After our morning lesson in spellcasting, I'm forced out of the cabin by three eager girls, wanting to go to Maple Valley.

Why did I agree to this? I'm not sure.

Well, I do know why, but why is it so hard to admit that I have missed having a group of females in my life?

When we get there, we start off walking and pass local businesses with people looking around, occasionally buying something. It isn't until we pass a park that I hear laughing coming from my left.

"What ya laughin' 'bout?" I ask.

Her smile fades into something more serious. "Just a memory."

Like hell it is just a simple memory.

I'm not the only one that caught Tally's reaction. "Must have been a good one to have you smile the way you do," Ande says.

"Sure. Okay. A memory from when I was five. It's not earth shattering news."

Oh, someone's defensive.

"Something about that memory made you smile." Carleigh says from Tally's other side.

"Fine." She huffs.

Now we might get the truth.

"I thought Danny would always be my Prince Charming."

"You mean that hot one in the picture on your dresser," Ande says with a huge grin.

Tally's nose scrunches up.

Ande's jaw drops. "Seriously?"

She shakes her head. "He's like my brother."

Ooh. Someone's in denial.

"But he's not your brother, and that is the difference. Maybe he still is your Prince Charming," Carleigh says.

You certainly have that right.

She scratches her nose and shakes her head. "Nah. He's just my best friend."

I've noticed she scratches her nose when she's nervous.

No one says a word, and we just nod at Tally. I think she believes the stuff she says about how she feels.

We walk all around the little town until Ande spots a thrift store. Oh no, I saw that look on my mom's face too many times. In depth shopping.

We enter and Ande's eyes fill with more excitement-something I didn't think possible. I lean against the wall and watch the action unfold. Ande goes to work throwing clothes at Carleigh and Tally. I see some black jeans thrown on the pile, and I realize she intends for me to try on clothes, too. I'm not thrilled by the prospect, but I am curious where this is all going.

When Carleigh finally gets her attention, she gasps at the mound of clothes each girl is carrying. She says something, and Carleigh frowns slightly. Ande walks towards the dressing rooms, and I guess that's our cue that it's time to try on clothes.

I get in and try on the black pants and the few shirts Ande has picked out for me. I hate to admit, but she did a damn good job picking things for me. When I finish, Carleigh and Tally are walking towards a back corner. I follow because this whole day is turning out to be interesting.

She holds up an ugly dress.

"Ande dear, I hate to say this, but that is a hideous dress," Carleigh says.

Tally covers her mouth.

"But it has so much potential, see this," Ande says, holding up the bottom with lots of lace covering every inch. "Over here is gauzy material. I can make something with this."

I rub my forehead. "If ya say so."

Something about what I said affects Tally so much that she starts laughing. That gets Carleigh and I to laugh, while Ande just has a confused look on her face. I calm and decide I've had enough of this thrift store so I sneak outside.

I get outside and take a deep breath of the fresh air. Much better than the stale air inside that thrift store. My thoughts wander to the last time I went shopping, but I shut that memory down before it starts playing. Other things pop into my head, but I'm not sure how much better they are. My first days in the foster system, the bullies there, finally being tired of crying, rebelling-you name it, I probably did it, except guys. I had a few crushes, but I never stayed in a place long enough for me to develop any type of relationship-until Boyd Jones. Small items around me start shaking, and I realize I'm externalizing my anger into the earth. I switch and think of the fun I've had at the cabin, and the people I've started to bond with. Everything stops, and I'm proud I was able to get my emotions under control.

Not much later, Tally exits the store. She stops and takes in a deep breath. The store must have been suffocating her, too.

She puts her shades on and looks around town. Tally starts looking ill and leans against the wall.

I put my hand on her shoulder to keep her steady. "Are ya alright? Ya look a little pale."

"Honestly, I've been having headaches since yesterday. I thought it was stress or being overwhelmed. However, I'm having fun today, and the headache just keeps getting worse and worse."

"Grandma Miriam said it might be some sorta power comin' to the surface."

"You talked with Grandma?" she questions, and it sounds defensive.

I don't want to see her expression so I look down. "Ya, but in my defense I was worried."

I look up and she smiles at me.

"I'll be fine."

I don't know if she's trying to convince me or herself.

"Maybe I'll rest later," she adds.

Grinning, I shake my head. "With Ande's excitement, I think not."

"Aren't you excited?"

"Shoppin isn't realla my thin'."

"Didn't you ever go?"

"Sometimes." I breathe in deeply and try to calm my emotions. I let out a noisy breath. "But I dont wanna talk 'bout it."

She pats my arm. "That's fine. I'm here if you want to talk."

