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- 4 FOUR 4 -
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Though it had taken quite a lot of pleading and promise making, Emily and Elizabeth got the approval they had been hoping for, eagerly packing up for the weekend on Spoon Island. Being a prince, he doesn't require much by way of adult supervision, which made the freedom of the weekend make them itch for it even more. They couldn't wait to do as they pleased for an entire weekend. No stresses of school. No expectations from family. Just three friends hanging out for the weekend.

"That your sketchbook?" Emily questions as Elizabeth slides an item into her bag. "Can I see?"

"Um...yeah. Sure." Elizabeth says pulling it out, holding it for a moment before handing it over. "Just don't judge too harshly, okay?"

"As if I'd ever." Emily counters before sitting crisscross on the bed, sketchbook upon her lap as she flips through the pages. "Are you kidding me?"

"Hey, you said you wouldn't judge..."

"Are you seriously kidding me, right now?" Emily looks up from the sketchbook to meet her eyes. "How could you not tell me that you had this kind of talent."

"You're just saying that." Elizabeth says as she tries to take the sketchbook back, but Emily keeps it out of her reach. "Come on, give it back."

"If I didn't really mean it, I'd have said something more mundane." Emily points out as she opens up the sketchbook to one of her favorites. "You have a real talent, Liz. Please tell me that you're seriously considering art as a career."

"Its just a hobby." Elizabeth says, finally getting her sketchbook back. "Something I do to express myself. That's it."

"Collecting bottle caps, is a hobby, Liz." Emily counters. "What you do...that level of talent...that's more than just a mere hobby."

"Okay, fine...its more than a hobby."

"Damn right." Emily says seriously. "Do you use other mediums than sketching?"

"I used to, but art supplies are hard to come by for me."

"What else have you done?"

"I've dabbled in various painting styles and sculptures." Elizabeth admits. "I'm still not too good at sculptures, but I've always loved painting."

"Wow." Emily shakes her head after a moment. "That's amazing. I hope you really consider making it a career."

"You really think so?"

"Definitely." Emily assures. "Really, Liz, you've got a real talent."

"Thanks, Em."

"Anyway, we better get going before Nik starts to worry." Emily says as she hops off the bed. "You know how he gets when we're even a little late."

"Yeah." Elizabeth laughs softly. "He's such a worry wart sometimes."

"No kidding." Emily shakes her head, grabbing her bag from where she tossed it by the door. "I think he takes those three years to his head."

"Well, he is older than us." Elizabeth reminds her as they head downstairs. "Three years is a pretty decent gap."

"Its three years." Emily scoffs. "Its not like its ten years."

"True." Elizabeth accepts. "Then again, he's also a prince, I think it comes with the territory."

"I guess." Emily says as they climb into the town car to be dropped off. "Either way, the guy really needs to learn to lighten up sometimes."

"That's what he has us for." Elizabeth counters with ease. "To tease the heck out of him and break him out of his princely routine."

"Right?" Emily agrees. "He's so lucky to have us."

"So lucky." Elizabeth laughs. "I mean, who else will keep that prince on his toes if we don't?"

"Oh, we're so bad." Emily laughs along with her. "Good thing he loves us, huh?"

"Yup."

Arriving at the launch, the girls thank the driver before boarding the boat to head to Spoon Island. Enjoying the breeze off the water, they kindly ask the captain to take his time getting to the island, wanting to enjoy the moment while it lasts. When the boat finally gets to the docks, Elizabeth and Emily both tip the captain before thanking him for the safe, enjoyable journey across the water. Taking the steps to the house, they can't help but wonder how the weekend will go, immediately stopped in their tracks when they get to the top and find Nikolas wasn't alone. Lucky was there.

"Um, nope." Emily says with a shake of her head before spinning on her heels. "Not happening."

"Em, wait." Nikolas calls out to her before letting out a sigh. "Liz, would you take Lucky inside, please? We'll be there in a minute."

"Sure." Elizabeth says with a shrug before pushing open the door. "After you."

