Sparkling Water 

Do I even like strawberries?

Cassandra doesn't remember liking them. She remembers eating them, and she remembers sharing them with Alice. She knows she owns several strawberry themed dresses and shirts and pencils. She knows that Alice has given her a strawberry-shaped bag because of it.

But, for the life of her, she can't remember liking them.

With a sigh, she takes a sip of her strawberry milkshake. It isn't terrible, but she just wishes she could just remember.

She's fairly confident that Alice likes strawberries. That might explain it. Anything and everything Alice likes, she likes. They were supposed to be a duo after all, and all good duos are supposed to be similar to one another. Alice likes strawberries, so Cassandra likes strawberries. 

“Cassie!”

Cassandra startles as a blur of yellow wraps itself around her shoulders. She almost falls under the weight, and she needs to grip her milkshake tighter so it doesn't fall out of her hand.

She smiles at Alice, more out of habit than anything. Alice has a strawberry clip in her hair that's helping to keep the bangs out of her eyes.

She's relatively sure that Alice likes strawberries.

“Alice,” she nods, a smile pasted on her face. “How are you?”

“I'm just wonderful. How are you doing?” Alice's smile is bright. Cassandra doesn't think she's ever seen it not be bright.

She tries to adjust her smile to be as bright as Alice's. They're supposed to be a good duo.

“I'm alright.”

She isn't, and something is bothering her, but she can't put her finger on it. She does her best not to look like she's lost. Cassandra takes another sip of her milkshake. It tastes a little wrong.

Alice holds onto her arm, the one that's not holding onto the milkshake, and they both start walking. 

Her friend is talking about something, but she's only half paying attention to it. She smiles and laughs at the correct times as Alice continues her rambling. 

Something seems wrong to her. But why should it? The weather is pleasantly cool and it's perfect for walking. She's with Alice, who seems so happy to be here with her.

“Look!” Alice stops in her steps. She drops Cassandra's arm and points at a tree.

Cassandra stops as well and looks at where Alice is pointing. “I don't see anything.”

“No, see! Look at the top branches, Cassie.”

She squints, though that doesn't help her much. A small, almost unnoticeable movement catches her eye.

“Is that a squirrel?”

“Yes!” Her friend's smile is just so bright. Like the Sun. “Isn't it so cute?

“I guess so.” She isn't really that fond of animals. “It's very small.”

“Yes, and it's just adorable and so sweet. Don't you wish you could just hug it?”

Cassandra nods at that, her smile a bit half-hearted. She really doesn't, but that's fine.

They continue walking after that. Everything seems so normal and fine. 

So, what is bothering her?

She tries to brush it off as nothing. But, she knows it isn't and that something is wrong.

She replays the conversation in her head. It's when she recalls that Alice referred to her as “Cassie” that she realizes what's wrong. She doesn't like that. Her name is Cassandra, not Cassie.

Please don't call me that. 

“Could I ask you to do something for me, Alice?”

“Of course, what is it?”

“Could you not call me Cassie, please? I don't like being called that.”

Alice's reaction is almost immediate, the brightness in her fades, and she pouts at Cassandra. 

“Oh, but it's such a cute name, and it suits you so well! Plus, I've been calling you that for years now. Do I really have to stop?”

Yes, please.

But, she wouldn't want to be a bad friend, would she?

“Well… I suppose it's alright.” Her voice is hesitant. She doesn't feel like it's alright, and it's obvious in her speech. “Maybe call me that less frequently, then?”

Her friend evidently doesn't notice.

“No promises, but I'll try!”

Alice smiles and she tries to match it with one of her own. They continue walking, and the conversation resumes. She takes another sip of her milkshake as they do. It tastes like ash in her mouth.

As they walk, her friend reaches out to hold her hand again. She loves Alice (it goes without saying, really, who doesn't love Alice?) but she despises skin to skin contact. Her love for her friend doesn't cancel out her repulsion to touch, unfortunately. 

She tries to bear it a little longer. She tries to distract herself by taking another sip of her milkshake. It doesn't help. 

She manages a few more steps before she's had enough.

“Is… is it alright if you don't hold my hand?”

Alice pouts again, her hand tightening on hers. She feels a slight sense of panic rise up. Oh, she's made Alice upset, hasn't she?

She's so stupid. It's such a small thing, isn't it? Alice does so much for her. The least she can do is hold her hand.

Cassie wouldn't want to be a bad friend.

Alice opens her mouth, possibly to protest, but before she can, Cassie shushes her.

“Actually, I-I suppose it's alright. It's fine, really, I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. It's fine.”

Alice tilts her head, a look of confusion taking over her features. She's about to speak again, but then she shuts her mouth. 

“‘Kay, no worries.” Alice's smile is warm again.

Cassie tries to smile back, but it's shaky and uncertain at best. After a split second of hesitation, she tightens her hold on her friend's hand. She means it to be comforting for one of them, at least.

Cassie takes another sip of her milkshake. It tastes rotten as she swallows it.

She's fine and she's alright. She's just being a good friend, is all. All good friends have to make sacrifices.

They continue walking. Alice mentions this one café that opened recently and how it's apparently amazing. And she's also getting really hungry so wouldn't Cassie please go to the café with her?

Of course she would.

Alice looks so happy at her agreement that Cassie smiles back. Hers is a pale imitation of Alice's brightness. A moon to her sun.

But, just like any duo, they're similar enough.

“D’you mind if I take a sip of your milkshake?”

She hesitates for a brief second before shaking her head. It doesn't taste good, but Alice mentioned that she was hungry. She holds it out for her. 

Alice leans in and takes a sip. Her eyes brighten, and she takes another one.

“It's really sweet, but it's also really good. I like it a lot. Thanks, Cassie.”

“Don't worry about it.”

That's a bit strange. But, people can have different tastes. Sure, Cassie and Alice are supposed to be a duo, but duos should also have some differences between each other.

Even so, Cassie takes another sip of her milkshake. The strawberries taste like they've been left out in the sun to rot. The flavour sticks to the back of her throat as she swallows it.

Alice and her are different, but she hopes it's not in the ways that really matter. She takes another sip of her milkshake and then another.

It's probably an acquired taste. If she just drinks more and more of it, it's bound to taste sweet at one point. After all, Alice liked it. So she should like it too.

The girl resumes her conversation afterwards, pausing only briefly to adjust the hair clip keeping her hair out of her eyes. The focus of the story remains on her even as it concludes.