My phone buzzes with a notification; I groan, remembering that I hadn't put my phone on silent the night before. Whether it is a reminder, message or information from one of my apps, it has interrupted my beauty sleep, which I'm not going to take lightly as today's Friday so I only have this morning, Saturday morning and Sunday morning to sleep in before school starts again. I groan, both out of tiredness and annoyance: why is it that the half-terms and holidays always go by so quickly while school days go by as slow as a snail?

Even though Mum has told me not to do this a thousand times(because apparently I can get hurt if I strain myself), I reach out to my phone on my bedside table lazily; I never bother to obey my parents' advice once they go into doctor mode. Sometimes, it seems like they forget that I am their daughter and not one of their patients, therefore, they treat me like one and it's so irritating, especially when I'm sick. My phone tells me that the time is five past eleven but most of my attention is drawn to the message icon that is displayed on my lock screen. I tap on the icon to view the text:

Emma: Sleepover @ my house tonight?

I haven't communicated with her in person or through social media since last week when there was the Starbucks 'misunderstanding' so it's a bit weird for her to ask to meet up out of the blue.

Suddenly, I curl my hand into a fist. Not even a hello? Not even a how are you? Not even an apology?

Typical Emma!

She's acting as if nothing happened last week! That she definitely didn't lie to not only me but Sophie and Stella. Temptation to message her back that I'm not attending her sleepover overwhelms me and I'm just about to type when my conscience challenges me:

It's not always about you, Storm! Stop being selfish!

I'm now having a battle with myself:

I'm not selfish!

Oh really? Emma doesn't need to receive forgiveness from just you only! Sophie and Stella were also lied to! You should discuss with them if you have forgiven Emma and whether the three of you will go to the sleepover...

I select on Sophie's name and text her on WhatsApp:

EMERGENCY MEETING!!! GROUP CALL NOW!!!

I forward the same message to Stella before starting a video call with the two of them. Straightaway, Stella's face pops up onto my screen but Sophie hasn't answered the call yet. As we wait for her to arrive, Stella and I greet each other, talk about our half-terms and how much we're dreading for Monday, when school starts again.

"So, what was the emergency?" Stella asks when we run out of things to converse about.

"I'll explain when Sophie decides to show her face," I say," For goodness' sake, can't the girl read! I didn't text 'emergency meeting' for no reason!"

"She's probably sleeping," Stella yawns.

"Did I wake you up when I called?" I question. It's now that I take notice of the messy bun piled on top of her head and her pyjamas that are decorated with a variety of Disney characters.

"I had been awake for fifteen minutes when you called. Jake decided it was a good idea to break one of the cereal bowls while preparing his breakfast."

Stella rolls her eyes and I feel sympathy for her; I just about tolerate living with River so I can't imagine being in her shoes. I wouldn't be able to deal with two boys and a set of twin girls, none of them your biological siblings.

Altogether, it must be difficult being in foster care, being looked after by a couple that barely knows you. However, I don't believe Stella's foster parents are the worst: Kate and Harry. I briefly met Harry so I wouldn't be able to make a judgement but Kate was very polite when I met her and she seems like a very caring guardian and it was clear that all the five children in her care mean a lot to her. I wonder...when did Stella join the foster care system? And why? Are her real parents still alive? If not, what happened to them? I may not be the smartest but I do know that I can't ask Stella these questions; I must let her come to me about it.  

"How are your foster-," I am about to ask Stella about her foster siblings but I stop abruptly when Sophie's face is finally visible on her part of the screen.

"Oh, hey, Soph!" I greet, masking the nervousness in my voice and trying to act casual.

That was a close call! I was about to spill in front of her Stella's secret; it's not that I don't trust her but I don't like breaking my promises.

Unlike Emma!

"Do any of you people have lives? It's half-term and you're calling in the morning!" Sophie exclaims," Not only that but you woke me up! I hope you didn't call me just to say a hello because you could have just easily messaged me and I would have responded when I woke up in my own time."

