Hello, everyone, and welcome to this Lunar Chronicles fanfic!

Did you know that Winter dated Kai before she found Jacin? Did you know that Cress was entirely friendless throughout eleventh grade? Did you know that Cinder has always been an animal-lover? Did you know that Scarlet is probably the school's best female athlete?

Anything's possible in Lunar High School.

Here, Cinder and company, all high-schoolers, face problems together as well as alone, and despite the looming threats that bear down upon them, they will succeed if they stand together.

Hope you enjoy!


Shatter My Reflection

- Breathe the Shadows


Her fist pounded exasperatedly against the cold surface of her dorm room door. She had tried the key three times already, but it just kept getting stuck. One of the office secretaries had told her that her room, 512, as well as a few others, were rather old, so it would take a few tries to get the key through well enough.

Cress gritted her teeth. If she had to give it even one more try after this...

She did, and fortunately, there were no people near enough to hear the string of curses she muttered under her breath. Cress would never dare say any of them aloud, but as long as no one heard her, she could curse and swear under her breath as long as she wanted.

Her roommate, the secretary had told her, would arrive later on in the day; she had called in to tell them that she would arrive in the afternoon, probably around one. School began tomorrow; Cress wondered if her roommate - whatever her name was - would have enough time to set up.

The key clicked, and the door handle turned. Cress let out a breath she didn't even know she had been holding. Final year of high school, here I come.

Cress breathed in for longer than necessary and pushed open the dorm room door, smiling uncontrollably.

It was a reasonably large room, as it had to fit the two of them - larger than it had been last year, probably because she was a senior, now. There were two beds, obviously, and one headboard was labeled Cress and the other Cinder, probably the name of her roommate.Cinder? What type of name is Cinder?

She walked over to her side of the room, nearly forgetting to bring her suitcase inside with her - she had to go back midway to get it - and was about to throw herself joyfully onto the springy-looking bed, when something made her stop short.

There was a slip of paper on her pillow.

A large red scrawl, messy but still legible, covered the side that was facing up. Leaning closer, Cress made out the words This is the last year we'll all have to deal with you.

Cress stared at it again, reading and rereading the note, checking to see if she had read it right. Yes, there it was, no matter how many times she read it: This is the last year we'll all have to deal with you. What a wonderful start to senior year. The note wasn't signed, but there wasn't any room on the paper, anyway.

She felt tears rise to her eyes, but she blinked them back. No, Cress, she told herself. You'll be fine. There's nothing wrong with you.

Cress hugged her hair around her like a protective blanket - it had been a habit ever since her hair had grown past her feet. She still hadn't bothered to cut it, and now, whenever she let it loose, like now, it was always a hassle, getting in the way of people's feet.

She lifted the slip of paper with shaking hands and shoved it desperately into her suitcase. When my roommate comes in, if she sees it in the trash, what will she think? Then, another thought. I hope she's nice... and I hope she becomes my friend, this year.

All throughout junior year, Cress had been alone during break and lunch, and had requested a single dorm room; she had no friends ever since her best friend, Julie, had left the school. Hopefully, she could get through senior year with someone at her side.

Without bothering to take off her shoes, Cress threw herself onto the bed, satisfaction running through her as the soft mattress bounced under her weight. She wasn't heavy; in fact, one of her goals in senior year was to clear five feet, but it had strong bedsprings - which she had always loved.

Lying on her back, Cress looked around the room. She froze, mid-yawn, in shock, staring all around her, again and again.

The tears that had risen to her eyes earlier returned, but again, she blinked them back. No. Not this year. This year, she would be strong. She wouldn't let them fall, anymore. Her vision blurred from tears, but she didn't move to wipe them away.

Anyway, if she wiped one tear away, more would fall; she had learned that from past experience.

How had she not noticed it upon walking into the room? There were more slips of paper, tacked to the wall using tape. There was one also written in red marker across the window: Don't look down. That's just one more place to fall.

Leaping out of the bed, Cress practically yanked the curtains shut. Her hands found something to do as she tore the taped messages from the wall, not bothering when she tore parts of the flowery wallpaper, too.

A single tear slid out of her eyes as Cress walked slowly into the bathroom and tore out a sheet of paper towel and wetted it in the sink. She didn't look up. She didn't want to see how tear-stricken and panicked and red her face must have looked.

A choked sound made its way out of Cress's throat, despite her efforts to restrain it, and she slowly opened the curtains, her vision blurring with tears so much that she couldn't tell what the message on her window said, anymore.

Not that she wanted to know.

