Jessa and Flynn left school together. They walked through Winsbury Square Park and out the other side onto Gramercy Street, toward their homes. After a few moments of meandering in a comfortable silence, Jessa spoke.

“Do you think Cecily is pretty?”

“I haven’t really thought about it. Why?”

“Because it’s like everyone thinks she’s amazing and wants to hang out with her.”

“Do you think she’s amazing?” he asked.

“Well, no.”

“Do you want to hang out with her?”

“No, that sounds like a nightmare,” she snickered.

“Well there you go,” Flynn smiled. “People like her because she’s rich and fashionable and loud. It’s a status thing, isn’t it? She acts like she’s better than everyone else, and her confidence makes other people want to be with her. But she’s totally arrogant, and can also be really mean, so maybe they’re just afraid of her.”

“Yeah. You’re probably right.”

“I’m definitely right. In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m always right.” He flashed her a big grin.

“Oh yeah? Now who’s the arrogant one?” Jessa laughed.

“Honestly, though, both you and Maggie are prettier than Cecily,” he said without a hint of a blush on his cheeks.

“No way,” Jessa scoffed. “Maggie is, but not me.”

“What did I just say? I’m always right, remember? Cecily has a pretty face, but it’s ruined by her mean expressions and all the terrible things she says. So yeah, I guess she’s pretty on the outside, but underneath it, she’s a really ugly person.” He paused for a moment, then sighed. “You and Maggie are the only people in school who have been properly nice to me. Even in primary school, people were only friendly when they had to be.”

Jessa’s heart cramped at the thought of a young Flynn with no friends.

“Nobody wanted to play with me. They’d say that I smelled bad, or I had fleas. Stupid stuff, but it hurt. Before I started at Winsbury I was scared I’d spend the next four years eating my lunch alone, but you and Maggie sit with me every day. I’m just trying to say that it doesn’t matter if people judge you or me, or if they think Cecily is great. Just be a good person and don’t worry about anything else.”

Jessa pulled Flynn’s bony torso toward her own. Her arms awkwardly grasped around his backpack in a weird hug, then they said their goodbyes and walked away.