Margo and Fox had planned to spend the day shopping, and invited me to tag along because well, allegedly, they had missed me.

However, I couldn't help but be a little concerned that I would become a third wheel now that the whole matter of Margo liking fox and vice versa being apparent.

Even so, I needed time out of the house that was ultimately becoming my breathing ground to do nothing all day but watch my little sisters try to find more creative ways to get themselves into trouble, and countless times I ended up trying to get them out of it.

It was good to have a break.

I just wished somewhere in the back of my mind that I could spend some more time with Victoria. She hadn't been around as frequently as the last thing she told me was that she and her family were going on a vacation for a few weeks over the break, and as her dad had put it 'no texts, no calls'.

Some families had to ruin all the fun, didn't they?

On the positive side, Victoria had sent me a package about a week ago.

A small box with a green ribbon around it, and inside it was a new mobile with a note.

For Kate, so that you don't keep running out of battery when we need to talk. Also, I feel the need to say this: you're stunning. See you when university starts up again, or maybe I'll just suddenly appear when you least expect it. If only my parents could let me out of their sight for more than a few minutes. Trying to catch a tan with them threating about how I might burn is one thing, trying to stay in touch with you is more of a concern to me. Anyway, see you soon xoxo- Victoria.

I smiled when I looked at the new phone, it already had a charm attached to it of a small bunny.

Perfect.

Once I got to the shopping centre which Margo and Fox had incited me too, it didn't take me too long to see the two of them kissing right in front of a clothes store.

Well, that would certainly attract a lot of customers and attention.

I heard a few boys whistle at the two, and it wasn't long before they ceased doing so when Margo, still kissing Fox, rose up her hand to them in not the friendliest of gestures.

Gotta love Margo.

I cleared my throat which prompted the two of them to turn to me.

"Hey hey Greene," Margo said, releasing Fox from her hold.

"So is it Fargo or Mox?" I asked.

Margo just shook her head in disbelief while Fox gave it a thought.

"None of them are really sitting well with me," Margo said.

"And to think I was being so creative," I said.

Fox just rolled her eyes but smiled, pulling me into a hug.

"We missed you," she said.

"You did?"

"Of course," Margo replied.

"I was out of eyeliner and you're the only one who has access to whatever goddess brand it is that Victoria wears,"

I just smirked.

"Yeah, well..."

"Are you two or are you two not a thing yet?" Fox chimed in.

"We're..."

"'It's complicated'" Margo joked.

"Anyways, we should get shopping," Fox stated.

Margo and I nodded and then the three of us headed into one of the clothes stores. while Margo had herself wrapped up in searching the hat section, fox got a new denim jacket and i bought some jewellery, and then my phone buzzed.

I know you're with Victoria... just wait until mum and dad find out.

"Is everything okay, Kate?" Fox asked me, noticing my concerned expression no doubt.

I just nodded and turned my attention back to my phone.

Kate- Who is this?

Your worst nightmare.

Kate- A clown?

I couldn't lie, it was starting to creep me out a little. Perhaps just a little less than a clown would...

It's me, Valerie.

Kate- Oh. Look, it was a dare. Victoria and I are just friends.

It didn't hurt to say that at all.

Maybe a little.

Valerie- And I'm the president. No. You two are up to something.

Kate- Like what?

Valerie- I don't know...Victoria doesn't like girls though, so I don't see why she'd like you.

Excuse you.

Kate- Look...as I said before, there's nothing going on...

"Hey Kate,"

When I looked up, I met eyes with Swan.

"Hey Swan," I returned, with a smile.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, Swan turned to her boyfriend for a moment and then back to me.

"Some shopping for my new University."

I had almost thought Swan transferring was just a bunch of rumours...apparently it wasn't.

"I know we were never on the best of terms, you and I...Victoria and I but, I wanted to apologise properly before I left," she gave a small smile.

"So I'm sorry for everything that happened, Kate."

"You're forgiven...as long as you hold to your apology," I stated, Swan looked slightly relieved but nodded.

"Of course. Anyway, toodles Kate, I'll see you soon," Swan headed off to another department of the store while I turned to find that Fox and Margo were already over by the checkout. So, I quickly turned my phone off so I didn't have anymore distraction from Victoria's sister from Hell, and headed over to pay for my bracelets. I would probably give Victoria one of them, I knew for certain she could almost never have enough jewellery.

//*

Once we had bought our things, the three of us headed out into the main Plaza of the shopping centre, and I turned to Fox who was thinking about where we should head next, but before I could do anything else, my phone rang.

"Is it Victoria?" Margo asked, I checked the caller I.D. and nodded, heading over somewhere quieter to answer it.

"Okay. We're in trouble," Victoria said.

"I'm guessing you know about..."

"Valerie..." Victoria sighed, and I waited for her to continue.

"Yup," she said, after some moments passed.

"She's using a photo of us kissing as blackmail...I don't understand her. Anyway, she just needs to be convinced there's nothing going on..."

"Why are you so against your parents finding out?" I blurted.

"It's pretty obvious, they don't like the whole me liking girls thing...they would honestly kick me out,"

"You don't know that..."

"Look, Kate. They don't want me to be anything besides this perfect daughter image they have in their heads and if I fall below that standard they will hate me. That includes me dating girls, they've been disgusted by that idea for a while..."

"I'm sorry,"

"I just...we need to keep this from them, okay?"

"Okay," I agreed, if this was necessary to keep Victoria safe then it would have to happen.

"Also, tomorrow, Swan wants us to meet up for somee reason," Victoria stated.

"So she can third wheel us?"

Victoria laughed gently, and then I heard her mother speak to her.

"I have to go," I could hear the reluctance in her tone.

"I'll speak to you soon,"

"You will...I'm sorry about this whole Valerie thing," she added, and then ended the call.

"Trouble in paradise?" Fox asked, taking me out of my thoughts.

"More like trouble with Victoria's sister," I sighed.

"What's up with thing one?" Margo joked.

I shook my head, so Margo's tone became more serious.

"Whatever it is, it'll be okay, Greeny,"

"I don't know. Things between Victoria and I are only known about by like, four people..."

"And half the time even you and Victoria don't know what's going on," Fox stated.

"It's just she's using a photo of us kissing as..."

"You kissed??" Fox asked.

"Well yeah...we've kissed before," I said.

"Oh yeah..." Fox replied, it seemingly dawning on her that had happened before.

"She could tell her parents about us," I said.

"What's so bad about that? You guys get an apartment together batta bing, batta boom, problem solved." Margo said.

I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not a U-Haul," I joked.

Margo just smirked. "Give it time,"

"What Margo means to say is..." Fox looked towards her for a moment before turning back to me.

"Is that whatever happens we'll be here for you, okay?"

I nodded, but the feeling of despair in my stomach wasn't doing very well at alleviating.