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[right]Interactions: Vicky [@Atrophy]
[code]Warehouse[/code][/right][hr]
Tuyen felt more relief over the phrase [i]I knew I kept you around for a reason[/i] than any person should. But if she didn’t continually prove how useful she was, why would Vicky stay friends with her? 

She knew she shouldn't doubt such a long friendship, but she really didn't understand what Vicky saw in her. She treated Tuyen like a [i]real[/i] friend and was always nice to her… It didn’t make sense. Vicky was much cooler than her- she had been even before high school, when she’d completely changed her image and dropped all their other friends. She’d always be grateful that Vicky had kept her around, because her own friendship with that group had fizzled out too… But at the same time she was constantly waiting for the other pin to drop. 

For now, she should make the most of what she had. So she smiled slightly and listened to Vicky as she finally pulled away from the hug- another blessing to hide Tuyen’s tension which became relief. 

Though she was a bit confused. Weren’t you supposed to like being called by your boyfriend? Wasn’t it normal to want to talk to your partner? She guessed maybe a phone call was too much when it could be a text… She didn’t entirely understand, though. If Vicky ever called her- because she was Tuyen’s [i]friend[/i] nothing more- she’d gladly pick up and talk however long she wanted to. If by some miracle Tuyen ever had a partner in the future, she hoped it would be the same.

But she wasn’t going to argue with Vicky. 

Tuyen continued to listen, face twisting into a look of appropriate disgust when Vicky described kissing Chef. It wasn’t just the description (or the unnecessarily gross acted example) that grossed her out, but the thought of kissing a man- no, no, anyone- like that. Even just the chaste kisses she’d shared with John out of obligation during the relationship had made her feel sick enough.

She easily slipped the lipgloss into her pocket, trying not to think much about the imagery of what Vicky had done with it. She didn’t have time, anyway, with Vicky dragging her towards the door.

[color=32cd32]”People might tell you everything, but I see all, I know all. Nothing slips by me.”[/color]

What? What else had Vicky seen? 

She felt a phantom pain on her thighs, even though she knew she’d been doing well and it had been a whole week since she hurt herself in any way. Long enough that there weren’t any open wounds that could chafe and start bleeding again. She didn’t know. She couldn’t know, Tuyen had been so careful to hide it all these years.  

If she did notice, she would have said something. Unless she just didn’t care? No… If anyone would care, it would be Vicky. Not [i]about[/i] Tuyen, obviously, but after what her brother had done… No, there was no way Vicky knew. Maybe there was something else she’d seen? 

No, no, she needed to get out of her head. She shouldn’t doubt her friend so much. She was clearly teasing. It was a joke, right?

[color=9777bd]”I got into enough trouble with my aunt for smelling like weed last time. It would’ve been worse if I was high too.”[/color] Tuyen nervously explained, feeling the need to in case Vicky really held it against her. [color=9777bd]”I don’t have to worry about that tonight.”[/color] 

Though she was sure if getting high was a good idea. Maybe it would relax her, but maybe it would just make her anxiety worse. What if she said something she didn’t want to? It was the same reason for her trying not to drink too much. She was always glad she got to pour the drinks so she could give herself a little less. But maybe she should try not to worry about that. If it really did help her relax that would be nice. 

Then she could actually enjoy herself and their time together, like she did when it was just them somewhere quieter.

[color=9777bd]”You really see everything?”[/color] Tuyen said, managing a less confident teasing tone as she scanned the room for Kersten. [color=9777bd]”Does that mean you saw why I took so long? You saw and didn’t even try to rescue me?”[/color]

She nudged Vicky jokingly, smile becoming more genuine for a moment and less of a veil.

[color=9777bd]”John Miller stopped me… You’re really right about all the boys in the town being losers. He asked to try again, but he broke up with me in the first place. Maybe he went to college and already got rejected a few times? He probably thought I’d just agree… But I never really liked him either. So even though he trapped me and wouldn’t let me go until I answered, I still said no. It just felt… weird that he’d come back to ask that. I’m done with boys from this town too. We can be single together.”[/color]

[color=9777bd][i]Like where the boys are from will make a difference…[/i][/color]

Ah, wait. She’d meant to bring it up as a piece of gossip to entertain Vicky, not focus on her own feelings about it. And wasn’t it insensitive to mention someone trying to get with her when Vicky and Chef just broke up? But it was clearly because John thought he couldn’t do any better than someone like Tuyen… Hopefully Vicky wouldn’t get too upset.

She’d probably have a new boyfriend soon enough.

[color=9777bd]”Kersten’s over there.”[/color] Tuyen continued, changing the topic in an attempt to divert Vicky’s attention. She used their interlinked arms to turn her friend towards the dance floor where Kersten was, setting their course in that direction. Not that Tuyen wanted to move closer to where the crowd was the thickest. But it was what Vicky wanted… Though she wouldn’t be the one getting Kersten’s attention. Hopefully she wouldn’t even have to talk much. [color=9777bd]”Let’s- Let’s get high, I guess.”[/color]