"Ready?" Dollface bounced on her feet like a wrestler, having anticipated this all summer. Grampa was out doing his health inspection rounds this morning, and he usually had stories to tell. But Dollface was here at the moment.

"Ready!" Dolli Mae, her running partner shouted. Dollface tugged the loose end and looked over at Lily. Lily held her end, and shouted, "Ready t'run, darlin'!"

Princess wrapped her hand in the sweater tighter, oval face gazing at Lily with utter admiration. Lily's honey colored hair danced in the morning light, still cool enough to run across town and unravel sweaters.

Lily was always nicely dressed. That was just her thing. Right now, she was barefoot in a white lace dress, muscular legs as long as a baby water fowl's.

Gramma stood between the two rows of yarn in her apron, and tested them to see how well they'd unravel.

Satisfied, she stepped back and yelled, "Let's go girls."

ZOOM!

Dollface took off, Dolli Mae running with the sweater.

Lily ran beside her, skirt billowing around her as she ran. Dollface looked to her and smiled, remembering the image of a triumphant Princess lifting her into the air while standing en Pointe on the community center's stage.

Dollface looked straight ahead, yarn still on her hand and dodged a lady walking her dog in their direction.

"Glack!" Dollface was pulled backwards, sweater far behind her knotted. Lily giggled musically and went ahead, yarn still unwinding. Dollface grumbled, staring at her boots and thinking about girls and their irresistibly soft hands, each capped with a smooth nail.

The yarn became slack, and soon enough, Dollface caught up to Lily in the white lace dress with no back.

They soon stood on a street corner panting, yarn as pulled as far as it could, no more sweater to unravel.

Lily laughed musically, like Alice the angel from the old Bendy cartoons, and started winding a ball around her manicured hands. Dollface followed suit, wrapping the yarn around her small hand and into a small ball.

"How ya doin' Lily?"

"I'm doin' very well, thank you." Lilly replied. "Y'all think ya can help me get Princess t'wake up next Sunday and come t'church with us?"

"I might be able t'pull a few strings." Dollface said. "Is Missy okay?"

"In what way?" Lily asked, red lips pursed.

"You seem to be the only one she likes, an' I was wondering how she was doin' She seems miserable." Explained Dollface, "An' Gramma said somethin' was wrong."

"Her parents got busted for embezzlement recently. Apparently, th'Drowlines sent in Izzy's corrections to a different accountin' place and she was right." Lily thought for a second, then said, "I think they're under investigation now."

"Oh," Dollface kept walking and winding with Lily. "How's your lil sister?"

"Annoying." Lilly laughed, "She's gotten into my stuff again, and I had to chase her out of my room this morning."

"Just means she likes you." Dollface said, bumping her shoulder to Lilly's.

"Easy for you t'say." She smiled and bumped back. Her low backed lace dress hung on her like a waterfall. "You're an only child."

"Not anymore."

No wonder Princess fell so hard for Lily. She was just amazing. The small dots down the street in front of them soon became people. Features melted into eyes, both bright green, colors taking shapes, forming Princess's blue hair pulled up in pigtails and Dolli Mae's blue jean skirt.

Dolli Mae, having stopped growing after the age of eleven, stood at four foot six, much smaller than Princess's five three and still counting, was small and aggressive. She had to be. It was a tall person's world, especially with six brothers.

Dollface wondered where Dolli Mae's almost boyfriend was, she hadn't seen him for a while.

Lilly forgot her wrapping and ran to Princess in a dead run, as if they hadn't seen each other in years, just like in a fairytale.

Dollface sometimes wished she had someone to run to and forget with.

She ignored Foxx. It was best to give that silly daydream up. He'd never go for her.

Dolli Mae trailed behind, still winding meticulously.

Gramma stepped around them, taking Lily and Princess's yarn balls with a sigh. Dollface let her smile linger, legs burning under her overall skirt, feeling like she'd been flying. She'd have to go to more rehearsals after her shift at Daisy's soon to help with the Independence Day rush now that Sydney ditched, and she was strangely sad about that.