This girl clearly woke up on the wrong side of the bed!

"It's important, Sophie! It couldn't have been talked about over text," I explain gently," Have any of you received a message from Emma this morning?"

"Well, I wouldn't know, would I? Your video call had come up on my lock screen," Sophie mutters darkly and if it wasn't for the screen separating us, I would have slapped her.

"I received a direct message from her on Instagram," Stella replies," She asked me if I was coming to the sleepover at her house tonight?"

"Sleepover?" Sophie asks, no longer moody but now confused," How come I'm the last to hear about this sleepover?"

"Maybe because nobody wants a grumpy person at a sleepover," I suggest, my words as sharp as the blade of a knife.

The sour look returns to Sophie's face and it's evident that she wants to be filled in: a trait of hers. Therefore, I warn her not to interrupt me as I begin to describe the unexpected text I had received this morning. When I finish explaining and answer all of Sophie's pestering questions, I say:

"Now, we actually have to decide if we're going to the sleepover or not."

A silence falls over us and it's like I can hear the whirring of our brains while we are deep in thought.

"Maybe we should go to the sleepover," Stella's the first to break the silence," We will have to face her sooner or later. We do go to the same school, remember."

Sophie nods thoughtfully and she looks like she's considering her point.

"No offense, Stella, but you haven't known Emma as long as Sophie and I have!" I snap.

"None taken," Stella says, unaffected while Sophie, even though she doesn't make a comment, is visibly shocked at my outburst.

But why? It's the truth! Stella had just arrived at Minehead Academy in September and just joined our friendship group recently so she hasn't had the opportunity to get to know Emma that much. Sophie and I have stuck together since that first day of nursery when we met and that never changed; those rare times I argued with Emma, Sophie always took my side and agreed with me over our friend's flaws. This is the first time we have had different opinions over how to react to when Emma's flaws show: my outburst at this is evidence of my arrogance.

It's very common for River to call me arrogant whenever we argue who's in the wrong and now, those times she has called me that is sinking in. I hate to admit it but she's right: I do believe that I'm better than everyone else. That I'm always in the right even when I'm not. The cause for my popularity isn't the fact that I'm the best - because I'm not - but is the fear of not being the best that lives inside of me.

"Let's go!" I whisper.

"What?" Stella and Sophie both say at the same time.

"Let's go to the sleepover..."

I ring the doorbell and wait. Behind me, is Stella and Sophie and we're stood on Emma's doorstep. By the time the door is answered, my shoulders are hurting: a lesson to not pack as many items for next time. When the door is opened, we are greeted by Emma's mum, Jenny.

"Hey, Jenny!" I chirp as she allows us in.

"Wow, you've grown, Storm! You're certainly not little Stormie anymore, huh!" Jenny exclaims before turning to Sophie," And as usual, it's great to see you, too, Soph! How are you?"

"I'm great, Jen! How are you doing?" Sophie answers politely.

"Just fine! Thanks for asking!" Jenny now turns to Stella," And who might you be?"

"Stella," is her one-word answer.

"That's a beautiful name! Does it mean anything?"

"Star in Italian."

For a split-second, Stella looks sombre and I guess that she's thinking about her parents. If Mum and Dad were absent in my life, although most of the time they already are, I would definitely find it incredibly difficult.

And you gave her more hardship to bear when she joined Minehead Academy!

But I have apologised, I am keeping her secret and I am redeeming myself.

So what! An apology doesn't erase all those times you were mean to Stella! Keeping her secret doesn't earn her 100% complete trust! Being nice to her doesn't replace your past actions!

I give up arguing with myself because I know that one side of me has achieved victory while the other side has had to accept defeat.

No matter how many times I say sorry, those times I used to be horrible to Stella will never be forgotten.

Even if nobody at school ever discovers that she's in foster care, those times I used to be horrible to Stella will never be forgotten.

