Emma nodded.
But she didn’t look convinced.
A Friendship That Seemed Unbreakable
Over the next two days, Emma tried to act as if nothing was wrong.
She still sat beside Helena during lunch.
She still walked with her after school.
She still listened when Helena talked about the decorations.
But something had changed.
Not between the girls.
Between what Emma knew and what she didn’t know.
On Thursday afternoon, Emma finally asked.
“Helena?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I ask you something?”
Helena looked at her.
“Of course.”
“Did I do something?”
Helena’s face changed immediately.
“What?”
“Something that made you mad?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Emma, what are you talking about?”
Emma swallowed.
“The party.”
Helena stopped walking.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she looked away.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“My name isn’t on the guest list.”
Helena’s expression collapsed.
“I know.”
Emma felt her stomach tighten.
“You know?”
Helena nodded.
“I’ve been trying to fix it.”
“Fix what?”
“I asked Mom.”
“And?”
“She said the list was already finalized.”
“But you invited me.”
“I did.”
“Then why am I not invited?”
Helena looked around.
They were standing beside the school fence.
Students were walking past them.
Helena lowered her voice.
“I don’t know.”
Emma stared at her.
“You really don’t?”
“I swear.”
“Then who decided?”
Helena opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Then said, “I think my mom did.”
Emma felt hurt, but she tried to hide it.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did she say anything about me?”
Helena shook her head.
“She just told me some things were complicated.”
“Complicated?”
“Yeah.”
Emma laughed bitterly.
“That’s not an answer.”
“I know.”
For a moment, neither girl spoke.
Then Helena reached for Emma’s hand.
“You’re still my best friend.”
Emma squeezed her fingers.
“I know.”
“Please don’t think this changes anything.”
“It does.”
“I know.”
“But not between us.”
Helena’s eyes filled with tears.
“Never.”
Emma hugged her.
And for a moment, everything seemed simple again.
But it wasn’t.
Because someone had made a decision about their friendship without explaining why.
And Laura was about to discover that the person behind that decision was much closer to her family than she had imagined.
The Phone Call
That evening, Laura decided to call Rachel.
She didn’t want to sound confrontational.
She didn’t want to accuse anyone.
She simply wanted an explanation.
Rachel answered after the third ring.
“Hi, Laura.”
“Hi, Rachel. Do you have a minute?”
“Of course.”
Laura paused.
“It’s about Helena’s party.”
There was silence on the other end.
It was only a second or two.
But Laura noticed.
“What about it?”
“I heard that Emma wasn’t invited.”