Episode 718: Just Give Me A Reason

She dropped down to one knee, hugging the bear under one arm, while her other hand fished through her change purse, hoping she had enough allowance saved up, she wanted her brother’s first ever gift to be just from her, no help from her mom and dad.

"That better not be for me," a cranky voice suddenly said, startling Tansy and sending some of her change flying. When she saw that the cranky voice belonged to Brooke, her classmate, Tansy thought that the other girl would help her collect the scattered coins, but Tansy and the teddy bear were all on their own.

Once certain she’d found all her money, Tansy faced Brooke’s hard glare, longing for the good old days when Brooke used to smile and laugh with her at the start of the school year.

"The teddy bear is for my new baby brother. He’s in the hospital nursery." Just thinking of him made Tansy so happy and proud that for a moment she forgot how things were between her and Brooke. "He’s the cutest baby ever, he’s so pink and his hair’s fuzzy like this bear. You have to see him. We should go-"

"I don’t want to go anywhere with you." Brooke’s eyes were narrowed and her arms tightly crossed.

"I thought we were friends," Tansy said, holding the teddy bear close. "I don’t understand what happened."

"Friends don’t give friends a Be Mine bracelet on Valentine’s Day-"

"But-"

"Especially not right where the whole class could see, and when both of us are girls. It’s weird. You’re weird."

Brooke spun around and stormed off almost bumping right into Xavier as he made his way to where Tansy stood with a death grip on the bear.

"What was all that about?" Xavier asked.

Tansy shrugged. "I liked her a lot. She used to my friend, now she’s being mean."

Xavier rubbed one of her shoulders. "Maybe there’s a reason," he said. "Do you know why she’s at the hospital? Maybe it’s something upsetting and she didn’t mean to take it out on you."

"Yeah. Maybe," Tansy mumbled.

Episode 719: Say My Name