"So how does this work exactly?" Moon asked, holding up an eyeshadow pallet and examining each of the colors.  It was a mix of warm and cool, with matte and shimmery powders that glittered in the light of her bathroom. 

Kinkajou quickly snatched it from her hands. "I'll take that, thank you. I don't trust you not to completely ruin your pretty face." She started sifting through a couple of brushes in her makeup bag. "Let the master do her work." 

Moon looked at herself in the mirror, at her green eyes and pale skin, and felt the nerves starting to sink in. She was going to a school dance. And she had a date. The makeup had to look good, but that was the least of her concerns. 

"All right," Kinkajou said, turning Moon towards her. "Hold still..." Moon followed her instructions, keeping her eyes shut as she dusted different powders across her eyelid, before going in with eyeliner and a couple of coats of mascara. She followed with the base, careful to wipe away any loose sparkling powder from Moon's cheeks before she started. 

"Are you excited to see Turtle?" Moon asked as Kinkajou brushed blush underneath her eyes. 

"I think so," Kinkajou said, still concentrating on the look. Moon cocked a brow, so she elaborated. "I'm so used to helping other people get dates, and now that I have one myself... suddenly I don't know what to do."

Moon risked opening her eyes, despite her friend's warning that the look needed to be a surprise. "Kinkajou, you are one of the kindest and compassionate people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Just be yourself, and if he doesn't like you for you, then he's not worth it."

Kinkajou smiled, pausing from her work. "Thanks, Moon. Now close your eyes! I'm almost done." A few more dusting here and there, and then... "Ok, now open!"

Moon looked in the mirror and breamed. It was perfect. How Kinkajou got so good at makeup she'd never know, but she was eternally grateful. Now it was time for the dress.

Trying it on again was like being fitted with her missing piece. The silver of the skirt glittered in the light like twinkling stars, and with her curled hair and silver earrings dangling from her ears, she felt beautiful. 

Kinkajou's dress was just as pretty as the day they saw it at the boutique, the airy lilac fabric looking as if it was floating. Moon stumbled over to her, using her friend to brace herself as she got used to her heels.

"Probably should have tried these on a few times before I go dancing in them," Moon said, laughing. 

"It'll be fine!" Kinkajou said, flaunting her own heels from underneath her dress. "You'll get the hang of it in no time." They both jumped when Moon's mother called from downstairs, saying the boys were there to pick them up, and they both hurried downstairs.

A pit formed in Moon's stomach as she descended peeked down over the stair rail. Her mom was in the foyer, talking to Winter who stood in a navy suit. Her heart sped up when she saw him; she'd never seen him look this good.

Taking in a shaky breath, she worked up the confidence to come up to the top of the stairs, taking the first few steps down. She tried to keep her focus on putting one foot in front of the other, not wanting to trip in her heels. Right, left, right, left, she repeated in her head, avoiding eye contact with anyone as she focused on the ground.

But she looked up, walking eyes with Winter. While her heart might have taken flight, the loss of concentration made her trip on the last step, and she yelped as she fell forward, straight into a pair of strong arms. 

She laughed nervously, blush blooming across her face, and she thought she saw his cheeks get a little red too. At least she wasn't the only one who was nervous. 

Winter helped her stand up straight, and his charming smile made her heart melt. 

The front door opened with a creak and Moon saw Turtle shuffle his way in, awkwardly scanning the room for Kinkajou.

"Turtle!" Kinkajou called from the stairs, running down with much more grace than Moon. She practically barreled into him with a hug, asking why he'd taken so long.

 Moon chuckled from beside Winter, who she'd noticed hadn't taken his arm from around her shoulders. It gave her butterflies, and she shuffled a little closer toward him, resisting the urge to put her head on his shoulder with her mom watching. 

Tonight was going to be amazing.

Author's Note

Heyyyyy yall! Hope you enjoyed! :D Finally thought it was time for an early Christmas gift, and in the next couple of days, I'll finish part two of the long-awaited Winter Formal. And who knows, maybe we'll also get a Winterwatcher scene I'm sure a lot of you have been waiting for... or not, my lips are sealed! And of course a festive chapter after that, but I'm not sure when I'll get that out to you guys.

Thank you all so much for sticking with this story! I know I don't update much, but I still read your comments and they always warm my heart <3 Check ya later fanwings!

P.S. I wrote this pretty quickly, so feel free to point out any typos and I'll be happy to correct them :)