CHARLIE AND REECE got dropped off at the nail salon together.

It looked like they had done some shopping before the mani-pedis, because they were all decked out in all the coolest accessories: sunglasses, backwards baseball hats, bangle bracelets, and mood rings.

Poppy was super jealous. And not just because they had bought every single trendy thing and put them all on, but because they had gone somewhere before the salon. Like this part was just the part they had to get through before getting back to their bestie activities.

Poppy sighed and glanced over at Mom, who was watching the same scene Poppy was, but Mom chose to ignore it.

"I hope you have the best time, sweetie, I'll pick you up in two hours," Mom kissed Poppy on the top of the head and opened the door for her, all but pushing Poppy out to meet Reece and Charlie.

There was still that nagging thought in the back of Poppy's mind.

If I hadn't wished on that fruit, would they still want to hang out with me?

"Pop! You made it!" Charlie exclaimed. "I'm so excited you could join us this afternoon."

Goodness, where had she gone to finishing school? Poppy was caught off guard by Charlie's exclamation and it must have shown on her face.

"I am kidding Poppy. Let's just go in," Charlie said, sending an incredulous look to Reece before marching into the salon first.

Poppy looked back, longingly, to the road.

She almost wished her mom would come back so she would be saved from this. Poppy now realized that though she had wished for Charlie to be her friend again, she hadn't wished for the old Charlie. This was popular, everyone-wants-to-hang-out-with-her Charlie. 

No one wanted to hang out with Poppy, the discarded seconds.

She sighed and walked into the salon, her head down.