Asteria walked around her house showing the others what it looked liked. Asteria wasn’t as energetic as Vita was who seemed as if she was doing the tour. Asteria’s mother was watching them walk around as she smoked in the living room with a smile on her face.

“This is the kitchen. We cook stuff. Now moving on,” said Asteria as she walked to the stairs.

“I am so excited!” said Vita as she grabbed hold of Asteria’s shoulders.

Rilynn and Florian were behind them and Florian was enjoying the house while Rilynn didn’t seem to care. They made their way up the stairs and Asteria pointed to her mother’s room explaining to them that if they were to go into that room they would be eaten.

“My mother is a pervert and a sadist. She will ruin your life and suck your innocence dry. Now moving on to the restroom,” said Asteria as she made Florian shiver with fear as Rilynn nodded agreeing with Asteria.

“Your mom sounds fun,” claimed Vita pleased.

“Maybe because you are a sadist too,” remarked Rilynn.

“I see myself as more of a masochist. Get it right sweetheart,” commented Vita.

Rilynn looked over at Florian, “Getting flustered big guy,” She joked.

Florian grew more red, “Leave me alone,” He said as Rilynn continued to tease him.

They then made it into Asteria’s room. Vita immediately jumped onto her bed. Florian told Asteria she had great taste in decor. Asteria blushed as she accepted his compliment. Rilynn was walking around as Vita rolled around on the bed as Asteria sat down beside her humored by her wild nature. Rilynn looked at the desk with Asteria’s computer on it. She touched the cracks on the side of it, she looked at a painting on the wall which was signed by Asteria on the bottom of it and a dresser matching the wooden polished color of the desk. 

Asteria watched her as Florian tried to convince Vita to relax. Rilynn picked up the picture of a younger Asteria and her father. As she looked she could remember when the picture was taken. They were at Asteria’s vacation home and they were on their private side of the beach. Rilynn was swimming with Asteria and her father. Rilynn could see herself watching them craving for the same relationship that Asteria had with her father to have with her own. Asteria asked Rilynn to take the photo of them and she soon felt left out. Asteria’s father had to notice because he then made a way to take a picture of the three of them together.

“Haven’t changed a bit,” Rilynn mumbled to herself.

Rilynn placed the picture down as Asteria called out to her. She turned to face her, “I have the one where it is the three of us if you want it. I prefer to throw it in the trash but you can take it if you like.” Asteria said rudely.

Rilynn smirked, “Trash it.” She said leaving Asteria annoyed.

“You two have such a weird tension bubble going on and it’s scaring me but at the same time there is something there. I could feel it,” claimed Vita as Rilynn sat down on the bed.

“I don’t see it,” said both Asteria and Rilynn.

“Leave them be please Vita,” said Florian.

“Fine then tell us about your mom. Why did you move here?” asked Vita.

“We wanted a new start so my mother got a new job here and so we moved here. She is very ambitious and she loves to bring different men around here,”

“Are they kind to you at least?” questioned a worried Florian.

“They don’t pay any mind to me and I don’t pay any mind to them,” replied Asteria to Florian as she moved her fingers over her necklace.

Vita noticed, “What about your father?”

Rilynn looked annoyed with Vita but Asteria answered her, “He passed years ago in an accident. My mother brought this for me and since then I have wore it. I use it for a way to still think as if he is still here.” Asteria said.

Vita then hugged Asteria to comfort her, “My poor Asteria. I’m sorry I ever asked you about him. Fuck my nosy alter ago,” 

“Alter ego my ass. That’s all you miss I don’t mind my business,” said Rilynn as she blocked a sudden kick from Vita.

Florian grabbed hold of Asteria’s hand and she turned to him confused as her heart fluttered while Rilynn and Vita fought each other, “My father passed too and I’m also the only child. I know how you feel so if you ever want to talk I am here.” Florian said settling Asteria.

Asteria grasped hold of Florian’s hand as he did as well. Rilynn looked over at the two of them as the door opened up. Asteria quickly let go of Florian’s hand as her mother popped in holding movie cases. She asked them if they wanted to celebrate with movies. Asteria didn’t want to  but the others seemed to be interested even Rilynn. The kids went down the stairs and watched many movies with each other. As they watched, Asteria’s mother spoke quietly to Rilynn about how she was doing and about her parents and siblings. Asteria glanced over at them a couple times trying to see what they were talking about but she failed to hear. She made eye contact with Rilynn who stuck her tongue out and Asteria looked prepared to kill her but Florian laid his head on her shoulder as he was suddenly asleep. Asteria was so red that she looked as if she was about to explode as Vita was sobbing at the movie beside her on the couch.