My heart lightens at the compassion Tally has. "Thanks. Let's go see how much trouble Ande is gettin' inta."

In the shop we observe that Carleigh has elected to follow Ande with a shopping cart.

"Hey Carleigh, how tha shoppin'?" I call out. Carleigh gives us a hateful look, and we both can't help but laugh. I needed this.

You can tell Tally feels for Carleigh, because she tells Ande, "I think that's enough, Ande. You only have so much time to actually make clothes."

Ande gets that I'm-thinking look. "I'm not sure I have enough."

Is this girl for real? How much does she plan on making? And where will she get the time between training?

"I think we can come shopping again, if you run out," Tally says.

A bright smile splits her face, and she skips to the counter with Carleigh trudging behind her.

Twelve shopping bags later, and we are finally heading to the van.

Estel stares at our load.

"Someone got happy."

"Ande over there," I answer, moving my head towards where Ande can be heard by everyone. Chatty little thing.

"I see," Estel says nodding as she opens the van doors and lets us in.

When the van gets to the cabin, Ande heads straight upstairs past a group of guys gawking at the bags we have.

I groan at how stupid boys can be sometimes. "Ya could help instead of gawk!"

Those boys don't move off their asses to help us girls. "Cabrónes." I mutter. When I look around I realize no one heard me. Probably for the best. I don't want to spend time explaining the word to everyone.

Our afternoon is spent trying on clothes for Ande so she can get measurements. Something about knowing where to cut for the clothes she's making. Her talk is beyond what I understand-like I know how to design and make clothes. We sit on the floor talking while we remove the stitching from the clothes Ande is going to work on. After a few hours, we all take a break before dinner.

Tally isn't looking any better at dinner. She just moves her food around her plate. Before I can ask if she's alright, she takes her plate into the kitchen. She says something to Mia and runs up the stairs like a rabid dog is after her. I should know; I had to run from many of those.

I stand up to find Grandma Miriam. She's sitting on the porch swing as usual.

She must see the panic on my face. "Bloody hell, what's wrong with you Michaela?"

"Tally just went up the stairs. She hasn't been looking too well today. Really pale. I think she's getting sick."

"Not to worry, love. I'll check on her. Did you finish dinner?"

I shake my head, and she stands from the swing.

"Go finish, and I'll let you know what I find out." She hugs me and walks inside.

I finish my food and take my plate into the kitchen so I can wash it.

Sometime later, Grandma Miriam comes down.

"Mia, can you fix me some peppermint ginger tea with a little honey," she asks.

Mia nods and goes to the fridge and pulls out a yellowish-brown tree root-looking thing.

She must see my expression.

"Ginger root. Among its benefits is easing nausea and vomiting."

I glance over at Grandma Miriam. "That's what's wrong with her?"

"It would seem so."

"Can I ... well ... maybe I .... Oh, nevermind."

"Yes, you can come with me to see Tallulah. How about grabbing the fan from downstairs and meeting me back here? When the tea is done, we can go up together."

It takes longer than I expect searching for the damn fan. The tea is ready when I get back, and Grandma Miriam and I go up to Tally's room. She's not visible when we get in, but Grandma Miriam goes over and pulls the covers back to get Tally to wake up.

"Tallulah, wake up a moment," Grandma Miriam says.

Tally peaks her head up.

"Michaela wants to see you, so she carried the fan while I brought up the tea."

"Thanks," she whispers.

Grandma Miriam sets the tea down. She brings the nightstand closer to the bed while I find some type of chair to sit in.

"Here's your tea," Grandma says, then looks at me. "Don't stay too long."

I nod. "Got it."

After Grandma Miriam leaves the room, I start talking.

"I won't be stupid and ask ya how ya feelin'."

Tally tries to reach for the tea, but her arm drops down to the bed.

"Here let me help," I say.

I stay all night, despite Grandma Miriam's instructions. Tally's been needing too much help for me to leave. I'm having little conversations with Tally when she has the strength to keep her eyes open. Between the trips to the bathroom, and the tea disappearing, her stomach has seemed to settle some. She falls asleep, and I'm not far behind her.

My last thought: What was that feeling like the tightening of a rubber band?

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[A/N]:

Cabrón

While the literal translation of 'cabrón' is a male goat, its slang meaning is somewhat ruder. It generally translates to 'asshole', 'fucker' or 'bitch'. It's an offensive term and the type of word that shouldn't be said in front of children. On the flip side, it can also be used in a positive way to say you're 'really fucking good at something', for example, 'Soy bien cabrón cantando' would mean, 'I'm fucking good at singing'. [https://www.alltherooms.com/blog/mexican-slang-only-locals-know/]