Me: *thru my closed bedroom door* I'm not coming out until I know I'm not getting arrested!

Loony: What about dinner? And school? You've pulled the sick routine too many times, Mom and Dad aren't gonna fall for that again unless you have actual proof.

Me: …Proof?

Loony: You know, "tossing cookies", "barfing", "throwing up"…

Me: EEEWWW! Stop it!

Loony: …And my personal favorite, "tangoing with the toilet"!

Me: Ug! Mo-OOO-oooom! *(yes, I'm that kind of kid at times)* She's trying to make me sick again!

Loony: …Mom can't hear you, remember? It's only us in this imaginary world. It's just youuuuuu…And meeeeeee. Muahahahahaha….

Me: …!!!...AHHHHHHHHHH!

"There!" I said as I finally held up the two new outfits. "Are you happy, everyone?"

I studied everyone in the room with a critical eye. Julius and Luna were both crouched in the corner – probably plotting how they'd force me into a dress, a plan that just might include abduction and being bound and gagged. Candace was smiling, hands clasped behind her back, and Ms. Shelly was racking up the costs on her ancient cash register.

Gill just shrugged. "I don't do happy."

I rolled my eyes accepted my shopping bag. "Sorry, Mr. Future Mayor."

He sighed regally and inspected one of his hands, a dramatized bored expression donned onto his face. "Apology accepted, peasant."

I stuck my tongue out at him and waved goodbye to Candace as we walked out the door. Julius and Luna both unblinkingly watched me pass, like a pair of cats watching a cute little sparrow that was just out of reach, but slowly and stupidly descending into their clawed reach.

"My, my, an' sweet potato pie!" piped a southern twang. "Yer jist de cutest lil' couple!"

"Oh! Kathy!" I exclaimed happily. I really liked her, she was like a big sister to me. But I blanched when I realized what she'd just said. "Oh! W-we aren-"

"Are yuh goin' to de Firefly Festival tuhgetha'? Oooh, maybe Ah'll see yuh there!"

I looked to Gill for help, but he was just as shell-shocked as me, pale skin gradually getting pinker and pinker. For once, he was at a loss for words.

Looks like it's all up to me. "A-a-ah…w-w-wai-…n-n-n-" Guh. Yeah, you go girl! Show them what yer made of, Tuff Stuff!

"Mayb' we could double date!" Kathy crowed. "Well?"

Double date? Who is-?

"Kathy!" drawled an all-too familiar baritone. He came up from behind us, brushing by me…literally. I saw Kathy frown, staring at my left ear in annoyance. A big change from the bubbliness of before. "Hey, beautiful! I was lookin' for you!" He swept her up into a huge hug. "Check out what I made for you for the Firefly Festival!"

Kathy gasped happily as he fastened an emerald necklace around her neck. "Oooh, you big ol' lug! This'is gorgeous!"

"'Cuz it matches your eyes." Owen gave the biggest smile ever, beaming down at her.

Gee, if I didn't know firsthand what hewas capable of, I'd say that he was awfully sweet, the boyfriend everyone wanted. I looked over at my best friend with a questioning look, a 'WTF?' glance. He just stared at them in stony silence, as serious and pensive as a Native American chief.

Suddenly, a thought seemed to occur to Kathy. Casting a meaningful sideways glance at me, she jumped up and gave Owen the biggest kiss ever, wrapping her sun-spotted arms around his thick neck.

I was immediately reminded of the horrors I had been working so hard to repress. The hurt, the fear, the metallic taste of adrenaline and blood in my mouth. I felt all the blush and blood leave my face. Even though it was a hot summer day, with the sun beating and pulsing down on us, I started to shiver and shake like we were in the Arctic Circle.

I slouched under the weight of it all and tugged frailly at Gill's crisp shirt sleeve. "C'm-m-mon," I mumbled, "I c-can't…I can't watch this."

His blue eyes regarded me, immediately becoming wide and worried when he realized what I was going through. "Yeah. Come on." He hooked my arm in his protectively and grabbed my hand comfortingly, pulling me away. Somewhere in my senses, I felt Finn hug my neck, for once not chattering.

"See ya two!" Kathy chirped after us.

Gill stopped when we reached the balcony above his house and the little vacant school. He gently let me down next to the cliff-wall, and I pulled my knees to my chin, jaw clenched in a futile attempt to stop the tears from coming. But despite my efforts, a few streams started trickling down my white cheeks.

Everything felt so heavy and cumbersome. I thought of Atlas, that one mythical being that has to hold the entire Earth on his back for all eternity. Is this what it feels like? Forget having a monkey on your back - I had the whole world perched on my chest.

"Goddess, I'm so stupid." Gill sat down next to me and hit his head on the wall. Hard.

