"Ouch!" I exclaimed as my hair was tugged again.

"Sorry," Skyler apologized half-heartedly, "Put your head back."

"I'm trying to add to my research on the British concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer war." I explained.

"Blah, blah, History, blah blah old dead white guys." Skyler grumbled, she pulled on another strand of hair. I winced.

I don't know but for some reason she had decided that she wanted to braid hair during break and I was going to be the subject of her experiment.

So far I had about four different sized braids hanging down the left side of my face.

"Done!" Skyler said happily as she finsihed off the fifth braid, she moved in front of me to admire her work. I gave her a resentful look. She smiled at me, "Don't worry you only look slightly stupid."

I stared at her then laughed dryly. "Thanks."

I moved my hand to the left side of my head.

"You can't take them out."

I looked at her like, are you serious woman!?

Skyler gave me a pointed look, "Promise me."

"Okay." I sighed and looked back at my notes.

I started writing some more,

The concentration camps held boer woman and children and the-

"What you doing tonight?" Skyler cut into my thoughts.

"Sky," I mumbled, "Not now I'm concentrating."

I heard her huff in irritation but I didn't pay it any attention. I seriously wanted to get a much information down as possible. Mr Hale was a good teacher but he was stern when it came to homework. And I was trying to stay in the good books when it came to history this year.

"Yah, well I just wanted to know. It's not a hard question."

I looked up at her. She had that stormy expression on her face.

"I'm working tonight Sky, I told you remember, it's a 21st celebration."

"Arrrrggghhhh!" She tilted her head back in frustration. She'd obviously forgotten about the party at Cofeesio this Friday.

I chuckled and looked back to at my notes.

I heard someone come up to us just as I finished my last paragraph.

I looked up and was surprised to see Margot standing at our bench. Skyler was giving her a distasteful look. I bit my lip, already sensing the tension.

Margot looked at us.

Skyler was next to me, her hand resting on my inner thigh. I saw Margot glance at Skyler's hand then look away.

She instead gave a disgusted look at the cigarette buds in the middle of our table. I noticed that Skyler instantly pulled out another cigarette and started smoking.

She coughed lightly as Skyler blew a huge plume of smoke into her face.

Margot looked at the braids dangling in my face, and a smile crept onto her lips. In that second I knew that I looked like an idiot.

I wondered what Margot was here for? She had some guts if I was being honest.

"Riley can I ask you a huge favor?" She begged, somehow ignoring Skyler's cold stare. "Can you give me a lift to work after school? Claire just told me she can't fetch me."

I shrugged, "Sure. It's no problem."

"Thank you!" She exclaimed in relief. "You're a life saver. I thought I was going to be stranded-"

"Or you could just get your license." Skyler cut in, "You know, like a normal teenage girl."

Margot and I both turned to look at her. She casually brought her cigarette up to her mouth.

Skyler looked at me and rolled her eyes at my expression, which said, Was that necessary?

Skyler shrugged and lazily leaned across the table. She pointed her hand with the cig at Margot, "'Cause you know, that would like save you from having to catch lifts randomly. And, oh yeah, being 'stranded'."

I sighed. I wanted to tell Margot not to pay any attention to what Skyler was saying, but guessed that wouldn't help anything.

Margot drew in a quick breath and turned back to look at me. She smiled, "Anyway, thanks." She noticed my book and history notes, "Anglo-Boer War?"

"Yeah," I nodded, "A paragraph on the concentration camps."

Margot's eyes lit up, "You know, I find it so interesting because we've always been led to think that the Germans started the concentration camps, but in actual fact the British were way ahead-"

Skyler cleared her throat. Margot reluctantly looked at her again.

"Sorry," Skyler mused, I gave her an annoyed glare, she didn't have to act like this, "I didn't take history for a reason, and I'm not planning on getting a lesson now. It's my break."

"Skyler..." I started.

She snapped her head at me, daring me to defend Margot.

I was about to say something when the bell rang. Margot left to go to her next class.

I pulled my bag closer and began packing.

