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Chapter 8

Full Moon Festival

I yawned and climbed out of bed, trying to remember what it was I had dreamt about. It was such a wonderful dream, I remembered that much. It made me feel happy. Really happy, unlike any feeling I've had lately.

I checked my calendar, and sighed. It was the full moon festival tonight. How I dreamed of going one year with Gray. I dreamt that we watch the moon rise, and then he look at me, and tell me he loves me, and we'd kiss. Under the moon on Mother's Hill, it would be simply romantic. But Claire and him…now…I bet they're going together. I'll just stay home again, like I've done every other year.

I got changed and went down stairs like a zombie. That was how I felt. During my dream I felt wonderful, but now that I've discovered that it was only a dream, I felt nothing. I felt like a zombie.

In this zombie-like manner, I ate my breakfast and then went to the library. I didn't care that it was a festival day, and that the library wasn't supposed to open. I sat at my desk, and let my mind wander. I didn't focus on anything. I just daydreamed. I don't know how long I sat there for, but I was so absorbed in my daydream that I didn't notice a young man quietly enter the library.

"Mary?"

I snapped out of my daydream and looked around. Cliff was standing next tot my desk. I glanced at my watch. It was ten o'clock.

"Hi Cliff," I said. "Sorry, I didn't see you there. Can I help you?"

Cliff looked nervous. Then again, he always looks nervous.

"I-It's the full moon festival tonight," he said. I nodded.

"I…I was wondering…if you'd like to…you know…if you want…"

"What?" I said.

"Would you…you know…like to…come to the festival with…me?" he managed to say, then quickly added, "It's not…like…a date or anything…you know…"

I blushed, and absent-mindedly began to play with a lock of my hair. "Umm…OK…" I said. However, when he has asked, my heart had leapt

Cliff blushed too. I think he tried to say something, but he was stuttering too much for me to understand. I stood up.

"How about you pick me up at six?" I asked.

"Six…yeah…OK…" he said.

"OK." I smiled. "See you at six."

***

It's not a date. I told myself. We're just friends. It's not a date.

Well, if it's not a date, why am I worrying so much about my looks?

I was looking in my mirror, trying to do my hair for about the fifth time. I just couldn't get it right. Usually I just quickly brush it into a ponytail, but I didn't want to do that tonight.

Earlier, I had been trying on all these clothes that my parents had bought me that I had never actually worn. In the end I had chosen a pale blue dress, about knee length. I found a diamond necklace to go with it. I chose a simple blue cardigan to go over the top of my dress.

I sighed loudly, and took out my hair. I just couldn't find anything that looked nice.

My mother entered the room. "Need help?"

"No…I'm…yeah, I need help."

She smiled and took the brush.

"You're finally going on a date, Mary!" she said happily.

"Mum, it's not a date. It's just friends hanging out."

"Sure," said my mum. I rolled my eyes.

After a moment she said, "Do you like him?"

"Of course," I said.

"No, I mean, do you really like him?"

"Mum!" I said. "We're…just…friends!"

"Just asking," said my mum, a smile creeping onto her face.

"DONE!" she said a few minutes later. I picked up the mirror. She had put my hair in a high ponytail and curled it a little so it was all wavy. Overall, it looked really nice.

"Wow, thanks," I said.

"Now…make-up!"

"No mum. Not a date, remember. I'm fine now…"

"Fine," said my mum. "He'll be here soon anyway.

Only moments later, Cliff knocked on the door. My mum answered it.

"Hello Cliff," she said.

"H-H-Hi…"

I hurried downstairs to meet him. He hadn't gotten all dressed up. I felt weird because I was all dressed up and he looked normal. But he didn't seem to mind.

"Hi…Mary," he said. "Y-You look nice."

"Thanks," I said.

I stepped outside and Cliff and I walked to Mother's Hill. I heard my mum mutter something about young love.

Ann was at Mother's Hill for the festival too, as were Gray and Claire. Claire had gotten much more dressed up than me. She was wearing a long, sleeveless, pink dress with a flower on her right hip, covered in sparkles. Her hair had been curled, so golden ringlets fell beside her ears. Gray hadn't got dressed up. He wrapped his arm around her waist. Normally, I'd feel really jealous, but today, I didn't. I didn't mind. For once, I didn't care that my former best friend was with the one I had loved since who knows when.

Cliff and I stood on Mother's Hill, watching the moon rise. I could feel Ann staring at me. I bet she was angry that I was with Cliff. But we were only friends, anyway.

"I wonder…" he said. "Many people is watching the moon tonight."

"Are," I said absent-mindedly.

"Huh?" He turned to look at me.

"You should have said 'Many people are watching the moon tonight.' You said 'Many people is watching the moon tonight.'" I explained.

"Oh," he said.

We stood there until midnight, watching the moon. It was beautiful. I lost track of the time.

"I'll…umm…walk you…home…" he said at midnight.

"Sure."

We walked back together. Claire and Gray walked in front of us, hand in hand. Part of me wanted to reach for Cliff's hand. I clasped my hands together to restrain myself. Soon enough we were back at my house.

"Tonight was fun," I said.

"Yeah."

"Thank you."

He blushed.

Kiss him! I thought.

No! We're just friends!

I'm your brain. Who are you trying to convince?

"I'll see you tomorrow," I said.

"OK."

And he headed back to the inn.

In my room, I thought about how I'd felt the past few days. Cliff and I were only friends, right? Or was there more? With Gray, it had taken a year to like him more than just a friend. With Cliff, if I really do like him like that, it's only taken a few days. Love is the strangest thing.

I thought about this until I finally fell asleep.

I hope you're enjoying it so far. Reviews please! And tell me what you think on the whole CliffxMary thing. I had no idea how this story was going to go when I started writing it, so I am making it up on the way.

Reviews, ideas, constructive critism, everything! Please!