•Fionna•

Eventually my party ends and everyone has to go home. It was an amazing surprise party and I loved it.

Apparently, while I was at Bubblegum and Gumball's, all my friends had secretly gathered up and planned a party for me. I also learned it was Finn's idea.

I had happily hugged my brother. "Thank you so much, Finn! This was amazing!" I said. Not to mention the countless awesome gifts I got as well.

Finn had hugged me back and said, "You're welcome, Fionna! I knew one day I'd be able to beat you at throwing an amazing party...!"

Now, I'm at home with Finn, Marshall, Marceline, Cake, and Jake. Marshall and I are lounging on the couch while Finn and Marceline are sitting on the floor across from us.

Summer is nearly over, which means a topic hangs in the air between us, a topic none of us really want to talk about—school.

School will be starting in about a week from now.

When I bring up the topic, Finn groans. "Ugh... I forgot we had to start school next week... Thanks for reminding me, Fionna..." he grumbles.

"I know, dude, I really don't want to go back to high school..." Marshall mumbles.

"I know, but, at least it's our last year! I mean, this year we're seniors. That means, after this year, we can officially say bye-bye to high school! Isn't that a good thing...?" Marceline says.

I shrugged. "Yeah, I guess," I say.

This year will be our final year at Conquest High School, and thank God for that. Conquest High... well... let's just say it's a place of... order; it's basically every cliché high school ever. If you're not popular, then you're basically branded a loser until your graduation as a senior (unless, you get really unlucky and your classmates follow you to college as well, that is if you decide to go to college).

Conquest's motto: We pledge to help our students prepare for and conquer life and its obstacles that lay ahead.

Oh, yeah, sure you do, if "preparing for life and its obstacles" means dodging snide comments and insults from the popular girls and avoiding super-wedgies and swirlies from the bullies, then yeah, they sure are preparing us for life...

"Thank glob we're seniors! I don't think I could do another year at Conquest..." Finn says. Marshall nods.

"Agreed," he says.

Suddenly, Marceline nudges me. "Hey, Fionna, did you hear that Bubblegum and Gumball are going to school with us this year?" she asks.

My eyes widen. "Uh, no, I didn't. Why would they? I mean, I thought they had a royal tutor for education, plus they're a year older than Finn and me and already finished school... So why are they suddenly deciding to go to public school with us and doing the twelfth grade over again?"

"I heard they decided to because they wanted to be with you and Finn so you could all hang out more, plus, apparently they like learning and think a public high school would be a great place to expand their intelligent minds more or something like that," Marceline explains before shaking her head. "Whatever it is, it's a bad idea; I mean, have you met them? Two candy nerds obsessed with science and the rules, repeating school for fun--they'll be eaten alive!"

I gulp. Poor, innocent Bonnibel and Bubba... Marceline's right; they probably won't last a day.

"So, Bubblegum and Gumbutt are going to school with us now?" Marshall says, sounding irritated.

Oh, glob, this again...

I turn to him. "Yeah, and what's so wrong with that?" I question.

Marshall looks like he's about to issue a comeback before he suddenly stops himself and looks at his hands.

What is up with him?

Finn smirks. "Oh, it's obvious why he's bothered by it; it's because he really, really likes—"

Marshall gives my brother a stone-cold glare. It works--Finn instantly shuts up.

Gosh, guys are so weird.

--------------------------

Three days later and the first day of school is getting closer and closer.

Things right now are mostly uneventful; summer is beginning to wind down and things to prepare for the school year have to be done.

Finn is laying on the floor playing video games on BMO like he usually does and I am sitting across from him, watching.

Cake and Jake had decided to go visit Lady and Lord M and their kids for the day and are leaving Finn and me in charge of the tree house.

"Remember: no messing up the house, no breaking things, no leaving the house without my permission, no letting anyone in unless you know them, and most importantly no having a wild party, got it?" Cake drills us through the rules as she and Jake are getting ready to leave. The rules are always the same when she left Finn and I home alone, and we have them memorized by heart, so I honestly don't know why she still feels the need to repeat them to us over and over again.

"Oh my God, Cake, calm down, we'll be fine. You've left us home alone before!" Finn says.

"I know, it's just... I worry about my babies...!" Cake whines before she yanks Finn and me into an involuntary hug.

We struggle to wiggle away.

"Okay... you can let us go now..." I say.

"Can't... breathe..." Finn groans.

Cake reluctantly lets us both go. "Oh, alright! Just, be careful and safe!" she says before she turns to Marshall, who is also here with us, lying on the couch. "And, Marshall, feel better, okay? I know you're sick, but don't give it to Finn and Fionna, alright?"

Poor Marshall has crashed on our couch with a box of tissues and a barf-bowl in his lap. I don't know what he is sick with, but I sure as hell don't want to catch it, so Finn and I make sure to keep our distance.