"You don't have to be like that to her." I said to Skyler.

"Like what?" She said playing dumb.

I gave her an unamused look.

"Don't you remember how rude she was to me!"

I sighed. Skyler was one for holding grudges. Selectively holding grudges.

"Skyler that was almost a year ago."

"Fine." She protested, smashing her cigarette into the table and storming off. "I'll be nice to your ex girlfriend!"

I stared after her.

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"And coming up we have Ethan 'Quake with his new single, Make You Mine. Now I've heard fans have been waiting ages, since he posted the title along with the albumn cov-"

I switched off the radio and quickly regretted it because now Margot and I sat in silence.

I kept my eyes on the road.

After a couple of minutes of just the purr of the engine, I started absent-mindedly drumming on the steering wheel.

"The Loft?"

I looked at her.

"What?"

"That song you're humming," I hadn't realized I'd been humming, "It's The Loft isn't it?"

I thought about it for a second. Yes, I'd been singing the top song by the most popular pop group of our generation.

"Yeah," I said, turning a corner, "Skyler really likes them."

"Ah I see." Margot leaned her head against the headrest, "Ya, I didn't think they were your type."

I arched my eyebrows then nodded.

She was right. I hated The Loft, their music was harsh and brassy. But Skyler always listened to them. So I guess now they were kind of just stuck in my brain.

We stopped at a red robot and I watched as a bunch of little school kids crossed the zebra crossing.

"Is Skyler your girlfriend?"

I felt my heart tense. I stared out in front of me.

I wish I'd left the radio on so I could pretend I hadn't heard her question... It just felt really awkward to have talk to Margot about this stuff.

"Yes she is." I answered finally .

I suddenly realized that Margot was now the first person I'd officially told.

The kids finished crossing the road, the light turned green, and I continued driving.

The sooner we got to Cofeesio the better.

I waited for Margot to respond.

"That's cool." She said and I looked at her in suprise. She met my eyes. "I'm really happy for you Riley."

I was quite taken aback.

I didn't know how I'd expected her to react? I'd never thought about it really, but I had always imagined it would be extremely awkward.

But now as we sat in the car she looked genuinely happy for me.

I couldn't help but smile at her. We'd come a long way the two of us, and for her to show support like this, I don't know, it just felt nice.

"Thank you," I said, "We haven't been together too long, but we hung out alot during the summer and things just sort of clicked, you know?"

Margot nodded, "I get what you mean."

"And you?" I asked, giving her a quick look, "Are you with anyone?" It just occurred to me that maybe Margot was also dating somebody.

I gave her a sly look, "Emmanual?"

She playfully slapped me on the arm. "Don't mock me!"

I laughed. For once I was starting to actually feel normal around her. Which was good because it was obvious the universe wanted us to be around each other for some reason.

"But to answer your question," She said, "No I'm not dating anyone."

"Do you like anyone?" I asked.

She was silent for a moment and I looked over at her. Her eyes were focused on me.

I awaited an answer.

"No," She sighed, sitting back in the seat, "I don't."

I broke away from her gaze and put my eyes back on the road.

"Don't worry about it." I said reassuringly, "You'll find someone."

She chuckled, "What makes you so sure of that?"

I raised my eyebrows at her.

"What?"

I turned back to the road, "Nothing." I don't know how she didn't realize it . But Margot was so pretty I doubted she'd be single long.

I heard her sigh in annoyance.

"So how are things going between you and Skyler?"

I turned another corner, about another six blocks before we reached the Cafe.

"Good," I said, "She's cool and down to earth. I mean she can be a bit..."

"Controlling?"

I gave Margot a wary look. Why would she say that? Margot pointed at the braids that still hung down the side of my face, slightly obscuring my vision.

Okay yes, Skyler had forced me to keep them in, but it was no big problem ... it was funny.

"I was going to say unpredictable." I informed her.

"Ahhhh," Margot nodded, "sorry."

"What, you don't like my hair?" I teased.

She stared at me blankly and then said,

"Riley, you look absolutely ridiculous."