Seeing them coming up the stairs, Anice stood up and looked down on them with displeasure from the top step. "What took you guys so long?"
"Anne," said Alistar as he and Corrie tactfully turned their heads. "Your skirt."
Noticing the situation, she hurried upstairs and then retreated against the wall as if wanting to stay as far away from them as possible. "Ahem. Forget what you saw."
Alistar approached her with a curious look. "That's not right. Usually you'd say something like, 'stupid Alie,' and then hit me before running off."
Corrie nodded, maintaining a wary distance of about six paces from Anice.
"I—it was my fault. Why should I get mad at you two?"
Exchanging a look of skepticism with Alistar, the older boy abruptly excused himself and ran off. Evidently, he far preferred the prospect of examining his new belongings over the idea of tiptoeing around Anice in light of her strange behavior.