No matter how much time and effort I put into my redemption, those times I used to be horrible to Stella will never be forgotten.

I've always had this tendency to lie to myself to make bad things sound better but I have to accept the truth...

"Storm!" Jenny clicks her fingers in front of my face to bring me back to reality.

I look around, familiarity surrounding me. We are in the front hallway of Emma's house. Although I haven't been over to her house for ages, I feel acquainted with all the objects: the doormat that leaves you with a scratchy feeling when you are just wearing socks(or none), the cute little wooden table with a wicker basket underneath it, a pair of boots left carelessly on the floor, a denim jacket and a small handbag hanging on the pegs that are hammered into the wall and a circular mirror with a wooden frame suspended above.

"Emma is in her room. Stella, Storm and Sophie will show you. Just holler if you need anything, girls!" Jenny briefs us before leaving us three to be alone.

We start to ascend the stairs in silence.

"I haven't been here for a long time," Sophie states.

"Mhm," I interject.

I quickly glance behind me and notice that Stella looks out of place, suddenly looking like as if she's regretting coming. I read somewhere(don't ask me where because I don't remember)that even small acts of kindness can make someone's day; I grin at Stella and when she realises, she smiles weakly back.

Because Sophie's the first person to reach Emma's bedroom door, she knocks.

"Who is it?" Emma calls out.

"Sophie, Stella and Storm," Sophie responds.

A second later, the door is opened and Emma is smiling at us.

"Hey, girls! Come in!" she chirps.

"Hey!" we chorus back.

We enter Emma's room and I smile as I remember this was our meeting place. As far as I remember, the bedroom hasn't changed: her bed is still crowded with more than necessary blankets and pillows, the same wicker chair that I used to swing on is still by the end of her bed, her bedside table with a wicker basket placed on top is still here and the fluffy, cream rug is still situated on the wooden floorboards.

"You can leave your bags here," Emma suggests, pointing to her bed.

We do as she says and turn around to face her. The rate of the awkwardness is increasing by the second. Should I say something? If so, what? It's never happened to me that I'm struggling for words. I always have something to say; it feels odd. However, before I can get the words out of my mouth, Emma beats me to it.

"Guys, I just want to say I'm really sorry about what happened at Starbucks. I should have updated on what was going on and none of you deserve to be kept in the dark. I'm really happy that you decided to come and I understand if you're finding it hard to not be angry at me," Emma apologises.

The room goes so silent that you could hear a pin drop. Emma is no longer looking at us but down at the floor.

"We wouldn't have come if we were still angry at you," I break the silence.

Emma looks up and I smile; she smiles back and I regret doubting her. Beneath the air of toughness and the makeup, my BFF has a good heart. She hugs each of us in turn and when it comes to Sophie, she says," No offense, Em, but I rather you to hurl insults at me instead of you going all mushy."

All four of us burst into laughter...

"Ok. What movie do you, guys, want?" Emma asks.

We've been dancing to music on loud volume until Jenny told us to keep it down and I have to admit that I was relieved because I started feeling tired. Then, we painted each other's nails, gave each other makeovers and styled each other's hair. While waiting for our pizzas we ordered, we are taking photos and posting it on our Instagram pages. A notification from Stella's phone almost makes me jump out of my skin. Being the usual nosy person I am, I peer at her phone: Noah has liked her photo.

"Ooh la la!" I comment, smirking.

"Mind your own business, nosy!" Stella snaps.

"Keep your hair on, snappy!"

Stella rolls her eyes.

"Ooh, Stella has attitude!" Sophie remarks, her eyes remain on the TV screen as Emma flicks through movies," What did you do, Storm, to make her go all fiery on you?"

I turn to Stella and although she doesn't speak, her eyes are communicating for her mouth.

"Was just joking around with her! Clearly the girl can't take a joke!" I improvise.

I can almost hear Stella exhale in relief.

"Speaking of jokes, what mood are you, guys, in today? Do you want a comedy, horror or romance?" Emma jumps into the conversation.

