GLOOMY ATMOSPHERE

"I don't seem to remember when we invited you guys here," Rylee said in a firm voice to the two guys who had come to sit by them, annoyance registering on her face. She hated it when other people intruded on her and Mary's privacy.

The two guys stared at Rylee intently as if digesting her words.

One of the guys attempted a smile but Rylee's gaze felt intimidating and intense and he looked away from her.

"We are all here to have some fun, girl...relax, we mean no harm." one of the guys said in a wary tone.

He averted his gaze and looked at Mary with his lustful eyes.

"You have still not answered the damn question. Did anyone invite you here?" Rylee questioned curtly, her voice devoid of any friendliness.

"No, but-" the guy's words were cut off abruptly by Rylee.

"Then off you go," Rylee said sharply before the guy could even have the chance to speak fully.

The two guys sensing the "you are not wanted here" aura coming from the fierce girl who was dressed in leather clothes, they stood up slowly and walked away, their plans to hang out with the girls had backslid and they did not look happy in the least as they strode away.

Mary had wanted to intervene earlier, but Rylee had alerted her that she would handle it. She sat there not surprised by Rylee's action because she knew she could behave worse than she did now.

"I told you I'll handle it," Rylee said to Mary, feeling impressed with herself that she had been able to shoo those guys away, not that it was such a difficult task.

"I know right, you can do anything."Mary teased.

" You have nothing to worry about while I'm here," Rylee said confidently in a dramatic tone and Mary chuckled at her words and gesture.

Back at where Sylvester was sitting with Emmanuel, Emma traced Sylvester's line of sight and saw him looking intently at the black-haired girl who had the cute dimples.

He observed how Sly's expression changed from slight shock to annoyance when the other guys had come near them...or should he say 'her.'

He was quite impressed with the way the other girl had shooed those rascals away. Bold. He thought to himself.

"I'm guessing you know them." Emma quizzed Sly whose gaze was averted from Mary to look at his friend who seemed curious.

"No, I don't" Sylvester flatly stated and Emma raised his eyebrows.

"It feels like you know them with the way you are looking at them keenly.

Don't tell me love at first sight." Emma said jokingly and saw Sly glaring at him.

"I mean, it's quite obvious that you know them." he shrugged.

"And what if I do."

"So you do know them."

"..."

After a while of expecting Sly to say something more which he didn't, Emma gave up and decided to ask him about them later.

At the same time, Richie and Grace returned with the drinks.

"Here is your drink." Richie handed over the glass of coke which was cooled and could be seen with all the little water droplets that spread around the glass.

"Thanks," Emma murmured taking a sip from the glass.

"So refreshing!" Emma exclaimed aloud and Grace who was looking at him smiled.

Her eyes wandered off to set on Sly whose gaze kept moving between them and something he was keenly observing.

"So how has life been after high school?"Richie was the one to ask particularly to the two guys.

" Bearable" Emma said as if it was nothing.

Sylvester whose attention was not on the small group before him continued to stare at Mary in distance like a cat who was closely observing its prey waiting for the right time to pounce on it.

Richie was expecting an answer from Sylvester, but it never came. Why was Sly behaving weird today? he asked himself.

First, it was his gloomy facade and now his divided attention. He thought in his mind as he watched him.

Emma who noticed Richie sensing something odd about Sly spoke to clear the atmosphere that was getting awkward with only Richie trying to start a conversation that would get all of them involved and lively, but it seemed they had other things on their minds.

Richie has requested for them to meet up at the new club to catch up on things for old times' sake. He had wanted them to have a fun time, but it was clear that his plans were going down the drain.

"So how is Julie doing?" Emma questioned tactfully and Richie felt somehow uncomfortable at the mention of the name.

Emma intended to liven up the atmosphere but it seemed he had taken a wrong turn.