They eyes linked into a soft contact. Joni looked down to notice their hands were joined. “This has been so cool, getting to know you like this.”
“I feel the same way. Now I don’t have to go through life hating you.” They giggled, but Anna added. “I’m serious. I was so envious of you. The way you worked so hard and had so much talent.”
“But why would you envy me? You were always ranked ahead of me.”
“I don’t know. I guess that’s just the way my mind works. My parents and my trainer and everything are always throwing your name in my face, like, ‘stop complaining about being tired, Anna. I bet Joni Breckenridge never gets tired.’”
“That’s crazy. My people say the same thing about you.”
“And then there’s the whole thing about… well, how beautiful you are.”
Joni watched as Anna’s face so
