POV: Skylar

"Ta-da!" Aphrodite gestured to all of us.

"Whoa..." Kenzie and I say in unison.

Aphrodite thought it would be a good idea for the four of us to get away from everything and just go on a little retreat together. She pulled out all the stops too, she and Darleen paid for it together.

The rooms are so amazing, super extravagant, and fancy. It almost felt like a crime to breathe in the same vicinity as Aphrodite. Sometimes I forget how rich she is. This spa resort has everything. A built-in five-star restaurant. An area where you can get a personal message and spa treatment. People who park your car and take your bags to your room for you. Complimentary drinks and snacks are already in your room. And my personal favorite, natural hot springs outside, ones you can even reserve for private use.

"Jaws off the floor ladies, we are high-class citizens here," Aphrodite says.

Kenzie and I look at each other and smile before running over to the biggest bed and jumping up and down on it. Aphrodite slams her palm to her face as Darleen giggles.

"This is so awesome!" Kenzie squeals in excitement.

"Make room for me!" Darleen jumps on the bed too.

"That's my bed!" Aphrodite pouts.

I jump onto the ground and grab her hands forcing her to jump on the bed with us. She rolls her eyes but eventually laughs and joins us.

"Okay, what first?" Kenzie stops bouncing.

"Hmm, good question..." I ponder next to her.

"I get the feeling you two are taking advantage of us." Darleen chuckles.

"What!?" Kenzie says.

"Us!? Never." I deny.

We look at each other and laugh again.

"Yeah right," Aphrodite smacks us with a pillow.

"You know you can't resist me," I pull Aphrodite into my arms.

She giggles and looks up into my eyes before kissing me.

"Anyway!" Darleen quickly interrupts. "How about something to eat?"

"It was a long drive since someone wouldn't let us take my jet." Aphrodite smacks me in the stomach.

"Go green, save the planet." I shrug.

"I miss Sprinkle." Kenzie pouts.

"Relax, I hired the best dog sitter. Promise. Plus, we could use a little me time." Darleen pulls Kenzie into her arms.

"Fine," Kenzie sighs.

"Well ladies, let's get dressed then." Aphrodite jumps off the bed.

So the four of us grab our finest clothes and get all dolled up for dinner.

"Sometimes I still find it hard to believe..." Kenzie says softly to me as we wait for Aphrodite to finish getting ready and for Darleen to come out of the bathroom.

"Hmm?" I turn to her.

"Sometimes I think I'll wake up and this will all be some fairy tale, and it all just vanishes in the blink of an eye. Darleen...she's really something, you know?" she meets my eyes.

Fear and vulnerability sparkling up at me from her soft grey-blue eyes.

"I know," I smile softly for her, to comfort her. "And you shouldn't worry about all that stuff Kenzie. It's real, this is all real. And even if it wasn't... you should still enjoy it. Every last second of it."

"Yeah... you're right." She forces a chuckle.

"Relax, Darleen loves you. And if she doesn't, I'll kick her butt for you and straighten her out." I bump shoulders with her.

She laughs.

My phone vibrating startles me and I look down at the caller ID, Jade.

I feel a twinge in my chest, just like always when she calls.

"You gonna get that?" Kenzie asks me.

"Oh, uh, yeah, of course." I quickly answer the phone.

"Hello?" Jade says.

"Hey," I force a chipper attitude.

Despite the fact that every time I talk to her it feels like someone is dragging my heart across broken glass.

"Hey, you didn't call today so I thought I'd call you." She says.

"Sorry, been pretty busy today. Aphrodite and I are on a retreat with Kenzie and Darleen. It was a long drive. Didn't want to call you with everyone in the car, that would have been awkward."

"Right..." she says.

The line is silent for a moment.

"How was your day?" I ask.

"It was okay. You?"

"Good."

"Good."

Aphrodite comes out of the room, her heels clicking on the wooden floor.

"Well, I have to go. Talk to you later?"

"Yeah." She clips her words.

"Bye." I quickly hang up before she can say bye.

Aphrodite eyes me.

I force a smile.

She flips her hair at me in protest before walking to the room door, leaving me behind.

"Coming or what?" She calls over her shoulder.

"Of course." I follow after her.

"We finally leaving?" Darleen yawns as she comes out of the room.

"Yes," Aphrodite says in a snappy tone.

I sigh.

Kenzie pats my back for comfort, I smile appreciatively at her.

"What'd I miss?" Darleen asks.

