Mina hummed to herself as she lined the edge of the stage with paper snowflakes, pondering the events of the past two days. She liked the new kid well enough, but to be, honest, Mel worried Mina. She seemed to be eternally sad about something, and even a few of Mina's classic jokes hadn't been enough to break through the barrier.

She had also noticed that Mel kept fidgeting with her bracelet, and figured that it was something important ot her, possibly a family heirloom. When she had asked about it, though, Mel had completely clammed up and refused to say a word about it.

Mina loved to make people happy. It was her life's calling, and even if it was just smiling at someone and them smiling in return, Mina felt a warmth in her heart she couldn't find anywhere else. Because of this, when she found someone she couldn't make happy, it simultaneously thrilled her with the challenge and saddened her. In short, she was determined to help Mel.

To most people, Mina was just a crazy party girl, carefree and happy and not serious at all, but Mina was actually more perceptive than anyone thought. Sure, she was carefree and happy, but that was just because she found no reason in her life to be serious and sad. Between her great family, job at Sugarcube Corner (run by Martha and Franklin Baker), and good friends, she didn't want for anything.

In the right circumstances, though, she could be a completely different girl, and this was one of those times.

Not only was Mel sad about something, the girl absolutely reeked of secrets. While she wouldn't mind knowing what those particular secrets were, holding all of them inside without anyone to confide them into couldn't be healthy.

If Mina's baking career didn't work out, she planned to be a psyhcologist.

"So, what did you think of Melissa?" Mina asked. Jackie shifted uncomfortably under her intense gaze.

"Ah . . . Ah thought she was nice, very professional, a bit cold, ya know, but we've barely known each other fer a day."

"Do you think she was nice?"

"Good enough."

"Canyouhelpmebeherfriend?" Mina fired quickly.

Jackie blinked. "Com again?"

"Can you help me be her friend?" Mina asked, more slowly this time.

"Why?"

"Because she seemed sad!"

Jackie paused, sighed, muttered something about her stupid conscience, and agreed.

Mina beamed.

"Heeeeeeey, Mel!"

The girl in question let out a long-suffering sigh and turned around. "Yes?"

"What've you done so far?"

"I've talked to Applejack, and after school today I'm going to talk to . . . who was it? Iris Deanne Lee?"

"Great!" Mina chirped. "Do you want to meet up with Jackie and I at Sugarcube Corner afterwards? If you don't know where that is, I can tell you. I work there, so I'll probably be able to get us drinks free."

Mel gave a genuine, albeit weak, smile. "I know where that is. In fact, it's one of my favorite relaxation places. What time?"

"How 'bout five?"

"Great."

Operation Make Friends with the New Girl was a-go.

"Minaaaaaa!" came a voice from the entrance of the ballroom.

Mina made a face to herself and descended the ladder to greet Iris, who was standing at the entrance to the ballroom. She personally thought that Iris was a bit of a braggart (just because she was the captain of the track team and had always won a race didn't mean she should bring it up every second!), but that was neither here nor there. "Yes?"

"Why'd you send that annoying new girl after my behind? I told you, I have the guest list under control!"

"For one thing," Mina said icily, "she is not annoying. For another thing, she's our event organizer/coordinatior and it was her job to go after you."

Iris rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I overheard Jackie telling her younger sister that you, the new girl, and her were going to Sugarcube Corner together. Why?"

Mina sighed. "Like it's your business."

"Tell me or I'll ask Jackie, and we all know she can't tell a lie for some weird reason."

"We're trying to make friends with her. She seems sad, don't you think?"

"Yeah, yeah," Iris said, flapping a hand. Then she paused to think. "You know what? I'll come with."

Mina tried not to gasp. Then she spotted Sophia Belmont across the ballroom, decorating with the rest of the fashion club. Soph was a likable enough character; maybe she would help in breaking through Mel's icy exterior. Fetching Jackie, she made her way to the French girl.

"Hi, Soph!" Mina greeted, her demeanor going from exasperated to cheerful in seconds. The other girls looked at her oddly. Sophia held up a graceful finger. "One second, my dear. I must get this exactly right." She was trying to decide on the perfect bow for a certain column. "Hmm . . . no. Hmm . . . definitely not. Ah . . . heavens, no! Perfect!" She tied a red-and-green checkered one onto the column with a flourish, brushing it with a bit of glitter. "Sparkle makes everything better, don't you think?"

"Yuperdoodle!" Mina agreed.

"Now," she said, turning to face the trio, "what can I do for you?"

"Well, there's this new girl, Melissa, who doesn't have any friends," Mina explained in a rush. "We wanted to get to know her better, so we invited her to Sugarcube Corner. We were wondering if you would like to come?"

Sophia surveyed the other girls and wrinkled her nose delicately. "I usually don't associate myself with such . . . company, but perhaps I can do it. Do you know of her social standing?" she inquired.

"Uh . . . her name is Melissa Aurora Reading?" Mina offered weakly.

A new sparkle got into Sophia's eyes. "Why, the Readings! You don't say? Of course I'll come!"

"Great!" Mina said cheerfully, though she couldn't help but feel that Sophia had an ulterior motive. Eh. It was probably nothing, though life experiences had taught her to teach her instincts . . .

They all piled into her car and drove to Sugarcube Corner. Getting out, Mina saw that Melissa was standing in front of the store. "Hi!" she said.

"Hey," Mel said. "I wasn't aware that you were bringing more people than Jackie."

"I wasn't aware, either," Mina told her. "But it just kinda happened."

Mel shrugged. "I can go with that. Shall we-"

"Who even uses the word 'shall' anymore?" Iris butted in.

"People of good taste, manners, and grammar do, Iris," Sophia said frostily. "Which I am now assured that you do not possess."

Iris flushed and fell silent. They all awkwardly shuffled into the store and Jackie found a seat while the rest of them ordered. "I'll have a strawberry smoothie!" Mina said.

"That Twilight Smoothie sounds good," Mel commented.

"I'll have the Rainbow one," Iris said, grinning.

"Jackie wanted an apple fritter, while I will take the daily special," Sophia ordered.

After getting their stuff, they all awkwardly sat at the table, not saying anything. Mina was desperate to start a conversation. "So," she asked casually. "What's that charm bracelet?"

Author's Note

Yeah, so . . .

My update schedule is and will be a bit erratic, because where I live it's midwinter break and we're visiting family across the country so my dear mother won't let me sit with my laptop while we're there. I'll try to update as frequently as I can, but expect the updates to be far between.

Thanks for understanding!