OhmyGodIfoundthebestbookever andIcan'tstopreadingit! ^.^

Savannah's POV

"So pick the five that will lose their lives?" asks Malorn, his right eyebrow arched. He was quiet for most of the time I was filling him in, more or less, but I guess he's as confused as I am. I know I'd be if he came up to me and started spouting crazy prophesies and outrageous quests that take a huge amount of commitment.

"Yeah, but you don't have to go," I say quickly. "On the quest, I mean." I shrugged indifferently. "I could ask other people to go with me."

Yeah right, I thought, you'll just ask Toby What's-his-face who. Isn't. Even. Real.

Malorn smiled warmly at me for a few moments before answering. "Are you kidding? I'm going with you, no matter what." The corners of my mouth curved up slightly.

"Thanks."

One down, four to go.

"So," he started to say. "Who else is going?"

Crap.

"Oh, you know," I scratched the back of my neck nervously. "People." I could tell Malorn was trying not to laugh at my lack of planning ahead. His mouth was twitching and his eyes were shining with tears. "Oh, come on," I whine while lightly slapping his shoulder. "It's not that funny."

Malorn was done hiding his laughter now – he was doubled over and clutching his sides from laughing so much. I quickly joined in and we were both rolling around and laughing like lunatics for a good five minutes. The laughter subsided soon after, but we were still grinning like we won the lottery.

"I was going…" I sighed and rubbed my eyes. "I was going to ask your sister, your 'man-buddy' Connor, and the Death school heart-throb." Malorn tiled his head to the side and I rolled my eyes. "Talon ShadowHunter." He nodded and took a handkerchief from his pocket and started dabbing at the corners of his eyes.

"Really?" I asked, and Malorn smiled. "That's so… nineteen-twenties of you…" We both chuckled at what I had just said, not even realizing that we still needed another person for the quest.

Scarlet's POV

"Ugh," I groaned while stuffing another star-shaped fruit into my mouth. I was full about eighteen pet snacks in, but I needed to keep going so I could actually pass off as being sick from eating so much. Stupid pregnancy, requiring so much just to freakin' cover it up for a week.

"Forty one!" The judge in front of me yells as I shove some golden grapes in my mouth. Other than having a slightly metallic taste, it was alright for a pet snack. Other ones that I've tried weren't as good, like the cookie that I'm pretty sure was called "Misfortune cookie." It tasted like dirt and had the texture of clay, but I ate it anyway.

As I was about to pop a few jellybeans into my mouth, a wave of nausea hit me. I threw the jellybeans to the platter of food and ran to the Porta-potties as fast as I could without accidentally tripping on the many tree roots that snaked their way through the dirt ahead of me.

I wrenched open the door and didn't bother closing it before spewing the contents of my stomach into the toilet. I was vaguely aware of the judge yelling that I was disqualified, and that someone was behind me – probably Connor.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm doin' alright," I reply after wiping my mouth with some paper towels. "It was totally worth it." He rolled his eyes and took my arm to lead me out of the small room.

We started to walk back to my house, not even bothering to check out of the contest. Neither of us said anything, but after about a quarter mile of walking, I stopped and he turned around to face me.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing," I say. "Just felt like puking again," I half-lied. In all honesty, I felt like shit, but not just from eating all that food. I just realized how much I had lied to him over the past three weeks or so, and I hated it.

Connor smirked. "Well, just don't do it on me."

"Oh, screw you," I teasingly say while lightly flicking his forehead.

"You already did." I probably looked like a tomato at that comment, and judging how he looked down, I guess he did too. We stood there in borderline awkward-comfortable silence for about five minutes.

"Just… shut up," I say while taking his hand. He looked up at me wearing a goofy grin and squeezed my hand.

"I love you, too, Scarlet."

Oh, my gosh, I couldn't stop reading Hex Hall. It. Was. AMAZING! I finished it and the second book in about a day, and now I have to fricking wait for the third. Darn.

Also, on another completely random note, (I'm amazing, aren't I?) Are you people Team Stephano or Team Cry? Don't answer if you don't know what I mean. ;D

Tempest Hound: Would you like some ice cream flavored ice cream to go with that pie flavored pie?

Random cupcakes.

Not the cake.

The.

Cake.

Is.

A.

Lie.