For the Writing Club [Show Time] on the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Forum.
"It's probably not serious," said Haley, her eyes gleaming with sympathy. "She's just shiny and new, that's all. He'll get sick of her. And when he does, he'll realise that you've always been right here in front of him."
Emily knew that Haley was trying to make her feel better. But if anything, her sister's words just made her feel worse. If being shiny and new was what it took to get noticed by Alex, then she surely didn't have a chance. She was just plain old Emily.
"I've always been right here in front of him," said Emily, trying to keep her voice steady. "If he was going to fall in love with me, don't you think he would've done it already?"
Haley frowned. "That's not what I meant, Em."
"I know."
Emily tore her eyes away from the wharf, where Alex was very proudly teaching Pelican Town's newest resident how to fish. But even with her gaze firmly on the corner of Haley's beach towel, she could still hear the new couple laughing from across the beach.
"I thought fishing was supposed to be a silent activity," she muttered. "They're not going to catch anything cackling like that."
Haley gave her a small smile. "Maybe we should go. Your shift starts soon anyway, right? Let's go home. Get cleaned up."
Emily wanted to say no. Because there was no way that was one of those girls who ran away crying just because the boy she liked happened to like someone else. And she certainly wasn't going to let it get in the way of what she wanted to do. If she wanted to sit on the beach with her sister, that's what she was going to do, damn it.
But there it was. A loud, twinkling laugh. To Emily's ear, it sounded just like a hyena's cackle.
"All right." Emily stood abruptly, brushing the sand off her hands. "Let's go."
"Em..."
"Haley, I'm fine. Let's go.
