Skip-skip-skip-skip-skip.
Five skips, again! She wanted to rush in and tell the girls, but after what had happened—
What had happened, exactly?
The Fireflies had a fight.
“That was all it was,” Jade whispered.
Her heart started to pound.
One day, the therapist had said, everything will stop feeling like the end of the world.
They’d had a fight. So what? It didn’t have to be the end of the world!
She could put the Fireflies back together. If there was a chance to fix things, she wanted to try.
Jade rushed toward the art building and ran to the back room.
Archer was painting a house on a snowy street. It was so detailed, Jade could imagine living there.
“You are too talented for words.”
Archer spun around, the paintbrush out like a sword. She held Jade’s gaze for a moment, then turned back to the piece. Her shoulders were squared in that defensive, tough-girl posture that meant she was hurting inside.
“It’s a work in progress,” Archer mumbled.
Jade sighed. “You know, I would be your number one fan if you weren’t such a problem peacock.”
“A problem peacock?” Archer turned to glower. “What does that even mean?”
For a moment, it seemed Jade’s attempt at humor had backfired. Then Archer burst out laughing in that ridiculous staccato guffaw.
“A problem peacock?” she repeated. “That’s, like, the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Jade giggled. “Look, I want to say I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have interfered.”
“Yeah, you should have.” Archer looked at her boots. “I was just so embarrassed. I couldn’t believe I’d done something so heinous.”
Jade nodded. “But it’s over.”
“No. I still have to tell Makayla about Paolo.”
Wow. That’s unexpected.
“I’m scared.” Archer blew a strand of hair out of her face. “Things could get so much worse.”
“I’ll be there,” Jade said. “You’re stuck with me.”
Archer blinked back tears. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Lauren curled up on a couch and pretended to watch the movie so she could hide her swollen eyes. The campers sitting nearby couldn’t know that she was heartbroken.
For weeks, she’d struggled with the fact that she would have to say goodbye to her friends at the end of the summer. She hadn’t thought she might lose them before that, and now their friendship was over. Because in spite of her best intentions, she had still harbored anger and resentment toward the other Fireflies about things that were not their fault.
I was so selfish.
Lauren bit her lip, thinking of how rude she’d been, making such a big deal about sneaking out. Yes, they could have gotten caught, but hadn’t she suggested the night swim? How was that any different? She’d been petty and mean, when Isla had been nothing but sweet, vulnerable, and such a good friend.
Then there was Archer.
Lauren had lashed out at her for eating cereal! In truth, Lauren loved the fact that Archer did whatever she felt like, without worrying about the consequences. Archer was bold, brash, and had taught Lauren so much about how to be an individual.
Not to mention Jade.
When camp started, she had been shrouded in loss. But Jade had fought back against her sorrow to show them she was mischievous and kind. Lauren had learned a ton from her about making the best of a bad situation.
These girls are my heroes. I need them in my life.
Lauren had just made the decision to go find them and beg for forgiveness when she felt a sharp tap on her shoulder. She turned, and her heart jumped to see Jade, Archer, and Isla.
“Can we talk to you?” Jade whispered.
Was it possible that they still wanted to be friends?
Lauren got to her feet and shook out her right foot, which had gone numb. The girls clustered together in the corner of the room.
Jade stepped forward. “We wanted to say we’re sorry.”
“You were right.” Isla nodded. “We never should have gone to the beach. It was a terrible idea.”
“And I failed you guys.” Archer looked down at her boots. “Not cool.”
“I love you girls,” Jade said. “Please, can we stay friends?”
Lauren’s eyes filled with tears. Could it be possible that it wasn’t over?
It will be, though. In less than two weeks. You’ll have to deal with this heartache all over again.
Lauren squared her shoulders. So what? They could stay in touch. It might not be the same, but she would not lose them.
Tentatively, Archer put her hand out for the secret handshake.
“Lauren, bring it in?” Jade pressed.
Lauren hesitated. “You guys mean so much to me.”
“I second that,” Archer said. “More than you’ll ever know.”
“I third it,” Jade said.
“Fourths.” Isla nodded.
The Fireflies put their hands in the center and bounced them up and down. Lauren felt a smile light up her heart. As loud as she could, she cried, “Zap, zap, zap” and relished in the image of a firefly lighting up the darkness.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Archer put off talking to Makayla for three days, but when she finished her painting, she knew it was time.
“It’s done?” Jade rushed over. “Perfect. Your parents will love it.”
They would be pretty stoked. The painting had turned out better than she’d expected. It might even make her mom cry.
“Yeah, but…” She brushed her fingers across the branches of the tree outside Makayla’s window. “I kept telling myself that when this was done, I’d talk to my sister.”
Jade’s eyes went big.
“So…right now?” she whispered.
Archer looked at the clock. There was an hour left of Indoor Rec. The Fireflies had planned to trick Makayla and lock her in one of the storage rooms, so Archer could talk to her in private.
Archer gave a grim nod. “Let’s do it.”
Archer hid in the room, doodling on her arm. The door rattled and Makayla flounced in.
“Wait, my counselor isn’t in—” Makayla started to say.
