Finally some time to relax. It was a Friday afternoon and a public holiday so I didn't have to work at Cofeesio.

I threw my school bag into the furthest corner in my room, changed into some comfortable clothes, and hopped down the stairs to the kitchen.

I made a huge bowl of popcorn, decorated it in salt and then danced over to the lounge.

Perfect. A whole afternoon just chilling, watching one of my favorite movies. I had been looking forward to this moment all week.

I glided out of the passageway and turned the corner into the lounge.

No studying, no work, no drama. Just me and-

I stopped dead in my tracks.

"Margot?" I squeaked. I stared at my rightful spot in the sofa which was being occupied by Emily and Margot!

I wasn't hallucinating, Margot Saunders sat smack bang in the middle of the sofa, casually talking to my younger sister.

What on earth was she doing here?

Emily and Margot turned their heads to look at me. I stood there, shocked, like someone had thrown a bucket of ice water in my face.

"Hey Riley, I was just going to come up and say hello." Margot said, completely unaware that she was sitting in my place for my perfect afternoon.

"Wha - what.. Are you doing he-" I didn't want to sound rude but this wasn't what I was expecting.

"Margot and I are planning the next swimming meet," Emily answered, casually flipping over a page. "There's a huge gala in a couple of weeks and we need to take the best team. Which means early morning training, timed trails..."

Emily's words faded off, I couldn't concentrate on what she was saying. A feeling of alarm was starting to take over me.

"Riley, sorry did you want to watch something?" Margot asked looking at the giant bowl of popcorn tucked under my arm.

"Yeah, uh," I mumbled, distracted, checking my watch, "I did." I looked at the papers scattering the coffee table. The lists of team members and time tables. I started backing out of the room. "Uh, but it's fine, I don't want to interrupt y-you guys."

My foot caught on the door stopper, and I woobled, juggling the popcorn as I tried to regain my balance.

Margot rushed up to me, "Careful!" She held the bowl in her hands. She laughed at me and I stood up straight.

She met my eyes, "So you're as clumsy at home as you are at work?"

"Hey!" I said trying to defend myself, but then I saw Emily's face. I bowed my head, "Okay... Maybe a little."

I noticed that we were both still holding the bowl. Her hands were gently on mine. I cleared my throat and smoothly slid my hands out. I mozied around her towards to the sofa.

"So what are you watching?" Margot asked also coming around the sofa and sitting beside me.

The feeling of panic was starting to increase now, my eyes darted to the window. "Um, Southern Island," I mumbled, craining my neck trying to see outside.

I looked down at my watch again, it was past the time.

"I love that movie." I turned back to Margot.

"Oh really? Turns out you do have some taste after all."

She punched me forcefully in the arm. I wasn't concentrating enough to react. But I heard Emily mutter a loud thank you.

I whipped out my phone to check for any unread messages. Nothing.

"Do you mind if we watched it with you?" Emily asked, getting up with the papers and putting them in her bag.

I gave her an incredulous look. What? Why would she ask to watch Southern Island? I knew she didn't care for this movie.

"That would be fun," Of course Margot had to agree, "I haven't watched it in ages."

"I'll find the channel!" Emily scooped up the remote and turned on the TV.

I barely had time to register what was happening.

"Um-uh don't you guys have swim team stuff to do?" I could feel my heart racing faster. This wasn't good.

"We're finished." Emily smiled sweetly at me.

Something was definitely off. She was pulling something. I didn't have time to think about it because of my rising anxiety levels.

"This isn't a good time." I tried to explain.

"Riley," Margot was looking at me in concern, "What's wrong, why are you so stressed?"

"What source do I go to again Riley?" Emily called standing in front of the TV with the remote, "Ah nevermind I found it."

She gave a satisfied sigh and sat back down, comfortably, on the sofa. Meanwhile I was sitting bolt up right, my leg shaking unconsciously.

"Are you okay?" Margot asked again. I met her eyes, those striking green eyes.

The music starting the beginning of the movie began, pumping throughout the room.

"No," I tried to think of the right thing to say, "Its just that-"

"WHAT THE HELL IS SHE DOING HERE!"

I turned around in dread to see Skyler standing in the door frame.

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"Oh." Was all Margot said.

She looked between me and Skyler, her jaw was clenched tight.

Now she understood why I had been so panicked.

Skyler and I had planned to have a nice afternoon in. I was going to show her Southern Island and we were going to relax and chill for the rest of the evening.

So it was just perfect that Margot was sitting here, in my house, as Southern Island was playing!

Skyler's eyes darted between me and Margot.

"What the actual fuck Riley."

I didn't know how to explain to her. Non of this was on purpose.

"Oh dear." I heard Emily mutter from the other side of the sofa.

I secretly cursed her under my breath. If it wasn't for Emily and her bright idea for us to all watch the movie together, we wouldn't be in this mess.

