As the night went on, the party goers had had their fair share of drinks. Things were getting a bit heated between a certain cat's lover and childhood friend.
"I'm not the one who smells like a gym sock!"
"Well I'm not the one who has a stick up her ass!"
At this insult, Addi half-screamed, half-huffed before hurrying to one of the back rooms. Raiyah rubbed her throbbing head before slumping onto the couch next to Candy.
The white cat was holding back tears as the indigo Jackal put an arm around her.
"You better not be blaming this on yourself, Candy."
Candy sighed deeply. "How can I not? My best friend is rude to my girlfriend every time they see each other. Yet I keep inviting her over hoping it'll get better..."
Raiyah noticed a tear roll down Candy's cheek. She embraced the cat, not really knowing what to say. Candy accepted the hug for a while, but then pushed her girlfriend aside as she stood up off the couch. Before the jackal could protest, Candy said, "I'll be right back."
She walked down the hall to her room. She knew Addi would be in there. She knocked on the door.
"Go away!" a wobbly voice called back.
"Can I not enter my own room?" Candy said, jokingly. Though her voice quivered with nervousness about confronting her friend.
There was silence for a few moments before the door creaked open. Before Candy was a mint colored deer, mascara running down her face and her pink hair in a frizz.
"Addi.." Candy walked in and gave her a hug. But Addi squirmed away.
"Addi?"
"How could you.."
"Excuse me?"
"How could you hug me.. after how I've treated you and Raiyah?"
"Because I care about you. I'm not angry, I just really want to know what's going on. Did Raiyah do something to you that I don't know about?"
"...no"
"Did I do something?"
"...no"
"Did-"
"NO!!" Addi shouted, bursting into fresh tears as she fell onto Candy's bed.
Candy sat down beside her friend and rubbed her back. After a few more seconds of sobs, Addi began to take choppy breaths and sniffle into the pillow, calming down.
"Iloveyou" came a muffled voice.
"What?" Candy asked.
The deer shot up.
"I love you! And I hate that I love you!"
"W-what? Why? We're best friends!"
"No you don't understand!"
Candy's eyes widened. "Wait, Addi, do you mean-?"
"No! Well, I don't know. I don't know what I feel."
Candy offered her a tissue. Addi wiped her nose before continuing.
"I like men. You know I do. And you also know that I support you and Raiyah wholeheartedly. But, when you started dating her..."
She blew her nose gently.
"I felt like I was losing something. We still hang out all the time, but I see you together and I get so damn jealous... Candy you're perfect. You're gorgeous, kind, fun... Raiyah is the luckiest girl out there..."
Candy tried hugging Addi again. This time, she accepted.
"What's happening to me, Candy?"
The cat was thoughtful, taking time to answer.
"You want to know the truth?"
"Mm-hmm"
"I think you're jealous."
"But I don't want to date you! I-"
Candy put a finger up to hush her friend and continued to speak, "I know how important our friendship is to you. As kids we encouraged each other to follow our dreams and here we are! Still encouraging each other. I don't want to lose that either. But as much success as you face, it seems you rely on me to assure you that you're beautiful and successful. I think knowing that I've found someone else I find beautiful and successful makes you worry that you're not as good. That you're being replaced."
Addi looked down. Candy was hitting the nail on the head. Hard.
"I'm not going anywhere. I promise. You're my best friend, Addison. I love you."
"I love you too~"
The two embraced, warm and fresh tears flowing down their faces.
"As much as I tell you how I see you, it won't take hold until you see it yourself," Candy said.
She left the embrace and opened a drawer in her nightstand. She pulled out a deck of cards.
"On each one of these cards is a prompt. 'compliment your fur', 'name one thing you love about your face', you get the picture."
She handed the cards to Addi.
"Promise me you'll use them?"
"It seems silly..."
"Promise."
Addi giggled, "Okay, okay. I promise."
"Good," Candy said, standing up. "Now come on. You have a party to attend!"
Addi got up and headed for the door.
Candy smirked.
"And an apology to give."
Addi's ears dropped slightly.
"Heh heh, yeah..."
The two wrapped arms around each other and headed back to the living room, tails swishing happily.