Janet jumped, her jellybean-red sneakers hitting the pavement with a satisfying *thwap*. She loved the way the world seemed to bounce with her, especially on days when her pigtails boinged in perfect rhythm with her steps. But today, the usual spring in her step felt more like a slump.

Just ahead, by the giant oak tree that always smelled faintly of peanut butter (don't ask, it was a weird tree), stood Angela. Angela, with her nose permanently stuck in the air like a curious cloud and a voice that could curdle sunshine.

And Angela, Janet saw with a sinking feeling, was surrounded. Not by friends, mind you. Angela didn't *do* friends. She collected followers, like shiny pennies people dropped and never bothered to pick up.

Today's penny was Kevin, who usually smelled like sunshine and freshly baked cookies. Kevin, who shared his crayons even when they were down to stubby little nubs. Kevin, who now wore a grimace tighter than Janet's shoelaces.

"Whatcha got there, Kevin?" Angela drawled, her voice dripping with honey and poison. Kevin mumbled something, clutching a drawing closer to his chest. Janet knew that drawing. It was Kevin's masterpiece, a rainbow-colored explosion of a happy dragon, drawn just for their teacher, Mrs. Bumble.

"A dragon?" Angela's voice rose an octave. "Seriously? How baby-ish." The pennies around her giggled, a chorus of nervous chirps. Kevin's face crumpled faster than a paper airplane in a hurricane.

And Janet? Janet felt a familiar knot tighten in her stomach. It was the same knot that appeared whenever Angela decided to rain on someone's parade, the same knot that whispered, "Don't get involved, it's not your problem."

But this time, the knot felt… different. It jiggled with a nervous energy, buzzing like a beehive about to burst. Because this wasn't just any drawing. This was Kevin's heart, splattered across the page in crayon colors.

Janet took a deep breath. The air tasted strangely of peanut butter and courage. Maybe, just maybe, some knots were meant to be untied.