Nightfall

Want to know something cool? Marriage dates back over four thousand years, of course, it was a bit different back then. it was more about fathers selling off their daughters to ensure their husband's offspring was legitimate. I know 'selling' sounds harsh, but they literally had a returns policy, where the husband could give back the wife if he changed his mind. It's pointless to judge ancient cultures for not living up to our standards of acceptable behaviour, but damn, am I glad I was born in this era. Not that it always matters.

The news about Sienna had meant that we ended our gathering in high spirits, but it was the end of the day, and we had to leave one way or another, it was already half an hour after everyone else had left... It'd look like we don't want to leave or something, which is definitely not the case. Henry suggests we get changed and meet back up at the Free Ride, an idea I'm very much on board with, still need to explain to Jessie and Skye why I was drinking with an older woman in the middle of the day.

We make our escape from the school one more time, I overhear Jenny asking Kara where the Free Ride is, that's a point, I don't think she's visited before. I mean, maybe she went with Rob? Not certain if I'm honest, could be she just doesn't know the way. Oh well, I need to focus on what I'm wearing-

"Tricia!" A voice booms as we leave the gates. All of us turn to see an older Indian couple with brown hair, brown eyes, and furious expressions. It doesn't take long to realise who they are.

Trish looks shocked at the sight of her parents. She quickly lets go of Rouge's hand and rushes over to them, I try to hear what they're saying, but they're switching between English and Punjabi so much I can't figure it out. I imagine they're annoyed that Trish didn't come straight out, and seeing her holding hands with another girl is probably also on the agenda. I wave the others off, Trish doesn't need an audience for this, leaving only me, Elise, and Rouge.

Their argument is getting louder and more aggressive, the fragments I understand don't paint a pretty picture. 'Disappointment,' 'disrespectful,' and 'ungrateful' are a few of the words I can make out. From there it only appears to be escalating, her father doesn't look like he's too bad, definitely appears to be the cooler headed one, but her mum is going off. I want to step in but it's family business, and definitely not mine... Until I see her mother's hand raise to strike her daughter, then alarm bells start going off, and I take a step forward, only to be immediately halted by a more urgent reaction.

"Hey! Cunt-monger-in-Chief!" Rouge voice rips through the air like a knife, her face is beyond anything I've seen before, there's no cold calculation, no weighing her options, just pure, unbridled, rage.

My sister walks closer to the bewildered family before she continues, and this time I can hear every word very clearly. "Hi, I don't think we've been introduced, I'm Rouge Cray; Genius, Trish's partner, and all-round vengeful bitch. Now, I couldn't help but notice you were about to do something stupid and harm the most important person in my life, but, I really would recommend against that, and here's why. If you lay a finger on her, if you touch a hair on her head, my priorities are going to change, I'm going to forget learning, forget money, forget achievements, my only goal, my only reason to be, will be to end you. I will spend my entire life making you regret that moment, you're worried about your family pride? I'll make sure your family won't even acknowledge you, I'll take your careers, your homes, your friends, I'll be a curse on you, and you'll never know what I'm doing next. I don't think any of us want that, so how about you put your hand down, back the fuck up, and we all leave her with smiles on our faces? Sound good to you?"

I don't know if I want to cheer her or scream in fear. Rouge has definitely mellowed over the last year but... Damn, apparently she's still got a way with words when she wants it.

Everyone's silent for a little while, if only due to the shock of my twin's outburst.

And then they're not silent.

Trish's mother appears to lunge at Rouge, held back by her husband and Trish. Rouge doesn't react at all, but I can almost feel the smile on her face. I suppose if you give the bogeyman a black eye then you've got a right to be proud of yourself. Trish's parents eventually retreat, I can't tell what they said to their daughter, but it looks like it was along the lines of 'don't come with us' because Trish stands there paralysed by the words until their car speeds away.

I look to Elise, this scenario's pretty familiar, she seems to agree as she begins walking over to Trish, with me following close behind. "What happened?" My girlfriend asks softly, causing Trish to slowly turn towards us.

"They came to pick me up, apparently they had some surprise celebration planned... Then they saw me and Rouge... You can figure out the rest." She answers.

"They're just in shock, I know from experience, it won't be long until they're begging for your forgiveness, they're your parents." Elise reassures her, placing a hand on her shoulder, but Trish moves it off and approaches her girlfriend.

"You shouldn't have said all that, they're going to think you're a psycho." She states angrily.

Rouge winces for a second, but it's pretty clear Trish is lashing out from fear. "I don't care what they think of me. If they'd prefer for you to be with someone who'll stand by and watch you get hurt then their opinion is worthless anyway." She counters.

"They would." Trish snaps back immediately. "My... My husband's here." She reveals.

Husband? As in the guy they set her up with? Shit, the surprise party was an engagement party. They were just gonna pick her up and say 'hey, you're spending your life with this guy?' I don't know much about arranged marriages, but I know that's not how it's meant to work.

Rouge is trembling at the words. "They must've known you'd started seeing someone... Wanted to lock you down as quickly as they could." She thinks out loud, her voice quivering with terror. Right now, Trish could solve all her problems by just dumping her and marrying that guy, her parents would forgive her, she could lead a comfortable life... I think Rouge figured that out too.

"Doesn't matter, I'm gonna go see that guy about the camper van." Trish sighs.

Rouge's face flicks up from the floor as Trish begins to pull her phone out. "Wait, you're still getting the van?" She blurts out.

"Erm... Yeah, that was the plan wasn't it? So I can be wherever you are?" Trish answers in a confused tone.

"But..." Rouge begins, stumbling over her thoughts. "But you could just marry him, be done with all of this."

Trish looks back at my sister, her eyes look genuinely offended. "Why on Earth would I do that? This all changes nothing, that guy? Randeep? He's just some putz in a family my parents want the prestige of, he seems friendly, he's not bad looking, and it's not like I'm against marrying a man... I'm just against marrying anyone who isn't you." She replies. "The only reason I'm mad is because you put yourself in danger, those two were dead to me the minute they said a bad word about you."

Dead to her? I mean, yeah, that fight was rough but... Dead? Rouge looks equally conflicted, Elise too which is even more surprising given how similar this situation is to hers.

Maybe I've just gotten soft from all the things that've been going well for me lately... But all this anger? This hatred? This pain? This isn't how I wanted any of us to feel. I meet Rouge's gaze as Trish turns to make her call. I can tell we're in agreement. There's too much left unsolved, too many wrongs that need righting... We can't just ride off into the sunset with devastation in our wake.

We need a plan.

Once more unto the breach.