"Brace yourself," Tala said flatly. "Welcome committee from hell, incoming."
"Well," Lisa said lightly, her gaze moving over me in that slow, assessing way designed to make you feel like an object being appraised. "This is new."
The other two responded with a quiet murmur of agreement.
Tracy tilted her head, lips curling slightly. "Did they drag you all the way out here?" she asked, her voice carrying a sweetness that meant nothing good. "Or did you follow them, hoping to make some friends?"
A ripple of quiet laughter between them.
I turned my gaze back toward the lake and kept it there.
Carmen folded her arms, studying me in silence for a moment. "They've always liked new toys," she said eventually.
"Flavor of the month," Lisa added.
"They get bored," Tracy continued, her tone sof
