For a moment, it seemed Elsie wouldn't reply. She nibbled on her lower lip, hesitating slightly. But then, with a loud intake of breath, she finally let it out.
"You invited Violet to your tea party. Are both of you friends now? Are you supporting her or me?" The way Elsie looked at Natalie was direct, as if daring her to lie to her face.
Natalie didn't respond immediately. Instead, she studied Elsie with that maddeningly arrogant air, her silence more unsettling than words. It was almost as if she was wondering if answering Elsie was worth the effort.
Then she finally spoke with an unapologetic tone. "I believe I don't need your approval to decide who my friends are."
"Violet Purple is my enemy," Elsie hissed.
"So, are you saying I'm your enemy?" Natalie rephrased, tilting her head slightly and her voice carrying an undercurrent of warning. "Do you even want to be my enemy?"
