A/n: Hey readers!

God, I feel like it's been forever since I've last updated. I'm so sorry for not doing it sooner!

Omg! Guess what?! We've already reached thirty reviews!! This is awesome! Writing TLAGE is Amazing (notice the capital A), but what makes it even better are your really nice reviews.

To all of my readers that read Keeper of the Lost Cities: I was very busy for the past few days balancing my schoolwork, homework, and my new almost ready KOTLC one shot! I almost finished it and I hope to have it out as soon as possible. It's really long though. I'm trying to make it the longest one shot (on KOTLC) on FF. Even longer than Xylia Neo's and Copicrazeunwoltxnaa's. Yeah. So really long. Please read it when I finish it.

Review Responses:

Choc0 Chipz: You're review is totally sweet as always (get it? Sweet? Because you're name is Choc0 Chipz?)! :'( I almost cried. My heart is pretty much broken.

JoyI9199: I'm going into 7th. I know! I tried using the link from my email also! It's driving me crazy!! Do you have the app? Because the app works a lot quicker. It's a lot easier.

That's it for reviews. As a celebration for 30 reviews I'm going to give 3 shutouts!

Choc0 Chipz: I'm serious as Sirius Black as I say this (well, Sirius Black isn't exactly serious. I just meant that his name is Sirius Black and I'm being super serious right now. I'm babbling aren't I?): Choc0 Chipz writes the nicest reviews! I feel so lucky to have her reading TLAGE. You really want her as a reader. Trust me. And you should read her fan fiction! It's called, "The First Raindrop," and I seriously (not Siriusly) love it!

Malaynamonkey2004: I have to say something. I literally love this girl (and I mean that in the least creepy way possible :))! She's so super nice and she was one of my first readers. I love her KOTLC and HP fan fictions! They rock! My favorite is "Sophitz Forever." I also really liked her Harry Potter one. Girl, you have to update!! Also I really want to thank her for writing a really nice shout out to me.

And last but not least,

Nekogurl888: This girl was my first reader. She writes such awesome reviews that make me feel so awesome and she just rocks! She's so awesome and I feel like I never gave her a proper thank you. You are awesome, Nekogurl888, and I'm so happy to have you as a reader!!

I feel so bad that I'm only giving 3 shoutouts. I'm serious, I could sit here all night writing all of you complements, but then there wouldn't be any room for the chapter (Lol). So now, we finally have Chapter 18!

Chapter 18

As my sister and I enter the castle, I feel a tug on my arm. Avalon is staring at me, her periwinkle eyes twinkling, reminding me vividly of Mother. For what must've been the first time, she says, "I love you."

I smile. "I love you too, Ava. You should get along now. Go find your friends and talk about whatever girls talk about. How much you want to be they're all talking about how cute Sirius Black is right now?"

She punches me in the arm. "Shove off, Scott."

I smirk. "Already? And to think you've just said that you loved me!"

She laughs and walks away.

I need to find someone. And I know exactly where to find him.

(LINEBREAKLINEBREAKLINEBREAK)

"Scott?" Ruscan asks me, entering the library.

I smile. "Missed me?"

"It's like seeing the dead. Someone told me that you had a panic attack. I thought you were at Saint Mungo's, for sure." He sat down in the chair across from me.

I smile. "Rumors these days. . . Ruscan?"

"Yes?"

"Are we friends?"

Ruscan closes his eyes. "We don't exactly mix, Wayward."

"Why? Because we're pureblooded? I don't want that to get in the way of us being friends, Ruscan."

"It's not that. It's just that I'm. . ."

"You're what?"

"Well. . . poor."

Everything suddenly becomes clearer now. His robes with patches. His second-hand books. It wasn't that he didn't want friends because they'd get in the way. He didn't want them because he was embarrassed that he was poor.

"This is because I'm wealthy?"

He doesn't reply.

"You're embarrassed. Did you know that your mother works for me?"

He nods.

"She's my favorite maid in the whole estate. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because she's a risk-taker. She'd make friends with the Masters of the Wayward Estate and that's what I liked about her. My mother did too. They were great friends, our mothers."

He nods, then frowns. "Were?"

I close my eyes. "My mother is dead."

"Oh."

"Right. Now stand before me and tell me that we're friends."

Ruscan smiles. "Shove off, Wayward. I have to get to work."

I smile. Only Ruscan would have the guts to tell me to shove off after I told him that my mother just died. "Work?"