"Sky, listen this wasn't the plan." I said getting up and going over to her. "I didn't know Margot would be here?"

I felt bad talking about Margot while she was sitting right there.

Skyler was glaring at me, she looked pretty scary when she was angry.

I wasn't sure anything I said would change her mind. Clearly she thought I was having a fun afternoon with Margot.

"So you accidentally double booked yourself." She growled, "And you're caught in the act."

"Sky, I promise you. She was-"

"Riley shut up okay. Just shut up! What excuse are you going to make this time! You're always defending her, always making up excuses-"

What was she talking about? I barely ever defended Margot. I always tried avoiding talking about her. Skyler was the one who always made assumptions.

I opened my mouth to speak. I didn't want to fight, the movie was playing in the background and I really -

"Listen Skyler!" I was taken aback to see Emily rising from her place. "Margot's here because me and her were working on something important. She's my friend too." She walked over to us, "And I don't know if you heard the news. But Riley and Margot broke up months ago. So get over it." I was shocked at my sister's tone towards Skyler, clearly Margot was too, she stared at Emily opened mouthed. Skyler on the other hand, looked like she wanted to jump at Emily.

"So sorry for interrupting your date, but we like this movie too, and want to watch it." Emily turned on her heal and went back to sit down.

I turned back to look at Skyler. She was seething.

Margot got up from the sofa. "You know what, uh, I think I'll go."

"Good." Skyler snapped.

To my surprise Emily reached out an arm and yanked her back down. Margot gave her a confused expression, but Emily just shook her head dismissively.

I guessed Emily wouldn't let Skyler bully Margot into leaving. But she didn't understand that it just made things really awkward.

I turned back to look at Skyler. I took her hands in mine and smiled at her.

"The movie's playing, let's just sit down and enjoy it." I squeezed her hand a little to reassure her. "I've been looking forward to today the whole week. So please spend it with me."

Skyler was still glaring at me. She looked at Margot and then back at me. Then slowly her expression softened the slightest bit.

"Okay," She agreed reluctantly. Then she stepped forward and forcefully connected our lips.

I was surprised by the notion as she eagerly slipped her tongue into my mouth.

Then she dragged her lips away, gave me one last hard look, and moved to the sofas, picking the seat furthest away from Margot.

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"Sky," I tried to breath as she bit my bottom lip. She didn't hear me as she readjusted herself on my lap. Her fingers were gripping my face tightly as she rhythmically moved her lips against mine.

Out the corner of my eye I could see Margot and Emily sitting on the other sofa. Forcefully trying to keep their eyes on the TV.

"Sky," I broke away for a second, catching a breath.

Her piercing blue eyes cut into me. "What." She said, with a hint of irritation.

I tried to peer around her to see the TV, the movie was almost through, and I'd barely seen any of it.

"Well... Don't you want to see the ending?"

She scoffed and rolled her eyes and leaned in connecting our lips once again.

I sighed, giving into the kiss. I wasn't feeling this. My mouth was dry from her chapped lips, I could taste her cigarettes and I hadn't been able to properly watch the movie.

The ending was the best part.

"Hey," I heard Emily call from the other side of the room, "Why don't you stop sucking my sisters face off."

Skyler's neck snapped up to look at her, "Why don't you stop being such a little bitch."

I instantly saw Emily's eyes glow with anger.

"Why don't you go get some human decency or are you too busy shopping for cigarettes?"

I shot Emily an annoyed glare.

Skyler twisted off my lap. "Riley, where did you find your sister? The Home for Junior Fuckups?"

"Stop it." I said to Skyler. I didn't like how she spoke to Emily like that.

Margot had switched off the TV and was nervously glancing between the two. If I was her I'd run right now.

Emily got up and marched towards us. I was holding Skyler's arm tightly. But she was wriggling to get free.

"Both of you, stop it!" I shouted, loud enough to get them to look at me. "Just be quiet and let's finish the end of the movie."

"Forget it!" Skyler ripped her arm out of my grip and stormed out of the room.

I stared after her, but I didn't make a move to follow her. I wasn't going to chase her when she was in this state.

I turned to Emily who was still standing next to me, glowering into space.

"Come on," I tried to encourage her, I titled my head toward the sofa, "Sit back down."

"No!" She fumed, snatching up her phone from the table. "Riley I can't believe you're proud to call a girl like that your girlfriend!"

She stalked out of the room. I stared after her. Emily didn't just dislike Skyler anymore, she full on hated her.

I hadn't seen Emily that furious in ages, it made me uncomfortable to know my girlfriend was the source of it.

"Wow." I'd almost forgotten Margot was here with all the tension going on. Her eyes were wide and her face pale, as she sat alone on the sofa. "That was... Intense."

I managed a chuckle, "You're telling me."

