-Diana's POV-

"Sorry for the last couple of days, things have been a little hard and—"

"You don't need to explain yourself to me, Diana." Josephine cuts me off, I glance to her before nodding as she looks back at me. I look to my boots instead as we keep walking along the concrete.

"Thank you."

"Why are you thanking me? I'm here for you, that's why you invited me right? To have someone to talk to?" She questions and I nod. I think so.

I can shower on my own now actually, without Natalie needing to help before getting frustrated because I keep teasing and being annoying. Most of my bandages are off too since the cuts from the crash are healing. I can't wait to get my casts off though, I have an appointment next week and maybe then I can?

"Natalie will be coming soon, she said she just wants to go home and get changed after work first." I say as I almost trip up a step since I'm not looking where I'm going, Josephine puts her hand on my arm to try catch me but I catch myself.

"Be careful, I don't want you breaking an ankle and that's fine, I didn't know she would be coming." Josephine says, her hand staying on my arm. I pull away, quickly so it doesn't seem rude...just like I'm walking towards the arcade.

I haven't been to an arcade since I was younger and with Charlie but I thought it would be fun to try get out of the house for awhile.

I stole Natalie's jacket though...her leather one so I hope she's not looking for it. It's really cozy actually, especially since the weather is still quite chilly but I decided to wear a skirt....with tights of course but Natalie will probably still give out to me about getting a cold...

I'm the worst patient while sick but Natalie acts like I'm dying when I do get sick...Constant check ups, soup, asking me do I need to go hospital?..She's a little dramatic when it comes to sickness but I think it's cute.

It's completely different when she's sick, she will say she's fine and go on with her day...I try get her to relax or make her soup but she doesn't listen...

"Did you come here often as a kid?" Josephine asks as we step inside, I look around at the vaguely familiar place that has been changed up since I've last been here.

Rows of machines, neon lights flashing from some games, loud beeping, explosions from zombie games I'm guessing...Along with kids yelling which Natalie will not like when she shows up.

"Not really, I came here a few times with Charlie, once with our parents when we were like seven. I can only remember us hoarding a claw machine trying to win a teddy." I smile, a few kids run past us and I quickly come to a stop before I can crash into them.

"From what I've heard about him, he was a good friend to you." Josephine says and I nod looking to her.

"The best. He was really really amazing and if you got to meet him you would agree too. He was just the kind of person...that...he was like a light, lit up every dark room—every dark day, he just..shined, always." I say as I begin walking again, Josephine walks closely beside me and I smell her perfume instead of the weird smell of the arcade...

"Is it difficult for you to speak about him?"

"Not to you." I shrug looking at her and she looks back at me before nodding, I look away when I realise how it sounds.

"Is it hard to talk about him to Natalie?"

"Kind of." I shrug, putting my hands into the pockets of the leather jacket I have on, Natalie's one.

"Why? Does she not like you speaking about him?" Josephine asks, her shoulder bumps mine because of how closely we're walking besides each other. I keep my eyes away from her because I don't want her looking at my lips and knowing I notice it. I don't think she means it in any way though...

"No—I think she wants me to but Natalie's just...she's just Natalie and she will make everything seem okay, you know? She finds solutions to every problem in ways that make these things feel okay...It makes no sense—"

"No, I get it. She makes Charlie's passing seem like a good thing, does she?" She questions and it feels like a stab but I shrug.

"No, not intentionally, she just makes everything...okay when it's not."

"Does she understand how you feel?"

"I don't know, I don't even know how I feel, Jo." I say, the nickname just kind of comes out but she bumps my shoulder again.

"That's okay, sometimes we're not sure of our feelings, how about we play that claw machine and hoard it, bring back an old habit of yours." Her hand goes to my shoulder and I nod before smiling a little.

"Why not?" I say before walking, her hand leaves my shoulder making my body relax.

We walk over to a claw machine, I look at the little teddies inside. Is it bad I want them all?...I could totally stay still close trying to win them.

"I am actually a professional at these, which one would you like?" Josephine asks, stepping up beside me again, me and her shoulder to shoulder again.

I'm being too close to her....or maybe I'm overthinking. I still move away slightly.

"The shark." I smile looking to her and she nods putting her coin into the machine before the music begins playing. She move her hair behind her ear, her hairs a light brunette, it's long and slightly wavy.

She presses the buttons as she focuses on the machine, I look to the claw watching as it moves.

"There." I say before she presses the button and the claw falls, it picks up the grey shark teddy before it slips out of its grip. We both sigh and she gets out another coin putting it into the machine.

"Your turn." She nods as she steps away, the music plays again and I step closer to the controls.

I press the buttons with the arrows as I focus on the claw and then the teddy. I focus a little too hard trying to move the claw as close as I can to the shark.

I look closer...but bump my head off the glass making me hit the drop button by accident. I step back with a wince and putting my hand to my head.

