It was late afternoon the Friday before semester finals and there were clear skies outside. Inside, Skye sang along to the song Mother Knows Best because she watched her favorite movie Tangled. Skye was in her kitchen and wore black tights, plain white t-shirt, and fluffy crimson slippers. Her maid Elena emptied the bottle of red wine into a glass and handed it to Skye. Then Elena uncorked another bottle.

Skye headed back to the couch where she had spent most of her time with Cole. Maria sat alone at Skye's kitchen table on one of the bar stools. Skye stumbled past Maria on her way back and shouted, "My birthday's tomorrow! Yay!" Skye tried to give her a high-five, but Maria did not move. Her breath wreaked of alcohol.

Maria said with aggravation, "That quit being funny three weeks ago."

"What did you get me?" Skye slurred her question.

"I'm not telling, and I think you need to pace yourself."

"We have to do something special. It's my Sweet Sixteen birthday. Woohoo!" She raised her hands in the air and spilled her wine.

"I got it." She told Elena, getting out of the barstool. "I have nothing else to do."

Maria used her napkin to clean up the wine off the hardwood floors. The rough paper was too thin, and her hand got wet.

Skye curled up on the couch next to Cole. He draped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. Skye asked him, "What did you buy me for my birthday?"

"Nothing. I don't have any money."

"Are you ..."

"... No. I'm not lying to you surprise you later." They kissed.

Hope burst through the closed front door, slamming it against the wall. The sound startled her and hurt her ears. Hope wore gray sweatpants and a faded black Ahsoka t-shirt. Her hair was in a ponytail and she was barefoot.

"Cole!" She yelled. She was breathing heavily.

"Hey, Hope. Where have you been?" Maria asked.

"Studying and trying to print another ETFE test film, which would be easier if you-know-who would quit making out with the Princess." She marched to the couch and hovered over Cole.

He did not acknowledge her because he was kissing Skye. She smacked him on his back. The sound echoed through the house.

"Ow!" He turned to see her. "Oh, hey Hope."

Hope shouted, angrily, "We are behind, and you need to get back to work."

Cole jumped up. "Your wish is my command."

"No. It's not. If it was, I wouldn't be here, and we'd be winning."

Skye stood up and said, "That's OK. I need to go see if Marcus bought enough food, drinks, and booze.

She hobbled to a case grabbed a different bottle of wine. "We're gonna have to try this next."

She switched her attention to Hope. "Hey Hope, did you know my Sweet Sixteenth birthday's tomorrow?"

Hope paid no attention to her and addressed Cole with her arms folded. "I left another failed trial open at my house."

"I think you've had enough," Maria said to Skye.

Hope continued, "I need you there. The first semester exams start Monday."

Cole hurried out the front and said, "Don't Worry. I'll be there waiting for you."

Maria let Skye drink a few because she had spent many months sad and depressed but now Skye was out of control.

Maria asked, "Skye, do you think your brother would approve of your actions?"

Skye rubbed her cross pendant and said, "Yes. He would've bought this," she held up her glass, "for me." She went into the garage and slammed the door behind her.

Maria grabbed Hope by her hand and spun he around. "Wait. I want to ask you something."

Hope paused by Maria.

Maria said, "I'm sorry we haven't had time to talk in the last few weeks. I've been stuck here."

Hope said, "That's my fault too. I've been busy preparing for the semester finals."

"I wish I could do the physical trials on Monday. But I don't have a partner," Maria stuck her thumb out towards the garage.

Hope snickered then dismissed her and said, "When you found out how I felt about Cole; you told me to wait because you were sure they would not last."

Maria said, "Yes. I was wrong about that."

"They get closer each day and are spending more time with each other. When he leaves my house, he says going home to sleep, but he comes here instead. She has him in a spell."

"How was this week's GPA report?"
"Bad."

"We keep trying but have not caught up. We need to set up our planting kit before Monday. We're allowed to bring ten items and we must keep practicing. I can't have him disappear for the weekend and show up tired again."

Maria said, "Yeah. Her party will be crazy, and he'll be with Skye every step of the way."

Maria reminisced over her months at the school. Time flew when she was here. The first couple weeks were difficult, but she was in paradise afterwards.

"I've let this go too far. Skye's in deep with the wrong guy, someone she's gonna cast aside."
"This isn't your fault. It's Cole's."

"He's screwing up his and your work. I let it go because I love being at this school. I understand the teachers. I feel like I'm one of the students. I enjoy putting my hands in the dirt, planting seeds, caring for them and watching them grow. But I also know the answer to this problem would up end with..." Even now, with her friends relying on her, she still did not want to leave. She had been selfish and must correct this problem.

Hope opened a chart with their grades and showed it to Maria,

"Hey look, I'm ahead of one person," Maria said and withheld her elation due to their situation.

Hope pointed, "Cole and I are in 3rd and 4th, in Petrov's class. We have not come close to passing 50% in Kain's project, while Ansh is well past it."

"You need to give him an ultimatum."

"I already have."

"Treat this more like a Skye intervention."

"He promised that you would be there with me. He has not held up his end of the deal."

"You need to make him decide, you or Skye."

"What if chooses Skye?"

"He won't."

"You've been wrong before."

"I know that Cole loves you, as his best friend, and respects you more than her. You need to remind him you're smart enough to earn your spot without him. You needed a partner, and you chose your best friend because you've spent your lives working towards this goal."

"OK. I can do that."

"... and do it fast." Maria continued, "I'm sorry Hope because I've been too focused on myself and I have not been a good friend to you."

They embraced. "You are a good friend. You're doing the right thing now. Also, you need to talk to your mom about a change in careers. You are just as capable as these students." Hope smiled. "I need to go."

"That's why I respect you, because you always do the right thing."

Hope marched out the front door which left Maria standing alone.

She felt terrible for being this self-involved and ignoring the situation and guilty for letting down someone she admired. Her best friend needed her help and Hope did too. She had pushed aside their problems because she knew the solution would end her temporary vacation.

She had forgotten about the big picture; that Hope must make it to Mars. What if she was wrong? Not to mention, that having them break up was not enough. Skye would still be here, getting in the way, and there would be a strong probability of relapse by Cole.

A tear rolled down her face and she pushed it away.

She loved it here. She fit in, but this was not her life. She was merely pretending. Although, Hope was right she needed to have a long conversation with her mother when she got home.

She understood what she must do to fix this, but sometimes the right thing is the hardest.

Maria announced, "Call Amanda Taylor."