"So you and Margot have been hanging out alot lately?" Tina said as she moved a Bishop to E4.

I shrugged, not thinking much of the question. "I guess." My pawn took her Knight.

"I know you said that you wanted to get close to her to be around Claire. But now Claire's gone to Thailand and you still seem to be just as invested in the Saunders."

"I told you that I was done crushing on Claire." I sighed. "She's just a friend now and I'm glad we ended like that."

"But it happened so suddenly." I moved my pawn one block up. "One week you were in love with her the next week you were over her." Tina's Queen took my Castle. "It was like a switch had been turned off." Her Queen took my Bishop. "Check."

"I don't think I was ever actually in love with her." I moved my Knight and took Tina's Rook. "I was infatuated with Claire. Not in love. I didn't actually understand what love was. But now that-"

I bit my lip to stop myself from saying anymore.

Tina looked at me. "But now?" She probed.

"But now I do." I said moving my King behind the safety of two pawns.

"What do you mean by now?" Tina asked as she glided her Queen across the board and took my Knight. I winced.

I shrugged, "I just know that it wasn't love that I felt for Claire. It wasn't raw passion. I just loved the way she looked and carried herself. I didn't feel like a fire was igniting inside of me everytime I looked at her."

"And... Margot does make you feel that way?"

I stared up at Tina in disbelief. How did she know?

"W-what?" I said, trying to play it cool.

"Riley you're my best friend. I'm not blind! You were going over to the Saunders house every week for a month! And slowly you started talking less and less about 'Claire.' It's kind of obvious that you like Margot!"

I sighed and slumped back. She'd caught me.

"Fine," I said moving my pawn forward another block, "You're right. I like her." It felt good to finally get it off my chest.

Tina grinned as she moved her Bishop and took my pawn. I was barely paying attention to this chess game. "Wow. Plot twist. You go for the mature women and you end up falling for her younger sister."

I chuckled, and took her Bishop. "Well I always thought that nothing would probably happen between me and Claire. I just really liked being around her."

"Well," Tina took my last Castle. "That didn't work out because you stopped liking her."

"Yeah." I grinned.

Tina's Queen moved right in front of my King "Check Mate!" She held out an outstretched hand and I shook it. I'd lost.

"Well done."

"Why didn't you tell me about your feelings for Margot?" She asked as we began packing up the chess board.

I bit my lip. "Uhhh. It's complicated."

"I've got time."

I rolled my eyes.

"Well I don't!" I laughed. "I have to be at Marsha's Diner at 6."

"Riley. Just tell me."

"Fine." I said as I put the chess box back in my cupboard. I moved back to the bed where Tina was sitting.

"At first I didn't like Margot that much. She was bossy and rude towards me. But then we got to know each other and became friends. Although I still liked Claire, I would hang out with Margot out of my own choice." I took a breath. "Then one afternoon out of nowhere Margot kissed me."

"She kissed you!" Tina's jaw dropped. "Like on the lips!"

"No on my leg." I said sarcastically. Tina rolled her eyes.

"So does she like you?"

"See this is where it's gets complicated. She likes me and I like her... But..."

"But?"

"But she has a boyfriend."

I could have sworn Tina's mouth was touching my carpet!

"In my defence," I said quickly, "She kissed me before she had a boyfriend! She only started dating him because I turned her down."

Tina breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew at least you're not-"

"It gets worse." I cut her off. I looked down at the floor. "Since then, Margot and I have made out... twice."

At this Tina got up off the bed. She moved and picked up her jacket off the chair.

"Well this has been nice!" She said, ready to leave.

"Tina," I groaned. "You're not making me feel better."

"Good." She said abruptly. "You're not supposed to feel better!"

"Tina-"

"Feelings or not Margot has a boyfriend! And shame on you both for doing what you have!"

I flopped down onto my bed. And put my hands on my face.

"I know! I've told her a thousand times to break up with him!" I groaned through my hands.

"A thousand times not enough!"

Tina walked over to me and I sat up to face her.

"So this is what you're going to do Riley! You're going to wait for her to break up with Emmanual! You're not going to MAKE any advances and you're not going to LET HER make any advances!" She was speaking right up in my face.

I nodded quickly.

"Good. Now I'm leaving. And I hope you keep to what I've said."

Then Tina picked up her bag and stalked out of my room.

I stared after her. Tina could be rather motherly. She was always there to break you back into reality.