Harvest Moon: High School Parade

Chapter 9: Among The Stars

I looked in the mirror one last time and nodded in approval. I wore a long-sleeved brown blouse with orange and yellow flowers that Candace had loaned me because I didn't have very many outfits in my dresser. I had my short jean skirt with yellow leggings to match my shirt that I wore my brown boots. To top off the outfit, I wore a flower hairpin to round out the ensemble. I was excited and nervous at the same time to go to the first party here and to see all my new friends.

I then happily headed for Fugue Forest Dorms. Walking in, I could feel the life breathe through me as the energy swirled throughout the place. I scanned the room. Luke, Selena, Owen, and Kathy were on the dance floor; Jin, Anissa, Phoebe, and Calvin seemed to be engrossed in an intellectual conversation; Toby, Renee, and Candace watched as Julius played card tricks; Chase and Gill stood together like a pair of stoic statues, acting above it all while Luna stood nearby; and Maya was hovering over the snack table with plates and plates of food in her hands.

I decided to head toward the food and try to help Maya out, "Hey Maya, anything good here?"

She looked up with a dumpling in her mouth, "Oh hey Hikari! It's all so good! I just can't decide!" With that, she giggled and continued to shovel in her food.

Chase then approached me, "She just doesn't know when to stop."

I turned toward him, "Hey Chase, how are you?"

He only responded with a 'hmpf,' and rolled his eyes.

"Bad day?"

"I guess you could say that." He looked at me and said, "By the way, that's a really…ah…cute…hairpin."

I lightly touched my hairpin, remembering it was there, "Oh. Thank you." I blushed. I quickly changed the subject and broke the awkward silence, "So, Chase, Maya had told me you like to cook, but that you don't really cook anymore. Why is that?" I knew it was a touchy subject for him, but I was genuinely curious.

Leaning against the wall and sighing he said, "I dunno. I just lost my…enthusiasm for it. It's hard to explain." He seemed deep in thought.

"Well, I think it might be good for you to find a pupil to teach. Teaching not only helps someone else, but helps yourself learn as well."

He placed his hand under his chin, "Hnn. That's a good idea." He paused for a moment and stood closer to me, "I could teach you if you'd like."

I was taken aback by his handsome face and fumbled my words, "Uh…I…ah…no…I wouldn't be great at it...I mean, I think you'd be a wonderful teacher, and I would greatly appreciate any information you could give me, but I was thinking a pupil more like Maya."

He frowned and seemed a bit disappointed, "Maya? Yeah I guess. She could use a few lessons. But my offer for you still stands if you change your mind."

I smiled, "Thank you." I looked at his violet eyes and wanted to say more, when Gill and Luna walked over to us.

"I'm glad you came Hikari," Gill said, "I hope you'll enjoy our party."

Luna then grabbed my arm, "Hey, why don't we get away from the boys and have a little girl chat. They don't really seem like they're having fun anyways."

I really didn't get a chance to respond before I was whisked away by the pretty pink-haired girl. We talked small talk, but it was mostly a one-sided conversation where I listened to the highs and lows of Luna and her annoyance with Gill. Eventually, she found someone more interesting and abruptly ran over to talk to them, and with that slim window of opportunity, I snuck away from her grasp and found others to talk to.

I spoke to Candace, Renee, Toby, and Julius about fashion, literature, and fishing. Every so often I would get an awkward, flirtatious glance from Julius.

Then I tried my chances at dancing with Luke, Selena, Owen, and Kathy. I learned a few more moves from Selena the dancer and was tossed around the dance floor by Luke and Owen. They always had so much energy.

After getting tired I winded down by chatting with Jin, Anissa, Phoebe, and Calvin about fossils, and medicine. I tried to keep up with their discussion as much as I could, but their minds seemed to go a mile a minute. But luckily Calvin was always there to crack a few jokes once in a while to liven up the conversation.

I was having a really fun time, but just as my happiness was at it's peak, I felt a sudden chill enter the room. The music suddenly stopped and I heard a shrill laughing, and all eyes were turned towards the door. The room immediately hushed and the atmosphere was tense. The crowd started to whisper to one another as the voice called out "What a wonderful welcome, no need to stop what you're doing on my behalf." I could tell by the voice that it was a girl. She giggled, but the atmosphere did not change. When I stood up from my chair to see what all the commotion was about, I found that the crowd had split to make way for a girl who was headed straight toward me. She wore a black lacy corset blouse with a pink-striped short skirt. Her gray knee-high stockings accentuated her calves and her black heels clicked at each step she made. Her neck was adorned with a black ribbon chocker, and she wore a matching black hat atop her sleek straight white hair. Her smile was menacing and her pumpkin-colored eyes pierced right into mine.

There I stood, a bit in shock as to why she was headed toward me.

Did I do anything to make her upset? No, I couldn't have. I've never seen her before.

Then she stopped right in front of me as the crowd stood silently waiting for her to speak.

She crossed her arms over her chest, "Well, well, well. If it isn't the new girl everyone's been talking about." Her smirk was filled with disdain. She eyed me up and down and raised her eyebrow, "Not much to look at are you? Yes, a bit plain." I looked at the faces around me, at the faces of my friends, hoping that someone would explain to me what was going on. Many looked at her in anger. Some were frightened. Others looked away in sympathy. Slowly she spun around in a showy way and said, "In case you don't know who I am, I am what others call, the Witch Princess," she scoffed, "And I have heard about your little quest." She then sauntered toward me, putting her face within inches of mine and said in a low tone, "You will fail."

Where have I heard that one before?

