If you guys are keeping up with my 'songs listened to' situation, don't be weirded out by some of my instrumentals. I listen to mostly instrumentals, when I write, because sometimes words in songs sort of distract me (or I start singing and then nothing gets done Dx ) So yeah, if you guys are searching for the songs I write down, and find that it's some sort of weird score from some random ass movie, just don't think twice about it. I have a really REALLY wide and random collection of musical scores I save for my writing. But otherwise, enjoy!

Also, I order whatever songs I have listed, in order for the chapter. So whatever song is listed first, was listened to the first part of the chapter, and so on and so forth. Hopefully you guys can guess when the song/mood changes xD

Song listened to -

Inner Sanctum - James Newton Howard (Dinosaur)

*Chapter 44*

As the calm, rising sun lightly coated Sugar Rush's sky a dark, yummy periwinkle, Tessa tried her hardest to let her lungs intake the still air in her dim room. As if it had become routine, Tessa sat with Lickity on her birch, wooden flooring, though they laid on a messy blanket that hadn't left her floor for days now. It was riddled with tissues here and there, as well as messy pillows from falling into unhealthy sleeping patterns; only a few hours of naps here and there. Tessa sat in Lickity's warm, calm presence, something of which she was beyond grateful for. The idea that Lickity couldn't respond, and had grown to love unconditionally, was just what Tessa wanted. Lickity lay curled on Tessa's blanket, though half her larger body hung off of it. Her long tail was comfortably curled around Tessa's temporary bedding, on the floor. Her wings were gently relaxed, though tucked to her body. Tessa sat before Lickity's snout, and let her nose rest to her dragon's.

Tessa felt as if her blurred vision was becoming normal. She found the greatest chore in each inhale, and having to respond to family was enough to make her want to wreck every pixel in her kingdom. She knew everyone was worried about her, her mother and father most of all, though she knew eventually she would see through the grief of the heartbreak. She lightly blinked, though a few tears escaped her eyes and dotted Lickity's snout. She froze, for she knew the routine her and Lickity had fallen into. Lickity perked her ears gently and let her eyes open in a knowing way. As softly as she had always been, she lightly lapped her tongue over her snout before she lovingly lapped the front half of her soft, gooey tongue over Tessa's chin, face and cheeks. Tessa scrunched her face and largely wrinkled her nose. Lickity garbled a noise of understanding before she nuzzled her nose firmly into Tessa's chest and neck. Tessa exhaled a grumble of kind, yet annoyed, appreciation and slumped her body into Lickity's face and snout; she knew Lickity had no complaints, as she let her rest and do what she needed.

"Thank you, Lickity," Tessa croaked as she finally peeked open her eyes and gazed out towards her large, sprawling window.

She slumped her shoulders and felt it ironic that the sun continued to rise, even though it's soon-to-be leader was completely down and out. Tessa let her eyes scan Starkrem's gorgeous skyline; it was lightly illuminated, though it was clear the speckled skyline would turn off their twinkle lights to greet the new sunshine. Tessa furrowed her eyebrows and knew she had to brave Academy, yet again. She felt a pang of annoyance hit her skin and had to wonder just how many death stares Selka had in store for her this time. She eagerly looked forward to the weekend, though she also dreaded it. She knew weekends were usually filled with activities done with Zane. She shut her eyes tight and felt as if her eyes couldn't produce anymore tears. She rested against Lickity and assumed she could afford a few more moments of relaxing before she had to get up and get ready for Academy; a place in which she so wished she could bring her lucky, dragon companion.

"Tess?" whispered a soft, curious voice. Tessa harshly furrowed her eyebrows as both her and Lickity perked up at the same time and turned their heads around towards Tessa's door. Tessa let her defenses drop and longingly gazed at the only person, in Arcade, she could tolerate right now.

"Penny," Tessa eased gently as Penny wormed her way into Tessa's dark bedroom. She lightly closed the door behind her and made her way towards Tessa and Lickity, though she continued to nervously eye her dragon.

"Just wanted to check up on you," Penny soothed, though to Tessa's surprise, she bravely, though slowly, took a seat right next to Lickity. Tessa shot Lickity a curious smile as Lickity practically froze. It was clear that she wasn't used to Penny's close and comfortable presence.

"You getting used to her, finally?" Tessa's mouth formed a smile, something of which felt beyond foreign.

