I woke up Monday morning with a headache forming in my temple from the red wine the night before. I sat up and held my head, moaning at the throb.

"Why?!" I asked myself "why do you still drink red wine"

It hadn't ever been my friend, and yet I still allowed it past my lips whenever I was home and with my Theíes. They were not the best influences, and both had had to stay over last night after drinking too much and not being able to drive home. Uncle Tony had arrived an hour ago and collected Demitra, and YiaYia had driven her car home herself. Thea I imagined would sleep it off and head out late morning.

I followed the smell of bacon, stumbling from my bed and throwing a blue hoody on as I made my way down the stairs to find its location.

Mama was at work, Bastion at school. Mom had her laptop open at the breakfast bar. She lowered her brand new expensive reading glasses down her nose and took in my sore head "You look..."

"Like I feel" Thea interjected, turned at the stove where she was cooking up a feast. She came and greeted me with a kiss on both cheeks. "But we had fun didn't we?!" She asked, giving me a wicked little laugh as she nudged me and went back to cooking.

I dragged myself over to sit next to my Mom, and stole her orange juice. I sipped it slowly, hoping the urge to throw up wouldn't come. "I don't remember anything past nine pm"

Mom laughed a little as she went back to her work "You should be glad of that"

I widened my eyes, a flashback making me nervous. I placed down the juice and reached for my cell in my pocket.

Drunk texts, if they could be awarded medals for level of regret, then I would be decorated in them.

I held my breath as I opened up my texts. The last one was to Daisy.

- I really want to kiss you.

Daisy-
Are you drunk?

- No

Daisy-
Go to bed

- Only if you come with me.

Daisy-
Olympia!! Go to bed now before you say anything else you'll regret in the morning.

- I won't regret telling you anything. I want you!

Daisy-
well you can't have me.

-why?

Daisy-
because I'm with someone else. It's complicated.

-Then uncomplicate it?

Daisy-
Olympia... just go to bed.

- just tell me you don't want me and I'll go to bed.

Daisy -
I don't. Goodnight.

****

It may have been the day after, and I may not have any recollection of this, but it if I wasn't already, it would have sobered me up instantly. I was embarrassed that I had made such a confession whilst intoxicated, and even more crushed that her reply had been so cold and blunt. After seven years I had reached out messily. I sucked! And she sucked! She really really sucked. I felt tears starting to form behind my eyes. I had no intention of crying, not today, not over this. Olympia get your shit together. Let it go. Don't cry. Don't cry. Please don't cry.

Thea placed down a plate. She had made pancakes, bacon, eggs, and syrup covered strawberries.

"Thankyou" I told her, my voice faltering slightly as I rubbed at my eyes with the large hoody sleeves.

Both Thea and my Mom watched me closely as I took the fork and started to take a bite of the pancake stack. My voice had faltered, and they hadn't missed it. They both looked concerned.

"What happened?!" Mom asked.

I coughed to clear my throat "nothing" I lied, taking another bite. It was only then that I noticed the spray paint on my finger tips. Startled I dropped the fork, it clanged on the plate below.

I stood up and inspected my hands and arms "Did I go out last night?!" I asked, panicked.

Thea nodded "briefly"

"Oh no" I groaned.

I ran from the kitchen, taking the stairs two at a time and running to my room to change quickly. I threw on jeans and the hoody, tying my unruly hair up into a messy bun. I grabbed toothpaste and baking soda from the bathroom and the kitchen, and then went out front into the garage and grabbed a bucket, a sponge and the car cleaner. I filled the bucket with water and quickly made my way down the road.

Security Steve gave me a nod "been a while" he noted, gesturing to the bucket of water.

I shook my head, furious with myself "it seems I haven't learnt my lesson"

I went out of the gate and did the walk of shame to Daisy's house. Luckily they hadn't left the house yet. Daisy's brand new white Honda now had a back bumper with a decorative design on. "I'm a horrible artist" I groaned to myself.