Marceline sits casually on the floor, her legs crisscrossed. "Don't worry, he'll be fine. I'll take good care of him and Finn and Fionna," she says. "Oh, by the way, thanks for letting us crash here until the renovations in our cave are finished. We appreciate it."

Jake nods and smiles. "No prob, dudes! We're glad you can be here to watch Finn and Fionna," he says.

"Um, no offense, but Finn and I are too old for babysitters and we stopped needing them when we were ten..." I point out.

Cake checks the clock. "Oh, we better get going! See you kids later!" She and Jake start for the exit. "Bye!"

"Bye!" Marceline, Finn, and I all say in unison. Marshall says it too, but he groans it more than he actually says it.

Then, Cake and Jake disappear out the door and close it behind themselves.

The second the door closes, Marshall suddenly jumps up from his place on the couch, takes out his phone, and begins dialing a number.

"Dude, what are you doing? Who are you calling?" Finn asks. "A doctor? Are you really feeling that bad?"

Marshall ignores him and waits until someone picks up. He puts his phone to his ear. "Hello? It's Marshall. Get over to Finn and Fionna's tree house A.S.A.P., and let's get this party started! Bring your friends too!" Then, he hangs up and puts his phone away.

We all look at him.

"Um, Marshall, what was that?" I ask.

Marshall smirks. "I just called the Party Gods and told them to get their butts over here because we're throwing an awesome back to school party."

"W-What? Didn't you hear what Cake said? She said no wild parties! Remember?" I say. "Plus, you're sick, aren't you?"

"Please, I was never sick," Marshall says. "I faked it."

"Marshall! What the glob?! If Cake finds out you lied and we hosted an out of control, wild party, she'll skin us all alive!" I shout.

"This is very true," Finn says nervously, looking very worried.

"Calm your tits, both of you. Cake is not gonna get mad because she's not gonna find out. Got it?" Marshall says.

"Marshall's right; all we have to do is get it cleaned up and under control by the time Cake and Jake arrive back home tomorrow. We should have plenty of time," Marceline says.

"Did you plan this with him?" My eyes narrow at my best friend.

Marceline holds up her arms defensively. "No, I didn't, I knew he was faking being sick, though--I just couldn't figure out why," she says.

Of course.

I just sigh. "You know what? Fine. I won't call Cake and snitch on you, but I'm NOT getting involved in this crazy party you have planned; I'll be upstairs in my room if any of you need me," I say, making my point very clear.

Marshall shrugs. "That's okay with me, but just know, you're going to miss an amazing party, bunny-boo--I brought my axe-guitar and I'm gonna be playing some pretty sweet tunes."

I roll my eyes. "Alright. Whatever," I say. Then I blush, realizing what he called me. "And don't call me bunny-boo...!" Bunny-boo is one of his ridiculous nicknames he has for me. Although, I kind of secretly like it a bit when he calls me that...

"Well, I'll definitely be at the party. I'm assuming since you invited the Party Gods, you pretty much invited everyone, which means you invited Flame Princess. And, I'm thinking I'm finally gonna make my move." My brother looks smug, considering the fact he says that every time we see her and never actually does it.

Marshall snorts. "I'll believe that when I see it," he says.

Finn glares at him. "Yeah, well, you will see it! This time, I'm actually gonna do it!" he says, sounding serious.

However, only time will tell.

--------------------------

About thirty minutes later and the tree house is completely packed with just about everyone and everything you can imagine—ghosts, pixies, fairies, animals, princesses, princes, everyone. The tree house can't get more full.

I had tried to retreat to my room, but the stairway is so crowded I couldn't get up there.

So, I'm stuck down here with everyone else.

I was surprised when Bubblegum and Gumball showed up; parties aren't typically their thing.

When I told them I was surprised to see them, Bubblegum simply said, "It's our best friends' party! Of course we're coming!"

Gumball, however, looked like he had been dragged into this by Bubblegum, which he probably had.

Marshall played several songs on his axe-guitar and was pretty amazing (all the fangirls certainly agreed). Of course, I couldn't suck it up and tell him I'm probably his number one fan, like I've always been.

Finn suddenly decided he had mad spinning skills and became the party's DJ, playing several songs. The weird part is that he's actually pretty good.

After Finn spins several songs and begins to take a break, Flame Princess must've been impressed because she goes up and talks to him. Finn, of course, is overjoyed.

"Finn, that was amazing!" Flame Princess tells him.

Finn smiles smugly. "Why, thank you. I'm glad you think so. Speaking of amazing, you look amazing tonight." He winks at her.

Flame Princess turns redder than usual. "Uh, thanks... You do too," she says.

"Hey, wait a sec, how come you're not burning down this whole tree house right now? You don't have your protection gear on..." Finn says.

