Elodie needed new friends.
It wasn't that her current friends were grumpy, withdrawn, ice people.
It was just that they were.
But she'd ended up with Nico and Reis. (Thanks, group project!) Then her older brother, Mark, had decided that since poor Nico and Reis didn't have any other friend, she and he should be their friends! Nothing could go wrong!
They were all at Goode high school anyways, so it wasn't like they would have a hard time meeting, even though Mark was junior while she and the grumpies were freshmen.
Life sucked. And she and her brother were going to be late for badminton since her mom had come late.
"Can't you hurry up, ma-ma?" She complained, in Mandarin, of course.
Speaking English with her family was super painful. They were all Chinese citizens (except for her, she was a 'Murican). Even though Mark's English was good, what with him having been in the States since he was two, their parents and grandma…
"I'm trying my best!" Elodie's mother snapped.
Elodie groaned and sunk in her seat. "We need a new system for this. Maybe Mark and I can take the bus-"
"It'll be too dangerous!"
"That's China you're thinking of- uh, no offense, China."
"Calm down and sit up straight," Mark scolded, "Ma-ma is busy enough already."
"I was just offering a solution!"
However, Elodie did straighten up. There was no point in looking improper.
Mark sighed. "Ma-ma, Elodie's right. Let us take the bus. I'll protect her."
"Don't talk to me like I'm some dainty cherry blossom!" Elodie snapped.
"Aiya… I worry…"
"I know, ma-ma. We'll be okay."
"Why are you guys ignoring me?" Elodie demanded angrily.
"Okay…"
"I can take care of myself!" Elodie glared at Mark. "You act like everyone needs help, and you're this big strong wushu master that can. People can take care of themselves. Deal with it."
"Li Xiu Ying!" Her mother scolded, using Elodie's Chinese name. "He's your big brother."
"Yeah, but he does it with other kids too. I'm sure Reis and Nico's parents have them all signed up in counseling and stuff, it isn't your problem!"
"Well, Ms. Justice-"
Elodie bristled. "I care about the rights of people! I can't control whether they accept those rights, all I can do is ensure they get equal treatment. Reis and Nico can be friends with us, I'm open to that, I just can't force them to accept that."
"Look, they're lonely, at a new school-"
"Blabbity blah, derpity derp-"
Mark scowled. "Elodie!"
"Speaking of Nico and Reis," Their mother interrupted casually, "Isn't that Reis right there?"
