Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except the drama and tension I'm going to cause. Enjoy.

AN#1 – I am so sorry for the delay in this update. Work really suddenly became hectic, like 30-40 hour workweeks, and I haven't done those since March, so I found myself completely tired and useless with the writing. And they will probably continue up until Xmas, so please be patient with me, I'm writing as much as I can!

-

Chapter Nine

"Trust me. Everyone is less mysterious than they think they are."

-

I smiled, as I watched Cass practically float around the shop, greeting the random customers that filtered in and out and she glowed with happiness, with love. After spending a year with her believing she was happy, I now had the sneaking suspicion that she never really was. Happy, that is.

And I knew she wouldn't deny it. She wouldn't deny anything ever again, having denied him for a year. Luke had filled me in as soon as they'd been out of earshot. And for a moment, it had been like old times. And then, the old times melded with the new, and I saw and felt that life could have always been this way. Luke and I as the friends, Ric and Cassie as the soul mates.

Parker had taken it as we'd expected. Screamed about infidelity, threatened Cassie that karma would get her, then stormed out of the house. Out of our lives. Without Cassie mentioning once that maybe it was karma coming back to bite her. I was proud.

The most pleased about the situation? Pippa. She'd sat happily as she watched Parker rant and rave, and the proceeded to tell her to have a nice life, and offered her back the gift Parker had given her for Christmas. I'd controlled my laughter at that moment. Cassie was proud.

It had been five days since Parkers overly dramatic exit. Five blissful days for Cassie and Ric. Five hectic days for me. New Year sales just weren't as much fun when you were on the other side. The dark side. The side of the retail employee.

Drama queen much? Seriously, unless you've worked the rush, you cannot understand the pain that it was.

But by the fifth day, everything had quietened. But Cassie was still walking on air. Glowing from the inside out. And I wasn't going to take that away from her with my foul mood. And so contently I worked on, because in the end, clothes and shoes were my life, and accessories my soul. At the end of the day, heaven is where I was.

"Excuse me dear." A little old lady said from next to me, interrupting my thoughts.

"Oh I'm sorry." I replied, smiling at her kindly "Is there anything I could help you with?"

"Pet, I was wondering," She asked, pulling a bag from behind her and shoving it at me "If there was any way that this could be exchanged. Apparently I'm too old to shop, and my granddaughter didn't like it." She said spitefully. "I tell you, the youth of today." She added, shaking her head as I peered into the bag. At the very bottom lay a dark item of clothing. Instantly I checked the tag, and found that it was indeed a piece from our shop.

"I'd be happy to give you a refund." I replied quickly, not wanting to keep her waiting. "If you'd just follow me to the counter, I'll fix it up for you." I said, smiling warmly, as she returned the smile.

"Now, why can't I have a nice little darling like you for a granddaughter?" She asked me as we walked towards the counter. "I'm sure you're not a spoilt little brat." She bit evilly, and I shook my head, laughing a little. Old people were so funny.

Ringing up the refund, I passed her the money and smiled once more. "I'm sorry for any inconvenience." I said, but the lady laughed it off.

"I'm the one that should be apologising, if it wasn't for that snake." She said harshly, waving as she waddled back through the shop. Sighing to myself, glad for the moment of peace I'd been given, I began to look at the black garment more carefully. In the soft light it shimmered, as the soft fabric fell to reveal a tight black top. Giving the illusion of silk, the material was threaded together beautifully, and across the back was an intricate design sown in.

"What you got there?" Cassie said from behind me, causing me to jump in surprise.

"Jeeze, sneak much?" I asked, as she smiled at me, taking the shirt from my hands before I could protest. "Ohh, this is nice." She continued, "I really like it…" She began.

"Now wait a minute." I said finally, attempting to snatch it out of her grasp, but she held it high above my head.

"…on you." She finished, smirking and I let out an exasperated gasp.

"Damn straight." I replied, laughing a little as I held it up against me.

"Oh, that's lovely." A sweet voice said from behind me, and I turned to see Luke, Ric and Sara standing at the counter. "Really, that's possibly the most stunning top I've seen all year." She continued throwing the compliments down, as I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

Cassie squealed from next to me, and ran into Ric's arms, as he picked her up and twirled her around, pulling her too him as her lips touched gently against his own, and finally, I rolled my eyes, unable to take any more of their public displays of affection. Sometimes, you just had to draw the line.

