubbed the abused spot on her forehead.

"Maybe but that outfit choice might give him the wrong idea," she said, glaring at the offending garment.

Her friend signed knowing she was right. She would never admit that out loud but the sound was enough for her.

"You're right. I'm sorry. Let's find something you're more comfortable with."

The next few hours were spent watching Rin pick apart the girl's closet. After much searching, the girl had finally found an outfit she deemed suitable for a club. However, Maia already knew she would be making some alterations to that outfit later but she would let her best friend have some fun for now. At the chime of her phone, Rin was swiftly heading to the door muttering something about Taehyung and then leaving rather quickly. The quietness that had consumed the apartment was unsettling. Maia had been ripped from her thoughts of the boy she missed when Rin's fist had pounded hard against the door that morning, demanding to be let in.

For awhile she was distracted. The only thing she wanted to do was curl up in her bed and cry until her head ached. However, the world had more grueling plans for her today. In mere hours, she would be surrounded by unknown strangers and she went to a party for a man whose only thing she knew about was his birthday. She sighed as her mind recalled the memories of her past outings. None of them had ever gone the way she wanted. One time she gave in to her persuasive friend and decided to have a few drinks. That night she had ended up on a stranger's lawn, flirting with a tree stump as Rin and her then-boyfriend tried to pull her from the assaulted stump. After that night she had been wary to go anywhere near alcohol. She wondered if this was just going to be another meaningless outing that left her with regrets the morning after. But a small voice in the back of her head convinced her that it might just be worth it.

______

Hours passed as the light of day faded into the serene night. The short-haired girl found herself in front of a mirror; frowning as she took in her appearance. She wasn't much for going all out on nights like these. The girl wanted to be comfortable, even though this was her chance to be bold. But she had never felt the need to. The uncomfortable looks she received in the past were enough to crawl under her skin. Many loved the attention, but to her, it had become unsettling. She knew Rin would have a few words to say about her appearance and whine about how she went through ours of work for nothing, but tonight wasn't about her. Because if it was she would be in the comforts of her bed and the only thing to keep her company would be her thoughts. It may seem sad, but for her, it was comforting.

Her eyes glanced over her figure one last time, as the sharp sound echoed throughout her apartment. Immediately knowing who the cause of the rapping against her door was, she went towards the sound. The door swung back to reveal Rin, who was notably taller than the last time she had seen her. Rin's eyes were bright as she greeted the quiet. She watched as Rin raked her eyes over the girl, her smile slowly faltering.

On the walk to the car, Maia had to listen to the whines of her best friend concerning her outfit choice and about the fact that the short girl wasn't wearing the heels, Rin had, "not so subtly," left behind earlier that morning. She knew the girl had left the shoes there in hopes that the girl in question would wear them. However, she wasn't in the mood to trip and make a fool of herself in front of this mystery guy that she had to see again next week after this night. She wondered why she cared so much. She greeted Taehyung as the two piled into the car. His eyes were bright as he greeted her saying that she, "looked cute," to which landed him a swift pinch from Rin. A small laugh left her as Rin began to complain all over again about how Maia never listens to or appreciates her. Silence filled the car eventually. Her head leaned against the glass as she watched the lights pass in a blur.

______

The beat of the music thumped against her skull as she took in the sight in front of her. Maia had been under the impression that the party would be held at a bar. So when her small frame was being dragged past a brute bouncer and into the heap of sweaty bodies, surprised was an understatement. She had never been one for large crowds, always getting anxious whenever she had lost the companion she had come with. At her change in demeanor, Rin had gently grabbed her hand, pulling her through the sweaty crowd as she followed after her lover. The shift against her from the unknown strangers had her scrunching up her nose in disgust. Taehyung had led the two up a set of stairs that overlooked the mass of bodies below them.

At the top, they were greeted by another bouncer. No words were exchanged as he gently stepped to the side to let the three figures through. They were greeted by a room that was filled with tables where people were sat, unbothered by the sound below them. The room had muffled the thud of music from outside the room making it more gentle. All three of them were greeted by the familiar faces at the other end of the bar. Rin's friends had greeted her with hugs as Taehyung's friends greeted him with a few pats on the back. She stood awkwardly to the side as she watched the exchanges happen. When the others had caught sight of her they had gently waved and greeted her with small smiles, unsure of how to greet her.

