Page 3 of Meowy & Bright

She smirks. “Bacon.”

I motion to the fridge. She walks over to it, snagging a bottle of water out of it and not the bacon. I wonder if she ever uses the stuff she claims to come over for.

“I think you’re being too nice.” She takes a swig of her water. “He broke your wreath. You’ve been working on it for days.”

I hadn't told Laura about the neighbor last year. We weren’t as close then, and well, I thought she might be a spy. Stupid, I know, but why else would someone come strolling out from the woods? Yet, Christmas had passed and Laura was still around. This year she knew what was going on, because I started prepping in July. I had to. Some of the things needed to be ordered from other countries. It takes time to get that specialized stuff shipped in.

“Poor little birdie.” She pets the mangled cardinal.

“He didn’t really break it,” I mumble.

“But you said—”

“I slammed the door and it fell off.”

“Did you slam the door in his face?” This perks her up. “Did it knock him on his noggin?”

“I slammed the door in his house’s face.” I point out the window. I hate that house. If I had some Laura in me, I’d burn it down, but I don’t. I don’t think I’ve ever yelled at anyone in my life.

“You’re mad.” Her smile grows. “Your cheeks are all red and flushed because you’re so angry.”

I know. I drop my hand realizing I’m still pointing at his house. I’ve never been this angry. He pulled this from me, and I don’t like it. I also have this need inside me to beat him. Though, like I said, it’s not a competition. Not at all.

“What did he do already?” she asks, and it finally dawns on her to go look out the window. “Holy shit.” She turns to look at me. “He’s good.”

“That’s not helping.”

“I don’t think we can burn that down.” She gives a ‘too bad’ shrug.

“Still not helping.” I fall back onto the sofa again.

“Come on.” She walks over, looking down at me. “You can beat him.”

“I don’t want to beat him,” I say with perfect clarity.

“You don’t?” She scrunches her face.

“I want todestroyhim. I want him to regret the day he decided to buy Christmas decorations to one-up me.”

“He’s competing on Christmas. That’s messed up, right? Why doesn't he do Halloween like a normal person?”

I smack her arm.

“Hey.” She shrugs. “Just saying.”

“Halloween is ugly with spiders and blood.” Now I’m the one scrunching my face. “Christmas is magical.”

“I know. Halloween is my favorite. You should’ve seen my place.” She hitches a thumb at the woods. “It was super spooky.”

“You’ve never invited me over.”

“You don’t leave the house.” She peers down her nose at me. “I was being a good friend not inviting you.”

“Oh.” Thatiskind of nice actually. “I don’t want to be a bridesmaid either, if it ever comes to that.”

“Hard limit. You’ll wear the dress.”

“Do you even wear dresses?” I’ve never seen her wear girly stuff in my life.

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