Ten

Piper sat on a lounge chair in the backyard. She'd adjusted the seat, so she was able to lie back a little and look up at the sky. It was beginning to get dark, and she liked to look at the colours merging together. 

She could hear Naomi and Namjoon conversate just to her right. They had been talking almost since he arrived. The two of them literally bounced off each other and Piper liked to see it. 

Naomi's parents had turned in for the night just after dinner, leaving the four of them in each others company.

When she glanced towards Naomi and Namjoon, she heard them laugh together. She caught Naomi's eye as she gave her a look. Her cheeks were rather flushed, and Piper had to take a second look. Naomi was blushing? That was amazing. Naomi didn't blush for no boy. 

Piper sat up and sighed as she looked around the backyard before she turned to her left towards a table and chairs. Yoongi sat with his feet up as he scrolled through his phone. Yoongi was pretty introverted most of the time, that was nothing new. It was great to see him when he got comfortable, as he didn't shut up, or he wouldn't stop laughing. It was like a layer to him, almost.

Maybe it was time to give Naomi and Namjoon some time.

Piper propped herself up before she stood up and made her way towards the kitchen. The bright light made her wince a little as she walked over to the switches. She dimmed the lights down a little so it was focused more around the kitchen island. 

She made her way towards the refrigerator and she opened up the doors and browsed around. The cool air from the fan brushed over her skin. As she leaned in to pick up a can of Fanta, she heard a couple of faint steps behind her. It wasn't Naomi, she could still hear laugh outside. 

"Would you like a drink?" Piper asked. 

"Hmm, a coke please." Yoongi replied.

Picking up the two sodas, she closed over the doors and turned to see him standing at the back door. She caught him doing that sometimes, he'd be standing at a door or outside a room and he'd just be looking at her and smiling. As much as it made her nervous, she had to admit she liked it.

"Thanks, shorty." He took the can from her and cracked it open.

"Those two seem to be getting on." Piper nodded as she did the same before taking a long sip. 

"Yeah. I think...they're really getting on." He smiled but widened his eyes. 

"I wouldn't worry too much about it. Let them see where it goes." Piper smiled. "I mean, the excitement at the start of liking someone...is a pretty euphoric feeling." 

Yoongi frowned at her, but kept his smile as he walked over to the other side of the island and stood opposite her. 

"Speaking from experience?" He asked, sitting his can of soda on the counter.

Piper giggled as she shook her head. "I'm just saying, I think we've all experienced it at least once so far in life. I'm sure you felt that when you were at school...or even now in college. You seen anyone that catches your eye on campus?" She teased a little.

Yoongi stared at her as he shook his head before he chuckled. 

"Not on campus." He simply told her. 

"Hm." Piper brushed it off before taking another sip of her soda.

"What about you? Any lucky...fella in that school?" He asked her.

Piper thought for a moment before she shook her head. "I don't...think I've ever liked someone in that school." She admitted.

Not since Yoongi left. Her mind was always occupied with him.

"...Maybe college will be different." She shrugged. "I'm not in a rush though." 

"Have you decided on any colleges yet?" He asked. 

"I mean, I've thought about Columbia..." 

"In New York?!" Yoongi interrupted her as he widened his eyes. "Jeez, you're not afraid to travel far!" 

"I said thought!" Piper laughed. "Chill out...I don't think I could move all the way to New York, I'd miss my parents too much." She admitted. "...and Naomi. Even though I'm sure she wants to go to Europe." 

"She has always been so sure of herself from a young age." Yoongi nodded in agreement.

"You wouldn't miss me?" He then asked her.

Piper stared at him as her cheeks warmed. She then nodded slowly. "I would." 

"I'd miss you too." He sighed. 

The two of them stared at each other, before Piper looked away and cleared her throat. 

"Y'know, I hear there's great programs in USC." Yoongi grinned which made Piper laugh at his comment. 

"Yeah, may as well just stay here." 

"Why not? I did it, and it's been a good choice since. Less money, still with family and I'm still able to see...the people I really want to see..." He trailed off, as if he'd changed his mind last minute on what to say.

Piper thought for a moment and had a moment of realization. 

"I actually don't think I'd mind staying local. My mom and dad wouldn't care either, they just want me to get into a good school and pursue what I want to study." 

"Then it's sorted!" Yoongi slammed his hand down on the counter as they both laughed together. 

"You're insane." She told him quietly. 