Lauren slammed the door shut.
“Hey!” Makayla shrieked.
Archer held her phone’s flashlight under her chin. “Boo.”
Makayla’s face contorted with rage. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Archer kicked a chair forward like something out of a cop show. “Take a seat.”
The words that Makayla unleashed would have gotten her grounded for six months. She kicked at the door, but it didn’t matter. The other Fireflies were outside, clapping and chanting to block out the sound.
“Let me out of here right now,” Makayla hissed, “or you will regret it.”
“Relax.” Archer sounded calm, but inside, she was shaking. “Here.” She held out a can of cherry Coke. “Drink this and listen.”
Cherry Coke was her sister’s favorite. They had begged Chef to pick some up from town. Makayla would be desperate for one by now.
Makayla’s eyes settled on the can. She wore silver sparkle eyeliner and a dramatic, dark shadow that looked really good.
“Your makeup looks cool,” Archer tried.
“Your hair looks stupid,” Makayla shot back.
Uggh.
“Look.” Archer straddled a chair. “I have something to tell you: I’m Paolo.”
Makayla froze. “What are you talking about?”
Archer held up her iPhone. “I made him up. I am so, so sorry.” So many times during the past year, she’d imagined this moment with triumph. Now, she felt nothing but shame. “It was a joke at first, but then…” She ducked her head, embarrassed. “I liked hearing from you. Your thoughts, your feelings…”
Makayla looked horrifie
d. “You are an absolute psycho.”
Archer was worried that was true. But Jade had already assured her that, no, she wasn’t a psycho. She was just a girl who’d made a huge mistake.
The chair squeaked as Archer kicked her boots against the floor. She nearly apologized again, but then, Makayla grabbed the cherry Coke. The can hissed as she popped it open.
“I knew he was too good to be true,” she muttered.
“I know.” Archer nodded. “I have felt so guilty…”
“You’re really going to sit here and talk about yourself?” Makayla cried. “Give me a break.”
Archer almost took back her apology. Then she heard Jade’s voice in her head:
Listen to her. Try to understand where she’s coming from.
Okay, fine. Maybe Archer was talking too much about herself.
“You’re right.” She nodded. “I’m sorry.”
Her sister looked as stunned as if Archer had said she wanted to join the cheerleading squad.
“I’m really sorry, Makayla.” Archer bit her nails. “I never should have done it. But I was mad. We used to be such good friends…What happened?”
To Archer’s absolute mortification, her voice cracked with emotion.
“Don’t cry if that stupid eyeliner isn’t waterproof,” Makayla said.
Archer wiped at her eyes. Sure enough, the eyeliner streaked across her hands.
“See, that’s why I need you,” she half laughed. “To teach me things like that. I know you have your own life and your own friends, but…” Her face felt hot. “I miss you.”
Makayla blinked. “Are you being serious right now?”
“Yeah,” she admitted. “I want to be your sister again.”
Makayla sat in interminable silence, then finally said, “Start by being a little nicer.”
Archer’s mouth dropped open. “Me?!”
“Yes, you,” her sister scoffed. “You’ve had this stinky attitude for, like, years now. You’re mad at the world. We get it. But nobody wants to be friends with that.”
Archer swallowed hard.
It was true. Together, she and Wanda were angry and toxic. She’d already decided that once she got back home, she’d try to make new friends.
“You glare at people like you want to punch them,” Makayla continued. “You don’t give anyone a chance.”
Archer ducked her head. True too. She had judged Jade before she’d even opened her mouth—out of fear Jade would judge her.
“Is that all?” Archer whispered.
“No. You’re such a faker with Mom and Dad. You show up with all these perfect grades? Give me a break. No one gets math, okay?”
“I do,” Archer said eagerly. “I could help you.”
Makayla gave her a suspicious look. “Why?”
“Because,” Archer said, surprised. “You’re my sister.”
Makayla sat in silence for a long moment. “I haven’t been much of a sister to you, lately, have I?” She sighed, the soda sweet on her breath. “Look, Archer, I’m sorry. Things aren’t always easy for me either.”
Archer nodded, thinking back to some of the more personal messages Makayla had written to Paolo.
“Sometimes I get so mad at you.” Makayla looked down at her manicured nails. “I work so hard to fit in, and you don’t bother with it at all. Sometimes I wish I could be like that.” She shrugged. “But that’s not your fault and I’m sorry.”
Archer was so stunned, she couldn’t speak.
She wishes she could be like me?
“I’m sorry too.” She picked at a loose string on her trousers. “Do you think we could be friends?”
“Uggh.” Makayla took a long drink. “This is so awkward.”
Archer gave a nervous laugh. “Excruciating.”
Her sister hopped to her feet and tried the doorknob. “It’s unlocked.”
For the millionth time in the past few days, Archer remembered the moment she’d nearly locked her sister out in the freezing cold.
I’m done being that person.
Makayla fidgeted with her necklace. Then she looked at Archer. “Yeah, we can be friends. We’re so not going to be BFFs. But there’s a small chance I might let you hang out with me once in a while.” She dropped the silly version of the peace sign that used to be their secret handshake. “In fact, I think we can be sisters again,” she said, and flounced out of the room.
