New Scales and Tails

New Girl

"Tomorrow is school! I can't wait!" Avery's sister cried. 

Avery raised her eyebrows. She never heard that phrase before, coming from Sammy, anyway. Especially on a Sunday evening. 

It's not like Sammy was learning anything interesting either. Avery sometimes looked to see what her sister was working on for homework. Boring, endless worksheets about stuff Sammy wasn't going to use in the future. 

This made Avery suspicious. Was Sammy going to pull a prank on her teacher or one of her classmates? Hopefully not. Sammy would be grounded, and Avery would have to listen to her nonsense even more. 

"For what?" She asked carefully. 

"For the new girl! I SO want to be her best friend." Sammy smiled. 

She reminded Avery of one of those snobby, dramatic popular girls on TV. Minis the "popular" part, of course. Sammy never had friends over. Avery has once or twice. Sammy never talked about going to parties, not even birthday  parties, which Avery has definitely been to. 

"Why? Because you have no friends?" Avery asked. 

They both knew the truth. Yet Sammy always defused. "No..."

"Lair." Avery smirked. 

"So? You're a lair too!" Sammy yelled.

As much as Avery wanted to argue, she knew her younger sister was right. Avery was a lair. She was lying for a good reason, though. It was a life-or-death situation. It was serious. Lying over having friends or not? Not a good reason. At all. 

"You said that 'nothing changed' but you and I know that things have." Sammy added, continuing her little speech.

"Whatever." Avery glared. She was slightly annoyed with herself for not coming up with a better comeback. Anything to shut Sammy up would do, but no such luck. 

"Anyway!" Sammy acted like her and Avery never fought. She even smiled. "Her name is Katie."

Avery gulped, her anger gone and replaced with worry. 

Katie is going in Sammy's classroom. Great. Oh, that's perfect. 

"What's wrong, Avery? Do you know her?" Sammy asked, noticing her face and being nosy. As always. 

"Oh! No, I don't know her. I just like her name." Avery half-way lied. 

That really doesn't count as lying, did it? Maybe it was.

Avery had gotten used to lying. It came easier now. A lie would just past her lips, and it sounded totally real. 

Besides, she really did like the name "Katie".

"Then why did you gulp?" Sammy asked. 

"Because my throat was dry!" Avery yelled, annoyed again. "Duh!"

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Katie sighed, a little uneasy. 

Tomorrow was her first day of school. She had no idea where to sit, how to act, and where the lunchroom was. Not good sighs. 

Katie tried taking deep breaths to steady her racing heart, but it only made her more scared and nervous. 

She knew on the brighter note that Avery was in the same school. Maybe not in the same grade, but she was still there. 

Her phone rang on her bed. 

Katie picked it up. "Hello?"

"Katie!" Avery's voice was so familiar now.

"Avery?" Katie made sure. "Yeah, it's Katie."

"Bad news: my sister is going to be in your class!"

"Oh no! Um...how is that bad news?"

"Because if she finds out our secret, she'll pour water over your head!"

Katie gasped. Avery had to be buffering. "She'll do that?"

"Most likely." Avery sighed. She sounded disappointed and frustrated. 

"What's her name?"

"Sammy. Don't be too suspicious. She'll definitely know we're talking. Especially when you start sweating when she pulls out a bottle of water."

"Understood. I'll be careful. You can count on me."

"Thanks, Katie." Avery sounded relieved. "That means a lot. I know I can trust you."

"Of course you can!" Katie smiled. 

She remembered when she threatened Avery with her secret. She frowned. 

"Katie!" Jake's voice yelled from downstairs. "Dinner time!" 

"I gotta go." Katie told Avery.

"Okay."

"Hey. Um, is it okay if I walk with you? Jake might be there. I'm just really nervous. You know?" Katie asked, trying not to sound like a scared little kitten. 

"Yeah, sure. Sammy's going to be there, though, too. Just warning you."

"Thanks, Avery. I'm really glad I met you."

"Me too."