Thanks for all the reviews, feedback, etc. This is fun to write! Mwah! Love you all!

XOXO,

Silvershadow

Blossomfall

I lie on my bed, listening to Ed Sheeran's latest album. Toadstep had told me to download it, so that we could listen to the same songs while we did our homework together. I sigh. I thought we really had something, but I guess I was wrong.

It's silly to think of a guy like this when I probably don't even cross his mind. But Toadstep was different to me from any other boy I knew. Sure, guys have little crushes on me every now and then. But whenever I date them, they're always there because of my money, or my looks, or (back when I was popular) my popularity.

Toadstep - he listened to me. Not to the girly, stuck-up diva I pretended to be during the day. He listened to me, a simple, depressed girl with nothing to her name but a lot of money and pretty eyes.

I always pretended that I was the popular girl with her squad of loyal friends, pretended to be the sassy, flirty one who could put all the boys and girls in line because I knew that after my friendship with Ivypool broke down, I would never be anything like that again.

And the truth is, I knew that being the leader of a new group of girls would never be the same as being a follower in my old group. I knew it. But still, I went forward with my plan to find new friends, trying to rebuild a life that would never be rebuilt.

So I recruited Rosepetal, who really was a girly fashionista, and several of her similar friends from other neighborhoods. Most of them have no more personality than I have self-esteem, which is saying a lot. They all stick to me like moss does to a rock - it's not nearly the same as having real friends.

What I wouldn't give to have my old life back… but it's too late now. I called Ivypool some things I never should have, and she did the same. Now, none of my old friends talk to me.

I was so sad about it that I tormented them. I threatened to tell their secrets. Little did I know that Ivypool would tell mine. She got up in front of a crowd and spilled every sordid little secret to all the Thunder kids. So I did the same, and we never talked again. Even when high school began, I kept my "mean girl" attitude towards them. It was too painful to admit that I was friendless, alone, and unloved.

Now, they'll never want to talk to me again.

I throw my earphones to the floor in frustration and anger. Why did I have to go and mess things up? I need to talk to somebody. I need to now. I can feel my breaths coming, short and fast, and tears welling up in my eyes. Anxiety attack, I remember my mother, Millie, telling me, as she rubbed the back of her bony, sensitive little eight-year-old. You'll be fine. That was the last time she really paid attention to me. This last thought is all I can take. Alone and unwanted, I let out an unearthly scream.

What are you doing? I ask myself. These stupid breakdowns have to stop. Why should I feel sorry for myself when Briarlight is in a much worse condition? I stop panting. Who can I talk to? I need someone who can listen. Rosepetal? No way, she would never be able to offer the same advice a real friend would. Neither would any of her friends. Ivypool? She'd never listen to the girl who tormented her and her friends. Toadstep? …. It's worth a try. Can't we just be friends?

I pull on a black sweater, then walk briskly out of the dorm. Toadstep would be in the library at this time, I know.

Toadstep

"Hey," I say to my acting partner, Pinenose. She nods back. "So…" This is going to be super awkward. We have to shoot the kissing scene for our mini-movie. I don't really want to kiss Pinenose, but it's the second-to-last scene we have to shoot, and I'm sure that our film is going to be the best out of all the acting classes.

"You guys need to practice first," says our coach, Oakheart. "Like this - " Then, he grabs his girlfriend, Bluestar, and gives her a big kiss on the lips. Pinenose looks awkwardly over at me, her hand covering her mouth to disguise her smile. I'm slightly horrified, but also amused. Bluestar looks harassed, being kissed like that in front of a couple teenagers, but she lets Oakheart put his arms around her and relaxes again.

"Alright!" barks Oakheart. "Positions! We're not shooting yet, Mousewhisker!" he shouts at our cameraman, who sits back down. "Now," he tells me. "Put one hand on her waist, one on her shoulder. Yes- no- Like that! Yes! Now, Pinenose, put both your arms around his neck. Alright, you feel that? You get that position? Now kiss!"

Erm. This is awkward. I look at her for a moment, then give her a soft peck on the lips. We break apart, but Oakheart is shaking his head.

"No no no no no!" he cries. "It has to be romaaaantic! Do you need us to demonstrate again?"

"Uh, no, Oakheart," says Pinenose, trying not to laugh. "I think we're good."

