Houses

She smiled, a flush of happiness settling across the apple of both cheeks. "It's really nice to be able to speak to you again, Lizzie. It's like when we were younger."

"Well, I'm not going anywhere at the moment," she said with a smile. "You don't have to be lonely. That's what sisters are for, isn't it?" Before she could continue speaking there was a tap at the window and she jumped up from her seat, a little started. Turning, she could see a large snowy owl perched on the window sill. An envelope was attached to one leg.

"I dunno," Tessa shrugged, making her way over to the window to receive the letter. As she neared, she realised that the markings were subtly different to those on the aforementioned owl. Curious, she tore open the envelope and unfolded the parchment within. Her eyes skimmed over the paper several times before a grin split her face. "You'll never believe this, Lizzie."

"It's from Spella Weekly," she said, her voice rising an octave in excitement as she headed back over to the dressing table, laying down the letter. "I submitted something to them a while ago, when there was that pool party in the room of requirement. Anyway, they want to write a piece on me. You know, about the whole cancer thing."

Tessa beamed. "They wouldn't! They always seem so respectful on their articles. Hey, wait until Bi- I mean, Giovanni and Nic find out. And mum and dad." In her excitement she had forgotten about the somewhat one-sided dispute between her and Bianca, but she covered her tracks successfully enough. "They'll be so proud. Maybe I could keep it a secret until it's published."

"I'm sixteen," she protested, but it struck her that Elizabeth was probably right. "Oh well, I'm sure they'll be fine with it. And I can ask them to not tell anyone until it's published. This is great though, Lizzie. Me - in a magazine!" She studied herself in the mirror with a vaguely critical eye. I suppose I'll have to wear a wig for the photo. Nobody wants to read about a bald girl.

In a way, it did. Although Tessa couldn't help but feel a little guilty at that. "We used to read them together," she said softly, although her tone hardened as she continued. "Well, she should have thought about writing to me. She'll be lucky if... If I even want to talk to her again after that."

"I..." She frowned, running her fingers over the letter. "Maybe. I don't know. There might be a reasonable explanation for her not writing, even though I can't think of one."

Tessa flinched, pressing her lips together and staring down at the letter again. Her fingers had ceased to move across it, and she held them still instead. "Maybe you're right."