Cress feverishly scrubbed at the window with the paper towel, checking, double checking, and triple checking when she was done to make sure none of it remained. Crumpling it and tossing the wet, marker-stained remains of the paper towel into the trash, Cress pushed herself onto the bed, looking down at all the scattered messages that she had torn off the walls.

Get rid of that long, ugly hair. You're just a big, useless hastle in the hallways, getting it tangled around everyone's feet.

Don't even try in senior year. You're gonna fail.

You can't run away. I'm relishing every word that I'm writing: you're as good as dead.

No one wants you around.

What's wrong with you? All you're good for is dragging around some dead hair and tripping people with it.

Everyone walks the other way when you get close.

People's feet have seen better places than your hair.

Wherever you try to hide, you're going to be found in the end. Wasn't hide-and-seek always your favorite game?

You don't deserve to be here.

Cress didn't try to stop herself as tears ran down her cheeks. Right now, she was trying to swallow the crying sound in her throat. She buried her face into the pillow, letting the tears soak the part of the pillow underneath her.

She cried until it seemed that she had no tears left, until her throat had gone dry, until she felt completely useless.

She cried even when she ran out of tears, not bothering to hold back the choked sounds and ragged breathing.

She cried without knowing what she had done wrong.

Who would do this? she asked herself, her throat still blocked and her heart still heavy. Why would anyone do this to me? And... how did whoever did this get into this room in the first place? Cress closed her eyes for a long moment, trying to let her mind clear.

Unless it was my roommate... Cinder, I think. But they said she wouldn't be here until later on. And I've never even seen her before. What would she have against me?

So if it's not her, who is this?

I can't believe anything these notes are saying, Cress told herself. Just be yourself, Cress, and don't let anything get to you.

Cress finally sat up when she figured that it wasn't just the crying that was making it hard to breathe; it was also the fact that her face was in the pillow. The sunlight from her window seemed too harsh, all of a sudden. She clambered off the bed, desperate to give herself something to do, and closed the curtains. She fidgeted with her hands, trying to get her mind off the harsh messages. Everything seemed dull, now - not as bright as they had seemed earlier.

She had no idea how long she had just been lying there when she herad footsteps, and the sound of a key being placed in the keyhole outside.

Cress sat up, and, as quickly as possible, she opened an empty pouch of her suitcase - the smallest one, in the front - and shoved all the messages inside. Zipping it up with shaking hands, Cress jumped back and sat up, folding her hands neatly above her lap.

The door opened.

Cress watched as a girl with brown hair that reached to her upper back walked in, dragging a suitcase about the same size as Cress's after her. Cress's gaze fluttered to her hand - it was metal. A prosthetic limb. She hoped the surprise didn't show on her face.

The girl - her roommate - fixed her with a dark amber stare. It was probably obvious from her red, tear-stained face that she had been crying, and Cress wished she could just disappear from the scene. The girl looked curious, but she didn't press Cress with any uncomfortable questions.

"Hi, I'm Cinder." Her voice was cool and composed, as she gestured to the name inscribed on the headboard of her bed.

Cress nodded. So that is her name. "I'm Cress."

"I know." Cinder's reply was quick and sharp, and Cress's bright blue eyes flashed back up quickly. But then, her gaze softened as she saw the grin on Cinder's face. "Sorry I'm late. But we get to spend the rest of the night together. Not to mention, the rest of the school year together."

"I haven't seen you around before. Are you new here?" The question left Cress's mouth before she knew it, and she immediately ducked her head, hoping she hadn't asked the wrong question.

Cinder didn't seem to take any offense by it. "No. I haven't seen you around, either, but I've heard of you. You and your famous hair."

Cress flinched. All she could think of now was the note: Get rid of that long, ugly hair. You're just a big, useless hastle in the hallways, getting it tangled around everyone's feet. At least Cinder hadn't said infamous. But she probably didn't mean anything by her comment. After all, how was she to know about the notes?

Cinder raised an eyebrow at Cress's reaction, but didn't comment. "So, I guess tonight is all for getting ready for tomorrow and hanging out with your roommate, isn't it? I guess you're stuck with me, then!" She grinned, and Cress smiled back.

"Yeah, I guess so. Do you want to compare schedules?" She seems nice, Cress thought. I wonder if she'll be a friend, this year.

"Sure, why not?" Cinder lay her suitcase down and opened it, and Cress widened her already-large eyes slightly as she saw the mess inside. Clothes, papers, notebooks, and all other things were scattered everywhere. Quite a contrast from hers. Of course, Aunt Sybil had helped her, because she didn't trust Cress to bring what was actually school-related. Annoying. "Sorry. I don't really care too much to organize everything." Again, that teasing grin.

