"Right." Angel said as I finished tying the black apron around my waist.

It was a hazy Saturday morning, the blanket of cloud stopped the light from entering the bistro, creating a dim, yet calming, atmosphere.

We all stood in a circle in the middle of the shop. There were five of us employees - well four currently at the moment. There was another woman but I hadn't met her yet, it seemed that she was late.

Aside from Angel there was me, Margot, the other woman, and Angel's two younger brothers called Louis and Julien.

Louis was the older of the two. He was a rather hearty, musclely man, with his hair shaven short and a stubble-covered face.

Julien, the younger one, was quite the opposite. He was a thin; lanky, quiet, man. I guessed he was in his early twenties but he looked like he'd just popped out of high school. He had wavy black hair up to his collar.

"The delivery man has arrived," Angel spoke. "Riley," I perked up at the sound of my name, "Margot," Margot looked up too, "Could you please help Louis bring in the delivery stuff."

I glanced over at Margot who stood at the other side of the room. She was already looking at me. I looked away and turned my attention to Louis who was already edging his way out of the dining area towards the kitchen. Margot followed him.

"Julien, check the cash register and then go to fridge and get out the frozen-"

I left the dinning room and followed Louis and Margot through the kitchen and out though the backdoor to the parking lot. There was a van waiting for us.

A man hopped out of the van and handed Louis a clipboard to sign.

Louis pointed a finger to the back of the truck, "You two start unloading in the meanwhile." He said as he filled in the form.

Margot and I made our way to the back of the truck. There were about five large boxes.

I didn't say anything as we both looked at the contents of the truck.

Then Margot stepped forward, picked up a box, and made her way back into the cafe.

I looked after her for a few seconds. Then I did the same thing, heaving up a brown box with a red strip on the side and walked back inside.

There was a storage room next to the backdoor of the bistro. I wasn't wide but it extended back into the building.

I followed Margot into the storage room and placed down the box with a sigh.
Without looking at her, I moved to go get the next box.

"You can talk to me you know."

I stopped. I was halfway out the door.

I turned to face her. She was looking at me pointedly.

"I know." I mumbled and left the room.

I hefted up another box and went back to the storage room, crossing Margot as I did.

I set the box down and moved to get the last one if Louis hadn't already.

Margot was standing in the doorway.

We regarded each other.

I waited impatiently for her to move so I could get the last box. Then Louis stepped into the storage room, he set down the last box.

He smiled at us, "Thank you ladies. It's nice to have an extra set of arms."

We smiled at him and told him it was no problem.

Margot put down her box and I waited for her to turn so we could leave the storage room.

She didn't move but instead just looked back at me. It was starting to feel quite claustrophobic in the storage room.

"Riley," She said finally, "Can we talk?"

I took a step back.

Talk? She wanted to talk? My brain started whirring. Talk wasn't part of the plan. No, the plan was: minimal interaction!

Talk about what exactly? My mind started racing through possible topics. There were so many. And all of them bad. Things to be avoided.

"Riley?" Margot looked confused, frowning at my blank face. I ended my internal dialogue and came back to the present.

I studied her slowly.

I wasn't running.

From her or from this situation. So I might as well face whatever she had to say.

"Okay." I finally agreed.

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Margot took a breath and I sat down on the large box that I'd carried in. I hoped there was nothing fragile inside.

Margot glanced at me, she played nervously with the edge of her sleeve. "Seeing as we have to work together... I um, I-" She started, not sure how to begin. I sat there, awkwardly, my attention focused on her.

"I - uh -I, I want to say... I'm sorry." She said finally.

I bit the inside of my cheek. I never thought that a moment like this would happen.

She met my eyes.

"Riley I want to apologize. F- for everything." She breathed. "I was awful to you. I was so shallow and self consumed," I felt a knot in my stomach, "you were right - I refused acknowledge responsibility for my actions. I chose to blame others... I blamed you." The knot grew tighter. "And I hurt you terribly in the process."

Margot was really here apologizing for everything? I blinked a couple of times to make sure I wasn't imagining all.