Flame Princess rubs her arm. "Well, uh, I think I'm learning to control it better so that I don't burn everything I touch... I think it's getting better."

"Really? Mathematical! Let's see," Finn says before he holds out his arm. "Touch me."

"Um, I'm not sure if--"

"Don't worry, it's fine. I'll be fine. Besides, you said you're getting better. Also, I trust you."

Flame Princess lifts her hand to reach for Finn's arm. "O-Okay... if you're sure..." she says.

Finn nods. "I'm sure."

"Okay," Flame Princess's hand is inches above Finn's arm. "Tell me right away if it burns you."

Finn nods again. "Got it," he says in understanding.

Then, Flame Princess lays her hand on Finn's bare arm.

Finn stands there and says nothing for a few seconds until he suddenly speaks up. "It doesn't even hurt."

A few more seconds pass and I can see my brother tense up--it is obviously starting to hurt him, but he doesn't let Flame Princess know that.

Finn bites his lip and clenches and unclenches his fists. I see his cheeks slowly turn red as he begins to sweat a bit. Then, when he finally can't take it anymore, he jumps away and lets out a small squeal. I chuckle.

I see Finn now has a red mark in the shape of a hand on his arm.

Flame Princess's eyes widen. "Finn! You were supposed to tell me immediately when it started hurting!" she says, sounding guilty and worried.

Finn rubs his arm. "It's fine. I'm fine, really. It didn't even hurt that bad..."

"Oh, really? And what was the little girlish squeal, then?" I giggle.

Finn blushes out of embarrassment. "Shut up, Fionna..." he mumbles.

Flame Princess giggles along with me. "I heard it too."

After that, the party went on okay I guess.

That is, until I discovered someone brought beer to the party.

And one of my friends got drunk from it.

I am drinking punch with Marshall and Gumball when it happens.

Well, Marshall and I are actually drinking the punch while Gumball just stares curiously at it.

"Hey... isn't the punch at most parties spiked...?" he asks, looking warily at his cup.

Marshall shrugs. "Eh... maybe."

I stop drinking mine.

"Heeeyyyyyy guuuyyyyys...!"

Marshall, Gumball, and I all turn to see Marceline sauntering towards us with a cup of beer in her hand. She's wobbling and can't even fly.

She approaches us and gives us a drunken smile. "Hey, guys... hey, guys...! Hey, you guys...! How's it goin'? Huh? How's it goin'?"

"Um... good...?" I say.

Marshall sighs. "Marceline, how much did you have to drink?" he asks.

"Hm... I dunno... But I think it was a whole lot...! You know?" Marceline says.

"See? This is why I was against having a party! Exhibit A," I gesture at at the out of control party behind me. "Exhibit B," I then point at Marceline. "See what I mean?"

"God, Fionna, don't be such a goodie-two-shoes! So Marceline got a little drunk... it happens to all of us... some times," Marshall says.

Marceline suddenly struts over to Gumball and gives him a smile. "Hey there, Gummy...! How ya' doin'...? Good? Good! Me too..!" she says before she grabs on to his shirt collar and rumples it up. "You're kinda cute for a nerd... Did you know that? We should totes make out!"

Gumball turns about fifty shades of red before he slowly takes a step back and fixes his collar. "Um... no thank you... I'm good..." he says.

Marshall just stares at Marceline. "Wow. You're really wasted, aren't you?"

Marceline's head bobbed up and down happily. "Uh huh!" she chirps. Then she looks at Gumball again. "So, can I make out with nerdy boy here or not?"

Oh boy...

Gumball awkwardly clears his throat. "Well... Uh... It wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me to take advantage of you since you're in a state like this... and you're Marceline... so I'm thinking we shouldn't do that," he says before he looks around. "Uh... I'm gonna go over there now... Bye!"

He is gone faster than lightening. After that, Marceline drunkly stumbles away.

I can tell Marshall is trying to hard to resist from laughing. I give him a look.

"See what I'm talking about? Marceline is more than just a little drunk, Marshall," I hiss.

Marshall shrugs. "Yeah, you're probably right... I mean, she was flirting with Gumbutt... Which is strange, because she's way out of his league."

I cross my arms. "Hey! Gumball could have Marceline if he wanted her!" I say. "Why do you keep criticizing him?"

Marshall ignores my question. "So Gumbutt can have my sister. Does that mean he can have anyone? Even you?" His brow is furrowed in irritation.

Why is he suddenly so sour? I have no idea.

"Marshall, seriously, if there's something going on, you know you can tell me," I say.

Marshall stands there for a second, looking like he is debating in his head whether to take me up on that or not.

Then he shakes his head. "No, Fi, there's nothing going on."

I raise one of my eyebrows. "Promise?"

Marshall nods. "Promise," he replies.

But somehow, something tells me not to believe him.