I started to speak, but my insides were shivering too much to make it intelligible. "S-s'not…f-f-f-fault-t…"

"Yes, it is!" he cut me off, fists clenching and unclenching. "I was so surprised, I didn't even think to check on you. Here I am, trying to protect you from that evil pig, and I screw up because I get embarrassed?" He shoved himself off the ground, stumbled, and started pacing around and around, playing with that huge cowlick – a habit we both shared when we were uncomfortable, confused, embarrassed, and so on.

I sniffed and started wiping at my drying tears with my bare hands before he handed me a fancy white handkerchief. "Th-thanks." Something popped into my head. "Wait. 'P-protect'?"

He turned pink. "W-well yeah, I mean…uh…"

I studied him inquiringly. What was with him today?

I looked away and turned the discussion to a topic that I hoped he could handle better. "K-kinda funny how Kathy thought we were a couple. Wonder how she got that?" I grinned unconvincingly.

He hunched his shoulders and thrust his hands into his plaid-shorts' pockets, not looking any less flustered. "She might have drawn that conclusion based on the fact that you're wearing my clothes."

"Hmmm." He was probably right. I was temporarily borrowing his white vest and pants with a black long-sleeved shirt (since my only clothes at the time were really dirty). Speaking of which, I was probably ruining the pants by sitting down here on this gritty roof with the dried-mud dog tracks. I got up, brushing off all the dirt that I could. "Sorr-"

"No problem." He stopped pacing to stand in front of me, but he continued to wind and unwind the blonde cowlick around his finger. He stared at his buckled shoes. "Actually, you just reminded me that I wanted to talk to you about something."

I looked over at him. "…What's that? D-did I do something wrong?"

"No!" He faked a smile. "Actually...Qu-quite contrary…Or m-maybe you're right…Ah!" He turned his back to me, slamming his hands down on the rail and hunching his shoulders. "I don't know why this is so difficult!"

Finn finally let go of me and started hovering between us, looking confused and protective all in one little package. "I've never felt so many conflicting emotions before!" He tapped his tiny chin thoughtfully. Yes, he can sense emotions, if they're prominent enough. Kinda like a dog. Except that this time, the most obtuse person would notice that Gill was not alright.

Oh Goddess, something's really bothering him. I reached out and patted his shoulder. I plastered a grin on my face, trying to look carefree even though I was freaking out inside. Was I in trouble? Was I going to lose my farm? Did he think the Harvest Goddess was going to fade away before we could save her? "Hey, cheer up! You're the amazing Gill Hamilton, anything's possible for you!"

He chuckled darkly. "Oh, if only that were true…" Sighing, he turned to me, face tense. "Might as well get it over with." He ran his fingers through his hair one last time before blurting, "Will-you-go-to-the-Firefly-Festival-with-me??"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…Huh?"

He lowered his head and scuffed at the ground. "Wull, I mean…you know…I was just wondering…you know…It's over by the watermill, we light all these lanterns…you know…?"

I smiled despite myself - he was so cute when he was tripping over his words. "Yeah…I know."

"…And?"

"Aren't you going with Luna?"

He looked like I had just suggested that he eat one of my cow's homemade pies – You know the kind. "Okay, you're a fairly intelligent girl, so I'll give you a moment to retract that statement."

"Just fairly intelligent? I'd give you a run for your money for Dictator of Castanet Island!"

He rolled his eyes. "Keep dreaming. I'm the only capable dictator here. You don't have a mean bone in your body."

I struck a bashful pose. "Aw, shucks."

Gill blinked hopefully. "So…?"

I coughed when a certain face appeared in my mind – his soft smile, his soft eyes, his soft voice. "Listen, Gill…" I tried to look him in the eyes, but he averted them and started playing with his cowlick again. "G-Gill. Hey. Up here."

He looked up, face showing nothing, no emotion whatsoever. "Mhm?"

I bit my lip. Maybe I didn't want to look him in the eye when I said this…Suck it up, Molly. This is your best friend, he'll understand.

Won't he?

- - -

"…Yeah…I understand."

I bit my lower lip, throat still burning from the words that had just left my mouth. "R-r-really?"

"Yeah." Gill sighed and rested his hands on his head. "It's nothing big." Liar. You look like a robot. A sad robot with no lubricant on his jaw hinges. Do you actually think that I don't know you? "I'm not a big fan of festivals anyway. Father just is a stickler for traditions and all that, you know?"

Before I could say anything, he looked at his watch (way too fast to actually see the hands). "Shoot! I've got to go."

"Ah…" But he sped off, faster that I'd've thought possible for him.

- - -

"I'm…so sorry, Miss Molly."

