Not So Easily Brushed Off

Violet sighed. This was the third time this year. If their friendship kept ending like this, Violet might start thinking Rae didn't like her or something.

She frowned, trying to figure out what she'd done _this_ time. Then it hit her. "You…already know, don't you?"

"Yeah," Rae said flatly. "I do." She turned away. "I gotta get to class."

"Hey, wait!" Vi protested. "We gotta talk, there's so much I need to know—"

"Ask your—" Rae faltered, not sure how to phrase it. "Your new friend," she decided.

"She said I need to talk to _you_," Vi whined. "C'mon, Rae, what is it? You haven't acted like this since we both showed up at the fall dance wearing the same dress."

Rae rounded on her. "It's not a silly dress this time, okay?" she snapped. "I screwed up. I don't wanna talk about it."

Vi frowned. "But how is this a screwup? I think it's pretty neat."

Rae sighed. "We can't talk about it here, okay? I'll meet you after school." Without waiting for an answer, she turned and walked off toward class.