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Jess looks around searching for Everly. Once she found her she was gonna ask her to go on a date like the big kids do. This is because Everly is very pretty but she only talks to her twin sister Amy. If Jess goes on a date with her then she will talk to Jess to. Maybe not talk cuz Everly doesn't know English but she'll let Jess be around her.
Which is great because that means people will look at Everly instead of Jess. People are always looking at Everly and Amy. They gossip about them and say that they shouldn't be alive. Jess would be very sad if Everly wasn't alive.
Wait. Should she give Everly something to should that Jess likes her? Yes, she should. Wait isn't there another word instead of like? One that the big kids tell her she can't use because she's eight?
Jess tries to think of it but can't. She still feels it though because those big kids are stupid. They wouldn’t like Everly saying it back to Jess either because Everly is even younger than Jess. She’s seven. Luke wouldn't do that, he's nice to her and doesn't shove her off the bench at dinnertime.
Jess looks at the ground and sees a cool rock. It's dary grey but it looks lighter against her very dark skin. She picks it up and sticks it in her pocket. Maybe she could give that to Everly. It's really cool.
Wait, she has a good idea. Jess stops walking cuz the idea is so good. She could give Everly a flower. Jess could keep the rock!
Jess starts looking for a flower. It takes her a while but she finds a pretty one. Not as pretty as Everly.
She needs to find Everly before she can give this to her. Jess walks around camp sticking to the shadows to people don't look at her.
She is looking around a tree when she spots her. Everly is so pretty. She is wearing the camp shirt a skirt and elbow length gloves that she always wears. She is sitting on a bench with Amy. Everly is much more prettier than Amy even though they look identical.
Jess runs up to Everly and sticks a flower in her face. “For you.” She bounces on her toes in anticipation, sure that Everly will like it.
Everly stares at it and frowns. “Flor. Es un flor.”
Jess perks up. Everly is trying to teach her Spanish! “Flor!” She says waving the flower in Everly’s face.
Everly leans back and swats it away from her face. Jess gasps and checks the flower. One of it's petals is falling off. “Oh…”
She looks back up at Everly and reaches out to put it in her lap but Amy swats her hand. It hurts and she notices that Amy is wearing gloves too. She must be matching with Everly.
Jess points at it. When Amy realizes what Jess is pointing at she snaps at Jess. Her teeth click together an inch from Jess’s outstretched finger and she yanks it back.
Shocked, Jess steps away from Amy and trips into sitting on the bench next to Everly.
Amy pulls Everly behind her and sticks her face in Jess's. Her teeth are sharp and one of her canines is missing. Jess pulls her head back until it's touching the bench cuz that's scary.
Jess’s eyes start welling up with tears and she tries to push Amy off with her knees. When that doesn't work she starts breathing faster and trying to shrink away from Amy, which does not work because Jess was approximately twice as big as her.
Then Jess feels a light touch on her arm. She turns her head and sees Everly with the flower. Jess smiles and sticks her head towards her. “Hi.”
Everly blinks and puts the flower of Jess's head. Jess giggles and says, “No it's for you silly.”
Everly looks confused and glances at Amy.
Jess carefully plucks the flower off her head. She holds it against her eye so it covers half of Everly’s face and smiles. Her sea green eyes are vibrant against her warm brown skin.
Everly’s eyes slide back to Jess's and catch. She extends a finger and brushes a loc out of Jess's face. “Tus ojos.” She says softly. Her eyes stare directly into Jess’s and Jess feels heat rise in her cheeks. Everly is so pretty.
Something slides off Jess and she turns her head to see Amy sitting next to her instead of on her. Does that mean Amy likes her? All the big kids in Cabin 11 say that Amy is the worse twin and will try to kill you. They must be wrong because Amy didn't do anything to her. She didn't do anything to Jess the last time they were close either. Big kids really are stupid sometimes.
Jess sits up smiling. She can give Amy the cool rock. She will definitely like Jess after that. Jess digs in her pocket and pull out the rock but she keeps her hands closed over it so Amy can't see what a cool rock it is until Jess gives it to her.
Amy looks at Jess like Jess is gonna hurt her. Jess won't do that. Jess hold her hands out right in front of Amy. Amy shrinks back and looks scared.
Everly puts a hand on Jess’s arm and she turns her head towards her. “Que es eso?”
Jess blinks at her. Everly is so pretty but Jess doesn't know what she's saying. That might be a problem.
Everly leans over Jess and puts her hands on Jess's. She puts her hands on Jess's! They are reeeally warm. Everly puts her thumbs between Jess's hands and pulls them apart. Jess leans against Everly and closes her eyes. All of her is warm not just her hands!
“Está bien.” Everly says and closes Jess's hands. She steps back and Jess almost falls off the bench. She turns around and looks at Everly with her best sad eyes. Everly turns Jess back around and she keeps her hands on Jess's back!
Amy opens Jess's hands and gasps when she sees the rock.
“¿Para mí?” Amy says excited. She holds the rock to her chest, looking at Jess hopefully.
Jess nods a lot and Amy shrieks. She bounces up and down in her seat and lunges forward and hugs Jess. Jess falls back onto Everly and–whoa Everly is hugging her too! This is the best day ever! Everly definitely likes her.
Jess turns around to Everly and blurts out, “Do you wanna go on a date with me?”
Everly blinks down at her, confused and Amy leans on Jess's shoulder and wraps her arms around Jess.
Jess looks at Everly. She is so pretty and Jess might get to go on a date with her!
Everly says, “No hablo inglés.”
Jess doesn't know what that means, but she knows that no is still no in Spanish so Everly isn't rejecting her!
Jess wiggles off the bench and grabs Everly’s hand. “Let's sit on the ground, there's some dandelions right there that we can make crowns with.”
Everly doesn't move and Jess tugs on her hand. A big movement catches Jess's eye and she sees Amy fall backwards off the bench and land on the grass on her back.
Oh. Jess forgot that people only go on dates with the person they're going on. So Amy has to go away. Or an equivalent of that.
So Jess reaches out and touches Amy's arm. Amy looks at her and Jess sees her head hit the ground and her eyes close.
Everly gasps and shakes Amy. She’s limp and Everly starts shaking and sobbing.
“Amy is fine. She's sleeping.” Jess says rubbing Everly’s back. Jess repeats that a few more times before Everly calms down.
Jess holds Everly in her arms and rocks her back and forth. Then Jess spots the dandelions and remembers that she said they could make crowns.
Jess reaches for the flowers and just barely manages to reach them with Everly in her lap blocking her from bending over. She rips a dozen up and sits up straight.
Everly watches with wide beautiful eyes as Jess starts weaving the dandelions into a crown. Everly time Jess reaches down to pick another up Everly has to shift her grip on Jess's arms and shirt to not spill out on the grass.
Jess finishes the crown and holds it up. It an oval but the dandelions stand out very well. Then she leans back and puts the crown on Everly’s head. Everly reaches up to touch it and beams at Jess. She claps happily then turns around and points at Amy.
Jess realizes that she wants her twin to wake up and wakes Amy up.
Everly starts talking excitedly to Amy in Spanish Jess wraps her arms around Everly and rests her head on Everly’s left shoulder.
She did it! Jess managed to ask Everly on a date and they went on a date and Everly likes her and she is hugging Everly!
Jess shuts her eyes, buzzing with excited energy