Rikki couldn't believe her fortune. The day had already gone sour, and she was in a foul mood. She had woken up 30 minutes late for school, skipped her breakfast, forgot her lunch because her dad had an early shift and she didn't have time to make one, to top it all off, her bicycle had a flat tyre which she would've fixed, if she wasn't already an hour late for school.
She had to walk about three blocks to school, and she could already tell that the first period had started, seeing as there were no students loitering. Just when she thought things couldn't get any worse, the principal just had to be at the door and had given her an earful about punctuality, and how she was shaping up to be a bad egg - as if she cared - Rikki, unable to take anymore of the badgering, had snapped and said some colourful things to the woman, which left her gaping like a fish, and earned Rikki a whooping week of detention and cafeteria duty.
And now, here she was, walking in late to her biology class, with a look that could set the school ablaze quite literally if she wanted to.
" Miss Chadwick how nice of you to finally grace us with your presence. " The teacher, whom she hadn't bothered to learn her name, says in a disapproving tone.
Rikki doesn't spare her a glance, as she goes to sit right beside the window in the middle row. She noticed everyone's eyes on her, but it was something she was used to, so she wasn't fazed.
" I hope you have a good explanation as to why you're late " the teacher states glaring at Rikki.
Rikki looks at her with a cold stare,
" I needed more time to prepare before coming to hell " she answers with no remorse whatsoever.
This garners a lot of gasps from the students present. Cleo and Emma being among the former.
The teacher however, does not find this funny, as she glares even harder at Rikki, and gives her detention after school that day.
Rikki couldn't have cared less if she'd gotten another week of detention. School was, is, and always will be a useless waste of space and time to her, and with each passing day, her resolve to drop out becomes stronger.
Not feeling like responding to the creature in front of her, she folds her arms leaning back into the chair and stares out the window. She had a perfect view of the ocean, and wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of the day just swimming. She could feel two pairs of eyes on her, and she didn't need a seer to tell her who they were. She legit has no desire to interact with any of them today, one more than the other, and she was going to avoid them all day if she had to. Thank goodness she had a free period after this mess.
*
From the moment Rikki walked into the room, Emma knew she had her work cut out for her. Rikki's unforgiving expression and lack of eye contact with the rest, was all she needed to know that ' pissed ' was not a strong enough word to describe Rikki's mood. No matter, she would still gain her forgiveness even if it meant loosing some of her dignity.
The class goes on as usual, with the teacher going on about photosynthesis or some shit like that, it was obvious no one was really paying attention.
The moment the bell rings, Rikki is up and out of the class, faster than anyone could say ' pissed '. All she wants is to be alone for as long as possible, but even she knew that wasn't going to happen so easily.
" Rikki! " Emma calls out to her, as she rounds the stairway.
Obviously, she ignores her.
" I know you can hear me! Come on, please slow down! " Emma continues, persistent.
By now, the halls were empty as everyone was already in their next class.
Rikki doesn't even spare her a glance, her mind set on getting to the roof, and locking the Emma out.
" Fine, be like that " Emma says.
Suddenly a snowball whips past Rikki, and lands a few feet in front of her, shattering to pieces. She stops instantly, as she slowly turns to face Emma with a less than impressed look on her face.
" I thought that might get your attention. " Emma says smugly, as she makes a show of examining her finger nails.
Rikki just folds her arms, and raises an eyebrow. She was in no mood for games.
Emma immediately sobers up and begins to explain herself.
" Okay, I am so sorry Rikki, I didn't mean any of that shit I said yesterday, and if I could take it back I will... " Rikki stops her with a shake of her head.
" That's the thing Emma, you meant every single thing you said, and I honestly don't blame you for thinking that way about me. I blame me for assuming I could actually make real friends for a change. You're right, I have shitty tastes in friends, which is why I'm no longer gonna even bother with it anymore. I believe everyone is better off going back to the way things were before this whole ' fish ' thing happened. You stay in your lane, and I'll stay in mine. And if I ever am in dire need of some sort of assistance for whatever reason, I'll make sure your the last person I come to for help okay, goodbye Emma. " Rikki says and turns on her heels disappearing behind the door leading to the roof.
