Candy was lying on her bed, crying. She ruined everything! Yes, Neil scared her, but then he apologized and was nice to her the whole evening when he brought her to hospital. And then he invited Annie to visit her. And she…

She was talking about him behind his back, she stung his pride. He'll never forgive her.

Candy began to sob again, but there was a knock at the door.

"Coming!" she shouted happily and rushed to the bathroom to wipe her eyes. They were still red and swollen, but when miss White opened the door, she was smiling gladly.

"Candy!"

It was Annie and Archie.

Miss Brighton hugged her, but then looked closer into her friend's face and exclaimed in alarm:

"Have you been crying?"

"What happened?" worried Archie.

"That's because of mister Albert, right?" Annie asked compassionately, and Candy broke into tears with renewed force, quivering in her friend's arms.

Archie went to the room and took the letter. From Albert, indeed.

"Candy, come on, don't be so sad, don't cry! He'll come back, you'll see! Let's go have some coffee in a café, come on!" the friends were trying to console the girl.

Miss White washed her face under Annie's supervision and changed her clothes.

"There you go! Almost calmed down," Annie smiled.

…They were sitting in a café, and Candy cheered up. Archie amused her, and Annie was very kind and attentive.

"And tomorrow there's gonna be a party to celebrate Aunt Elroy's birthday! You're invited, too," Archie winked. "I told Aunt Elroy that if you don't come, we won't show up either. And she gave in!"

Candy wanted to deny the invitation, especially received by blackmailing the old lady, when suddenly she realized Neil would be there, too.

"Oh, thank you, Archie!" Candy touched his hand to express her gratitude. "Thank you so much!"

Annie and Archie exchanged glances – their friend was too excited about going to the old lady, which had never been typical of her.

"And what about Eliza and Neil… Are they gonna be there?" Candy asked casually.

"Eliza won't, she's always meeting some boyfriend of hers," Cornwell made a grimace. "I'm sorry for that poor fellow who messes up with her. It's odd she's gonna miss Aunt Elroy's party, but that's good for us, right?" he winked. "And this damned Legan will surely come… And I'll give him hell!"

"Archie!" Annie peacefully put her hand on her darling's shoulder.

Candy was drinking tea, her fingers shivering a little.

"You'd better be careful with him, Candy," Archie warned her. "He's very stubborn. If he has decided to do something, he will. Don't underestimate his haunting."

Miss White put her cup on the table. He is very stubborn, that's true. If he has decided to do something, he will. And if has decided NOT to do something – he won't! He was determined to leave her alone and stop their communication!

The green eyes filled with tears. What has she done? And why?

"Candy, don't be afraid," Archie leaned towards her. "We won't let this scumbag even talk to you. If he comes close to you, he'll regret it!"

"Archie, I… I'll handle it myself. Maybe he won't even come up to me…"

"Oh, Candy, unfortunately, he will!" Annie broke in. "He's only waiting for that. When I was in a car with him, all he talked about was you."

A few tears dropped on the table.

"Candy! I'll tell Aunt Elroy not to invite him, to call off her invitation! She herself didn't want to see him after he had beaten me up. You won't see him, I promise!"

"NO!" Candy sprang up so excitedly that everyone stopped talking. "No, there's no need for that. Don't do anything, please!"

Her lips were trembling, and her eyes full of tears. But despite that, she was quite aggressive.

"Try to tell him something, just try! And you'll be no friends of mine!"

"What is wrong with you?!"

"Candy, what happened? Candy!"

Miss White sobbed and ran out of the café.

Annie and Archie drank up their tea in silence.