Annie was in the zone.
Her mind was in a state of intense concentration, where the distractions of her chattering classmates on morning break could not intrude. All that existed was her and the handout that she had received in the last period. Nothing could sway her mind from grasping the knowledge in her hands, nothing except for that glowing crimson aura approaching fast from behind.
It was a stifling, infectious yet giddy presence that she knew too well. It effortlessly overwhelmed Annie's defenses, breaking apart what concentration she had.
Annie forced on a smile and turned.
"Hey, Annie!" Connie greeted her.
"Hi, Connie," Annie grudgingly returned the greeting. She put down her handout. She doubted that she would read any more of it during this break. "What's going on?"
"Annie," Connie began, "We have not spent any time together at all this whole semester. Spring break starts this weekend. We should go out - you, me, Sabine. Like old times."
Like old times? Annie did vaguely remember outings with her two classmates last semester, though she could not recall what they did. Shopping? Movies? Easy walks in the park?
"Wouldn't you rather hang out with boys?" Annie asked.
"Well, yes, I like boys too," Connie admitted, "But there are fun things that can only be done with just girls. Boys don't seem to have the patience to shop for clothes and shoes. And we can't gossip about boys to other boys, can we?"
"I guess you're right," Annie agreed.
Including the weekends, spring break would last nine days. Second Sis would probably drag her out on one or two of the days. If Annie also took a day out with her friends, she would still have plenty of time left to study.
"Shopping with friends is definitely more fun," Connie continued, "I'll be there to give you my most excellent opinion. We can also help Sabine choose clothes like we always do. She'd look like a total dork otherwise."
Had Annie chosen her style of clothes long ago in the past? Annie had been relying on Second Sis' opinions while shopping. Maybe she had some fashion sense of her own. Maybe it had existed within her long ago. Now that she thought about it, lately she had chosen her own outfits and Second Sis had not criticize them, much. Perhaps she was not as clueless as she thought.
She should also help Sabine. Annie thought that she could. Sabine had been a lot of help catching up with Maths. Though Annie could handle the subject on her own by now, she still did homework with the bespectacled girl occasionally after school while she waited for Mother to pick her up.
Connie was waving a hand in front of her face. "Annie? Are you lost in there?"
"Oh, sorry," Annie apologized, "When and where shall we go?"
***
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