"Well, we're here....."
    "That's great! Can you please show me there and I'll be on my way."
    "It's on the second floor, the store next to the disney place... I'm sorry, I can't follow you, I have to go home..."
    I expect Rena to cry and pull on my sleeve, but she doesn't.
    "It's ok, I just wanted to know where it is. It's not like we're in a relationship, you don't have to follow me everywhere."
    "Then why did you kiss my cheek?"
    "It's a way of greeting people down in southern Europe."
    "Oh.. then I have to go, see you!" So this was a misunderstanding after all? I really need to apologize now.
    On my way out, I see a huge and messy box on the water fountain. Wait... when I go closer to look at it, it's the snail cage Noelle lost at the mall! I have to bring it back to her, maybe she'll forgive me then. I pick up the cage, but it's covered in goo since there was no one to take care of them for the last 3 days. Each snail is huddled up inside their shells. I'm going to return them, but I can't when they're in this condition. I leap onto my bike and pedal home as fast as I can.
    ________
    I haven't seen Noelle the whole day, even though we were supposed to go to the Pastry shoppe today.
    I'm in my bathroom washing out the cage. For some reason it has a bunch of eggshells laying about, but the snails appear to enjoy them. I take them out and dump them in the trash, then flush the eaten kale down the toilet. After wiping away the snail poop with a wet paper towel, I put in a tiny humidifier device so they can drink, and then boom! I'm finished!
    But wait. I can't just give her some snails. I dash into the pantry and bring out a box of chocolates. Not these. It's way too small and Noelle's allergic to the coconut ones. Hurriedly I bike to the pastry shoppe and get a bag to-go. They were the best kinds- raspberry fudge- and it cost me a week's worth of pocket money.
             I stash the chocolates in the basket along with the snails. Not wasting another second, I bike towards Noelle's house as fast as I can. Maybe a little too fast.
           I begin to approach Noelle's house and stop with a jolt. Uh oh. The snails are tossed into the air and land a few feet in front of me. Before it touches the ground, though, someone dives for it. I recognize the flowy platinum-blond hair-it's Noelle! She grabs it with two hands and lands flat on the grass. Getting up, she closely examines the box. Her eyes widen as she realizes what it is.
           "Hey!" I shout, breaking the silence. Noelle looks up at me and smiles.
          3.. 2.. 1.. it is dusk now. I fall over just like the snails when Noelle pounces on me with a hug.
          Flick comes out, for some reason or another carrying a huge stand. The words "orange juice, one dollar" are carved into the wood. That would explain the three pitchers sitting next to Noelle's feet. Flick grins when she sees me hugging Noelle.
          "Well, it looks like there are no more twists and turns in this story." Flick says.
          We nod and Noelle puts the pitchers on the table. We're just in time. Cars start to drive into the neighborhood as all the working adults come back from work. Quite a few stop by our stand and buy a glass. In almost no time all three pitchers are empty and the sky is dark. We put the stand in Flick's garage and after asking for permission set up a tent in Flick's backyard. One by one, Noelle rolls out our three sleeping bags in a triangle shape. Hers is a pale blue, Flick's is orange, and mine is green. I set the lantern in between all of us. A bag of snacks lies next to my feet.
           Flick is right.
           The twists and turns in our path have been flattened.

End
Wait, don't go yet! Instead, look for the sequel, Eighth Grade Apocalypse! Coming soon.