The laughter choked back into their throats, then hoarsely emerged again, only the sound was thin and nervous. Lona reached forward and pulled the ball from Emily, staring down at the ‘yes’ that faded gradually with each second.
Emily stared at Lona, licking her lips and asking softly, “Do you think it’s true?”
Lona laughed again, almost hysterically. “Oh, ‘course not! It’s just a stupid game!”
Emily sat watching Lona while her laughter faded, then died. “Are you sure?” Her voice had a small, frightened undertone. “Are you really sure?”
Lona stared back, then muttered, “Well… C’mon, Em, it’s a stupid ball! How is that supposed to tell you anything?”
“It told us how many boys you’ve made out with,” Emily replied, quietly.
That shut Lona up for a minute. “How would you know if that was true in the first place?”
“You didn’t contest it.”
“No, but I didn’t agree to it, either.”
“You blushed.”
“So? It thinks I’m a whore.”
Emily grabbed the ball out of Lona’s hands, glaring at her. “Oh, shut up! Let me see!”