For Better Or For Worse | Rihanna

V; May 1st, 2002

Eden's feet kicked against the front legs of her chair. Although she was running on barely any hours of sleep, it never stopped her naturally restless behaviour.

Her eyes were glued on the clock and wordlessly begging it to move faster. In a few minutes, the clock would hit 4 o'clock, and the bell would ring. When that would happen, Eden would be the first to rush out of the room. She didn't really have any friends with whom she'd prefer to stay behind and chat, and she had personal reasons for being in a hurry.

There was a certain green-eyed girl she couldn't get out of her mind, and she was determined to see as soon as possible.

Having finally made it out of class, Eden made her way to the school's exit, being careful not to bump into anyone in her haste but completely forgoing to stop by her locker and pick up the manuals necessary for her homework. Putting her schoolwork on the back burner had become a habit too strong to dissolve, not that she cared. Eden regarded school as something that was simply not made for her, and not something she intended on sticking with any longer than necessary.

Slinging her backpack over her shoulder and jumping over her slightly oversized bicycle, she headed down the familiar roads that would lead her to the Combermere School where Robyn was just getting out of her classes.

She, on the other hand, was very meticulous in all things that concerned her school life. She would double-check her planner (which she would keep in perfect order with various post-it notes and colour codes) to make sure she knew what was to be done and what was to be brought home. Though they were both in their first year of secondary school, the gap between them could not have been any wider.

It didn't matter really, because now at 14 and 13 respectively, just like when they were 9, they were still the opposite forces that each other needed. Robyn was still true to her quiet and creative nature that never failed to draw Eden in, and she was still the heartfelt and funny girl Robyn would never go more than a day without.

As Robyn rounded the hall, her friend Melissa came into view. Melissa, being 16, was two years older than her, but the difference was rarely felt. The chemistry between them flowed just as well as any other friendship. Earlier today, while the pair ate lunch together, Robyn had brought up her difficulty with the current algebra chapter her class was covering, which led to Melissa selflessly offering to help.

The plan was for them to walk back to Robyn's house together, where Mel would help her with her homework, but almost as soon as they stepped outside, the idea was wiped from the younger girl's mind. Past the front gates where teenagers in navy blue uniforms were spilling out of, Eden stood in her own uniform of clashing colours. She had just stopped her bike, almost out of breath but hoping she had not missed her friend in the near 15 minutes it took to make it here.

Robyn had spotted her instantly and had unknowingly quickened her pace to meet her at the front gates. A wide smile grew on Eden's face when she finally recognized her neighbour, exposing the braces that had freshly been put on her.

"Hey, E!" Robyn waved shyly, suddenly unaware of what was the proper way to behave around friends.

"Hi, Rob," she responded similarly.

Eden then extended a polite nod to Melissa. It wasn't the first time the two had met, but they had never made it past the polite smiles and small talk for various reasons. For a reason she wouldn't begin to understand for another year or so, Eden always felt threatened by Melissa's presence, especially around Robyn.

"How come you're here, Eden?" Robyn spoke up.

"I wanted to walk with you home. I came as fast as I could," she laughed.