They had only reached the playground near the school’s pool when they heard the distinct high-pitched, fast paced voice of the girl who was only two years younger.

“Gray!” Of course, Gray stopped walking and turned to the girl, while the others continued walking.

“Corelle? What?” She didn’t speak until she was close enough. She thought it made impact.

“Can I have a Gray hug? I had a Carson hug earlier.” And then the two hugged.

“Hi, Gray. It’s been so long since the last time I’ve seen you guys.” Their paced quickened to catch up with Gray’s friends.

“I know.”

“Well, I was sick last week.”

“I was at a wedding on an island.”

“Understandable.” They were on the sidewalk now and were walking in front of the other friends. The girl partially stayed clear of them except Gray. That is, until he noticed her.

“What were you guys talking about?” Edward asked.

“Nothing, really.”

“Oh… Hi, Corelle.” The girl turned back and looked at him strangely.

“Oh, hello, Edward,” she said and turned to face forward. He wanted to talk to her more, and his wish was granted. She turned around again, this time specifically facing Edward. “I thought you didn’t like me.”

The words were like a dagger that pierced through his whole body--especially his heart.

“What? As in, like a friend?”

“No, in general.”

“Who told you that?”

“No one. I assumed.”

“Well you make bad assumptions. What made you think that?”

“I don’t know. You don’t respond to me when I say hi.” She says hi to him? He barely sees her. He barely notices her while in school. It was after school that they actually had conversations, and they were always aimed for Gray. Was this the reason?

“That’s because I don’t notice you.”

“You don’t notice me?” Her eyes went wide and her voice went a pitch or two higher. She seemed shocked. “How can you not notice this high pitched voice I have? And how fast I talk? It’s like it was specially designed because of constantly being overlooked.”

“Hey, Gray, did you hear something?” Then he and Gray shared a laugh.

“Hey!” she shouted, laughing, too.

“Well, I’m sorry. I’ll say hi next time.”

“Okay. Bye, Edward!”

“Bye, Corelle.” They went their separate ways from then. Gray nudged Edward’s side.

“Are you okay?” It was now that he noticed his reaction to what she had said earlier. “You seemed hurt when she said she thought you didn’t like her.”

Edward mentally smacked himself in the head. “Of course! She’s my friend, I’d feel the same if it were you.” Wrong. He wouldn’t feel as strongly as he felt now if it were Gray that thought he hated him. And he knew him longer! Corelle’s friendship with him was no more than a year old by now. He shouldn’t be acting the way he was.

“So what were you guys talking about earlier?”

“Nothing, really. She wanted a hug and said she hugged Carson earlier.” A sudden pang of jealousy arose in him and he somewhat expected it. This was the proof he had wished he didn’t find.

“Hey, Gray?”

“Yeah?”

Edward was hesitant on saying his next words. “Hey, I think I like Corelle.”