"Emily wait up." Nikolas calls out to her as he rushes after her. "Seriously? You're seriously going to swim back to shore?"

"Beats staying here." Emily counters. "It was supposed to be just the tree of us, Nikolas."

"Its just Lucky." Nikolas points out. "Sarah's not here."

"And?" Emily counters. "You think she won't come looking for him like she always does? Ugh, where's Liz?"

"I asked her to go inside with Lucky." Nikolas replies. "The guy that's still your friend, I might add. Not to mention, my brother."

"Yeah, sure, he's still my friend...for now." Emily counters. "Until that witch makes him choose."

"You really think he'd turn his back on you after all you've been through?" Nikolas questions. "You've been best friends for too long to believe that would happen."

"Fine, fine." Emily sighs. "I still don't care as long as Sarah showing up is a possibility."

"She won't." Nikolas assures. "Even if she does, Lucky already swore to leave if she does. Its gonna be fine, Em, really."

"You said that last time, too."

"Yeah, well, this time's different." Nikolas promises. "Come on, Liz is still up there and you know she's been looking forward to riding Sheba."

"Fine, fine." Emily groans, sliding her shoes back on before grabbing her things. "But only because Liz is still inside. Nice play, by the way."

"It was a last resort." Nikolas admits, taking one of her bags to help her carry them to the house. "He's still Lucky, you know. He's still one of us."

"Yeah, yeah." Emily shakes her head. "Lets just get this over with."

Walking into the house together, they were surprised to hear laughter coming from the living room, both standing at the doorway watching as Elizabeth and Lucky stand off to the side talking. Clearly, the two of them weren't letting the weirdness of Sarah plague their encounter. From the laughter bubbling out of both of them, it was evident that they were getting along just fine.

"See." Nikolas gestures to the two. "If they can put Sarah aside, don't you think you can, as well?"

"Yeah, yeah." Emily says with a roll of her eyes before making their presence known. "Well, who's ready to party?"

"Em." Lucky walks over to her. "We okay?"

"Yeah." Emily nudges him playfully. "We're good."

"Great!" Elizabeth exclaims. "That means we can finally get to that pizza. It looks way too good to go to waste."

"You had me at pizza." Emily replies, linking arms with Elizabeth and walking over to the table of food. "Hey, Liz..."

"Yeah?" Elizabeth looks at Emily curiously. "What's up?"

"You and Lucky."

"Eh, he's okay." Elizabeth shrugs, glancing back at the guys as they settle the bags in the corner of the room. "Artist to artist, we've agreed to leave my sister out of it."

"You can do that?"

"I've left my sister out of most of my life." Elizabeth says with a shrug. "Not that hard to do it now."

"Makes sense."

"Besides, I have what she doesn't." Elizabeth points out as the put pizza onto their plates.

"What's that?"

"You." Elizabeth says with a soft smile. "As long as we've got each other, its 'Sarah, who?' at this point."

"You really have a way with words, you know." Emily says, hugging Elizabeth tightly. "You're the best."

"That is why we're best friends, after all." Elizabeth laughs. "Do me a favor, will ya?"

"Of course."

"Don't let Sarah being with Lucky stop you from being his friend." Elizabeth asks. "Its unfair to both of you to let her come between you guys. Okay?"

"Okay." Emily smiles softly. "You really are just a big softy underneath it all, huh?"

"Don't tell anyone."

"I think they already know." Emily laughs softly. "Shall we get them a slice?"

"I think we shall."

As thoughts of Sarah cease, the atmosphere in the house eased out, soon laughter could be heard as four friends enjoy the day together. Though they wouldn't be able to ride horses till the next day, the four friends come up with ways to enjoy themselves within the house. As they settle in for a movie marathon, Elizabeth takes a moment to just appreciate the company and the memories they will continue to make during this weekend long hangout. She's never really had true friends, people to hangout with like this, and she couldn't help but feel blessed to have it now. Settling into a seat next to Emily, the two share a soft smile before the nestle under the blankets for the marathon, both equally happy to be there in that moment.