For that reason, I make her bracelet a rainbow. I don’t know if she’ll like it as much, but after she brought such brightness into my life, it just seems like the perfect fit.
It takes me even longer to figure out a word. Brave? Yes, but she’s so much more than that. Fun? Happy? Sarcastic?
Again, she’s all those things, but so much more. After what feels like hours of deliberation, I finally settle on a word, one she hopefully won’t hate or feel weirded out by.
I’m just putting the final touches on Natalie’s bracelet when Miss Evelyn tells us it’s almost time to wrap things up. Everyone hurries to finish what they’re doing, and my heart feels like it might pound right out of my chest when Miss Evelyn has us exchange our bracelets.
Jumping out of my seat, I head straight for Victoria first. “Here, Tori! I made you this!” I shove the bracelet toward her, and Victoria looks from the string of pink beads to me and smiles, though it looks a little strained at the edges.
“Oh… thank you, that’s so nice! Um, I ran out of time, though, so I didn’t get to make you one. I’m sorry, Millie.”
Disappointment pricks at my chest, but I shrug it off with a smile. “No problem. I had a lot of fun anyway. You can still keep that one, I made it special for you.”
Turning away, I approach Juliet next. “Here you go, Juliet. I know you really like teal.”
“I think I’m kinda over teal, actually. But thanks.” She smiles, and unlike Victoria’s which merely looked a bit odd, Juliet’s expression looks downright smug. “I ran out of time, too. Sorry.”
My throat burns with tears and I have to blink against the urge to let them fall. “Oh. That’s okay. I don’t really need one.”
The same scene plays out with Isabella, who looks more uncomfortable than anything, her gaze sliding over to Juliet almost like she’s starting to panic.
By the time I get to Natalie, she’s glaring daggers at the others, and guilt starts to creep in alongside my disappointment. The last thing I want to do is cause problems with my new friends.
Tilting her nose in the air, she holds a bracelet out for me, with bright yellow beads interspersed with bumblebees. “Well I hadplentyof time to makeeveryonea bracelet,” she says, raising her voice loud enough for everyone, even Miss Evelyn tohear. “Yours says ‘sunny’ ‘cause your smile makes me think of sunshine.”
“Really?” The tears I’ve been trying to hold back pool in my eyes. “Thank you, Natalie!”
Without thinking, I launch myself at her and she shrieks with laughter as I tackle her with a hug. “You’re welcome. And please call me Nelly. That’s what my friends all call me.”
Sniffling, I pull back and wipe at my eyes. “Thanks, Nelly. Um, I made you this. I know your favorite color is black, but, well, you remind me of rainbows.”
Nelly takes the bracelet from me, her mouth falling open. “Bestie? Really? I’ve never had a bestie before!”
“Me neither!”
Someone scoffs, and we turn together to see Juliet rolling her eyes. “You can’t seriously want to be her friend after she was so mean to us!”
Mean? When was I ever mean? Sure, I had to do some not-so-nice things as Donovan’s nurse, but I don’t think I was evermeanto anyone.
Hands fisted on her hips, Nelly glares at her. “Millie isn’t mean! She’s the nicest nurse ever!You’rethe mean one!”
“Girls!” Miss Evelyn raises her voice over the growing noise and claps her hand, effectively shutting down the argument. “Juliet, you can go sit in the timeout chair until you’re ready to be the sweet girl I know you are.”
Beside me, Nelly snorts. “Right. Sweet.”
Juliet stomps her foot. “Oh, shut up, Nelly!”
“You shut up!”
Victoria jumps up, trying to get between them. “Both of you shut up! You’re being stupid!”
“Victoria Rose! We do not use that kind of language in my classroom. You and Natalie can both join Juliet in timeout!”
Cries of protest ring out in the room, with everyone accusing someone else of “starting it” or “being mean”. And as I watch the fight grow, all I can think isThis is all my fault.
I never should have come to this island. Nothing has gone right for me since the day I stepped off that plane. Everyone here would be better off if I just disappeared.
Spinning around, I do the only thing I can think of and race for the front door as my vision blurs with tears. Miss Evelyn’s voice follows me as I shove the door open and run down the front steps.