Rin gripped Maia's hand, pulling her into the plush booth with her. Taehyung had occupied a space a few seats down at the end of the booth; catching up with some friends. The redhead's boxy smile widening at something one of the men mentioned. Her outgoing friend was quick to jump into the conversation with the people around her. She tried her best to include Maia for the time being but she didn't know how to contribute to their topic of discussion concerning body shots. Sensing her slight discomfort she announced that she was off to get drinks, leaving her antisocial friend behind with the others.

When the girl returned, her hands were occupied by two glasses. One of her hands reached out towards Maia in the offering. Maia scrunched her nose at the drink in her hand to which the brunette rolled her eyes.

"It's tea," she said nudging the glass across the table, putting it in the girl's line of sight.

"Yeah, tea that will put me on my ass," she muttered as she took a sip of the beverage.

Her comments received a snort from her friend and a deep chuckle from a guy sitting in front of her. As she took small sips of her drink, she eyed the spot a couple of chairs over. There was an empty seat next to Taehyung that wasn't filled. She wondered if his friend was going to show. As her eyes took in the group of people around her, she had wondered if she could make some excuse to leave. She had never been one to hold her alcohol well. Maybe she could use that as an excuse to leave. Anything other excuse and Rin would see through it.

Everyone around her seemed to be having a good time. Many were already too far gone. Her brain became a bit hazy the more she drank. At that moment, she yearned for nothing more than a blanket and something warm to drink. Her skin heated as the liquid in her glass dwindled more and more. A sudden pull in her chest had her doubling over, her head suddenly light. She felt hot as Rin quickly grabbed her. She could hear her muffled voice as she smoothed her hands over her back. She had never felt so intensely before. The winded girl struggled to get a grip. Why did her chest suddenly feel lighter, yet her body felt so heavy?

In an instant, she didn't feel those emotions anymore. It was hard to specify what she was feeling. It was as if every emotion in existence consumed her all at ones. Her small frame shook as Taehyungs voice rang out.

"Birthday boy you finally made it," she heard a yell and the sound of what she presumed to be his chair scraping against the wood.

Her gaze was still on the table as she tried to stabilize herself from the odd sensation her body had just gone through. She could feel Rin's hands disappear from her back. The sudden lack of warmth had caused her to look into the direction of all the commotion. Of all the things she expected to happen tonight, it wasn't this. She watched as a large, dark frame approached the table. She shook as she realized who he was yet he seemed so different. Without thinking she shot up from her seat, bumping the table during the process, causing everyone to startle and glance at her curiously. His eyes landed on her at the sound of the now empty glass toppling over. But no matter how much she had wished for this moment, nothing could have prepared her for the disappointment she felt in her chest and the boy made no movement towards her.

She felt her limbs go numb. Breathing suddenly became impossible as her eyes locked on to those dark orbs. The same eyes that have been permanently etched into her mind. Doe eyes, once shining and full of love, now sharp and void of any emotion as he briefly acknowledged her stoic form; no look of recognition reflected in his eyes. The darkness of the booth nearly consumed him as the only color brushing his skin was that of a flickering neon light that loomed above them. The tension became nearly suffocating as her friend's eyes filled with concern at her abrupt reaction to the man entering the bar. Suddenly becoming all too aware of the tense atmosphere, she faltered. Her eyes collecting with unshed tears as she watched the man she had been waiting for many moons to barely bat an eyelash at her. At that moment she wished for the ground to swallow her whole.

"Do you know her", Taehyung whispered, elbow harshly making contact with the man's ribcage. There was a moment of silence as he tore his eyes from the girl. "No", he bluntly stated taking a seat next to the elder. His inked fingers swiftly gripped the clear glass sitting idly on the dark wood. Watching as he downed the searing liquid, a barely audible, "I don't", fell from his lips. Those two words were all it took for a single tear to fall.

The sounds of Rin calling her name were the last thing she heard along with a couple of mangled excuses for the girl's actions. Her vision blurred as she pushed past the mass of sweaty bodies and out onto the street. The cold air caressed her burning frame as she ran off into the crisp night. Even though her chest felt like it had been ripped wide open and her lungs screamed for her to stop running and turn back she didn't. Because she knew from the look in her once lover's eye and his emotionless demeanor towards her, she knew, that having hope for all those years was a mistake.