"Then go again!" barks Oakheart. "I don't have all day! I have to go on a date with this lovely chica here," he says, pulling Bluestar even closer (is that possible?) and smooching her on the cheek.

We try a couple more kisses, each more awkward than the one before. Oakheart continues to shout commands, and I'm beginning to wonder how this is even allowed in the library when he finally deems the scene ready to be shot.

"Aaaaand, action!" he shouts at Mousewhisker, who signals that the camera is rolling.

"You came," whispers Pinenose softly. "I was getting ready to leave."

"I did it to save you," I say back. "You weren't the murderer after all, Helen."

"The police don't know that," she protests. "I have to run away," she says, tears streaming down her cheeks. I'm slightly awed at her ability to cry on command.

"No!" I cry, my voice thick with emotion. "Your daughter needs you. You're not going to abandon her now, are you?" Pinenose just stares at me.

"I must," she whispers. "You can raise her. Her father is dead, after all. And if she falls into the hands of the police -" I put a finger of her mouth.

"Okay," I whisper. "I will." We sit there in silence for a few moments. Then, I extend my hand to her. "May I have this first dance?"

"You may," she says, her voice shaking. I wipe the tears from her face with my thumb, then put my hands on her waist and shoulder, like Oakheart says. We waltz slowly. 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, I whisper to myself, trying not to step on Pinenose's feet.

"Now," whispers Oakheart. Pinenose puts her arms around my neck, and we kiss. I'm pretty much redder than a tomato, but I do it.

"And what do you think you're doing?" asks somebody from behind me. I break away from Pinenose and turn around.

"What?" I ask, "I'm just-" then the words drain away when I see Blossomfall standing behind me. Her eyes are bloodshot and her dark hair is messy.

"I know what you're doing," she growls. "I'm sorry I ever spent my time on you. I'm sorry that I wasted your time, okay? Just go ahead! Go make out with whoever you want, but I'm done with you. All I wanted was to talk because nobody really gets me. But the moment I find you, you're making out with her." Pinenose's amber eyes widen in shock.

"Not ready for a date," Blossomfall scoffs. "As far as I can see, you're perfectly ready, you just lied to me to get me away. Fine. I'm leaving, okay?" And she stomps out of the room, heaving with muffled sobs. Oakheart jumps up, but I put my hand out to stop him.

"I-I'm sorry," says Pinenose. "Should I get somebody to go talk to her…?" I shake my head.

"That's my job," I growl, then bolt out of the library.

BTW, Toadstep and Pinenose are NOT a thing. They just had to kiss because that was what was in their mini-movie script. Do it for the Vine movie!

I've always felt kind of sorry for Blossomfall and Breezepelt and other neglected characters.

Blossomfall may have been pretty bratty about Briarlight's injury, but she was very young at the time, and all young cats want attention. You know, have you ever seen your parents coddling a sibling because they're sick, and you get literally zero attention? You might come in with amazing grades, or maybe you won a sports game, or a competition, but your parents are all over your sibling. And you know it's wrong to think that way, but that's just how we work! We get jealous, even though we know that we wouldn't want to be the sick or injured one. Most people aren't born completely selfless and understanding. And that's Blossomfall's story.

Breezepelt's got something similar going on. His father never loved him - he was just an accessory to prove that Crowfeather was loyal. Crowfeather never encouraged him when he fought well, or caught prey, or ran the fastest. Nightcloud channeled her own feelings of abandonment into anger at Crowfeather, raising Breezepelt to believe that he should listen to no one. Breezepelt always worked hard for his father's approval, but never gained it. This, combined with the arrogance his mother encouraged, led him to train in the Dark Forest. Remember in Outcast, when he and Hollypaw, Jaypaw, and Lionpaw went traveling together? It must have been so painful for him to see Brambleclaw bolstering his young children at every turn when Crowfeather offered no support at all. The Dark Forest was his solution to the problem - there, he was noticed. When he discovered that Crowfeather had kits in Thunderclan, he was furious and he knew that Crowfeather would never love Nightcloud or him as much as he longed for Leafpool.

This was for those of you who don't really get why I would have so much sympathy for these two characters.

P.S. For those of you still doubting, much of Breezepelt's paragraph is paraphrased from The Ultimate Guide by the Erins. (which I do not own). And isn't Blossomfall's situation very similar?

Hope you enjoyed!

XOXO, Silvershadow.