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Seven

By the time Billie had groggily joined us for breakfast the following morning, me and Finneas were having light conversation amongst the chatter of the other families dotted around the small, illuminated restaurant. The sun shone through the large windows, seeping into where we were sitting.

"You had to wear school uniform? Like the 1800's?"

A small giggle escaped my lips. "Not quite the 1800's Finn, but, uh, yeah."

"Oh my god! Whaaaat?! Were they, like, itchy and super uncomfortable?" Claudia chimed in.

"Not really. They were just extra clothes, I guess. Like when you guys have to get changed for gym... Or whatever. It's a certain shirt, right? I had that but for school itself."

Claudia mouthed an "ohh" as Finneas chuckled. "I was homeschooled. I did it in the clothes I slept in, I think I win."

Claudia shoved him in frustration as she leaned over to ask me more questions. "So... Do you get to keep them? Do you still have them? Do you wear them?"

Of course Claudia would ask those questions.

"Yeah, I still have all of it. They're very bland though. The last year of primary school you get to get people to sign their name on your shirt and then you go around signing your name on theirs so we don't forget each other. Everyone did it, but that was years ago."

"You have to show me when you go home. We never did anything fun like that growing up." She said, poking at her toast that was on her plate.

"Will do." I nodded. "Y'know, thinking back on it, it was actually kinda stupid more than it was fun."

"Yeah." A cold voice spat behind us, "Sounds like something the lame kids do. It's not like y'all ever saw each other again after that anyway, right? Why bother signing silly little shirts for people that aren't gonna stick around?"

I suddenly heard the piercing screech of the chair legs collide with the floor as Finneas swiftly stood up all of a sudden. "I think I'm finished. Since, someone here clearly wants all the attention now. Sorry, Alex."

"Takes one to know one." Billie mumbled.

Finneas rolled his eyes and ignored his sister's bitter remark. "Coming, Claudia?"

She nodded and turned to me. "We're all meeting everyone at the venue then going ice skating after sound check, meet you there." She smiled, before clearing her plate and following Finneas out of the hotel restaurant.

I heard Maggie scold Billie on the other side of me. Saying something about not to barge in conversations negatively like that.

"He's so immature." I heard Billie whisper.

The more me and Billie got closer as people, the more I found she started to get aggravated at the smallest of things.

Once Finneas and Claudia were gone, and Maggie was back to talking to Patrick, I felt a warm hand slide up the small of my back, under my hoodie.

"I'm not good at apologies, so we gonna pretend I didn't do whatever I did yesterday and continue on as normal. Cool?"

I rolled my eyes and prodded my spoon in the bowl in front of me. "Billie, you can't just have an outburst and spit out an 'I'm not good at this' and expect me to kiss the ground you walk on. I know you're powerful, and you expect things to just... Be normal, but I'm a real person with real feelings too."

I bit my lip.

Was that too much?

I heard her sigh and lean back in her seat, her nails now scratching the material of my vest slightly. She cleared her throat.