Cree ran down the hallway and out of sight as fast as she could. She did not want to have to explain herself or the note Reese had left her to either of her friends, even though there really wasn’t anything to tell. Jenny would be cool and not press too much, but Millie would be relentless and not let up until she knew every juicy detail.

She couldn’t go out with Reese again. Last night was their third try. Three strikes and you’re out, Cree thought. What was the point? It would just end up the same as all the other times. Something always happened to sabotage their dates.

Cree was beginning to think that as a couple, they were doomed. She would rather keep him as a friend then try for a relationship again. She had managed to make it to the kitchen before her two friends caught up with her.

“Hey, what gives?” Millie said.

“Nothing,” Cree said. “I’m just hungry.”

“Yea, I’ll bet,” Millie said, then whispered in her ear, “But I don’t think it’s breakfast you’re hungry for.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Cree fumed, slapping Millie’s arm on her way to the refrigerator where she hunted for something to eat.

“Butter, eggs, milk, some red stuff, orange juice, purple drink, ahh! Sunny D! I mean, bacon.” She went over to the cupboard to get a bowl and a plate; then hunted frantically for a frying pan and spatula.

While Cree prepared a breakfast of French toast and bacon; Millie repeatedly tried to get her attention by yelling at top of her lungs but Cree just hummed to herself some R.E.M song she had heard on the radio the other day.

Meanwhile, Jenny laughed hysterically from atop her granite countertop perch as she watched Millie shouting to the top of her lungs, while Cree just hummed away to her imaginary headphones like she didn’t exist.

Even after breakfast was cooked and she prepared to sit down and eat, Millie was still hounding Cree, who in turn was still ignoring her. Jenny just kept laughing.