Reborn

Biana

"Ugh, what is that?" Sophie gagged and glared at the silver strip on her locker. She mentally scolded herself for not remembering the awful taste sooner.

Dex looked a little green. "I think it's reekrod. Elwin must've picked the flavor today."

Marella gave her locker the tiniest lick and shrugged. "He's done worse."

"Yeah, well, I'm taking all my books with me now," Sophie said."

"Oooh—smart thinking," Dex agreed, reaching for the rest of his books. He grabbed a small silver box and tore it open. "Here. Take a Prattle to get rid of the taste."

Sophie was more than relieved to get the flavor off her tastebuds. She placed the candy in her mouth, letting it melt.

"Which pin did you get?" Marella asked as he pulled out a small velvet pouch, like a Cracker Jack prize.

Dex removed a tiny silver horse with a glittering black mane.

Marella gasped. "A Prattles' unicorn? Please tell me you want to trade."

"Maybe." His eyes darted to Sophie. "Unless you want it?"

"Don't you want it?"

"I think you should have it." Dex placed the pin in her hand before she could argue.

Marella snorted. "Of course you do."

"What? She needs to start her collection."
"Whatever you say."

Dex blushed and Sophie pretended not to notice, her mind flashing to their kiss and how horrendous that went.

"Hey, Sophie?" a vaguely familiar voice asked behind her. "Can I talk to you?"

Sophie spun around and froze when she saw Biana. "Uh, sure," she said as her brain unearthed her memories of their friendship.

Biana glanced at Dex and Marella. "Can we go somewhere more private?"

Sophie closed her locker and shrugged to her friends and followed Biana toward a deserted corner of the atrium. "What's up?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to come over after school today."

If she wasn't in public, Sophie would have jumped in the air. "Why?"

Biana looked at her hands, twisting her fingers together. "I don't know. I thought it might be nice if we could . . . try to be friends." The last words came out barely louder than a whisper.

"Friends!" Sophie exclaimed. "I mean, friends?" She struggled to recompose herself. "But . . . I thought you didn't like me."

"I never said that."

"You didn't have to. It was pretty obvious. Normal people don't glare at each other."

Biana pretended she didn't hear her so Sophie continued.

"What did I do to make you not like me?" She half whispered.

There was a lengthy pause before Biana sheepishly said, "People started to only want to talk to me just to hear about you. I tried to do everything to ignore it but everyone wanted to talk about the mysterious new girl. I guess... well, I definitely took out that frustration on you."

"I'll see you after school then."

"Really?"

"Sure. I guess it's worth a try."

They both stood there, Sophie looking eager and Biana refusing to look at her.

Sophie watched Biana walk away, replaying the conversation in her mind. Would she have to act the same as last time in order to get Biana to like her?