Emma knows she could have just retreated, after all, it wasn't a do or die affair. But, she couldn't bring herself to do that. For the past few days since she'd known Rikki, she'd never seen her this upset or serious about anything. It made her understand that Rikki might have actually gone through some bad things that made her tough on the outside and inside. Emma could only but imagine what those things were, and here she was, being her usual stupid judgemental self.
Rikki was much more of a better person, than she was, and probably would ever be. Compared to hers, Emma's life was a dream as she'd had almost everything handed to her without so much as a struggle. But yet, Rikki was the one still willing to open her heart to people, no matter what her experience had been in the past. She was a good person, and she didn't seem to know it yet. Emma makes up her mind. She is going to prove to Rikki that real friendships do exist. With that resolve she continues on towards the roof, even though it means missing her next class.
*
To say Rikki was surprised to see Emma appear through the door, was an understatement. She honestly thought that her little speech was enough to get her as far away as possible. After all, they weren't exactly the best of friends, so why was she so persistent? It was becoming more and more irritating the more Rikki thought about it.
" This bitch can't take a hint huh. " Rikki says in a bored tone not even turning to face Emma.
She was sitting on a chair leaning on the short protective fence around the roof, backing the door.
It took all of Emma's mental prowess to be here, seeing that she has a serious phobia of heights. But she isn't going to think about it right now, so she focuses her attention on Rikki, more like the back of Rikki's head, and stays as far away from the edge as humanly possible.
" Okay, I deserve that.. " Emma begins.
" And you're right Rikki.. I'm an overbearing and controlling bitch, so I don't blame you for being so done with me. But please... " She pauses and takes a deep breath, her phobia getting the best of her. She takes a few steps back and continues. " ... Don't be mad at Cleo and the others, okay, it was all me, and I can assure you that Cleo is as done with me as you are. Look, I'm not perfect Rikki... "
" You don't say, " Rikki interrupts sarcastically.
Emma ignores that " ... And sometimes I'll say some shit that you won't like. But I can swear that I didn't mean any of what I said yesterday. I don't think you don't have standards, its just difficult for me to let people in... "
" No one is asking you to be best buddies with her " Rikki deadpans, still not facing Emma.
" I know, but it will happen eventually, especially because she's like us. You're right again when you said she could help us with this whole thing, that's a plus side to this, and I'm sorry it took me a while to realise that. So please can you not be mad at me and the others anymore? Can we just put this behind us? " Emma finishes pleadingly.
It takes Rikki a while to respond, within which Emma has taken several steps back and is ready to bolt down the stairs. Her phobia was taken over.
Rikki suddenly stands up and turns around with a winning smile on her face.
" That wasn't so hard now was it? " She says smugly.
" What... " Emma says, her breathing coming out in pants. She looks like she's about to pass out.
Rikki notices this. " Yo Em, are you okay? " She asks concerned as she goes to her side.
" Um, not really... Did I ever mention that I have a diagnosed fear of heights? " Emma says, holding her books tightly to her chest, as if trying to block her heart from jumping out.
" Shit. " Rikki curses then guides Emma through the door, down the stairs from the roof.
They don't stop until they are at the first floor again. As they desend the last steps, they see Cleo and Mirabelle coming towards them with worried looks on their faces. It deepens when they note the condition Emma is in.
" What happened to her? " Cleo asks as she comes to stand on the other side of Emma. They lead Emma to the wall so she can lean on it.
" We were on the roof. " Rikki explains.
" What? But Emma you know you're afraid of heights, why'd you go up there? " Cleo begins scolding Emma.
Mirabelle just stands there slightly uncomfortable, not sure what to do to help.
" Relax Cleo, I'm fine. It was worth it, at least now Rikki is no longer mad at me. We're practically best friends " Emma says, when she can finally control her breathing.
