You're Mine

Chapter Six

-Ashley- (Wednesday)

My eyes are wide open, my heart almost lurching out my chest as I take in the girl in front of me.

It's Riley. In every damn coffee shop in this city, we walk into the one she works in.

She looks the exact same as three years ago, her hair a little lighter from the blond highlights and her skin a little more tan and freckled. She seems smaller, somehow. As if Chris made her smaller, taking her personality away. 

Skye huffs beside me, tapping her foot. "Are we going to get served or are you going to stare?"

Riley rolls her eyes immediately, finally looking away from me as the girl next to her darts forward to move the muffin. She bins it and wipes her hands, offering us both her best customer service smile.

She rattles some greeting and takes Skye's order as I watch Riley fix something in the back. She's making coffee now? I thought she graduated like three weeks ago. What the hell happened that she isn't working? 

Skye slams the money on the counter, bringing my attention back to them and practically snarls at the poor girl. To her credit, she doesn't cower and I can see her resisting rolling her eyes. 

"You can't just give it to me?" Skye snaps, fiddling with her purse. Money isn't a problem- she just likes to use her fame to get as much free stuff as she possibly can.

"I can't." The girl mutters, her eyes still on the screen. Riley pulls something out a machine, throwing it down before starting to head over to us.

"Why the hell not?" Skye tilts her head sideways at the girl. I open my mouth to tell her just to pay, but I'm beaten to it.

"Why the hell should you get it for free? Because you wear clothes and walk up and down for a living?" Riley folds her arms, waiting for a reply. Skye scoffs.

"Keep the change." She grumbles, walking off. I resist laughing and give my order to the girl, trying to keep it simple.

She seems grateful that I'm not so difficult, smiling as I hand her the money. Riley is completely ignoring me, huffing at Skye's ridiculous order.

She starts making it, the girl falling into place beside her. They work quickly between the two of them, in perfect co-ordination.

My heart aches a little watching them, seeing how well they interchange and chat. It reminds me of the two of us when we were younger, before everything fell apart.

Before I got selfish. Before we both lost our heads. Before her stupid ex-boyfriend made her act ridiculous and I forgot to be emphatic. 

Our coffee orders are handed out to us and Skye babbles on about hailing a cab. I hand her my coffee, telling her to wait outside for a moment.

Approaching the counter I can feel my nerves build until they feel mountain high and I cough lightly to catch her attention.

I know she's heard me, but she takes her sweet time turning around to face me and folds her arms immediately. Defensively.

"It's nice to see you." I say, leaning on the counter. She steps forward.

"You too. I heard you'd be in the city." She was always so good at keeping her face neutral- perfectly still so you got no betrayal of how she was feeling on the inside. She's doing it now.