So, I was actually able to get this chapter up. Thankyou, MoonHurrican, for the review. It was small but it made me smile and I appreciated you taking the time to review. On that note, please read and enjoy. I am always up for feedback.

"Guys, I have big news." When nobody looked at Thorne after his declaration he exclaimed, "GUYS! Listen to me!"

"Thorne, you don't have to yell. Besides, not everything is about you, we don't have to listen to you." Cinder said, turning toward him.

"Well since you're looking at me, I guess my plot to get your attention worked." Cinder scowled at Thorne while he continued, "Anyway, the news, Cress got her cast off."

"You said it was your news, that sounds like her news." Cinder's stare had a hidden meaning behind it that Cress didn't want to decipher.

"Doesn't matter. I was thinking we should do something to celebrate, like pizza after school."

"No-," Cress's objection went overlooked as Iko squealed.

"Yes, we should! That'd be really fun. There's this place that I heard about, I think Ze'ev's mom owns it. I heard it's really good." Iko exclaimed.

"I'm not up for that." Cress tried once again to object, but was again interrupted, but this time by Winter.

"Cress-friend, it will be so much fun. We have to."

Jacin put his hand on Winter's shoulder and shook his head.

"Jacin, why not?" she pleaded with him, giving him some of the largest puppy dog eyes Cress had ever seen.

"Cress said no, guys. You all need to work on your communication skills."

"Jacin, you're such a kill-joy. Cress, please let us do this for you." Iko turned accusatory eyes at Jacin, then gave Cress a pleading look.

"I said no. No is no." Cress sighed, then mumbled, "I'm going to go sit over there." She packed up her things and left.

"You guys are so-I don't even know what to call it. Ignorant? She said no, I told you no, and yet, you kept pushing! Iko, seriously, learn to take no. I'm going over to sit with Cress." Jacin was getting up when Thorne stopped him.

"Dude, I'll go. I brought it up, it's my fault." Thorne left before Jacin could argue with him about who's fault it was. Jacin blamed Iko, and even Winter.

Iko let out a conspiratorial giggle and leaned forward like she was telling a secret, "Guys, I'm telling you. She is another one of his girls.'
"Iko-friend, please stop. It makes Cress really uncomfortable when you insinuate things between her and Thorne." Winter said in a low, somewhat ashamed voice. She had realized that she had made Cress hurt in a way, and felt terribly guilty.

"That's because it's true! I'm telling you-"

"Iko, seriously stop." Cinder sounded tired.

"I think we all agree that you have stirred up enough drama for today." Jacin's voice was the strongest.

Iko harrumphed then turned to Winter, ignoring everyone else. "Do you have plans for your birthday next week?"

"No, but-"

"Great! I will take care of everything, don't worry. All you guys have to do is show up. I bet I can get my parents to pay for all the expenses."

"Iko, that's unnecessary. I'm taking care of the celebrations. And paying for it. It's a surprise for Winter, so I'm not telling you either, because I have a feeling you'll rat me out. You'll be just as surprised as Winter!" Jacin had mock enthusiasm in his voice.

"Seriously!" Iko was very disgruntled.

"Hey Cress, Are you ok?"

She looked up, startled as Thorne joined her at the table in the corner. She then let her hair fall back in front of her face and shrugged her shoulders.

"Remember a couple days ago when you told me that you needed to work on being honest about your feelings? I think now would be a good time to practice."

She just shrugged again, hidden behind the curtain of her hair.

"You have way too much hair. Come on, talk to me. Tell me what's wrong." He tried to push back her hair and tuck it behind her ear. It worked momentarily before its weight pulled it down again.

"Guys!" Iko interrupted their conversation with a startled shriek.

"What, Iko?" Cinder was clearly getting frustrated with Iko today.

"He played with her hair! He put it behind her ear!" She worked to keep her voice down this time.

"Iko-friend please let it go." Winter said kindly, as Jacin and Cinder just groaned.

"What the heck?" Cress's head whipped up as someone shrieked in their near vicinity.

"I bet it was Iko. She's prone to shrieking." Cress's face soured at the name and she went back to hiding in her hair. "Hey, wait, was it Iko that bothered you?"

"Yes." Cress finally emerged from her hair. "She kept going on about the stupid pizza place thing."

