I'm about to start one French exam although I'm in the middle of another French exam due later...and they're with the same prof. She might be out to get me but this story had to be updated since it's Saturday.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf: Part Eight

It took Wolf five minutes to convince his mom that he wasn't kidding about Cinder being the legend Selene Blackburn, daughter of the late and infamous Channary Blackburn. The scary resemblance hit her like an asteroid and she's surprised she never noticed before. Everyone is when they learn. Once people know the connection, it's hard to unsee. Even when he first learned the news, his thoughts were more tangled than his headphones.

"So I was just talking to Selene Blackburn," Maha says. "Selene Blackburn is actually alive and here. And she's your friend?"

"Yes, Ma, she is," Wolf responds. He's said that a few times already. "She's been in town for a while. I only found out before Kai's dad died."

Maha exhales in a way that sounds like a huff. She puts her hands on her hips. "Wow, okay."

Wolf nods. "So Cinder's aunt, Levana, found Cinder's biological father and is letting Cinder go to Artemisia to see him. Will she talk to him or tell him the truth, I don't know. I doubt it but I don't know with that girl. She sprung up the trip the moment she found out so, who knows. Either way, she will visit the, in her words, homeland."

Maha smiles. "That's wonderful, especially since she's paying. Don't you owe her and her pretty cousin for your runaway trip to France?"

Wolf pauses. He's surprised that Cinder didn't use that as an argument. That would've made him feel guilty and might have worked. Maybe she's so rich that she forgot. Can't relate.

"That's true but I don't want to feel like a foreigner."

"You'll look like a tourist at most."

Wolf bites down on his lips for a second. He leans against the closed door. "Ma, I'm so confused about what it means to be a Lunar. I mean, I am one because I was born there and you're a Lunar but I have no memories. I can't even speak Hebrew."

His mother's face softens and she looks away before back up at her son. "That's the problem with being an immigrant at such a young age to a completely different city with a whole new culture. If I never told you we were from there, you would've believed you were born here. Sometimes, I wished for that. I should've spoken to you in Hebrew more when you were little, but I had to learn English. You even go by your English name."

"That was for school. It was easier to pronounce."

"But I had to leave Luna."

"I know."

"President Blackburn destroyed Luna. The lower class was already suffering and she made it worse. It's not like we did anything about since we just yelled and protested, causing even more harm to ourselves. I lost your father and older brother to that regime. To save us, to save you, I left. The irony is that you're now lost."

"Ma, I'm not blaming you. I'm more than glad we're here."

"I'm not guilt-tripping you but I'm getting to my point. The daughter of the reason we're here is inviting you to go back with her to find herself. Doesn't that mean anything?"

Wolf thinks for about a second. "No, not really."

Maha rolls her eyes, muttering to herself in Hebrew. Wolf has a hunch it's something about how dense he is (based on the situation and experience. His mom has disapproved of a lot of things he's done before such as said runaway trip to France).

"You're blaming yourself for who you are and that's nothing you can change," Maha says. "Take it this way, go there to learn the truth to why we left because if we didn't leave, you wouldn't be who you are today."

Wolf doesn't respond. He's been itching for something different. He's nowhere but wants to be somewhere, idling at the starting line of who he is. This is hard. Would he be at the airport to say goodbye to Cinder and Cress or join them?

"And don't you dare ever say your life is hard," Maha finishes. "You've barely been out of the womb."

-o-

Levana yelled at Cinder when she put her suitcase on the bed but ignored her. It was easier for her to toss clothes into a higher box than on the floor. She was happy that it wasn't hard for her to pack. Her rule for clothes were breathable, clean-ish, and not her school uniform. Besides, it was only going to be four days. She wasn't even bringing a big suitcase, only a carry-on. She could wear one outfit for the four days and nobody would notice or care. As she paces back and forth, finding shirts to throw in, her phone sits propped against a pile of books as the video chat she started finally answers.

Cinder glances over and sees Iko smiling at her with Kinney and Jacin beside her.

"I'm coming to Artemisia!" Cinder exclaims.

Homegirl Iko: Cinder!

Please Help Kinney: Aces, Iko, you're so loud.

Homegirl Iko: Shut your spades.

"I'm coming home for the weekend!" Cinder exclaims.

Cinder smiles as she hears Iko scream excitedly. Amid the yells, she hears something crash to the ground. Cinder walks over to her phone and sees Kinney on the ground and Jacin with his hands over his ears.

Homegirl Iko: Bad timing! It's exams here!

Jacin Kinda-Maybe-Hate-Him Clay: Perfect timing! It's exams here! I won't have to see you.

Cinder rolls her eyes. "Well, it's my long weekend and at least you could do is pick me and my friends up from the airport."

Homegirl Iko: Of course! Will Winter be coming?

Jacin Kinda-Maybe-Hate-Him Clay: She's not.

Homegirl Iko: You knew Cinder was coming?! You didn't tell me.

Jacin Kinda-Maybe-Hate-Him Clay: You never asked.

Cinder continues choosing plain white tees to pack as they bicker. From the looks of it, she didn't miss much in Artemisia. Iko was still a centre platonic bickering point for Kinney and Jacin. Whatever keeps them together.

Cinder looks over when she hears someone knocking on her door. Cinder runs over to her phone and quickly ends the call, saying she'll text them the details. She puts her phone down and opens the door to see Levana walking in. She doesn't say a word. She flaps her chequebook, staring at Cinder's bed. Cinder rolls her eyes and drags it to the floor.

"I have your plane tickets," Levana says, pulling them out of her chequebook. "Do you need anything else?"

"I don't think so," Cinder responds. "Why?"

"Just making sure. Winter and I will drive you to the airport. Are your strange friends going to be there?"

"Yes," Cinder responds, going to her phone. She sends a message into their group chat just to make sure.

Group Chat - Captain Thorne's Crew
Members: Big Bad Wolf, Captain Thorne, Cinder, Crescent Moon, Emperor Kai, Jacin Kinda-Maybe-Hate-Him Clay, Little Red Scarlet, Winter Hayle-Stepcousin

Cinder: Who's dropping by the airport tomorrow?

[moments later]

Little Red Scarlet: Me.

Emperor Kai: Me too.

Captain Thorne: Only to say bye to Cress.

Little Red Scarlet: And cry.

Emperor Kai: Thorne, think about the fun we'll have with Scarlet.

Little Red Scarlet: Dear stars…

Winter Hayle-Stepcousin: We'll have a blast.

[moments later]

Big Bad Wolf: Yeah, I'll be there.

Cinder smiles, holding the plane tickets. She knew he'll be there. Now, she has to finish packing for their big trip.