Guess what?

I'M NOT DEAD!

I know that I haven't updated this book for who knows how long, but...um... I'm here now? Maybe that makes up for it? Sort of? Kinda? Not really? Okay, I get it. I have to stop talking and start writing. Yep, yep, on it.

I'm talking to myself, aren't I?

Also, just to clarify, Qibli still lives with his mother and siblings.

(Qibli's POV)

It was the day of the Fall Dance.

Normally, I wouldn't care about these sort of things. This time was different, though. This time, there was someone I wanted to ask.

I didn't expect her to say yes, of course. I had already chickened out about three times, which is why I was sitting gloomily on a log in the middle of the forest. Well, not really the middle of the forest. More like I was sitting on a log that was lying on the side of a rarely used trail.

Someone's probably already gone and done it, I thought to myself. But... I would never know until I tried, right? Hmmm... maybe I could just ask her for a dance at the actual dance. That would be better... but she didn't look like she wanted to go... Stop it, Qibli! You're overthinking again!

Ugh. This is pointless. I thought. I mean... either she wasn't going, or someone else would be taking her. Maybe she would go for Kinkajou's sake; they are best friends. I pictured her face in my head, with her gorgeous raven black hair with those green highlights that flowed so easily... soft, gentle green eyes... Moonwatcher. I buried my face in my hands, groaning softly.

"You okay?" a voice asked from above me. I looked up, startled, and found myself looking into bright green eyes. Moon, I thought.

"Uhh... yeah..." I muttered, feeling awkward. I quickly stood up, not really knowing what I was supposed to do... I could ask her now if I wanted. I was just beginning to open my mouth to ask her to the Fall Dance, but she spoke before I could. "What's that on your neck?" Moon reached out a hand to touch the large cut. I flinched, cringing away from her.

Moon drew her hand back quickly, flicking her eyes down. "Sorry," she murmured.

"It's- um, it's fine" I said, reaching up and tugging the collar of my jacket so that it hid the cut. "I just- uh- scraped it. On a branch."

Moon gave me a skeptical look, raising one eyebrow. I realized how stupid that sounded, especially since there weren't even many branches on this path.

"Okay, I don't know why you're lying to me, but I'll let you keep your secrets." Moon said, still looking at me suspiciously.

"Um- yeah, okay," I muttered, glancing down to avoid her gaze. "I guess I'll be going now."

I started walking away quickly, head down and wishing that I could just fade away into the background. I realized that I hadn't ever asked Moon to the dance. No way I was doing that now, not after I had so obviously been lying to her.

Well. My private-thinking session had totally failed, and Moon definitely wasn't going to the dance with me.

***

I had decided to come to the dance anyway, even though it was mostly to get away from Rattlesnake and Sirocco. I was pretty much just standing in a corner, definitely not sulking. I hadn't seen any of my friends yet, though I knew that Winter and Kinkajou would be in the crowd somewhere; probably Turtle too.

I sank into the seat behind me, raking my hand through my hair, messing it up even more. It probably looked horrendous by now, considering how many times I had been messing with it throughout the time I had been here.

"Hey, Qibli. What's up?" I looked up to see Lynx, a girl I shared a few classes with. She was really smart and hardworking, I recalled.

"Nothing." I muttered, dragging my hand down my face.

"Okay. Well, looks like we both came single." Lynx said in a friendly, conversational tone.

"Yeah, I guess so." I knew that she was trying to be nice, but honestly I just felt like sitting in my corner and not sulking.

"Well... see you around, Qibli." Lynx stood up, disappearing into the crowd.

I sighed, wondering where Winter was. Maybe I could bother him a bit. As I was scanning the crowd, I saw a shock of blueish white hair, before realizing that it was only his sister, Icicle. Where is he? If Icicle's here, he must be.

Finally I saw Winter come in through the entrance. Finally, I thought. Maybe annoying him would cheer me up. It normally did. Then I noticed who was standing beside him.

In a gorgeous black dress with silver sparkles, stood Moon. Since when did Winter ask girls to dances? I supposed that it was good that I hadn't asked her, at least I saved myself some embarrassment.

Is this a joke? I wondered. I knew it wasn't, though. Winter, my best friend, was taking Moon to the dance. I yanked my hand away from my hair. I really needed to break that habit.

"Hi, Qibli!" Kinkajou bounded up to me. "Did you see? Winter brought Moon as his date! Isn't that absolutely amazing? I can't believe that they're here together! They'll be so cute!"

"Yeah... it's... great..." I muttered.

"Ooooooh, here they come now!" Kinkajou exclaimed.

Moon walked over, with Winter trailing a little bit behind her. "So you came after all, Qibli? I thought you said you weren't coming." Winter's voice interrupted my stream of thoughts.

"I wasn't." I had sent Winter a text earlier saying that I wasn't going, but when Sirocco and Rattlesnake had started to get riled up over something, I had slipped off unnoticed. At least, I was pretty sure that I had.

"O-kay, someone's in a mood." Winter grumbled. "Anyways, Moon, want to dance?"

"Um- sure!" At this, Winter grabbed her hand and led her over to the crowd of dancing couples. Kinkajou ran off somewhere too, probably dancing as well.

I sighed, getting up and walking over to the tables filled with food. On the way, I ran into Lynx again. Literally. I crashed into her, and she tripped over my foot, and it was basically just chaos. I decided that I might as well apologize to her while she was here.

"Hey- um, sorry about earlier. I was being pretty rude. And sorry about running into you, I wasn't looking where I was going."

"Oh, it's totally fine! I wasn't looking either, so it's totally not all the way your fault. As for earlier, you're good." Lynx replied, giving me a friendly smile as I reached down to help her up.

"Hey- you know what? Want to dance?" I asked. "As friends, of course."

"That would be so fun! After all, what's the point of going to a dance if you're not, y'know, dancing?"

I grinned. Maybe I could still have some fun tonight, even if it wasn't like I had planned. Besides, me and Lynx were just friends. Nothing could go wrong, at least.

Right?

I FINISHED THE CHAPTER FINALLYYYYYYY!! Hope that you enjoyed... mwahahhaha I destroyed both Moonbli and Lynxter right there didn't I? Well, I kinda just kept writing this chapter, and just wrote whatever came to mind, sooooo... sorry if some personalities seemed a little off. Bye 'till next time!

Glorybringer1163