When they finished eating, Bella set down her cup and looked at Winter. Her brown eyes were soft, hopeful, a little nervous. Her fingers were wrapped around the empty cup, her knuckles slightly white.
"Can we be friends?" she asked shyly.
Winter blinked.
Her dark eyes widened just a fraction. Her lips parted, just a little. Her expression, usually so cold and unreadable, flickered with something that might have been surprise or confusion or maybe both.
Bella waited. Her heart pounded so loud she was sure Winter could hear it. Her palms were sweaty. Her cheeks were warm.
Winter's eyes were cold and unreadable. For a moment, a long, terrible moment, Bella thought she might say no.
Then Winter spoke.
"If you want to become my friend," she said slowly, her voice pleasant, "you have to be only my friend."
Bella's eyes widened. "What? That's not possible. I have many good friends."