"Say no more. If anyone brings it up again we'll tell them to shut up."

The bell rang and almost everybody in the cafeteria stood up. Thorne pulled Cress up beside him.

"I'm sorry for causing so much trouble. I was just trying to be assertive." Cress sounded like she was about to cry.

"Hey, no crying. It's dehydrating." Thorne held his arms out in an invitation to hug.

Cress remembered when he had first told her that. "I can't believe you'd say that to someone who had just broken their arm." Cress sniffled a bit but did smile. She accepted the hug.

"I'll let you in on a secret. I'm really bad at handling emergencies and didn't know what else to say." He spoke more to the top of her head than her. She was so short.

"Guys, guys!"

"Iko, it better not have anything to do with Cress or Thorne." Cinder growled as she shoved her leftover food into the piled high trash can.

'It does! They're hugging!" She squealed.

Cinder walked over to Jacin and gave him a half hearted hug.

Jacin caught on to the joke and said sarcastically, "Cinder, do you have feelings for me?"

"I can't believe you never knew. I've loved you ever since I saw you, I've hugged you like, five times." Cinder's tone was heavy with sarcasm.

"Scandalous," Kai muttered in a tone that rivaled Cinder's.

"But it's different, it's Thorne!" Iko argued.

"I will hug Thorne every day now, just to prove it means nothing." Cinder declared as she and Kai made their way out of the room followed by the rest.

"Hey, now, I can't have you leaving me for another man," Kai said as he put his arm possessively over Cinder's shoulders.

"I don't think you have to worry. Thorne isn't much of one. He still acts like a seventh grader." Jacin added.

Cress and Thorne made their way into the gym. There was some song Thorne didn't recognize playing over the speakers. One thing Thorne really hated about the new coach was that he always played music before class. It was one of the reasons why Thorne was late a lot, at least before he started hanging out with Cress. She was such a perfectionist and was always as early as she could be.

"Life flies by, the moon and the midnight sky is guiding me to your side, side. I know that one day…" Cress sang under her breath until Thorne interrupted her.

"Do you know this song?"

She immediately clammed up. 'No, I don't."

"Then why are you so good at singing along with it? Are you just naturally talented?" Thorne insisted.

"No, I guess I know this song. I'm definitely not talented at all."

"I think you are. You sang along beautifully."

"Nope, I am not talented. Not at all."

"I think you are."

"Carswell! Get over here!" Coach Allen yelled at Thorne. Apparently, the class was starting.

When Cress and Thorne got closer Coach Allen added, "Oh, good, Crescent Moon, it looks like you are going to be able to join us today. Congratulations on getting your cast off."

Cress felt mortified as everyone's attention was turned to her. She took a step closer to Thorne, then felt like she was too close and took another step back.

Cress hated that she was actually required to participate again. Throughout the game, Anthony took every chance he could get to block her or annoy her or whatever else he could do without getting in trouble. Thankfully, those opportunities were few and far between as Cress let Jacin do everything for her. He was good enough for both of them.

At the end of class Cress found Thorne before he left and they walked out together.

"So, you're really good at singing. Why won't you admit it?" Thorne asked bluntly.

"I'm not good at singing in any way shape or form." Her response was immediate. A stern look from him prompted her to add, "I really hate being the center of attention. When people are talented, it draws attention. Like you hounding me about singing."

"I'm sorry, but you are really good. You deserve at least one person telling you that. I have a feeling you don't get compliments nearly enough. Anyway, is that why you didn't want to go to the pizza place tonight?" His eyes were careful, trying to make her feel safe.

"Yeah, it is."

"So you wouldn't be opposed to going to Maha's place next Saturday?"

Her eyebrows were drawn together in worry as she said, "You and me?"

He laughed, "Well yes I would be there and hopefully you will go, but it's for Winter's birthday. Everybody else will be there. If driving is an issue I can give you a ride."

"Yeah, sure I could use a ride. I'll come."

"Awesome." Thorne's smile was huge as he gave her a half hug goodbye before he left for his next elective.

FYI, the song was One Day by: Imagine Dragons. I was listening to it and thought it was something that Cress would like. If you guys have any songs that you think fit her and Thorne please review, I might put in some more music related stuff. I do ask that the songs are clean.