Free Watery Graves by Kelli Bradicich

hand at him. That was so unlikely she didn’t know what to say.
    “Do you want me to help you?” Sebastian called.
    Emmy paused, considering the offer, but shook her head. She had to learn sometime. Besides if she went off with Sebastian he would surely lead her down some alley way into some strange part of town to show her something he found amazing. He was so unpredictable lately. His idea of excitement was her idea of torture.
    The health food stall wasn’t too far away. Being out in the open was disconcerting. She suspected her pounding heart could be heard above everything. The stares became more intensely curious. Her queasy stomach made her limbs weak. She had a strategy, to think only about the task at hand, one thing at a time. At the open sacks she checked over her list before scooping lentils and beans into bags.
    Fingers tapped her on the shoulder. She turned to her right to find nobody, then swung around to the left, catching sight of her best friend. “Libby.”
    “Hey ,” Libby smirked. “Strange to see you here. What ya doing?”
    “Shopping.”
    “I saw Kristian and Sebastian over there. Thought you’d stayed home again.”
    Emmy saw Libby’s school friends eating pretzels, hanging back a few paces outside the bakery. She knew their faces, and had heard Libby speak about them, but didn’t know who was who. They’d been Libby’s friends for as long as she could remember. They took it in turns sneaking glances at her. Emmy had always liked hearing about Libby’s town life. In her mind there were always two Libb ies. The Libby she loved was a mountain girl just like her. It was weird seeing her out in town.
    Emmy fought to keep her gaze on Libby.
    Libby grabbed Emmy’s shopping list and looked it over. “If I help you do the shopping will you ask Kristian again if you can hang with us for a while?”
    Emmy shook her head . “He won’t let me.”
    “He’s got to get sick of you asking someday. Go and ask. Even if it’s a ‘no’ it’s one step closer to a ‘yes’.”
    Emmy stared down at her list, fishing for the right thing to say.
    “Go on,” Libby persisted. “Go see what he says.”
    Emmy turned and walked back to the stall. She realised Libby was following when she paused to gather her head and her friend crashed into her.
    “Libby ,” she moaned.
    “I can help persuade him. Maybe he won’t be able to say ‘no’ if I’m standing right there.”
    Emmy licked her lips. Her mouth was dry.
    “I’ll ask him,” Libby offered. “You stay here.”
    Emmy pulled her back. “No,” she said a little too loudly. “He’ll feel ganged up on. Go back to the health food stall. I’ll meet you back there.”
    She watched her friend retreat.
    Emmy wove through some people, and slid behind the stall.
    “Hey Kristian.”
    “What happened kid? You’ve bought nothing back.”
    “Do you want me to do it?” Sebastian offered.
    “It’s okay. I just wanted to know if the lentils you wanted were for dahl?”
    Kristian grinned. “I think so.”
    “So you wanted red lentils?”
    “No .” He shook his head. “Moong.”
    And there it was. If anyone was watching, Kristian had shaken his head. She had her ‘no’. Emmy turned to leave again.
    Kristian called her back. “Maybe get both.”
    She nodded, ducking and weaving and apologising her way back through the crowd.
    When she reached Libby, Emmy swallowed, trying to hide her discomfort with a smile. She was about to tell someone she loved a big lie. “Kristian’s got wine deliveries at all the pubs today. He said it’s not fair to leave Sebastian on his own.”
    “At least there was a reason.” Libby gave Emmy a hug. “My friends always ask what you’re like. They’d love to get to know you. One day, huh? Maybe we need to plan it.” She rubbed Emmy’s arm and walked over to the group. A waitress was serving up milkshakes and desserts. Several girls and other patrons turned to look Emmy up and down.
    Emmy’s sweaty fist