"There's just one thing I don't understand," Claire grumbled as we walked to school the next day. Krel and I had met up with the others as we made our way across the bridge bordering the canal, and she was busy puzzling over the incident with the pixies.

"What don't you understand?" Steve asked. "That genius troll dude didn't want to help us. I think we should crack open this wolf lady's skull and make these voices get out!!"
"You are aware I have a name, right?" I asked, fairly peeved that he still refused to call me by my real name. "It's Lunalis."

"Claire's right," Douxie stopped Steve before he could reply. "There's something going on here, and it has nothing to do with the voices. Those pixies didn't spontaneously show up at school."

"What are you saying?" Krel asked as we made our way onto campus.
"I think he's saying that someone, or something, let the pixies loose in Arcadia Oaks High on purpose," I said, giving a quick wave to Mary when she shot me a grin. "I think there's something else going on here."

"Well, whatever it is, it'll have to wait until a later time," Archie said, quickly diving into Douxie's backpack in cat form. "Señor Uhl is on the hunt for the Spring King candidates. You have your first challenge today, Krel," he whispered, his face barely peeking out from the confines of the bag.

"That's right!" I exclaimed. "You have a challenge today. It's coming up with a theme for the occasion, correct?"
"Yes," he sighed, burying his face in his hands. I knew he didn't want to be Spring Fling King, but I wasn't about to let him give up that easily.

"Okay. So, what do teenage humans like to be around?" I prompted.
"I don't know! I'm not popular or setting trends or anything like that!"
"Well, that's a problem."
"Really? I didn't notice."
"Yo, Tarron!!"

The orange-haired boy from the assembly who had taken an interest in me called him over, his own pack of males surrounding him and slapping him on the back. Krel walked over to him, and I trotted behind him, curious what the other male had in mind for my friend.

"Heard you got picked as a candidate for Spring Fling King," he grinned, slapping him on the back. "Yes, I suppose I did," Krel chuckled weakly in reply, and the orange-haired male laughed.
"I guess we'll have to go toe-to-toe again, then, huh? Good luck!"
"You're gonna need it," one of his cronies snickered, and the whole group collapsed into laughs.

"Don't mind them," he sighed. "They're just excited 'cause Steve isn't a candidate this year. He usually dominates the competition, so it's rare we actually get a chance to win, right?"
"Right," Krel replied, clearly eager to escape the conversation. Fortunately, the boy soon turned his gaze away from my friend. Unfortunately, he immediately directed it at me.

"You're Lunalis, right?" he asked, putting on a charming smile. "You're the strong chick in my gym class."
"Yes," I said slowly. "I'm the....chick."
"Cool," his grin widened. "You know...every Spring Fling King needs his Queen. What say you and I go downtown to that new ice cream place on Delancey Street and get a couple cones?" He finished his request by presenting me with a small flower.

I slowly took it from his hands, fingering the petals. "I-"
"Sorry, Seamus, but she's busy," Krel cut him off before I could answer, grabbing my hand and stomping off. "What was that for?!" I yelled at him once we were out of earshot of Seamus and his group of men. "I didn't like how he was looking at you," Krel replied, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring in the direction we'd come from.

"Since when is it your place to fight my fights?"
"Since when are you interested in going on dates with humans?!"
"A date?!" Claire asked in disbelief, overhearing our conversation. "Who'd want to ask out the most terrifying girl in school? No offense, or anything."
"Seamus," I smiled, looking down at the flower before slipping it behind my ear.

"Oh no," Claire groaned, putting her face in her hands. "Lunalis, you have no idea who Seamus is, do you?"
"No," I admitted, looking back to where a few of his buddies were making finger guns in my direction. I pretended not to notice.

"Lunalis, Seamus is a total, world-class jerk. He's rude to others, he bullies the 'nerds' of the school, not to mention the fact that his whole family is extremely racist-"
"Racist?" I asked.
"It means they don't like people of color," Claire explained, though by the confused expression on my face, she could tell that wasn't enough. "People like Krel."

"Oh," I said, turning to my friend who was scowling in the direction of the other boys. "I'm sorry." I gently put a hand on his shoulder, and I felt him tense at my touch. "I can tell him no if you want me to," I whispered in his ear, and I felt him shudder.
"It's your choice, Lunalis," Claire said, heading towards her next class. At the last minute, she turned and called, "I'd make it sooner rather than later, though. Boys aren't exactly patient creatures."

"Mr. Tarron!" The sound of Uhl's voice startled me, and I instinctively leapt closer to Krel. From the corner of my eye, I saw Seamus scowling at me touching Krel. I quickly removed my hand when Señor Uhl came tromping over to us, burly frame towering over the two of us. "Potential Spring Fling King candidates are supposed to be gathered in the gymnasium. Come, quickly! You too, Mr. Johnson! Con rapidez!!"

As Krel and Seamus left, I pulled the flower out of my hair and examined it. Nothing special or magical about it; just a simple gift, from one human to another. You know humans do these things when they wish to court another of their species? Aquarius asked me.

How do you know? I asked, thumbing the silky petals.
I have been watching humans and their ridiculous antics of passion for centuries. Too many men have been scorned by their affection for another, so they turn to the tide, waiting for it to pull them under and add their skeleton to the museum of artifacts the sea keeps in its depths.

Or, they wander into the woods, and I have my fun, Insanity chortled. Passion gives their flesh such an interesting flavor. 
"Well that's pleasant," I murmured aloud, earning a small stare from onlookers. 
But she's not wrong, Ela chimed in. Humans present their interest in the form of trivial things, like flowers or other offers of courtship.

Then, they start to become more bold and daring, Zephyr continued. Touching, whispering endearments to one another, and giving each other titles of high importance and honor, such as "Honey Bunch" or "Sugar Pie".

If I didn't know better, I'd say this boy wants to become your mate, Cephas said bluntly, and I flushed bright red at the thought. Impossible, I thought, glancing back down at the flower. The sharp ringing of the school bell didn't let me hear Cephas' response, and I bolted for the History classroom, leaving the flower to flutter to the ground behind me.