“Anne, come on, tell me!”
Anne shook her head.
“Not til we get there, Kate!” She pulled me in deeper.
“We aren’t, uh going into the thick part, right?” I asked. I wasn’t scared, that’s not it.
Anne rolled her eyes.
“Why? Scared?” She saw my eyes and sighed. “Only a little bit in.”
I suddenly thought how she found this “new thing”.
“Anne? How did you find this thing? The new thing?”
Anne stopped and turned around to face me.
“I saw a rabbit.” Anne started softly. Anne loves rabbits. “It came very near me, and then hopped away. But it stopped before it went into the forest. Like it wanted me to follow it.”
I got kind of nervous.
“Well, it couldn’t have wanted you to follow it, because rabbits aren’t that smart.” I laughed nervously. “Right, Anne?...Anne?” Anne looked at me again.
“I followed it into the forest.” She said. Of course she did.
“It led me in, and stopped suddenly. Then it dashed away. And I saw...I saw it on the ground.”
“Saw...what?” I asked nervously.
Anne took my hand. “What I’m about to show you. Come on, you’ll love it.”
Anne pulled me further into the forest. We started to get into the thicker part. Anne rounded a tree and jumped over a rock. I followed. Anne slowed down and pushed away some vines hanging over a tree. She stopped.
“Look, Kate. Isn’t it beautiful?” Anne whispered softly.
I leaned closer. It was a beautiful dark purplish black rock. It was shiny and iridescent, and was about the size of a blueberry. I reached towards it to pick it up. Anne’s hand stopped mine.
“Don’t. It might be cursed.” She sounded genuinely scared.
“Anne, if it’s cursed, take care of Peanut and Thumpbutt for me.” I joked.
Anne’s eyes widened.
“Wait, Kate!”
I reached towards it….and picked it up.
“Kate! That was so stupid! Why-Kate? Are you...okay?” Anne practically screamed.
I opened my mouth.
“Kate! Oh my god! I-” I’m pretty sure she was hyperventilating.
“Haha! Anne, I’m fine! Not cursed, chill!” I laughed.
Anne sighed so much she sank a foot.
“Why would it be cursed?” I wondered.
“I feel like really pretty stuff is never safe.” She shrugged.
“Wise words, my friend. They will be remembered.” I joked. We both laughed off our fear. I put the rock back, Anne thought it was probably safer there. We decided to get back to the party. I swear I saw something shiny out of the corner of my eye, but it was probably just my nerves.