"Why do you think I'm always in the library. I'm working here for extra money."

"Oh. But answer me."

"Yeah, Wayward. We can be friends. Now shove off, will you?"

We both grin at each other. I leave the library in a good mood.

(LINEBREAKLINEBREAKLINEBREAK)

"Scott!" Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter shout to me as I enter the dorm.

"You're back!" Kevin cries, throwing his arms over me.

"Noticed that, did you. Get off me, you girl!"

Kevin lets go and smiles. "I missed you, buddy."

"Missed you too, mate."

Sirius clears his throat.

"And you, Sirius," I continue.

"Thank you," he replies.

James frowns. "What about the rest of us?"

"I missed all of you, you gits! I was only joking!"

I feel five pairs of arms squeezing me now. I grin. "Get off of me!"

They let go. "Way to show some appreciation," James teases.

"Oh, James. I missed the first Quidditch Match while I was gone. Who won?"

"I would say the greatest team with the greatest captain," he replies smugly.

"And greatest Beater," Sirius adds.

"Good job."

"Can you believe the ball is in two days?" Peter brings up.

I blink. "Shoot. I completely forgot about that. Who are you guys going with?"

Remus mumbles something about a surprise.

"I'm going with Hestia," Kevin says.

"I'm going with May," Sirius adds.

James sighs. "I wanted to go with Evans, but she turned me down. I'm going with Mia."

Peter grins. "Johanna Shacklebolt."

I smile. Can't believe he found a date. "Um, do you mind if I go to the Common Room for a second?"

"You mean do we mind if you ask someone out?" James jokes.

I smirk. "Yeah."

"Go," everyone tells me, smirking.

(LINEBREAKLINEBREAKLINEBREAK)

There she is. Alice Fortescue. She's on one of the couches reading. I sit down next to her.

"Hey, Scott," she mumbles. She looks up from her book. "Wait. Scott?!"

"I'm back."

"Goodness. Welcome back!"

"Yeah."

"I'm so sorry about what happened to your mother."

"So am I."

She stands up. "Should I get the girls?"

I motion her to sit back down. "I want to talk to you."

She sits down slowly. "Talk away."

"I was wondering if you'd want to go to the ball with me. As friends."

Alice smiles. "I was debating whether I should even go to the ball or not. I was actually considering not going."

"Seriously? Why not?"

"I don't know. I guess it would just look weird if I went alone. No one asked me out."

"That's weird. I thought you would get a date right away. You're pretty cute."

I face-palm. I cannot believe I just said that.

She laughs nervously. "Yeah. I'll go with you."

"Great. I'll meet you on Sunday night at seven?"

"Okay." She picked up her book and held it to her chest. "It was nice seeing you, Scott."

"You too, Alice." I got up too.

I'm pretty sure that when we walk our separate ways we're booth smiling.

(LINEBREAKLINEBREAKLINEBREAK)

"Scott!"

Someone's jumping on me way too early in the morning. I open one eye. "Get off me, Kevin."

"The ball is today!" he says excitedly.

"Yeah, and it's Sunday too." I pull the blanket closer up to my chin. "I'm going back to sleep, mind you."

"Fine, well if you miss breakfast, I won't be bringing you any food."

I pretend to snore.

Kevin punches me playfully. "Get up, ya big goof!"

I open one eye again. "You sound like my friend, Gary."

"Well, I'm glad someone got you up in the morning at Ilvermorny."

I burst into laughter and manage to roll out of bed.

He was right. The ball is today. For some reason that makes me feel like smiling for the rest of the day.

I change into my robes and head into the Common Room. I see Alice there. "Hello, friend-date!" I call to her.

She looks at me and chuckles. "You look overtired."

"You're telling me! I wake up— no, I don't wake up. I'm sound asleep. All of a sudden I hear someone calling my name and that someone was jumping on me. That Kevin. I never liked him."

Alice laughs. "Scott, he's your best friend!"

Her laughing made me smile. "Is he? Oh, yeah." I face the boys dormitory. "Sorry Kev!"

"What did you do?!" I hear him call, but I walk away, laughing with Alice.

Alice grins. "Today will be fun, won't it, Scott?"

"Alice, today may be the best day of our lives. As long as I find time to get more sleep today."

Alice laughs again. And for some reason, it soothes me.

A/n: Yay!! So that was Chapter 18. I hope you guys are super excited for more! Please review! I'm loving where this is going! Who's excited for the Black Lake Ball?!?! XD