Belicia met Ava after school in the parking lot. "Let's get out of here," she huffed breathlessly.

"What's the rush Bel, afraid Koya's gonna come and try to stop you?"

"Make that Tuto, and you'll be right. Now let's go!"

"Well you know I'm going to need to hear what this is all about," she raved.

"Yeah, but can I trust you not to tell Koya?"

"Bel, how many times do I have to say it? I didn't tell Koya anything, he already knew so someone else is feeding him the goods or he's telepathic, like you said."

"Yeah, you're right. So, I followed Tuto you know,"

"Yeah, everyone saw that," Ava snorted as she pulled her car onto the road and sped off.

Belicia frowned. "Anyways, I stopped him and asked him what this whole problem is about and you know what he told me?" She went on before Ava could even answer. "He said it's all because Koya won't stop crushing on Desi. He said he catches them kissing all the time. And I find it strange because Koya told me last night he couldn't stand Desi-,"

"Wait whaaaaaaat?" Ava hollered. "Did you just say last night?"

Belicia nodded. "He came over late. He said he wanted to talk, so I went down because he was already there."

"Dang Bel, for someone who hates drama you sure have attracted a lot of it."

Belicia actually laughed and Ava realized how long it had been since she'd heard her best friend having fun. When she pulled her car into the mall parking lot and parked she turned to Belicia. "Let's go have fun Bel! Let's shop and have ice cream and pretzels and shop until we both find the perfect outfits!"

"Sounds good Av, let's go."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

With their insane shopping trip behind them, the girls stopped for cappuccinos to go and headed home to find Cayde's car in Ava's driveway when they got there.

Ava noticed Belicia's mood dropped and she stopped her before she got out of the car. "Listen, I know there's a lot of weirdness going on in our lives right now but, try not to let it bother you. Believe it or not, it's normal."

"Maybe for you but my life has been like a boring routine of nothing Ava."

"I know Bel, and that's why I'm telling you to relax. Just enjoy yourself and stop worrying. Nothing stays the same forever. I got you," Ava put her hand out for a fist bump. "Come on, let's get all our bags and go see what's up in there!"

Belicia shrugged off her misgivings and they went inside to find not only Cayde, but Koya and DJ as well.

"Hey, hey, boys, the girls are in the building!" Ava said cheerfully. Cayde got up, offering to help her with her bags and Koya did the same for Belicia.

She reluctantly gave him her things as Ava bounded upstairs. Koya nodded her ahead of him and she followed Ava as they guys came up after them.

Cayde tossed her bags on the bed and plopped down beside them.

"So do we get a sneak peek Ava?"

"Uh no. Now get out. We'll be right down," she pointed at the door. Cayde hung his head like a sad puppy and Koya threw a stuffed bear at him, but the three of them left and Ava started pulling clothes out of bags. "I'm so excited," she squeaked. "We are gonna be so hot at Noah's party, peeps will be like OOOh," she waggled her head.

Belicia chuckled. Ava was a never ending ball of energy.

"Alright let's go mess around with the guys now. We'll put this stuff up later."

They tromped downstairs and Ava sat by Cayde at the table. Koya was on a barstool but hopped off and sat down next to Belicia.

"So DJ, where's Lindy?" Ava asked with a side eye.

"She had too much homework to catch up on. She's doing it tonight so it won't ruin her weekend."

"Mhmm, smart," Ava chortled.

Belicia's phone buzzed and she looked to see her mom calling her. "I need to take this, it's my mom." She got up and went into the family room.

Ava looked at Koya. "You've never actually said if you'd be going to Noah's-,"

"Of course he's going Av, you think I'm going to let him dodge out? No way in hell."

Koya smiled but nodded. "Yep, I'm going."

"Well prepare yourself because Noah's parties are so sick," she threw her hand up dramatically. "Not even lying here," she looked at Cayde. "Remember what happened last year?" Her eyebrows rose.

Cayde slapped his knee. "It was total insane," be bent close to Koya, "so last year it rained the entire weekend but you think that bothered Noah? Hell no. He got us together and we all built this insane super slide, God it was dope. Then some girl decided she wanted to mud wrestle. You can only imagine how that turned out," Cayde died laughing. "This will be Bel's first year to go, I hope she's up for it."

"I'm sure she'll have fun. I'll watch out for her," Ava confided. She got a text and looked at her phone. "oh, moms outside. She said for you guys to go help her carry in some groceries."

The guys jumped up and Ava went to find Belicia. She was sitting on the couch with her feet on the coffee table talking to her mom and Ava nodded. "I'm gonna run to the bathroom, I'll be back."

She left as Belicia ended her call and she threw her phone on the couch and sat up. She heard the guys bringing in bags and heard Ava's mom ordering them where to put things when Koya came in where she was.

He sat down beside her and leaned back. "Sounds like Noah's parties are pretty slay," he told her, lifting one brow. "And both of us will be the newbies there."

Belicia giggled nervously. "Yeah, I couldn't do it without Ava."

"Totally get that," he agreed. "You shouldn't worry though, all your friends will be there with you. It'll be fun Bel. Come on, let's go back to the kitchen. I think Mrs. Avila got some chips and dips," he held out his hand and she grabbed it. He pulled her up from the couch and into his arms, giving her a hug and kiss on the head.

A stirring sensation of buzzy, eclectic warmth traveled from her stomach to every single nerve ending in her body and the one that found her mind exploded with visual perceptions of a strange and wonderful feeling.

Koya felt it too, but pretended not to notice. His Kitsune came alive instantly honing in on the reaction she was having. Her own Kitsune was awakening within her, he felt it.