Cress stood up, swallowing. "Tonight is also for fitting into your room. I'll help you organize everything, if you want." Immediately, she sat down again, slightly embarrassed. She never said anything like that, to anyone. Hopefully, she could, though, if Cinder became her friend.

"Thanks, Cress!" Cinder turned to look at her for a split second. "But I'm just warning you: it's probably going to all get messed up in the first week of school." She continued rummaging through the suitcase, and random bits and pieces were getting casually tossed out.

Cress walked over to her and sat on her bed. Her eyes widened for a moment, startled at herself, and stood up. "Sorry."

"You don't have to be so nervous," Cinder replied. "You're my friend."

Cress felt a smile growing to her face. She's my friend. I've really got a friend, now. Slowly, she sat down again on Cinder's bed. "What is all of that stuff?" She eyed the metal bits and pieces - screws, nails, and other random parts.

"I... uh..." It was the first time Cress had seen Cinder struggle for words. Then again, she had known her five minutes. "...I guess you might say I'm good at fixing things. I worked as a mechanic over summer... nothing big, just a small stand in the garage."

"That's pretty cool," Cress replied, and she meant it.

Cinder shrugged. "It's okay, I guess. What did you do over the summer?"

"Not much." Cress felt a blush rising to her cheeks, and she tried her best to fight it back down. She hated it, absolutely hated it, when she turned red against her will so often. "I'm okay at making programs, disabling things... pretty much anything to do with technology."

"That's awesome!" Cinder smiled, and Cress was sure she was blushing, now.

Then, in what she hoped sounded like a teasing tone, she quoted, "It's okay, I guess."

Cinder laughed as she dug through piles of what seemed like useless junk to Cress. Finally, she whipped out a paper. "There. I found it." Though she was kneeling, she managed a bow, and Cress grinned. She's really nice. She stared pointedly at Cress's empty hands. "Don't tell me you haven't found yours yet!"

Cress shook her head. "No. I'm organized." She gulped as she realized what she had jsut implied. "I mean... well... you know..."

Cinder laughed. "Yeah, I do."

"Here!" Cress pulled out her schedule out of a thin red folder in her backpack. She adjusted her dark red shirt, pulling it down at the sides, and walked - or rather, jogged - over to sit down besides Cinder again. "What do you have first?"

Cinder narrowed her eyes, reading. "English 12 Honors. With Mr. Garan."

"Same here!" Cress's face lit up. At least she would have a friend in her first period class, maybe more.

"And then?"

"AP Physics." Cress frowned. "Sounds boring. Science has never been my favorite. What do you have?"

Cinder looked at her schedule. She frowned, and seemed to be reading it again. Her frown deepened, her eyes darkening. A gulp. "PE."

"Why is that so bad?" From the look on Cinder's face, Cress could tell that Cinder didn't want to go. But what was wrong? There wasn't anything unusual about her... oh. Wait. Right. "Oh, right. Sorry." Cress felt her face grow warm again.

"Doesn't matter." Cinder flapped her hand.

Cress lowered her eyes. "I hope you don't mind me asking... but... uh... how... why did you... uh... why do you have... new limbs?" She didn't know how to say it in the least offensive way. She ducked her head, half-expecting Cinder to stand up and walk away angrily.

"It's okay. You can say prosthetic." Cinder shrugged casually, and Cress looked up gratefully. "So many people have asked me that. You're not the first. It's not much of an explanation, really. I was hit by a car when I was three, and it ran over one hand and one leg."

"One leg?" Cress's gaze automatically fell to her leg, but she was wearing boots. That was probably why, anyway.

Cinder nodded, stretching across with her non-metal hand to tug off her boot with a bit of effort. Sure enough, her leg was prosthetic, too. Cinder shrugged, studying her reaction. "The doctors decided that they couldn't fix my injuries so they removed my limbs and gave me new ones."

"I'm sorry." Cress's voice came out as a hoarse whisper. Cinder had been through so much... and here she was, flinging her hair around and complaining that she didn't have friends. Her muscles tightened for a moment, as she remembered. What's wrong with you? All you're good for is dragging around some dead hair and tripping people with it.

"Don't be." Cinder shrugged casually. "I barely remember it."

Cress sighed. "I was pitying myself all of last year because I didn't have any friends and I wandered around alone. But I can't believe what you've been through." Her voice came out strange and hoarse, almost as if it belonged to someone else.

