For Better Or For Worse | Rihanna

XI; October 11th, 2002

"God, I'm shedding pounds like crazy," Melissa muttered.

"What?" Robyn responded absentmindedly as she looked down both sides of the road.

"Walking home with you! Why we walking so fast? I'm getting a workout I ain't ask for."

Robyn slowed her pace momentarily and sighed apologetically.

"Girl, you know why we're walking so fast."

"I don't get it. It's been what, two weeks? If Eden actually cared to be after you, you'd know by now," Melissa tried to reason once she caught up with her friend.

The remark, as wise as it was, did nothing but nick Rob in the heart. She had been hurriedly making her way between home, school, her mother's shop, and any other place she needed to be. She had even changed her schedule. Between her extracurricular activities and practicing with her newfound girl group, there were no available spots for anyone to come disturb the certain equilibrium she'd made for herself.

"She's not ignoring me..." Robyn mumbled, stealing a glance at Mel to see if she was buying it. She wasn't in the least, and the disbelief in her raised eyebrow said it all. "I'm ignoring her, okay?"

"Okay," she agreed, stifling a laugh.

"Besides, why would she be ignoring me?"

"Same reason you ignoring her," Melissa rolled her eyes. "I'm just saying, I've seen how determined Eden can be. If she wanted your time, she'd find a way to like... I don't know; get outta class early so she could be here before you even finish."

"What's your point, Mel?" Robyn was growing frustrated by the turn this was taking.

"You're so touchy when it comes to her. Lord. My point is, you're running away from something that don't exist. Eden isn't lurking around the corner. And you're ignoring her because you wish she was. You want her around you and that's fine! Just tell her!"

"Fuck!" Robyn shouted, stomping her feet in the dirt. "It's not fine. Stop pretending like it's all roses and 'oh that shit can stay between y'all'. I'm tired, okay? I don't wanna see her. That's the point."

"Why do I care, anyway. Let's go then," Melissa sighed and began moving once again.

Taking a deep breath, Robyn calmed herself down slightly. "Wait," she reached her arm out before her friend got too far.

"I know all of this is a mess for you, and I'm just trying to help you, Robyn. But you don't have to yell at me all the time," Melissa's tone was softer, more considerate.

"I know. And you're right, I'm sorry," she couldn't muster more words than that. Robyn was beyond tired of mulling this situation over and over in her head and doing so out loud too was just overkill.

"It's fine," her friend slung her arm around her, and they continued their walk.

Unfortunately, the very day Robyn seemed to have made peace in knowing nothing was awaiting her, was the very day Eden was sitting on her own porch anticipating her arrival. She knew better than to wait at the corner because Robyn would see her there and run away before she could start.

And so, Eden saw her turn the street, still entertaining the conversation with her friend. It was Melissa who saw her first when she raised her head and her eyes fell on the younger teenager. Eden smiled slightly, knowing she had been found. She had no bad intentions and only hoped that her nonverbal language would also communicate that.

Robyn looked up too, and almost wanted to roll her eyes at the sight in front of her.

"Of course, she's here," she grumbled, still putting a foot before the other.