“We should bury it…I should bury it.” Ashley watched as the ants had multiplied by the thousands, covering the dead bird like a wave, ripping it apart miniscule piece by miniscule piece. She wondered how long it would take for the ants to take it apart completely, the unwanted pieces left to fend for themselves against nature’s decisions.

“I am so not touching that filthy thing, and we really need to leave, Ash. It’s getting late and I have to be back before my mom gets home or I am way grounded.”

Spencer approached Ashley, unsure if she should touch her. Ash didn’t always want to be touched. You had to be invited. And Spencer hadn’t received the invitation or RSVP-d. Ashley surprised her, by gripping the side of Spencer’s shirt and pulling her closer to her.

“Madison’s right. You guys should go…I’m gonna stay and take care of the bird.”

Spencer’s shirt tugged at her side as she spoke. “Ash, no. You can’t stay here by yourself.”

Madison sighed heavily, pushing her bike past them up the hill.

“Spencer, why the hell are you always defending her?”

Now wanting an audience, Madison stopped, knocked her kickstand out with her the instep of her shoe, and faced the two girls.

“It’s like…you don’t get it Spencer.”

Spencer turned abruptly towards Madison, fully aware of the serious confrontation that was about to transpire. Ashley’s hand broke free from her shirt.

“Oh yah, what don’t I get Mads?” Spencer’s foot kicked a rock away.

Madison coughed loudly and walked towards them.

“This!” Madison’s hands gesticulated wildly, as though wanting to include the trees and the foliage into her performance.

“Every time we all get together, some shit like this happens! It’s like we can’t just have fun anymore…Ashley always has to push everything to the limit and then some damn tragedy occurs, and you run to her side like you guys are attached at the hip.”

“That’s not true Madison.” Spencer jaw began to clench as she glanced quickly at Ashley’s reaction to Madison’s outburst.

Ashley just stood there, looking at the bird and squinting, as if not hearing anything the girls were saying.

“Ashley!” Madison threw a small rock at Ashley to wake her from her trance. It hit her pant leg and rolled forward, resting dangerously close to the bird, but killing a small group of ants that had decided to take five.