I kind of felt bad for not following Skyler after she'd stormed off. But she honestly needed to cool her temper before I spoke to her again. She shouldn't have spoken to Emily like that.

"Hey Riley," Margot cut back into my thoughts. "There's still almost a full bowl of popcorn over here," She raised the bowl up, "You want to eat it and finish watching?"

She waved the bowl tauntingly at me. I gave her a grateful smile.

"I would love that." I got up from my seat and plonked myself down next to her.

Finally, I grabbed a huge handful of popcorn and stuffed it into my mouth.

My peaceful Friday evening.

Now that we didn't have any weirdly dramatic sisters or overbearing girlfriends, I could actually enjoy myself.

I passed the popcorn bowl over to Margot, she took it thankfully.

I picked up the remote and pointed it at the screen.

"It's just like old times hey." She joked.

I glanced up at her. Us two sitting on a sofa watching movies together?

"Yeah it is." I smiled and pressed the play button.

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"I'm sorry about yesterday." I said, drying off the plate and putting it in the dish rack, "My sister and Skyler, they were being stupid."

"Its fine." Margot said taking part of the blender and submerging it under the soapy water. "I enjoyed the movie, well the parts I could hear over the sounds of making out."

I gritted my teeth. "Yeah sorry about that. Skyler was... Being extra touchy yesterday. I should have stopped her. Sorry, I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."

Margot looked at me, "Why would I be uncomfortable?"

I met her eyes. "Uh," I cleared my throat, "Well I assume anyone would be uncomfortable, you know, with that PDA stuff."

She nodded, "Oh I see. I thought you meant since we used to-"

"Riley," Jess was standing by the doors, "Someone's here to see you."

I furrowed my brows. I wasn't expecting any Saturday morning visitors.

I left Margot washing up and went through to the front counter where Jess was manning the till.

I was astounded to see Skyler standing at the counter.

"Hey," I smiled at her, "What are you doing here?"

I was genuinely confused. She had never come to Cofeesio before and everytime I talked about work she seemed really uninterested.

She played with the blood red beads around her neck.

"I wanted to talk about yesterday."

It was nice of her to come over here to apologize. That was really touching.

"Jess I'll take over the till if you wait tables?" Margot walked through the doors, ringing her hands on a dishcloth.

My heart sank as Jess agreed and Margot took the place next to me by the counter.

"Goodmorning Skyler." She greeted, tapping some buttons on the till, making the bottom compartment pop out.

Skyler of course gave her a dirty look and said nothing.

"What were you saying?" I asked her, trying to get her attention back on me.

Thankfully I was able to tear her glowering eyes away from Margot and look at me again.

"Yeah I was saying," Skyler continued, "Since we were interrupted," She shot a look at Margot, "Yesterday. I was thinking we could go out to the Steak house today."

Okay not the apology I was looking for. But she'd still come all the way to Cofeesio so that counted for something.

"Uhhh" I hesitated.

Margot chuckled from next to the till.

"What's so funny?" Skyler growled through gritted teeth.

"I'm sorry, but surely there's somewhere better you can go? The steak house?" She laughed again, "I'm not sure that's the best place."

I bit my lip, she had a point.

"Why!" Skyler demanded. "Not that it's your business."

Margot gave her a dumbfounded look, as if to say you're kidding, right?

She gestured towards me, "Riley. She's vegetarian."

Skyler turned to look at me in surprise, "You are!?"

I nodded at her. How could she not know that? I'd been vegetarian for the past 4 years.

"Yeah Sky," I gave her an ernest look, "But you knew that."

She muttered something inaudible under her breath.

"But-" I cut in, wanting to silence the awkwardness, "I am free. We could try somewhere else? Where'd you want to go?"

"Why don't you ask her!" She pointed at Margot, "Because clearly she knows everything."

To my dismay she snatched up her bag and walked out of cofeesio. The chains on her boots clanging together as she did.

I gave Margot a defeated look. She sighed and shrugged her shoulders.

"That's 26, 90 for table 7." Jess had walked up to the counter and placed down some money. She turned her attention to me, "Riley, that girl really needs to work on her aura. I don't think I've seen someone as emotionally and spiritually misaligned like that, in years!" She turned and looked at the front doors, you could still see Skyler marching down the street. "Such twisted, negative energy, gives me the heebiejeebies to be honest." Jess turned back to face us.

She saw Margot's dubious face, "Are you close to her?"

I let out a long sigh, "That's my girlfriend."

Jess' eyes buldged. "The punk girl with the red necklace, and the suffocating negative energy, is your girlfriend?"

I nodded slowly.

Jess looked at me then glanced at the door again.

"Well she really needs to work on herself."

She said simply then turned and went back to serving tables.

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A/N: Wow, this was quite a long chapter. Thanks again to everyone, especially the people calling for updates! I'm back on track, and more eager than ever!

Stay safe everyone x