"Are you okay?" She rushes to my side quickly, I nod in response while I watch the claw fall, picking up the shark teddy, I drop my hand as I wait for it to fall...it doesn't...

It falls into the the little prize area, I step closer quickly, bending down. I push the little door pulling out the shark teddy.

I stand back up smiling at Josephine.

"Atta girl." She nods smiling back as she lifts her hand, I high five her, not too hard since I am still in a cast and all.

Josephine stops smiling as she looks back over my shoulder, I hear a cough and drop my hand as I know exactly who it is.

I turn on my heels as Natalie walks closer, crossing her arms as she wears a jacket but has another folded over her arm.

"Look at you two, all close." Natalie smiles at me shrugging and I step closer kissing her.

"Don't be rude." I whisper before pulling back and she hums looking down.

"Thief." The smallest smirk makes its way onto her lips as she looks at the leather jacket I have on. I smile rolling my eyes.

"I was cold." I tell her stepping back and she holds up the jacket in her hand.

"I suspected you would be, I also suspected you wouldn't bring a jacket of your own." She speaks and I keep smiling. I look to Josephine who isn't smiling anymore, she just stares at the floor.

"I reminded her." She speaks up and Natalie glances to her, Josephine looks back at her making Natalie do that rude thing she does...the quick up and down look. She looks at Josephine like she's disgusted by her or something...

I like Natalie jealous sometimes but not when she's making Josephine upset, she's my friend. Maybe she looked at my butt...but it's not like she touched me...

"Hm, maybe next time she might take a jacket of yours if you beg her enough." Natalie shrugs looking around as some kids yell, I huff dropping my shoulders. The energy has completely changed now.

"Why don't we go...play a game or something?" I ask walking ahead of them both, still holding onto my teddy.

I expect it to be Josephine who catches up with me but it's Natalie who's hand goes to my lower back as she walks beside me, her eyes on me...

"Stop frowning, it was a joke." She laughs and I cross my arms looking to her.

"Not a funny one, you could have upset Josephine." I lower my voice, elbowing her side and she glances back. I don't, I keep walking slowly beside her.

"That would do no harm, you two seemed to be having a fun enough time before I showed up. You're all frowns now." Natalie's hand slides around my waist squeezing, I smile rolling my eyes as I push her away.

"Keep your hands to yourself, Snow. You're supposed to be the one who doesn't like PDA." I look at her, she looks me up and down, not like she done to Josephine. Her eyes lingering.

I turn away noticing Josephine is at a machine, I nod to Natalie and she rolls her eyes as we walk over to her.

"What are you playing?" I ask her as she taps some buttons making the little figure on the screen punch the opponent I'm guessing.

"I don't have a clue, to be honest." She taps random buttons, I furrow my eyebrows watching the screen before Natalie's hands find their way beneath my jacket, I look back to her...confused why she's being so touchy.

"Aw, I lost." Josephine stands from the little stool and my eyes go from Natalie to hers as her hands leave my waist.

"That's okay, let's look around, there might be something fun to play." I say, neither of them begin walking as they look to me, usually Natalie walks off on her own and waits for me to follow...but I think they're both waiting for me...

I look from Josephine to Natalie confused before I begin walking, I glance back and they both follow. Oh this is awful...Why am I leading them, why can't they both just walk beside me—but then if they did, Natalie would probably reach across me and slap Josephine if she said anything.

Natalie's probably making sure Josephine's eyes stay above my bottom half because the last time they didn't...it wasn't good to Natalie...but I got something good out of it.

I smile to myself at the little memory of Natalie's office.

If she was to look again...I think I might need a wheelchair—or else Josephine would end up in one...and not for the same reasons I would...

"Darling, play with me." Natalie walks ahead, her perfume becoming stronger as she does.

She stops at a motorcycle game and I look back to Josephine, maybe they could get a laugh out of it instead...?

"You play, I'll hold your jacket." I say to Josephine before I take the spare jacket Natalie brought. Josephine looks at Natalie for a second.

"Don't tell me you're scared, I won't bite." Natalie questions before Josephine simply smiles walking to the other motorcycle.

"Should I be?" Josephine gets onto the motorcycle, I look to Natalie and she smiles shaking her head.

"Mhm, maybe you should." Natalie puts her hands onto the hand grips, I watch as she swings her leg over the seat before sitting down. I force myself to look away before she can look back and tease me about it.

One of them puts the coin in causing the music to start, I look back again squeezing the teddy in my hand.

Natalie glances back to me.

"Not gonna wish me good luck?" She questions and I roll my eyes as a smile cracks on my face. I walk closer planting a kiss on her cheek.

"Good luck, baby." I say and she keeps looking at me as I step away. My eyes go to Josephine who's already looking at me.

"Good luck." I tell her and she smiles.

