Francy's p.o.v

Remi came back downstairs and beckoned me to join her in my bedroom to talk in private.

"What happened with Kai?" I asked . They didn't fight because of this, did they?

Remi waved her hand nonchalantly. "Oh we talked, he's fine."

"Oh thank god." I let go of a breath of relief. He was the worst when he was angry.

"So..." Remi sat down on the bed and looked at her nails. "What are we going to do about the living-there part? How do you think Elric is going to react?"

Oh my god...Elric.. The last thing he needed to hear was this. Not to mention I was living for the moment where we could both be together this summer. How did I blank out like this?

How could I forget his problems and how worried he was.. Oh no. I'm a horrible girlfriend. A terrible person.

I dropped down on the bed next to Remi.

"Oh no Remi, what are we going to do? How will I tell Elric?"

Remi leaned her head on my shoulder. "I mean... Do we really want to go?"

I got up and looked at her. "Of course. I mean just think about it. Our first international competition might be the breakthrough for our careers. And we're going to be roommates for the summer. It's going to be so much fun."

Remi pressed her lips together. "mhmmm."

"We can stay up all night and cook breakfast together. And lavish in aesthetics. We're going to be independent. Don't you think that's going to be fun?"

"But what about your boyfriend?" She bit her lower lip.

"I don't know." I sat back down. "I don't know. I don't want to leave Elric behind. God knows I can't take him with me since he's tied up with his job." I sighed.

"Guess we shouldn't go then." Remi took my hand. "It just wasn't meant to be."

"I guess so."

Remi sighed. "It's for the best."

I glanced at her. "I'm surprised Kai let you go without a problem."

Remi looked away. "Yeaah about that.." She pulled her hand out and got up. "He asked me not to go and I told him I won't go. But it's fine, cause we just decided it was for the best."

"You what?" I tried to process what she said. "You told him you won't go?"

She took a step back. "I know I know. I'm terrible! horrible! But Francy.. How can I leave him for the summer.. You should have seen his eyes.. He was begging me to stay. He even made me an irresistible promise."

"You..." I got up and took a step towards her. "You little traitor."

She took a step back. "Francy, let's talk about this."

"What's there to talk about?" I grabbed a pillow from the bed.

She smiled. "Just think rationally.." She looked at the pillow. "The pillow can't really hurt me."

I suddenly pulled the cover from the pillow and twisted it.

Remi turned on her feet and ran out of the room.

I ran after her.

"AAAAAA.. HELP.." Remi ran into the living room circling the couch.

"I'm going to kill you." I ran after her trying to hit her with the cover.

"Aaaa.." She managed to jump forward and avoid getting hit.

She climbed over the couch and stood behind the sofa.

I still stood behind the couch and took one step on the left. I twisted the pillow cover in my hands. "You even tried to manipulate me."

"Manipulate is a bit harsh don't you think?" She awkwardly smiled.

I took a step on the right.

She moved equally to avoid me.

I whipped the cover and hit the couch making a snapping sound.

"Aaaaa." She screamed. "Francy.. Think of my children.. Your nephews."

"You don't have any yet."

She grinned. "Someday I might."

Suddenly the door opened and Ace and Elric walked in. I used the opportunity and lunged over the couch after Remi.

She screamed and ran out of the living room straight for the stairs.

Suddenly Kai walked down and she hid behind him.

I ran towards them and she screamed. She pointed at Elric and Ace. "Stop her before she kills me."

Just as I was going to reach Remi I was yanked back in Elric's arms.

"Whoa there trouble."

"Let.me.go." I struggled.

"I don't know what this is about but you should hide." He told her.

Without breaking eye contact Remi ran out of the house. "We'll talk later. Have some chamomile." She closed the door behind her.

After she was gone, I finally calmed down and Elric let me go.

I pushed my hair back and looked at Ace and Elric. "What are you two doing here?"

"What just happened?" Ace asked. "Are you and Remi having a fight or just having fun?"

"Oh...." That's when it hit me. I looked up and Kai was already backing up the stairs without a sound.

When he saw I saw him he sprinted as fast as he could and I could hear him closing the door of his room shut.

Oh you better hide.

My common sense started coming back to me. I looked back at Elric and Ace and saw the black circles under their eyes. "Are you guys okay?"

"She's back." Ace walked over and ruffled my hair. "Any food left for us?"

"Yes of course." I nodded.

I took them both to the kitchen. Mom and dad were there drinking coffee after the heart-filling breakfast.

"I bring hungry people."

"Did you guys not hear that yelling?" Ace walked in, tapping dad on the shoulder and kissed mom on the cheek.

"We heard it. I missed some noise in this house." Mom got up and instantly presented them with plates and food.

She urged them to sit down.

Dad took his phone and coffee and got up from the table leaning on the counter. "It's been a heck of a morning." He winked at me.

"Oh look at those eyebags. You should come to the hospital for some checkups." Mom looked at both of them.

As both my parents were doctors they always put health first.

"It's not good to deprive yourself of sleep or food." She told them,

"We're fine, we just have no energy left to cook food. So we came here."

"You did well." Mom said. "I told you to always come home if you need anything. You too, hon." She smiled at Elric.

But the guys were too busy stuffing their mouths to reply.

I suddenly looked down at myself and realized I was wearing my worn-out leggings covered with cat hair and an oversized white shirt that had a coffee stain on.

I took a few silent steps back and ran out of the kitchen..

Oh my god. I looked homeless and dirty and I let Elric see me like this..

AAaaaAaA.

I quickly ran into the bathroom and took off my clothes slamming them in the washing bin. I ran the water while putting my hair up and washed my face. I took a look in the mirror.

Oh my god. My eyes had dark circles that were worse than theirs. I put some makeup on and ran back into the room to get some clothes on.

I pulled out white pants from the closet which were perfect for loungewear and a skinny white spring sweater on top. It was simple, feminine, minimal, and ultra-flattering. Probably best to wipe off the memory of my last look.

I got back to the kitchen and they were already done eating and chatting up mom and dad.

"Can I talk to you?" I called Elric.

"Sure." He excused himself from the table and followed me outside in the garden.

Okay. Breathe Francy. You can do this.