" Easy tiger, best friends is still over the top. Let's just say, I don't want to melt her face off anymore, for now tho. " Rikki says with a smirk.
Emma just chuckles.
Cleo and Mirabelle however, stare at them like they'd grown tails on their heads.
" What? How? " They say simultaneously.
Rikki sighs and goes to stand between Cleo and Mirabelle, draping her arms over their shoulders.
" To put it simply, princess Emma stalked me all the way to the roof, and literally begged at my feet for me to take her back, and I, being ever so generous and merciful, not to mention mature, decided to ease her suffering and welcome her back into the fold. Isn't that right Em? " She says and adds a wink for effect.
Emma just rolls her eyes and folds her arms " don't get too cocky Missy, I think we can all agree that I was the mature one for even apologizing in the first place... "
Cleo interrupts " wait a minute. You. Apologized. To. Rikki? " She enunciates each word as she tries to process this Revelation.
Mirabelle stares at the three of them with a small smile on her face. She feels a warm fuzziness in her chest, still unable to believe that she was no longer alone. Granted, this would all take some getting used to, it didn't matter, she would wait however long till they fully accepted her.
" Yes, Cleo, I did " Emma responds with a sigh. She was never gonna live this out.
" I thought you well then. " Cleo says grinning wildly. She is truly impressed.
" Whatever. " Emma says with a roll of her eyes.
She finally looks at Mirabelle, who catches her gaze and stiffens.
" Hey Mirabelle " she begins cautiously.
Cleo and Rikki move to the side, in order to watch The Emma Gilbert apologize for a second time that day.
" Hi.. " Mirabelle squeaks, looking down, and fiddling with the sleeve of her top.
" Listen, I'm gonna be frank with you, I'm not the nicest person in a miles radius... "
" You're telling us " Rikki mutters loud enough so everyone hears.
Cleo nudges her " Rikki " she hisses.
" What? " Rikki asks innocently.
Mirabelle's smile widens.
" But, " Emma continues now used to Rikki's antics. " I'm willing to give this friendship a try. I'm also sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable yesterday, I just don't deal with sudden changes very well. And a little word of advice... " She puts her arm around Mirabelle, and loudly whispers into her ear. The action surprising everyone " don't get too close to the crazy blonde " she gestures to Rikki, who just rolls her eyes " she can pick locks. " She finishes, as if just disclosing a deadly secret.
Mirabelle laughs heartily.
" I'll keep that in mind, thanks. " She says feeling a lot lighter than she did a few minutes ago.
" Im loving your shoes by the way. " Emma throws in for good measure.
" Thanks, they're puma's latest releases, I'm kinda obsessed. " Mirabelle replies cheerily.
" Okay... " Rikki says with a clap of her hands as she takes a step forward followed by Cleo " now that that episode of Barney is over, why don't we all go to the library and talk to our hearts content, or better yet, we go swimming. " She says enthusiastically.
Cleo immediately frowns at the mention of swimming. Emma notices, an immediately shuts down the idea.
" No Rikki, we can't go swimming in the middle of school hours " she deadpans.
" Eh, was worth the shot " she shrugs.
" I know where we could go " everyone turns to look at her. " It's on school grounds and not many people go there. " She adds.
" I like it already " Rikki says gleefully.
" What are you waiting for? " Cleo asks, hooking an arm with mirabelle's " lead the way " she says smiling.
And thus, was the start of a unique and beautiful friendship.
# # # #
OMG guys!! I can't believe it!! The Moon's Gift had surpassed 5k reads, and my heart can't deal 😩😭💓
Thank you all so much for the ongoing support, I really appreciate it. I know this update is coming quite late, and I legit have just been super busy. But I promise to update as often as I can.
So.. finally, Emma is no longer being a bitch and is now seeing the bigger picture. Don't worry tho, the drama is far from over, and things are gonna get really interesting from here on out 🙃.
Stay tuned.
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Thank you.
Till next time,
Luwiza out ✌️