I should walk away...I can't watch this—why did I let Josephine do this—Natalie is probably going to murder her if Josephine wins...

"I'm going to go...do something." I mumble before walking away from the both of them—maybe I shouldn't but I am going to.

I walk away, looking around at some people playing air hockey while others play at machines, yelling.

I feel vibrating in my pocket, I huff reaching for my phone, I look down at it to see Jane calling me. I answer it, lifting the phone to my ear.

"Jane? Hello?" I say.

"Hey, Di. Grandmas birthday is next week and we're having a little surprise party at my place, I was wondering if you wanted to come?" Jane asks and I look to the floor.

I'm guessing she didn't ask over text because my Mom is probably going to be there. Which is okay, right? Maybe it's not though because there's a high chance I'll drop a glass and have a panic attack in fear of being hit by her but...that's fine, there's only a slight chance of that happening again.

"Diana?"

"Sorry—yeah, um...I have a friend staying at me and Natalie's place...so is it okay if I bring her along too—she might be gone home by then but I'm not sure?"

"That's fine, the more the merrier...Anyway, it's been awhile, how are things?" She questions and I look around.

"Everything's fine, I'm doing okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep...I'm doing great actually so there's no need to ask am I sure, don't worry." I say squeezing my phone.

"Okay—alright but you know I'm just a call away."

"Yeah, I do. I better go though, I'll see you next week." I say before Jane says goodbye, I hang up, pulling the phone away from my ear as I let out a sigh.

I look at my phone for a second before turning it off and putting it back in my pocket.

I let my shoulders drop, relaxing as I look around spotting two kids at a claw machine. A little blonde girl and a brunette boy, my eyes kind of glue to them and not in a creepy way as if I'm going to kidnap them...but more of a way I feel like I'm watching my younger self—I'm being stupid, I get that, they're just kids who are blonde and brunette—I mean that is common, a blonde girl and brunette boy to be friends—they seem close, the way he's elbowing her and she giggling—something that me and Charlie would do. I mean that doesn't even mean they're close I just...I don't know. I guess it brings back memories I had forgotten about.

"Ugh!" The girl steps away from the claw machine, stomping her foot and I just stand there from a distance...I need to look away before I make myself cry over something stupid.

"I don't have anymore coins." The boy huffs, before I think, my feet move, one in front of the other before I'm standing right by them. They both look to me.

I freeze for a second, my heart suddenly racing and I am completely aware of my surroundings and what I'm trying to do but I also don't—why am I doing this? What am I even doing?

"Here. Have it." I hold the teddy out, they both exchange a look before looking back to me again.

"Listen, lady. We weren't born yesterday." The boy looks at me weirdly, I furrow my eyebrows as the girl slaps his arm.

"I'm sorry—he's really stupid—we don't—my Moms coming over right now so I would run if I was you." The girl points, I glance back to her pointing at Natalie who's walking closer, not smiling but Josephine is...

"I'm not a kidnapper, I'm just a nice person—really nice...Look, here." I put the teddy down on the ground before stepping back, they both look at each other again.

"I'm out of coins." The boy pulls the pockets of his jeans. I smile.

"I don't want anything in return, I better run before your Mom attacks me." I say, walking away from them, I glance back to Natalie, nodding behind another machine—stupid plan.

She furrows her eyebrows and I just quickly walk away from her and Josephine.

"What are you doing, you idiot?" Natalie asks as I stop walking and they both walk closer. I frown at her calling me an idiot.

"Long story...But don't call me and idiot, idiot." I push the jacket into her arms and she rolls her eyes.

"I won." Josephine speaks up and I look away from Natalie and smile.

"You cheated." Natalie mumbles and I shake my head.

"Don't be a sore loser." I look back to her and she raises her eyebrows at me, I smile and she shakes her head looking away.

"I agree. It's just a game after all, which I am very good at." Josephine says and Natalie scoffs looking to her.

I step forward taking Natalie's hand and clearing my throat before she can call Josephine every horrible name under the sun...

"Well done, both of you. Better look next time." I look to Natalie again, she looks back at me. She searches my eyes and I smile again before she leans forward kissing me on the lips.

She is really mad about that game...Seriously—Natalie never kisses me on the lips in places like this, on dates it's mostly small touches until we're completely alone.

I hum putting my hand to her cheek before pulling back.

"You got lucky, Josephine. Don't get too confident with one win, I went easy on you." Natalie looks back at her, I lick my bottom lip slightly as Josephine looks at me, I look away quickly hoping she didn't notice.

"Oh, I didn't even try, Natalie." Josephine laughs and Natalie hums.

"Really? I thought you broke a sweat but maybe...I was just seeing things, hm?" Natalie asks and I bite the inside of my mouth. This is horrible—terrible, nothing could make this worse.

"Yeah, you must have."

"I'm starving—how about we go get something to eat?" I suggest and they both look at me.

Why does this keep happening.