I bent down behind the car, hoping I wasn't visible as I washed and scrubbed that car with everything I had. The toothpaste and baking soda mix was working well. My head throbbed, my hands ached, and my guardian angel gave in her resignation. This was ridiculous. I had no self control when intoxicated. I did not like myself today. Not one bit.

Once most of it was gone, I took out the magic pen I had bought last year for patching up paintwork on cars and I carefully blended out the last of it white to match the car. Unless you had a magnifying glass you could no longer make out the outline of a cartoon Daisy flower, with hands and arms, knife in hand, thrust into a broken heart.

"Sooo dramatic" I sighed.

"Wow" came a voice from behind me. "I never thought I'd get an Olympia special. I'm surprised you didn't trash the entire car, it's like a blank canvas for an impulsive girl like you"

I quickly turned, throwing everything back in the bucket and standing to Daisy's height "I'm sorry" I apologised.

She threw open her car door and lifted a suitcase onto the backseat. "It's fine" she replied, half in her car, adjusting another suitcase on top of the other. "Looks like you got it all"

"Where are you going?" I asked.

She appeared from inside of her car and shut the door "I finally got an apartment near the studios. I can get into work a lot quicker now, and I'm out of my dad's and Scouts hair. He can have his hobby room back now"

"I hope it's not because I came home" I asked.

She smiled, reaching toward me and swiping a bubble off of my cheek with her fingers. A little gesture, but her smile caught me off guard. She wasn't mad, and she wasn't hiding the affection I saw in her either.

Her gaze moved from my eyes, down to my hand holding the bucket "You are so impulsive Olympia Nomikos"

I agreed. "I'm working on it"

She smiled with that look of affection once more "Don't. Change, I mean. I think it's just you. I have always admired that part of you"

"The vengeful part?" I asked amused.

"No" she shook her head "the passionate part"

I placed the bucket down, my hands had become numbed with the cold air. I rubbed them on my sleeves to alleviate the sensation "I'm sorry about those texts last night" I apologised. "I don't remember sending them"

"That's okay. I'm sorry I was blunt" she apologised in return "you hit a nerve"

"Which one?" I asked.

"All of them" she returned with a little laugh "you have a way of getting to me. I hate it"

I saw movement in my peripheral, Daisy's dad come out of the house behind us. He stood on the porch with arms folded, observing us "I'm sorry" I apologised again "I'll get back out of you life. I didn't mean to upset you. I only wanted to see you, and to make sure you were okay. I'll go. Please ignore everything I said last night. I hope your new relationship goes well. You deserve it all Daisy. Everything"

I waved at Mr Darling, picked back up the bucket and looked back to her one last time "See you around"

She looked hesitant, but she gave me a little wave as I departed "look after yourself Olympia"

***
Mr Darling walked over slowly as Olympia made her way back up the road. He stood beside Daisy and took her hand as she stood in silence, not once taking her eyes off of her as she slowly vanished from sight.

"You sure" he asked "that this woman you're seeing is the one. An apartment is a wonderful and expensive gift... and I know you've always wanted to settle down, but making the wrong decision could cost you my girl. It could cost you way more"

"Im not sure about anything anymore. Why does she get to me like this?!"

"Which one?" He asked.

"Both" she replied. "One swept me off of my feet, and has given me everything I ever wanted in such a short space of time... including orchestrating my promotion that's coming this week, only to suddenly go cold this weekend. Then the other. Olympia..." she sighed. "She's suddenly here. She's here and she's saying all the things I've wanted to hear for as long as I can remember. And instead of being enraged by her audacity to show up after seven years of no contact and act like this with me ...." She looked at her dad, regretfully "I want to hear more..."

"That's okay sweetheart. It's okay to feel however you feel. There is no right or wrong. I only ask you take your time. Don't commit to anything before you've explored these new feelings and what they mean. Focus on your career, for now. It's a big week for you. I like them both. I just don't want you to get swept up in the world they live in and the shiny way it can lure you in. It all comes down to one thing at the end of the day my sweet, the last person you think of before you go to sleep, and the first person you think about when you wake up in the morning. Your answer lies there"

"I love you dad"

"I love you too Dai"