I smiled ruefully. "Yeah, m-me too." I leaned back and rested my head on the cool grass. "It's not a big deal." I said as nonchalantly as I could. It didn't work.

He rubbed at his eyes with what looked like a pained expression clouding his face. "Please…don't say that. Friends are…precious, everyone counts. You need to hold onto them…with all your might."

"Yeah, and we all know how strong I am, right?" I looked up at Wizard, my heart giving a little jolt when I saw his sad yet piercing eyes were watching me. Ever since the night before, he hadn't covered his face with his bangs, letting me see his whole face. I don't think I'll ever get over those mystifying eyes, the ones that seem to capture the light of the stars in all their beauty and shine and mystery. "But really, we'll still be friends. I'll do my best on that note."

He turned his face to the night sky thoughtfully, brooding and sad.

I sighed and said before I could stop and think about it, and therefore probably not do it, "But there's a reason that I said no to him." I didn't have to look; I could feel Wizard's eyes on me. "Besides not wanting to ruin my friendship with Gill or Luna." I took a deep breath, my cheeks hot. "…W-will you go with me t-…to the Firefly Festival?"

I scrunched my eyes close, heart beating loudly with fear and anticipation. After a few minutes of no answer, I opened them to see him up on his feet, a few feet away. I sat up abruptly. "W-we don't have to be with everyone else! We c-c-could go upriver a-ways, no one would see us."

Wizard closed his eyes slowly and lowered his head. "That's…not it…"

I tensed.

"I'm…so…so sorry…My being with you is a…mistake."

The blood started to drain from my cheeks.

"It's not…safe. For you, for me…"

A few wet trails started trickling down my face.

"If this went…any farther…"

I tasted the salty streams.

He looked over to me – At least, I think he was. His bangs once again covered his dear face. When he saw my tears, his hand started up to my face, getting halfway there…

Before he yanked it back.

I recoiled as if slapped, scrunching my eyes, trying to stop the tears. Why did I have to be such an easy crier?

But I knew that I wouldn't stop anytime soon. So I looked up.

But he was gone.

"This Gill…would be good for you. Better than I'd…ever…be…"

"N-n-no." I finally got my voice back, all too late. "No…You c-can't know that-t-t!"

"…You're so…naïve. That's what makes you so beauti-…No."

I opened my mouth to say something, anything. But my voice failed me again, the cursed thing.

"Please…Molly…Please be happy…"

I could feel his mind in mine, a warm blanket that wrapped itself around me.

Comfort, love, serenity, everything I needed, everything I wanted to share with Wizard.

Did that kiss mean nothing to him? Because it meant the universe to me.

These were the last things that wafted through my mind before I fell asleep. That…and the awareness of a pair of warm arms lifting me up…holding me close.

Please don't let me go…

* * *

"A-aren't-t you…happy?"

I looked away from the full-length mirror, which I had been staring at but not registering. "Huh? Oh…yes. Thank you so much…Candace."

Finn flew next to me, his mouth in an 'o', a flying fish. "Wowee…You're beautiful, Molly!" he breathed.

She smiled, blushing happily. "I f-figured that it'd fit you."

I faked a smile and did a half-hearted twirl. I'll admit, it was the most beautiful dress I had ever seen, much less put on. Candace really was a master tailor – it was as if she had looked into my very heart to see what would work. It was a dark, dark charcoal grey with a slight midnight-blue/black sheen fading into different places, giving it the feel of a cloudy night sky. With the flow-y off-the-shoulder sleeves, simple black satin ribbon tied around the waist, and light, soft fabric that flowed like warm molasses with every move I made…

Sigh…

If I wasn't dying inside, I'd be the happiest princess in the universe.

"…Y-…You don't l-like it-t-t?"

"Ohhh." …No... No! Do not start crying now! I bit my lip and fought back all the demons. I was not going to lay all my problems on her. I didn't have the right to worry h…

But, much to my surprise, I felt a pair of small, shaking arms hug me uncertainly, then tighter. I saw some of her blue locks floating in the air, suspended, escaped from her braids. "I-it's okay, M-Molly."

I felt all the sadness well up in me, choking me as it flowed, swirling inside of me.

The dam started to crack, just a little hair-thin line.

I hugged her back, jaw set as I held it all back. "I-I'm fine. It's all good."

She let go and stood before me, hands wringing, knuckles white. "Are you s-sure?"

Deep breath… "…Yes."

She handed me my other clothes and I stepped into the dressing room. "I h-hope you're sure ab-b-bout that…And Molly?"

I pulled on my yellow t-shirt. "Mhm?"

"That dress is a g-gift."

I burst out of the door. "What?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"B-but…" I shook my head. "No. This economy's struggling, I n-need to pay for everything." I pulled out my ratty old wallet.

