Free Second Time's the Charm by Melissa J. Morgan

probing for one afternoon?” Simon teased. “You’ve got my favorite color, my career goals, the name of my first pet—”
    â€œDearly departed Peanut—” Nat cut in, mock-somber.
    â€œAnd now you know where I was born. You’ve got enough data for an E! True Hollywood Story .”
    â€œI just want to be thorough,” Natalie replied.
    â€œI really want to run a piece in the Visiting Day newspaper issue, and this interview is like my audition. It has to be great.”
    â€œI just hope Jesse thinks I’m as fascinating a subject as you do,” Simon joked.
    â€œWho said I think you’re fascinating?” Natalie quipped. I mean, I do, but . . .
    â€œIt’s written all over your face, Goode,” Simon said.
    â€œIt’s nice that you’re so confident,” she said, trying to recover. She glanced at her watch. “Oh! Free choice is almost over. I want to go grab Alyssa before swim.”
    â€œSure thing,” Simon said easily. “Get ready for next week, when the tables are turned and you are subject to my inquisition.” He put his index finger to his chin in a Thinker sort of pose. “I’m going to catch up with Ben and Gabe.”
    â€œSounds fun!” Natalie chirped. It really did. Mainly because it was fun just being around Simon, no matter what they were doing.
    She tucked her notebook and pen under one arm and wandered over to where Alyssa and Tori were sitting. It looked like Alyssa was interviewing Tori, even though Tori wasn’t on the newspaper. It must have been just for fun.
    But if it was just for fun, what was that slight echo of jealousy churning in Natalie’s rib cage?
    â€œFavorite flavor of jelly bean would have to be . . .” Tori drummed her fingers against the table and stared off at an imaginary point on the horizon. “Ooh—I love that buttered popcorn one. I mean, it really tastes like buttered popcorn!”
    â€œWell, Alyssa won’t go for that,” Nat cut in, grinning. “She likes to keep her salty and sweet separate.”
    Alyssa raised an eyebrow at Natalie. “You don’t know everything about me, you know,” she said somewhat pointedly.
    Nat swallowed. Alyssa hadn’t said anything rude or especially harsh, but, for some reason, a sudden chill had come over Nat. Of course she didn’t know every last little thing about Alyssa. But they were best friends. That in itself meant that Nat knew a lot. More than a lot.
    â€œUm, okay, then,” Natalie said, making a huge effort to recover from the hiccup of weirdness. “So what’s your favorite flavor, then?”
    To Natalie’s great relief, Alyssa broke into a smile. “Pink grapefruit. It’s true. I’m a fan of the pure sugar rush.”
    Natalie giggled. “Simon likes that one, too.”
    Alyssa nodded slowly, collecting her own notebook and pencil. The cold freeze had come back over Nat. “Now, see, Simon you know everything about. That , I can believe.”
    This time there was no mistaking the edge in her voice. But Nat had no clue what to do about it. This was Alyssa, after all. They had never had a fight before. Ever.
    â€œUm, what’s that supposed to mean, Lyss?” Nat asked uncertainly. She looked from her old friend to her new friend. Tori, in turn, suddenly seemed extremely interested in her shoelaces. And uncharacteristically quiet.
    Alyssa shrugged and ran her fingers through her inky, dyed-black hair. “Nothing. Never mind.” She looked Natalie directly in the eye. “Let’s go back to the bunk and get ready for free swim.”
    All at once, Nat was relieved Normal Alyssa—magazine-reading, horoscope-loving, free-swim-sitting-out Alyssa—was back. Nat was so grateful for this abrupt change of heart that she decided not to make a thing out of the random burst of crankiness.
    Everyone’s entitled to one, now and then, she