Avoiding

4

"Hah!" Emma snorts. "I think mama did it on purpose," I look away embarrassed. "But she doesn't know what room the bed was in, and how would she know you liked him?" Emma interrogates. "She's my real mom, Emma, she knows everything," i pause, "and lies exist,"

She looks away and shushes me. "He's coming," she whispers. "Hey Norman!" She waves. "Hey Emma!" He smiles. "Hey Ray!" His grin grows. "Oh- well would you look at that- I have to go to the bathroom," I nervously grin and walk out of the room.

Emma:
Wow- that was pathetic- he really wasn't kidding when he said he was to embarrassed to talk to him. Norman looks down, and his goofy grin disappears. "Norman, are you okay?" I ask him. "Do you know why Ray has been avoiding me," he questions me. "No? I'm sorry," I nervously say. "You sure? That wasn't very convincing-" he sits down and puts his head on the table.

"I'm positive he's just being weird," I smile at him. "Okay..," he sulks.

Mom ushers us outside. I notice Ray sneaking outside to the tree.

"Hey Norman wanna play tag?" I ask him. "No... not really...," he whispers. "Rays just stupid, okay? Don't worry about him," I tell him. "Okay.. I'll play," he says. "I'm it though," I demand.

"I'm it!" I yell as the other kids run into the forest. I notice Norman is heading behind. "Ray, you're hurting Norman," I tell him. "I just can't bring myself to talk to him," he mumbles and places his head in his book. "Hey, just try," I smile and run after them.