She grew angrier; "I've been trying to accomplish this task on my own for some time, but to no avail. What makes you think you are any better? You are nothing. You don't know anything about this school. How could a new, plain, weak girl like you change anything, when not even I could make a difference? You should just go back home to whatever small town you came from, and never return." She looked at me with hate and envy. I shook with fear and anger at her words. I was just starting to like it here. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, but nothing was coming out. She put into words what I had been trying to beat out of myself. I had been trying to convince myself over and over that I could do it, that I wouldn't fail, that I was meant to be here. She made doubt start to creep back into my head. I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I let a tear escape from my eye.

Oh no! Don't show emotion! Not now! Not to her!

Her smile became wide and she laughed, "Aww…did I make wittle baby cry?" Her laughter grew louder. I wanted to crawl in a hole and die as the tears began to fall.

Then a sudden booming voice spoke up, "That's enough Vivi!" The crowd began to gasp and murmur as the source of the voice moved toward us.

I've heard that voice before.

Vivi frowned, placed her hands on her hips, and puckered her lips in an upset pout, "Hmpf. Wizard. What are you doing at an event like this?"

He didn't respond to her question and stood like a wall between her and I, shielding me from her view. I couldn't see his face, but his body was calm and unshaken.

She scoffed, "Come to save her have you? You're wasting your time with her, and you know it! She won't do this school any good!"

He spoke again, but this time in a quieter, calmer tone, "I said that's enough."

I peered around his back to see her face. She held her breath and was red with fury, clenching her fists to keep herself from doing anything rash. Throwing her hands in the air, she let out a loud "ARGH!" and said, "I am not going to stay here and take this from you of all people! Besides, I have better things to do with my time." She spun around on her heels and dramatically huffed toward the door and left. The entire room sighed with relief, and the music came back on, returning the crowd to where they once were. Then, as stealthily as he had arrived, Wizard left without saying a word. I looked around in the crowd to find him, to at least say thank you, but he was nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, Luke had come up to me, "Whoa, Hikari. That was a bit intense! You okay?" He placed his hand on my back as I sat down, still a bit in shock. I feigned a smile and nodded my head. He then suggested that he'd get me a glass of water, and I told him that I would very much like that. There I sat, my feelings completely changed from when I first arrived. My friends all came and sat with me and began to chat as if nothing had happened, trying to liven tings up. I wasn't in the mood for talking, but I stayed polite and nodded my head now and then to look like I was still engaged in their conversing. But the whole time all I could think about was what Witch Princess had said, and her reaction to Wizard.

I stood up and quietly said, "It's a bit warm in here; I think I'm going to get some air." Jin, being his concerned self said, "Did you need anything? I could accompany you if you're not feeling well." I smiled, "Thank you, but I think I just want to be alone for a bit." He shrugged and sat back down.

I looked around for the front door, but instead found a fire escape stairwell, and decided to climb up it to get to the roof. When I reached the top, I felt a wave of relief as the cool breeze touched my skin. I took in a deep breath and sat down. I looked up at the night sky, marveling at the view.

A voice then said, "It's beautiful isn't it?" I jumped in shock, because I didn't know there was anyone up here. Then I saw Wizard standing next to a telescope.

I sighed in relief, "Oh gosh, you sacred me. I thought I was by myself up here."

"Oh, would you like me to leave you alone?"

I waved my hand, "No no, it's okay. I don't mind. Actually, I'm sorry, it's me that should go. You were up here first."

"I have nothing against you," he said, and proceeded to look into his telescope.

I asked him, "How come you're up here? Do you come here often?"

He kept his eyes on the telescope, "I'm not one for social gatherings. I feel more comfortable up here." He didn't seem to want to say more on the subject.

I looked up at the stars and sighed, "Yeah, they are pretty, the stars I mean. You like stars?"

He didn't respond. I walked over to him and leaned on the ledge, looking out at the view of the school. That sight made me feel a bit better, and I smiled again. Sighing, I said softly to myself, "It's a beautiful school. I don't deserve to be here."

Wizard came and stood next to me, looking out at the school as well, "Don't take to heart what Vivi said to you. It was uncalled for. I've known her for quite some time, and she has a hard time expressing her feelings. She does try her best though. Deep down she really cares for this school, and has tried many different ways to save the school, but she uses the wrong methods. Her pride is strong, so she feels a bit intimidated by you."

"By me? What can I do?"

He looked at me, "Hikari, you don't see it, but there's something about you that everyone seems to gravitate toward."

I looked over at him a bit confused.

He continued, "They see hope and determination. Don't lose that part of you." We stood there for a few moments looking at each other. His eyes mesmerized me, and I unconsciously brushed his long bangs from his face to see them better. He stood a bit shocked and his cheeks flushed.

Then I noticed something. His right eye was…shining? "Hey, that's interesting. I never noticed, but is your right eye is differe-"

He immediately stood up away from me and turned his head, replacing his bangs over his eye, "I…I think you better get back to your friends at the party." He began to leave.

Oh no. Did I offend him in some way?

"Wizard wait!" He stopped, and tensed, but didn't turn to look at me. I continued, "I…I wanted to say…thank you…for helping me the other day by giving me a bit of information about the school board even after I snapped at you. And….and….also for defending me downstairs."

There was silence, but I knew he understood.

He quietly said, "Let me know if you need any assistance on your quest." He went back to his telescope. It was my cue to leave. I went back inside, and shut the door behind me. Leaning against the door I sighed, as my heart began to pound. What was this new feeling?

I returned to the party and tried to enjoy myself a little before it was over. But my heart and mind were elsewhere, among the stars.

END CHAPTER 9