“Eloise?! What are you doing here?” I yelled. She backed up in surprise.
“Geez, guys...I just...I...I…”
“Did you see us at all?” Anne shrieked.
“No...just when you were going in-”
“Okay, then...WHAT WERE YOU DOING?!” I shouted.
“Um, I was looking for you guys?” She didn’t sound sure.
“Why?” I demanded.
“‘Cause, I wanted to see what you guys were up to. I assumed you were looking at the stone, but it would have to be reeeeally cool if you were seeing it hours a day, every day!” Anne and I looked at each other.
“I thought you were scared of the forest!” Anne puzzled. “I thought that’s why-”
“Scared? Please. Don’t you do that.” She sniffed.
“What?” Anne and I said in unison.
“Insult me and be up in my business!”
“But is that why you went in the forest before?” I wondered.
“Before? Oh you mean after I visited you.” Eloise thought about this. “Yeah…?”
“Why don’t you sound sure?” I demanded.
“I just...I…” Anne and I started yelling and shouting.
“Okay, okay! I followed you guys!” She finally said. Anne and I exchanged worried looks.
“Why? Did you see everything we did?” We practically screamed.
“Um, no because I got lost!”
“Wait, why were you following us? ‘Cause you couldn’t find the stone?” Anne wondered.
“Um...couldn’t find…” She sounded confused. “Oh! Um, yeah. That’s why, yep!” We didn’t believe her.
“Tell us the truth, Eloise, or-”
“Or WHAT?! You guys never told me the truth! You never told me about how you found more stones! Why you go in the forest so much! I was never able to find you guys because after you went past the beehive, I would try to follow, but you were gone!” She ranted.
Anne and I got quiet.
“First, Eloise, we were just hanging out, the forest is cool.” I said.
“And second, don’t eavesdrop! We have to go! Come on, Kate!” Anne fumed. We turned around to go home. I looked back and saw Eloise, standing there, angry.
“That’s fine! I’ll just go home! I’m over you two!”
Later
“Do you think she’s that mad?” I asked Anne. We were sitting on my bed.
“No, she sounded less mad, and more relieved, that we weren’t doing anything that cool.”
“But, I lied!” I wailed. Anne patted my back.
“No, you didn’t. You just said we were hanging out in the forest. That wasn’t a lie. Also, you couldn’t have told her. She...well she’s the kind of person who just tells people stuff. She would’ve told everyone about the stones.” Anne consoled.
“At least she didn’t see our rings. That would’ve been hard to explain.” I smiled. We admired our rings again.
“I miss her, but I can live without her. You are my real best friend, Anne.” I professed.
Anne hugged me, and I hugged her back. It took me a few moments to realize I was floating.