"Stella?"

"Yeah?"

"You don't have a date for the dance Friday do you?"

My heart skipped a beat,"No!"

"Would you like to go with one of my friends?" what in the world did he just ask me?

"What? No! Why don't you understand! Gah, Brandon!" I threw my arms in the air, "Are you freaking blind? How could you ask me that kind of question to my face? I love you!" my hands shot over my lips and my eyes widened. Oh my gosh, I just said that. I can't believe those words just came out of my mouth right in front of him.

He smiled his breathtaking smile, but it was huge. Bigger than usual.

"You mean it?" he asked, pushing himself off the ground

"I-I um. Ha, nice weather, huh?"

He chuckled, "No, for real, Stel, did you mean it?"

Sighing again, I replied, "Yes..." He walked closer and gently grabbed my wrists

"I thought said we'd be best friends forever, no one likes each other, we're just great friends?"

"I can't help that, I mean look at Musa and Riven or Flora and Helia, even Bloom and Sky! I can't help my feelings..."

"I was just playing, Stel! I know how you feel"

"Then why did ask that ridiculous question?"

"I flipped out"

"What if I said yes?"

"Stella, I know you, you'd never say yes to such a stupid question!"

"Well that's true." I sat on a nearby log and Brandon took a seat next to me, "Now answer this stupid question, how do you feel about me?"

"Wow that is a stupid question, I love you Stella. Always have, always will."

"Always?" I grinned and he took my hands

"Of course, gorgeous" I like how that sounds... gorgeous. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my hair and leaned closer to me. We closed the space in between us and his lips brushed against mine. It was... wow,

Indescribable

Unforgettable

Amazing

Passionate

Great. Absolutely great.

We separated and I blushed, my cheeks were red, not pink, blood red. I turned to see the group, Flora was on the verge of tears of joy and Musa clapped giving me that 'I told you so' face and I shot my 'you should be talking' face right back at her. Childishly, we stuck our tongues out at each other. My heart was racing, it was a great feeling to know my best friend is the one.

"Yes! We don't have to spend the night in the woods!" I screamed, embraced Brandon, and pecked him on the lips. Everyone seemed excited but Flora who was standing in silence, in shock.

"Flora, is everything okay?" asked Musa

Silently Flora lifted her arm and pointed to the berries, "You didn't eat those, did you?"

"No, I fixed them up for us to eat, but otherwise nope!"

"Please tell me you didn't drink the lake water!" Flora gasped. Me and Brandon turned to each other, slowly.

"Um, what happens if we did?" I questioned, now clenching on to Brandon's hand

Musa grabbed Riven's arm in fear, "Oh my gosh, Stella. We need to get you two back to Ms. Griffin!"

"Wait what? We can't go back that was our plan!"

"Stella, are you crazy? You are sick, it probably hasn't kicked in, but you're sick! You can die, do you not see that?"

"Do you not see that we can get into a lot of trouble?" oh great, this won't be good...

"I'd rather be in trouble than watch you die right in front of my eyes!"

"I'd rather die than give into your commands! Okay, you stop me from so many things and hold be back!"

"How can you blame me for the stuff you're too scared to do?"

"I'm not too scared, I'm afraid I'll beat you at your own game and you'll be mad at me!"

"Is that what you think? What could you beat me at, Stella?"

"Okay whatever, see you guys later!" I started to stomp off in anger

"I guess she's too scared to take the risk!" Musa yelled to make sure I heard it, but I didn't turn, I kept walking

"Stella wait! You're making a big mistake!" Flora hollered, but I still don't turn

"Stella, please. I don't want you to get hurt!" Brandon call out

"I know what I'm doing. I don't need anyone to control me anymore!" I coughed out. Crap, I think I am sick, but I'm not turning back. My head began to throb, but again, I wouldn't turn. I disappeared in the dark, where no one could see. Wow, I see how much they 'love' me. Not even Brandon is coming after me, I thought he loved me, always? Gosh, my 'friends' suck.

I began to hear Flora sob, but that was the last thing I heard. I felt my head and it was blazing hot, and my head kept throbbing by the feeling of a migraine.

"Ow, ow, ow!" I mumbled to make sure they didn't hear.

That was the last before I blacked out...

Brandon's P.O.V

I can't believe myself. I just watched her walk away, crap! What am I still doing standing here like a freaking idiot!

"Are you guys just gonna watch her leave?" I wasn't frustrated by them, I was angry at myself

"Like you!" Musa screamed

"I don't know, you're the one who caused her to leave in this condition!" my head started to burn, great

"Whatever Brandon! You can leave too, you were always free, too!"

"Gladly!" and I stormed off in Stella's direction, ignoring Flora's loud gasp, and she began to yell at Musa.

"They're sick!" she yelled, tossing her hands in the sky, but Musa just grumbled, crossing her arms

When I got deeper in the forest, I froze. Oh my gosh, Stella. I knew it was her through the fog, because of her beautiful, golden hair shined brighter than anything. She was collapsed on the ground, she must be really sick.

"Oh crap, Stella!" I crouched down next to her and put my hand up to her forehead. She was burning up, we need to go back.

I picked her up in my arms and ran back our camp site.

