The raised concrete platform by the river was crowded that day with the usual weekend pedestrians. Everyone was out for a walk. Many stopped for the view of the river, sitting on benches or leaning against the railing. Others visited the many stalls selling snacks and souvenirs.
Carrie and Julia flitted from stall to stall, looking at the various bangles and hair clips and necklaces and other accessories. There was one stall that sold stationery, which caught Annie's attention. There were pens, erasers and notepads, both fancy and mundane. Annie bought what she needed, then went to see what Second Sis was buying.
"Hey, Julia!" someone called out. Annie turned to see a tall copper-haired boy.
"Jake, what a surprise!" Julia greeted delightfully, "What are you doing here?"
"Just out with the guys, looking for chicks." Jake glanced over his shoulder at his friends. Annie recognized Darren. The other tall guy beside him, she might have seen with Darren on several occasions in school. The last boy at the back, someone she did not know, was shorter than his friends and had short black hair. He looked like the thoughtful type.
"Well, you certainly found us," Julia said playfully.
While the two of them talked, Darren and the other tall boy greeted Carrie and Ursula. Then Darren addressed the youngest girl, "Hi, Annie!" He gave that charming grin of his again.
Annie smiled back.
Then Annie thought she heard something click inside her sister's head. "Darren," Carrie started, "When... when you said you liked a little black-haired freshman, did you happen to mean... my little sister?"
Oh boy! Annie's heart abandoned her and jumped for safety. If she had a net, she could fish it back from the river.
"Your sister?" Darren blurted, "Annie's your sister? You don't look alike."
By then, all the boys had their attention on Annie. "Yeah, they don't look alike," agreed the other tall boy.
"Other than the eyes," Jake noted, "They have the same eyes. So you're Carrie's little sister."
"Hey, are you in middle school?" the unnamed tall boy asked.
Darren gave him a irritated shove. "She's in high school, man. She's in our school!"
"Really?"
"Hey, where's Carrie?" Jake asked.
Girls and boys all looked up and down the riverfront platform.
"There!" Ursula pointed further down the platform. "She's over there."
"Jake," Julia excused herself, "we're going to catch up with her, make sure she doesn't throw herself into the river."
"Is she okay?" Jake asked with concern.
"Oh, she's fine." Julia smiled. "We're supposed to keep her company, being her birthday and all."
"It's her birthday?" Jake asked.
"It's on Monday," Darren supplied helpfully.
"Yeah, Monday," Julia confirmed, "Why don't you boys get something for her? We girls will go look after Carrie."
"Okay," Jake agreed doubtfully.
Julia, however, was already backing away and pushing past people in the direction Ursula pointed earlier. The other girls followed behind her.
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