Cissie squeezed Cassie's hand back, taking a moment before turning her head to look at her. "I don't know." Lying liar who lies. She shrugged and pushed herself up.

She brushed the sand out of her hair, using the opportunity to not have to look at Cassie when she spoke. "Sometimes... I know when you're upset about something, or something is bothering you, but you shut down and shut us out instead of letting us help you." She looked away, out over the lake. If she was being honest with herself, she was tired. At this particular moment, it felt like every time she reached out to Cassie and tried to help, she was brushed off, deflected or it made things worse. "We don't have to talk about it, though. We can go tell ghost stories."

There. Now Cassie had an easy-out if she wanted one.