“Did you get that assignment for Harbridge done?” Bette asked, coolly. As dear as her friends were to her, there were things that even they weren’t privy to.

* * * * *

Dana and Alice pulled up together after having taken a detour to Alice’s home to get changed and pick up some ‘essentials’. The ride had been silent except for the sounds of the radio between them and either girl occasionally humming along.

Dana, as she drove, stole quiet glances at her blonde friend and thought back to the movie they’d enjoyed the night before. It had been a pretty typical teenage movie; the main character had fallen for one of her best friends without realising it and spent the rest of the film trying to deny it before dramatically proclaiming her love, only to find it was mutual all along.

Dana and Alice had poked fun at the synopsis because loving the best friend was so cliché and because there was no way you could fall for someone and not be aware of the feelings you have. In the fresh light of morning, Dana felt vaguely hypocritical a she realised she knew exactly how it felt to have feelings you weren’t instantly conscious of.

* * * * *

Tina’s morning was gradually getting worse; she’d struggled to stay focused in her first two lessons, left numerous books at home – and suffered the consequences of those mistakes – she’d dropped and smashed test tubes in the Chemistry lab and, as of yet, had not held a single civil conversation with anyone she was acquainted with.

Now she was running late for a meeting with the principal about how she was settling in. As she turned the corner, she felt someone stumble into her, knocking her books from her hands and subsequently further delaying her punctuality. She dropped to her knees to commence in the retrieval of her scattered texts when she noticed the feet before her hadn’t moved to assist in any way or even check she was okay.

“Nothing like chivalry in this school” she muttered acerbically, her temper peaking.

“Hello to you too, Tina” a voice spoke from above. Tina instantly regretted her tone as se looked up into Bette’s quizzical expression.

“Oh. Erm, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that, I was just running a little late, and I-“ she sighed and ran a hand through her hair, “I’m sorry. Hello, Bette.”

Bette, who’d been in a similar mood, felt herself smiling brightly at the blonde before her, “It’s fine, don’t make small talk if you’re late. Go ahead. I’m sorry about your books”

Tina glanced at the office a few feet away then back to the brunette she wanted to stay talking with, “I really am quite tardy.” She offered a small smile and proceeded forward.

Bette watched her walk swiftly to the oak door, her golden hair falling from her shoulders as she turned back to smile. Bette felt herself automatically return the gesture and she turned to leave.

“Bette,” Tina called, hesitantly, “Will I see you later on?”

Bette’s mouth stretched into another amazing smile and Tina couldn’t tear her eyes away. “Of course you will” she replied.