"Trying my hardest," Penny uttered as she glanced at Lickity. Lickity grumbled a gentle noise and, as softly as she could, laid her head in Penny's lap. Penny exhaled a noise of confusion, though she finally relaxed her scrunched shoulders after a moment and tenderly rested her hands atop Lickity's head. She beamed a smile in Tessa's direction and shook her head, "Aww... She likes me!"

"I told you," Tessa grumbled with an annoyed smile.

"She's so soft," Penny eased quietly as her curious hands mapped out the tender fur atop Lickity's head. Lickity let her eyes lull closed, she had gotten quite used to the serene, though still, quietness as of late.

"She's just a big puppy dog, really," Tessa croaked, as if her voice wasn't used to being used, "Though, she could have fooled me, last week."

"I'd never want Lickity to be that mad, towards me," Penny breathed a small giggle as her tender eyes met Tessa's, through the dim sunrise, "I'm sure Selka has had nightmares since."

Tessa nodded once and lightly, and idly, peered down at Lickity, who was more than content under Penny's gingerly, girly touch. She finally inhaled a deep breath and, for the first time all week, expanded her lungs to full capacity. Penny lightly caught eyes with Tessa and gave her an apologetic, broken smile. She knew Tessa was grieving the loss of her best friend, though she also knew she was suffering the secretive heart break she was trying her hardest to hide. Tessa knew Penny could read her better than anyone; she was beginning to blur the line that defined cousins and sisters. She gave Penny a soft, defeated smile and lightly continued to keep her narrow gaze to Lickity, who quietly began to mumble a deep, rumbling purr.

"You doing okay?" Penny quietly braved, she held her curious gaze on her cousin, "I'm really worried about you..."

"I'll be alright," Tessa heaved with an apologetic, weak smile, "I just need time. I'll get over it."

"I think I speak for everyone when I say, we did not see this coming," Penny said in a tone that lead to suggest Tessa could cut the conversation off whenever she felt she needed to, though Tessa gave her an inquisitive look, as if she was finally open to discussing said events.

"Preach," Tessa scoffed sarcastically with a broken, annoyed breath of a laugh as she raised her eyebrows in mild contemplation.

"I'm sure he just... Has deeper reasons," Penny lightly shrugged, though she felt her skin grow cold as Tessa's dominant stare finally rose from the grave and pierced itself into Penny's soul.

"Deeper reasons?" Tessa asked darkly, their tones were as quiet as could be.

"I don't know, just," Penny trailed off and shook her head, in a flustered way, "Maybe... There's something in this twisted plot that you don't know? Maybe this doesn't have to do with you, at all. What if he just is trying to protect your feelings?"

"From what?" Tessa begged quietly, as if she had been mulling over those same questions all week, "I can't think of a single thing. Not one."

"... Not one?" Penny side eyed Tessa with a curious smile, though in a tone as if she lead to suggest she knew something more than Tessa.

"Maybe he likes another girl?" Tessa wondered, though tears stung her eyes at the thought; Penny beamed a defeated, almost annoyed grin and gave her cousin a dull look.

"I swear, Tess, the way that guy looked at you," Penny shook her head and exhaled a small giggle, "I'd be willing to bet he hasn't noticed another girl since that Academy ball."

"I used to think the same thing," Tessa looked down and furrowed her eyebrows, "I should have never played with Selka's feelings, like that."

"You mean when you and Zane went to Tapper's?" Penny inquired, Tessa nodded.

"It was just a stupid idea to playfully get a rise out of Selka," Tessa gestured her hand, "He wouldn't stop staring at us... I figured I'd give him something to watch, for being such a jerk to Zane... I didn't imagine it'd backfire so badly, like it did."

"You didn't know," Penny tenderly continued to scratch the top of Lickity's soft, warm head and snout, "You hardly know Selka. How were you supposed to know how he reacts to a little friendly fire?"

"I just want to know why Zane told me he was protecting me from himself," Tessa shook her head and furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, her teary gaze pierced Penny's after a moment, "What is that even supposed to mean?"

"Maybe you should confront him," Penny lightly shrugged, "You're left dangling with all these questions, maybe... Maybe you should just ask him to explain. He owes you that much."

"He doesn't owe me anything," Tessa muttered, "It's not like we were a couple, or anything."

"Status doesn't matter," Penny said seriously, "I know he cares about you... That's all that matters."

