I caught Margot as she was walking into school. She was looking through a folder while holding a coffee.

"Need help with that?" I asked as I approached her.

"Yes." She whipped out a paper and dumped the rest of the folder in my arms.

"Shit." I muttered buckling under weight of the file.

Margot chuckled. Good, at least we were off to a good start.

"That's two terms of work," She took a sip of her coffee. "Maybe you would know if you actually did work."

"Hey," I protested, "I work." I hefted the file into a more comfortable position.

Margot rolled her eyes.

"So what to I owe this early morning meeting?"

It was early. The hallways were practically almost empty. Even though I'd slept terribly last night, I'd made an effort this morning so I could talk to Margot.

I stepped in front of her, causing her to stop in her tracks. She raised an eyebrow as if to say what!

"Go out with me Friday night." I declared.

I was afraid she might spew her coffee all over me. But she didn't.

"No." She said flatly, and stepped around me.

"Come on." I begged, walking as fast as I could while lugging the giant file. "You don't even like Emmanual-"

Margot spun around, making me almost bash into her.

"Riley I like you." She opened her locker door, "You're an idiot-"

"Thanks." I muttered.

"You drive me mad-" I was wondering if this was going to get better.

"Even though you do that. You still make me happy when I'm around you." She yanked the folder out of my arms and put it in the locker.

"So let's go out on Friday night." Margot looked at me for a few seconds.

"No" She said finally. "I have a boyfriend." She shut her locker and began walking, I followed her.

"So break it off." I reasoned.

"I can't." She gave me her coffee as she updated the swimming notice board.

"So what," I was losing my patience. It took me alot of courage to ask her out. "He gets dates at the carnival and long walks on the beach and I get a single moment in a storage room!"

Margot glanced at me. "Careful you'll spill my coffee."

"Forget it!" I shoved her coffee in her hand and stormed down the stairs.

Why was Margot's doing this! I kicked a locker. The sound boomed through the empty hallway.

I slid down against the locker and sat on the floor, exasperated.

I shut my eyes.

It would still be a while before the school bell would ring.

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"Hey dude." I was woken up by a girl looming above me. "You're sitting in front of my locker."

"Oh sorry." I scrambled up onto my feet.

"No worries it's cool. Sorry I interrupted your nap." She crouched down a pulled out some books.

"Hey uh," My eyes darted around. "The school bell hasn't rung yet right?"

"Nah. You're not that lucky."

She stood up and turned to face me. She was a couple of inches shorter than me, with straight black hair. She had on lots of mascara which made her blue eyes really pop and I could say she had more than a few piercings on her face.

"Hey you're Riley Mace." She said looking me up and down. "The chick who's crushing on Margot's beautiful model sister."

"Finally someone who agrees that Claire is totally gorgeous!" I exclaimed.

"Yeah dude. She's a hottie."

I nodded. "Well I'm not crushing on her anymore. I'm over that."

"Hmmm." The girl in front of me bit her lip. Her piercing blue eyes bore right into me. "Well in that case..." She extended her hand. "I'm Skyler Woods."

I shook her hand. "Nice to meet you. Sorry I fell asleep in front of your locker."

"Well maybe you can do it again." She winked at me. "I'd like to get to know you, Riley."

Then she turned around and disappeared through a group of people.

She seemed cool. In a different, more gothic way.

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I rang the doorbell. It was rather late but I didn't care, I had to talk to Margot.

The door opened.

"Riley?" Margot said looking rather suprised.

I wasn't sure why, because I had done this a million times.

"I want to apologise." I said stepping into the house.

"Actually this isn't a good-"

"Please just listen to me." I cut her off. I had to get this off my chest. "I'll be out of here the moment I'm done."

Margot thought about it for a second then she shut the door.

"Okay." She turned to me. "I'm listening."

I made my way over to the couch and sat down.

I took a deep breath

"First of all," I began, her eyes weren't looking at me.

Margot's attention was somewhere else, I could tell she was distracted.

"Riley," She started, "I-"

The doorbell rang. I wanted to curse as Margot got up to answer it.

I heard a deep male voice and my heart sank as I saw Emmanual walk into the house.

He hugged Margot and they stayed wrapped together for a while. I had to force myself to look away and mentally keep myself from doing anything irrational.

No wonder why Margot had said it wasn't a good time. I thought she was just blowing me off.

Again.

I got up to leave.

"Margot have you seen my-" Claire stopped as she walked into the room and saw me. "Oh Riley? I didn't know you were here?"

The last time I had seen Claire I'd shouted at her and slammed the door behind me.

"Actually I was just leaving." I said. "But before I go I'd like to apologise for the way I spoke to you the last time I was here. I was tired and angry, so I'm sorry."

"No don't apologise." She came over to me. "What you said to me really helped me put things in perspective. The way I acted with those two guys was shitty and I should actually be a better sister to Margot. So thank you Riley for having enough guts to tell me that."

She pulled me into a hug. I hugged her back. It felt nice and I could smell her vanilla perfume.

"Besides," She whispered into my ear, "We both know I'm not the Saunders' sister you should really be with."

"Yeah well." I smiled weakly as we released each other from the embrace. "As you can see that's not going to happen." I jerked my thumb in the direction of where Margot and Emmanual were standing in the entrance hall.

Claire bit her lip. "Ya I see. I have no idea why she's dating him. Because I talked to her and she does like you."

"Yeah well obviously not enough." I sighed. "I should get going now."

"Don't you want to stay for dinner?" Claire offered.

"Nah its late and my mom is probably making something so-"

Mrs Saunders walked into the room. "Claire where is the-" She smiled at me "Oh hello Riley?"

"Hello Mrs Saunders." I greeted.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" She immediately asked.

I bit my lip. I really wanted to leave. I didn't want to have to stay and watch Emmanual and Margot together.

"Actually I was about to leave-"

"Oh please." Mrs Saunders begged. "It's probably going to be the last dinner altogether because Claire leaves for Thailand next week."

I had totally forgotten about Claire leaving for Thailand! It was next week!

I looked at Claire. She smiled at me. After everything I'd been through involving Claire in my life I couldn't just leave now and not see her again.

"Okay." I said to Mrs Saunders. "I'll stay."

"Great!" She exclaimed. "I'll set another place."

"Let me just tell my mom." I took out my phone and typed a message to my mom.

The only reason I was staying was because of Claire, to see her one last time. Not because of Margot.

"Thanks for staying." Claire said. "I'm sorry you have to watch my sister be with Emmanual though."

Emmanual and Margot had now moved into the kitchen. I looked over at them. Emmanual had his arm around Margot's waist.

"I can try break them up for you." Claire suggested.

I chuckled. "Please, I wish."