It was night and the others had to leave. Asteria’s mom offered to drop them off but they wanted to walk. Asteria’s mother gave them each a hug and Rilynn a longer one as she was overjoyed to see her again after so long. Asteria was able to hug Florian and she tried to hold on but Vita pulled her into a tight hug. 

“Did you like being here today?”asked Asteria’a mother to Rilynn. 

Rilynn looked at Asteria as she said, “It felt comfortable,” She said before she turned back to face Asteria’s mother who approved of her answer by shaking her hand in her hair.

“Now it’s time for you two to hug,” said Vita as she pointed to both Asteria and Rilynn.

“No it’s fine...” said Asteria before her mother pushed them into each other forcing them to hug.

“Stop acting so strange. You two are best friends right? Years can’t change that,” claimed Asteria’s mother as she continued to glue them together. 

Rilynn decided to wrap her arms around her surprising Asteria until Rilynn started to squeeze her to death, “I have missed you so much Asteria!” She said clearly lying as Asteria tried to escape.

Asteria finally pushed her away as her mother looked happy with the result of their hug. Asteria’s mom went inside as Florian and Vita questioned them about what Asteria’s mother’s thought about their friendship. They explained to them that they always made their parents think they were close when they were actually not close at all to avoid their constant questions of why they hated each other. Florian and Vita knew that was the case and it amused Vita even more then said their last “goodbyes” and walked off leaving Asteria and Rilynn alone.

“Here,” said Asteria as she took a photo out of her pocket.

Rilynn grabbed it and it was the photo of her, Asteria, and her father, “I said trash it. I don’t want it,” She said.

“I don’t care. Keep it,” 

“Fine whatever. I will see you tomorrow,” said Rilynn as she placed the photo in her pocket and walked away.

“Hey!” said Asteria causing Rilynn to turn back to her.

“What is it?” asked Rilynn.

Asteria was soon back in a memory of when they were children. It was of her and Rilynn outside in their school’s gardens. It was raining and Asteria looked behind her to see a crying Rilynn. Younger Asteria was about to say something but Asteria was back to normal facing the older Rilynn asking her what she wanted the second time.

Asteria’s frown turned to a smirk, “Be ready because at gym tomorrow I’m going to show you that I have changed,” Asteria declared.

Rilynn smirked back at her and then she left. She walked around the corner at the end of the street as the black car that was following them before pulled up beside her. Rilynn hopped inside and said “hello Desmond” to the driver. 

“You didn’t have to follow me here,” said Rilynn as Desmond drove off.

“I was just doing my job and I can’t believe little Asteria has grown up so well. I was going to approach but I know you hate when I show up,” said Desmond. 

“Me being technically the richest kid at the school is already enough and the other kids there don’t have personal drivers to pick them up not even Florian’s rich ass,”

“Your parents think it will keep your safe. They love you, Rilynn,”

“Sure they do,” said Rilynn as she looked out the window.

Florian and Vita were walking and Vita was trying to understand why he wanted to walk her home when she lived so far, “Go home Florian. I will be fine,” She demanded..

“Can’t you call a car from your house? I’m sure someone will be available to pick you up,” said Florian.

“No. I like to walk same as you do so head back. It’s late,”

“I’m just going to follow you then,”

Vita turned to him annoyed but she then started ahead of him as he followed her with blushed cheeks. Back at Asteria’s house she was in her room when he mother walked in. She sat down on the bed and asked how she felt about seeing Rilynn again.

“It wasn’t anything special. It just reminded me of the old days a bit,” answered Asteria.

“I hope not the bad ones,” said her mother as she touched her necklace.

“No,” said Asteria as she could see Rilynn’s crying face again.

“Well I’m glad Rilynn is back. She is such a great young girl, vey polite, and kind,” 

Asteria looked disgusted as her mother talked about Rilynn. She soon demanded for her mother to leave who gave her a quick kiss on her forehead in  Asteria rubbed off. Asteria’s mother walked out the room and headed to hers. She sat on her bed and looked at the photo of her and her husband at their wedding. She was pregnant with Asteria at the time. She picked up the photo and she kissed it as tears fell down her face.