"If he cared, he wouldn't have cut me at the knees," Tessa spat, Lickity's ears perked lightly, in a curious manner, at her owner's rising anger, "I killed Selka three times for that idiot... And this is how he repays me."

"I'm telling you," Penny gestured her hand softly, "I really think you should confront Zane."

"That won't solve anything," Tessa shook her head and, as if her muscles and bones were disintegrating, she struggled to slowly get to her feet, "I'm just... cutting my losses and moving on. If he really feels the need to explain why he wronged me, then, he knows where I live."

Penny slumped her shoulders and kept her gaze on her cousin, though she finally exhaled a defeated sigh and peered down at Lickity. She softly opened her eyes and lifted her head out of Penny's lap. She peered up at Tessa in an inquisitive way, though she glanced at Penny, as if to ask if it were time for them to leave soon. Penny felt as if her bumbling thoughts were about to explode. She furrowed her eyebrows lightly and knew she had to somehow get Zane and Tessa in the same room, again. She knew both of them were stubborn, though she was positive Tessa took the cake when it come to who had their feet rooted in the ground more so. She lightly fingered her lip in a contemplative way as Tessa took a few steps towards her bathroom.

"School is in a half an hour," Tessa mumbled as she rubbed her eye, "I'm going to get ready and put Lickity in Uncle Rancis's garden for the day. I-I'll meet you at Academy, okay?"

"Okay," Penny eased softly, though she lightly pet Lickity's forehead, "I-I can put Lickity out for you, if you'd like."

"Oh," Tessa looked over her shoulder curiously, "You sure?"

"Yeah," Penny smiled down at Lickity and confidently rubbed her head, "I'm getting the hang of this. She's really sweet."

"Give her a belly rub, and you're set for life," Tessa motioned, though she finally gave her cousin a gentle smile, "Thanks, Pens."

"Of course," Penny said as she stood and gestured downwards to Lickity, "C'mon, Lickity."

Tessa felt a genuine smile sprawl her face as she watched Penny and Lickity slowly leave her room together. She softly shook her head and felt her heart swell, in happiness, for the first time all week. She finally tucked into her bathroom; she closed and locked the door, so she could get ready, though she knew it was going to be a lazy Friday. She put on a comfortable pair of black sweats and a pale green tank top. She brushed her crazy hair and tucked the length of it into a low ponytail that crawled down her spine in a disarray of auburn perfection. She gazed at herself in the mirror and ran over Penny's words a dozen times; she furrowed her eyebrows and wondered if she would ever purposefully see Zane ever again. She shook her head lightly and had to wonder if it would be too difficult.

"Alright, girl," Penny heaved a small giggle as she stepped out of her father's dimly lit patio; the worn cobbles were cold from the lingering darkness of Sugar Rush's night.

The sky was beginning to grow a bit brighter, and she could hear bumbling voices carry all the way from the Great Hall to Rancis's and Taffyta's wing. She glanced over her shoulder before she stepped farther outside with Lickity. She beamed and curious smile as Lickity exhaled a grumbling, excitable noise. She sprawled her wings open as far as she could and stretched downward, like a sleepy cat. She yawned the widest, noisiest yawn and bared her fangs, though Penny pushed past her fear of this strong creature that inhabited their home. She heaved a small giggle as Lickity finally straightened and moseyed back over to Penny. She nuzzled her snout into Penny's center, as if to properly thank her.

"See you after Academy," Penny rubbed Lickity's snout, her big, curious eyes remained held to Penny, "Don't eat dad's plants... I won't tell him about the honeysuckles you ate, near the back, but you gotta stop or else he will notice."

Lickity garbled a small noise of acknowledgment before she slowly stepped away and sprawled her wings, yet again. With a single few flaps of her massive, bat like wings, she carried off into the sky and head over to the large trees, towards the back of the castle's massive gardens and fields. Penny exhaled a sigh of amazement and watched her new found friend effortlessly carry herself with Sugar Rush's cool, crisp morning wind. She let her shoulders drop with a wide smile, though she finally felt a pang of worry hit her skin, yet again. As if she were committing a crime, she nervously let her eyes lay on Orion's tall, looming loft towards the other side of the sprawling field, in the opposite direction of which Lickity took flight to. She furrowed her eyebrows and stared down Orion's mysterious loft. She knew she'd have to brave her fears sooner or later; she knew Orion was the biggest, baddest reptile in all of Arcade. She almost smirked with the dare she had set upon herself.