"I was in a bad place at the time," She continued, "Sabrina, was constantly in my ear, whispering and saying things, playing on my insecurities." She looked up again. "Not that it's any excuse!" She added.

There was a moments silence, she let out a final sigh. "I guess what I'm trying to get at is that... You're a good person Riley, and I can't believe I failed to see that. The way I acted with you was disgusting, and it's completely understandable that you wouldn't want to talk to me now. But I want you to know that I'm sorry."

I gulped and broke away from her gaze but inside I felt the knot slowly ease.

I sat there. Quiet. Thinking.

"And I guess," her voice was soft, "I'm hoping that you can forgive me?" There was a hint of hope at the end of her  sentence. "That we can be friends?"

Friends.

I processed this.

Could I be friends with her? Margot? Margot who had been the root of so many awful feelings. Margot? Who had shredded my heart into little pieces?

I wanted so badly to tell her "no."  To unleash all the pain I'd felt! To yell at her and tell her it was irreversible and that she should piss off!

Hadn't that been what I had planned to say every time I'd played out different scenarios between us in my head?

But as I sat there on that box in the storage room. I didn't feel that storm of resentment brewing in my stomach. I didn't feel angry or bitter - the need to lash out just to spite her.

Why? I didn't know. Surely she was deserving of it?

Skyler would think so - she would call Margot a bitch and say I was stupid for not putting her in her place. She would say I must show her how it feels!

But forgive Margot? So easily?

I looked up at her. Into those startling green eyes. There was a hopeful bit of a smile playing on the edge of her lips?

It was then that I decided...

That I could.

I could forgive her, I was tired of harbouring anger and resentment... I made up my mind that I could try be friends with her.

"Try."

Like I'd said, everything we once were was in the past. That included the fights... the heartache... the pain...

I could chose to dwell on it or I could move forward.

I had started a new job and it would be so much easier for the both of us if we got along. So I didn't have to have anxieties plague my mind everytime she walked passed me, or when I mistakely met her gaze from across the room.

She was just as much human as I was. We were both flawed. We had both made mistakes. And holding grudges wasn't going to help at all.

I nodded slowly at her. "I never thought I'd hear you apologize." I admitted truthfully. "And I can't tell you what it means to me that you have..."

I paused.

I got up off the box. "I want to apologize too." I said finally.

A look of suprise came across her face, obviously not expecting this.

"For getting so angry. I shouldn't have continously yelled at you the way I did." I cringed, remembering how furious I'd gotten and how terrified she'd looked. That still haunted my mind sometimes.

"I know I can get really scary when I'm angry." Margot nodded slightly.
"My therapist has taught me how to not let my temper get the best of me. So now I know... But, yeah I'm sorry for yelling and shouting at you so much. It was immature of me."

She met my eyes. I could feel my heart thundering in my ears.

"I forgive you." Margot with ease, quicker than I'd thought.

I smiled at her then said. "I forgive you too."

Never did I ever think I would say that to her. Two months ago it seemed impossible. A completely ludacris thought!

"So... Do you think we can be friends?"

I shrugged, "I don't see why not."

In a way I felt that we were two completely new people and I guessed she sensed it too. There was no harm in trying to be friends with her.

"Cool. So friends?"

"Friends." I repeated.

We stood there awkwardly for a second just looking at each other. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

Then she stepped forward and pulled me into a hug.

At first I was still but then I let myself ease, folding into the embrace. I hugged her back. Allowing her hair to caress my face and I was reminded of her scent.

I needed this. I needed this closure. I felt like an entire mountain had been lifted off my shoulders. I felt like the bricks that had been sitting on my chest for months were finally removed.

It felt good.

I could breathe again.

We released each other and walked out of the storage room.

I doubted things would ever return to normal. It would still be awkward. But at least we had a good start.

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A/N: The floods of support in these past few weeks have been simply incredible! And my seemingly impossible dream goal of this book reaching 100k has somehow happened!!!! Thank you so much. I am so happy, and more eager than ever to finish this book. More chapters will be coming soon!