Almost immediately, Sophie shouts," Horror!"

Despite how hot I am from the dancing from earlier, I shiver. A secret that nobody at school knows is that I don't like watching horrors; the first and only time I had watched one gave me nightmares. I vowed to never put on a horror film again.

"No, let's watch a comedy!" I exclaim.

Even though there's no bad smell in the room, Sophie wrinkles her face in disgust.

"Who watches a comedy at a sleepover?" she asks.

"People who have a good sense of humour," I declare.

"No, scaredy-cats who don't like watching horrors."

No matter how hard I try to not let that sentence get to me, it knocks me down and I can't stop myself from falling.

"Well, I think we should have a vote for what genre we should watch," Stella asserts, deliberately making her voice loud so that her opinion is heard.

I turn to stare at her. The look on her face is challenging anyone to contradict her and I wonder what goes through her when she enters these phases of sudden confidence. Emma beams at Stella.

"I agree," she voices her opinion," Put your hand up if you want to watch a romance."

Before proceeding, Emma takes a brief look round to realise that nobody has raised their hand.

"Put your hand up if you want to watch a horror."

As soon as the words leave the tip of Emma's tongue, Sophie raises her hand but she's all on her own.

"Put your hand up if you want to watch a comedy."

I lift my hand up but I'm not alone: beside me, Stella has done the same. A few seconds later, Emma joins us; comedy it is then...

My stomach is still aching from laughing countless times during that film! It was probably one of the most hilarious movies I've ever watched: imagine, even Sophie cracked a smile even if she was still a bit sour after not getting the film of her choice. When we were setting up our sleeping bags, it was impossible for me to not giggle at the memory of the amusing jokes used in the film and once I did so, everybody else joined in. 

Suddenly, the light switch had been flicked off and the room was in complete darkness. Someone starts rummaging around in the darkness and when it stops, Emma's face is lit up by a torch to reveal she's grinning creepily.

"Who wants to hear some s-s-scary stories?" she asks in a spooky voice.

"Ooh, yes! Me first! I have the perfect one!" Sophie exclaims, the excitement in her voice sounds like a child on Christmas Day.

"I'm first! You're second!" Emma corrects her.

"That's if Sophie doesn't fall asleep by then," I whisper into the tenebrosity.

"Haha! Very funny, Storm! You're almost as funny as that movie we watched!" I forget that Sophie has sharp ears.

"Oh, goody! You're still awake!"

"Emma, give me your torch so that I can find this stupid girl and wipe off that even more stupid smirk off her face!"

"You're going to do none of that, Soph!" Emma orders defiantly," Now, all of you shush and let me tell you my story!"

Emma's story is set on Halloween about a girl who gets lost and meets supernatural characters like ghosts, vampires, werewolves etc. Once she finishes her dreadfully long tale, she calls out Sophie's name as a signal to start her storytelling. There's no response. Emma elbows Sophie forcefully.

"What do you want?" Sophie mutters in her sleep.

"Storm! Stella! You awake?" Emma whispers.

I call out a 'yes' and Stella does the same.

"I told you that girl would fall asleep by the time it was her turn!" the volume of my voice is louder than I had wanted it to be.

The two girls that are currently awake try to stifle their giggles in agreement.

"Since a certain someone has fallen asleep, I'm going to tell my spooky story," I state.

My imagination goes wild and I have to admit that even I feel a bit spooked by my own story.

"I have to say you're great at coming up with scary stories! I got goosebumps!" Emma half-whispers, half-exclaims," Stella, it's your turn!"

Now, that there's no talking, I hear heavy breathing coming from the direction of Stella's sleeping bag.

"I think we're alone, Em," I inform her," I'm going to get some sleep. Goodnight, Emma!"

"Ok. Goodnight, Storm!"

As soon as I shut my eyes, the wave of tiredness from the day hits me and the world soon turns dark.