Luna grumbled under her breath, climbing down the ladder of her bunk. The sound of a rooster blared through the phone that sat on Luan's bedside. Yet there she was, curled up under her blanket lying motionless. How was she sound asleep through this?

Hovering over the phone, Luna turned the alarm off. Seven o' clock sharp. Thirty minutes earlier than her alarm. She rubbed her eyes; thirty minutes that could've been spent with her climbing up on stage, singing her lungs out and living her rock n' roll fantasy.

Until this darn thing shouted it's all a dream— right before she was about to reach the stage and sing with Mick Swagger!

She huffed, placing a hand on her roommate's shoulder. It's only fair, she gets to ruin her morning too.

"Yo, dudette…" No response.

"Mate, wake up." Luna softly shook her. "Oversleep much?"

She didn't move. "I'm up."

"Uh-huh. Sure, looks like it." Luan's back remained turned to her. "It's time to get ready for your special day."

A tone of enthusiasm seeped in Luna's voice; one she didn't share. "What's the point?" Luan finally rolled over, hovering an arm over her eyes. "I feel sick."

The heater was working just fine. What, did she get caught up in a snowstorm or something? "Yeah, 'kay. Keep on humblin' yourself like that." Luna tilted her head to catch a better view of her face, before placing a hand on her forehead. "You feel fine to me."

Luan grumbled.

She rolled her eyes, going down to their closet. "Seriously, brah, get up. You don't wanna miss the buffet pops cooking upo."

The door closed yet the sounds of pity-pattering and voices echoed beyond the wall. Luan glared at the ceiling and groaned. Dad's buffet… her stomach grumbled at the thought. Breakfast. She needed breakfast.

Luan lifted herself off the pillow ever so slightly. The world spun as a strong throb pulsed through the back of her head. She froze in place.

Luna looked over her shoulder; for a second, she thought of her as an imposter. "You okay?"

The words came fuzzy in her ears. She nodded.

Luna shrugged absently, turning her back on Luan as she picked up her robe, leaving out the door without another word.

Luan brought her knees to her chest, head in hand. She leaned back on the headboard and stared at the wall. The world around her was the same as it was. So many footsteps, so many voices. But that was it, right? All behind the walls. She squeezed her toes, felt the bedspread clump underneath. The room dimmed with the sunlight. This is real; you're acting crazy. She told herself. Maybe I just need more sleep.

She caught a glimpse of her trash can. Empty. Lincoln must've taken out the trash already. If the teacher asks, Charles ate my homework.

Luan reached out to her blanket and wrapped herself in it. How'd she fall asleep last night? It felt like rigor mortis was just about setting in. Her limbs, specifically her legs ached, and her head… it was always heavy, now wasn't an exception. Today was the recognition… recognition. The words echoed in her mind. It was supposed to carry so much more meaning. Having to go there, without your best friend, without the reward of a high rank that you deserve? But why doesn't it? Luan thought to herself. The events of yesterday were bleary and dreamlike. Why don't you care?

She reached up to her nightstand, feeling for her phone and turning it on. A flood of greetings blowing up her notifications, the redundant compliments from 'good job' to 'congrats', and the occasional starry emojis that flooded their messages.

Delete all notifications.

Her head throbbed, and she dropped her phone on the pillow. Did she oversleep? What even happened last night after I got home?

"You coming or nay?" The fragrant aroma of shampoo wafted the room.

Luan jolted, turning to the left, right when Luna picked up her clothes out the closet, clad in her purple robe with a towel hung on her shoulder. Luna took showers fast, probably because she didn't have as much hair as the rest of them did.

"Or."

Through their ocean of clothes, Luna pulled her leather jacket out. "Don't tell me you're gonna fake being sick again, brah." She groaned. "I swear, this is not the day you'd wanna get sick on."

Please, Luna. She inwardly sneered. If you only knew. "And why not?"

"Alright, then, if you're so mad about having a low rank," Luna glared at her, as if the implication of her disappointment was offensive. Mind me snagging your place instead?"

She instantly shut her mouth, throwing the blanket off her in frustration. "I was kidding. I'll go."

Luan forced herself up with shaky legs; spare her from an impatient Luna cornering her until she said something. She rushed to get her robe and clothes, before leaving the room.

Once Luna finished changing into a more formal outfit of hers—nothing much, just some black jeans, thrown in with boots and a purple coat, she surfed through the pockets only to find spare change and one of Sam's lucky picks.

The teal pick dropped under the bed, and Luna cursed before kneeling down. Any chance she got to go on stage, Luan would never let such an opportunity pass. She'd be stoked and anticipating when she can go on stage. It wasn't about reaping the fruit of her labor. It was about attention. The recognition.

But she wasn't.

Apprehension crawled into her gut. She wouldn't lie to say that her worry was wearing a little thin. She was just as tired worrying for her than Luan was struggling for herself.

Luna stuck her hand under the bed, feeling for the pick. Amidst all the rubber chickens and whoopee cushions, it should be here somewhere-

Wait. Luna squeezed something. Round and wooden and—ow!

…Prickly?

She yanked on what seemed to be fabric on firm wood, why's LJ's bat under out bed—

Her blood iced over.

Then it thawed, and boiled. You cheeky little…

Mr. Coconuts had a huge gash running from his hair down to his chin. One eye gone.

Can't believe she fell for the lie that she just got bored with him. Of course that was a lie. It wasn't her to just tire of her soulmate. That's like if she tore Mick's posters and said he was an ass!

She cupped his head, studying the mangled-up puppet. This had to be a prank. Luna's stomach churned as she slipped the puppet under the bed. The honor roll was a petty reason for wanting to throw it all away, yet here she was, throwing the extra mile just for that; tossing away her life's work, surrendering her most prized possessions, sleeping too little…

For what? What was she getting from all this?

Luna mumbled ruefully, and ignoring the puppet, continued feeling for her pick. When she found it, she placed it inside the drawer and got back to her feet. It was just a list. It was just a number. Sure, maybe it didn't compensate for her work, but she still got in. She sat on her bed with a sigh. Couldn't she be at least a little grateful for it?

All this thinking made her head ache. Luna growled in frustration, reaching up to her bunk and grabbing her phone from under the pillow. If Leni couldn't pry Luan herself, then somebody had to do it. Luna pursed her lips and scrolled through her contacts. She needed answers. Without asking the actual source.

Maybe reasons… 'possible reasons' is a better word for it.

Luna stood up and peeked out the door. Luan was in the middle of the line to the bathroom. Perfect.

She sat back down, and found the one she was looking for. She clicked it; it rang, then beeped.

"Hello?"

"Sis," Luna started breathlessly. "So, check it, I kinda wanted to ask you about something."