Sagittarius

What was it about the Cole mansion that made it so... cool?

Sure, the place had its own private beach and was 5 storeys, with a built-in gym, library and arcade-style games room, but there were lots of mansions with similar descriptions (for example, Gemini's place) and many that were even more decked out. But there was just something about the Cole mansion that just made it different. Maybe it was the fact that the place was home to a family like the Coles-enthusiastic, boisterous Mr. Cole, warm, loving Mrs. Cole, hyper Avi, fun-loving Libra and competitive Scorpio.

Or maybe it was the fact that for some reason, there was always somebody from school hanging around at the Cole mansion for no reason at all. It was usually Aries, but recently, Taurus, Gemini and Pisces had been stopping by a lot, and Will was currently in a guest room. I didn't know how the Coles allowed almost absolute strangers like Will into their home-my parents would have lost their crap, and I didn't even want to think about what Robyn would've done. Either way, the Cole mansion was an exciting place to be, and luckily, I lived right next door, so I got to go over whenever I wanted.

"OH, IT'S ON, ARIES!" Scorpio yelled, the two of them hunched over their controllers, playing a boxing game on the PS4 in the living room. It was scary to see how completely focused they were-hunched over their controllers, eyes never leaving the screen. Will, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy keeping to himself quite a bit. He'd been reading on the porch for the past three hours. He either really loved the book or was really annoyed by Scorpio and Aries' never-ending yelling.

Libra and I, on the other hand, were on the verge of tears, watching the last episode of Brooklyn 99 in the sitting room adjacent to the living room. We probably would have been shedding tears if it weren't for the constant 'booyah'ing coming from the other side. Competitive gaming really did ruin the vibe, but that didn't change the absolute beauty of the last episode. "It... it's over," Libra sighed as the episode came to an end. What was a world without new episodes of Brooklyn 99? What was my happiness without new episodes of Brooklyn 99?

It was nothing. Everything meant nothing without Brooklyn 99.

It had been a long ride, and now it was all over.

"SUCK ON THAT, YOU LITTLE-"

"TAKE A LOOK AT THE SCREEN, LOSER!"

"WHAT? BUT I KNOCKED YOU OUT THREE TIMES! THIS STUPID MACHINE IS RIGGED!"

Libra and I rushed into the living room to find Aries holding the PS4 above her head, ready to smash it. Even Scorpio had backed away, looking incredibly concerned. "Put the PS4 down, Aries, and let the pro show you how it's done," Libra said, a smirk appearing on her face.

"No, no, no, please, no..." I prayed.

And so it began.

.....

"HA! I WIN! AGAIN!" Libra screamed at Aries, jumping up and down on the couch. It was now 11 in the night and we were still in the living room, 5 hours after Libra had picked up a controller. Scorpio was fast asleep, snoring happily with a half-smile on his face. Will had gone upstairs to get some rest. Aries was still awake, eyes now unnaturally wide and her makeup horribly smudged while she tried to beat Libra, and I was half-asleep, watching my two best friends go head to head again and again. My eyes were, as always, on Aries, whose brows were furrowed as she watched the screen, her hands holding a controller. Her baby blue eyes sparkled and her hair, her gorgeous, gorgeous hair, was tied up in a messy bun.

There was something about that fire in her, something about that competitive flame, that drew me in. And for some reason, I liked it.

You're not with her anymore. Stop thinking about her.

"YES! YES I FINALLY BEAT Y-" Aries' head lolled back as she fell asleep, right after beating Libra for the first time. Libra growled, shaking her awake. "You cheated! REMATCH!" I loved Leebs, I really did, but even I had to admit that sometimes, that competitive streak of hers came back too fast and too hard.

"Okay, let's all go to sleep now!" I called. "Leebs, your boyfriend's out." Libra rolled her eyes, gently nudging Scorpio awake. Thankfully, she didn't have any more punches (virtual or otherwise) left in her, and so she led her boyfriend upstairs to his room silently while I bent down to nudge Aries awake. She didn't stir, which meant she was already fast asleep. "You got room for Aries?" I yelled, hoping Libra would hear.

"Yeah, there's space," she shouted in reply from Scorpio's room, which was on the second storey. "Just take her to her normal room on the fourth floor-Will's the only other person there." Deciding that there was no hope of waking Aries up, I placed my arms underneath her and lifted her up, carrying her upstairs. She didn't even bat an eye-instead she kept sleeping, or dreaming, or whatever it was she did with her eyes closed.

I arrived at the fourth floor (carrying a junior girl up four flights of stairs was a mean feat) where the Coles had built their library and added three guest rooms in the leftover space. I shoved open the door to Aries' bedroom-the last one along. I could hear the wind tunnel outside Will's room and I wondered how he slept with that unsettling noise right out of his window. I laid Aries down on her bed, ducking into the attached ensuite bathroom and reaching into the drawer for makeup removing pads. Propping Aries up (she still didn't wake up) I began to wipe the makeup off her face, layers and layers of foundation, concealer and highlight coming off in massive clumps.

This was the closest I'd ever come to holding Aries' face again. This was the closest I'd ever come to being with her again, and I hated it.

"Sarge, is everything okay?" Libra asked, standing at the door. Her eyes widened and she backed away. "I'm sorry, I'll let you have your... moment."

"I messed up with Aries, didn't I?"

"Yeah, you kind of did."

"Do you think she'll ever trust me enough to take another chance with me?"

"I don't know, Sagittarius. Do you think she can trust you."

"She could trust me with her life and I'd protect it over myself."

"Well, in that case, I think you definitely have a chance with her."

"Thanks, Leebs. You always know just what to say."

"It's all good, but just remember, Sarge, she needs time and space. Take it slow. I'm sure she'll warm up to you. Now, I'm going to sleep, so I guess you could either leave or crash in a bedroom. I'll see you tomorrow." Libra patted my shoulder gently, turning and leaving me with my thoughts and a snoring Aries.

I decided I'd go home. I needed time and space.

I supposed that in spite of our differences, at least Aries and I could both agree on our needs.