"We're getting by just fine." Candace said quietly, pushing away my hand full of money. "You d-deserve a reward, a treat. It hasn't b-b-been easy for you, m-moving here, taking up that f-farm, dealing with some of these…p-people." She looked down and played with her hands. "And plus, you're my…my b-best friend."

I stopped trying to shove the gold pieces at her and started to blink perplexedly. "You…I…Really?"

She blushed and nodded, getting redder and redder with each passing second.

A little bit of happiness started bubbling up, slightly warming the freezing liquid nitrogen that sloshed inside of me.

So I did what anyone who had been given a little much-needed love would do. I launched at her, wrapping her up into a huge bear hug.

And the crack in the dam opened up a little bit more.

"Than-…Thank you so much." I scrunched my eyes shut, hugging her as hard as I could. "You have no id-dea…"

"W-well…I c-could…I know s-s-something's up-p, and I want to h-help." Her eyes widened, staring up at me like a baby rabbit's.

I hesitated.

What did it matter? I wasn't connected to him anymore. It wasn't going to affect him…He was probably hidden somewhere safe, anyway. And I had a right to know. I needed to know why, why my heart was smashed and scattered like dust on the wind last night...

Call it human nature.

"Actually…"

Not too late, I can still turn the conversation to something else. Remember his warnings.

Oh yes, I remembered them. I remember everything. Every. Single. Last. Night.

The dam's crack got even thicker, starting to jerkily wind up and down the obstruction.

I jerked my head involuntarily, a minute twitch. "What do you know about the Wizard?"

* * *

"What do you know about the Wizard?"

Candace's reaction was instantaneous. She squeaked and cowered in her seat, hunching her narrow shoulders, the epitome of metallic fear, absolute shock. "W-where h-h-how when-n what-t-t w-w-w-w-why how???"

Hmm…how 'bout, "Yeah, I…I just heard someone m-mention that one night…"

"Who??"

"Why?"

"W-when?"

"Why?"

"R-really." Candace started biting at her nails nervously, eyeing the windows like a T-rex might suddenly appear outside. "Who w-would d-d-discuss such-ch a thing?"

"Oh, I d-don't know. It was too dark, I was too tired to distinguish specific v-voices." I leaned forward hungrily. "What's the big deal anyway? You look like I just informed you that the Black Death was making a comeback."

She squirmed, clutching her hair around her like a protective blanket. "Because…Because the Wi-…Wiz-…he's evil!" she blurted. "A black arts master! Devil worshipper! Murderer, swindler, charlatan, thief, demon, demon summoner! And that's not the worst of it all!"

I blinked and stared and blinked and stared.

And that's when the dam's crack got wide enough to let trickles of water seep out...

Everything ran through my head. All my memories of hi-…Wizard.

Wizard giving me sanctuary.

Wizard telling me that everything was going to be fine.

Wizard leading me out into the cool spring night.

Wizard embracing me.

Wizard gazing thoughtfully at the stars.

Wizard gazing thoughtfully at…me.

…

No. He'd never hurt anything. He'd never…lie…to…me…

I sucked in my breath, but no oxygen came with it. It hurt too much, it was going to kill me.

Thankfully, before Candace could see my floundering, the door's bell tinkled, signaling a customer. She glided over, still casting glances everywhere, shoulders still touching her ears.

I sighed and wrapped my arms around myself, shaking.

…I wasn't going to get over this anytime soon, was I?

Me: *still in room, still haven't left* Okay, so I didn't dish all the dirt on Wizard. It was more like a dusting than a dishing…So sue me, it was getting too long. But the next one will be faster to churn out, mostly because I'll have lots of fun with it. I ain't talking, but it's gonna be good, to you people asking for more Mizzy. ^-^

Loony: …Mizzy?

Me: Wizzy/Molly! Mizzy! Or Wolly, but that sounds too much like Wall-E. (I luv dat movie!)

Loony: …I don't know you.

Me: *sticks out tongue and slams door*

Loony: *to you* For you people wondering why Candy still worries about alerts when you already told us that it has nothing to do with the police…She doesn't get the Internet in her room…*grins evilly* …which means she only knows what I tell her. :) And I'm goin' to milk this to the last drop!

Me: *pokes out head again, completely unaware that Loony's duping her* Oh, and I was wondering…What would you do if you were in Molly's cute boots right now? Take up Gill on his offer? Stay home for a week or two eating bins of ice cream and watching cute/sad chick flicks (that'd be my approach)? Try to find Wizard and win him back? …D-…Destroy everyone on the face of the Earth…(hopefully not)? Something else? I dunno, but I wanna know! So please hit that lil' green button down there, you know the one! ;)