One Shots (Every Centric)

Part 3: True Colors

The bustling atmosphere of the coffee shop was abruptly shattered by the sharp tone of Danielle's voice as she interrupted the group's banter. "Hey! Asshole," she snapped, her hand darting forward to snatch her phone from Dylan's grasp. The suddenness of her actions caused the others to fall silent, their expressions a mix of confusion and apprehension.

Dylan's attempt at defusing the tension fell flat as he stammered, "Come on, we were just kidding around." But Danielle was having none of it. With a determined glare, she proceeded to delete all the videos off her phone, her frustration palpable in the air."Yeah, well, stealing my phone and bullying my date isn't considered 'kidding'!" Danielle retorted, her voice rising with each word. The gravity of the situation dawned on the group as they exchanged uneasy glances, realizing the extent of their actions.

It was a side of Danielle that none of them had ever seen before – fierce, protective, and unyielding. Normally composed and unflappable, she was now visibly angry and fiercely defending Hanni, who stood nearby, feeling a mixture of gratitude and embarrassment.Hanni, for her part, was ready to retreat into herself, to escape the judgmental gazes and the weight of the situation. The desire to simply go home and never leave the safety of her house again gnawed at her, threatening to overwhelm her fragile resolve."Fine, we'll go," Dylan conceded defeat, his tone resigned as he and his friends shuffled away, leaving Danielle and Hanni alone in the aftermath of the confrontation. As the door swung shut behind them, Danielle let out a heavy sigh, her gaze turning to Hanni with a mixture of concern and apology."Hanni..." she began, her voice softening with sincerity. But before she could say another word, Hanni cut her off with a shaky reassurance. "It's okay," she insisted, her voice barely above a whisper. Blinking back tears, she added, "It's fine. I'll just... see you at school."With that, Hanni grabbed her tote bag and made a hasty exit, leaving Danielle standing alone in front of the coffee shop, grappling with the weight of her actions and the rift they had caused between her and her friend.

As Hanni hurried away from the coffee shop, her heart heavy with a mix of emotions, she felt a pang of regret for leaving Danielle behind. Despite her own turmoil, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had abandoned her friend in a moment of need.

But the weight of embarrassment and humiliation hung heavy on her shoulders, driving her to seek solace in the familiarity of her own solitude. The thought of facing the judgmental stares and whispers of her peers at school filled her with dread, but she knew she couldn't hide forever.

As she walked, her thoughts whirled with a tumult of doubts and fears. Had she overreacted to the situation? Was she making too big a deal out of it? And why had Danielle, of all people, come to her defense so vehemently?

Lost in her thoughts, Hanni barely registered her surroundings as she made her way home. The streets blurred into a haze of indistinct shapes and colors, her mind consumed by the events of the evening and the implications they held for her future.

When she finally arrived home, she found herself grateful for the solitude of her room. Closing the door behind her, she sank onto her bed, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle over her like a heavy blanket.

In the quiet of her room, Hanni allowed herself to finally let go of the facade of composure she had maintained throughout the evening. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as the events of the night replayed themselves in her mind, each moment etched into her memory with painful clarity.

Hanni's hand trembled slightly as she reached for her phone, the weight of the evening's events pressing heavily upon her. With a deep breath, she answered the call, her voice barely above a whisper. "What happened?" she murmured, her heart pounding in her chest.

On the other end of the line, Haerin let out a heavy sigh, her voice tinged with concern. "I have your location, idiot," she replied matter-of-factly, cutting off Hanni's attempt at explanation. "Now tell me, did she ghost you?"Hanni's breath caught in her throat at the blunt question, the sting of rejection still raw and fresh in her mind. She struggled to find the words to respond, her mind racing with a jumble of conflicting emotions."Worse," she managed to choke out finally, her voice thick with tears. "I'll tell you tomorrow."But Haerin wasn't about to let her off the hook so easily. "Save it," she insisted, her tone firm. "I'm coming over."Hanni's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected declaration, a surge of gratitude flooding her senses. Despite the late hour and the distance between them, Haerin was willing to drop everything to be by her side. It was a gesture of friendship and loyalty that touched Hanni to the core, reminding her that she was not alone in her pain.With a sense of relief washing over her, Hanni nodded silently, her voice choked with emotion. "Okay," she whispered, her gratitude evident in every word. "Thank you."As she ended the call, Hanni felt a glimmer of hope begin to stir within her, buoyed by the knowledge that no matter how dark the night may seem, she had a friend who would always be there to light the way forward. And as she waited for Haerin's arrival, she allowed herself to cling to that flicker of hope, knowing that with her friend by her side, she could face whatever challenges lay ahead.