To her surprise, Cinder placed a hand on her shoulder. "Look, Cress. What happened to me was so long ago. But for you - stars, I can't even start to think how awful that must have been. Without friends in high school." She shook her head, and Cress was at a loss for words. "Anyway, now. After we're done, I'll take you to meet some of my friends. You'll be fine."

Friends.

The prospect of having friends again rang in her mind. But did she deserve all of Cinder's friendship and kindness? It would be so wonderful to have friends again, but she might just end up being a burden to Cinder and her group. She shook her head, slowly. "I don't think they'll even like me."

"Seriously?" Cinder rolled her eyes. "What's not to like about you?" Cress opened her mouth to object, but Cinder cut her off. "I'm taking you whether you like it or not - even if it means that I have to drag you all the way." Cress wrapped her long hair around her wrists, a nervous habit, but nodded anyway, chewing on her lower lip.

"Thanks, Cinder." And she meant it.

Cinder grinned. "So what do you have next?"

"AP Calculus with Ms. Kesley." Cress glowered. "I really suck at math. I hate it so much."

"Don't worry about it. You'll do fine." Cinder flashed her an encouraging grin. "I have AP American History. I was supposed to take it last year, but I procrastinated." She grinned again. "I guess you might call me an eminent figure in the procrastination industry."

Cress tried to suppress her smile but eventually burst out laughing. Her face lit up as she looked at her schedule. "I have Advanced Programming next!" She practically squealed the words, but Cinder didn't seem to care. She just smiled.

"You like that, don't you? Because of all your programming and hacking experience?" Cinder asked, and Cress nodded. "Well, I have my favorite subject, too. Mechanical Engineering." She grinned. "There's only one elective like that in the entire school, so I've taken it all four years."

"You're joking."

"No, I'm not." Cinder threw her hands up in the air in frustration. "Just imagine, you are me. And you really love mechanical engineering, but there's only one. What would you do?" she challenged. She does have a point...

"Fair enough." Cress shrugged. "Next, PE for me. I'm okay, I guess."

"I have AP Physics."

Cress looked down again. "I have Theater." Cinder raised her eyebrows. "I... uh... I like singing, even though I'm not that good... I like acting, too. I'm terrible at both." She felt a blush creeping into her cheeks, and she fought it back down.

"Sing." Cinder's voice was cool and casual.

"What?" Cress stared at Cinder. "No way!"

Cinder nodded. "Yes. Come on! Sing, Cress. Please!" Her dark amber eyes grew round and large, staring at Cress, as Cinder made an attempt at a puppy-dog face, and, Cress had to admit, she actually found that it was quite convincing.

Cress sighed. Her face was probably entirely red, by now. Thank the stars Cinder had the decency not to point it out. "All right, nothing too big."

"But I'm only human

And I bleed when I fall down

But I'm only human

And I crash and I break down

Your words in my head, knives in my heart

You build me up and I fall apart

'Cause I'm only human."

Cress opened her eyes and found Cinder staring at her, awe etched all over her face. Cinder burst into applause. "Dang. That was good, Cress. I just heard Christina Perri singing, not you. Like... you sounded better than her. You're amazing."

"Are you kidding? I was terrible!" Cress still found herself blushing.

Cinder rolled her eyes. "You must be insane. You have to try out for the play this year. I hear that they're doing The Little Mermaid.You'd be great, and-"

"Hold on!" Cress's eyes widened. "Are you joking? I can't sing in front of the entire school. It'll make me look like an idiot. I sound like a dying mongoose as it is, and you want everyone to hear it?" She was sure that the exclamations were making her even redder than she already was.

"A 'dying mongoose'?" Cinder managed a small smile. "That's a new one." She crossed her arms. "But you're not terrible, Cress. You're awesome."

She's kidding. "But I still am not trying out for the play."

"Come on!"

"No way." It was probably the first time Cress had ever sounded so certain on a decision when she was talking to a friend. Never. It was always shy, quiet Cress who was almost always embarrassed about something. Who no one ever thought would speak up. "Anyway, what do you have sixth?"

"Honors Statistics with Mr. Tanner." Cinder shrugged. "I'm okay, I guess, but nothing brilliant."

Cress managed a small smile. "That's it, I guess."

Cinder raised her eyebrows. "What now?" Cress found herself staring at Cinder's foot. How has she managed PE all along? Cress wished there was some way at all that she could help Cinder recover so much that she wouldn't need it. But that was impossible.

