Grian's pov

"I don't understand why we can't still be friends," I said getting more and more frustrated.

Iskall refused to hang out with me and he would barely talk to me these days. The only exception was if we were with other friends like Ren and Xisuma. Then he'd have no excuse not to talk to me.

We were pretty close before all this, so it's kinda annoying that he won't just tell me what's wrong. "I'll talk to you later okay." Iskall scrambled to put his things in his backpack before pushing off from leaning against the school wall.

"You can't just run away from your problems!" I shouted as I turned to face Iskall's retreating figure.

I notice someone else farther away, it was Mumbo and he was headed my way. I bet he saw me shouting at Iskall and now he's gonna bother me about it until I tell him what we were talking about.

"Hey Goldie what're you up to, other than talking to yourself." Mumbo holds up his hand shielding the sun from his face.

The sun reveals Mumbos freckles, the strongest I've ever seen them and I chuckle at the slight sunburn making him look like he was blushing profusely.

"What's so funny?" He was oblivious as expected and it gave me a chance to pull myself together.

"Don't worry about it, hey do you know what's up with Iskall?" I figured his best friend would know if I wasn't worthy enough.

Mumbo let out a sigh, "I guess you've noticed he's not been himself lately."

"I don't quite know, he seems to be fine around all our other friends but he's been standoffish towards me lately."

I didn't know that, I thought it was only me. Whatever Iskall's problem is, it seems to have something to do with Mumbo and I.

~The next day during school, Grian's class went on a field trip to a Christmas tree farm.~

"Alright class onto the bus and remember no fighting, biting, or touching the other children." the teacher joked as he checked the last kid who entered the bus off the list and the doors shut behind them both.

"Ha, he probably means you Mumbo," Xisuma says punching Mumbo and unintentionally elbowing me in the chest. Mumbo gave him the side eye and Xisuma found it hilarious.

Yeah, I couldn't tell you. Somehow Mumbo, Xisuma and I got lumped together in the first row. I'm not sure where most other kids would have wanted to sit but I do know that TFC got his own row behind our one and Ren and Iskall shared a row on the other side further back in the bus, lucky them.

When we arrived at the tree farm all the kids in the rows formed a line in the middle of the bus before I could even stand up and there was no getting through so I had to wait until they were all off first. Mumbo was the first out and than Xisuma, even TFC made it out before me and I'm pretty sure he was sleepwalking when he got off the bus.

"Alright kids it's headcount time, stand still." Mr. Scar pointed to a barn looking structure signaling for us to line up at the wall but most kids paid no attention.

Groups of kids dispersed and explored the grounds of the farm on their own terms. "Alright, be back by lunch and to help carry the tree back to the bus." Mr. Scar managed to say before most kids were out of sight.

I toted through the erect evergreen and spilled pine cones across the ground that threatened to twist my ankles. Upon approaching the first clearing I spot Xisuma talking to a girl. She's not from our school cause I've certainly never seen her around before. 

"Hey X, who's your friend," I say whilst announcing my presence. Xisuma and the stranger seem to jump and they look at me blushing scarlet. I learned that the girl's name was Falsey and she and Xisuma knew each other from summer camp. Falsey pushed Xisuma to tell me what they seemed so embarrassed about when I asked them. 

"Oh, I was just asking Falsey here if she had ever done anything super cheesy in the snow."

"oh yeah Grian's done that before, haven't you Grian?" Mumbo bursts through the trees sending a flurry of light powdery snow into the air and he slings an arm around my shoulder.

False tried to save me by standing up to Mumbo while Xisuma just giggles immaturely. "That's no one's business but his own and the only reason you would have said something like that is if you were curious yourself. It was very clear that false was upset, maybe even more upset than I was, it was all a bit much and I tried not to get too involved but then Mumbo said the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

He looked at false with no effect and then he looked down and me, "do you want to try it?" Mumbo's smirk grew as I went red and all I could think was that if i turned to look at False or Xisuma it would make the situation more awkward so I froze... starring.... at Mumbo.

"Mumbo!, Grian!, Xisuma!, our class is having lunch now." we heard Ren and Iskall shouting through the trees.

Mumbo slowly retracted his arm from around my shoulder and held his hand out in front of me, asking for permission. My heart sank at his gesture and I decided not to over think it and I grabbed his hand.

"Excuse us, Xisuma join us when you're ready will you." Mumbo's smile was bordering on smirking and smiling sweetly and I felt more scared than usual.

I follow Mumbo through the growing snow cross the paths that lead to the bus and I can barely see through the quickening flurries. 

"You can let go of my hand now." Says Mumbo loosening his grip which causes me to lose support and I slip on the slippery cobblestone path. Mumbo holds my hand again to help me regain balance and I thank him while huffing white smoke.

"Don't mention it, now that I got you away from Xisuma and his friend I have to tell you some news." Mumbo looked different than usual and I couldn't tell what it was. 

What is so important that you are excited to tell your prey about. He was obviously really excited about this news so I didn't delay him any further. "I think I know why Iskall is acting so strange."

Well, he just went out and said it didn't he. "What exactly seems to be the matter?"

"I-I think that Iskall has a crush." Mumbo cracks up laughing and I question why he would possibly find this so funny. 

"Ookay, I still don't see how that affects us," I questioned him further.

"You are not gonna want to hear this one, it's ridiculous." I let go of Mumbo's hand and we both stopped walking.

"It's you Grian, he has a crush on you." Mumbo wipes a fake tear from his eye from laughing so hard and he keeps his composure."

"Somehow I don't believe you, how do you know it isn't you instead? He's been acting weird towards you too."

"As you mention it, he gets even weirder when we hang out together, so what does that mean smart one."

"You guys are honestly a couple of hopeless dummies!" Xisuma's voice boomed over the silence that fell when Mumbo and I stood scratching our chins.

"What'd we miss?" Mumbo and I ask at the same time.

"Look, all I'm saying is that maybe you should be less worried about Iskall and more about yourselves. He didn't say this exactly but it's obvious he's just trying to give you too some space."

"You've been growing a lot as people since our friend group got all exposed and stuff." Mumbo and I look at each other in confusion and Xisuma insults us again rolling his eyes at our slowness. 

"Plus I'm asking Iskall to winter formal so you too stay away, he's mine." Xisuma pouts at us playfully and although we didn't quite understand why Iskall would think anything was going on between us, we were too happy for him and Xisuma to care.

Things have a funny way of revealing themselves, if there is something we aren't seeing now it's not worth missing what might come next if we stay here trying to figure it all out.

I hope you liked it and if you really liked it, hit the little star to favorite it cause that'd be cool.