"Oh my goodness! I told her we have to go back!" Musa screeched, full of anger. Riven surely wasn't gonna say anything with her at this point.

"Musa, keep your gloating until later! We have to get her to a

h-hospital or something!" I snapped back, keeping my tears from dripping. This is wrong, I never cry. Never.

Musa rolled her eyes, but looked down at Stella, with feeling. She cared. Flora seemed paralyzed, keeping her hand over her mouth and her right arm locked onto Helia's.

"Everything will be okay, Musa!" Riven cooed, stroking her hair

"I'm not worried, Riven!" she turned to the opposite direction and crossed her arms, but she was transparent, tears were dwelling in her eyes. "I'm not worried..." everything went silent, and for some reason all of our heads bowed. Mine did to, I stared at her. Her eyes were shut and one arm hung from my grip. Right on her cheek, a tear fell.

I'm crying. I never cry. Never.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, it was the person I'd least expect, Riven.

"Come on man, let's get her back. I didn't look up because I didn't want anyone to see my cry. Not even Stella.

I hated to see Musa like this, her tears were quiet, but she was trembling. You could hear her sniffling and breathing in hard, squeezing the blood out of Riven's hand. And Flora was still in the same position, she couldn't move, she was shocked. This was awful.

I had to blink a few times to push my tears away, but I still followed with Tecna and Timmy leading.

"Ms. Griffin?" Tecna called into a walkie-talkie

"Tecna? You are late! The police are about to retrieve! Where are you? Tecna, are you crying?"

"Ms. Griffin!" she cried, falling to the ground, "Stella drank the water-r and she-she passed out, she's t-terribly sick!" she quivered. You could hear Ms. Griffin gasp loudly,

"Bring her back, now!"

"Yes-yes, ma'am," answered Tecna as she began to hang up

Timmy pulled Tecna back on her feet and embraced her tightly

"Everything will be okay, Tech"

She sniffled, "I know..."

Closer and closer, we approached an exit, a little farther from the school than we expected, but not even a mile away.

"Great! How the crap are we gonna get up there!" Musa yelled, drying her tears. She was apparently furious.

"It'll be okay, they guys and I will get up there and help you girls up" Riven grinned, trying not to pull the last straw.

"Fine, wait whose gonna take St-Stella?" she stuttered looking at her lifelessness. "No idea, huh? Tecna contact Ms. Griffin, let her know we're here and we need help." she commanded. Wow Musa needed Stella's sunshine!

Tecna did what she was told and pressed the red button down, "Ms. Griffin, we've arrived, but we can't seem to climb the steep hill out back."

"Hello Tecna, stay put, I'll be out in a minute"

"Copy," and Tecna hung up, again we stood in silence. If Stella was awake, she'd never shut up. Just the thought of that made me smile.

Not to long after that, Ms. Griffin appeared outside the school, looking down at us. Behind her came the police with some equipment to get us back up there, on leveled ground. They threw a rope ladder down and we climbed it having to leave Stella (which made me feel awful) and letting the police carry her up, running inside, through the halls, and setting her down on a bed in the nurse's office. We all followed right on their trail, especially me and Musa. They felt her forehead and turned to me, "Boy, did you drink the water, too?"

"Yes-" but that's all I could say when Stella's father burst in.

"What happen to my daughter? Was it you?" he pointed to me. Stella's dad and I didn't exactly see eye-to-eye. He knew Stella and I would end up together, "friendship usually ends up in love," and Mr. Summers hated me to be near her.

"No Sir, see she-"

"What happened?" I was about to explain! My rude comments about Stella's father would not slip out of my mouth. I guess after the divorce, he's probably scared I'll break Stella's heart like Luna broke his. I always liked Luna, she was my mother basically, but she killed Stella on the inside, and it took her a while to recover. That's when her and Musa got so close. Musa lost her mother and knew exactly what's going on, but for Musa, it was worse.

Ms. Griffin explained, but of course he asked, "who was she with?" and all fingers pointed to me.

"You could kill my daughter! I've told you to stay away from her and this is what you do, she stood up for you and you're gonna kill her!" I was speechless... it was me who caused this to happen. I should be sick, not Stella. I should die, not Stella. Well I guess I deserve this punishment.

"You're right, Sir" wow, I've never seen someone's mouth drop and close to fast.

"You, just stay away from my Stella" those words broke my heart into pieces and the pieces flew away, now there was nothing.

"Um, hi Mr. Summers! I'm Musa, Stella's best friend and I hate to talk to you this way, but I can't watch you do this. Honestly, Brandon loves her and he didn't know! This will hurt Stella more than protect her! You have to under-"

"That was final!" he snapped, but that wasn't the only thing he snapped. He snapped my heart.

A/N So yeah, another cliff hanger. I'm sorry! My chapters are really dramatic aren't they? Did Stella's dad really mean that Brandon can't see Stella anymore? Is Stella okay? Are Musa and Riven out of the friend zone, what about Flora and Helia? Want some more Bloom, Sky, Aisha, Nabu, Tecna, or Timmy? It'll come soon! Tell me how you like it and they'll be more coming up! Thanks for reading c: