My mom wouldn't let me leave to the Saunders' house that morning like I'd planned.

"Riley. It's 9am in the morning on a Saturday. I doubt the Saunders would be pleased to have you bashing down their door at this time." My mom said as handed me some buttered toast.

"Yeah I know," I said smothering my toast in raspberry jam. "But-" I took a bite. "It's important."

From the other side of the table Emily sniggered, "I bet it is."

I gave her the death eye.

"Honey please don't talk with your mouth full." My mom sighed.
"And I bet whatever it is, it can't be important enough to give the Saunders a rude awakening!"

"But-" I protested.

"No. That's final Riley, you're not going this morning. You can come with us to your cousin Taylor's ballet recital."

I had to stop myself from moaning out loud. I knew it would only get me in deeper.

I gritted my my teeth. Recitals always took forever!

And Taylor had one every single year!

¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥

I stomped down the road to Margot's house. I was in a bad mood because I had fallen asleep during the recital and my mom had completely blown her top!

I couldn't help that ballet recitals were boring and that the music was lullaby worthy.

Plus I couldn't sleep much last night because I was too busy thinking about Margot and what Emily had said.

Did Margot actually like me?

Romantically?

I pressed in the doorbell. Letting out a deep breath to calm my rapidly increasing heart rate.

What would I even say to Margot?

"Hi my sister Emily told me that you're crushing on me."

The door opened. It was Claire.

My heart sunk.

"Oh hello Riley." She said cheerily.

"Hi Claire." I said distractedly, trying to peer around her to get a look into the house, "Um is Margot home?"

"Sorry no she isn't." A grin tugged at the edge of her lips, I'd forgotten she'd seen her sister kiss me.

I sighed, disappointed. If only my mom had let me go in the morning.

"Okay." I said, turning to go. "Thanks any-"

"You can come wait inside." Claire said quickly. "I'm sure she'll be back soon."

"Thanks." I stepped into the house and walked over to the kitchen counter.

"Why do you want to see Margot anyway? She's rude and quite obnoxious." Claire said as she shut the door again.

I decided not to say anything, afraid that I might say something uncalled for.

Claire was very extra, while I sat there waiting for Margot.

She talked continuously, offered me food, and modeled for me. She said that she wanted me to help her pick out an outfit, I didn't know what for.

She would try on different clothes and ask me to tell her how she looked in them.

It was nice if her to be so interested in entertaining me, and a few weeks ago I would have died to have this happen.
But right now all I wanted was to talk to Margot.

After Claire showed me a third summer dress just in a different colour, I decided that I was tired of waiting. I wasn't even sure that Margot was coming.

I was beginning to see how Claire was talking advantage of me in this situation, I was not her friend, I shouldn't be the one having to sit through her fashion parade!

Now Claire was talking on the phone to some guy called Marcus. She told him that she was no longer with Isaac. Claire then went and called Isaac and told him that she was no longer with Marcus!

I was starting to see another side to her and I didn't like it at all.

When Claire was finally off the phone, I hopped off the stool.

"You know what," I said, "I'm just going to go." I was tired and irritable.

"No," Claire pleaded, "Riley stay!"

The whole mess with Margot, the argument with my mom, and lack of sleep all came crashing down on me at once.

Claire was immature and needy and I didn't want to stay in this house with her a moment longer! I turned on her angrily!

"No Claire I'm not going to stay! Why should I? So you can pretend to be my friend take advantage of me again?" My words were harsh but I didn't care, I was done with being stepped on. "Why because I have a huge crush on you!? Well guess what! I'm over it! I don't like you anymore!"

"Riley-"

"I heard you speaking to those guys on the phone and I'm glad that I don't like you anymore. That's a disgusting way to act! They don't deserve that!"

"By the way I don't think that Margot is obnoxious and rude! I think she's pretty spectacular! And you should be a better sister to her!"

Still clenching my fists, I turned around, marched to the front door and let myself out.

I wasn't even sure how Margot had gotten involved in my rant to Claire. There was just such a rush of emotions in my head!