"So Mattie." Sara said, sidling up next to me "How's your day been?"

"Yeah," Luke threw in "Anything exciting happen? Any shoplifters or robberies?" He said jokingly.

"Yes, all of the above. And then we cured cancer." I replied sarcastically, throwing Luke a look. "The only good thing has been the lady who returned this top." I said, holding it dreamily up once more.

"Its just my size." Sara sighed from next to me, so simply, that I couldn't believe it had actually happened. But there she was, looking it up and down, and I knew the moment was here.

The moment that would define me as the bitter, spiteful ex-girlfriend, or willing and excepting friend.

What to do? What to do…

"Would you like to try it on?" I asked, as her eyes flicked up to my own.

"Oh no. I couldn't…" She began, and again, the eye roll was suppressed.

"No, really. It would look stunning on you." I said.

Liar, liar pants on fire.

"Oh, well," She said timidly, looking between Luke and I, as he grinned at us happily, "if you insist." She finished, flashing me a smile that was clearly code for, 'Ha, round one to the new girl in his life.' Handing over the top reluctantly, I showed her in the direction of the change rooms and rubbed my head as she skipped away happily.

A cough behind me made me turn around, to see Luke standing there still. He smiled awkwardly at me as he approached slowly. "That was nice, what you did there."

"All I did was make a sale." I said bluntly, but Luke saw past the façade.

"No, you made an effort. Don't think it's gone past me Mattie." He said, as I looked towards him. "I know, since before Christmas, things have been a bit… weird…" He said, stepping closer towards me "But seeing that, and all the other little things you've done since then… I didn't know if you'd have it in you…" He said, but I cut him off.

"Excuse me?" I said under my breath so I wouldn't cause a scene. "You didn't know if I'd have what in me?" I asked him accusingly, as he stepped back a little. "You obviously don't know anything about me to begin to believe what I think you are. I've told you over and over." I said harshly.

"Mattie I…" He began finally.

"Lucas, you need to see me in this…" Came Sara's voice in the background. "Seriously, its like this top is made for me." She cried happily, as Luke looked at me, broken.

"Go." I said finally, abruptly. "You're girlfriend wants to see you, and I really don't."

-

I sighed, as I flipped the sign to closed and walked towards the back of the store. My feet ached and my head hurt, and my mind was swirling with thoughts. From my confrontation with Luke today, from the flashes of dreams that were haunting me.

A white dress.

Waves crashing against the shore.

A darkened sky in the distance.

The wind whistling in my ears.

My hair whipping in my faces.

Someone calling my name.

Fleeting moments, that didn't last more than seconds. But moments that had been will me all summer. Moments that would not disappear.

"What's up Tilly girl?" Cassie asked me happily as I reached the till where she was counting the days takings.

"Nothing. Only egotistical males, and evil females who steal the shirt of the century in their little sickly sweet innocent way. She thinks she's so … mysterious" I snapped, "So perfect, so indestructible." I continued, mimicking her.

"Trust me." Cassie said, taking my shoulders, and gripping me firmly. "Everyone is less mysterious than they think they are." She said, a sly smile appearing on her face, causing me to grin a little. "Everyone?" I replied, raising my eyebrow a little.

"Well," Cassie said, taking my hand as she closed the till, having locked the money in the safe. "Maybe you'd have been that mysterious," She said, flicking off the switch and locking the front door, "if you'd have bought that top." She finished finally, jumping away quickly as I moved to slap her.

"Not nice." I muttered through clenched teeth, as she grinned at me, putting her arm around my shoulder and leading me out the back door.

"I know, but I couldn't resist, Miss Spiteful, Doom & Gloom. It was too easy."

"Isn't it horrible to kick someone when they are down already?" I asked, as she just laughed at me.

Sometimes, I wondered why we were still friends. Other times, the reasons were slapping me in the face… or hugging me around the shoulders.

-

AN#2 – Did you like it? Did you hate it? Reviews are Love, and will probably make me want to sit down and write more when I've got the time… this weekend maybe. Hopefully people will still want to read this story.