She realized that Cinder was staring at her, waiting for a reply. "Let's get this place organized. You first," she added, with a small smirk. "You need the organization skills."


Half an hour later, all of Cinder's things had been neatly arranged: a small bin full of the little metal bits and pieces; a closet mostly full of all her clothes - which weren't very appealing, but Cinder somehow found them pleasing; a box full of all stationery, etc.

Even Cinder seemed impressed.

Cress grinned, having become slightly more comfortable around Cinder than before. "So take out what you're going to wear tomorrow, to school - without knocking over the rest of the things in the closet." Cinder flashed her a teasing grin and randomly reached in and pulled out a shirt and grease-stained jeans.

Cress frowned, and stared skeptically at the combination. A t-shirt with orange and green stripes, and a pair of maroon jeans covered in grease that looked horrible with the shirt. "Cinder... another thing you've got to learn by the end of the year is how to choose your clothing wisely."

"I'm just not that type of person," Cinder explained, crossing her arms.

"There's a limit to how far that excuse can go," Cress retorted, surprised at herself. "Come on, I'll get you something better." Rooting around the closet, Cress finally pulled something out: a dark blue shirt with slight ruffles on the sleeves, and light blue jeans.

Cinder shrugged. "That actually looks pretty good."

She felt the warmth spread beneath her cheeks; she was blushing, again. Cress took the original choice of clothes from her and put them back into the closet, leaving the final one on Cinder's bed. She looked around Cinder's side of the room, and found nothing out of place. She managed a small smile.

"Your turn." Cress jumped in surprise when she heard Cinder's voice from right next to her. "Let's go organize your stuff." Before Cress could say anything, Cinder had already crossed over to her side of the room and was opening her luggage.

"I'd never thought you'd actually organize something out of your own free will," Cress said, and instantly felt embarrassed. She lowered her head, feeling heat rise to her face, then saw Cinder turn her head to face her.

"Stop being like that!" Cress flinched, and Cinder put a hand on her shoulder. "It makes me feel awkward when you're so nervous. You're fine. I'm your friend. You don't have to be so worried that you'll say something wrong or make a mistake or something."

Cress looked up. "Sorry."

"Whatever." Cinder kept taking out everything in her suitcase and piling it onto the bed. And opened all pouches, just to check.

A protest escaped Cress's mouth before she could stop it. "Wait, Cinder! There's nothing in there!" Cinder had been opening the pouch where she had stuffed all the anonymous messages. At Cinder's questioning look, she improvised, "I... uh... I already checked this pouch and the one in front of it." She hoped she didn't sound too desperate.

Cinder lifted her hands. "If you say so."

Cress started putting all of her clothes - much finer than Cinder's collection, though that wasn't saying much - into her closet. She piled some neatly on top of each other, and hung up the others. They worked in silence, Cinder putting all other things in the other cupboards and shelves.

"There." Cress hung up the last of her clothes - a red dress that she hadn't worn in quite a while - and sat down on her bed. "You're not as bad at organizing as I thought," she commented, and Cinder looked up, grinning, as she placed another book in the shelf.

Cress was quite the reader - she had an entire room at home full of bookshelves.

Cinder placed the last book in its place. "Done." She lifted her wrist to check the time on her watch. "It's only about five-thirty. Do you want to head over to meet my friends right now, or do you want to do that after dinner?"

Cress shrugged. "Maybe after dinner, but you can go now if you want."

"No way! I'm not that bad of a friend." Cinder winked, teasing. "Apparently, the lunchroom people bring us dinner in our rooms tonight. The staff said that they're all setting up the cafeteria for this year." She rolled her eyes. "As if there's much to set up."

Cress smiled. Maybe I have made a friend, after all.

"How many books do you have, anyway?" Cinder asked, eyeing the two shelves she'd just filled with books.

"A lot. Don't tell me you never read!" Cress said, faking mock horror.

Cinder laughed. "I do, but nowhere as close as you. My total number of books at home for pleasure reading is probably half of this."

"Better get ready for some good long reading, then." Cress aimlessly wound her hair around her fingers and wrists. "Because we're going to start getting you interested in some good books." She reached out and pulled down a book: Legend.

Cinder stared at the book as if it was a foreign object, as Cress placed it into her hands. "Marie Lu's a great author. There's two more books after this; it's a trilogy." Cress grinned at Cinder's appalled expression. She formed her face into as innocent an expression as possible. "Best you get started."


Bam! Done with the first chapter of Shatter My Reflection! More will soon be posted!

Leave a review as you go, please!

~ Breathe the Shadows