Revamped!

[Don't worry everyone, we will get back to the Kaider and Wolflet fluff along with Cresswell. They're all here.]

Beyond the Crescent Moon: Part Five

"This isn't a good idea," Cress says.

"No, it's really not," Thorne agrees.

"Start small," she instructs, "my hair is my safety blanket. I just want a little trim but salons are too expensive. Maybe just cut my split ends."

The first spontaneous adventure Thorne suggested was to give Cress a haircut. She was reluctant at first since she's had long hair for as long as she can remember. Ironically, that's what further convinced her to cut it. Sure, Cress was nervous about getting her first haircut in years but what scared her more was that Thorne said he would cut her hair by himself at her house. Thorne knew nothing about hairdressing so she was hoping that he wouldn't screw anything up or cut her flesh accidentally.

Thorne holds a lock of hair between his two fingers and is about to snip.

"To the start of a new era," Thorne says, raising the hair as if he was raising a glass to toast.

Cress holds her breath and squinting her eyes shut as her body clenches, waiting for that first cut which indicates that there is no turning back from this. She didn't get her hair cut since she left Luna. At that time, it was at her shoulders.

"Wait," Thorne lets go of her hair, "so your seemingly overprotective dad will leave you home alone for a week?"

"He knows that I'm not doing anything questionable," Cress reasons.

"Including a haircut."

"And spontaneous adventures."

Thorne grins at the mention of that again. "How much do you want me to cut?"

"Just the ends."

"Alrighty."

Thorne grabs a chunk of her hair in a ponytail and cuts it at her shoulders. Cress screams as locks of her hair fall from her head to the floor. Thorne places the scissors on the counter as steps back as if Cress's horrified expression isn't there.

"You couldn't even cut straight across!" Cress exclaims.

"Oops, now I gotta even it out," Thorne says.

Thorne grabs more of Cress's hair to try to even out her hair. In reality, he was making it shorter purposely which she caught on to. Cress's mind is frazzled since it lost a giant part of its worth. She regrets this so much.

"It's uneven!" Cress yells.

"It's edgy!" Thorne argues.

"Thorne!"

"Cress!"

The screaming and hair cutting stop when Cress takes a look at her new hairdo in the mirror. It's still uneven but not that noticeable. Aside from that blunder, her hair that was formerly down to her waist is now below her ears. It's a cute bob with an attempt at layers. Cress takes a deep breath as she turns around to see Thorne with a giant smirk. She opens her mouth to say something but is silenced by Thorne putting her head in his hands. She stops breathing at this contact. He tilts her head around as if he was examining her.

"I can finally see your face," Thorne comments.

Cress takes another deep breath, resisting the urge to blush. "This feels liberating."

-o-

Scarlet and Wolf sit in the mall's food court, on opposite ends of the table. Ever since that night at Wolf's house, Scarlet and Wolf have had this noticeable tension between them that consisted of Scarlet giving Wolf a one-raised eyebrow glare that screams "We need to talk," and Wolf pretending not to notice.

That has all been going on for far too long.

"Why did your 'former' gang show up at your house?" Scarlet finally asks.

Wolf groans. "Scarlet -"

"In the middle of the night. That's creepy. What if your mom answered that?"

"She wouldn't have."

"Sure, but I thought you said that you were done with this whole 'gang' life."

"I am, it's just that -"

"And now you're saying you're forever loyal to them because of a damn tattoo?!"

"Don't yell," Wolf says as bypassing people begin to stare.

"Don't tell me not to scream!"

Suddenly, all eyes are looking at them and Scarlet's only looking at Wolf. When everyone else sees that nothing bad is happening, they continue going their own ways. Wolf puts a hand to his forehead to cover his face and Scarlet sits back and crosses her arms at him.

"Are you still a gang member or not?" Scarlet asks, quieter this time.

"I'm not," Wolf says.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I'll only be loyal to you."

"Then where's my tattoo?"

Wolf rolls his eyes, making Scarlet smirk a little. He'd get one for her, no doubt about that. That's when Wolf smiles a bit as he sits forwards and rests his elbows on the table.

"Scarlet, please, can we not talk about this now?" Wolf begs. "I'll tell you when I piece it together."

"Fine," Scarlet says, cooling down a bit. "You know, I'm your girlfriend although we haven't even gone on one date."

"Exactly. I must be doing something right then."

Wolf winks at her and Scarlet rolls eyes. That's a point she can't argue. As they continue chatting lightly, Kai approaches their table and sits on the other side of the table but in between them. Scarlet and Wolf stare at him.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you that three's a crowd?" Scarlet questions, hoping that Kai gets the hint.

"Yeah," Kai says, "so goodbye Scarlet."

