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Mia studied her own reflection as she spun around “These are definitely our dresses for ho, don’t you think, Lexster?”

“I’ to the dance,” Lexi said “I don’t have a date ”

Mia stopped twirling “Then I’ either ”

Lexiunder her breath and walked back into the dressing room When she came back out, she was dressed in her jeans and T-shirt “No more dresses for me,” she said “I can’t afford one anyway ”

“Come on, Lexi,” Mia pleaded “You’re o ”

“She could go with Zach,” Jude said

Mia shrieked “That’s a great idea, Mom We can totally double-date ”

Lexi gasped “I a to force your brother to take me to a stupid dance ” On that, she walked away from them

Tears is, Mom? I didn’t mean to ”

Jude watched Lexi leave the store “You didn’t do anything wrong,” she said softly “We all just … forget sometimes that Lexi doesn’t have the same opportunities that you do We should have been a little ister, where Jude paid for both dresses She had the clerk box up Lexi’s “Go get dressed, Poppet I’ll take care of Lexi ”

Jude walked out of the s Everywhere she looked, she saw packs of girls, no doubt armed with their parents’ credit cards No wonder Lexi was out of sorts It had to be difficult to be different from all the kids you knew, froet what she wanted

Jude saw Lexi sitting on the bench outside the bookstore She was slu across her downcast face

Jude went to her, sat down Lexi scooted sideways to make room for her

“Sorry for the rant,” Lexi mumbled

“I should have been more sensitive I know those dresses are expensive ”