Hi everyone!!!!! First of all, I want to apologize for not updating in like, 2 weeks. I had a lot of personal problems to deal with, and also just wasn't feeling confident in my writing (now I'm much better though). Second of all, I want to thank everyone reading this right now! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 10K!!!! I know I've already said this a million times, but I cannot thank you guys enough. Also, this chapter has a lot going on and is kinda chaotic. Like all-aboard-the-glorybringer-ship-comment-thread chaotic...

"I can't believe it! Our very first pep rally!" Squealed Kinkajou, practically hopping up and down with excitement. Moon smiled nervously and began to scrounge around in her locker for a hair tie, pulling out a dark green scrunchie (a relic from the ancient time of the VSCO girls) and tying her hair into a low ponytail. Today was the day of Pyrrhia high's first pep rally-and even though Moon had been on the cheer team for two months, there had been no real school-wide events...which she was rather relieved about. Outside those locker room doors were more than 600 judgmental teenagers, who would scrutinize her every move - cheerleading was really nice, but not in front of a crowd.

She turned around and took a seat on a bench, trying to calm the growing tornado of nervous thoughts in her head-it was the same feeling of anxiety and uncertainty that she got all the time back in Florida whenever she had to present a project alone, or when the teacher asked her about her dad on father's day, or even when she got cast as a tree that one time in the second grade play (she wasn't actually sure why she had a panic attack that time-all she had to do was stand there in silence, which is what she usually did anyways). But something was different. This time she had friends. People there to cheer her on and support her. People who weren't just using her to get test answers. People who cared about her.

She smiled again, this time more certain of herself, and began to walk out into the gym.

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Moon made her way up the small space in between rows of bleachers during the intermission. Apparently pep rallies lasted a lot longer than she thought, and even school spirit required a break. 
"Look Winter: I can breathe under water " a voice to Moon's left said jokingly. She turned around to see a boy balancing a water bottle on his head, showing it off to a blue haired boy and a red-headed girl.
"Very funny, sand snorter. that is, until you spill it." Replied another voice. Moon did a double take. 

"Oh hey I didn't recognize you guys!" She said. Apparently they didn't either, because they all looked caught off guard, especially Qibli who must have had a mini heart attack because he moved so suddenly that the opened water bottle fell off of his head and spilled everywhere. "I won't say I told you so..." Winter mumbled quietly, with a hint of a smirk. The boys and Peril scooted over for Moon to sit down as well. They chatted for a minute until Moon noticed Kinkajou coming up to join them. 

"Hiiiiiiii guys! Um...where's Turtle?" She asked, a little nervously (which sounded really freaky, because she was never nervous). Moon looked around and realized she hadn't even noticed his absence. She remembered him promising his girlfriend he would be here for her first cheer event-maybe he was sick or something... 

"I haven't seen him since yesterday when he went to the office." She replied quietly. Kinkajou looked down. "oh" 

Qibli tried to break the awkward silence  by suggesting they go get 'school spirit snacks' before the rally started again, and so they all went over to stuff themselves with food. The person running the snack stand was a senior volunteer, Clay. Moon vaguely recalled Sora mentioning he was her brother. 

Moon and the group were about to go up and get their food next when suddenly, she saw something out of the corner of her eye - or rather, someone. A boy with curly dark brown hair was leaning against the wall outside the gym away from the crowds, looking down. He seems sad...maybe I should go say hi?  Thought Moon. She silently stepped out of line - m&m's and cola could wait.

"Hey, are you okay?" She asked, walking up next to the boy. He turned his head and Moon gasped. It was Turtle-without his green beanie hat. "What happened to your hat?" She blurted out. Turtle looked down. "Someone stole it..." 

"Well, that's alright. We'll just buy you another one."

He hesitated for a second, and then buried his head in his hands, looking like he might cry. Moon was confused-it was just a hat. But she gave him a hug anyways. Just then, she heard someone shouting her name-probably Qibli, back at the snack stand. It must have taken him a second to spot Moon and Turtle, but soon he too hurried over along with the whole gang. 

"Turtle, there you are! I was starting to think you weren't coming..." Began Kinkajou, trailing off when she saw the state he was in. "What happened?"

He looked up at his girlfriend and the rest of the group. "Someone robbed our house...they stole a lot of things, including my backpack, with my beanie..." He said quietly. Moon remembered how he came to picture day in a top hat, of all things, reluctantly leaving his beanie at home for the first time since she met him. "That's...bad. But it's just a hat, right? We can get you another one." Said Qibli. Turtle looked even more devastated now, and tears were starting to well up in his eyes-he had strong emotions, bottled up inside until he couldn't hold back his words anymore.

"My...dad gave it to me for my birthday when I was seven. He got really sick the next day and told me to call 911, but I couldn't find the phone- It's all my fault he's in a coma - and that beanie was all I had left of him..."Turtle stopped, staring blankly at the wall in front of him. "I let them all down, and I may never get to talk to him again, all because I was too stupid and useless to-" before he could finish his sentence, Kinkajou grabbed him suddenly, squeezing him into a fierce hug. "You're not stupid..." She said. Soon everyone else had joined in group hugging him too-including Winter, who had a very strong thing against physical contact, apparently. 

Moon thought about how much courage it had taken for her to tell her friends about Morrowseer, and how much harder it must have been for Turtle, who grew up thinking it was all his fault. She thought about how her friends supported each other no matter what, and how This seemingly unimportant group of people were the reason she finally felt whole. The reason she finally knew where she belonged.

WHOA THAT WAS LONG! You don't even want to know how much time that chapter took...anyways, I felt like it was time for another sad chapter-hope you liked it

See ya in a few days!!!!