"Nothing, Let's go." Aphrodite leaves the room.

I sigh but follow.

We get a nice table, right next to the dance floor. A smooth jazz band plays soft music while people enjoy their meals and partake in small chatter.

"You look amazing," I say to Aphrodite.

"I know." She clips.

I pout.

Kenzie giggles at us.

"Don't be mad at me please," I beg.

"I'm not mad," she snaps at me.

"We are supposed to be enjoying ourselves." I point out.

"Skylar," Aphrodite says in a warning voice.

"Just let it go, pestering her will only make it worse. Trust me. Best just to change the subject," Darleen interjects.

Kenzie frowns at her but Darleen is too busy making goo-goo eyes at Aphrodite to notice. Aphrodite smiles cheekily at Darleen, not noticing me glare at the two of them.

Kenzie and I share unamused looks.

Soon our appetizers come out and the tension quickly dissipates as we switch topics and talk about what we plan to do tomorrow. Talking about massages and hot springs. Just chatting. When our food comes we talk about how good it is and then start talking about the best foods we've ever had. Kenzie and I have a hard time keeping up with the conversation and before we know it we are completely excluded from the conversation as Aphrodite and Darleen switch to talking about the best travel spots, then what the best country is.

I sigh and poke at my food, reminded that if not for Aphrodite I wouldn't be able to afford any of this. I soon go from feeling like a girlfriend to feeling like a freeloader.

"Dessert?" The server asks.

"No," Kenzie and I say in unison, wanting to end this torture.

But at the same time, Darleen and Aphrodite say,

"Sure!"

We sigh in unison.

"Everything okay?" Darleen turns to Kenzie in concern.

"You tell me," Kenzie grumbles.

Darleen eyes her in confusion.

I get a feeling of déjà vu.

It's like high school all over again, except this time it's Darleen who is trying to steal Aphrodite from me. But I'm not going to run away this time, this time, I'm going to stand my ground.

Just then the band changes to a more upbeat jazz song and I smirk before getting out of my chair.

"Can I have this dance?" I ask Aphrodite.

She blinks at me in surprise.

"Well?" I ask.

She smiles sweetly at me before taking my hand.

I pull Aphrodite onto the dance floor.

Everyone looks at us.

The band gets encouraged and starts to make the song even more moving.

"Do you even know how to dance?" Aphrodite asks me as we sway to the song.

"No, but I had to do something."

"Something?" she raises an eyebrow.

"Something to remind you that your attention belongs to me," I dip her.

She giggles.

I pull her up causing her black ringlet curls to cascade back to her back.

"Stop ignoring me," I rub our noses together.

"Hmm, well maybe you should stop thinking about your ex, and I'll stop talking to mine."

"If I wanted to be with Jade, I'd be with her. I want to be here, with you." I say softly.

"And I want to be here with you," she admits softly.

"Then let's stop this stupid game. We're too old for games like this. I'd hope we can be more mature than this," I spin her around.

"Did I mention I get jealous easily?" She says as I spin her back into my arms.

"I think I figured that one out on my own." I giggle.

"Did you now?" she wraps her arms around my neck.

"Did I mention I get jealous easily?" I say softly.

"Do you now?"

"I do," I admit vulnerably before kissing her.

She quickly melts into me, kissing me back.

People cheer and clap for us.

"I also get embarrassed easily," I say as I pull back.

She laughs, loud and hard.

"Babe," I pout.

"Well, you dug the grave, so you gotta lie in it."

I sigh.

"Come on," she pulls me back to the table.

"You hardly said two words to me all night!" Kenzie shouts at Darleen.

We interrupt Kenzie and Darleen's argument.

They go silent.

"Mackenzie—"

"Just don't." Kenzie gets up and walks away from the table, leaving Darleen behind just as dessert comes.

Darleen sighs and sags in her chair.

"Everything okay?" I ask.

"I don't know." Darleen runs a hand through her hair in frustration.

"Well go after her," I urge.

She stares after Mackenzie, a look of deep thought on her face.

"Go!" I gesture.

"I'll just talk to her later." She says softly in defeat.

But later as we are all back in the room, Mackenzie opts to sleep on the couch. Leaving Darleen alone in the room.

"Kenzie," I sit next to her.

"Don't defend her! You saw what she was doing! I know you did." She says with tears in her eyes.

"Mackenzie this is stupid," Darleen says.

"Just admit it! Admit it to yourself! You still have feelings for her!" Mackenzie points to Aphrodite.

The room goes deathly silent.