Archer slid down to the floor as the other Fireflies rushed in.
“How did it go?” they whispered, clustering around her.
“It went…” Archer’s mind reeled, thinking of all the things her sister had said. “It went okay.”
Jade looked disappointed. “Just okay?”
“Look, she didn’t turn me into a frog.” Archer shrugged. “So, I think it’s a win.”
The Fireflies laughed.
Things with her sister might not be perfect. They might not even be great. But they were definitely going to get better.
For that—for now—she was grateful.
Chapter Forty
Isla’s cheeks hurt from pretending to smile. It was the night of the big dance, and her parents still refused to give her permission.
“Darling, you know better,” her mother had tsked. “Why would that be acceptable at camp when it’s not acceptable at home?”
It was what she’d expected, but it didn’t make it hurt less that she wouldn’t see Jordan again. She imagined him on the dance floor, decked out in a shirt and tie. He would look for her and—her heart sank—be disappointed.
Isla kept the news to herself until the other Fireflies had finished dinner. She was so upset that she couldn’t even look up at the competition board, though they must have had a good lead since Lauren was smiling when they left the mess hall.
“I’m so excited to go to the dance.” Lauren had a skip in her step. “Isla, I can’t wait to wear that black dress.”
Isla had brought two dresses to camp and had promised to let Lauren borrow the one with the flirty skirt and bows on the sleeves.
“You’ll look great,” Isla said bravely.
The buses were already parked in the lot outside the mess hall. They would leave at seven on the dot. Since Isla was not allowed to go, she’d have to play board games at the Lodge with one of the counselors.
“Actually…” She stopped walking. “Lauren, wear whichever dress you want. My parents won’t let me go.”
Lauren stopped short. “Oh no. I’m so sorry.”
“In some ways, it’s a relief,” Isla admitted. “I’m not allowed to date until I’m older, and to be honest, I didn’t like how sneaking out, kissing a boy, and doing things I wasn’t supposed to made me feel.” She looked at Archer. “Dorky, but true.”
Archer lifted her palms. “Hey. I know exactly what you mean.”
The Fireflies stood in silence.
“Have fun.” Isla shrugged. “Just don’t tell me if he dances with other girls.”
She took off down the path. Lauren, Jade, and Archer whispered behind her, but she didn’t stop. Too much sympathy would make her cry.
It all felt deeply unfair. The last thing she wanted was to stay in the cabin and watch the other Fireflies get dressed up, piling on hairspray, lip gloss, and Jade’s perfume.
She climbed the cabin steps two by two and slid under the scratchy wool blanket on her bed before the other girls had even passed the front door.
Focus on the positives: I own a business, I’m head of the honor roll, a boy I liked liked me back, I’m respecting my parents…and I have great friends.
Speaking of, they were being suspiciously quiet.
The blanket was either an efficient noise blocker or the other Fireflies were working overtime to not have too much fun getting ready. She peered over the edge of her bed and jumped. The three of them stood there, grinning.
“What are you doing?” she asked, sitting up.
Lauren stretched. “It’s a terrible night for a dance.”
“So…” Jade shrugged. “We decided we could spend the evening getting all dressed up for no reason at all…”
“Or stay here.” Archer popped a piece of chocolate into her mouth. “With you.”
Isla could not believe it. Lauren, Jade, and Archer would give up the dance—the colorful lights, the glitter, the fun— for her?
“No,” she insisted. “You can’t miss the dance! I forbid it.”
“She forbids it,” Archer chortled. “Isla, you kill me.”
Lauren waved her hand, the Firefly bracelet flashing on her wrist. “We can, and we will.”
“Besides, there’s always next year,” Jade said. “I bet you can convince your parents to look at the educational implications of coed harmony by then.”
“To next year!” Archer thrust her fist into the air.
Lauren looked at the floor as the other girls cheered. She was probably thinking about how long the year would be. Isla thought about it all the time.
Hopping out of bed, she hugged each of the Fireflies tight. Suddenly, she was grateful her parents were stubborn. Instead of fawning over boys, she could focus on what really mattered: her friends.
“You guys are the best,” she said. “Let’s go play board games. Archer, I might even let you beat me.”
Jade cleared her throat. “First, there’s something I’d like to do.”
Chapter Forty-One
The other Fireflies looked at Jade.
“What’s up?” Archer asked.
“Remember when we had that ceremony for Kiara?” Jade frowned. “I…I’d like to do it again.”
Lauren touched her hand. “You sure? You seemed pretty upset last time.”
“I was. This time, though, I’m ready to say goodbye.”
Ever since she’d gotten the letter from Cat, she felt different. The image of Kiara calling her a traitor was replaced with the truth—Kiara had wanted to stay friends.
The girls studied her in solemn silence. Then Archer nodded. “What do you need us to do?”
The Fireflies got permission from Cassandra to spend thirty minutes at the shore before reporting to the Lodge. The beach was empty. The Fireflies stood at the edge of the water in silence.
The Girls of Firefly Cabin Page 17