388 THE FALL-OUT

Hailey walked up to the front porch of Emerald's house. She held on tightly to the bag strap around her shoulders as she released a deep breath and brushed her hand over her white dress. She practiced a few smiles before finally sticking with a wide smile on her lips that didn't quite reach her eyes as she knocked on the door. After a few seconds, the door opened, but it wasn't Emerald. Instead, Isabella stood on the other side, holding the door. Hailey's smile dimmed a little as her eyes searched around. "Hailey!" Isabella beamed a genuine smile at her daughter's friend. "Why didn't you inform us you were coming." "Hi," Hailey's smile breaks slightly as she looks away. "Errh, I didn't think of it." She looks past Isabella's shoulders, trying to see into the house. Isabella chuckled. "Emerald isn't home at the moment. She stepped out." "Oh!" Hailey tightened her hand on her bag strap. " I thought I could see her briefly and talk to her about a few things. Isabelle stepped as