Candy stood at the railway station, and the wind ruffled her hair tied with a ribbon. Annie stood next to her - Patty had written to Annie that she would come, and Candy wrote to her friend that their dear school friend would come soon.

The girls kept silence, Candy never asked what had happened between Miss Brighton and Archie, they just said hello from time to time and exchanged meaningless phrases about how much they were waiting for the one that should arrive.

Just a few days had passed, and the girls noticed changes in each other, these elusive changes that only a close person could see or the one who had known you all his life.

Annie noticed that Candy became more... ladylike or something, she noticed that her dress was not so comfortable as usual, but emphasizing the figure, and the fact that the bow at the waist was in tune with the hair ribbon, and the presence of such accessories like a thin bracelet and a necklace that was an unusual choice for a madcap Candy used to be.

"The primary desire of a girl in love is to look better," Miss Brighton thought, and immediately recovered her temper. Why was she so angry? Why Candy's manners, her thoughtfulness, her soft gaze, her love became so annoying? Why was her heart poisoned with the treacherous thoughts of waiting for Candy to know the bitterness of parting, because of dissatisfaction of her lover? She thought that a beautiful dress is useless, and the perfect look would not help to keep a man around…

Why did she think about it? Why was she envying her friend again and again? Why couldn't she just be happy for someone else's fortune, as Candy was happy for them?

"I'm rotten to the core," the dark-haired girl scolded herself. "Even worse than Neil and Eliza. How to get rid of these thoughts?"

There was the only possible way to get rid of grinding thoughts - to find the strength to set aside jealousy and become the girl, who could be admired and respected, who could feel loved, who she could become without that painful affection to Archie.

"Oh, Candy, I didn't tell you, you look wonderful!" Annie exclaimed and, after seeing perplexed, and then happy glance of her friend, realized that she was rewarded for this little effort with a wave of love from her friend. Something warm stirred in her chest, and she was already genuinely smiling to embarrassed Miss White.

"Do you.. think so?" Candy said with a wide smile. "I sometimes feel so shy when I comb my hair the way you taught me, it's still unusual, but I'm getting used to it!"

"My lessons were not in vain," Annie winked. "I bet he was smitten!"

"Oh, yes-ah," Candy drawled, blushing. "He told me that I was charming!"

"Charming!" The girlfriend laughed. "And I thought he didn't know such words!"

Miss White was going to controvert, but then the girls heard the whistle of the train and braced for the arriving.

It seemed that the train did not move at all, so slowly it was approaching and finally...

"Patty!"

Three friends snuggled each other in their arms, and the years of separation faded away.

Only exclamations were heard now and then:

"Patty! How elegant you are!"

"Stop that!"

"Real lady!"

"Ha-ha-ha, the sister Gray would be pleased with you, Candy!"

The girls decided to find a cozy place where they can sit for a chat, as the station was too crowded and noisy.

... Three friends sat at the table, bowing their heads closer to each other and remembering the winter day they had been sitting the same way, almost four years ago...

Four years! Was that a long time or a short one? It seemed to be long, because many things changed...

Of course, Patty, like all the others, was surprised at Candy's choice.

"...Are you going to marry Neil?"

"Yes!" Candy leaned back in her chair and, suppressing a chuckle, watched Patty tried to digest that news, received not in the letter, but in reality, trying, as always, not to offend anyone, but at the same time unable to hide quite understandable amazement. Finally, Candy could not stand it, and laughed. "You know, Patty, I want to get revenge!" She winked.

Her friends laughed merrily.

"Well, what about you, Annie?" Patty asked, and covered Miss Brighton's hand with hers. "How are you and Archie, when are you going to get married? I was unable to visit your engagement party because of the illness of my grandmother, but I can't miss the wedding..."

Candy swallowed nervously, when Annie calmly replied:

"Archie and I broke up. Oh, no, no, no need to worry," She calmly looked around the stunned friends. "This is my decision, and I feel better. I swear."

"Saying it to my friends turned out to be much easier than it seemed," Miss Brighton thought. It was different with mother. At first, she screamed, apparently thinking that Archie was the initiator of parting. God, because of her affection to Archie, everyone was so sure that only he could break up with her! Then, her mother tried to console her, despite the fact that Annie was feeling fine, and for some reason, these consolations annoyed her greatly. It seems that they were trying to draw her into that terrible swamp, where she had been wallowing until then...

Then, the father recognized. He was tactful, and Annie calmed down. She knew she had made the right decision. She needs to build her own life... And now her closest friends are aware...