The dust from the road was still visible when the motorcycles finally disappeared from sight.
Nobody suggested dwelling on what had happened. There was no need to put it into words: there were more people in the park now, children on the swings, a radio playing somewhere in the distance, the ordinary sounds of a Saturday that refused to turn sour. Madison gathered the napkins. Chloe folded up the empty bag. Brittany stretched her arms as if she could shake the whole moment off that way.
"Well," Brittany said. "Are we staying until the lake tells us a secret, or are we finding something else to do?"
"Something else," Ana replied almost immediately. "With more tables. And more witnesses."
"More of everything," Chloe added.
Madeleine nodded.
"Works for me."
Vivian took one last look at the sky through the branches. The red balloon was gone… or at least, she couldn't see it anymore. She said nothing. She simply stood up with the others.
They found a plaza closer to the town center: open shops, occupied benches, an ice cream stand, and enough activity to make sure nobody felt isolated. The change of atmosphere was noticeable as soon as they got off their ride and crossed the pedestrian crossing together.
Six girls together were hard to miss.
Vivian, with her red hair catching the sunlight and her naturally upright way of walking. Brittany beside her, dark-haired and confident, with an easy smile whenever she chose to use it. Madison, effortlessly polished, with bright eyes and a composed presence. Chloe, lively and expressive, impossible to ignore whenever she laughed. Ana, gentler in appearance, but possessing the kind of quiet beauty that still drew people's attention. Madeleine, serene, with delicate features, as though silence suited her.
A group of boys near the fountain had been watching them from ten yards away before they even reached the benches.
"Here we go again," Chloe murmured.
"Ignore them," Madison said. "Today we're not on display. We're just out having fun."
They settled at a long table on the terrace of a café. They ordered ice cream, sodas, and a slice of cake to share. The conversation gradually returned, awkward at first, then more relaxed. They talked about the ice cream stand, a dog that had stolen a napkin, and whether their next Saturday outing should be even simpler than this one.
Without ever officially voting on it, they had decided to leave the bikers behind.
For now.
A boy wearing a cap approached first. He smiled a little too much.
"Hey. Do you girls come here often? It's just… well. Does any of you have a phone number?"
Brittany looked at him with practiced sweetness.
"Not today, thanks."
"Just one number…"
"Not today," she repeated, still friendly. "Have a good one."
The boy stood there blankly for a second before walking away with an awkward laugh. Two minutes later, another one appeared, more direct, looking mostly at Madison and Vivian.
"Are you girls busy? Maybe we could buy you something."
Madison smiled with perfect politeness.
"We are busy, yes. With each other."
Chloe raised her glass as if presenting evidence.
"Private club. For today."
Ana hid her smile behind her glass. Madeleine lowered her gaze slightly, but she was smiling too. The boy got the message and left without making a scene.
"You're cruel," Brittany told Chloe.
"I'm efficient," Chloe replied.
At last, the afternoon began to resemble what they had promised themselves it would be.
Real laughter. Silly comments. Madison admitting that she sometimes hated being late simply because her father would call as if she'd crossed the entire country. Ana explaining that gossip traveled more slowly in Newton, "but it still got there." Madeleine admitting that she preferred listening to talking, and Brittany replying that this was exactly why they made a good team.
Vivian was laughing at a terrible impression Chloe was doing of one of their teachers when her phone vibrated in her pocket.
She took out her Nokia, glanced at the screen, and frowned slightly.
"Sara."
"The cheerleader?" Brittany asked.
"Yeah."
She stepped about half a yard away from the table to answer, covering one ear with her hand.
"Hi, Sara."
The voice on the other end sounded cheerful and straightforward.
"Vivian, are you busy? Susan and I were trying to figure out what to do. We thought that if you girls were together… maybe we could join you. Just to hang out. Nothing weird."
Vivian glanced back at the table: Madison listening attentively, Chloe with her ice cream half-finished, Brittany already guessing what was going on, Ana and Madeleine waiting expectantly.
"We're at a terrace near the town center," Vivian said. "There are quite a few of us."
"Perfect. Would it be okay if Susan and I came over?"
Vivian smiled slightly.
"Give me a second."
She returned to the table and held the phone against her chest.
"Sara. She wants to come over. With Susan."
Madison raised her eyebrows with interest.
"The twins?"
"Yeah," Vivian said. "They're asking if they can join us and hang out."
Chloe didn't hesitate.
"As long as they don't bring homework or drama, they're welcome."
Brittany shrugged.
"The more, the merrier. This is turning into an afternoon hangout club."
Ana looked at Madeleine. Madeleine nodded first.
"That's fine," Ana said. "As long as that's all it is."
"That's all it is," Vivian repeated, then returned to the phone. "Sara… yeah. You can come. I'll tell you how to get here."
She explained the street, the café, and the outdoor terrace. Sara said they wouldn't be long. After hanging up, Vivian let out a breath as if she'd just closed a simple, pleasant deal.
"That's settled. They'll be here in a little while."
Madison rearranged the chairs without anyone asking her to.
"Then this has officially stopped being 'just a few of us.' It's a girls' day out."
"High concentration of girls," Chloe corrected.
Brittany pointed at the remaining cake.
"Someone order more before they get here. I'm not splitting crumbs between eight people."
While they waited, another boy approached. This one was shyer. He directed most of his attention toward Ana and Madeleine, as though he figured he had a better chance with them.
"Hi… would you mind if I sat with you for a moment?"
Ana smiled gently.
"Yes, we would. But thanks for asking."
Madeleine added politely:
"We're waiting for more friends."
The boy nodded, accepted the rejection without getting too offended, and walked away. Chloe waited until he was out of earshot before murmuring:
"If this keeps happening, we're going to need a sign."
"A pretty one," Madison said. "'Unavailable. Girls only.'"
They laughed. This time, it came easily.
Vivian leaned back in her chair and looked at the activity around the plaza: people crossing the street, the ice cream stand, a couple arguing over a map, two children fighting over the same blue carnival balloon. Nothing red. Nothing impossible.
For now, the dust on the road had been left behind.
There was sunshine. There was a table shared among friends. There were gentle rejections for anyone who asked for too much.
And in a few minutes, Sara and Susan would be joining them.
A girls' day out. No further explanation needed. At least for as long as the day allowed it.