if I didn't know better

 There was so much Victoria wanted to show Melissa around their new place. Yes, Steve was back at the apartments where he'd lived with Simon, but not the same exact apartment. It was smaller. A one-bedroom was all they could afford. But Steve's best friend Alfie lived in the building so it was good, and she was close friends with Poppy, Alfie's fiancee.

Still, it was cozy and Victoria was happy.

"Your hair? You aren't dying it anymore?" was the first thing Victoria noticed, but she hated to question her sister. Maybe Melissa was seeing someone. It made Victoria smile at the thought that maybe her sister was in love again.

"Oh, it takes a lot of maintenance," Melissa said about her hair. "And if you aren't best friends with someone at a salon, well it cost a pretty penny."

Victoria nodded. All this time Victoria thought her sister did her own hair. Of course, Victoria hadn't dyed her hair in months. In fact, she hadn't even gone for a haircut due to COVID. She bobbed her own.

"Well, I like it. I like seeing your natural hair color," Victoria wanted Melissa to spill about her personal life but evidently, her sister's lips were sealed.

They went to the little dining area and Victoria laid out the fruit and cheese. Hopefully, Melissa would be OK with that.

"So how's work?" Victoria wanted to know if she might get some insight on Melissa.

"I could ask you the same?" Melissa grabbed a green grape and popped it into her mouth.  

Victoria only sighed and brought them some mint tea to the table.

"Are you seeing anyone?" Victoria finally got up the nerve to ask. Melissa shook her head, no.

"I live with people, you know." Melissa looked at her blankly as if this was a life's choice.

Victoria was even lipped. Still, she wished Melissa could find someone to be happy with.

"I drove up with Rylie," she then said while she was making her cracker sandwich with cheese.

"Rylie?" Victoria couldn't help but smile. Maybe there was someone after all.

"We work together. Maybe you went to school with her."

"Oh." This caught Victoria by surprise. When Victoria said Rylie's last name Victoria almost laughed. "I remember her. She was in my English class. I wondered whatever happened to her."