Yoongi shrugged as he took some of soda. 

Just then Piper noticed it had gotten a little too quiet. She frowned as she dragged her eyes out into the backyard. 

"What is it?" Yoongi asked her. 

She didn't answer him. She just shook her head as she walked over to the back doors before she scanned over the yard, and when her eyes landed on Naomi and Namjoon, she witnessed something she didn't particularly want to see.

She gasped out loud which perked Yoongi's attention. He stood up and walked over behind her, but as she turned around to leave, the two of them bumped right into each other.

"Offf!" Piper gasped as she tried to stop herself falling backwards from Yoongi's stature. Yoongi grabbed hold of her arms, holding her in place as he looked outside.

Naomi and Namjoon were making out. 

"Oh for f - " Yoongi gasped as he closed his eyes tight. "I did not want to see that!" He exclaimed, but done so quietly. 

Piper couldn't help herself but she burst out laughing, as she wrapped her hands over her mouth to muffle the sound. 

As she peaked back out, she made a face of approval. She nodded and pursed out her bottom lip. "I'm not too familiar with it...but Namjoon seems to be doing a fine job." She commented.

"Piper!" Yoongi glared at her.

"Hey look, one hand on thigh, one hand on cheek - " 

" - That's enough! I don't want to hear about my little sister - " Yoongi ripped Piper away as he lifted her feet from the ground a little and walked away from the doors. Piper burst out laughing once more. 

"I think I'm scarred for life!" Yoongi whined a little as he laughed and closed his eyes again, lifting his head backwards. His hair danced around a little as he shook his head. 

"Don't be such a baby!" Piper laughed as she patted his hands that were still firmly wrapped around her waist. 

As the two of them composed themselves, Yoongi slowly let go of his grip around her before they stood. He cleared his throat as Piper giggled. 

"You don't...laugh a lot of the time, so I like those moments when you do." Piper looked up at him as she tried to move her bangs from her eyes.

Yoongi took a breath before sighed. "Here's a thought - " He began as he reached out and moved little pieces of hair from Piper's eyes. He stopped as he tried to think before he glanced away. 

Piper stared at him, waiting for him to continue but when he didn't, she sighed. 

"Yoongi..." She quietly spoke. 

The two of them stared at each other in silence for a moment before he chuckled a little. "Shorty..." He spoke back, almost imitating her as he grinned.

Piper stared up at him. Yoongi had a little bit of an overbite, but it wasn't noticeable unless he grinned. Another favorite feature of his she enjoyed. 

"Not all of us are a master of nicknames." Piper glanced to the floor. "You've got Mimi, and the unlimited names you've called me over the years..." She scoffed. "Hearing you say my actual name, comes as a surprise sometimes." 

"I don't mean for it to bother you..." Yoongi looked at her.

"It doesn't. Nothing ever has." Piper sighed. "I guess there has just been times when I've wanted to say something, it's just been difficult because I'm introverted."

"You can tell me now." Yoongi's eyes softened as he looked right at her. 

As Piper opened her mouth a little, no words came out. Her mind went blank and she sighed, her shoulder's sunk a little. 

"You can tell me things too..." She told him, almost in a whisper as she looked away from him. When Yoongi didn't say anything, she glanced up at him.

 "Piper..." Yoongi began as he moved forward towards her but she leaned back and moved her arm and ended up swiping her can of soda down. 

It took her a second to register, and when she glanced back she gasped.

"Oh shit!" She quickly grabbed paper towels as she dried to mop up the puddle of orange liquid. She then closed her eyes and ran her finger nails across her forehead. 

Nice one.

"Hey." Yoongi pressed his hand to Piper's back, making sparks shoot up her spine but when she looked up at him, Namjoon and Naomi appeared at the back door.

"Ahem, I'm going to head now." Namjoon told them, scratching the side of his head.

The four of them stared at each other, not one of them making a move before Yoongi sighed.

"Yeah, sure. Thanks for coming tonight dude." He nodded and smiled. 

"I'll walk you to the door." Naomi told him, as they both smirked at each other. 

Piper lifted up the soggy paper towels as she marched straight to the bin and threw them in."I should head home too." She turned back to Yoongi.

"I can walk you - " 

"I'll be fine. Thanks for the barbeque and the coffee earlier!" She smiled at him before she sighed and made her way out of the kitchen.

Yoongi opened his mouth of speak, but all he could so was watch Piper walk away.