"Are you satisfied, then?" Qibli looked at Kinkajou with distaste, but as she downed her 3rd milkshake, there was hint of admiration in his eyes.

Taking one last slurp of her straw, Kinkajou sighed as she sat back in their booth, finally content. "Yes, yes I am," she said, her voice sleepy. It was afternoon on a Saturday, and the small restaurant was teeming with life as people started to roll in for lunch hour.  The only reason they were here was so Kinkajou could give him some information, but she wasn't just going to tell him the private feelings of her closest friend-she needed a milkshake first.

"Finally!" Qibli said, crossing his arms. "I thought you would never be done."

"Girls gotta eat," she said as she shrugged. "So what exactly is it you wanna know?" He suddenly looked worried, and she could practically see the wheels turning in his head as he chose his next words.

"So, I was talking to Moon yesterday, and she said nothing happened between her and Winter. Is that true? Does she like him? Does she like me? Does she like him more than me? What if-"

"Qibli, stop, you're rambling again," Kinkajou said, holding up her hand to silence him. He looked down at the floor, his cheeks red. "I can neither confirm or deny any of those claims."

He furrowed his brows as he looked up to her and said, "What? How does that help me? You said you could help me."

"You didn't let me finish! I was going to say that she does like you, but she also likes Winter. I must say, you really need to step up your game. Moon and Winter have already held hands."

His face turned to one of relief. "That's it?"
Kinkajou's face scrunched up in confusion. "What do you mean that's it?"

"So they haven't kissed or confessed their undying love or anything like that?" Qibli asked.
Kinkajou looked flustered as she answered, "Well, no, not technically. But I think holding hands is a big step for Moon. Don't tell her I told you this, but she kinda never takes action on anything. I love her, though. Never hurt her. Ever," Kinkajou said, her eyes narrowed at Qibli, whose wide eyes were visibly confused at the sudden change in the conversation.

He put his hand over his heart as he promised. "I swear I will never bring harm to Moonwatcher." Kinkajou looked satisfied and took another sip of her milkshake. "So what can I do?"

"Honestly," she began, "I think you should get to know her as much as you can, but don't push her. That'll just stress her out and she'll go running in the opposite direction, where Winter will be waiting."

Qibli sat up straight, looking more confident then when he had walked in. "So that's what I'll do. When she gets back from her trip, and when school starts up again with the new year, that's what I'll do."

* * *

Turtle had been wallowing in self pity for the entire of first week of January, and he was truly, utterly lovesick. The valentines dance was next month, and he could already see people starting to secure dates. His mind was always on Kinkajou, and he started to see her face everywhere he went.

"Just ask her out," Anemone said, not glancing up from her phone. They were both in the living room, Turtle on the floor doing his homework and his sisters doing who knows what.

"But it's not that simple," Turtle complained, rolling over on his back to look up at the spinning ceiling fan. "What if she says no?"
"Then she says no. You never know if you don't ask. And I don't think Kinkajou would ask you," Anemone said, giving a nonchalant shrug. Her long manicured fingernails tapped away at her screen.

Turtle scrambled up from the floor. "Why not? Am I that terrible?" He sighed, sitting down on the couch.
"Stop moving, it's very distracting," she said.

"Am I that terrible?" Turtle insisted, ignoring her request.
"Yes, I mean no. Girls just usually wait for the guys to ask us out, that's all."

Turtle pursed his lips, deep in thought. "But why? Guys get just as nervous. Or more nervous."
"I don't know, those are just the rules. Now stop talking, I'm texting Tamarin."

Turtle sighed, sitting back in his seat. There were just so many things that could go wrong. He thought about all the negative consequences, but his mind wandered upon one where Kinkajou was laughing and dancing with some other guy, and that was the one that hurt the most. Of course, the only way to prevent that from happening was to get to her first. Which, he supposed, was exactly what he had to do next.

Author's Note

I think I have to start by saying how awesome and supportive you all are! Although I don't update as much as I would like too, I love reading all you guys' comments, and it really means a lot to me how much you like this story. I have fun writing it too, which is why I'm going to do my best to update some more.

I'm really looking forward to the Kinkajou and Turtle stuff that will most likely be happening next chapter, since they've always been one of my favorites couples, and too be honest, I have no idea who Moon will end up with at this point...

PS, if any of the formatting on this chapter is weird, it's because I'm typing on my IPad, and it can kinda make some weird stuff happen with spacing and such.