Annie's expression grew pained. "Actually, I did badly for the first semester," she admitted.
"First semester exams were a shock, huh?" Jill said understandingly. "Yeah, I was concerned my marks were a bit low too. I got over it, though. I'm sure you can too."
"I guess so," Annie agreed.
"Annie, you should check out the School Festival after Spring Break," Jill advised.
"What goes on then?"
"That's when the school's clubs really start recruiting," Jill explained, "Those fliers and noticeboard ads they had at the start of the year are nothing compared to what'll happen during the festival. Maybe you'll find something you like."
"Maybe," Annie gave her noncommittal reply. After a pause, she commented, "You're speaking like an older sister."
Jill giggled. "I've always wanted a little sister."
"Jul, Carrie!" a deeper woman's voice called from behind them.
Annie turned around to see a tall ebony-skinned girl with close-cropped black hair. She was the only person other than Carrie who wore pants - the other three girls had skirts.
"Hey, Urs," Julia greeted, "finally!"
"Didn't bring a sibling along?" Carrie asked.
"I only have an older brother," the tall girl replied.
"Oh yeah, I forgot," Carrie said. She quickly introduced the younger girls.
With the arrival of the newcomer, who was introduced as Ursula, the group was complete. The girls discussed their next plan, which was catching a movie in the cinema across the river.
"So, should we take a bus or walk?" Julia asked.
"Save our coins, we're athletes," Ursula said.
"It's really cold this morning," Julia observed.
Carrie turned to her sister. "Annie, you're not afraid of a little cold, are you?"
Annie looked back. "I'm fine with it."
Julia checked her watch. "Well, we've got plenty of time for a walk. You okay with walking, Jill?"
Jill did not have any objections.
The girls walked from the terminal to the nearby bridge and then across the river. It was a pleasant group stroll in the cold morning on the pedestrian walkway, separate from the cars and the smog of traffic crossing the river. The older girls talked among themselves while Jill filled Annie with gossip about sophomore life.
Annie noticed that, among the older girls, Julia and Ursula were doing most of the talking. Second Sis was unusually quiet. Distracted by Jill, Annie did not think much about it.
When group reached the observation point built among the steel supports of the bridge, they decided to stop for the view. There were a pair of binoculars present - one of those mounted ones that require payment by coins to use. No one else was there so they had the platform to themselves. Jill rested on the bench to one side of the platform.
Annie went over to the railing on the opposite side. From there, she could see the park and the bus terminal. She watched the yachts and barges passing underneath. As she leaned further out to look at the water below, she realized that the place was familiar. She was certain she had been here before.
Second Sis gave a cry of alarm and grabbed her hand.
"What's wrong?" Annie asked as she was pulled back.
"Oh, nothing," Carrie replied evasively.
Julia laughed. "You thought she was going to jump?"
Annie looked around the observation point once more, at the railings, at the steel supports, at the river. "This was where I fell off, wasn't it?" she said, "That time I was in the hospital?"
"Yeah," Carrie admitted, "I forgot about it, sorry."
"You can't be worried about that?" Julia asked half-mockingly, "Annie, you're not planning to fall again, are you?"
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