Jacqui was confused. And disoriented. But her sickness had nothing to do with it. Her confusion could be attributed to the fact that her best friend/whatever (she wasn't sure anymore, and had all but given up on choosing a label) was sitting at the end of the couch Jacqui herself was laying down on.

Sure, best friends kept each other company when they were sick.

Best friends put on crappy movies that made you laugh.

Best friends didn't cuddle up behind you and press kisses on your neck and your hair until you giggled and playfully swatted at them.

Yet Cassie did all of these things. This realization, coupled with whatever Jin had given her, made her want to puke.

It was then and there Jacqui made a decision, which was that she'd stop thinking about it. If she woke up tomorrow and was nestled in Cassie's arms, who gave a fuck? She wasn't going to let their "arrangement" consume every moment of her life. A label would have gotten rid of some of the confusion in Jacqui's brain, but it might have also made things more difficult.

There was just so much that would have changed if they became a couple. Cassie would drag her to fancy dinners she was required to go to, Jacqui would have to seek her parents' approval, they'd probably move in together, "I love you" s would have to be exchanged, it would all be so time-consuming- except most of these things had happened already, minus the last one.

They'd both been very careful about those special three words. That being said, Jacqui wasn't entirely sure what is was she felt.

Was she interested in Cassie? Yes.

Did she appreciate her as a friend? Definitely.

Did she "love" her? Not "Romeo and Juliet" esque love, but "put up with your bullshit because I like you and want you to be mine love?" She wasn't sure.

But did Cassie have any of those feelings toward her as well? Of course, she had been the one to propose not talking about sleeping together any time it happened, but this was the same person who used the phrase "fuck buddy manual" and who tried not to look annoyed when Jacqui brought up anyone who could potentially be an actual "partner". (Spoiler alert: It didn't work.)

"You okay?" Cassie asked.

"Just thinking. And dying because of this cold or whatever." Jacqui said.

"What were you thinking about?"

"Is this the part where you want me to say "Oh, I was just thinking about you"? Because it's not going to happen, Cage."

"You wound me, Jacqui. Why am I not in your thoughts?" Cassie asked, her tone joking.

Jacqui turned on her side to face her. "I like being sane, that's why."

''You're a real piece of work." Cassie responded.

"Why am I not in your thoughts?" Jacqui retorted.

"Who said you weren't?" Cassie answered, still grinning.

At this, Jacqui felt her face flush and had to turn away before Cassie saw.

"Don't have a response to that one, do you?" Even with her face turned away, Jacqui could still hear the smirk in Cassie's voice.

"I'm honored," Jacqui started, but ended up having a coughing fit.

"Relax yourself, Briggs. We don't need you dying just to get the last word. I'd get you cough syrup, but you've got meds in you already. Sleep."

"Don't you have afternoon classes?"

"Missing a day won't kill me." Cassie said. "But this cold you have just might."

"Oh, shut up."

"I'm being serious, Briggs." Cassie said, her voice soft as she began playing with Jacqui's hair. "You need to rest."

Jacqui didn't protest, finally succumbing to sleep.

….

She really needed to stop waking up unsure. Why was she in her bedroom? She clearly remembered falling asleep on her couch, and while Cassie was strong, Jacqui was sure she'd have woken up if Cassie tried to carry her. Nevertheless, Jacqui was still in her room, neatly tucked under the sheets.

The possibility of this entire thing being a fever dream was seeming more and more likely as her sickness progressed.

Fuck, what time was it? What day was it?

Thankfully, a glance at her clock indicated it was still the same day, around three.

How did that work? She'd gotten up at six, complained about being sick, slept, been woken up, watched a crappy movie, fallen asleep again, and it was only three in the afternoon?

This day felt eternally long and exhausting, and the recurring, perpetual confusion was just plain annoying at this point. And nauseating. Wait, that wasn't-

Somehow, some way, she made it to the toilet before vomiting out the contents of her stomach.

"The next time I see Jin will be the last time anyone sees him." Jacqui said to herself, groaning at the unrest in her stomach.

"You alright in there, Briggs?"

Maybe confusion and nausea were appropriate feelings, because why was Jin in her apartment?

"Jin?" She called out uncertainly.

"The one and only."He responded. "Do I need to call a doctor?"

"Why are you here?" she asked, before washing out her mouth.

"Out of the goodness in my heart."

Jacqui said nothing.

"Cage threatened me and said it was my fault you're sick."Jin admitted.

"Cassie threatened you?"

"Yes, she did. It was scary."

"She can definitely be that way when she wants to."

"You'd know."

"Excuse me?"Jacqui asked, stepping out of the bathroom and into the living room to see Jin lounging on her couch, eyes glued to the TV.

"Come off it, Briggs. I know you two are very "familiar" with each other at this point." Jin said, not even bothering to look at her as he changed channels with the remote.

"I don't know what-"

"Cass told me. Though I don't think she meant to. There was alcohol involved, and I was the only sober person there that she knew. Me, being the gentleman that I am-" Jacqui audibly scoffed-"took her home. Or I tried to, at least, but that girl is a fighter when she's drunk. She gave me a black eye, and then started crying, and proceeded to tell me everything."

"Everything?"

"Everything. I did not have you pegged as a sub, Briggs, but if you're into that-"

"Nope. We are not having this conversation. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever." Jacqui said, covering her ears.

"Alright, calm down before you pass out, Jacqui. I really don't need to be on Cassie's bad side. Let's watch a movie. How about-" Jin flipped through the channels- "Ninja Mime?"

"I think I'd rather die."