private

[Probably anything else would have allowed Abigail to deflect, to end the conversation there. That's what most of her wants to do. Just because Ben likes Anya, just because Abigail has made a promise to work with her for now, doesn't mean they have to do things together.]

[But that . . . that's an offer that resonates. She misses Marissa suddenly, and then misses Elena more. She almost tears up, then doesn't, out of sheer stubbornness. The sniff that comes out is passably indifferent.]

Stupid and girly is okay.

[Stupid and girly is wonderful. There is a desperate hole in her chest that requires filling with stupid and girly.]

[She looks to the side, then back. Shy, or lying: you decide.]

I guess that'd be good.