"Ugh, I'm stuffed!" Jenna announces, plopping onto her stomach and grabbing yet another slice of pizza from the box.

"Then why don't you stop eating?" Laura asks.

"It's just too good!"

I chew on my own pizza slice silently. I don't really participate in the conversation, but I don't feel totally awkward either. It was as if by contributing to the History assignment, I had crossed some sort of finish line. I did my part by being social for a certain amount of time and it was enough to classify me as not completely awkward.

I like to call that... Heather's logic for social situations.

Massa gets up when a car beeps outside. "That's probably my mom,"

"What? But it's still early, we just finished the project, we barely had enough time to have fun!" Scarlet says.

"I know, I'm sorry, but I have an extra horseback riding lesson today. The tournament's coming up soon."

"Oooh, an extra lesson, huh?" Jenna wriggles her eyebrows teasingly. "As in quality time with the hot guy Fadi? I'm already starting to ship you two."

"Oh shut up Jenna," Massa growls.

"I have a good ship name!" Laura pipes in. "How about 'hashtag Madi'?"

"Or 'hashtag Fassa'," Jenna adds, and the two burst out laughing.

Massa opens her mouth to say something, probably realizes it's hopeless, and pinches the bridge of her nose instead. Scarlet rolls her eyes and chuckles. The car outside beeps again and Scarlet offers to go with Massa outside. When the two are gone, Jenna sighs and throws her pizza crust into the box.

"Now I'm really stuffed!"

"Uh, Jenna.." Laura begins, her eyes averting to the door.

"So it's you again," Jenna snarls, getting up to her feet.

The devil herself, Ruby, is standing at the entrance of the room, now clad in what seemed to be a cowgirl outfit. She aims a toy gun at Laura, who skitters like a frightened bunny behind Jenna for protection. The girls begin to circle each other slowly, giving off menacing vibes. Jenna is fully focused, glaring daggers at Ruby's murderous eyes, like a cat wary of its enemy, and Laura is shuffling along behind her, sneaking a quick glance every now and then over the taller girl's shoulder to eye the weapon targeting them.

Pop!

A pebble explodes against the ground right in front of Jenna and Laura, sending both of them screaming out of the bedroom. Ruby runs after them, waving her gun in the air and whooping what sounded like a Red Indian war cry.

When Scarlet enters the room a few moments later, her mouth forms a surprised 'o' and she peeps, "Where'd everyone else go?"

I realize there's no one around but me to answer that question.

"Uh, your sister invited them to a game of chase, I guess."

Scarlet sighs and mutters something about them being such children, but I'm not listening because I'm too busy eyeing the book on her bed. The book I've been craving for ages. The book I've been hunting down. The book I drove the librarian crazy asking about.

The book that turned out to be in Scarlet's custody all along.

I didn't get the chance to bring it up earlier. But now, with only Scarlet present and no project on our hands, I have my chance. My conscience wouldn't allow me to leave without setting things right.

"Er, Scarlet, that book there..."

"Oh, yes, did I thank you for finding it? I hope I don't forget to take it back to the library this week."

"You know, if you like," I twiddle my fingers. "I could return it for you."

I hold my breath, praying for my plan to succeed.

"That's really nice of you," Scarlet exclaims, then pauses, thinking. "Actually, I'd like that, if it's no trouble."

She picks the book off the bed. Time slows down as she is about to bestow it upon me. I am only centimeters apart from a world I have been dreaming of entering for a long time. The precious paperback is in her hand and only seconds away from being in mine. My fingers brush the edge of the cover and–

The book is yanked away all of a sudden bringing the magical sensation of the moment to a screeching halt.

"Aha! Wait a minute! I know what you're trying to do!"

My heart drops. Did she figure out that I was only offering her help in order to read the book myself?

"You're trying to find an excuse to go to the library, aren't you?"

I release a sigh of relief. I laugh shakily. "No, why would I need an excuse for that?"

"Well, obviously, because now you're required to join us during break time."

"Says who?"

"Says me," she shoots back, resting a curled fist on her waist sassily. You're part of our group now. You're officially forbidden to go to the library during break. You have to stay with us."

I'm not sure whether to feel honored or offended. I don't particularly like the idea of someone controlling my whereabouts, nor shoving me into their friend group without consulting me first. But this is Scarlet, after all. And this isn't her first attempt at forcing me to do something I have no say in.

"I need my library time," I try to explain carefully. "You see, it's sort of like a psychological need to me."

"I don't care. You're not allowed to stay alone. You're hanging out with us."

I'm never 'alone', I want to say. I have Mark. But I don't like the idea of my friendship with Mark being public knowledge. It was something extraordinary – at least extraordinary enough that it deserved to remain a secret. Besides, Mark would want me to give Scarlet a chance. He said so himself.

"Then why don't we... strike some sort of deal?" I suggest.

Putting the book behind her, Scarlet interlaces her fingers together in front of her chin and narrows her eyes, as if in a business meeting. "What sort of deal are we talking about?"

"I'll hang out with you on Tuesdays."

"One day isn't enough."

"Fine, Thursdays too. Happy?"

Scarlet smiles. "For now, yes."

"So about the book–"

"There you go."

I take it with disbelief. I admire it's every detail, from the dog-eared corners of the pages to the shiny lamination of the cover. From then on I spend the rest of my stay constantly glancing over at my newly acquired treasure, as if it might grow legs and make a run for it.

I leave Scarlet's house that day cradling the book in my arms, a goofy smile etched on my face. I stay up all night long reading, drinking every word in, floating through the story within the pages. I realize that reading this book wouldn't have felt so special if it weren't so hard to find.

Maybe people are like that, too.