Cissie swallowed her sigh, nodding. She wasn't really surprised that Cassie still wanted to wait--and really, maybe waiting was the best thing, but Cissie worried that waiting would become avoiding and inevitably ignoring. But she couldn't force Cassie to talk if she didn't want to, and she wouldn't.

She was nodding at the sand absently when Cassie bumped her shoulder and she looked at her in surprise. Maybe there was some progress being made. Maybe Cassie would open up and let her friends help her, eventually. Cissie couldn't help smiling a little. She leaned over to bump Cassie in return, then stood up, brushed the sand off her legs.

"Okay. Come on." Cissie offered Cassie a hand to help her up. It was the least she could do. "Let's go tell ghost stories."