Scarlet narrows her eyes at Kai as Wolf holds back his laughter. She stands up and steps outside the table, only leaving for two reasons: one, she can only assume that Kai is here to talk to Wolf about guy things and two, she appreciates Kai's wit.

"I may be leaving but we're not done talking about this," Scarlet says to Wolf before she walks off. "Don't call me unless it's for that or a date, preferably both."

The boys watch Scarlet leave. Once she's gone, Wolf finally relaxes in his seat.

"Thank the stars you came," Wolf says to Kai gratefully. He and Wolf aren't that close but have been aware of each other. How could Wolf not know the mayor's son? "Why are you even here?"

"I came to ask about Cinder since I need some help with her," Kai replies.

"I don't think I've said one word to Cinder. Just because we're Lunars doesn't mean we're tight. She's got rich Lunar vibes so we wouldn't have even crossed paths if I grew up there. What about her?"

"I admire the fact that you got Scarlet so quickly."

Wolf smiles proudly of himself for a bit. "I'm seriously hoping it stays that way."

"Cinder and I could barely find time to schedule a date."

"Join the club."

-o-

At the Blackburn mansion, Cinder sits in her bedroom desk with her computer on for a video call. On the screen is her best friend Iko who's all the way in Artemisia. Cinder sits casually in her chair with one leg propped up on her desk and the other up against her chest in the chair while Iko is slumped in her chair playing with a braided blue strand of her dark hair.

Homegirl Iko: I hope you and Winter got your housewarming gifts in the mail.

"I waited until now to open it, unlike Winter who squealed at the scent of her sour apple candies," Cinder replies. When Cinder was exploring town with Kai during Levana's meeting, she was looking for those candies but they didn't even exist here.

Cinder reaches behind the computer to get the package Iko sent them. She rips open the colourful wrapping paper to reveal a box. Cinder opens the box and can see Iko biting down on her grinning lips as she spins around in her chair to contain her excitement. Cinder discards the multicoloured packing peanuts and pulls out a bone-shaped yard sign that says, "Beware of Dog". Cinder gives the sign the strangest look ever as she can hear Iko's simmering laugh.

"Iko, we don't have a dog nor are we ever getting one," Cinder says as she puts the sign back in the box.

Homegirl Iko: That's in reference for Levana. She could be a real bitch.

Cinder laughs and Iko laughs louder. Suddenly, Kai walks into Cinder's bedroom. Cinder jumps a little, her leg that was propped on the desk kicking over her laptop which results in Iko screaming from the other end. Cinder gets up out of her chair and approaches Kai, ignoring Iko screaming on the other side.

"What the stars?!" Cinder yells at him.

"Winter let me in," Kai explains. "I knocked and she just opened the door for me."

Cinder groans in annoyance. "Winter! Stop letting people in my room!"

Cinder storms out of the room, leaving Kai there. He continues to hear the screaming coming from the computer so he stands it back up and sees Iko. At the sight of Kai, Iko rolls back in her chair, staring in complete shock at the hot boy who seemed to break into Cinder's room. Kai clears his throat and pulls out his collar to fix it although it was fine.

"Hello there," Kai grins. "You must be Iko."

Iko grins, twirling that strand of hair she was playing with earlier.

Homegirl Iko: I am. And you must be Kai.

"I am," Kai replies.

Homegirl Iko: You look very different in your selfies than you do in real life - or at least this version of real life.

Iko gestures to the fact that they're seeing each other over video chat and not seeing one another in real life. Kai is unsure of whether that's a compliment or not but judging by Iko's winking, it's more than a compliment.

-o-

Thorne and Cress walk through the city streets. Cress's newly chopped locks are tickling her face as the breeze make the ends brush against her face. It'll take her a while to get used to that. She and Thorne have stepped out of the parlour to even out the cute mess Thorne created. They're deciding what to do next in terms of spontaneous adventures.

"Now that I can see your ears, let's get your ears pierced!" Thorne suggests.

At the sound of that, Cress lights up with excitement which Thorne loves to see, but then it dies down and Cress looks to the ground. Thorne suddenly hates himself for coming up with a seemingly horrible idea.

"Oh no, what is it?" Thorne asks. "Fear of needles? Taboo against piercings? If so, I take back what I said."

"No, no, Thorne," Cress replies. "I've always wanted to get my ears pierced but that's more of a mother-daughter thing."

Thorne nods, understanding that Cress's mother isn't around for reasons she never disclosed to him yet. However, an absent mother wouldn't get in the way of Cress and her future earrings. Thorne has another plan.

[Iko is me. And guys, Iko will be in the story as more than just video chat (*cough* Cinder's arc *cough*).

Let's be real, Wolf's advice to Kai was probably something like "just show up at her house" because he did that to Scarlet in his arc.]