One

'Just ask – it will go well.' The strange lamb's slightly lispy voice had been echoing around Ellie's head almost constantly for the last few weeks since she got back from America, almost every time she saw Rachel - and she saw her a lot. But what was the question she needed to ask? She knew what it was about; Ilsa somehow knew about her growing romantic feelings towards her best friend, but there was something specific she needed to ask. She had spoken to Izzy about the lamb's cryptic comments, without mentioning any details of course (but had a feeling that Izzy also suspected). Izzy's advice: 'Ilsa doesn't use her words lightly. If she says 'ask', there's a question you need to ask.'
"You okay Ells? You look a bit spaced out again," Alex said, breaking his little sister's concentration.
"Yeah," she replied, blinking her thoughts back to the present. "Just thinking about stuff."
"Well, finish your breakfast. We've got a bus to catch."
Ellie looked down at the plate in front of her where a slice and a half of toast lay, almost cold now but the melted butter showing that it was prepared fresh. She realised that she had spaced out a bit, so quickly finished the toast in front of her. Once finished, she put her plate in the sink, washed her paws and shook them dry, and grabbed her school bag as she followed Alex out the front door and down the road to the bus stop.
"Morning Alex," said James, spotting the two badgers rounding the corner. Ellie didn't really like James, mainly because he always seemed to ignore her. Plus, even for a weasel he seemed a bit shifty. But his greeting caused the other kids to look up slightly and see the approaching pair, the siblings separating as they arrived at the bus stop; Alex joined the other older boys and Ellie mingled with the other younger girls. The groups formed so naturally in the three short months since Ellie started Secondary School that she barely noticed it happen.
"Did you get that homework done for Mr Newman?" Hannah asked as Ellie joined her little group. Mr Newman was their Geography teacher. He could be quite harsh when he was annoyed but wasn't too bad overall. As long as you did your homework.
"Yeah," replied Ellie with a little smile, knowing exactly what Hannah would ask next.
"Can I look at it later?"
Ellie theatrically rolled her eyes. "I suppose so," she said. She didn't really mind. She had known Hannah since Primary School and knew she didn't have the best home life. Still, the work was assigned on Tuesday, and it was now Friday. Hannah had plenty of time to do it before now, or ask Ellie for help rather than leave it until the last minute. "We'll have a look at lunch." Geography was the last period today so that would be fine.
The mouse smiled. "Thanks, Ells," she said, sounding relieved. Then without missing a beat moved on: "What do you reckon about that new boy in Tabby's form? He's sooo cute!"
Ellie smiled. Josh started last week. Hannah was right, he was pretty cute, but her eyes were definitely on somebody else. "Yeah, I guess so," she said with a slight shrug.
Tabby playfully nudged Ellie with her elbow. "Hands off him, Ellie," she said, "He's mine!" The trio started giggling - for no apparent reason that Ellie could work out. "D'you reckon he'd take me to the Winter Dance?" Tabby asked.
"Why don't you ask him?" Hannah replied.
"Girls don't ask boys out," Tabby said bluntly as the bus approached the stop and the kids waiting got ready to board. "Maybe I could ask him to ask me?"
"That's stupid," said Hannah. "Of course girls can ask boys out. Just ask him, it'll be fine."
A... feeling tingled through Ellie when she heard Hannah say that and she felt some of her fur bristle. "Just ask – it will go well," she muttered quietly.
"See, even Ellie agrees that you should ask him."
"Yeah, maybe..." said Tabby, unconvinced.
As they boarded the bus and Ellie scanned the bus seats to find Rachel, a rapid mix of emotions rushed through Ellie as she realised with sudden clarity what Ilsa had meant. Her heart skipped a beat when she laid eyes on her friend, looking as cute as ever in her usual dishevelled yet tidy state. Rachel's smile grew even wider when she laid eyes on Ellie, shifting her bag off the seat next to offer it to her friend. Ellie slid into the seat next to the squirrel. "Morning, Rach," she said, hoping her sudden nervousness wouldn't show.
"Morning, Ellie," Rachel replied, putting her arm around Ellie's waist and squeezing her in a brief hug.
'Just ask - it will go well' - Ilsa's voice was running through Ellie's head again. She now knew what to ask, she just needed to find the right time and the right words. And hope beyond hope that Ilsa was right.

* * *

The bell rang and the class waited for Mr Newman to dismiss them. Walking out to their bus, Ellie was still trying to gather the courage and the words to ask Rachel, wondering how to bring up the subject in the first place. It was strange, she thought, that Rachel was the more adventurous of the two and always trying to persuade Ellie to do new things, and so she would probably find it much easier to ask the question.
"Rachel?" she found herself saying. Almost as if it were somebody else talking.
"Hmm?"
"You know the winter dance coming up?" Butterflies. Sudden dry throat. Pulse rate increasing. Ilsa's voice.
"Yeah?"
"Um, you... thinking about... going with... anyone?"
"Hadn't really thought about it," Rachel said. "Why?"
'Last chance to back out, Ellie,' she thought. 'You can now speak out, or just say something else. Do you really want to ruin a lifetime's friendship over something like this? What happens if it's nothing? What if it's just you?'
Ellie took a breath. "Do you want to go with... me?" A pause. "Like, as your date?" she added quickly.
Rachel stopped walking. Ellie took a step or two more before she noticed but didn't want to retrace her steps. Whatever Rachel's answer was, Ellie realised, their friendship would never be the same again. She hoped that Rachel wasn't the type of person who would let it affect their friendship. But it was out there now, and whatever happened next, things would be different. Ellie had, partially at least, confessed her feelings for her best friend and now...
"Really?" Rachel said, uncharacteristically quiet.
The second that Ellie paused seemed like much longer to both girls.
"You're right, I shouldn't have said anything, just forget I said it, I didn't ask you..." She felt herself blush, thankful that she was still facing away from Rachel. "I... I'll go now..." she started to walk off, beginning to hate herself. Did she really put her trust in the insane uttering of a creepy lamb she had never met before? Stupid, stupid girl.
"Wait, Ellie," Rachel said. Ellie stopped. "D'you really want us to go as a couple?"
Ellie never felt as conscious of her small stature as she did right now. She felt as if she was only a few inches tall. Some primal instinct within her wanted to run away as fast as she could but she felt grounded to the spot.
"... yes..." she said quietly. The only reason Rachel was able to hear was because the now empty school corridor amplified Ellie's voice.
"Okay." Rachel's reply was simple, yet profound.
It took a second or so for Ellie to properly hear and understand her friend. She turned and looked at the squirrel, and was glad to see that Rachel's face looked as red as Ellie's felt. "Wha?"
"Okay," Rachel repeated with a smile. "I'd love to go with you."
Ellie stood up straight, not realising she'd been hunched up in an unconscious effort to make herself smaller. "Really? Together? Not just as friends?"
"Yes, silly."
Ellie grinned, stood up straight, and stepped over to Rachel to kiss her on the cheek. Rachel giggled slightly at Ellie's embrace. "C'mon, we'll miss the bus if we're not careful," she said, gently pushing Ellie away. With a fast walk, they headed towards the bus stops at the front of the school and found theirs, getting on just in time. As they sat, Ellie pulled her phone out of her bag, switched it on and started writing a message. "Who are you messaging?" Rachel asked.
"Oh, I told somebody I'd sort something out at the end of the day," Ellie replied, and pressed 'send' on her phone.
'Tell Ilsa she was right, and thank her for me. x'
A short while later, Izzy's reply pinged back: 'See? We told you it would make sense eventually.'